I was a knight in the Middle Ages

After two weeks of meticulous planning and a long journey, Alfa led his formidable army across the complex terrain of Bulgaria and Macedonia.

The Alpha team is like a sharp sword, piercing straight into the heart of Western Macedonia, the province of Greece.

The journey was not without its challenges.

The Kingdom of Macedonia expressed strong dissatisfaction and protest against the Alpha army's forced passage.

After all, Alpha's army was like a tiger in flight, raising dust and exuding an aura of power wherever it went.

However, no matter how loud the protests are, they cannot mask the fear in Macedonia's heart.

In the border conflict a few months ago, the Macedonian army suffered heavy losses under the onslaught of Alpha's troops, but has yet to be fully recovered.

Therefore, although Alpha was just swaggering by, Macedonia could only be angry but dare not speak out.

Macedonia was no longer the empire it once was. They knew that Alpha's army was merely passing through and had no intention of annexing them, which allowed them to barely save face amidst the humiliation.

When Alpha's army arrived at Kozani, a major town in western Macedonia, Alpha and his generals simply laughed off the Macedonian warning that the area was an "undefended buffer zone."

Faced with absolute power, any treaty appears pale and powerless.

Today's Alpha is no longer the small, isolated lord it once was.

His power has quietly risen, growing into a second-rate empire that cannot be ignored.

Even when facing established European powers like Germany and France, Alfa Romeo has the confidence to put up a fight.

The warnings and threats from a small, peripheral country like Macedonia are nothing more than the clamor of a clown in Alpha's eyes.

Of course, Alpha is also keenly aware of its own shortcomings.

Alpha's territory is long and narrow, lacking sufficient strategic depth, which makes the risk of a full-scale war extremely high.

Therefore, Alpha's eastward expansion into Greece is primarily aimed at expanding its territory and securing a more stable base.

At the same time, by leveraging Greece's talent pool and geographical advantages, we should vigorously develop science and technology to achieve a qualitative leap.

However, the tree may wish to remain still, but the wind will not cease; the various forces on this land will likely not allow him to develop peacefully.

Upon arriving in Kozani, Alfa immediately convened an emergency meeting with its core members, disregarding the fatigue of the journey, to plan future actions in Greece.

The temporarily converted meeting room was small, but the atmosphere was solemn and dignified.

The number of attendees was small, but each one was a pillar of the Alpha team.

Linda, the representative of the Fatalia region, sat quietly to the side of Alfa.

She was not only the manager of this area, but also Alfa's nominal wife, and his partner who had stayed by his side since he was at the bottom of his career.

Alpha entrusted Linda with full control over the management of the most confidential technology city and underground city.

This trust is not only based on the affection between husband and wife, but also an affirmation of her outstanding management skills.

The science and technology city will be the core engine for Alpha's future dominance in the world.

In the navy, two female admirals with very different styles are attracting attention.

First is Lilia, one of the founding members of Alpha Group. She has weathered many storms and is known for her calm, composed, and meticulous approach. She is the pillar of Alpha Group in naval affairs.

The other is Elisa, who represents the power of the Magic Association.

Although nominally under the naval command, she spends most of her time inland, dedicated to building a magnificent magic academy to cultivate a continuous stream of magical talents for Alpha's forces.

The combination of magic and technology is the future direction that Alpha values ​​most.

The main topic of the meeting was naturally the specific arrangements and actions in the Greek region.

Princess Fayana and Grand Duke Sylma, representatives of the Greek mainland forces, also attended the meeting.

They represent the ancient Greek nobility and local power, who have now completely sided with Alpha and successfully taken control of the Epirus region.

Under their operation, Alpha's influence is penetrating western Greece, central Greece, Thessaly, and even the entire western Macedonia region at an alarming rate.

The situation looks very promising, but there are undercurrents beneath the surface, requiring a more sophisticated plan.

Militarily, the representative in charge of the Tasli front also rushed to the meeting, bringing firsthand military intelligence and information on frontline deployments.

In addition, business prodigy Liv, senior magician Darwin from the Magic Association, Mingyue Fanxing in charge of secretarial work and intelligence, and Gurus, the dwarf elder representing the pinnacle of technology and craftsmanship, were all present.

