Empire Conquest
Chapter 205 - 201 Make a Friend

Chapter 205: Chapter 201 Make a Friend

Even though it was already late at night, the Imperial Capital was still bustling with activity.

On his way to the Navy headquarters that morning, Bai Zhizhan had noticed that the Empire seemed unaffected by the war, at least the Imperial Capital was much the same as always.

Really, there was nothing surprising about it.

Even after declaring war on the Saiyi Imperial Kingdom, the Empire had entered into a state of war, but so far, only the military and the industries and enterprises related to military production had received mobilization orders. The mobilization was only carried out on a limited scale, and the lives and work of most of the populace were not affected.

Full mobilization?

Clearly, there was no need for that yet, or rather, the time had not yet come.

This method of phased mobilization also drew on the experience and lessons of the last great war.

In a sense, it was not always better to start mobilization earlier. Although the country’s war potential could be maximized after completing mobilization, resulting in astonishing combat power, the public’s endurance for warfare also had its limits; it could not be maintained indefinitely.

According to the actual situations reflected in the last great war, even an Eastern country like the Empire could only maintain a state of war for about five years, and it was best to keep it within four years. If it exceeded five years, social tensions would definitely increase and could even lead to upheaval.

Strictly speaking, after four years, internal social issues would become the main conflict.

When war reached this nadir, the contest was no longer about war potential, but about the ability to resolve one’s own issues and eliminate internal discord. To put it more bluntly, it was a struggle to keep society stable while waiting for the opponent to collapse from their internal conflicts.

For the Empire, it was in the fourth year of the war, after four years of mobilization, that social conflicts developed into the number one problem.

Following the last great war, the Empire revised laws related to war mobilization.

To be precise, the mechanism for war mobilization was improved.

Previously, mobilization was carried out all at once or in two or three steps, with the aim being to enter a complete state of war within a year or even a few months. During the last great war, the Tiaoman Empire had control of the initial phase of the war by completing its mobilization within three months.

After the amendment, mobilization was split into even more steps, and different industries were treated differently.

In short, the goal was to extend the state of war as much as possible, rather than causing widespread disruption to life and work, which would lead to war-weariness among the populace.

Of course, compared to the time before the war, the Imperial Capital was still much quieter.

Perhaps it was because this winter was particularly cold.

But ever since the Great Depression broke out, the economies of all countries had been lackluster, unable to compare with the golden decade, and it was understandable that nightlife had become dull.

Moreover, it was now wartime.

Without further conversation along the way, the two of them arrived at a bar in the eastern district.

The eastern district was originally the industrial area of the Imperial Capital, mainly because it was close to the port, but over the years, the factories near the Imperial Capital had mostly relocated. Not just because business was bad, but also due to environmental pollution they were causing, after all, this is the power center of the world’s greatest Empire.

The gatekeeper recognized Li Yunxiang, so upon seeing him, he immediately opened the large gate.

Yes, this was a bar that was open only to military personnel, mainly aimed at well-off officers, much like the bar Bai Zhizhan first met Lian Xusheng twenty years ago. Perhaps they had the same owner, at least judging from the interior decoration of the bar, there were some similarities.

Different from twenty years ago, they went straight to a private room this time.

To be exact, it had been arranged in advance.

Bai Zhizhan had heard from Li Yunxiang that the bar’s grand owner was an Imperial Relative, reportedly some Prince, a cousin of the current Holy Emperor by consanguinity. Since his lineage traced back to Emperor Shiwu, and as long he didn’t commit acts that jeopardized the core interests of the Empire, no one ever bothered with these bars in the Imperial Capital. Even the current Grand Secretary Xue Yuanzheng turned a blind eye to such gray areas.

Lian Xusheng had arrived early and brought along several young Army officers. They looked like they had returned from the front lines with him.

It must be said, only Army officers enjoyed this kind of murky atmosphere.

It wasn’t that the people in the bar were wrong, but the environment was too terrible, teeming with all sorts of questionable characters, making it impossible to discern what sort of strange people one might encounter.

Had Bai Zhizhan been the one to decide, he would have chosen a more secluded club.

On the Navy’s side, the most popular was the officers’ club situated in the rural estates, not only boasting a better environment but also free from disturbances.

But what Bai Zhizhan found most unbearable was the Army’s way of drinking.

Looking at them, they weren’t drinking alcohol so much as plain water!

Among the Navy officers, Bai Zhizhan’s tolerance for liquor wasn’t poor, but in front of a genuine alcohol barrel like Lian Xusheng, his capacity was almost that of a young lady.

Fortunately, after getting to know each other well, Lian Xusheng generally wouldn’t challenge Bai Zhizhan to a drinking bout.

In Bai Zhizhan’s own words, he might not match Lian Xusheng in drinking capacity, but his principles were certainly stronger — if he said he wouldn’t drink, he absolutely wouldn’t.

This time was no exception.

After exchanging greetings and introducing a few young officers, Lian Xusheng had a couple of drinks with Bai Zhizhan before going to drink with Li Yunxiang.

Speaking of which, Li Yunxiang’s capacity for liquor wasn’t weak either, after all, he came from the Army, one could say a veteran tested by alcohol. In the fleet, apart from Du Kang of the Third Shipborne Air Force Wing, no one could outdrink him. Unfortunately, that was nothing in front of Lian Xusheng.

"Brother Lian, I can’t drink any more. In the future, if there’s a chance, I’ll join you in a bout to drink till we drop. Today there’s important business, we should focus on that," Li Yunxiang said while already setting down his glass, or to be precise, turning his glass upside down on the table.

According to the unwritten rules of drinking culture, this was called "sealing the cup," signifying surrender and giving up.

"Right, let’s talk business. This here is Major Li Qing, the staff officer from the division headquarters, my right-hand man. Have you met already? Then let’s have another drink, to become friends."

Lian Xusheng introduced the Major sitting beside him once again, emphasizing "becoming friends." Bai Zhizhan immediately understood the hint. While picking up his glass, he also gave Li Yunxiang a look, telling him not to dawdle and to quickly have a drink with this young Major.

One could say that Lian Xusheng’s hint was already quite clear.

Was the Major’s real name "Li Qing"?

If he was just a staff officer, even if he was the right-hand man, he would have been just another subordinate here to accompany the drinks, so why such courtesy?

Why didn’t Lian Xusheng introduce the other young officers specially?

In the Liangxia Empire, "Li" was the surname with the largest population, accounting for nearly one-tenth, ranking alongside "Wang" and "Zhang" as the three major surnames of the Empire.

For this reason, princes going out to gain experience would generally use fake names with the surnames "Li Wang Zhang."

Interestingly enough, they would use them in that order.

Meaning, the Eldest Prince would typically choose a fake name with the surname "Li."

The current Holy Emperor, when serving in the Imperial Guard Army, used the alias Li Yang.

Could this young officer be the Eldest Prince?

Of course, regardless of whether he was or not, his status was not low.

After Bai Zhizhan’s hint, Li Yunxiang quickly caught on and hurriedly lifted his glass too, joining Bai Zhizhan in drinking with the Major named Li Qing.

In Lian Xusheng’s words, this friend was considered made.

With that, all the necessary politeness and etiquette had been said; it was time to discuss the important matter at hand.

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