Munitions Empire-Chapter 1201: Play dumb
When the diplomatic department threatened to throw in the towel, the Minister of Industry couldn’t utter a single word, his face turning red from frustration.
While he stayed silent, the naval generals couldn’t sit still—they feared that the industrial department might spew another heap of nonsense that would derail their plans to purchase the "advanced and practical" aircraft carrier made by the Great Tang Empire.
So, a naval general immediately spoke up in a sarcastic tone: "In my opinion, we should just honestly buy one of their carriers. Buying it earlier means we’ll acquire certain technologies earlier than others."
From his perspective, the aircraft carriers being used by Tang People must be superior—the best, the most powerful, and the most advanced—representing the pinnacle of carrier technology.
As for the industrial department’s own designs... well, words were hardly enough to describe the situation. Look at the prior warships they produced—was there even one that inspired confidence, steady and reliable?
They had no desire to use their own country’s subpar equipment! What they wanted was the self-used equipment from the Great Tang Empire! As long as funding allowed, they were willing to spend money to buy it!
Every detail of those pieces of equipment had been repeatedly refined, and even in the most overlooked moments, there was an undeniable sense of thoughtfulness and surprise.
The Laines Empire, even if it purchased outdated warships sold by the Great Tang Group, still offered its soldiers adequate space for dining, well-ventilated sleeping quarters, and properly designed and easily used restroom drainage systems...
Thus, regardless of the era, people willingly served aboard purchased Great Tang Empire warships—because even in wartime, the survival rate of those warships purchased from the Great Tang was inexplicably higher.
This was a truth universally acknowledged: warships from the Great Tang Empire had lower explosion probabilities, slower sinking rates, better watertight compartments, and emergency evacuation pathways that were more thoughtfully designed! Sailors even reported that the placement of lifeboats and flotation devices on Tang warships was conveniently positioned, facilitating faster self-rescue.
After securing the approval of Leines I, the naval general quickly added, "Moreover, through purchasing an aircraft carrier, we can secure some carrier design expertise from Tang Country, saving time while designing our own carriers later."
His message was clear: the design department and shipbuilding industrial docks should learn as much as possible from these experts! Absorb more of the details to improve the usability of their own ships!
Don’t shrink the mess hall just to cram in an extra artillery piece! Don’t place toilets adjacent to poorly ventilated dormitories! For heaven’s sake! Stop sabotaging us!
"This plan is somewhat more feasible than the previous one; it’s at least somewhat actionable. The industrial department really needs to reflect and make improvements—stop aiming too high and focus on solid, steady work; only then can good weapons be created." The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Somi, was adept at kicking a dog when it’s down. He glanced mockingly at the Minister of Industry who hadn’t spoken for a while, and delivered another cutting remark.
It was as if hearing an arrow pierce through his heart, leaving behind the sound of air splitting. The Minister of Industry nearly prepared for a one-on-one duel with Somi right then and there.
However, he calmed down, realizing that he’d indeed lost face this time. Right now, it was best to keep a low profile; otherwise, he risked being punished as an example by His Majesty.
Swallowing his pride, he adopted a stance of complete silence. Fine, let the navy and diplomatic departments mock him all they wanted!
Earlier, he had wanted to interject but couldn’t; now he resolved to keep his mouth shut—mute, mute, mute! What could they do to him? After all, as the Minister of Industry, his work wasn’t exactly riddled with major issues; who could really hold him to account? If they dared, they could just bite him! Bring it on!
Leines I thought about the 190 million Gold Coin price tag, and he felt his heart ache. That was money! Almost 200 million Gold Coins!
At this moment, he even envied the Emperor of the Suthers Empire, wedged between the Laines Empire and Poplar Empire... At least that Emperor didn’t have to spend so much money developing a navy!
Indeed, the Suthers Empire was a landlocked nation; although its economy was relatively closed, and its national strength weaker, the savings were undeniable! How much could be saved by not having a navy? Five billion? Eight billion? Ten billion, even?
"Alright, we’ll do it! Send a telegram to the envoy immediately; tell him to hurry up and purchase an aircraft carrier from Tang Country! 190 million... just thinking about it makes my heart ache!" Feeling as if his liver was trembling, Leines I gritted his teeth and made the decision.
His pain was genuine, not at all feigned. He could deeply feel that every coin spent carried his blood and sweat. freēwēbηovel.c૦m
At the end of the meeting, to show his dedication to naval construction and the development of national defense, he finally composed himself, adjusted his expression to appear calm and casual, and said, "However, if it can make our coastline safer, this investment is worth it, no matter the cost."
