According to Tang Mo's estimate, in the past few months, Shireck has already produced more than 20,000 K1 Quick Guns!
Moreover, if the innovations brought about by steam engines to production technology are also considered, then this number might need to be doubled!
However, these weapons couldn't possibly all be concentrated within the Leite Kingdom, so the total number of K1 Quick Guns aimed at Tang Mo is still around 10,000.
Li'ao glanced at Tang Mo and added, "There are some purchased from Northern Ridge, and with their channels abroad, I estimate there are more than 100 from the Poplar Kingdom... all in all, the total should exceed 100 units."
"It sounds like they might have even more than we do," Roger remarked with a sigh, given the sheer size of Shireck Consortium, it was indeed astounding.
Tang Mo smiled and reminded everyone, "However, in terms of utilization efficiency, they might not be able to attain the level we have, and furthermore... we have no intelligence confirming that they have acquired electrical equipment."
One hundred, or even two hundred steam engines, placed within such a large consortium like Shireck, are essentially a drop in the ocean, a mere trifle.
To fully revolutionize their production technology, they would need at least ten times more steam engines, along with several more months or even years of refining the process.
Unless Tang Mo helped them make a leap, just exploring the various applications of the steam engine would occupy Shireck's people for half a year with their own brainstorming!
Everyone listened intently, knowing that war seemed to have already begun, and under such circumstances, Tang Mo would certainly have a plan.
Without pause, Tang Mo continued, "That is to say, they haven't yet utilized electrical power on a large scale, and we haven't received any news of them applying steam engines in mining or shipping either."
"Yes, in other words, Shireck's steam engines are still insufficient, they can only use them to produce more steam engines, or more weapons..." He concluded, and then looked at everyone, "That's pretty much it."
Li'ao took over from Tang Mo, speaking about the situation of the impending war, "However, we can now confirm that the enemy is amassing troops."
He continued, and for greater clarity, he stood up and walked to the map, lifting his hand to virtually trace along a road, moving westward, "Our people have confirmed, three days ago, enemy forces under the pretense of training, assembled a troop of over 3,000 outside King City."
Speaking, his hand rested near Brunas, "Then, these troops didn't disband, but instead moved westward along the road, slowly approaching Brunas."
"3,000 men? Are they underestimating us?" Wes scoffed disdainfully.
He and Tang Mo had previously crushed an enemy force more than ten times larger in Northern Ridge, and now, to him, 3,000 men seemed hardly enough for Tang Mo's security forces to handle.
After all, he was aware of the intensity of the Great Tang Group's security force training, their weapons and equipment, and even their tactical awareness, which were all far ahead of this era.
He was certain that any soldier from the Great Tang Group's security force, if taken out and given command, could easily become a battalion commander, and even leading a legion might not be out of the question!
Together with Tang Mo's hidden weaponry, including that damned train artillery ring position he had visited... Wes felt that even if the opponent really amassed 20,000 men, Tang Mo would still have the fighting strength to challenge them.
Moreover, who didn't know that the Northern Ridge Earl's current stance towards Brunas? Should things really kick off, it would take only moments for the Northern Ridge Legion to march south to support Brunas.
"Do we have a way to deal with them?" he asked Redman and Luff, feigning ignorance with a smile.
"Easy peasy!" Luff replied without hesitation, eager to answer first.
Tang Mo nodded, then turned to Redman and commanded, "Well then... let's put our troops on battle readiness. We always have to give others a bit of face."
"Yes!" Redman stood, chin up, and saluted smartly.
"Yes!" Tagg and Luff also stood up and responded loudly with a salute.
"You don't need to go to the front lines this time, do you?" Wes asked Tang Mo, smiling.
"Though it isn't necessary, it's still not bad to go see what the fuss is about," Tang Mo replied, smiling back teasingly at Wes.
Wes immediately put on a dismayed expression, eliciting laughter from everyone around.
A few minutes later, within the barracks, a soldier hurried to the alarm bell and began frantically cranking its handle.
The sharp, piercing sound started reverberating, turning the previously quiet barracks into a hive of frenzied activity.
The fully armed soldiers of the Great Tang Group's security troops were neatly dressed, carrying their 98K rifles, and swiftly formed up in silent formations.
Each person was checking their gear: they had rucksacks, leather armored vests with many pockets, and leather ammunition pouches hanging on both sides.
Hanging behind on their lower back were food bags, while on the opposite side hung an Engineer Corps shovel coupled with a water bottle on its outside.
At the most accessible position, one side carried a rifle bayonet, the other, a Left-Wheel Handgun—Tang Mo treasured his soldiers, bestowing the finest equipment upon each one.
All soldiers wore steel helmets, with Tang Mo directly copying the design of the German M35—a both stylish and functional choice.
Initially, Tagg was very opposed to equipping soldiers with what he considered useless armor, thinking helmets a wasteful and obsolete indulgence of steel.
However, Tang Mo insisted that all soldiers be issued steel helmets and even mandated that on the battlefield, every soldier and officer must wear the helmet instead of the typical cloth caps used during regular training.
Due to the season, Tang Mo's forces had already switched from long coats to shorter jackets, made of thinner, more breathable fabric.
Even to ensure the troops protected their feet well, Tang Mo had issued high-waisted leather boots to each soldier—those with laces for easy removal, accommodating some of the functions of puttees.
The security troops of Great Tang Group, wearing a mix of tactical gear from various countries like Germany and the United States from both World Wars, looked irresistibly charming by the standards of the era, filled with convincing details at every turn!
Exuding handsomeness from inside out, this assembly of soldiers stood even more upright and proficient, more formidable and fierce, as well as colder... and more merciless...