Empire Conquest
Chapter 263 - 259: The Capable Are Often Burdened with More Tasks

Chapter 263: Chapter 259: The Capable Are Often Burdened with More Tasks

After Xue Yuanzheng signaled, Liu Changxun said he was excusing himself and left the office.

"Twenty years...actually, it’s twenty-one years ago, when you and Liu Xiangzhen participated in the war game simulation codenamed ’Nine Days of Thunder,’ and you were the main character. You certainly know that since that time, we’ve been actively preparing, seeking to make a comeback in the next Global War."

Bai Zhizhan didn’t speak, just nodded, indicating that the Grand Secretary wasn’t wrong.

"Roughly at the same time, to be precise, a few months later, after you went to Puzhou Shipyard to serve as the temporary supervisor of the ’Longjiang,’ the Army also conducted a similar war games simulation, and one of the main characters you also knew, that is Lian Xusheng."

"Him?"

"That’s all I can say at this point. More specific details cannot be disclosed. Later, when you have sufficient security clearance, you will naturally learn the details." Xue Yuanzheng paused for a moment before continuing, "It seems we’re not the only ones with similar thoughts—it includes the Tiaoman Empire as well."

Hearing this, Bai Zhizhan almost jumped up.

What Xue Yuanzheng just said was truly frightening!

"During the Seba Conference, after numerous secret meetings, we learned that the Tiaoman Empire was also preparing for Revenge. As for what happened next, you can guess."

"You mean, we and the Tiaoman Empire..."

Xue Yuanzheng nodded, indicating Bai Zhizhan guessed correctly.

"But...this..."

"Do you think we’re the only ones with such strategic plans? The last war did not end with a clear winner; it only ended because both sides couldn’t hold out and had to declare a ceasefire. Moreover, the treaty signed in Seba was a ceasefire agreement, not a peace treaty. The Great Powers of the Alliance Group also have such plans. The Saiyi Imperial Country is the real sucker, even knowing they’ve been sold out, they have to keep on acting as the watchdog."

Bai Zhizhan was stunned again, but this time he was clearly not as shocked as before.

During the Seba Conference, the most important achievement, the peace treaty that followed the ceasefire agreement, became void after being rejected by the Newland Congress.

It was for this reason that the Great Powers sought reconciliation through the signing of bilateral peace treaties after the war.

These bilateral peace treaties maintained post-war peace and stability and also laid the groundwork for new confrontations.

Every treaty was a military-political alliance treaty!

Without military-political alliances, how could there be peaceful coexistence?

Regarding the Saiyi Imperial Country being sold out, Bai Zhizhan had this suspicion when the Global War broke out.

Takano was so astute; if there wasn’t a special reason, why would he allow the Mobile Fleet to sneak attack Chengjiang Port knowing that starting the war was tantamount to losing?

Without the Newland Federation participating in the war, even if the sneak attack was a great victory and four carriers from the Special Mixed Group were sunk, the Saiyi Imperial Kingdom couldn’t win. By the end of New Calendar 100 or at the latest the beginning of New Calendar 101, with the delivery of four large carriers, the Imperial Navy could launch a Reprisal. By then, the Saiyi Navy would still have six fleet carriers, with only the addition of a few small carriers and two Super Battleships.

Apparently, the Saiyi Navy’s sneak attack on Chengjiang Port was a result of being foolishly lured by the Newland Federation.

"Unfortunately, although we have been actively preparing, the enemy has not been slack, so the course of the war did not entirely follow our prewar expectations."

"So, do we need to court and unite with the Luosha Federation?"

At this moment, Bai Zhizhan understood.

If the Liangxia Empire and the Tiaoman Empire had long made a secret pact, then the reconciliations between the Liangxia Empire and the Luosha Federation and between the Tiaoman Empire and the Locke Republic were all acts, with the only aim being to stabilize their prime adversaries and ensure control over the war’s initiative when it broke out.

