Empire Conquest
Chapter 261 - 257 Sugar-coated Cannonballs

Chapter 261: Chapter 257 Sugar-coated Cannonballs

Spring Festival is everyone’s festival.

Although affected by the war, the Navy of the Empire did not hold the New Year’s party on the third day of the lunar year as usual and canceled the public open day activities scheduled for the fifth day. But according to the first New Year directive issued by Liu Changxun, the commander-in-chief, all the officers and soldiers at the headquarters had rotating leaves based on wartime principles.

To use Liu Changxun’s words in the directive, "The battle must be fought, but Spring Festival must also be celebrated."

However, Bai Zhizhan was not among those who took turns for a leave.

On the morning of the second day, Bai Zhizhan was called over by Liu Changxun, who informed him that Xue Yuanzheng had officially approved the reform plan for the Navy’s command system.

The schedule was all set, with specific plans to be issued by the Navy Command Headquarters, demanding implementation on the sixteenth day of the first lunar month when the Spring Festival leave ended.

Since it was during wartime and involved changes to the command system, this reform would fully blossom. After being initiated by the Navy Command Headquarters, all subordinate units would advance synchronously, striving to implement within three months, ideally shortening to two months to minimize the impact on combat operations.

Now, Bai Zhizhan could forget about celebrating Spring Festival.

To say, he hadn’t thought about celebrating Spring Festival either, mainly because there was nowhere to go or, rather, no one to celebrate with.

Who celebrates Spring Festival alone?

In the following days, Bai Zhizhan stayed at the headquarters, causing the Yuzhou chef much distress since all the preserved goods he brought from his hometown ended up in Bai’s stomach.

It was not until the eighth day that the Navy Command Headquarters became lively again.

In previous years, the Spring Festival holidays would extend until the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, and only then would they end.

This year was different, as the end of the holiday was moved up by a week.

Early on that day, Bai Zhizhan submitted the drafted part of the reform plan he was responsible for, which related to fleet operations.

After submitting, he felt much more relaxed.

Whether it needed modifications and how to modify were issues for Liu Changxun. Even if rework was needed, it had to wait until Liu Changxun had reviewed it.

No matter what, at least he could relax for a few days now.

Having nothing to do in the afternoon, Bai Zhizhan went to find Zheng Jiangming.

Luckily, this very busy man had not gone out.

From Zheng Jiangming, Bai Zhizhan heard some good news.

The front-line battles continued, and the Navy had already started constructing temporary docks and airports on Liuhuang Island, planning to deploy patrol planes there in the next few days.

According to Zheng Jiangming, once the Navy completed its deployment, the Grand Secretary would announce a strategic blockade against the Saiyi Imperial Kingdom.

The key was not the blockade but the means of the blockade.

Since the Saiyi Imperial Kingdom initiated the war using sneak attacks and other methods, the Empire formally declared war on the Saiyi Imperial Kingdom. Therefore, according to the current international war law and international conventions, the Empire had the right to enforce an embargo on the Saiyi Imperial Kingdom, preventing third parties from exporting materials that could be used in the war to the Saiyi Imperial Kingdom.

However, it must use the open methods allowed by the international conventions.

In other words, they should not initiate unrestricted submarine warfare under the guise of a blockade.

This was the necessity of capturing Liuhuang Island.

With the deployment of patrol planes, fighter jets, and bombers on Liuhuang Island, it only required deploying a few light cruisers to cut off the strategic routes of the Saiyi Imperial Kingdom.

Submarines?

At least they were not needed for now.

To say, Liuhuang Island was still a bit small.

Even if all usable sites were leveled, not many combat aircraft could be deployed, let alone the Land Air Force’s heavy bombers.

The Navy planned to capture two islands, namely, the North and South Liuhuang Islands, both named after "Liuhuang."

After completion, the fighter jets would be stationed on North Liuhuang Island, patrol planes sent to South Liuhuang Island, and Liuhuang Island primarily used for deploying long-range bombers.

