Munitions Empire

To describe the current situation in Qi Country in one sentence, that would be: Delivering packages under Big Ben, with disarray above and shipment below…

The style of the Tang Army also underwent a change, as the Armored Corps once again charged forth, taking down a large number of cities with unstoppable momentum.

Deprived of food, the large-scale Qi troops remaining in the country began surrendering en masse. The First Armored Division created a huge encirclement, and the 100,000 Qi soldiers inside astonishingly chose to surrender without much struggle.

Although most of these troops were a mixed bag under the command of the Third Prince, and a part were deserted by the First Prince.

But even if they were a mixed bag, those troops may not be good at war, but as labor force, they were more than capable. With just a bit of pacification, it would not hinder Tang Country from taking them over to work as laborers.

However, at this moment, Qi Country's neighbor across the sea to the north, could no longer sit still: if Qi Country collapsed instantaneously, they would have no room for maneuver.

Therefore, encouraged by the Laines Empire, Ice Cold Empire, and Dahua Empire, Shen Country finally could not help but enter the fray at this moment.

Shen Country dispatched a huge naval fleet, transporting two of their divisions to Beiyuan City, and along the way they also sent over some shells and food, providing support free of charge to the Second Prince of Qi Country who had no way out.

The Second Prince had no other choice but to follow the advisor Shireck's instructions and opted to sell sovereignty in exchange for Shen Country's support.

In his view, at least he would still be an emperor as a puppet, but if he were attacked by the Tang Army, he would only be a corpse.

Moreover, his eldest brother was approaching rapidly from the south, with a trail of looting and killing. If he did not have the support of Shen Country now, he would truly be left without a place to be buried.

Having thought it all through and truly without a better choice, the Second Prince decided to sell the northern part of Qi Country directly to Shen Country, and he announced to the world through telecommunication, making the sale a reality.

The Great Tang Empire, upon hearing the news, was overjoyed and almost immediately announced recognition of Shen Country's rule over Beiyuan City.

Following suit, the Ice Cold Empire and Laines and other empires also declared that they recognized Shen Country's purchase of Beiyuan City. After all, this was Qi Country's loss, not theirs.

Even, the emperors had a faint sense of anticipation, hoping that Tang Country, in a fit of rage, would declare war on Shen Country.

Tang Mo, holding the news of Beiyuan City being sold to Shen Country, looked towards Li'ao, who had delivered the news, and asked, "What do you think we should do?"

"Based on the current situation, if we want to end the war as soon as possible, then we should recognize the transaction of Beiyuan City," Nangong Hong replied from the side. "However, this is not without costs."

"Yes, the cost…" Tang Mo nodded slightly and placed the report on his desk. "If we choose to end the war now, the current pressure would be greatly relieved. Domestically, we can end the wartime state and the economy could recover to a higher level in a short period of time."

He finished speaking, then suddenly shifted tone, "But, then we lose the moral high ground! Gentlemen, the Great Tang Kingdom will never tolerate Tang People being cruelly abused by goblins! Nor will it allow the Tang People to be ruled by goblins!"

Tang Mo didn't explain why the people of Qi were considered Tang People, but everyone present subconsciously accepted this assertion.

In their eyes, anyone who could become a Tang Person was a Tang Person, and everyone living on land that would soon become part of Great Tang was a Tang Person!

Nangong Hong felt slightly exhilarated, for he heard ambition in Tang Mo's words. An emperor's ambition, and in his view, Tang Mo no longer wished to continue being merely a king.

The awkward title of Great Tang Kingdom might soon be swept into the dustbin of history, and a new, powerful Great Tang Empire would soon rise like the sun!

"Furthermore, our purpose in attacking Qi Country was to end our disadvantage of being surrounded on three sides. By leaving such a large swathe of land in Beiyuan City, with Shen Country's soldiers stationed there, what would be the point of our attack on Qi Country?" After saying this, Tang Mo turned to look at Luff.

Luff understood and began to speak, "Our population migration in the southern seas is about to end, and our Navy will be liberated! General Bernard can move north in a month, by that time we will have the capacity to sever Shen Country's sea route to Beiyuan."

"On land, since the Second Prince has colluded with Shen Country, the First Prince's side will completely lose its base." Luff walked over to the map, pointed to the region to the south of Beiyuan City, the final destination of the First Prince's retreat, "Without supplies, without reinforcements, he will soon collapse."

"We can choose to attack him first, force his surrender, and then find an opportunity to attack Beiyuan." Luff traced a pincer movement on the map with his fingers.

Tang Mo nodded, "Let's proceed with that plan! If Shen Country is willing to send its troops to Beiyuan to fight us, we'll send them all to labor camps to work!"

