Munitions Empire-Chapter 1031 - 953 Two Different Choices
Chapter 1031: 953 Two Different Choices
In fact, the seemingly favorable southern strategy of Qin Country has only begun to take shape in the last two or three years. The situation before was completely different and there was virtually no notion of a southern strategy for Qin Country.
First and foremost, before both Qin Country and Shu Country were vassal states of the Dahua Empire, and their mutual conflicts had to be under the control of the Dahua Empire. In terms of comprehensive national strength, the Dahua Empire significantly overpowered both Qin Country and Shu Country.
Even in modern times, although the national power of the Dahua Empire began to decline, it was still the largest country in the region. Neither Shu Country nor Qin Country, could afford to start a war under the pressure of the Dahua Empire.
Because if the Dahua Empire sided with the country being attacked, it could determine the outcome of the war, and thus Qin Country previously did not have the conditions to declare war on Shu Country.
On the other hand, without the sudden emergence of the Great Tang Empire, there would not be so much or such large disputes of interest between Qin Country and Shu Country.
Previously, it wasn’t advantageous at all for Qin Country to attack Shu Country; aside from acquiring land, the benefits were very poor.
By seizing the northern parts of Shu Country, Qin Country inadvertently increased its border with both the Orc Empire and the Dahua Empire, which was not a good thing at all; it only needlessly wasted national strength and increased the length of their defensive lines.
Then what? After all these efforts, the only additional benefit Qin Country could gain was merely the convenience of exporting to Chu Country.
What a joke, the previous crappy economy of Chu Country couldn’t even sustain itself for a few years without collapsing, let alone purchase goods from Qin Country…
As for exporting to Zheng Country or Qi Country, why bother making the arduous journey through Chu Country when they could go directly through the Dahua Empire?
At that time, everyone was a vassal state of the Dahua Empire, and it was more convenient for business caravans to go through the Dahua Empire — apart from being exploited, there were no problems.
After all, the roads were poor, the trade volume was limited, and the types of goods were simplistic; the kings and high-ranking officials of the various countries didn’t really care.
Today, however, the situation is different. The main focus of Qin Country’s exports is on trade with the Great Tang, and civil strife within the Dahua Empire directly affects the exports of Qin Country, a scenario previously unheard of.
In fact, at the time of the rise of the Great Tang Empire, Qin Country had already begun to explore the so-called “southern indirect” strategy to conquer Shu Country.
But previously, due to poor economic conditions, outdated military equipment, and the Dahua Empire not yet completely declining, it wasn’t feasible to implement the strategy immediately.
Another reason was that the rise of the Great Tang Empire happened too quickly; Qin Country hadn’t yet prepared for the war against Shu Country when the new geopolitical landscape had already taken shape.
Over these years with the development of Qin Country, the conditions have naturally matured: Now Qin Country’s national power is still adequate, and its military is very strong. Everyone in Qin Country believes that as long as the Great Tang Empire agrees, the war against Shu Country would be guaranteed a victorious as easy as picking geo-ducks!
“Your Majesty, the issue now falls on our side, if we allow Qin Country to expand, how can we ensure our interests in Shu Country are protected,” Nangong Hong relayed the request of the Qin State Envoy, glanced at the silent Tang Mo, then at the Prime Minister Roger beside him.
Frankly speaking, Tang Mo’s political insight was actually not as good as Nangong Hong’s; his limited international relations experience came either from his past life’s arms dealing summary or from this life’s on-the-job learning.
Roger was even less capable; he was just a co-owner of a blacksmith shop and climbed to this position solely because of Tang Mo’s rise and his own good standing in the team. His loyalty is absolutely unquestionable, but his capabilities were just mediocre.
Thus, interestingly, the Emperor and the Prime Minister of the strongest empire in the world were not traditionally educated, or in blunt terms, they were both amateurs.
“If we tacitly approve Qin Country’s expansion, it would mean giving up the trade opportunities on the Western Continent, and everything would have to be reshuffled…” Tang Mo, after a long silence, finally spoke, inserting his views on the part he knew best.
Nangong Hong also knew he needed to add something; after all, back in Brunas, even the strategy to expand westward was helped by Nangong Hong himself.
Roger, the Prime Minister, he hadn’t even considered; some officials even privately called Prime Minister Roger the “Minister of Agriculture.”
This Imperial Chancellor wasn’t strong at all; professionally, he was lacking, and he had no achievements in national policy; when idle, he could only deal with agricultural production and supervise practical works like water power, bridges, and railways.
The matters he dealt with could all be handled by the ministers of various departments, so this Prime Minister… his only use was as a totem, the kind of mascot with unquestionable loyalty.
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Indeed, it was a helpless situation, expecting a former co-owner of an old blacksmith shop to be remarkably bright and heroic was unrealistic. Tang Mo valued Roger not for his competence, but for his loyalty.
