Munitions Empire

Brunas, Tang Mo, in his temporary office, sketched the side view of a component with his pen.

Most of his spare time each day was spent on similar tasks. There was no helping it: the lot of a humanoid, autonomous drawing machine couldn’t be changed by anyone.

Thus, when Li’ao came to deliver intelligence or whenever someone sought him out, he was mostly found head down, drawing, or writing some piece of literature.

Successful people were not at ease, and those who woke up each day to seek out the third lead actress from their sophomore year, spend their afternoon in a hotel with the second lead actress, and accompany the first lead actress at a barbecue place at night, only to receive a call and rush off to rescue the fourth lead actress in the wee hours, such scenarios could only occur in novels.

The reality was that Tang Mo had to work for several hours every day, then listen to the reports from his subordinates and spot-check production reports from his own factories... Yes, spot-check! Because he couldn’t keep up with all of them anymore.

Now, the Great Tang Group had established a brand new audit department, which checked the production reports consolidated by various departments daily. However, whenever he had time, Tang Mo would still check a few reports himself, as it was his habit.

To make sure that subordinates did their jobs honestly and refrained from cutting corners, those in power must personally inspect the work progress, according to Tang Mo’s experience.

A dynasty could slacken from its ascendency within about 50 years. Tang Mo was certain that if he slackened even a little, his subordinates would cut corners enormously. Eventually, the Great Tang Group would quickly decline and become another Shireck.

Therefore, the scenario where the president prepared for half a month and then, one evening with a rose in his mouth, performed under the heroine’s window, had an almost zero chance of happening in real life.

Presidents didn’t have the time for such things; the cost was too high—if they truly took an interest, a more rational solution would be to have their personal secretary ask the heroine with a cheque in hand whether she preferred yachts or helicopters...

Just as Tang Mo put down his pen and shook his sore wrist to alleviate some fatigue, Luff and Li’ao walked into his office together.

Tang Mo knew that there was news from the front line. He asked Yulin to pour him a glass of water, then walked over to the two and gestured for them to have a seat, and then commanded, "It seems there’s news, let’s hear it."

Luff immediately began, "Master, the news just came in. One of our fleets delivering goods to Zheng Country was attacked by Shenguo."

"Oh?" Tang Mo was startled. He hadn’t anticipated that while he sent troops to attack Dongwan Island, Shenguo would strike first...

It seemed the other party was quite bold to give the Great Tang Group a reason to strike back... This time, if they weren’t prepared to settle the bill for provoking the Great Tang Group into war, they shouldn’t expect Tang Mo to just let it go.

Li’ao then added, "12 sail-armed transport ships were attacked, 11 were sunk, and only one managed to escape to Zheng Country."

"Then, the survivors from that ship in Zheng Country found our other transport ships and passed the news back."

"It seems necessary to deploy a public radio station in Zheng Country," said Tang Mo without a hint of realization that he had actually already sent troops to Dongwan Island in Zheng Country. Discover hidden stories at empire

"Yes, this time the news took too long to get back," agreed Li’ao with a nod.

"Hmm, you go arrange it. Set up two more radio stations at the vital nodes there to transmit important messages and intelligence," Tang Mo offhandedly arranged: "That’s assuming, of course, that Zheng Country knows the score."

Li’ao immediately nodded, "Yes! And regarding Shenguo?"

"Luff?" Tang Mo looked towards Luff.

"Bernard has sent a message. Battalion 1 has landed on Dongwan Island and is expanding the front," Luff promptly reported the latest situation.

He still didn’t have the actual map of Dongwan Island, so he could only use a very simple hand-drawn map to give a brief explanation.

"Our landing was approximately here, the supplies are making slow progress ashore. The main force of Battalion 1 has landed, so the landing site’s security is somewhat assured," Luff indicated on the map as he introduced the latest situation to Tang Mo and Li’ao: "Our plan is to first take Fengshun City, then gather the main force to head north..."

Tang Mo knew that actually, Battalion 2 had set off from Dragon Island more than half a month earlier, followed by the subsequent transport fleet heading for Dongwan Island.

After ten days, the main forces of the elite 1st Division stationed on Dragon Island were, by and large, engaged in combat on Dongwan Island.

He was not at all worried that the enemy forces on Dongwan Island could cause trouble for his troops; he had great confidence in both his army and navy.

Now, he was considering how to build Dongwan Island into a forward base as swiftly as possible to support his subsequent campaign plans for the annexation of Zheng Country.

