Munitions Empire

While Pan Yiping was flaunting his wealth, sitting in his Rolls-Royce at the port of Dorne, the 9th Group Army Commander of the Great Tang Empire was staring absentmindedly at a worn-out Rolls-Royce early model car in the distance.

He wasn't a car enthusiast, so he couldn't identify the era of the Rolls-Royce, but he was sure he hadn't seen this model of old car in a long time.

Of course, similarly, as a military leader, General Feng Kezhi had never thought he would one day become the "superior" of a King.

As he stepped off the destroyer, standing at the cramped and dilapidated dock on Northern Island, his heart was filled with disdain. This place was even worse than the command post he had on the South Island, at least that looked like a place where people lived.

On Northern Island, there were hardly any cars; even in the convoy that came to welcome General Feng Kezhi, there were not many decent-looking sedans. There were truly few notable members of the Nobility in Mirage Country, and they dared not flaunt their wealth.

Because the Shen Emperor would seize any opportunity to eliminate those Nobility who appeared wealthy, then eradicate their families to confiscate their fortunes and build warships.

After all, at that time, the whole Mirage Country still had some illusions, fantasizing about establishing a grand naval fleet to continue being the dominator of the northern seas.

Unfortunately, the dream of dominance never materialized, and their invincible fleet perished within a day. Mirage Country ultimately perished, leaving only Northern Island now.

The Shen Emperor... or rather, the current Island Master of Northern Island, stood with his head bowed at the dock, resembling an aggrieved little wife.

The civil and military deputy officials on Northern Island, Shen Wenxin and Shenwu You, were embarrassed, unsure of what to say. As the Mirage Country band saw the person to be welcomed stepping down the gangway, they immediately played a welcoming tune, turning the atmosphere on the dock lively.

This shabby dock had nothing to offer in terms of scenery. Standing before these Goblins, General Feng Kezhi, with a height approaching 1.8 meters, even felt slightly conspicuous.

Following behind General Feng Kezhi as he stepped down the gangplank was also a Goblin, who was deferential, walked up to Feng Kezhi, made an inviting gesture, pushing aside the somewhat bewildered Shen Wenxin.

"General! Watch your step! The countryside dock is not level!" Shen Wuxiong, dressed in an old Tang Empire officer's uniform without shoulder epaulets, had a fawning expression, like an Emperor's eunuch.

The Shen Emperor frowned: Is this his Northern Island Commander? Is this the General meant to command all Northern Island troops in the future?

Shen Wenxin was also shocked by Shen Wuxiong's shamelessness; he had never seen a person stoop so low! It was simply disgraceful! It was... a disgrace to intellect!

Unfortunately, he didn't have the guts to reprimand Shen Wuxiong because this Shen Wuxiong had met the Emperor of the Great Tang Empire as a Goblin! He surrendered to the Great Tang Empire very early on, and his "status" in the Tang Empire was there for all to see.

If he wasn't trusted by the Tang People, how could this surrendered general hold the power over life and death of the captured Goblins, persecuting the Goblin slaves like that?

Everyone in Mirage Country said Shen Wuxiong was a "treacherous man," which showed exactly how many heinous acts this Goblin general had done in the Great Tang Empire! But thinking from another perspective, the more the Goblins hated Shen Wuxiong, the more welcomed he was among the Tang People.

Just at this moment, Shen Wenxin saw another Goblin coming down from the ship, not wearing the outdated Tang Country military uniform, but rather a decent suit.

Indeed, Shen Wenmao also arrived, together with General Feng Kezhi on Northern Island. He was now the Prime Minister of Northern Island, actually the decision-maker of Northern Island.

Northern Island practically had no buildings with elevated heights, and scarcely any cars meeting the standard dimensions. After all, the Goblin's height was given, only imported cars matched human height.

Therefore, Goblins imported Dwarven cars the most because Dwarven cars were inherently a bit smaller, less expensive... But these "small-sized cars" from the Ice Cold Empire became spacious treasures for Goblins.

When General Feng Kezhi entered a room where he could almost lick the chandelier with his tongue, he completely lost it. The General walked out of the building with an unhappy expression and went to the open space.

Nobody knew what had happened; Shen Wuxiong and Shen Wenmao understood General Feng Kezhi's displeasure well. They also felt the houses on Northern Island were too low and cramped.