Nangong Hong, who has been temporarily appointed as the Minister of Foreign Affairs, is actually more suitable for the position of Imperial Chancellor than Roger. Unfortunately, after seeing the Ministry of Internal Affairs dismissing all officials who privately discussed the Chancellor, Nangong Hong knew that as long as Roger was alive, he would never be able to even come close to becoming the Chancellor.
Thus, after pondering for a few seconds, he said, “There will definitely be losses; the slave trade will affect our construction speed, oil prices will rise, and both grain and cotton will be impacted.”
Both Dahua Empire and Qin Country are oil-exporting countries, not that they do not use oil, but because Great Tang Empire purchases too much.
Since the acquisition of the southern oil fields and the import of oil from Chu Country, Great Tang Empire has never increased production at Dragon Island’s oil fields.
Even after modernizing the southern oil fields, Great Tang Empire never fully utilized its production capacity—Tang Mo consciously used up foreign oil capacities, and in this way, provided economic support to the less prosperous Qin Country and Dahua Empire.
This action directly drove up international oil prices, making life considerably easier for these oil-exporting countries; it also allowed these countries to spend their reserves of Great Tang Golden Yuan more boldly.
So, if the war on the Western Continent escalates, domestic oil prices in Great Tang Empire will definitely rise, and the same goes for grain, cotton, and slaves.
Relatively safe are the steel produced by Great Tang Empire itself, and the rubber produced in large quantities in the southern regions of Chu Country and Shu Country.
“Is there any solution?” Tang Mo directly asked Nangong Hong.
“In fact, it does not affect us much, so Your Majesty needs to consider whether or not you are willing to let Qin Country expand,” Nangong Hong answered, “According to my estimation, it would take Qin Country only a few months at most to take over the northern part of Shu Country.”
“The Dahua Empire is too preoccupied to pay attention to Qin Country’s expansion. As long as it’s not against them, Zhao Kai is probably relieved. Perhaps he will even feel at ease enough to withdraw some troops from the west and make a show of force on the Fengjiang front,” Tang Mo had the insight to nod and say, “Relying on Shu Country alone, it truly might not withstand Qin Country’s assault.”
“Then we can see… what benefits we, Great Tang, can reap from it,” Nangong Hong smiled and suggested to Tang Mo, “Letting Qin Country make a move is like muddying the waters—naturally, there are advantages in chaos. We could gain a shifting situation. Not letting Qin Country make a move, the situation would remain calm, and we can likewise gain trade benefits from the calm, which also benefits Great Tang.”
“Let’s discuss it,” Tang Mo directly said, “Let me and the Chancellor learn more.”
Roger was taken aback by Tang Mo’s words, then immediately felt touched: Sitting at the side was quite awkward for him, and his capabilities made him feel somewhat inferior. Tang Mo placing him on equal footing at this moment, Roger could feel Tang Mo’s hard intentions.
Nangong Hong, unsurprised, immediately began speaking, “Dismissing Qin Country and not allowing Ying Duo to expand, our trade would be stable, everything built according to plan, two years later we would be able to complete the first five-year plan Your Majesty drafted, by then Great Tang Empire’s power would be unmatched in the world, and that’s an inevitable result.”
After he finished speaking and saw that Tang Mo did not intend to speak, he could only continue, “Supporting Qin Country’s expansion, there would be changes, changes in various countries and forces. Your Majesty, if you wish to make a move… then different scenes will follow.”
“Firstly, the inevitably beaten Shu Country will need to align closer to us. Dahua Empire cannot save them, only we can make Qin Country behave,” Nangong Hong pointed at the water cup on his side of the coffee table.
Then he pointed at Tang Mo’s water cup, “If Qin Country captures northern Shu, that naturally is their gain, and naturally, they owe us something. That’s another point!”
After finishing, he pointed at Roger’s water cup, “My Great Tang Empire and Qin Country surrounding Dahua… how much of that fat piece is left, that’s another change.”
Tang Mo was silent, just like Nangong Hong said, there would be many changes, with the power of Great Tang Empire standing there, indeed many benefits could be reaped.
However, maintaining a stable hand and focusing on domestic development and climbing the technology tree was also a good choice. This indeed was a difficult choice, and Tang Mo could not cover all aspects at the moment.
“Your Majesty need not rush the decision, ask the military’s opinion, let other ministers express their views too, perhaps it would be more comprehensive,” Roger himself couldn’t come up with a good plan, so he could only suggest being thorough.
Tang Mo nodded, he also felt it was not urgent: “Let the envoy from Qin Country wait a few days! There’s no rush for such matters.”
Nangong Hong nodded, indeed such matters required all departments to consider thoroughly and synthesize opinions.
However, personally, Nangong Hong was inclined to stir up the situation. In the eyes of a seasoned strategist like him, some money and resources meant nothing, sometimes opportunities were the most valuable.
Unfortunately, Great Tang Empire was too strong, providing him another option: to do nothing, as the power of Great Tang Empire was growing stronger day by day, stability might be the easier way to win.
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Today is two updates.
Source: Webnovel.com, updated on Novlove.com