But mankind’s calculations fall short of heaven’s.

There was just one accident.

The outbreak of the Global War had been moved up by an entire year!

If it had started at the end of New Calendar 100, the situation would have been completely different.

To speak frankly, once the productive capacity of the Puzhou and Cizhou Shipyards explodes, with all eight large docks dedicated to constructing massive carriers, achieving the construction speed of wartime, one can’t just talk about the Newland Navy—combined, all the Great Powers may still not be a match for the Imperial Navy.

But, was this truly an "accident"?

Xue Yuanzheng had already mentioned that the Alliance Group also had similar war plans.

What’s more, the Alliance Group had Rofuss!

With the strategic vision that Rofuss possessed, which was not inferior to Xue Yuanzheng’s, it’s evident that even if the Newland Federation bared its chest and charged into battle a year later, it would be to no avail.

Clearly, igniting the war a year early was part of the Alliance Group’s war plan!

As long as it could disrupt the Liangxia Empire’s rhythm, what was the sacrifice of a Saiyi Imperial Kingdom?

Even betting the Bulan Kingdom into the fray was a possibility!

With the resolute will of Rofuss, one ought not to be surprised by such actions.

On the contrary, if one knew that dragging on for another year would lead to defeat, yet did nothing to look after the interests of the allies, Rofuss would not be worthy of entering the Grey Palace.

"What should we do?" Bai Zhizhan didn’t beat around the bush anymore.

Xue Yuanzheng made the trip specifically, clearly not just to inform Bai Zhizhan of the situation, but to give Bai Zhizhan tasks to carry out.

"For the past few years, we’ve also been secretly in contact with the Luosha Federation, and a lot of the intelligence on the Alliance Group actually came from there. Although we have no direct conflict of interest with the Newland Federation, when it comes to addressing the issue of war, the Luosha Federation is not optimistic about the Alliance Group."

"Because of us?"

Xue Yuanzheng nodded and continued, "Fundamentally speaking, if a real battle breaks out, it’s the Luosha Federation that would suffer the ravages of war, not the Newland Federation. As long as the leaders of the Luosha Federation are not complete fools, they should understand this. The reason we haven’t come to an agreement yet is mainly over the division of interests."

"Does the Luosha Federation still have the right to haggle over the price?"

"After all, negotiations are mutually beneficial, and we don’t wish to treat the Luosha Federation as an enemy."

"What do you want me to do?"

Xue Yuanzheng smiled and said, "So you’ve figured it out?"

Bai Zhizhan sheepishly smiled; he had been too eager and revealed his inner thoughts.

"Since you’ve thought it through, I won’t waste any more words. You leave tonight, attending the tripartite secret talks in Baku as a representative of the Imperial Navy."

"Me!?" Bai Zhizhan was clearly caught off guard.

"Of course, is there a third person here?"

"But..."

"You have experience participating in negotiations for both the Huacheng Treaty and the Luntai Treaty as a Naval representative. You’re also the top ace of the Imperial Navy, famous throughout the world. You are the most appropriate choice, at least to show the extent of our regard for these negotiations. Besides, to whom much is given, much is required."

"Isn’t it too sudden?"

"Secret talks, naturally they are arranged hastily." Xue Yuanzheng smiled, stood up, and then said, "No other business then. You better get ready quickly. Someone will give you the specifics on the way to Baku. Remember to bring some warm clothes; it’s very cold there, tens of degrees lower than in the Imperial Capital."

After finishing his statement, Xue Yuanzheng left the office, leaving Bai Zhizhan there to space out alone.

This was way too sudden, and Bai Zhizhan was completely unprepared mentally.

Even without a place to go for the New Year, he had thought about leaving the Imperial Capital.

Only when Liu Changxun returned to the office did Bai Zhizhan realize Xue Yuanzheng had already left.

This Xue Yuanzheng, how could he be so sly, sending off Bai Zhizhan to a place thousands of miles away with just a few words.