He stood up and said, "Starting today, everyone should grasp one concept! Just because we retreat, that doesn't mean the enemy will spare us! We Great Tang will not fall back! We only have fighting! Fight! Keep fighting on! Until there is no one in this world who dares to be our enemy! Only then will we lay down our weapons!"

"Long live the King!" the officials present chanted loudly in unison.

...

At Beiyuan City's dock, a sailboat slowly approached the shore. Rows of Shen soldiers, carrying their weapons, disembarked from the deck.

They were short, averaging less than one and a half meters in height, some stocky and some frail, looking somewhat sordid compared to the Qi soldiers on the dock.

Lately, many such ships had arrived, with a new vessel from the Shen Country docking at Beiyuan at every moment. Ship after ship of soldiers was unloaded, along with Shireck's cannons being offloaded at the docks.
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Surrounding Beiyuan City, Qi and Shen forces were constructing a ring of defensive fortifications. They needed to defend not only against the Tang Army from the west but also against the troops of the First Prince from Qi to the south.

At this moment, the Second Prince's Qi forces no longer called themselves the Qi Army; they could only claim to be auxiliary troops, as Beiyuan City now belonged to the Shen Country, and they were no longer people of Qi...

Resentment spread among the Second Prince's troops, and some soldiers fled in the night. However, the Second Prince didn't care, as he was still a prince of Qi, albeit an exiled one.

Shenwu Liang, as the governor of Beiyuan City for Shen Country, was in his Governor's Mansion, looking at the defense map of Beiyuan City.

The Shen Country Navy had already transported two divisions of Shen Troops to Beiyuan City by sea, and within the next three days, another two divisions would arrive.

These troops were all equipped with the new model Shireck rifles and had been outfitted with hastily made Shireck steel helmets based on experience.

In Shenwu Liang's view, the individual combat capability of the Shen Country troops was stronger than that of the Qi people. With forty thousand elite troops in defense, he was confident in repelling the Tang Army's assault.

As a land forces General, he was actually more concerned about his own rear, the maritime supply line between Beiyuan City and Shen Country. If there were issues with this supply line, the factories and farmland of Beiyuan City alone could not sustain such a large force.

Keep in mind that if you include the elite Second Army of the Second Prince, as well as the conscripted forces and the troops that fled the First Prince's pursuit, just the original Qi soldiers amounted to fifty thousand in Beiyuan.

With the additional planned reinforcement of troops from Shen Country, Beiyuan City might need to sustain one hundred thousand, or even one hundred and fifty thousand, garrisoned soldiers. Clearly, a small Beiyuan could not manage this alone, so these forces also required support from Shen Country.

"Sir!" A Shen military officer walked in, so short he almost looked like a child. He saluted before starting his report, "Those Qi are uncooperative, unwilling to be conscripted for digging trenches..."

"Do I need to teach you how to handle this?" General Shenwu Liang glanced at his subordinate dismissively, "Kill the leaders among the Qi, and if they still don't obey, continue killing!"

"But, what about Jiang Zhi... Would there be..." This Shen officer hesitated, reminding his superior cautiously.

"He's just a puppet! Ignore his opinion! If he's not satisfied, let him come to me!" General Shenwu Liang snorted coldly and waved his hand dismissively.

He even thought, when the sovereign of Qi, Jiang Xian, named his sons, he might have named them based on what they lacked.

This Second Prince was named Jiang Zhi, but there seemed to be no wisdom to be seen. If they hadn't needed a puppet, this Second Prince might already have grass growing over his grave.

"Yes! I understand, sir." His subordinate immediately bowed and complied.

"Furthermore, to save food... reduce the rations for the laborers once more! Mix in some bran and sawdust... After all, they are just for digging trenches, their deaths are of no consequence!" Shenwu Liang returned his gaze to the map, with a profound look, "We're not counting on these people to become soldiers; it doesn't matter how many are expended! As long as they are not our people from Shen Country!"

"Yes! I understand, Sir!" The Shen officer bowed his head again, affirming his compliance.

They, the goblins, came here to occupy Beiyuan City with the goal of seizing it forever. It didn't matter how many Dahua people there were; ultimately, they were all to be eliminated.

This logic had been applied on Dongwan Island, and using it here again was nothing out of the ordinary. In short, all these people from Qi were disposable commodities...

"Go! Increase the number of conscripts to one hundred thousand! No matter what, we need to establish a defense system in Beiyuan that even the Tang people would not dare to attack lightly!" General Shenwu Liang's smile grew prouder as he admired the increasing number of defensive works marked on his map.

This was his masterpiece, his work of revenge! He was here to make the Tang Army pay the price that they didn't pay when they forcefully took Dongwan Island!