Munitions Empire

"With such a bustling scene, aren't you tempted to have a look?" Leite VII asked from the VIP lounge on the second floor, overlooking the sea of people outside the glass windows of the exhibition hall.

Tang Mo put down his wine glass with a smile and said to Leite VII, "I didn't expect Your Majesty to come in person..."

"The Laines Empire is about to become operational, and I need to prepare for the coronation ceremony... Thinking about these matters, I couldn't rest easy without coming to see Mr. Tang in person," Leite VII said.

"There's nothing to worry about, we've been cooperating for more than a day or two, and since there haven't been any problems, it's unlikely there will be any issues," Tang Mo assured, swirling the fine wine in his glass.

"Thank you," Leite VII nodded, showing a semblance of belief in Tang Mo's words. "I've heard you've launched quite a few new technologies recently?"

Tang Mo nodded, "That's right, the production speed of the Brunas-class warships has increased. I've built two more and am looking for new buyers."

Leite VII was taken aback and then made a somewhat reluctant promise, "I can pay to buy them."

"You should keep your money... Your Imperial Majesty! As far as I know, your financial state isn't very good and won't see much improvement in the short term," Tang Mo said with a laugh, declining Leite VII's kind offer.

Leite VII breathed a sigh of relief and explained, "We are now bordering the Empire of Nanla; both empires are very vigilant... They are increasing their military presence at the border, guarding against us... We also have to be cautious and construct a defensive line at the border."

Tang Mo was aware of this, as constructing a defensive line was no small matter. Leite VII had mobilized 100,000 soldiers and conscripted 30,000 civilian workers to embark on extensive construction at the border.

The Empire of Nanla was also on edge, amassing 120,000 troops at their border and constructing a massive and impressively long defensive line.

Both sides feared the other would strike first, so their reactions were quite intense. Despite the mediation by the Great Tang Group, which kept both sides informed of each other's intentions and tried to defuse tensions, the reinforcement of troops at the border continued unabated.

What was even more ironically amusing was that both sides had purchased vast amounts of cement and even significant quantities of rebar for their defensive lines.

However, these materials were produced by the Great Tang Group and Northern Ridge, transported over lengthy railway and highway routes, arriving near the border. Enjoy new chapters from empire

Afterwards, the Empire of Nanla took half, and the Laines Empire took the other half, each using them for their opposing defensive lines...

The situation was absurd; the bulk of both sides' armaments came from the Great Tang Group, with artillery of essentially the same model, and even the number of machine guns was evenly matched.

Yet, this was not the most absurd of all.

What was truly bizarre was that, when both sides found themselves tight on finances, they both thought of approaching the Great Tang Group for loans... almost at the same time.

The Great Tang Group lent Gold Coin to both empires, then collected high interest, resulting in both nations spending the borrowed money back at the Great Tang Group on weapons and cement.

The Empire of Nanla was a bit better off, not as thoroughly infiltrated, but the situation in the Laines Empire was different; Leite VII was painfully aware that Tang Mo knew even more about his nation's financial affairs than he did.

He couldn't possibly ask Tang Mo for anything—the finance minister of his empire was a lackey of the Great Tang Group, the currency used by his nation was issued by the Great Tang Group, and about half of the empire's officials were trained by the Great Tang Group.

Added to those bribed under control, the Great Tang Group's influence within the Laines Empire was arguably greater than Shireck's influence in the past.

However, most of the time, the Great Tang Group did not exercise its special rights and almost never interfered with the Laines Empire's decrees, which helped to mask the underlying conflicts between the two.

"However, Your Majesty, you have no reason to worry. The contract was signed under my leadership, and you are fully capable of repaying this debt," Tang Mo stated, speaking of the 10 million Gold Coin loan as if it were a trivial matter.

Based on the financial situation of the Laines Empire, barring natural disasters and wars, it would only take three years for Leines I to pay off this debt completely.

The Empire of Nanla also wasn't far behind; they needed two and a half years to repay the money borrowed from the Great Tang Group.

As days went by, profits from Tang Mo's arms factories began to grow. The number of countries purchasing weapons increased, indicating that the impact of the last war was gradually fading from memory.

A new war was brewing, and everyone was strengthening their forces, hoping to gain an advantage and secure more benefits in the future conflict.

The Suthers Kingdom had completed a series of reforms and entered a phase of strength and power.

They were eagerly preparing, sharpening their swords as they eyed the Elves to the north. Dorne seemed to be contemplating whether to take over Gobur, their increasingly wealthy neighbor.

