Munitions Empire

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"Do you think the price is enough?" the Dwarf countered.

Tang Mo fell silent for about a minute before he spoke, "I've roughly calculated, and there shouldn't be any problems. The current issue is, I feel what you want is not just my technology."

The leading Dwarf pondered for a while, eventually looking at Tang Mo and solemnly stating, "The Ice Cold Kingdom is a young kingdom, having just been born 92 years ago. His Majesty, Ice Cold the Fifth, has inherited his grandfather's ambition to expand territory and hopes he can change his title..."

"I understand," Tang Mo said, slightly taken aback, and then he nodded.

"How do you feel about the title 'Ice Cold Empire' for the kingdom?" the Dwarf asked, somewhat eagerly and nervously.

Tang Mo continued to nod slightly, then gave a noncommittal response, "I think it's quite good."

Then, he looked at the Dwarf, confirming, "I think I understand what you mean. You want exclusive procurement rights to all products of the Great Tang Group... at least, exclusive rights within the Northern Continent."

In fact, the Dwarves had offered no small thing, and it seemed very sincere at face value. Tang Mo knew that if he spoke up now, the Dwarves might offer even more.

However, what they wanted was not just technology and products. They wanted the full support of the Great Tang Group to help the Ice Cold Kingdom expand outward.

This expansion would likely include many Dwarf Kingdoms, which would soon turn to the Great Tang Group, seeking to collaborate.

The Dwarves did not want a repeat of incidents like those with the Poplar Kingdom and the Songmu Kingdom. They wished for a world where... there was only one Dwarf nation.

A Dwarf Empire... a rather interesting notion, Tang Mo thought to himself.

These Dwarves hoped that the Tang Group would support only them, leveraging the Group's technology to absorb the surrounding kingdoms.

Seeing that Tang Mo had grasped their meaning, the Dwarf continued, "If the Great Tang Group fully supports our Ice Cold Kingdom, then within the borders of the Ice Cold Kingdom, or rather, within the territory of the Ice Cold Empire, the businesses of the Great Tang Group will have unfettered access, and you... you will become the most respected individual."

...

Tang Mo said nothing; he was contemplating the pros and cons of supporting the expansion of the Ice Cold Kingdom into the Ice Cold Empire.

By his core interests, supporting a nation's annexation of its neighbors did not maximize benefits. As an arms dealer, only division and war could provide him with a continuous stream of profit.

However, as an arms dealer... he not only had the income from war, but also an immeasurable, vast array of other profits.

Pharmaceuticals, food, finance, cars, ships... all things considered, war and peace could both bring him enormous profits.

A unified nation that supported him might not be such a bad idea after all.

Besides, it was quite clear that in this world, where empires were not numerous and each played a significant role, the aspiration to ascend to an empire was a highly tempting proposition.

Many kings wanted to become emperors, and many kingdoms hoped to transform into empires—the criteria for judging a nation ultimately boil down to its population and territory.

As long as the expansion reached a certain scale, as long as governance was adequate, as long as there was a sufficient population and broad territory, as long as the emperor was strong, as long as... the other empires acknowledged it, a new empire would form until... it collapsed from within or was conquered and absorbed by another.

"So, what do you say, sir?" Seeing that Tang Mo was still weighing his options, the Dwarf could not sit still and asked.

"The offer is tempting, but lacks execution capability," Tang Mo shook his head, looking at the Dwarf. "Many empires exist in this world, each of them strong. Even Shireck can't sway the will of the empires."

He paused, then continued looking at the Dwarf, "I have no problem supporting the transformation of the Ice Cold Kingdom into an empire, but His Majesty the Emperor of the Ice Cold Empire might not recognize a poor relation like me."

Saying this, he pointed to himself, "If you later deny your promise to me, I'll have to trouble myself with collecting debts. It's bothersome and strenuous—not as easy as earning money while lying down, as I am now."

"So, what kind of assurance would you require?"

"I need to think about it," Tang Mo stood up, headed towards the door, and instructed the servants waiting there: "Treat our guests well..."

...

"You're rebelling! Betraying! Get back or we'll open fire!" At the end of a corridor in the Dorne Royal Palace, a heavy carved wooden door was riddled with bullet holes.

An officer leaned against the doorframe, shouting at the soldiers on the other side: "His Majesty commands you to step back! This is an order!"

