Chapter 15：The Birth of the Dunnwal Cabal

[So that's why he called for us...] While Sicilia had the sneaking suspicion, she wanted to wait for Maxwell to confirm it himself first before making any assumptions. Even if Maxwell really did come up with some new revolutionary doctrine that can turn the tide of the war, there was still one inherent problem that he couldn't solve by himself.

It was his lack of connections and bad public image.

Due to his inactivity within the noble life he has a horrible public image with absolutely no connections, wether it be with the aristocracy, commoners or even the underworld. His political power is so bad that it was at the point that he can't actually do anything even if he really wanted to.

However, it seemed that he already found a solution to this problem.

It was his own family.

However, just because they shared the same blood did not mean that they would unconditionally help Maxwell. He needed to convince them first.

Soon enough, Maxwell started to elaborate on his plans.

"But before I ask for your help, I know that I must first convince you. After all why would put your trust in someone who rarely left his own bedroom?"

Sicilia was glad to see that Maxwell's self-depreciating attitude didn't change. Strangely enough, his pessimistic attitude can sometimes be reassuring when compared to her older brothers.

"Both the Panish and Drussian military is based on outdated forms of warfare. Where large battalions of conscripted men act as meat shields in the battle. They only exist to protect the cavalry. Excluding sieges, it was very rare for the infantry to be an important part of winning a battle."

Maxwell took the time to sip some of his tea before he continued to explain.

"The problem with this? Well the problem is that the army ends up as nothing more than a squabble of idiots fumbling around. Even when one is armed with a musket they still end up being used as meat shields to buy time for the cavalry. They squander the potential of firearms..."

[Squander the potential of firearms?] Sicilia was confused by what he meant. Glancing around, she could see a similar look on her brothers. Just what could he be leading up to?

Meanwhile Maxwell seemed to have ignored their expressions as he continued his explanation.

"This sort of doctrine adheres to the old rules of war."

Before Maxwell continued, he pointed to one of the many statues in the garden. It was a large white marble statue depicting a knight riding atop an imposing horse. Both the knight and his steed was wearing heavy plate amour which exaggerated its appearance of power.

"I assume we all know the power of knights within the battlefield?"

"Knights are shock troopers of the battlefield. With just one cavalry charge of a cavalry unit of knights alone could devastate the entire enemy army."

Although Cromwell was the only one to respond, everyone on the table was already aware of this fact. After all, they were nobles. It would be stupid for them to not know at least this much.

"That's correct. During their height in popularity, knights ruled the battlefield through their fearsome cavalry charges while the levied peasants and mercenaries were used as nothing more than meat shields."

[During their height in popularity? That's a bit of an odd way to refer to knights... Aren't they still being used to this day?]. Although Sicilia found this a bit odd, Maxwell continued on anyway.

"While a doctrine like this may have worked in a time where firearms weren't so prominent, in todays form of warfare I would consider it incredibly inefficient."

Maxwell took out his musket pistol and placed it on the table.

"Nowawadays... you don't need to be a knight trained from a young age to be a killing machine. Even a dirty peasant who received no training can kill a trained knight if the former was armed with a musket and the latter only his sword."

"Then doesn't that mean that there is nothing wrong with the current doctrine?"

Cromwell was once again the first one to respond.

"I mean if an untrained peasant can kill a knight with a musket then what's the problem with an army composed of bumbling idiots if they were armed with muskets?"

Maxwell sighed when responding to Cromwell's questioning.

"That's being wilfully ignorant. Tell me Cromwell. What if a cavalry charge led by knights was disorderly. Do you believe that the knight's cavalry charge will be just as effective?"

"Well..."

Cromwell's counter argument was almost immediately countered by Maxwell. Sicilia wasn't too surprised. Despite being the oldest, Cromwell was always the most reckless. Maxwell seemed to ignore Cromwell as he continued talking.

"Everyone has been so accustomed to the old model of warfare that no one is willing to innovate. They look at these new weapons and treat them like the weapons of old."

"That is true but what about the Panish 'Tercios'? Aren't they also well-trained and well-disciplined?"

This time it was Keizwell who questioned Maxwell.

"Oh and I know you aren't saying it directly but please don't use insult us by using Cromwell as a reference... only thing the bloody idiot knows is how to get a woman into his bed."

"Hey! I take insult to that!"

