Munitions Empire

Iryn doesn't need to work because she really can't find a suitable job. The imperial concubines are already too involved in politics, whether it's Alice, who controls the treasury, or Yulin, who controls the Ministry of Internal Affairs, they all have strong influence in the Great Tang Empire.

Ying Yue and the Duke of Qin have already begun to make their mark in the sports circle, and Yue'er has her own voice in the entertainment and news sectors.

If another imperial concubine were to get involved in the distribution of the power pie, Tang Mo might find it inappropriate. So, Iryn can only honestly be a full-time housewife.

Iryn is quite smart; she doesn't yearn for power, and plays a role of non-contention within the Tang Royal Family. She has no ambition for power struggles, nor does she create drama that annoys others. In short, everyone likes her, including Tang Mo.

After all, she's an elf, and Tang Mo is a transmigrator... Who wouldn't want a soft and delicate elf girl?

It's just that Iryn doesn't need to work; she only needs to occasionally appear as a mascot representing the royal family at some events. But Tang Mo needs to work.

If the Emperor takes a break, many tasks within the empire must be put on hold, which is clearly something Tang Mo cannot tolerate.

The situation where the Minister of National Defense falls ill and is hospitalized, and the president knows about it three days later, is unlikely to occur in the burgeoning Great Tang Empire.

After having a sumptuous breakfast with Iryn, Tang Mo went to the meeting room with his secretary. Inside, four marshals and four generals were already waiting, the heavy doors were closed, and Tang Mo's secretary pulled down the map hanging behind him.

It was what he put up yesterday, basically comprising half of the Northern Island area, and the Steel Rampart region across the Endless Sea on the Eastern Continent.

"Long live the Emperor!" Upon seeing Tang Mo enter, the four marshals and four generals stood up simultaneously, saluting with respect. Although there were only eight officers, their voices were full of vigor, solemn and dignified.

Tang Mo waved his hand, then signaled everyone to sit: "Gentlemen, this morning when I washed my face, I discovered gray hairs at my temples."

He pointed to his temples and looked at Luff, who was over fifty, Tagg, who was also over fifty, Bernard, who was nearing sixty, and Redman, who was nearly fifty: "You gentlemen aren't young anymore, so some things must be accelerated."

Even though Bolton and Strauss were still relatively young, they were also over forty, and Xiao Yun was already in his thirties, hardly younger than Tang Mo.

As he spoke, Tang Mo raised his arm and casually pointed at the map hanging behind: "I want to take back what is mine, the things we lost because we were weak, the things that belong to us!"

"I have reviewed the battle plan for attacking the northern part of the Eastern Continent and have made amendments. Gentlemen, now tell me, when can this plan be realized?" He looked at the four marshals and four generals seated before him and asked.

Anyone sitting in this room is enough to make other empires apprehensive. Each of them has secured vast territories for the Great Tang Empire, and the power they hold can cause sleepless nights for monarchs of other nations.

Bernard glanced at Luff and was the first to speak: "Your Majesty, the Navy is fully prepared, and the new fleet has completed training, the battle plan can be implemented at any time."

"Elite troops have been secretly assembled as planned over several months... Based on intelligence monitoring the communications and maneuvers of various countries, our intentions have not been truly detected, the opponent still only speculates that we may launch an amphibious assault in the northern part of the Eastern Continent," Luff continued.

"General Feng Kezhi's 9th Group Army is confirmed for the second wave of landing. The first wave of deployed troops has been confirmed, including the 1st Armored Division, 2nd Armored Division, 1st Infantry Division, 2nd Infantry Division, and 1st Marine Division... With the logistics and support personnel, the total force is nearly 180,000," Tagg continued.

With the marshals speaking, the generals sitting behind were just quietly listening. Strauss, with his naval command experience, has been selected as the overall commander for the landing, assisted by naval commander Lu Qianshan, who is the commander of the support fleet.

The Navy's frontline Supreme Commander is Admiral Bernard aboard the "Bernard Navy Marshal" flagship, and the post-landing Supreme Commander is General Tagg.

The choice of Marshal Tagg as the Supreme Commander is intentional: he is a leader from the Northern Ridge, having departed from Brunas back then, and now returning to the Eastern Continent, symbolizing the return of Brunas' forces that left back then.

"General Feng Kezhi's 9th Group Army will begin landing on the 10th day after the operation starts, by which time our total forces will exceed 300,000. After controlling Eternal Winter Port, the supply is expected to meet combat needs."

"Does the Staff Department have any details that need to be revised?" Tang Mo once again looked at Luff.

Luff immediately responded: "Your Majesty, the details have been secretly rehearsed more than ten times. Even in the most passive scenario, our attack will still succeed."

"What do you mean by the most passive scenario?" Tang Mo curiously asked.

"In ten simulations, we chose the most passive mode to start three times. Our fleet lost five aircraft carriers while contesting sea control, and the main fleet suffered over fifty percent losses," Luff responded, almost amusing Bernard. The thought of naval losses exceeding fifty percent made him chuckle—half of his navy displayed here, which country would dare to come?

"The landing forces encountered stubborn resistance from enemy's main forces, we succeeded in landing only after losing 5000 men, and the subsequent troops were suppressed by enemy's beachhead artillery..." While Luff spoke, the marshals and generals beside him awkwardly rubbed their noses or their chins.

"I say, Teacher Luff, can't you guys in the Staff Department give us a bit of slack... Intelligence leaks? The enemy deployed five times the strength in the landing area ahead of time? What is this nonsense?" Redman couldn't hold back, laughingly mocked.

The Air Force has no marshals, and the two generals were embarrassed to speak, but their expressions betrayed them: The Staff Department, despite knowing at least 200 Yinglong Fighters would be committed, gave a fifty-fifty judgment on air supremacy.

Wow, two hundred Yinglongs couldn't beat the Dwarves' Qiang-5 J-6... What in the world is this, is there no law or order?

"Planning for the worst..." Luff embarrassedly touched his nose, and the atmosphere instantly relaxed: "In reality, the probability of this scenario occurring is almost zero."

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My wife is returning to her hometown these days, it's quite busy, the delayed updates will be postponed and completed a few days later.