Following General Feng Kezhi were the Shen Emperor, Shen Wenxin, Shenwu You, and others, all anxious. They also didn't understand what exactly happened that provoked such displeasure from the "superior" from the Great Tang Empire. They dared not speak, only accompany him, bowing their heads anxiously, waiting for General Feng Kezhi to give a speech.

In fact, they should be thankful, thankful that General Feng Kezhi exploded now: because if later he saw the food placed at the banquet welcoming him, he would certainly be even more furious.

He's been frequently eating those damned seafood items ever since he arrived on South Island; being a Dahua Empire former Great General who lived inland for decades, he hadn't encountered such aggressive seafood.

Thus, the 9th Group Army Commander, who had just arrived on South Island, suffered from nausea and vomiting for quite some time from overeating seafood.

Now that the logistical supplies have finally caught up, many dishes can be provided; General Feng Kezhi finally enjoyed a few days of comforting hometown cuisine, but... upon reaching Northern Island again, he had to eat those broken lobsters, rotten crabs, dead abalones... how could Feng the Great General not be furious?

These things weren't for showing off but indeed were incompatible with his constitution. A robust man from Mongolia devouring seafood regularly, his stomach might truly not bear it; having a southerner eat two pounds of beef fat and beef oil at once, he might immediately vomit.

"My primary purpose for coming here is to introduce Shen Wenmao and Shen Wuxiong to everyone, hoping that everyone on Northern Island can unite in sincere cooperation... and avoid any unpleasant incidents that make His Majesty The Emperor worry and labor." Feng Kezhi frowned, ignoring the attitudes of the Shen Emperor and others, directly spoke.

"If I hear any gossip... then the 9th Group Army, a force of a hundred thousand fierce warriors, will arrive swiftly... Don't blame me for disregarding today's civility." After saying this, Feng Kezhi, who did not want to stay here any longer, left Northern Island that same day.

Afterward, Shen Wenmao directly ordered that henceforth all buildings on Northern Island must align with international height standards, and all previous Mirage Country standards be discarded.

Simultaneously, Shen Wenmao also announced that a batch of decent reception vehicles should be prepared soon to avoid today's embarrassing situation happening again.

The Northern Island officials, originally lacking sufficient funds, wanted to oppose, but Shen Wenmao smiled and handed out a contract to the Shen Emperor.

The Shen Emperor took the document and glanced at it, surprisingly finding out it was a low-interest loan from the Great Tang Empire! With a substantial amount shown, the Shen Emperor even felt a little bit of joy deep in his heart.

With this money, at least the reconstruction speed of Mirage Country would accelerate significantly. For a moment, the Shen Emperor even liked Shen Wenmao, the Northern Island Prime Minister.

"The Emperor of the Great Tang Empire provides funds, and if the stationed Tang Army lacks suitable barracks and when General Feng Kezhi visits again without ample reception places..." Shen Wuxiong said this as he swept his gaze over the Northern Island officials, with language full of threat, asking: "Will you be responsible?"

"Wherever the General's word goes, we naturally support Mr. Shen Wenmao." Several civil officials hurriedly explained.

Shen Wenxin didn't speak but lowered his head. Shenwu You also dared not look at Shen Wuxiong, similarly remaining silent, pretending to be deaf and dumb.

Everyone fell silent; the room was so quiet, a pin drop could be heard until the Shen Emperor spoke, breaking the silence: "I have no objection to the Prime Minister's decision, execute accordingly."

"Island Master is wise." Shen Wenmao slightly remarked, showing he truly respected the Island Master's opinion, but everyone heard the perfunctoriness in his tone.

Then Shen Wuxiong proposed customizing a new version of military uniforms, and selected face modeled after Tang's military system, among other requests; Shenwu You heard quite useful elements from it: Shen Wuxiong had picked up much during his long stay in the Great Tang Empire, naturally improving in ability.

Compared to the local uncultured native officers of Mirage Country, Shen Wuxiong and the officers he brought were evidently more capable. The Shen Emperor also understood, given the premise of not intending to overturn relations with the Great Tang Empire, allowing Shen Wuxiong to reestablish military strength on Northern Island was absolutely a better choice.

So, the series of suggestions made by Shen Wuxiong and Shen Wenmao were finally all adopted. The Shen Emperor... surprisingly did not raise a single doubt.