Empire Conquest-Chapter 703 - 26 Dividing the Realm into Three

Huacheng Grey Palace.

When Karen, the CIA Director, arrived, the meeting had been underway for half an hour, and more than a dozen military and political officials, including the President, were waiting for him.

Karen wasn’t intentionally late; he was waiting for a very important piece of intelligence.

A photograph taken by the "Lock Eye" reconnaissance satellite.

Because of the rush, there was only one photocopy in addition to the original.

Fortunately, it was mainly a few photographs and a brief accompanying explanation.

After reviewing it, Herbert passed the document to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on his right, while Secretary of State James handed it to the Minister of Defense on his left.

Herbert and James didn’t speak, simply looking over at Karen.

"There is enough intelligence to prove that the Liangxia Army hasn’t deployed the Air Force at King Khalid’s Military City, and the Air Force also didn’t carry out large-scale operations last night. There is reason to believe that the force engaged with the Iraqi Armored Forces near the border last night might only have been a Marine battalion."

"Only a battalion?" 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

As he asked, Minister of Defense Bruce waved the document in his hand, as though he was the protagonist of the room.

Karen simply nodded and didn’t provide a direct response.

The CIA is responsible to the Grey Palace, taking orders from the Intelligence Office set up under the Grey Palace; it has no direct relationship with the Pentagon and doesn’t have to obey the Ministry of Defense’s commands.

Bruce was obviously irritated, but he calmed down after noticing Herbert’s expression.

In this room, it wasn’t his turn to call the shots.

Even though his relationship with Herbert was extraordinary, it wasn’t good enough to show off in front of many high-ranking officials and generals in the Grey Palace, gesturing and directing at the CIA Director.

After Bruce quieted down, Herbert turned his attention to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff next to him.

"The units deployed in Saudi Arabia are the elite forces of the Liangxia Marine Corps, and they have obtained new Main Battle Tanks ahead of anyone else," Colin was obviously more composed than Bruce. "If the Liangxia Air Force had sent their newly commissioned ’Joint Command Aircraft’ over there, it’s unsurprising they got these results."

"Are you referring to the ’Zhi-10A’?" James directly asked.

Colin nodded, saying, "Our ’Joint Star’ has also been commissioned, and it has shown strong detection and command capabilities during exercises. There’s reason to believe the ’Zhi-10A’s capabilities in ground detection and commanding ground troops are not inferior to the ’Joint Star’."

In fact, Colin didn’t mention that the "Joint Star" was a copy of the "Zhi-10A," or that it was inspired by it.

Although it wouldn’t be as inferior as a knock-off version, it was difficult to say it had surpassed it.

For the "Joint Star" to reach the standard of the "Zhi-10A" was already quite an achievement.

After Colin finished speaking, even Herbert couldn’t help but sigh.

As an old soldier who had participated in the last great war and a former Navy Air Force ship-borne aircraft pilot, Herbert was very clear about the military strength of the Liangxia Empire.

To put it simply, the Newland Republic had always been chasing the Liangxia Empire but had never caught up!

Defeated in the last great war, and the civil war that erupted because of the defeat, as well as a series of reforms that followed, could all be seen as preparations that had to be made or a price that had to be paid in an effort to catch up with the Liangxia Empire. Nearly half a century of effort and sacrifice were made in order to wash away the humiliation of that defeat.

Of course, it was also to take back what had been lost: the Howay Islands.

However, as of now, the gap remained very clear.

First of all, there was the population.

According to the last census of the Liangxia Empire, which was five years ago, the population had already exceeded 700 million, and it might have reached 800 million by now.

The Newland Republic’s census last year was 360 million, and even if all the uncounted illegal immigrants were included, it definitely wouldn’t exceed 400 million.

Just this one factor determined that the Newland Republic’s potential for war was far less than that of the Liangxia Empire.

According to the post-war summary, the primary reason for the defeat was that their population was only half that of the Liangxia Empire.

As the post-war saying went: Having more people doesn’t necessarily make you stronger, but having fewer definitely makes you weaker.

In fact, this determined the fundamental policy of the Newland Republic after the war.

Simply put, it was to encourage the country’s citizens to have more children, to relax immigration restrictions, and to strengthen ties with other countries on the Gu Continent.

On this basis, the Beigu Free Trade Zone, led by the Newland Republic, was established.

It was the world’s first international organization based on trade and economics, and it ushered in the era of free trade!

Afterward, on the foundation of the Beigu Free Trade Zone, the Newland Republic launched the "Southward Strategy," which, proposed and implemented by former President Ronald, was colloquially known as the "Second Monroe Doctrine." Its core idea was to re-dominate the Western Hemisphere.

The "Southward Strategy" became a hallmark event for the rise of the Newland Republic.

Ronald thus became one of the greatest presidents in the history of Newland.

Before Ronald’s presidency, the Newland Republic looked more like a regional power.

During the eight years Ronald dominated the Grey Palace, the Newland Republic transformed from a regional power to a global superpower, becoming a true super hegemon.

To a large extent, Herbert was enjoying the political inheritance of Ronald.

It was no surprise; for eight years, Herbert served as Ronald’s deputy, and his election as President two years prior seemed more like a promotion from deputy to head.

But the problem was, it had only been 10 years!

Even if during the past 10 years the Newland Republic’s development was the fastest in the world, it was not enough to make up for its inherent shortcomings, let alone reverse the balance of power.