Chapter 513: Iberian Arms Race

While the Austro-Granadan Forces continued to conduct peacekeeping operations throughout the now conquered Kingdom of Portugal, a new power had risen in the Iberian Peninsula. the Kingdom of Spain, led by King Felipe de Trastámara, was currently undergoing a massive transition. With financial support from the papacy, the fledgling Kingdom had invested heavily into the reverse engineering and improvement of firearms. 

By sharing technology with the church, the two factions could complete construction of a series of new weapons that would make their armies closer to that of Austria's allies in terms of military technology. As a fanatical catholic, the King of Spain also received the leaked agricultural tech from his Papal overlord to fight back against the agricultural revolution occurring within the borders of his southern neighbor. 

Currently, King Felipe was gazing at freshly trained force, risen as peasant levies. It had taken them a mere three weeks to become sufficient in using the new arms. These levies were equipped with a form of munitions plate armor, copied from the older Austrian designs that had been captured during their war for independence. 

In their hands were the new matchlock muskets, complete with socket bayonets. The officer in charge of this platoon quickly issued orders to the soldiers beneath his command.

"Form ranks! Present Arms! Fire!"

With these commands, the soldiers quickly formed two lines, as was inspired by older Austrian tactics, where the first row kneeled down, and the second row lowered their rifles above their heads. Once the order was given, they squeezed the lever that acted as a trigger, resulting in lit slow burning match dropping onto the pan which contained the powder. 

Thus, igniting the mixture and propelling the small iron ball down range. A loud echo resounded in the air as the iron projectiles flew into the bodies of the Granadan merchants, who were falsely accused of seditious actions. Because of their nationality, they were accused of espionage, and sentenced to death by the King of Spain. 

Sultan Hasan Al-Fadl had negotiated for their release, but his Spanish counterpart had demanded a king's ransom, one that Hasan was not willing to afford. Thus, when the gunfire echoed in the air, and the musket balls entered their bodies, the Granadan merchants lost their lives. 

Felipe witnessed this public execution and broke out into laughter as his new troops murdered innocents in the name of God. He sipped on a chalice of wine as he called out to the masses who were gathered in the center of Toledo to witness this event.

"These men were heathens of the Islamic faith who had entered our lands under the guise of trade to gather intelligence in our kingdom to report to their demonic masters. Let their deaths be a reminder to all of you that any man, woman, or child who comes from the south is an enemy of Spain. God wills it!"

Unknowingly, to the Spanish Monarch, a group of Granadan Spies were in the crowd, witnessing the murder of their countrymen. They had the desire to pull out their pocket pistols and unleash a volley into the King's chest. However, their wrath remained controlled. Their job was to collect intelligence, not to assassinate. 

They would soon return to the Sultanate of Granada and report to their monarch about the development of arms of their northern neighbors. 

---

Days had passed, and Hasan was currently standing within his office, speaking with the agents who had witnessed the deaths of the Granadan Merchants.

"You're telling me they have developed muskets and more powerful cannons?"

The lead agent was a beautiful arabic woman who nodded her head with a bitter expression.

"Indeed, I believe the Church is partially responsible for the rapid development of arms. The Spaniards are currently dedicating as much resources as possible to the manufacture of these weapons, and the training of new levies with them."

Hasan sighed when he heard this. Standing next to him was the Personal Representative of the Austrian Crown, and commander of all forces within Granada. With Arnulf being relocated to the Colony of New Vienna, his position as Allied Commander within the Iberian Peninsula was shifted to Adelbrand von Salzburg, who had recently received a promotion to the position of Field Marshal. 

The man was glad to be in Granada, as he enjoyed the climate and the local women. He had also been longing to return to the Iberian Theatre since he departed from the previous campaign. Now that he was here, he had taken a far more brutal role in the alleged "Peacekeeping" Operations within Portugal. 

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He sneered in disgust as he heard what had transpired within the city of Toledo.

"Absolutely disgraceful, and completely disrespectful to you and your people. Your Majesty, it is of my opinion that we must retaliate. I suggest detonating a bomb in the city center of Toledo. If they wish to murder your civilians, then they should know the consequences. 

A simple crate packed with TNT will be enough to cause substantial damage to the trade center of our neighbor's capital city. We must send a message that the targeting of our civilians will be met with greater aggression."

Despite the hawkish suggestion of the Austrian Field Marshal, Hasan's own General Ziyad had a countering opinion.

"And what? Further escalate the violence until an all out war breaks out? No, we need to be more subtle in our approach. Since they are targeting our merchants, we can do the same. With the support of Austrian Privateers, we can target the Spanish shipping and seize their goods, and sell them to the emirates in North Africa. I am sure the Tunisians will be happy to get their hands on Spanish goods for a discounted price!"

Hasan sighed heavily when he heard the two opposing views. They both had merit, and he remained hesitant about how to continue. He was starting to regret marrying his sister off to Berengar, as until now she had been the real brains behind the Granadan Crown. Without her unwavering support, the young monarch now began to understand the weight of the crown. 

After some fierce internal debate, the young Sultan nodded his head before making a decision. As a monarch, he needed to be firm with his stance on Spain's actions. Retaliation would only provoke further conflict. What he needed was to hamper the development of Spain's arms industry, and the best way to do this was hamper the raw materials they were receiving in support from the other Catholic Kingdoms. 

"I have thought about both actions, and I have come to a decision regarding our course of action. We will hire Austrian Privateers to attack Spanish shipping, meanwhile our agents will sabotage Spain's arms factories. We can not allow them to equip their entire army with muskets. 

As for the manufacture of muskets and cannons in our own realm, increase the construction of puddling furnaces, and continue purchasing equipment from our allies. I will not allow my sultanate to fall behind our Catholics Neighbors!"

Ziyad smiled and nodded his head before saluting his monarch, meanwhile Adelbrand felt slighted, in his eyes blood must be met with blood, though targeting the enemy's trade as retaliation had its own benefits, it did not avenge the lives of those who were murdered by the Catholics.

Despite these reservations, his job was to obey Hasan's commands and support his actions.  Thus, the Austrian Field Marshal threw up a regular military salute and responded to his Granadan Counterpart.

"Yes, your majesty!"

After receiving their orders, the two men were dismissed, leaving the young Sultan alone in his office. He sank back into his seat before pouring himself a chalice filled with wine. After taking a large gulp, Hasan spoke to himself. 

"Yas, my dear older sister, I hope you are doing well in your new life, because I could really use your help..."

The Arms race between the Sultanate of Granada and the Kingdom of Spain had begun. Meanwhile, the Spanish Crown would continue to supply Portuguese Rebels with the weapons needed to continue their fight, and the Granadans would retaliate by raiding Spanish Shipping. 

By hiring privateers to act as pirates, Granada kept a sense of deniability in their actions, allowing them to hamper their rival's armament process. Fortunately for the Granadans, the ruthless Pirate Queen of the Mediterranean was halfway across the world. If she were involved in this conflict, she and her crew would annihilate the entire Spanish trading fleet would in a matter of months. 

When Berengar's agents reported to him about Hasan's actions, he would be pleased with the Sultan's progress as a ruler. A measured approach to Spain's hostile actions was indeed the best choice at hand. If the young monarch had listened to Adelbrand's advice, it would only spark greater conflict between Spain and Granada, a war neither of the two were ready for.

As for the Princess of Granada, she was enjoying her peaceful life in the Capital of Austria, alongside her new husband and her sister-wives. She would not be aware of the struggles her brother was going through, and even if he asked for her return, she would decline.. Now that she was married, her duty was to her husband first and foremost, a principle that would remain constant throughout her marriage.

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