Building a Kingdom and Conquering the World

45  One year and a half

Back on Earth, Alexander, the Great, became the king of Macedonia at the age of 20 and by the time he was 30, he had conquered most of the known world, including Greece, Egypt, Persia, and parts of India. However, for Alexander's empire to reach such a great feat and be present in modern's history books, there was a need for a stable and organized kingdom.

Under the leadership of Philip II, Alexander's father, Macedon underwent a period of significant political and military reform that laid the groundwork for its later success. Philip reorganized the Macedonian army, creating a powerful and disciplined force that was capable of defeating much larger and more established armies. He introduced new weapons and tactics, including the sarissa (a long spear) and the phalanx formation, that gave the Macedonian army a decisive advantage on the battlefield.

He also embarked on a program of cultural and economic development, encouraging trade and commerce, and sponsoring the arts and sciences. He founded the city of Philippi, which became an important center of trade and culture, and he sponsored the construction of public buildings and monuments throughout Macedon.

In sum, Philip's reforms helped to strengthen Macedon's position within Greece and set the stage for Alexander's later conquests. It was also because of his great view that Macedonia became one of the most powerful and influential state in the ancient world. He spent over two decades working to transform his kingdom into such a major power.

Thinking back on Macedonia's history, Henry knew that two years was an insufficient amount of time to completely lay a solid foundation for his kingdom to conquer the world, like Alexander had done. However, he had to utilize this time to create the groundwork to at least resist the two external countries, who were already thinking how to divide his lands and iron mines.

Henry's strategy consisted of seven distinct steps, three of which were intended to provide immediate solutions, while the remaining four were already in progress but would only yield results on the long run.

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Over the course of a year and a half, Eisenburg, the capital of Stahl, has been under a massive reconstruction project, keeping the people busy. This project was initiated after Henry came to the realization, during the civil war, that all cities in Stahl were constructed with the sole purpose of surviving the dangers posed by the North.

Henry was determined to change this reality and provide a good environment for his people, while also boosting the commerce of the city. To do this, he ordered the construction of new streets and the widening of the existing ones. He also instructed the placement of more ducts under the frozen ground, making it easier to bring fresh water and to dispose of the waste of the capital.

All these changes that were implemented were financed through the Royal Treasury. The workers who were involved in the project were primarily compensated with food, and only a small percentage required iron as payment. The depletion of his treasury didn't bring uneasy to Henry. As a long-term investor, he was confident that these expenses would yield significant returns in the future.

The Commanders Training Center, was a grand and imposing building, erected beside the castle and that had the mission to select and train soldiers into true leaders. It was built following Henry's idea to specialize and teach his soldiers more about battle and war strategies.

At the moment, only the current captains and commanders of the army were permitted to attend the classes. Nonetheless, Henry aspired to emulate the universities on Earth by establishing entrance tests that would enable any individual with sufficient intelligence and aptitude to gain admission and become exceptional leaders in the army. This approach would enable him to identify the best candidates while also distinguishing them from the less qualified ones.

The building consisted of numerous rooms, ranging from training rooms to sleeping quarters. Amongst them, the most significant one was the Grand Leader Chamber - a spacious, oval-shaped room with high ceilings that exuded a sense of grandeur and importance, even in the absence of expensive decor.

Inside the Grand Leader Chamber, Henry stood behind the lectern, his cold grey eyes scanned each of the thirty uniformed soldiers standing before him, analyzing their every move. They were looking straight at him with an air of respect as their hands rested over their chest, a gesture implemented by Henry.

Suddenly, the King's gaze shifted to two individuals standing at the forefront, their faces bearing an expression of shame as they tried to remain motionless. They were the two Generals, Iosif and Olaro, who had been compelled to attend the classes due to their complete lack of strategy during the wars.

Henry gave them a satisfied smile before returning his attention to the crowd. - "It has been a year since you started learning from me. You all still have a long way to go, but time is not on our side. This was supposed to be a two-year course, but your next lessons won't be on a class but on a real battlefield."

Henry stopped and allowed silence to envelop the room, scrutinizing the expressions of his audience. He searched for traces of fear, but instead, he only saw courage and enthusiasm gleaming in their eyes. Not even a hint of hesitation could be discerned. They had been all baptized by Henry's knowledge and knew more about their role in the battlefield. As a result, they were confident in their ability to triumph over their enemies.

Henry was glad. His days were going to be a lot easier.

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Stoicist