They represent key areas of Alpha's power, including its economic lifeline, magical research, intelligence center, and industrial manufacturing.

It is worth mentioning that Alpha did not arrange for new members, such as the Elves, who recently joined the team, to attend this core meeting.

On the one hand, it was to protect core secrets, and on the other hand, it was also to examine and integrate these new vassals.

Alpha knows that you can't see into someone's heart, especially during a period of rapid expansion of power, so it is even more necessary to proceed cautiously.

The candlelight flickered at the conference table, illuminating the resolute and ambitious faces.

Alpha's gaze slowly swept over everyone present. He knew that a new era was about to be ushered in by them on this ancient land of Greece.

Inside the meeting room, the crackling fire in the fireplace reflected the huge strategic map of the Eastern Mediterranean on the wall, marked with various flags.

On the map, the golden eagle flag representing Alpha Group has crossed national borders and penetrated deep into the heart of Greece.

However, the flags of the Mark, representing the Austro-Hungarian region, and the flags of affiliated forces such as Rowling in Romania, which were located further away on the map, failed to arrive at this new battlefield in time due to the long distance and the unclear situation.

Their absence made Alpha realize even more that every step they would take in Greece from now on would have to be borne by those present alone.

At the start of the meeting, Alpha did not rush to issue orders, but instead signaled everyone to report on the current situation of their respective areas of responsibility.

This seemingly routine procedure is actually a carefully designed "reassurance" for Alpha.

At this critical juncture where new and old forces are intertwined and people's hearts are not yet fully settled, getting everyone to speak up and understand each other's backgrounds is the first step in building team trust and a sense of collaborative combat.

Linda, Alfa's wife and the representative from the Fatalia region, was the first to speak.

Her voice was steady and clear, carrying a reassuring strength.

Linda reported on the stability of Fatalia as the rear base: militarily, the Knights under Bruce's command had expanded to 30,000 elite troops.

These battle-hardened soldiers will depart in batches over the next six months to assemble in Greece as a strategic reserve force, ready to support the front lines at any time.

This is undoubtedly a shot in the arm.

However, Linda's focus was on technological reporting, which is Alpha's core competitive advantage.

She announced that, thanks to the tireless efforts of dwarven craftsmen and human engineers, a breakthrough had been achieved in internal combustion engine technology.

The first true diesel locomotive has been successfully tested on the experimental railway in Fatalia.

This means that in the future, Alpha's military and supplies will no longer rely entirely on steam trains or slow sea transport, and land transportation will experience a revolutionary speedup.

In terms of weaponry technology, Linda showcased the latest research and development achievements: the 50-caliber "armor-piercing hand cannon," which has been successfully miniaturized and enhanced, and a standard version has been developed specifically for use by intermediate knights, greatly improving the armor-piercing capability of individual soldiers.

The even more terrifying 100-caliber "Thor's Hammer" giant siege cannon, although the enormous recoil and magical backlash it generates when fired still require a powerful knight to control, its range and destructive power have already become a strategic deterrent force.

After listening, Alpha frowned slightly, then relaxed.

Alfa Romeo gave the highest level of recognition to the development of internal combustion engines, clearly stating that it is the foundation of future industrial and power development, and that resources must be prioritized and guaranteed at all costs.

However, he felt a sense of unease about the speed of weapons development—it was already exceeding the capacity of his medical support system.

Alpha realized that it had to develop logistics and medical technology in tandem with its offensive capabilities, otherwise it would only create more crippled soldiers that could not be cured.

During a break in the meeting, Alpha made a point of keeping the dwarf elder, Gurus, behind.

In the sealed room, the two conducted an in-depth discussion and feasibility verification of a more crucial technology—"post-loading technology".

If artillery can be transformed from a cumbersome and dangerous breech-loading mode to a safer and more efficient breech-loading mode, then the rate of fire and battlefield survivability of artillery units will increase exponentially.

This is Alpha's true "trump card".

As for the existing weapons experiments and tactical verifications, Alpha entrusted them entirely to Admiral Lilia.

Alpha is well aware that the situation on the mainland is extremely sensitive right now. Any large-scale land test of new weapons could be interpreted by hostile forces in the surrounding area as a signal of war, thus triggering unnecessary panic and premature encirclement and suppression.

