Empire Conquest
Chapter 306 - 302: The Cunning Wang

Chapter 306: Chapter 302: The Cunning Wang

Bai Zhizhan had only waited for a little over ten minutes when Wang Kaiyuan returned.

The key attendees hadn’t arrived yet, so there was still a wait ahead.

"So, how’s it going? Getting used to being back these past couple of weeks?"

Bai Zhizhan was speechless but knew this was just Wang Kaiyuan’s way. No matter whom he met, if he didn’t crack a few jokes, it seemed as if something was missing.

So, there was no need to take him seriously.

"Last night, or more accurately, early this morning, Lian Xusheng headed to the Northwest."

"What’s he doing in the Northwest?"

"The Luosha Federation isn’t being cooperative; we have to be cautious."

Bai Zhizhan’s brows twitched rapidly, and although he’d already guessed it, he was still quite surprised to hear Wang Kaiyuan say it out loud.

Why Lian Xusheng of all people?

No matter how you measured it, Lian Xusheng’s specialty was not defense.

"However, it’s just a precaution. The movements of the Luosha Federation indirectly prove that the Newland Federation is getting restless. The time to test the Luosha Federation is approaching."

Bai Zhizhan still didn’t say a word, just nodded to show he understood what Wang Kaiyuan meant.

Despite declaring reconciliation after the last great war, and secretly signing an alliance treaty in Baku, the Liangxia Empire had never let down its guard against the Luosha Federation. As Xue Yuanzheng said, "One must not harbor the intention to harm others, but must be vigilant to prevent harm from others."

The Sixth Bureau had always suspected that the Luosha Federation was secretly in contact with the Newland Federation.

According to the Sixth Bureau’s speculation, the Luosha Federation had secretly signed an alliance pact of a certain nature with the Newland Federation even before reconciling with the Liangxia Empire.

However, evidence had yet to be found.

Of course, even if evidence were found, an alliance between such major nations couldn’t be addressed merely with a few pieces of intelligence.

Moreover, the Sixth Bureau’s suspicion was probably unfounded.

It wasn’t until Rofuss moved into the Grey Palace that the Newland Federation gradually started on the path of expansion. About ten years before his first election, the Luosha Federation had already reconciled with the Empire. During that period, the Newland Federation was practicing a policy of "glorious isolation," which made a secret pact with the Luosha Federation virtually impossible.

Fundamentally, when it comes to national core interests, evidence isn’t necessary.

It was precisely for this reason that Wang Kaiyuan was the first to suggest using the Newland Federation’s engagement in the war as a litmus test to see whether the Luosha Federation would turn against us after the Newland Federation entered the war.

Bai Zhizhan found out about this later.

It was by making this suggestion that Wang Kaiyuan gained the Grand Secretary’s high esteem and was sent to Baku as a senior representative of the negotiation team.

Otherwise, Wang Kaiyuan’s position as Chief of Intelligence would have been far insufficient.

According to Wang Kaiyuan’s judgment, if the Newland Federation joined the war, especially in a surprise attack fashion, and achieved a major victory in the first battle, the likelihood of the Luosha Federation turning against us would be very high, even to the extent that they might shift allegiance to the Newland Federation through a sudden assault.

Yet, the most likely target of such an attack wouldn’t be the Liangxia Empire but the Tiaoman Empire!

The rationale was simple—the Luosha Federation itself was a West Continent nation and had virtually no strategic depth nor natural defenses like rivers and mountains on Tiaoman’s side. On the Liangxia side, there was the vast expanse of the Giant Continent stretching thousands of kilometers in all directions.

Whether on the offensive or defensive, the Luosha Federation had to consider the formidable enemy to the west first, and only after securing the western front would they turn to the east.

That’s why a General had to be sent to keep watch in the Northwest.

No offensive push was required; maintaining stability was enough.

But Bai Zhizhan had not expected it to be Lian Xusheng.

