Munitions Empire

Tang Mo put forward his bargaining chip; he was prepared to support Mo Kangsen's rise to become the new Prime Minister of the Empire of Nanla, "If, I mean if, Your Excellency could acquire enough money, could you perhaps exert a bit more effort in certain areas? Your uncle is nearly 70 years old; you can't live under his wings forever..."

"You're prepared to support me as the Empire's Prime Minister?" Mo Kangsen finally looked at Tang Mo, with a face full of surprise.

Tang Mo then tossed out more of his bargaining chips, making Mo Kangsen's heart falter, "Not only that, I can also support your daughter to have a smoother journey in vying for favor..."

"The car's not bad." After closing the car door, Mo Kangsen gave a compliment.

This too was an attitude, one that accepted cooperation.

Knowing the cooperation was secured, Tang Mo followed with a smile, "Yes, the car's not bad."

"The Empire of Nanla doesn't have time to prepare a generous gift," Mo Kangsen finally began to talk business.

With a wave of his hand, Harry came over carrying a suitcase that had been prepared aside, "No worries, here are 200,000 Gold Coins. A state gift only needs 150,000; I think that's enough, don't you?"

Mo Kangsen looked satisfied as he watched Harry open the suitcase to reveal neatly stacked Brunas banknotes. He nodded, knowing that with these notes in Brunas, he could buy anything, "You're very smart! Has anyone ever told you that, Lord Tang Mo?"

Tang Mo did not speak; he had heard too much of this kind of praise, mere idle words, and anyone who took them seriously was a real fool.

Mo Kangsen also didn't linger on Tang Mo's silence and continued to address the real issues, "On this visit, I represent the Empire's gesture of goodwill to the Great Tang Group. As an Empire, we don't intend to place all of our hope in one spot, so the Shireck Consortium, as well as the Great Tang Group… We will purchase from both."

He knew that to become the Prime Minister of the Empire of Nanla, he needed the support of financial backers like the Great Tang Group, and he must do more for such supporters as well.

In addition to indulging in luxury and nearly dying from debauchery during these days, he had actually attended to some serious matters.

For instance, he visited the factories of the Great Tang Group, where he saw the munitions being produced, and also inspected the shipyards. The most advanced weapons and equipment in the world left a deep impression on him.

The Empire of Nanla had dispatched Mo Kangsen to Brunas with another mission, which was to inspect the Great Tang Group and prepare for a series of arms trade deals with them.

Tang Mo nodded; having given out so much in bribes, naturally he wanted to see a return on his investment. He was a businessman, not a philanthropist.

So, when the other party brought up the matter of arms procurement, he responded quite naturally, "I've heard, but I have great confidence in my products."

"It will be a fair competition. The Empire's land forces are about to be equipped with new rifles, and we are very interested in the new weapons from the Great Tang Group," Mo Kangsen leaned on the car as he spoke to Tang Mo.

For an Empire, rearming is certainly a big affair -- more troops often meant a larger procurement budget, likewise meaning greater profits and more under-the-table dealings.

Replacing the weaponry for several hundred thousand troops isn't a small matter; any arms dealer would do whatever it takes to secure such business.

Normally, an Empire's rearmament wouldn't be so urgent because they have many soldiers, and typically only a part of their weaponry is replaced each year, spreading the rearmament over several years.

However, because the Great Tang Group had driven a revolution in weaponry, a series of victories and the rise of the Leite Kingdom had made the Empire of Nanla feel a very real crisis.

Therefore, they were compelled to start replacing their own weaponry, also beginning to focus on examining whether the Great Tang Group's weapons were truly as good as the legends proclaimed.

Confidently, Tang Mo declared, "Our weapons can bring victory to the Empire! So, purchasing our weapons is the best choice!"

"But your weapons are also more expensive! The Empire's standing army has 250,000 men! If we include reserves and emergency stocks, we need 500,000 rifles, or even more!" Mo Kangsen continued.

He looked at Tang Mo, detailing bit by bit the types and quantities of military equipment the Empire might purchase from him, "Moreover, we need at least 1,000 of your G1 heavy machine guns, more than 200 heavy cannons, more than 200 light cannons, and over 20,000 pistols... It's a big order."

These were details that were supposed to be kept confidential, but he spoke of them openly, clearly influenced by Tang Mo's bribe.

Wes nodded slightly and then added more content to the transaction, "If it were up to me, I'd also suggest you purchase artillery towing vehicles, as well as transport trucks, troops-carrier trucks... Well, to put it this way, even 3000 vehicles might not be enough."

