Munitions Empire

In a military barracks' meeting room, a division commander, face full of mockery, looked at his subordinates who appeared like frost-stricken eggplants and drawled, "Why so silent? Didn't you talk about interception last time? Are we going to fight this time or what? Should we top up the tank fuel?"

"Division Commander, please stop making fun of us, we didn't really do anything out of line back then, did we?" A regiment commander scratched his neck uncomfortably as he pleaded embarrassingly.

They had blustered about intercepting Princess Ying Yue's train before, only to watch her directly transfer to a plane at Fengjiang...

In fact, their interception plan had not been carried out at all, and the whole affair remained at the level of empty talk, stirring no real waves.

That was also the primary reason why they were still able to gather for a meeting: if they had actually taken any action, they should all be in jail by now. Maybe those in jail would be considered lucky; probably many would have been executed already.

"Come on, you were all for action last time, and now you're silent? Isn't this disloyalty to the three Imperial Concubines?" The division commander continued his cold jeering.

Another regiment commander wiped the sweat from his forehead and coughed for a long time before adjusting his tone and speaking sheepishly, "Cough cough cough... Division Commander, you're blowing this out of proportion, we, well... let's drop it, okay? We admit we were wrong, isn't that enough?"

"Besides, she didn't pass through our defense zone this time, right?" The third regiment commander brazenly dodged the issue.

The first regiment commander who had just spoken perked up at this and quickly said, "That's right, Division Commander, even if we wanted to handle it, we couldn't, it should be the Navy's concern."

This time the princess took the route from Hotwind Port to Linshui, over the vast sea, which had nothing to do with their army.

Even if there was an operation, it would be the Navy's business; this time, they could pass the buck with ease!

With this thought, the second regiment commander immediately nodded in agreement: "Right! The Navy should take care of this matter!"

"You've really lost all shame... Get out of here, and think before you bark next time, or I'll shove you under the wheels of a tank!" The division commander just came to see his subordinates make fools of themselves, so after scolding them, he watched the three regiment commanders flee the meeting room.

...

"Increase the price of export goods by three percent!" In an office with a huge floor-to-ceiling window, sumptuously decorated, a beautiful woman raised her head from a pile of documents and instructed her subordinates.

Her voice sounded pleasant and was filled with authority. Having worked here for a long time controlling the Empire's economy, she naturally exuded an imposing aura that commanded respect.

Alice gently rubbed her golden locks and put down her pen, "If I don't express my views, will this matter ever end?"

No one answered her question. The officials of the Great Tang Empire's Treasury lowered their heads; nobody wanted to catch the heat at such a time.

It was a joke. Everyone could see that their immediate superior was in a terrible mood, and no one wanted to invite trouble by flirting with disaster.

"Let the word out! If there's a third princess or something... it won't be so easy to sweep under the rug!" Alice gritted her teeth but eventually decided to save face for her man.

She was actually quite dissatisfied with how the Poplar Empire was conducting itself, but she also considered the profound implications this would have for the Empire.

Now a mother of two children, Alice had long since matured politically, naturally thinking about how to help Tang Mo stabilize his base.

As a Northern Ridge woman, Alice understood the urgent desire of the Northern Ridge and Brunas factions to return to the Eastern Continent. Although she was unwilling to have another Elf sister-in-law, she knew this was not the time to pressure Tang Mo.

A moment of carelessness could chill the hearts of the factions from outside, and the Empire's top echelons could be affected: although it would not threaten Tang Mo's rule over the entire Empire, the short-term politicking could affect the strategic decisions of the Empire.

Alice's directive to raise the price of the Great Tang Empire's export goods was a signal in itself—The Great Tang Empire's Imperial Concubine is not happy! The rest is up to you!

Don't think that sending over a woman will solve all problems; it could also create new ones: The Great Tang Empire's His Majesty The Emperor is someone you cannot afford to provoke, do you think you could provoke the Great Tang Empire's Imperial Concubine?

The newly-arrived Princess was at most another Imperial Concubine; not all Imperial Concubines are the same! Some have sons, some do not. Some have real power, and some other Imperial Concubines… especially the new ones, do not!

Alice, in control of the economy, was fully capable of causing trouble for any country she took a dislike to. If she wished, that country's import and export trade could suffer a significant deficit.

By then, it would no longer be a situation that can be resolved by sending a woman over—very likely, this nation could be carved up and devoured by other covetous countries surrounding it!

Meanwhile, in another office, Yulin also waved her hand towards her subordinates, "Go! Tell Nangong Hong, if a new princess emerges again... If he can't block the Ministry of Internal Affairs, then let them handle it. Things must come to an end at some point, right?"

