Empire Conquest
Chapter 310 - 306: Making Things Clear

Chapter 310: Chapter 306: Making Things Clear

Will the Luosha Federation betray?

This is the issue that caused the greatest divergence during the discussion of ground warfare.

Although from a strategic defense perspective, the Luosha Federation’s betrayal would not significantly impact the Empire, considering that the Empire’s northwest region is almost entirely desert and the traffic lines are under the control of the Imperial Army, it would be impossible for Luosha Federation to make a blitzkrieg and advance thousands of kilometers at once. However, looking at the bigger picture, after the Luosha Federation’s betrayal, the Liangxia Empire would inevitably lose strategic initiative.

The initiative for whether or not to join the war lies in the hands of the Newland Federation, but from a strategic level, the advantage is on the Empire’s side.

The reason is simple, delay another half year, and the Empire would be able to gain an absolute strategic advantage, so the Newland Federation must enter the war within this half-year.

Other than the Newland Federation entering the war, defeating the Liangxia Navy in the East Ocean to seize maritime battle strategic advantage could change the balance of the battlefield in one fell swoop, and another would be the Luosha Federation suddenly changing its strategic stance, making a blitz attack on Liangxia Empire and Tiaoman Empire after the Newland Federation enters the war.

To be accurate, it is an attack on the Tiaoman Empire.

It was at this point that Xue Yuanzheng made his stance clear.

Essentially, two factors determine whether the Luosha Federation would betray or not.

One is whether by betraying it can achieve final victory. The second is whether it can obtain more wartime dividends than maintaining the status quo after achieving victory.

The first factor is actually decided by the Newland Federation.

This hinges on whether the Newland Federation can achieve decisive victory after entering the war, seize strategic initiative in one stroke, and suppress the Liangxia Empire.

If not, then all is just empty talk.

As Army generals like Peng Huaiyuan have said, even if the Imperial Army does nothing and adopts a scorched-earth tactic, they can still use the strategic depth of five thousand kilometers in the northwest region to set up defenses layer by layer and hold out for two to three years, and use these two to three years to regroup.

Who can predict the state of affairs two to three years later?

The key point is, the Empire would definitely be able to complete full wartime mobilization during this period, and the fighting power of five hundred million people would be enough to sweep the entire World Island.

The Newland Federation is far at the edge of the world, while the Luosha Federation is right next to the Empire.

The East Ocean is the Newland Federation’s moat, but it can’t protect the Luosha Federation.

If they were to challenge the Liangxia Empire again, what the Luosha Federation would lose would not just be the region east of the Yenisei River-Balkhash Lake, it’s likely to be everything.

Thus, only if the Newland Navy achieves decisive victory, suppresses the Liangxia Navy, and poses a threat to the Liangxia Empire’s homeland, gaining absolute control over the battlefield, and perhaps even seeing victory on the horizon, would the Luosha Federation consider changing sides.

The issue returns to the Navy again.

Can they withstand the Newland Navy’s surprise attack after they join the war?

But even if they can’t hold out, it still depends on how much the Newland Federation is willing to offer.

In the secret talks at Baku, the Liangxia Empire and Tiaoman Empire already offered a great deal, basically meeting all the demands of the Luosha Federation.

This includes allowing the Luosha Federation to move south from the Chains Land Bridge to Boss Bay, incorporating Boi Country into its sphere of influence.

The key is obtaining an ice-free port.

Though this doesn’t change the Luosha Federation’s predicament, stuck between two great empires, its value, that is, its necessity, has not diminished.

The Luosha Federation is an indispensable and irreplaceable strategic buffer zone between the two empires.

To suggest, the Luosha Federation should reconcile with Tiaoman Empire and lean towards supporting it because only a strong Tiaoman Empire can compete with the Liangxia Empire, and only then will the existence of the Luosha Federation become more valuable, thus ensuring its core interests are protected.

To side with the Newland Federation?

What benefits can the Newland Federation offer?

And can the Luosha Federation swallow all the benefits offered by the Newland Federation and assimilate them?

Certainly, the answer is a definitive no.