Actually, the number of troops that would be heading to Dongwan Island was substantial. In Brunas, a sailing fleet made up of transport ships had already begun to assemble—200 sailboats in total, tasked with transporting the mobilized two division forces to Dragon Island.

If Tang Mo didn’t move these troops, Kings and Emperors from nations like Dorne, Suthers, Laines, and others might lose sleep over it.

Because after the exposition ended, Tang Mo had already mobilized and amassed four divisions of troops within his controlled zone, a force so powerful it had put the surrounding powers on edge.

Therefore, the second division of the Great Tang Group’s security forces, originally stationed in Brunas, had actually started to transfer to Dragon Island.

It was precisely because the Great Tang Group was continuously transporting mobilized forces out to sea that the surrounding powers had been somewhat reassured, maintaining the region’s stability.

"There’s another thing I don’t know how to bring up with you," Luff paused, seemingly pondering how to broach the subject.

Tang Mo glanced at Luff, took a cup of water from Yulin, and said, "Just say it!"

"The 1st Regiment of the 1st Division discovered a mass grave on Dongwan Island, which preliminarily appears to be left by the troops of Shence Country slaughtering local civilians from Zheng Country," Luff collected his words before reporting, "Nearly two hundred people, most of them civilians, killed and then just dumped into a pit…"

Upon hearing this news, Li’ao was momentarily stunned—not with anger, but rather, he couldn’t decide what sort of expression to face such a matter with.

He hadn’t returned to his homeland for several decades, so to say he had any feelings for the people back home would be somewhat difficult for the old man.

But he indeed felt a moment of sorrow, inexplicably so.

He looked towards Tang Mo and noticed that Tang Mo’s expression was also somewhat unnatural. Like him, Tang Mo seemed to be struggling to find an appropriate emotion.

To be frank, being a second-generation criminal, he had even fewer sentiments about his homeland than Li’ao—let alone the fact that Tang Mo was a transmigrator, who felt even less kinship with his distant ethnic peers. Both of his parents had passed away, making his ties with that land seem all the more distant and estranged.

But in the next second, Tang Mo became filled with sorrow; he blinked as though he was holding back tears.

Then, he looked at Li’ao, his voice choked with emotion, and asked, "The people of Zheng Country, don’t they all have black eyes and black hair... our own kin?"

Li’ao was taken aback, and then nodded vigorously, saying, "Yes, Master! They are our kin, all with black eyes, black hair... all people just like us!"

"They have suffered unjust treatment! Our brethren are in agony!" Tang Mo paused there for a moment, as if to compose his emotions, "They are my people! I cannot let them continue to endure such calamities!"

Li’ao suddenly realized that Tang Mo had come to view Dongwan Island as his own territory. Thus, everything on Dongwan Island belonged to Tang Mo, and any losses on Dongwan Island were Tang Mo’s losses as well.

It seemed that Tang Mo had indeed harbored ideas of ruling over Zheng Country! At that moment, Li’ao felt a surge of excitement, of fervor... for it seemed that he truly might be able to return to his homeland with dignity and honor!

"You’re right, Master!" Therefore, he wholeheartedly bowed to Tang Mo and said, "We should rescue... our kin!"

"Send a message to all the warships: sink any Shence Country ships on sight! The Great Tang Group stands irreconcilable with Shence Country!" Tang Mo coldly ordered, "Immediately notify the envoys of all nations in Brunas, requesting they stand with justice and declare war on Shence Country!"

"...Yes! I understand!" Li’ao stood up, his face beaming with a smile, and bowed to Tang Mo in assent.

"I’ll go convey the orders to the Navy right away," said Luff, also looking excited—he might not have had the same desire to return home in glory as Li’ao, but he knew a full-scale war had begun... this meant that the Great Tang Group’s security forces were about to distinguish themselves once again!

Minutes later, Harry on behalf of Mr. Tang notified the envoys of the various countries, and then a piece of news took flight as if it had grown wings and spread across the world.

The Great Tang Group had declared war on Shence Country, and... it hoped that all nations of the world that wished to maintain a friendly cooperation with the Great Tang Group would also go to war with Shence Country!

When the monarchs of the surrounding countries heard this news, they all breathed a sigh of relief; this time, they could finally be sure that the mobilization of the Great Tang Group’s troops was indeed not aimed at them.

Once assured of the news, these monarchs immediately perked up. The skies had cleared, the rain stopped, and they once again felt capable!

For a moment, the King of Suthers even uncorked a four-year-old Brunas in his Royal Palace. This wine was quite expensive, and he had always been reluctant to drink it.

But this time, he was happy! So he drank it and even invited the Prime Minister, sharing an entire bottle straightaway!

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