Darkstone Code-Chapter 740 - 0738 Plan Through
"Your Majesty, Lynch revealed some army equipment at the salon that we haven’t yet uncovered, along with some related parameters..."
The Emperor was watching an opera brought over from the Federation, using a tape, being screened in the theater.
The Imperial Palace had a small screening room dedicated to the Emperor, for instance, when he wanted to take a short break to relieve fatigue. 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮
At this moment, he was quite engrossed. This time, the Gafura cultural exchange delegation showed enough disdain for everything related to the Federation. In the words of the delegation leader, "The culture of the Bail Federal is like a pile of cow dung, unable to stand up."
For the well-cultured delegation leader, he couldn’t stand the Federation’s low-class cultural world.
Apart from a very few artists who are acclaimed, most works hardly show any artistic elements, but are either inexplicably self-indulgent or vulgar.
Among the numerous works he found unbearable, he randomly picked some to buy the rights for distribution and vowed never to visit the Federation for cultural exchanges again.
To him, it’s a complete artistic desert!
In fact, he wasn’t wrong. How could the descendants of exiles, fugitives, and criminals possess the "artistic aura" as spoken of by Gafura?
They are too far removed from art, which is precisely the biggest difference in societal form between the two countries, and even in the form of the nation itself.
However, the works introduced that the delegation leader despised are playing their role.
For example, His Majesty the Emperor is extremely fond of the opera currently being screened.
He didn’t have the heart to directly state that he wanted to watch a movie. His previous attitude and stance were firm, never to watch the Federation’s films, believing they lead to decay and corruption.
So, he chose an opera whose script was written by a famous Gafura playwright. It’s called "Hain’s Revenge" or "The Count of Hain’s Revenge," telling the story of a Count who escaped a plot and ultimately avenges himself.
In the Gafura version, the core of the opera is the Count’s intelligence. He uses his wit to navigate among many enemies, eventually pitting them against each other in mutual destruction, thereby regaining power.
Many consider this opera a classic. The portrayal of the aristocrats is substantial, cunning, deceitful, full of intellect, even the antagonists are charismatic, making it a rare masterpiece.
As for the Federation’s version... it’s much more unrestrained.
In the Federation’s version of "Hain’s Revenge," the Count of Hain doesn’t rely on wit like the Gafura’s Count. Instead, he uses brute force.
From his escape from the dungeon, he showcases unparalleled personal ability and martial prowess. Of course, there’s some intelligence, but it’s mostly bravado.
There isn’t any nail-biting tension like walking a tightrope, the whole narrative is about alternative heroism with violence.
Some in the Federation have complained about this, arguing that if the Count of Hain were that strong, he wouldn’t have been overpowered by a few unarmed villains who seized his title.
But this doesn’t deter people’s enthusiasm towards it, much like His Majesty the Emperor now, utterly absorbed.
Every time the Count of Hain defeats an enemy cleanly and moves a step closer to victory, he feels an uncontrollable surge of satisfaction and joy.
No need for using one’s brains, just continues feeling happy, the script is well-adapted. It would be perfect if no one disturbed him.
The projector stopped at the right moment, and the dim lights in the screening room turned on, not too bright to disturb His Majesty’s eyes that had adapted to the dark.
"What he says might just be him speaking big words. Lynch is an excellent merchant, and boasting is a merchant’s nature."
The Emperor spoke this with some disdain in his tone, though it wasn’t his true intention, just the opera’s content affecting him.
He quickly composed himself and asked, "Find professionals to record it, ask those in military engineering if these data are fabricated or have any basis."
The person bowed again, "Already rechecked, most of them align with the engineers’ predictions. They believe these data are likely authentic."
The Emperor’s eyes sparkled with a flash; he stood up and paced back and forth, "Plant some more people there, make sure to note every word."
"Also, contact the infiltrators on the Bail side to make some moves, not fully activate them, select a few points. I want to know the authenticity of these data!"
The Emperor was not blindly choosing to fully believe or disbelieve, he needed verification.
Mr. Truman and their strategies have been successful, the biggest issue for Gafura currently isn’t their Navy, but their Army.
Every war ends with giving up the advantage gained through their Navy because their Army can’t be relied upon, and there’s a consensus domestically that the Navy’s combat capabilities need urgent enhancement.
If Amelia’s homeland wasn’t a coastal nation, they might not have even succeeded in taking over Amelia.