Everyone had their own considerations; this was the problem Nangong Hong mentioned, the one that arose because the Great Tang Group was not an empire but a corporation.

Even if they could exercise influence, even if they could control most decisions, in the end, another's kingdom was still another's kingdom...

As he spoke, Tang Mo caught a glimpse of Yulin and Alice, their cheeks flushed with the heat, out of the corner of his eye.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

"Ah... I just remembered, with the weather being so hot, I've deliberately developed a new kind of food." Seeing his woman distressed by heat, Tang Mo immediately snapped his fingers and then turned to Harry who was following on the side, "Bring up the one that's ready."

Harry gave a slight bow, then retreated out. Soon, he walked in carrying a tray, which held several portions of steaming white spherical objects on dishes.

"What is this?" Leite VII, also agitated by the scorching weather, asked curiously.

Tang Mo grabbed a plate and gestured for everyone to help themselves, "My newly made food... I call it... ice cream."

He wouldn't be so foolish as to hand a plate directly to Alice or Yulin, as the two women would probably get jealous over the order they were served.

He gave none specifically to anyone, wasn't that fair? Thinking of this, Tang Mo couldn't help but applaud his own wisdom.

"Ice cream? Sounds good. Is it a dessert?" Leite VII picked up a plate from the tray, looking at the triangularly stacked spheres with curiosity and continued to ask.

"Of course, would you like to try?" Tang Mo pointed with a spoon and then started to enjoy it himself. It had to be said that ice cream made with the best milk and pure manual labor tasted somewhat different from those produced by machines in later times.

But in Tang Mo's opinion, in terms of original flavor, this kind of ice cream seemed even more delicious.

"Your Majesty..." A guard behind Leite VII quietly reminded him.

Leite VII waved his hand magnanimously, a nonchalant smile on his face as he said, "No matter! If Mr. Tang intended to poison me, I probably couldn't escape it even in the Imperial Palace."

Tang Mo laughed along, nonchalantly clearing his name, "You jest, Your Majesty. I am but a businessman. Murder... is not my forte."

While saying this, he seemed to have forgotten the unsanctified Qiumuluo, as well as Gis who lay buried by the roadside even now.

Of course, these were still his little secrets unknown to most... As for King Germelin, whose name was almost universally known, it seemed at this moment he had become completely transparent.

"Hehehe!" Leite VII laughed sincerely.

"Hahaha!" Tang Mo laughed as well, quite naturally.

"So cold..." Yulin, tasting ice cream for the first time, let out a comfortable sigh without any guard, squinting her eyes.

Alice, by her side, had also already put the ice cream from her spoon into her mouth. A rich milky flavor coupled with an exaggerated coolness spread throughout her mouth.

Instantly, she fell in love with this food.

Similarly, Yulin, sitting beside her, couldn't wait to deliver the second spoonful of ice cream to her lips.

The first time Leite VII tasted it, he was shocked by the food—while he wasn't unused to seeing ice in the summer, and the royal family did indeed store ice in cellars for the summer,

the idea of making something so delicious out of ice was still quite astonishing to Leite VII. He savored the delightful melting of milk and ice in his mouth and then opened his eyes in surprise, "Excellent! Truly a rare delicacy."

Tang Mo burst into proud laughter because the real source of his pride wasn't the ice or the ice cream, but the fact that he had created the world's first compressor and thereby the world's first refrigerator!

Therefore, he could enjoy an endless supply of his own ice on these sweltering summer days, as well as cold drinks and all sorts of chilled delicacies.

Unknowingly, he had transformed this world into a more wonderful place.

"How much for this cannon? We at Suthers want to place an order, 10 units!" Downstairs, in the hall, a Sutherian officer, unable to resist temptation, pulled a salesperson aside, lowering his voice to speak.

He was in need of some ultimate weapons to catch the enemy off guard and break through the border defense.

The once formidable-looking Maxim machine gun mounted on sandbags had now unfortunately become a pitiable object, garnering no interest.

The sweethearts of the past had indeed become pathetic old cows upon the advent of bigger, better, and more potent options—what a sorrowful and mournful story.

"Come take a look! Mosin-Nagant Rifles on massive sale! Half price for our generous promotion! Affordable and good quality!" Far off at the Dwarf weapon booth, the salespeople were shouting their lungs out, hoping to end their woeful lack of attention.

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I still owe everyone 3 more updates, I'll get them out slowly... T-T