Munitions Empire

Despite these voices not being mainstream, Sofia, who controlled more than a third of Shireck's strength, easily suppressed these discordant proposals. Yet, someone had thought this way, and naturally, there were others who continued to think the same.

You see, Sofia was the first one to make a change back then, sending maid Jenny to contact Tang Mo and secretly eliminating several main competitors to ascend to her position.

Since she had chosen the route of clandestine cooperation with Great Tang Group, she naturally had to guard against others following her example and secretly colluding with Great Tang Group to eventually overthrow her.

Looking at the telegram in front of her, Sofia was annoyed as she drew a snow-white cigarette from the polished metal box with her delicate hands.

This cigarette was very thin, a product launched by Great Tang Group, a signature cigarette exclusively for the enjoyment of female nobility, branded as "Rose."

Upon its release, "Rose" cigarettes quickly became favored by the nobility women, who viewed these as important symbols of their status being on par with men.

Thus, the more successful, wealthy, and widowed female nobility enjoyed lighting such a cigarette at gatherings to display their status and taste.

Of course, there was another important reason—it showed their wealth: one cigarette could buy a month's worth of food for an ordinary family.

Sofia held the cigarette in her hand and lit it with her attractive, equally expensive lighter, exhaling a mist of smoke.

Amid the swirling white smoke, her gaze became somewhat distant. Just yesterday, a number of Shireck's shareholders, that is, board members, had formally expressed their discontent with her.

Everyone used their connections and contacts, investing real money and silver, but what for? Wasn't it all just to make a profit?

If there's a lot of money to be made, the leader is deemed capable, a guiding light, a good captain of this commercial warship setting sail.

But if money isn't made, then it's time for a serious discussion. If things aren't working, it's worth trying someone new; no need to hang on a crooked tree.

What these board members meant was, if Shireck lost this war again, Sofia would at least have to give up her position as chairperson and the control over Shireck.

Although Sofia still held a third of the consortium's shares, the other shareholders combined had enough to oust her and initiate various criticisms against her.

Sometimes things go like this: when you list your company on the stock market, countless investment firms are willing to provide funds, gloriously branded as "financing," more affirmatively as endorsing your business direction.

However, if your company's stocks continually lose money, many would sell off their shares for cash, ignoring your desperate pleas, regardless of how you illustrate your company's future prospects—they wouldn't even give you a second glance.

Shireck was once a global influence in the arms industry, providing cannons, warships, rifles, and bayonets to nearly every country worldwide, arguably the most influential "private enterprise."

The company even had its own private armies in many countries and wielded more power than even kings.

But all that's in the past now.

Today, the Shireck Consortium is actually in a very bad shape: in negotiations with various nations, too many Shireck-affiliated officials have been exposed, squandering all former residual awe and esteem that Shireck had amassed.

You see, persuading many countries to make similar decisions is not an easy task. Even during Shireck's prime, certain costs had to be paid, involving various exchanges of interests.

Everything needed to be compensated with the benefits obtained thereafter. Being associated with Shireck meant having soup to drink, benefits to reap—that's the important reason these countries were willing to honor Shireck.

But in the recent decade, the countries involved with Shireck have either been annihilated or continuously suffered devastating failures. Under such circumstances, countries willing to align with Shireck without preconditions have become exceedingly rare.

Now, the general attitude is: what you want us to do, we would consider doing, even offing a beloved friend or family but… for a price.

Exchanges of interests come in various forms, and Shireck, to persuade so many countries to oppose Great Tang Group and Tang Country, paid wonderfully diverse and strange prices.

Sometimes, it meant Shireck voluntarily giving up officials from various countries whom they had bribed but whose loyalty was somewhat questionable.

Over the years, officials bought by or associated with the Shireck Consortium have been continuously falling from grace, either going home to embrace childcare or clanging into jail without further ado.

Emperors of various countries have consolidated their power, employing many young people and infusing fresh blood into their national courts.

Simultaneously, Shireck had no choice but to spend its reserves to provide military aid to many countries. This was also a part of the collaboration, motivated by the selfish interests of these nations.

It's hard to say whether this was good news; amidst Shireck's reluctant compromises, technology began to spread wildly, and the industrial strength and technological reserves of various countries saw substantial progress.

To put it plainly, as technology spread, everyone had a bit of capital; they could develop some weapons and equipment on their own without relying on Shireck.