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The answer to his question was a series of gunshots, bullets hit the precious marble, chipping away at it, wooden doors were shattered sending splinters flying, gunsmoke spread through the seemingly luxurious corridor, shrouding it as if in fog.

Unfortunately, if there was no smell of burning sulfur in the air, the mist would be better off without the nauseating smell of blood mixed in.

Because on the floor of the corridor lay many soldiers' bodies, a fierce battle had just erupted here, bayonets stained with blood, leaving both sides grievously wounded.

The soldiers of the King's Guard, their arms wrapped in white bands, were nervously loading their rifles with ammunition, their numbers greatly diminished but still persisting in combat.

In the room, the wounded lay on the expensive carpets uttering sounds of desperation, while in the corner, trembling servants and maids didn't know what to do.

On the table, expensive chess pieces inlaid with gems lay scattered, teacups shattered on the floor, a teapot toppled beside the chessboard, with no one to tend to it.

The Dorne King sitting trapped in his seat was ashen-faced, regretting not taking Tang Mo's advice and not paying heed to the rebellious forces stirring within his own territory.

"If I surrender myself... will it, will it save everyone's lives..." The King raised his head, looking toward the young officer guarding the doorway.

This young officer was not the commander of the guards; the commander had been sacrificed in the chaos outside the Royal Palace. Now this young officer was acting as the commander, even though he was originally just a minor captain of the guard.

Upon hearing the King speak, the young officer handed his rifle to his subordinate and approached the King, persuasively saying, "Your Majesty! Reinforcements will soon arrive, you must not waver at this moment! Hold on! There is always hope!" Continue reading stories on M V L

If His Majesty the King wanted to perform, then he must play his part fully, mustn't he? Seeing that their defenses were about to collapse and the few remaining soldiers would not last long, if the King did not speak like this, the frightened guards might soon push him out as a bargaining chip to surrender and save their own lives.

Now that he had asked, everyone's spirits were lifted, and their loyalty bolstered—they could, of course, continue to hold on a bit longer...

Indeed, the King's performance had an effect, as the soldiers behind the young man shouted toward the corridor where the rebels were, "Grandpa is right here! If you've got the guts, come and get in!"

"How, how much longer can we hold out?" The slightly uneasy King of Dorne looked at the door riddled with bullet holes, his pale face asking.

"This place is easy to defend but hard to attack, we can at least hold out for a bit longer, soon, loyalist troops will break through from outside, so they'll be in more of a hurry than us," the young soldier consoled while his gaze fell on the dandelion ring on his hand.

"Will the reinforcements... definitely come?" The somewhat panicked King grabbed at the straw of hope to confirm.

"If not, then I'll also fire my last bullet, Your Majesty!" The young officer fixed his gaze on the eyes of the Dorne King, who for some reason, saw in those not-so-beautiful eyes, a boundless strength.

In fact, the young officer did not know if his damned older and younger 'brothers' would really come to the rescue, as they had not been in contact beforehand.

He only knew that if they sensed danger, they would surely find a way to rush over, fearlessly charging to his side to save him.

It was a trust, which is why his eyes were filled with determination, bursting with infinite power.

"I remember... you're from Brunas..." The Dorne King looked at the young man before him, suddenly asking.

"Yes, I'm a graduate of the 3rd class of Great Tang Military Academy," the young man stated plainly his identity: "I am proud to have studied there."

"After today, you will be the captain of my royal guards!" the King said after a few seconds of silence, it was unclear if it was a promise of promotion or a genuine sentiment.

"Very well!" The young man stood at attention, performing the Great Tang Military Academy salute to the King of Dorne.

He then returned to the doorway, took his rifle back from his soldier, peeked out, and immediately withdrew, "Prepare for battle! It's been half a day without gunfire, they're probably thinking of some bad ideas!"

He hadn't finished speaking when he saw on the corridor side, someone carrying a large table over, hung with all sorts of items, including quilts and cutting boards.

Clearly, after half a day's unsuccessful charges, the attacking rebels had thought up a "siege tower."

"Charge!" Pushing such a shield, the rebel soldiers stepped over the bodies of their companions, continuously wriggling forward.

And the guards of His Majesty the King on this end started to look distressed, with only a dozen of them left, if they lost the terrain advantage, they definitely wouldn't be able to defend this room.

They also had nowhere left to retreat; if there was any other place to escape, they would have already escorted His Majesty the King and retreated.

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