Empire Conquest
Chapter 340 - 336 A Period

Chapter 340: Chapter 336 A Period

Huacheng, Newland, local time October 11th, just past noon 12 o’clock.

In the west wing of the Grey Palace, more than a dozen staff were ready, while a few technicians were busy making final adjustments to the broadcasting equipment.

In half an hour, Rofuss would broadcast a declaration of war against the Liangxia Empire via radio here.

Although more than three years ago, during the second presidential inauguration, Rofuss had broadcast the inauguration speech via radio, allowing the people of the Newland Federation to listen simultaneously instead of waiting to read the newspaper the next day. But compared to the inauguration speech, the declaration of war to be issued was much more significant.

Almost twenty-three years ago, when Wilkins led the Newland Federation into the first Global War, he just went to Congress and gave a speech.

At that time, victory seemed almost certain.

Now, Rofuss didn’t even have a fifty percent chance of success.

In the bedroom, Rofuss had already changed into his formal attire, and his secretary Missy was fixing his hair.

Days ago, the First Lady had gone to Luo City on the west coast to attend the election campaign on behalf of Rofuss, so she could not come back to accompany him.

Nor was it necessary.

By the time Hale arrived, Rofuss was ready.

At exactly 10:15, the two came to the oval study of the west wing.

The staff discreetly exited, giving Rofuss and Hale the last period to debate a few controversial phrases in the speech.

The conclusion was still to make no changes.

At 10:25, the staff returned to the study while Hale went outside.

He did not go to the resting tearoom but stayed in the outer corridor.

It must be said, Hale was more nervous than Rofuss.

Not fearing defeat, but because, so far, he had not received the most crucial news— the report from the Newland Federation’s ambassador to the Liangxia Empire.

According to international law, a formal declaration of war must include delivering a declaration of war to the highest administrative authorities of the targeted country.

This task had to be accomplished by the ambassador.

The key was, diplomatic relations must first be severed before declaring that the two countries were in a state of war, and from then on, international agreements and international law aimed at maintaining peace need not be adhered to.

Actually, Hale’s worries were a bit redundant.

Even if the ambassador had not delivered the declaration of war on time, once Rofuss announced the declaration of war and hostilities began— with the Newland Fleet firing the first shot— it could not be considered a war without declaration, especially since Rofuss had issued a final ultimatum the day before, and Xue Yuanzheng had even commented on it.

Besides, the Newland ambassador had already delivered the declaration of war to the Liangxia Empire’s Privy Council; he just had not returned to the embassy yet.

At the same time, he had submitted a letter severing diplomatic ties, and as required by international law, he asked for a 48-hour evacuation period for the diplomatic personnel of the Newland Federation with assurances for their convenience, such as permitting Newland Federation’s vehicles, ships, and planes to pass.

These were all normal and reasonable requests, which the Liangxia Empire had no reason to refuse.

Moreover, after the formal commencement of war, the Liangxia Empire needed to withdraw its diplomatic personnel from the Newland Federation and would also need the Newland authorities to facilitate this.

For the next few days, both diplomatic institutions would be busy.

While Hale was worried, Xue Yuanzheng was signing the first Prime Minister Order of the day.

It was still early morning, but it didn’t matter.

If it was distributed now, it could be published in tomorrow’s morning paper. According to the plans of the publicity department, all of the Empire’s news agencies were on standby, and all morning papers had reserved the front page to ensure that the news of the war with the Newland Federation could be published at the earliest opportunity.

The level of attention given was extremely high.

When Xue Yuanzheng declared war against the Saiyi Imperial Kingdom, he merely issued a statement without having national newspapers publish related news.

After the Privy Council sent over the declaration of war submitted by the Newland ambassador, Xue Yuanzheng did not ask further but had his secretary call Liu Changxun.

It was then 1:35 AM on the 12th in the Imperial Capital of the Empire, corresponding to 12:35 PM on the 11th in Huacheng, Newland.

Xue Yuanzheng’s secretary was calling Liu Changxun when Rofuss’ secretary closed the door of the Grey Palace’s oval study.

At the Imperial Navy Headquarter, Liu Changxun had just received the call when he summoned his confidential secretary and gave him instructions.

No need for further elaboration.

As previously arranged, the communication center at the Headquarters had several communication teams transmit the relevant message using long-wave radios.

The content of the message was very brief.

It had only one punctuation mark!

It was not an exclamation mark, but a period.

This period did not signify that the risk had passed, but that the altercation with the Newland Federation had ended, and both sides had officially entered a state of war.

Since this had been anticipated, it was no surprise, hence no need for an exclamation mark.

From Xue Yuanzheng downwards, not a single person was shocked by the addition of a new enemy.

Over the past few months, the Empire’s propaganda agencies had already portrayed the Newland Federation as the leader among the Great Powers, and the war with the Newland Federation as inevitable.

Only by defeating the Newland Federation could final victory be achieved!

Five hundred million of the Empire’s military and civilians even held a bit of anticipation for this latecomer of an opponent, particularly since Saiyi Imperial Kingdom, the initiator, was much too fragile.

According to popular sayings, the Empire had not deployed troops to Saiyi’s homeland as they didn’t want to defeat Saiyi Imperial Kingdom too early.

Without an opponent, who else would they fight?

After the Newland Federation joined the war, that wasn’t a problem anymore.

Several Special Mixed Fleets received the message simultaneously, Bai Zhizhan and Liu Xiangzhen simply issued combat readiness orders, instructing their fleets and the Air Force to prepare for battle.

However, Zhang Guozhu issued a combat order.

His opponent, the Newland Federation’s 12th Special Mixed Fleet with four battleships, was located about twenty kilometers to the east.

Fifteen minutes before receiving the electronic order, a Newland battleship had fired a flare.

Of course, the "Longxing" had also fired a few flares in return.

If things went as expected, the other side would fire flares again in five minutes.

The flares from the secondary guns could burn for up to twenty minutes.

Before that, both sides had been firing several flares every twenty minutes to ensure that the lookouts at the masthead could see each other through telescopes.

Whether there was radar or not, maintaining visual contact was a basic tactical requirement.

After issuing the combat order, Zhang Guozhu also called the Captain, instructing him not to fire any more flares.

Flares might illuminate the enemy, but the flash from the cannon could also expose themselves.

Moreover, the "Longxing’s" search radar had been activated, detecting the several Newland warships.

Although the temporary radar installed at the top of the rear mast was primarily used for air alerts and not suitable for detecting surface vessels—having a large margin of error in ranging—it was still better than nothing. At least it could detect enemy ships at night, allowing continuous monitoring of the enemy while maintaining concealment.

Previously, firing the flares was reciprocation in not returning would be rude.

To use Zhang Guozhu’s words, doing nothing would be looked down upon by the opponent, making the enemy think that the Imperial Navy was too stingy to use flares.

In the blink of an eye, five minutes had passed, and the other side hadn’t wasted any more flares.

After a bustling half of the night, it suddenly became quiet.

It seemed the war had already erupted!

Zhang Guozhu was quite emotional, but before he could fully reflect, the combat alarm sounded, urgently, a shrill and piercing warning of gunfight.

They really were going straight into action!

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