Von Palen's face darkened, while Shelley continued speaking:

"Compared to the army, our navy is developing somewhat slowly. Although shipyards are building large transport ships day and night, the combat power of our naval forces has not kept up. At sea, the decisive force does not lie in the combat power of the soldiers themselves, but more in the advantages brought by the warships."

"Advanced warships are enough to crush everything."

“Gustav, I think you know more than I do.” Shelley then looked at Gustav.

Upon being asked this question, Gustav felt extremely uncomfortable, sweat pouring down his back, but he still immediately replied:

"We have several divisions of troops on the western coast. As long as the Qunxing Islands do not fall, they will become our fortress at sea, and the Yan people will be dragged to their deaths at sea."

“That’s our sea area, and our land is right behind us. The Yan Kingdom doesn’t have the manpower to quickly replenish their troops. It would take them two months to come here!”

"Given this shift in power, what can the Yan Kingdom use to launch an attack?"

“Perhaps their attack plan has already failed, and they’ve already slunk back!” Gustav exclaimed.

Von Palen raised an eyebrow and said:

"Since they have launched a large-scale invasion, they will not leave easily."

"However, Gustav is right about one thing: the Yan people are coming into our territorial waters. If we can avoid fighting them at sea and instead set up the battlefield on the Star Islands, it will be a huge advantage for us."

Upon hearing this, Gustav excitedly said, "Yes, Your Majesty. You must know that Sebastian is an excellent commander. He will make reasonable tactical arrangements after figuring out the combat strength of the Yan Kingdom's fleet."

"And in the port of Bruno, General Bernhardt's troops are stationed there, and they can continuously provide reinforcements should the fighting take place in the Star Islands."

Von Palen nodded slightly, but his expression remained solemn. He said:

"The arrival of the Yan people has already posed a certain threat to us."

"As Shelly said, our naval strength is indeed insufficient, and this expedition..."

At this point, everyone listening turned somber, and some even sighed. The fleet that Edman and Sharian took away was the Federation's strongest navy at the moment, but if it was really as they guessed and they had been completely wiped out, then this would be an enormous loss for the Empire.

While the navy is not completely crippled, it has suffered a severe blow. The conquest of Yan Kingdom will undoubtedly be postponed, and the colony plan may even be cancelled.

At this moment, Von Palen noticed the low spirits of everyone present. He straightened up and said in a resounding voice:

"The fact that the Yan people have come to our territorial waters, I know you may think this is bad news, but I don't think so."

Upon hearing this, all eyes turned to Feng Palen's face. Feng Palen's gloomy expression vanished, replaced by a triumphant air as he spoke:

"Recognize the gap, learn from the lessons, and summarize the experience!"

"If the Yan Kingdom's warships are stronger, then we must do everything we can to seize them. With better technology, we can upgrade our navy to the fullest and become the strongest maritime force of this era!"

"A few setbacks will not make us back down, and the journey will not end here."

"Compared to the threat posed by the Yan Kingdom's invasion, I believe this is an opportunity. We have millions of troops on this land, and they will surely become corpses beneath our feet! And we will obtain more advanced technology from them and become stronger!"

"Gentlemen, do not dwell on the Navy's temporary setbacks. The battle with the Yan people has only just begun!" Feng Palen said with great enthusiasm.

——

"How long has it been, and the battle is already over?"

At two o'clock in the morning, Tachino, leading a group of defeated soldiers in a hasty escape from the Macedonian military factory, muttered to himself.

His warhorse was panting heavily, and Tachino was shivering in the cold wind as he stood on a slightly higher hillside, looking in the direction of the Macedonian military factory.

Although it was dark, a patch of fire lit up the direction of the Macedonian military factory.

Although he was far away, Tachino could only make out the general shape, but he knew what the flames represented.

Clearly, the Yan Kingdom's attack on the Macedonian military factory was over, and those who failed to evacuate in time were now corpses.

Afterwards, the people of Yan chose to end everything with a great fire.

The Macedonian military factory, which had been under construction for eight years and produced countless weapons, was reduced to ashes less than four days after the Yan people landed at Foster Harbor.

Such a formidable enemy, such a swift offensive, far surpasses any enemy the empire has ever encountered in the past. The emperor in Salibia may not have received the news yet, but by the time he receives news of the fall of the military factory, the Yan people will probably have already led their army deep into the country.

In the past, when the emperor personally led his army into battle, he was swift and fierce, but now the enemy was even more swift and ruthless, Tacino thought to himself, his face pale.

Although he was far away from the military factory, he seemed to feel the flames burning beside him. The flames not only reduced the military factory to ashes, but also took away his career. If the Yan people had not come, he should have risen to prominence in the military factory.

But now everything is gone, and the place they are going to is still far away. Tachino can only hope that the people at the Heinrich military base can prepare for the upcoming battle with the Yan people.

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!