Munitions Empire-Chapter 784 - 743 Zhao Family members

Chapter 784: 743 Zhao Family members Chapter 784: 743 Zhao Family members “`html

The flood gradually subsided, and Tang Country’s national strength began to recover rapidly. The troops previously delayed and scattered in local areas were gradually redeployed to strengthen various directions.

The speed of troop redeployments increased as the roads began to be repaired. Great Tang was originally the nation most focused on infrastructure in this world, and when these infrastructures came into play, their power was formidable.

With long railway mileage and good roads, troop movements in Tang Country were extremely convenient, allowing for more unexpected assembly.

Unseen and unheard, they assembled six divisions and launched the Central Region campaign while also sending two more divisions to the plains of Chu Country controlled by Strauss and four more divisions towards Hidden Sword Gorge.

This meant that Tang Army’s troops were increasing in all battle zones, while at the same time, they were continuously eliminating the enemy forces in front of them.

With one side increasing and the other decreasing, the troop comparison between the two sides was undergoing significant changes. Dahua and Chu Country, already in a strategic defensive state, felt immense pressure increasingly.

*The pressure was overwhelming for the enemy, but it was the opposite for Tang Country. This sensation of gradually entering the groove made many generals ecstatic.*

*For everyone, the supply line behind them became smoother and smoother, reinforcements increasingly more frequent, and supplies increasingly timely. This feeling was incredibly satisfying.*

*It was like realizing there were still 200 backup rounds and four first aid kits after firing for twenty minutes, like halfway through a raid opening a bag only to find 100 large potions, or like being home for a week without buying groceries yet discovering two boxes of instant noodles and sausages in the kitchen.*

By this point in the war, Tang Army began to unleash its power. The frontline generals of the Dahua Empire finally experienced Tang Army’s most straightforward and fundamental combat style: bulldozing.

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What kind of battle command was best for graduates of the Great Tang Military Academy? No need to ask. Everyone who had studied there would give you the same answer.

As long as logistical support met the requirements, they would use the simplest and most direct means to gather superior forces and launch an attack in the most reliable way.

The principles adhered to by these commanders of Great Tang were that if ten aircraft could be dispatched for support, they would not just send nine; if 100 cannons could be used, they would not just use 50 for support!

If possible, Tang Army would concentrate hundreds of tanks on the battlefront over several kilometers. As long as they had enough fuel and ammunition, Tang Army hoped for more tank support.

While other countries struggled with transporting two simple rations to frontline troops, the logistics support commanders of the Great Tang Group learned in their classes that toffee and cigarettes were guarantees of high troop morale.

“You can’t let soldiers only eat flat cakes just because they can fight on them! That’s dereliction of duty; warriors fighting for the country deserve the best of everything!” This was a famous saying everyone in the logistics and supply department of the Great Tang Military Academy had heard, and it was their code of conduct.

Their mission was to find ways to send more ammunition and food to the frontline troops. This was not an empty statement.

With the support of more ammunition, more air support, more reinforcements, more tanks, and more armored vehicles, Tang Army was… invincible!

*Already harboring a spirit of resentment, those officers and soldiers who, during disaster relief, had been embraced and revered by the people, understood why they fought.*

*The soldiers of Great Tang belonged to the people of Great Tang! They protected the people, and this was the faith they fought for! Do you know what faith is? Equipped with this, the soldiers of Great Tang… were invincible.*

*What was it like when your country was humiliated and invaded by others in times of disaster?*

Vengeance and hate were unfamiliar to Tang Army, yet this feeling made them realize what they hadn’t grasped during past smooth and successful battles.

No one knew how fierce these troops fought upon reaching the front lines. Because anyone who experienced their ferocity… no longer existed.

Their aggressiveness was such that when they reached the front lines, they temporarily increased Tang Army’s loss rate. Their attacks could even be described as reckless, and their defense was more tenacious, as solid as a rock.

…

In the grand hall of the Dahua Empire, Zhao Kai was tortured by the recent battle situations until his face turned pale. He hadn’t heard any good news these few days; it seemed as if the entire empire was about to perish.

Two months ago, Tang Army’s bombing of Fengjiang was a shocking piece of news in the court, but now? No one cared about the bombings anymore, because even with Feng Kezhi in command, the Tang Army led by Bolton already threatened Fengjiang…

Listen, listen! Was this even human speech? Before, the enemy planes only bombed a few times, but now… the enemy tank tracks were already not far from Fengjiang!

Zhao Kai’s complexion had been poor lately, the various bad news ravaged his ability to sleep well or eat. If anyone suffered the most from the demise of the empire, it was just him, the emperor.