Sicilia only barely stopped a giggle from leaking from her mouth. Throughout the entire meeting, Sicilia has been mostly quiet and was instead listening attentively to Maxwell. She wasn't going to stop now.

Keizwell ignored Cromwell's anger and pressured Maxwell for an answer.

"If all that your military doctrine amounts to is instilling loyalty in your men and conditioning them to follow orders then I'm afraid that the Panish already utilise that kind of tactic. Even us Drussians are-"

"Failing to emulate the Paniards."

Maxwell interrupted Keizwell in a matter of fact way. From her seat, Sicilia saw a slight bit of shock appear on Keizwell's face.

"And in my opinion... we don't need to emulate the Paniards."

"What are you saying?"

Maxwell gave a low chuckle before he responded to Keizwell.

"I'm saying that we can do better than the Panish. I'm saying that there's more to warfare with firearms than just discipline and training... There is one main problem with the Panish Tercio and that is how unreliable it actually is."

[Unreliable? What does he mean by that?] Although Sicilia wanted to question him further, she knew that he was going to elaborate anyway so there was no point in moving her mouth.

"This problem is caused by one inherent design flaw in the Panish doctrine. Their lack of standardisation. There is no true standard firearm that the Panish use and every Tercio battalion differ in size and unit composition... This means that no one can really tell what to expect from each Tercio..."

Maxwell sounded like a scholar who was giving a lecture to his underperforming students. Sicilia could not stop her jaw from dropping. The entire experience was very new to Sicilia. Who would have thought that the shut-in brother was actually a prodigy in warfare?

She didn't even have to look at her older brothers to know that they shared the same thoughts. Nevertheless, Maxwell elaborated further.

"This lack of standardisation can be traced back to what I was talking about earlier. While the Panish army can follow orders, in truth, they are only taught how to follow orders without any thought or care in how the Tercio would actually operate."

Maxwell paused for a moment before he continued.

"That is why my new proposed doctrine will emphasise both concepts of drilling and standardisation."

With her interest piqued Sicilia, found that she started to lean foward the more Maxwell talked.

"During the age of knights, there was a lot emphasis on individual skill and heroism. I plan to complete eliminate that obsolete notion."

Sicilia's jaw continued to drop lower the longer she listened to Maxwell. All though what he said was true and was backed with practical evidence, it was all also very hard to believe. In the end, Sicilia could only listen to Maxwell in silence.

"I plan to replace individualism with collectivism. Every man will be armed with a set musket model. Every man will be trained the same. Every man will be conditioned to hear and obey the same set of orders. This way, I can be fully aware of my army's strengths and weaknesses. I know what to expect from each man because each man is the same."

Maxwell shrugged slightly before he continued.

"I'm not going to go into the specifics but with this sort of military doctrine... even if an army is outnumbered 5 to 1... the one using this revolutionary doctrine will be the one coming out victorious."

Somehow, Sicilia could feel a sort of ominous aura emanating from Maxwell. The sort of aura that drove a chill down her spin. Before she could even think of anything else Maxwell suddenly stood up before he made his grand announcement.

"This is why I want your help to help me create my grand army. One that I will lead to personally defeat the Panish Empire and push them out of Drussian territory!"

Maxwell put a lot of emphasis into his words as he proclaimed this.

"If everything goes exactly to plan, the Dunnwal family will receive more power than ever before!"

Sicilia's eyes widened when she heard the extent of Maxwells plans. She turned a glance at her brothers to check on their faces but what she saw was just as shocking.

She could see faint grins on her older brothers' faces and a glimmering sparkle within their violet eyes. However, when Sicilia touched her face, she soon discovered that she was grinning too.

Sicilia didn't know if it was madness or if she was truly convinced by Maxwell's proposition. She just knew that somehow, someway, that this can and will work. If Maxwell wasn't bluffing then he could use his military prowess to place the Paniard controlled provinces into the Dunnwal family's hands.

If that were to come true then what kind of fortunes would it bring to Sicilia?

There was no way she could refuse to aid him now.

There is too much at stake for her to just stand idly by.

Soon after, Maxwell concluded his presentation.

"However, that future is only possible through some... external support."

During this moment, Sicilia saw a faint smile grow on Maxwell's face. It was like that of an angel. An angel that brought blessings from God himself. Now there was no doubt what choice Sicilia would make.

"Well... Can I count on your aid?"

There was only possible one answer that the three of them could return.

"Yes."