Chapter 210: Sacrifice
Changshan Steel Plant was booming. The workers were enthusiastic and worked hard to produce, and normal operations were restored on the first day.
The next day, the highest production record in history was broken.
After that, the output was around 10,000 tons every day.
Moreover, an unexpected benefit emerged.
Changshan County has always had a very big disadvantage: the logistics costs are too high.
Things like steel are particularly disadvantageous.
But now, these steels are exactly what Changshan County’s construction projects need, and they can be directly transported to the construction site for use. This not only saves a lot of logistics, transportation and other costs, but also greatly reduces the sales links and saves a lot of trouble.
It’s a huge profit going back and forth.
This is also reflected in Changshan County's weekly report.
Empire Weekly Issue 44:
…
Changshan County has once again achieved great success and has seen another huge outbreak this week
There are two reasons for this.
First, Changshan Steel Plant resumed work, and the steel products it produced saved Changshan County a lot of money.
Second, the substantial acceleration of highway construction in Changshan County, and the creation of a miraculous Phantom Sun-Destroying Demonic Pit Bridge (with photos attached).
This 313-meter-long bridge adopts an unprecedented steel-rock structure, using steel wire ropes as its stress relief body and dense new rock materials as the load-bearing body.
The strength of this bridge is amazing. Without piers, the total load-bearing capacity can reach 600 tons. Considering its length, the vehicle weight limit should be 15 tons.
Under restricted traffic conditions, vehicles with higher loads can also pass through.
This is very meaningful to Changshan County because the transportation of goods represents the economic vitality of a region.
And all this is said to be related to a mysterious organization called the Java Engineering Team.
I think such a top engineering team should not be limited to Changshan County. It should be devoted to larger projects in the empire and use its high-tech to benefit more people in the empire.
I urge Changshan County to disclose the contact information of this imperial overseas engineering team as soon as possible and not let selfishness become a factor that hinders the development of the empire.
Empire Weekly, Special Report.
——
Shenjing.
To the Winter Palace.
In a small and shabby office, Chang Hai was throwing a tantrum. He had been demoted due to continuous failures, but was still in charge of the affairs of Changshan County.
Bang!
He angrily slammed the Empire Weekly on the table. "Is the steel mill repaired? How can Changshan County, which is so poor, become rich?"
A Council agent said, "Commander Chang, they say it was repaired by a world-renowned engineering team."
"Repaired? Can it be repaired by molten steel in a furnace?"
"Uh, I don't know about that."
Chang Hai angrily tore the newspaper into pieces: "Waste! Changshan County must not be allowed to have an industry! Especially such an advanced steel plant!"
"Go, order the ace spy Anders to destroy the steel mill again!"
"If we can ruin it the first time, we can ruin it the second time!"
"Also, last time I asked him to poison the water source, why hasn't he done it yet?"
"Give me the order. If he doesn't poison those rebels in Shangxi Town, I'll kill every male in his family and rape the female. I'll film it and send it to everyone he knows, then release it for the entire empire to see!"
——
Southwest District.
Supreme Command Headquarters.
Luozhou is the territory of the Council of Advocates, and the Governor of Luozhou is Yu Zhongxian's staunch ally. Therefore, attacking Luozhou is equivalent to attacking Yu Zhongxian.
Therefore, the confrontation between them was mainly concentrated in Luozhou.
The spies from the southwest region sneaked in and caused destruction everywhere, not caring about the fact that Luozhou was just west of Zezhou and was the front line of the war. The rising star of the empire was leading his army to fight against the cavalry of the Papal States.
Good news came in from the front and the group was excited, but Qin Gang remained unmoved.
It was not until the chief of staff had formulated the next round of attack plans and the meeting was nearing its end that the deputy chief of staff mentioned the Changshan County incident.
"The steel mills in Changshan County have been restored. Their equipment is at the most advanced level in the Empire, which can save them a lot of money. They must be destroyed first."
Xu Zongheng, the third in command of the Qin Group and the governor of Xuzhou, said: "Their high-quality coke is all imported from me, so I can just pinch it directly."
A military leader asked, "Isn't there any other place?"
Xu Zongheng laughed and said, "I am the empire's major coal province. Which coal merchant doesn't respect me? Which coal boss doesn't respect me? I'm telling you this: anyone who sells goods to Changshan County is disrespecting me and deliberately opposing me."
The deputy chief of staff continued, "Also, we've received the latest intelligence: Changshan County has hired a cruise ship, which is heading downstream. Their destination is the high seas."
The smuggling boss of the group immediately understood: "They are planning to trade on the high seas. They are either evading taxes or selling contraband. In large quantities."
