Regarding the knife discussion near the beginning: Everyone in this manga continues to make stupid, tropey, decisions. OF COURSE, you would use the superior weapon in a war. THAT NOT EVEN A QUESTION! When guns were invented they were adopted and improved almost immediately, because they were so effective and because they took significantly less training compared to the longbow, or even the crossbow. NO, their archers didn't know how to use them at first and once they did, archery skills fell out of favor. But nobody in charge or otherwise (except maybe the archers themselves) cared because THEY WERE FUCKING WINNING WARS.
If you don't jump at the chance to use a clearly better weapon you have no right to be a general sending people out to die on your behalf.
I think this is a drop from me.