To say, this was actually the intention of the Imperial High Command.

In Zheng Jiangming’s words, if the Navy had the authority, the next step would be to sweep the North Ma Islands instead of circling around the Volcanic Islands.

Unfortunately, the Grand Secretary had not yet agreed to allow the Navy to deploy troops to the North Ma Islands, citing that the political timing had not yet matured.

Compared with the Army, the Navy’s actions were just minor skirmishes.

Aside from New Year’s Eve and the first day of the lunar year, the Army Air Force never rested, dispatching bombers daily to visit a certain Saiyi city, dropping tens, hundreds, or even thousands of tons of bombs or incendiary bombs—as if these munitions were about to expire if not used up soon.

After resting for two days to celebrate the Spring Festival and at least enjoy a reunion dinner,

the Land Air Force also launched the "Candy Bombs" operation during the Spring Festival.

According to Zheng Jiangming, the Land Air Force specially organized dozens of bombers, modifying the bomb bays so that they could carry and drop parcels filled with candy.

Yes, edible candy.

But the candy wasn’t what was special, it was the wrappers.

Printed on these wrappers were anti-war slogans written in Saiyi script!

To enhance the propaganda effect, the bombers were also equipped with high-powered loudspeakers, and they broadcasted lively music like Wagner’s marches.

Each morning, these bombers would take off and drop candy bombs over major cities like Long Sorrow, Omoto, and Tomioka amid the deafening music.

Regarding the effect, it really goes without saying.

The person who came up with this idea was Wang Kaiyuan.

"You wouldn’t believe how hard it was to convince the leadership. Wang himself paid for the first batch of candy out of his own pocket and had it dropped over Omoto. According to intelligence feedback, many citizens were emotionally touched and held resentment towards the Saiyi Authority, at least their resolve was not that firm anymore."

Bai Zhizhan also felt deeply about it.

"There were riots and disturbances in many places because the military police tried to confiscate the candy."

"This is psychological warfare!" Bai Zhizhan sighed bitterly with a wry smile.

Wang Kaiyuan indeed had a mind full of cunning tricks, being able to come up with every kind of scheming idea.

"Winning the hearts is most crucial, and those most affected were the adolescents. Their view of the Empire might change after tasting these candies."

"We can only hope so."

"Last time Wang called, he was asking about you, said that he wanted to have a few drinks with you if there’s a chance."

"Okay, when is he coming back?"

"Don’t know, should I give him a call to check?"

At that moment, someone knocked on the door.

"Who is it?"

"Is General Bai there?" a young voice responded.

This was the office of the intelligence liaison officer, which could be likened to the ancient "White Tiger Hall"; ordinary staff officers would certainly not dare to enter uninvited.

It must be something urgent for them to come here.

"Come in, General Bai is here," Zheng Jiangming indicated to Bai Zhizhan with a pursed lips gesture that their chat was over.

Indeed, it was a staff officer from the Fleet Operations.

"General Bai, the Commander-in-chief wants you to come immediately, he said it’s something very important."

"Right now?"

The staff officer nodded without further explanation.

"Alright, you go ahead, I’ll come now."

After the staff officer left, Bai Zhizhan sighed bitterly.

He had thought that after completing his tasks, he could steal a moment of leisure, but even hiding here with Zheng Jiangming, he was still pulled out.

It seems as long as he’s at the Navy headquarter, he couldn’t afford to slack.

"Go ahead, I’ll call Wang later to clarify when he’s coming back."

"Okay. Dinner together?"

"Not tonight, I have to go to the Sixth Bureau to drop off some documents, maybe another day."

"That works, see you then."

Upon leaving Zheng Jiangming’s office, Bai Zhizhan noticed that the staff officer who had called on him hadn’t left and there were two brawny men, looking like Imperial Guards, standing in the hallway outside.

What was this all about?

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