"Yes, Imperial Concubine! This subordinate will definitely relay the message to Minister Nangong Hong," the subordinate nodded slightly and said to Yulin.

Only after this subordinate had left the office did Yulin lean back in her chair with a weary face, letting out a gentle sigh, "Alas... this time, you're getting away with it, you philanderer. But let's hope, there is no next time."

Yulin had idolized Tang Mo since her childhood, her adoration for Tang Mo was mixed with affection, creating her domineering attitude towards others and a somewhat inferiority complex when it came to Tang Mo.

She loved Tang Mo deeply, so subconsciously, she was reluctant to add any burden to him. Even though she was already dissatisfied with the princess incident, she did not make a move on this matter. If she had really put her mind to it, I'm afraid that both Ying Yue and the Elf Princess would not have made it to Chang'an.

But Yulin's patience had its limits, and she did not want any more women around Tang Mo. Therefore, as the Imperial Concubine of the Great Tang Empire, she had to make a statement to deter those other countries that had already started to harbor ulterior motives.

The Royal Family of the Great Tang Empire is not just for anyone to enter. Anyone who fails to understand this principle would just have to try!

Moreover, this month Tang Mo can forget about getting into her, Yulin's, bed... Uh, half a month? Alright, ten days! Five days! At least tonight, he won't be getting into her bed!

In Yue'er's office, with her cat ears drooping slightly, she had no heart to deal with official duties and sat at her desk listlessly.

She didn't possess Yulin's dominance or Alice's authority, and regarding the sudden addition of two women to Tang Mo, she just instinctively felt unhappy.

But the more so, the more pitiful she appeared, making one feel more indebted to her. Tang Mo was not oblivious to the state of the women in his harem; on the contrary, he knew everything.

"Let's end this matter here. Explain to the Poplar Empire that their princess is too young, let her study in the Great Tang Empire for two years... As for the marriage alliance, we'll see what the princess wishes when the time comes," Tang Mo threw several report documents on the table and let out a sigh.

"Is this a rejection?" Nangong Hong dared not to make assumptions and asked cautiously.

"Not exactly, convey the intention that the marriage alliance is also the hope of the Great Tang Empire, only due to the princess's age issue it's postponed for two years..." Tang Mo paused for a few seconds before finishing the sentence: "Make sure the message is clear, avoid any misunderstandings from their side."

In fact, he was a beneficiary on this matter, showing no triumphant side, merely not wanting to make his cad nature too obvious.

"This subordinate understands." Nangong Hong bowed his head and complied—feeling uneasy in his heart, because the origin of this issue was the native faction clamoring for a native-born Imperial Concubine. Strictly speaking, it was a classic case of reaping what one sows, trapping oneself in a web of one's own making.

Each time he recalled the laughter of the foreign faction at yesterday's meeting, he felt his cheeks burning with shame. This incident had become his disgrace, akin to his nickname of "Minister of Marriage Alliances."

And another beneficiary of this incident was the plump Elf John, who found it difficult to even walk. He had completely ended his isolated and helpless state and now had a kin of his own in the future Forbidden City within the Great Tang Empire.

So now, summoned by Tang Mo, he stood there sweating like rain—just standing was a strenuous task for the portly man.

"The reason I called you here, is to remind you. Just because an Elf Princess has arrived, don't disregard Yue'er," Tang Mo cut to the chase, speaking very clearly: "The Imperial Concubine Yue'er is amiable, but that doesn't mean she's easy to bully, understand?"

"Your Majesty! I dare not overstep my status... I am a subject of the Great Tang Empire, a subordinate of the Imperial Concubine... I will dedicate my heart and effort..." John quickly wiped his sweat as he professed his loyalty.

"I'm looking at your performance, not hearing your promises!" Tang Mo waved his hand, effectively warning the Elf.

"The intelligence department has been a step slow several times recently... Li'ao, your work is still not up to par." Tang Mo then turned his gaze to Li'ao standing on the side.

The old man immediately admitted guilt: "Your Majesty! This subject deserves death! The courts of elves, Mirage Country, and dwarves are dominated by their own kind... I truly can't place many people inside..."

"Enough, no more excuses, I know you are diligent. But negligence is negligence, and intelligence infiltration into these three countries must be intensified! This is your task!" Tang Mo interrupted Li'ao, issuing him an order.

"This subordinate understands! Upon returning, this subordinate will draft a more detailed plan." Li'ao bowed his head, aware that... the His Majesty The Emperor was knocking on his door.