"What major business is there in Changshan County?"
"Steel? Can we make enough money to haul that stuff over there?"
The head of the group's loan sharking operation suddenly said, "Before, Changshan County used Shizhou to get a lot of young female slaves from us. They must be buying and selling people!"
"But the stuff there is all junk," he added. "It's all defective, thin or sick, and won't sell for much."
Qin Gang did not disclose the matter of the gold within the group, so most people did not know that Changshan County was most likely the real mastermind behind the theft of the gold. They only knew that Changshan County had been listed as an enemy of the group and was one of the many obstacles on the group's development path.
The Qin Group's main sphere of influence is inland, and it has little influence on the water.
Since it couldn't be sold for much money, no one paid any more attention to it.
After the meeting, Qin Gang returned to his office and asked his secretary to bring him the top-secret phone.
It was a black antique-looking telephone, a special phone only available to generals above the commander-in-chief level.
Qin Gang picked up the phone and dialed the number of the Imperial Navy Marshal.
After a while, the call was connected.
A low voice.
"Hello, Qin Gang, what's going on?"
"Hello, Marshal Lu. I have news for you. A cruise ship carrying at least three tons of illegal gold is preparing to enter the Dalong River from Tianjiang, then sail out to sea from the Dalong River to complete an illegal transaction on the high seas."
"Belong?"
"Changshan County."
"condition?"
"Kill them all."
"Hmph, at the next military meeting, I won't raise any objections to the third proposal regarding the Army's shore-based weapons research funding."
"Thank you, Marshal Lu."
After hanging up the phone, Qin Gang gave orders again.
"Tell Yan Gao, the head of the tax department, that Changshan County is illegally smuggling and trading gold in huge amounts."
"Have the Meizhu Agency send out elite spies to obtain evidence."
——
the next day.
Shenjing.
The highest meeting was held in the Emperor's Tower.
It is an important meeting.
The atmosphere in the meeting hall was very depressing.
After the Prime Minister of the National Government reported the losses caused by the war, the Chief of Logistics of the Supreme Military Department began to report the shortage of military supplies.
These supplies mainly include medical hemostatic drugs, long-staple cotton, and copper.
Afterwards, Army Marshal Zhu Kewu reported on the war situation.
The war with the Sob Kingdom on the banks of the Black Water River was at a stalemate. Shan Xinwu refused to give an inch on the 15-kilometer-long front. The imperial army suffered heavy losses, but the war was far from being decided.
The war in Zezhou was somewhat out of control. The Papal States sent a cavalry regiment to block the double-star encirclement of the Empire. Ignoring the possibility of being attacked from behind, the main force continued to advance forward, fiercely attacking the defense line of Zhongzhou, and had advanced 32 kilometers.
The rebel Wu Jingtang spread rumors everywhere, misled the military and the people, abducted people, and forced refugees to attack minefields and imperial defense lines, resulting in the tragic deaths of countless innocent civilians and low morale among the soldiers on the Zhongzhou front.
After a brief discussion, the Council of Elders approved Zhu Kewu's plan to send troops to assist the Imperial Twin Stars, break through the blockade of the Adriano Cavalry Regiment, and cut off their way back home.
Once the retreat is cut off, the main force of the Papal States must withdraw as soon as possible if they do not want to be surrounded and annihilated within the empire.
The next debate was whether to send troops to support Zhongzhou. Army Marshal Zhu Kewu insisted on sending troops. He said:
"Everyone, the Papal States is full of cruel followers of the Burning Heaven Cult. Their main forces are led by monks, nobles, and priests. They love to sacrifice people. They slaughter civilians in Zhongzhou to please their main god, Burning Heaven, and use the bodies, heads, blood, and internal organs of the victims to complete the ritual. The scene is so bloody and cruel that it is difficult to describe in words."
"If Zhongzhou's defenses are breached again, countless more people will die. The Empire has a responsibility to protect its citizens."
But Yu Zhongxian refuted this statement.
"Defending Zhongzhou is Wang Bo'an's responsibility. How can the Empire do it for him?"
"And if we strengthen Zhongzhou's defenses, what if the Papal State retreats prematurely, sensing the situation is unfavorable? If they return to defend Zezhou and block the Imperial Twin Stars attacking from both sides, won't we be forced to fight a protracted war with them in Zezhou?"
"If the war drags on for a long time and countless lives are lost, who will bear the responsibility?"
Zhu Kewu looked at Yu Zhongxian with disgust, but what he said was not impossible. Zhu Kewu could only try his best to persuade the elders from a humanitarian perspective.
But the elders clearly believed that the interests of the empire took precedence over humanitarianism.