Take the Ice-free Port for instance; the Newland Federation, no matter how generous, would not possibly emulate the Bulan Kingdom and grant Boi Country, which originally belonged to the Bulan Kingdom, to the Luosha Federation.

As long as the Bulan Kingdom exists and remains the top ally, the Newland Federation will not allow the Luosha Federation to dominate the Giant Continent.

Moreover, the Luosha Federation does not have the qualifications to dominate the Giant Continent.

With the Luosha Federation’s capacity, let alone swallowing up the Liangxia Empire, they cannot even digest the Tiaoman Empire. At most, they can beat the Tiaoman Empire back to its original state, then join forces with other victorious nations to reshuffle the strategic layout of the West Continent, ensuring their absolute advantage in the West Continent.

On the side of the Giant Continent, the Luosha Federation still has to face the Liangxia Empire.

Even if the Liangxia Empire is defeated, it will become the first target of Liangxia’s revenge in a few decades and suffer a catastrophic disaster.

Even if they retreat further and thoroughly defeat the Liangxia Empire, the Luosha Federation will still not gain much benefit.

Becoming a land power, the Luosha Federation will inevitably become enemies with the sea power, that is, the Bulan Kingdom, and the hereditary Newland Federation will certainly support the Bulan Kingdom. Even if the Bulan Kingdom falls, the succeeding Newland Federation will step in to contain the Luosha Federation.

So, by what means could the Luosha Federation defeat the Newland Federation?

If the Luosha Federation is confident of surpassing the Newland Federation after a major war, would they still need to be hypocritically courteous with the Liangxia Empire?

Clearly, no matter how enticing the promise from the Newland Federation is, it is all just an illusion, akin to flowers in the fog and the moon’s reflection on water.

However, Xue Yuanzheng also mentioned that the leaders of the Luosha Federation may not consider such long-term implications, especially since the current Supreme Commander comes from a minority.

Implying that the main focus is still on short-term interests, namely the development of the battle situation.

If they win a victory at East Ocean, all will be well.

If they suffer a defeat, that is when one needs to be wary of the Luosha Federation.

The question comes back around.

Does the Navy have confidence in winning a battle?

If they say they are sure, that would definitely be a lie!

Liu Changxun didn’t let Bai Zhizhan or Liu Xiangzhen speak and directly provided the answer himself; the Imperial Navy did not have much confidence in the upcoming battle.

This was the most severe challenge faced by the Imperial Navy after the outbreak of the war.

Did the Saiyi Navy launch a sneak attack on Chengjiang Port?

At that time, the Imperial Navy had already received intelligence and was well prepared. During the sneak attack, the Saiyi Navy inexplicably did not bomb the ammunition depots, fuel storage facilities, or dry docks but instead focused on bombing more than a dozen battleships of diminishing value. Otherwise, the Imperial Navy could not have recovered so quickly.

It was because they obtained intelligence in advance that the Imperial Navy held the initiative during the Flame Sea Battle after the outbreak of the war.

After the initial surprise attacks, especially on the second day, when Bai Zhizhan led the Third Aviation Mixed Fleet back into the fray, the situation was completely reversed.

With the initiative, the subsequent overwhelming victory became possible.

This time, who knows where the Newland Navy’s five carriers will be and in what manner they will launch their attack!

It’s foolish to say the forces are evenly matched. As long as the initiative lies with the Newland Navy, the Imperial Navy will always be reactive, thus it’s not even a matter of being evenly matched.

Crucially, the Newland Navy will definitely seek wisdom from the Saiyi Navy, learn from their defeat, and absorb the successful experiences.

Even if it cannot replace actual combat, it can greatly enhance the combat capabilities of the Newland Navy, especially the carriers and shipborne air force.

Even in a head-on conflict, no one dares to guarantee a complete victory.

Liu Changxun dropped these remarks, in fact, to attract fire away from Bai Zhizhan and Liu Xiangzhen, to prevent the Army generals and Cabinet officials from making things difficult for them.

Having spoken so candidly, it was not good to continue the discussion, and Xue Yuanzheng could only announce a recess.

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