The ocean is Lilia's territory and the most suitable place for conducting closed experiments.

Lilia then gave a detailed report on the navy's construction progress.

With Keira Island as its foundation, a comprehensive maritime fortress integrating a naval base, shipyard, and magic academy is beginning to take shape.

The navy is also expanding rapidly, now possessing 12 heavy magic warships, 30 armed merchant ships, and a total strength of 5000.

What pleased Alpha even more was the tamed mutated octopus, "Kraken".

Nourished by magical energy, its size has grown to ten meters, and its tentacles have become a powerful weapon for the navy.

With the help of magic cannons, Lilia's fleet is fearless in the face of any challenge within a ten-kilometer radius of the coast.

Unless the pirate alliance mobilizes its entire force, they are virtually invincible in coastal waters.

However, misfortunes never come singly.

Just as everyone was basking in the joy of the navy's strength, the intelligence officer brought an urgent warning document from the Ottoman Empire.

The letter was strongly worded, implying that Alpha must accelerate the construction of the new mining city to prove its worth, rather than simply being a troublemaker.

The pressure was immense.

In the south, the pirate alliance's army has completely taken control of most of southern Greece.

They were like a greedy beast, eyeing Alpha's location to the north with predatory intent.

The Ottoman Empire, on the other hand, was like a shrewd gambler.

They are happy to see the two sides fight, only wanting the final outcome, but have no sincerity in directly sending troops to help.

Alpha sneered as he analyzed that this was precisely a manifestation of the decline of the Ottoman Empire.

Their army may still be strong, but their navy has long since fallen behind the times and is simply not capable of waging a decisive battle at sea against the pirate alliance.

However, the pirate alliance was not entirely without scruples. Although they occupied the land, they did not excessively obstruct trade in the Mediterranean, deliberately avoiding a direct and violent conflict with the Ottoman Empire.

The two sides are currently in a strange balance.

After listening to all the reports, Alpha stood up, his eyes sharp as he scanned the entire room.

Alpha has clearly provided strategic guidance for the next step:

"All resources should be immediately directed towards Greece! Our primary objective is to seize and control the Central Macedonia region within a month in a lightning-fast manner. At the same time, the construction of the new mining city must commence simultaneously, producing results as quickly as possible to silence the incessant nagging of the Ottoman Empire."

“Secondly, the reconquest of the entire Greek territory must be accelerated. We must completely drive the pirate alliance out of Greek land. However,” Alpha’s tone turned serious, “I suggest a steady and methodical approach, and avoid being too hasty.”

These words were ostensibly addressed to Princess Fayana and Grand Duke Sylma, the representatives from mainland Greece, in an effort to appease their eagerness to restore their kingdom.

However, the high-ranking military officers present understood the unspoken message from Alpha – deep down, Alpha desperately did not want a full-scale war with the pirate alliance.

Because it would be a war of attrition that would result in mutual destruction, and regardless of who wins or loses, the ultimate beneficiary would be the Ottoman Empire, which would sit back and watch the two tigers fight.

Alpha had to walk a tightrope between the Ottoman Empire, the pirate alliance, the Greek mainland forces, and the major powers in the surrounding area.

Alpha aims to expand as quickly as possible while avoiding a decisive battle through the most stable means.

This is an extremely delicate art of balancing; a mistake in any link could lead to the collapse of the entire empire.

Everything Alpha did was to buy precious time for development and lay the most solid foundation for its grand ambition of spanning the continent.

After making these crucial strategic allocations, Alpha did not slack off in the slightest. It immediately convened its core members for a highly targeted internal meeting.

The primary topic of the meeting was the grand plan for the development of science and magic, which would determine the future of the nation.

Apart from Linda and Fayana, two important ministers in charge of military and political affairs, all the other attendees were renowned experts and scholars with profound knowledge in the fields of science and magic.

The entire conference room was filled with a serious yet expectant atmosphere.

Alpha's gaze sharpened as he surveyed the area before issuing his first order in a deep voice: "Bruce, I appoint you as the Knight Training Officer. Immediately begin establishing a brand-new military academy. This academy will break with tradition and deeply integrate with the magic academy. Our goal is to cultivate a group of knights who are proficient in both knightly martial arts and the mysteries of magic—magic knights!"