Every time they crush the military resistance of a place, the Army can’t hold for a few days before retreating, rendering their efforts futile!
If the Army played a slightly functional role, Gafura’s territory might have expanded manifold by now.
There aren’t many ways to change the Army’s current state. One is to completely overpower the opponent with armament, reducing the individual military quality’s importance in warfare.
Another method is to strengthen individual training, allowing the army to exert the strength it innately should express.
The latter is difficult, but the former can be considered.
In Gafura, there is a secret plan for a comprehensive re-equipment of the Army.
Some military equipment parameters from the Federation have now been leaked, providing significant reference value for engineers, especially through these parameters, engineers can deduce the combat power of the Federation Army.
This holds great value for any potential upcoming war, at least they will have a rough understanding of the combat strength of the Federation Army, preventing them from charging blindly.
"Those useless people aren’t entirely without value..." A smile appeared on the Emperor’s lips as he sat back down, "Keep a close watch." With that, he raised his hand, the lights dimmed, and the scenes on the screen began to move forward once more.
News quickly spread within the noble circle that Lynch had a heated argument with the members of the Secretariat over a large discussion on the army. Some nobles who were not present even came over on purpose.
Nobles, this group of leeches on the state system, often appear negatively in the public’s mind, but sometimes, they aren’t entirely negative.
At least in terms of patriotism, they are more patriotic than ordinary people; if the country is not strong, they don’t live well.
Only when the country is strong can they continue to lord it over others.
This incident naturally also triggered some unexpected events. For instance, a Federation spy lurking in the Imperial Capital also became aware of this news.
"Boss, I have something and I’d like to request leave..." An employee working at a nearby café not far from the Imperial Palace suddenly made a request for leave.
The boss frowned, "Is there a reason you must leave?"
The young man’s face flushed with some embarrassment, "I plan to pick up my girlfriend after work..." The boss’s face showed some displeasure; he didn’t think sweet-talking a girlfriend was more important than work.
But then the young man continued, "I plan to propose to her today!"
The boss’s expression instantly softened, he looked at the young man, smiled with pressed lips, and nodded his head, "Alright, do you need an advance on your salary?"
The young man shook his head, thanked the boss for his generosity, then quickly changed his clothes and left.
From the moment he left the café, that hopeful and anxious expression on his face gradually cooled down, leaving only a deep, deeply hidden anger.
A traitor has appeared among us!
While thinking about these things, he was suddenly bumped by someone, and instinctively, he reached into his breast pocket, it was a natural reflex.
He staggered a few steps forward, turned his face with some apologetic expression, there stood another young man like him, whose eyes were somewhat unusual, with disproportionate pupils, slightly enlarged.
This person subconsciously clutched tighter onto the briefcase labeled "Ledu Daily Editorial Department."
Ledu Daily is a local third-rate newspaper specializing in introducing escorts, with a certain circulation but of a very low grade.
"Sorry, I didn’t notice you," the young man probed further, ensuring the other wasn’t testing him.
He even took a couple of steps forward, reaching out as if wanting to touch what might be a newspaper office personnel.
The young man who was bumped stepped back a few steps, clutching his document bag even tighter to his chest.
"No, it’s fine, I didn’t notice you either, are you alright?"
Very insincere perfunctory exchanges, it seemed both people wanted to leave quickly.
The young man nodded, turned around, focused his attention on the surroundings, and left quickly.
And the young man from the newspaper turned and sprinted off once more.
If the young man had paid a little more attention, he would have realized that this newspaper man had a certain briny scent about him, the smell of blood.
The young man from the newspaper, panting heavily, dashed into the newsroom, and in that moment, every gaze in the newsroom was focused on him.
"H...Huge news, sensational news, we’re going to be famous!" he waved the briefcase in his hand, took a breath, then rushed into the editor-in-chief’s office.
The editor-in-chief was a middle-aged man in his forties with round-rimmed glasses and a small mustache, exuding a very traditional scholarly aura.
He held a cup of fifteen-dollar-per-pound flower tea, sipping delicately.
Watching the young newspaper man burst in, he did not show any displeasure, only raising his eyes to glance sideways, "What great news is so exciting?"
The young newspaper man panted a few more times, his face flushed with excitement, "Evidence of Yuanrong Capital’s fraud!"
The editor-in-chief stood up with a sudden motion, the tea spilling onto his well-maintained mustache, but he paid no attention to these matters now.
All he knew was that the newspaper was going to be famous!