The other ministers could continue to hold office; if things went south, they could return home and become rich gentlemen or even migrate with their entire families to another country to survive.

But he couldn’t; he was the emperor of the Dahua Empire, the owner of this nation, with no retreat.

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So, even he, under the barrage of bad news, became depressed and miserable.

He looked down at the ministers, his hoarse voice echoing in the hall, “What do you mean there’s no way to counterattack? Didn’t the reinforcements from Qin Country already arrive? What about the reinforcements from Shu Country? Where are their reinforcements? Where have they arrived?”

At this point, no one wanted to respond, not even Shen Chuan, the Minister of War overseeing these matters, who kept his head down in silence.

So Zhao Kai continued speaking to himself, “Send a telegram to Zhao Chen! Send a telegram! Tell him to prepare and start counterattacking! If he says he’s not ready, ask him when he will be ready! When can he start counterattacking?”

Upon hearing this, Shen Chuan finally couldn’t sit still. Before Feng Kezhi left, he warned that if the troops lost much more, the situation may become unsustainable.

So, he immediately stepped out and bowed his head to Zhao Kai, saying, “Your Majesty, calm your anger! Currently, on all battlefronts, our forces are not in an advantageous position. Forcing the frontline generals to counterattack now will worsen the situation.”

Just as everyone expected, Zhao Kai ignited like a barrel of gasoline, exploding instantly, “What nonsense are you talking about? If we don’t retake the southern oil fields, if we don’t take back Wangchun City, Tengyun City, and South Wind Pass… Dahua Empire won’t rest! Won’t rest!”

Chu Muzhou weighed his options, stepped forward heavily, dragging his aged frame, and said, “Your Majesty, calm your anger! I believe the war must continue, but how to fight… we should listen to the generals’ opinions…”

“I’ve already heard too many of their opinions! But what was the result? The result was them being cowardly and afraid of death, making excuses and stalling!” Zhao Kai didn’t show the Imperial Chancellor any face, even feeling this old man was a bit presumptuous.

So he dismissively scolded, “Before, I thought we should take the opportunity while Tang Country was unsettled to avenge Zheng Country! But every one of you didn’t know how many benefits Tang Mo granted you! Just refused to agree to declare war on Tang Country!”

For an emperor to accuse his ministers of accepting enemy bribes was a very serious charge, so Chu Muzhou immediately defended himself, “Your Majesty, calm your anger… watch your words! None of us took a penny from Tang Mo, the heavens can be our witness!”

The remaining ministers also began wailing, as if greatly wronged, “Yes, Your Majesty, we served with integrity, and have never taken a single penny of enemy funds!”

The cries made Zhao Kai’s head swell like a drum, and he immediately roared, “Enough! When Ding Hong gathered the defeated troops and stationed at South Wind Pass, what did you say? You said Ding Hong was an able minister, a famous general! The pillar of my Dahua! An exceptional commander!”

“I almost gave him the honor of Great General back then! Almost!” Recalling this, Zhao Kai became even more agitated, pacing furiously before his throne like a beast eyeing its prey, “The result was he surrendered! He surrendered!”

“Hahaha! He actually surrendered! Handed over the southern oil fields! Gave the southeastern land of Dahua Empire to Tang People!” Zhao Kai laughed out of extreme anger, his voice raised to a sharp pitch.

But he hadn’t finished, still wanting to shout, “Now! That person you similarly called an able minister and a famous general, Qian Jinhang, is flirting with the Tang People in Xicong! The hundreds of thousands of troops of Dahua Empire! My hundreds of thousands of troops! Are on the verge of being handed over to Tang Mo! Handed over to Tang People!”

Qian Jinhang’s situation was no longer a secret, as this involved the surrender of hundreds of thousands of troops, impossible to conceal.

In fact, after deciding to surrender, Qian Jinhang sent a telegram to the Dahua Empire, acknowledging everything he had done, clearly reporting to his former employers the final date of complete surrender.

General Feng Kezhi actually understood Qian Jinhang, as he had ordered him to hold the position and delay time—Qian Jinhang very well completed the task assigned by Feng Kezhi, holding out till the agreed time, even exceeding the task.

But Emperor Zhao Kai didn’t understand. From his perspective, Qian Jinhang should have fought to the death, battled to the last man, then committed suicide for the nation; only then would he have lived up to the honor of Great General bestowed upon him.

This series of events made Zhao Kai increasingly distrust outside generals, so he more frequently appointed royal family members he had previously been wary of.

Zhao Chen was one of them, Zhao Jie another, now… he thought of more Zhao family members.