His proposal was not passed.
The second topic was about refugees.
Currently, more than 80% of the refugees generated by the war are concentrated in Zhongzhou, which has caused Zhongzhou to bear a heavy burden. Not only is it difficult to supply supplies, but the resettlement and management of refugees have also encountered great difficulties.
The neighboring states of Naju and Gwangju continued to send refugees to Jungju.
The special envoy of Zhongzhou Governor Wang Boan cried out loudly at the meeting: "Why on earth are the refugees being concentrated in Zhongzhou? Can't Luozhou and Guangzhou accommodate them? Can't other provinces also accommodate them?
"The Council is still constantly driving away refugees. It's as if they just remembered the existence of the Asylum Regulations. As if to make up for previous losses, they are patrolling everywhere, even guarding the front lines, just to drive the refugees to Zhongzhou!"
The envoy could no longer contain his anger and pointed at Yu Zhongxian's face and said sternly:
"During this time of crisis for the Empire, you are still busy fighting among yourselves! You even resort to the lives of refugees as an attack. You are a heartless and ruthless person. How can you be worthy of being an Imperial official? How can you control the legitimacy of the Council?"
The meeting hall fell silent. Elder Lin Yabo sneered, "A mere special envoy dares to roar at the elders' meeting? Imperial Guardians, have you become deaf?"
But the imperial emperor Li Longxing stopped him.
"This matter requires explanation. The unity of the empire is paramount. Throughout history, dynasties that were busy fighting among themselves during times of empire crisis have almost always collapsed."
This remark moved the four great elders, and they all said in unison: "Yu Zhongxian, explain your actions immediately."
Yu Zhongxian remained calm, bowed to the elders, and said slowly:
"Zhongzhou has the largest area and the longest depth in the entire empire, and should be able to accommodate refugees."
"Naju and Gwangju are long and narrow, with weak depth. If they are breached, it will mean the war will expand. They bear the ultimate battle mission and must be protected first."
"In the face of war, the various states of the empire should have cooperated sincerely. Zhongzhou should have taken on the responsibility of sheltering refugees and drawing the main force of the Papal State's attack. Luozhou and Guangzhou should have broken through from the side and cut off their retreat. Only in this way can we annihilate the invading enemy in one fell swoop and restore the Empire's prestige."
"But."
Yu Zhongxian's voice became stern.
"Zhongzhou Governor Wang Bo'an only cares about his own interests and his own gains and losses, and has no regard for the overall interests of the empire. He actually sent such a lackey to roar at the Supreme Council and slander and attack me!"
"Excuse me, who is recklessly attacking political opponents? Who is ignoring the safety of the empire and launching hostile attacks?"
The envoy's face quickly turned red. He never expected that things would be turned upside down like this. Zhongzhou became a refugee concentration camp. Under heavy pressure, he had to fight against the main force of the Papal State, cooperate with part of the main force of the Empire, and try his best to fight against the aid that was delayed with various excuses.
The special envoy saw with his own eyes that Wang Bo'an, who used to have a rosy face and a loud voice, had become haggard and listless. He was dealing with countless affairs, big and small, almost all day and all night. The hearty laughter that could always be heard in the Governor's Mansion had long disappeared.
"You, you're turning the tables! You're slandering me! It's clearly you who's blocking the aid, it's you who's trapped..."
“That’s enough!”
Li Longxing interrupted him in time. He glanced and saw the fierce light flashing in Yu Zhongxian's eyes. He knew that if the envoy continued speaking, it would not hurt Yu Zhongxian at all. Instead, he would find more flaws to attack him.
"Yu Zhongxian has a point, but Zhongzhou also needs assistance."
Li Longxing knew what to say to make the Great Elder accept it. The situation in the empire was critical and major events were happening frequently. The Great Elder was frequently involved in political affairs and had a tendency to take over the situation.
Theoretically, the First Elder is also a member of the Great Elders. As long as Li Longxing can reach an agreement with the four Great Elders, nothing in the empire can stop them.
Sure enough, the Great Elder nodded.
"Yes, Zhongzhou does have to make sacrifices, but it also needs assistance."
“It is true that the central states should accept refugees, but nearby states should also bear some responsibility.”
"Assistance is also essential. The Imperial Headquarters must prepare sufficient supplies to support Zhongzhou."
"Nearby states should also provide some supplies to the best of their ability."
That's how it was settled.
This is the best outcome we can get.
And most people don't realize it.
As the Great Elder's interference in the affairs of the empire deepened, the power of the First Elder, the Emperor Li Longxing, also increased unknowingly.
(End of this chapter)
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