Munitions Empire

In the dimly lit bar, a well-dressed nobleman from Dorne shook his wine glass, complaining with drunken eyes, "Isn't this just targeting us? It's too much bullying!"

They had already heard about the so-called anti-drug treaty, spearheaded by the Great Tang Empire, with the Suthers Empire having already signed it, and the Poplar Empire seemingly ready to compromise as well.

After all, the conditions offered by the Great Tang Empire were too attractive, leaving these countries little choice but to agree. Since the influence of the Black Crow hadn't yet spread to the Poplar Empire and the Suthers Empire, there was almost no pressure for the two countries to sign such a treaty.

But it was different for Dorne; as soon as the news broke, it immediately triggered a backlash. The nobility were utterly furious, stoking the flames of public discontent and almost causing an incident.

The rich man sitting beside him snorted and cursed discontentedly, "Isn't it?! Damn it, they're even meddling in what medicine we take. Does everything in the world have to listen to Tang Country?"

As he cursed, he slapped the table, causing the expensive Black Crow pills scattered on top to jump up and down: "I've got money! Plenty of money! So why can't I go to Tang Country to spend it? What kind of logic is this? Tell me, what kind of logic is this?"

Next to him, a nobleman began to rake up old grievances. He had long been displeased with how Tang Country handled the Old Nobility, and now he shouted maliciously, "That Emperor of Tang Country has always disliked us nobles. How many of us has he killed? I curse him! He will surely die from poison upon his dining table!"

His shout drew a chorus of agreement; everyone harbored resentment against the Great Tang Empire's suppression and slaughter of the Old Nobility, and at that moment, they all vented their feelings together: "Yes! He will definitely be assassinated! The nobility have ruled this world for millennia; who is he, this young upstart, with no foundation but plenty of audacity!"

A wave of vicious curses and invectives erupted: "You just wait. Someday, when he's caught off guard, someone righteous will kill him in his bed just as he did to us!"

As they spoke, a nobleman grabbed some pills from the table and shoved them into his mouth, shouting madly, "I'm just taking some Black Crow, aren't I? What's wrong with Black Crow?"

"Yes! I'm taking them myself, not forcing others to!" Another businessman also took a handful of Black Crow pills, his gaze starting to scatter: "Come on, come catch me! You come on! I'm not afraid of you!"

Amidst his shouting, everyone burst into laughter, clapping their hands and cheering him on. The madman who took the pills became more frenzied, standing up and swaying his body like a fish about to die of thirst.

"Damn it! I have shares in the Black Crow business, just making money, how is that illegal? By what right does their Tang Country's law govern us nobles of Dorne?" The rich man on the other side continued cursing, and those listening to him all nodded, agreeing with what he said.

The women lying beside these wealthy men were half-alive, their bodies exposed, slumping on comfortable sofas, allowing the men nearby to play with them.

"His Majesty the Emperor is wise after all; he refused the allure of Tang Country and didn't agree to sign that damn treaty!" At this moment, a nobleman raised his arm high, shouting loudly, then laughed: "Long live our Emperor!"

Another noble pounded his chest, his expression twisted. Clearly, he had also taken a lot of Black Crow pills, and now the drug was evidently taking effect: "Yes, our Dorne still has some backbone! Look at those northern countries, each one more like a woman than the last!"

"Hahaha, like a woman! Just like a woman!" Those who no longer knew what they were doing echoed, clapping their hands and laughing.

More people toyed with the women beside them, savoring fine wines, devouring the expensively priced medications on the table, yet feeling no pain for their cost, and let out ghostly, eerie laughs: "Oh, hahahaha!"

...

Dorne the First sat in his office, complaining sullenly to his confidants, "Do you think I don't want to agree? That I don't want to use this treaty to exchange for peace? The envoy from the Tang Country in the Laines Empire has already hinted to me that as long as I agree, Tang Country is willing to end the war with Dorne..."

The Great Tang Empire indeed made some hints, even indicating that if Dorne agreed, Tang Country could treat them equally and sell many advanced technologies to Dorne.

Unfortunately, Dorne the First refused Tang Country, because he could only refuse: "This might be our last chance, but I can't agree to such conditions because of my minister! Damn it, my ministers! They actually told me that my country can no longer do without the Black Crow!"

Black Crow has now become an important industry in Dorne, supporting countless people. In this situation, rushing to form a treaty with Tang Country would certainly cause domestic chaos in Dorne first.

It's more terrifying than maintaining a state of war with Tang Country, because Tang Country is at least a clear enemy, while those who profit from Black Crow operate in the shadows. Dorne the First truly fears that one day he will die in his sleep.

But he was indeed agitated, slapping the table and shouting, "Countless people rely on this thing to treat diseases, and countless people get rich from Black Crow. The entire industry has grown so large it could destroy me as an emperor!"

"These bastards! Bastards! Do they even know what they're doing? We've missed the opportunity to restore peace with the Great Tang Empire! And those advanced weapons and equipment!" The more he spoke, the angrier Dorne the First felt, even a bit aggrieved.

He painstakingly managed an empire, only for his ministers to not be on the same page with him: "Tang Country is considering exporting airborne warning equipment to the Poplar Empire and the Suthers Empire, which could at least double, if not triple, the combat effectiveness of our Air Force!"

As he spoke, Dorne the First sighed, sinking back into his chair like a deflated balloon: "In the end, we can neither buy anything nor do anything! All because, all because my ministers have ended up on the Great Tang Empire's blacklist, becoming unwanted fools! They're all involved in the Black Crow trade; they are in the Great Tang Empire's eyes, criminals!"

"Calm down, Your Majesty..." The confidants didn't know what to say, bowing their heads to offer a word of comfort.

Dorne the First sneered, gritting his teeth as he said, "What's there to be angry about; I'm just waiting here, after the Dorne Empire is destroyed, I'll stand at the foot of the stairs watching them get hanged one by one!"

"..." A few ministers didn't dare raise their heads, responding to their emperor with silence.

Dorne the First waved his hand, irritably driving everyone out: "Out! All of you, out! Get out!"

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Updating with one more chapter.