"Of course, in order to enable His Majesty the Emperor of the Empire of Nanla to control his increasingly powerful military, you would also need at least 100 wireless telegraph sets, corresponding power generation equipment, maintenance equipment, and training for personnel to use these devices," he continued while gesturing for Harry to take notes on the side.

Mo Kangsen agreed with his point of view and continued to add, "Now, after I have visited your navy shipyard, I think your ironclad warships are also fine products."

After finishing, he still seemed somewhat unsatisfied because he was also very interested in the peripheral equipment of the Great Tang Group, "The steel helmets, military uniforms, backpacks, field tents, and raincoats that you produce... have all left a deep impression on me."

"Indeed, if you add coastal defense guns and fortress guns, and the construction of fortresses, it's estimated that the entire military rearmament plan would take at least two years to complete, and the cost of procurement could be as high as over 10 million Gold Coins," Tang Mo calculated roughly the overall price of procuring weapons and equipment.

In fact, he had still lowered some of his own profit—because if he was to extort a sum from the Empire of Nanla, the total value of this business deal would absolutely exceed 15 million Gold Coins.

Without hiding his stance, Mo Kangsen spoke directly, "I'm now on your side, I will try my best to convince the Prime Minister... But you know, this kind of thing... it's not something I can handle alone..."

"Mr. Mo Kangsen! I think you've got one thing wrong," Tang Mo interrupted the imperial envoy, "You're not alone! Behind you stands the Great Tang Group!"

"Great Tang Group's products never fear competition! Our technology leads the world, and the performance of our products is undoubtedly second to none! There's no question about that!" Tang Mo said assertively.

Mo Kangsen nodded, then shook his head, "But, as you know, in this world, it isn't necessarily the best products that are most favored! There are many twists and turns involved..."

"That's why I need you to help me sort out these twists and turns! If it's a matter of reason, we will reason with them! If money can solve it, then I will pay up! For the upright, we win by being upright; for the greedy, we win by playing to their greed!" Tang Mo said, staring at Mo Kangsen.

Mo Kangsen's smile faded as he asked solemnly, "What if they are bribed by Shireck and refuse to reason with us?"

Tang Mo sneered, "Then we'll be unreasonable too! Mr. Mo Kangsen! I... am not exactly a nice guy myself!"

After saying this, he patted Mo Kangsen, the portly fellow, on the shoulder, "I hope you can convince His Majesty the Emperor, so that he understands if he does not purchase weapons and equipment from the Great Tang Group, he could indeed lose the next war..."

"I will tell my uncle everything I have seen, the strength of Great Tang Group's weapons, and inform His Majesty the Emperor as well."

"Well then, I hope you enjoy yourself here before the victory parade! Have fun and feel at home," Tang Mo said as he saw his guest out.

Mo Kangsen smiled, patting the new Rolls-Royce by his side, "Someone will come to collect it, I really like it a lot! Thank you!"

After Mo Kangsen left, Wes approached Tang Mo and spoke, "Isn't taking out hundreds of thousands of Gold Coins in bribes at once a bit... too much?"

"Not everyone has a good uncle! Wes!" Tang Mo laughed heartily, "He's smart, knows where he stands, and his uncle is even more valuable, so a hundred thousand Gold Coins isn't much! It's even a bargain."

As he spoke, he walked toward the garage door, "Don't wait for them to come asking for it either. Arrange for someone to deliver the car to him before dinner!"

"Understood!" Wes nodded slightly, following Tang Mo out of the garage filled with luxury cars and carriages.

After settling matters concerning the support of Emperor Leines I's ascension to the throne, Tang Mo led Wes back to his office, where he found the somewhat exhausted, travel-worn Alice.

The countess had just visited her triumphant troops at Northern Ridge; her forces had wrought one miracle after another in the war that annihilated the Kingdom of Gemalin.

Even now, the carriage holding the imprisoned King of Gemalin was still at the border of Northern Ridge, almost reaching Ice Crystal City. Once there, he would be able to take a train all the way to Brunas.

Or rather, the moment he boarded that train, the former King of Gemalin might finally realize what exactly he lost to.

"I missed you! I missed you so much!" Alice didn't wait for Wes to leave before she threw her arms around the neck of her longed-for lover.

The scene turned steamy in an instant, and Wes didn't dare linger. He immediately left to close the door for Tang Mo.