Conversely, with land combat against the Saiyi Imperial Kingdom largely irrelevant to the Empire’s Army, where else could Lian Xusheng go if not to the Northwest?

Lian Xusheng made his name on the Northwest Battlefield, facing the Luosha Army.

Even though back then he wasn’t yet famous, flattening the Ice Storm Peninsula in a month had long made him the top War General of the Empire’s Army, renowned across the land.

If we’re talking about Reputation within the Luosha Federation, he would undoubtedly rank above Bai Zhizhan.

There was no second reason: the Luosha Federation didn’t have a navy to speak of, rarely paid attention to naval battles, and so naturally didn’t quite understand the navy’s war generals.

The several generals of the Luosha Federation had given him a nickname: Bimong.

The mythical beast that dominated the land.

"So you’re saying, the intelligence wasn’t incorrect?" Bai Zhizhan wasn’t pleased, not because the grand wedding was affected, but because he thought about the possibility of going to war with the Luosha Federation.

It was the trip to Baku that made him develop a liking for Zhang Xiaoqing.

Last night, Bai Zhizhan had joked with Zhang Xiaoqing, saying that once the war was over, he definitely wanted to go back and take a few photos in the east yard of the palace in Luosha.

Perhaps by the time the war was over, that secondary palace would no longer exist.

"The intelligence is definitely correct, what we need to care about now is under what guise, or rather excuse, the Newland Federation will join the war."

"Do we need to?"

"Even if Rofuss is formidable, he will definitely need to provide a reason that can convince everyone, or at least the majority of Newland citizens, before joining the war without cause," Wang Kaiyuan paused slightly before continuing, "I believe that the Newland Federation hasn’t joined the war till now because they haven’t found a reason to declare war on us. With Rofuss’s intellect, he must know that if they were only to declare war on the Tiaoman Empire, they would become very passive on the strategic level and would definitely miss the precious opportunity to defeat us immediately after the war starts."

Bai Zhizhan kept quiet and didn’t join in the conversation.

These points had already been mentioned before, there wasn’t much else to say.

"What would you do if you were in my place?"

"It’s hard to say." Bai Zhizhan feigned a deep sigh, as he was there to gather information, not to share his views.

Keeping his mouth shut in front of Wang Kaiyuan was definitely the right move.

"In other words, what would it take to force us to deploy all four of our carriers?"

"That really requires some serious thought."

"It’s already the second half of the year, and if they join the war before the Double Ninth Festival, then the Newland Navy really only has a few months. By next year, after the four large fleet carriers are commissioned, even if the Newland Navy’s five carriers are completely unscathed, they may not be at an advantage."

"If it really comes to that, then we’ll have to put in some serious effort."

Bai Zhizhan found it amusing because everything Wang Kaiyuan had mentioned had already been discussed before and held no new value.

He was just fishing for information.

What a cunning fellow!

"Do you think a transport fleet will suffice?"

"That depends on the scale and the materials being transported."

"At least fifty 10,000-ton cargo ships, half of them carrying life-saving food, and the other half carrying ammunition and fuel and other military supplies."

Bai Zhizhan’s brow twitched, feeling that Wang Kaiyuan was still trying to tease information out of him.

"Fifty 10,000-ton cargo ships is the most conservative estimate."

"That’s quite a big move."

"Just in the port of Luo City, there are that many. In addition, in Fox, there are dozens more. If the intelligence is correct, there are still several fleets on the other side of the Wangxi Canal, and in total, about a hundred ships are expected to arrive in a month."

This time, Bai Zhizhan did not respond.

"We estimated roughly that it’s equivalent to one-fifth of the Newland Federation’s actual possession of 10,000-ton giants."

"That many?"

"Enough for four carriers, right?"

Bai Zhizhan took a long breath, controlling the emotions that were beginning to flare up.

What was Wang Kaiyuan doing, just fishing for information, or was there actually something to it?

If it was the latter, Rofuss’s move was too big; he was actually using one-fifth of the maritime transport capacity as bait.

Didn’t he worry about it being a wasted effort?