…
In the Imperial Capital of Chang’an in the Great Tang Empire, it was yet another beautiful day. With the Mirage Country war entering a cooling period of island construction, the newspapers carried fewer reports about front-line victories.
Apart from some slaves eagerly discussing their "new homeland," the public’s attention had shifted elsewhere.
After all, compared to the distant South Island far across the seas, the newly acquired territories by the Great Tang Empire seemed much more significant.
With the completion of the bridge over Hidden Sword Gorge, the road directly connecting the Great Tang Empire to Sword Pavilion was now operational. And Sword Pavilion... was now a part of the Great Tang Empire.
Fengjiang, Xiajian, Wanliang, Wilderness, Sword Pavilion, Nanku, Guiguang, Shanping... With so many cities now integrated into the Great Tang Empire’s territory, how could anyone focus on that South Island 1,000 kilometers out from Beiyuan’s coast?
People still cared, of course, since that was also Great Tang Empire territory. But because victory in this war was all but guaranteed, people naturally wouldn’t devote excessive enthusiasm to it.
On the map, the Great Tang Empire had already surpassed the Dahua Empire, becoming the largest empire in this world by land area and coastline—an unprecedented colossus.
To manage this empire, the Great Tang Empire’s state machinery had been operating at full throttle. But it was so vast, Tang Mo realized he’d need a jet plane if he wanted to traverse his domain quickly.
The good news was that he did, indeed, have a private jet—a reliable early model by Boeing Company with maximum safety features.
The bad news was that this plane was still on the factory’s assembly line. To wait for its completion, he’d need some more time.
That morning, the Imperial Chief of Staff Luff arrived at Tang Mo’s office to report the latest war updates: the 9th Group Army had fully secured the South Island, and small transport ships could now dock at Great Southern Bay.
The throughput capacity of South Island had started to recover, and Tang Country’s Expeditionary Force had firmly established itself on the island. This was indeed good news—news that excited Tang Mo.
Still, the conversation eventually shifted to the fallen soldiers; this war had resulted in the largest casualty count of any previous conflict.
Among the 6,000 paratroopers deployed, 1,391 were killed, with over 800 wounded. In the Navy Marine Corps’ landing force of over 12,000 soldiers, 2,118 were killed—another significant number.
"I let the booming voice of artillery echo through the sky so that my soldiers wouldn’t need to use flesh and bone to stop enemy blades and bullets!" Tang Mo stared out the window at the sunlight, rhythmically tapping his fingers against the document on his desk.
His mood grew heavy: "I once had a dream—a dream where my soldiers were trapped in a building, fighting the enemy from dawn till dusk. Enemy tanks shattered the building’s windows; enemy machine guns tore through the rooftop’s flag. Yet my soldiers never retreated."
"Those brave soldiers called upon the artillery behind them to fire on their own position, choosing to perish with the enemies storming into the room. Flames engulfed their bodies, yet they staged one last charge against the enemy..." He described this dream, though no one knew it was actually a scene he’d seen in a film prior to his reincarnation.
Those seemingly tragic sequences and stirring dialogues... paled in comparison to the cold reality of war—it was just the cruelest corner of hell with a facade of nobility.
Luff could picture such a scene, yet he unwaveringly assured Tang Mo: "They would never retreat, Your Majesty! You are their sun; they will fight to the death for you! If you command it, we’ll conquer the ends of the earth for you."
"Listen to me, Luff. That day, I awakened from my dream and reflected on everything, from Brunas to today... I dare not slack off, all for the sake of ensuring my soldiers, those willing to die for me, won’t have to trap themselves in a building, facing enemy shells with their bodies!" Tang Mo interrupted Luff, continuing to express his thoughts.
"I would rather give them jet fighter planes, tanks, artillery, and missiles! Give them the most advanced weaponry! Let them be the ones firing outside the building, let them be the ones testing others’ loyalty!" He finished speaking with a sigh. He wanted to provide the most loyal soldiers with the most powerful weapons—stealth fighter jets, Dongfeng missiles, aircraft carriers with electromagnetic catapults... Give them all! Let them seize victory! Let them earn glory without having to pay with their lives!
"Make sure the pensions are distributed without error—not a single mistake! Personally oversee this matter!" He commanded firmly in the end.
"Yes, Your Majesty!" Luff saluted, promising Tang Mo with resolve. The Great Tang Empire, founded on its military, allowed no negligence in matters related to warfare.
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As always, happy birthday.
