CHAPTER 1416: 1333 MADE HIM NEVER COME BACK AGAIN

Chen Li was also extremely busy, with two tasks at hand: recruiting as many soldiers as possible and organizing the Qin Country troops to head to the front lines; the other task was to arm the Dahua troops so they could also become a reliable combat force.

But in reality, both tasks were fraught with difficulties: The Qin Country had been at war for consecutive years, already entrenched in a quagmire, unable to conduct large-scale mobilization; the situation was the same for Dahua, making matters not much different.

The front lines were waiting for troops, but he didn’t have a better solution. Mobilization takes time, and under Qin Country’s circumstances, it takes even longer.

The Tang Army’s advancement speed was incredibly fast. In previous wars, traversing the entire Dahua region would take over a year.

But now, the Tang Army had reached the outskirts of the old Capital in less than two months. If they wished to advance faster, it seemed entirely feasible.

The Qin Army’s reserve forces had nearly all been summoned. Those veterans in their thirties and forties had been squeezed into the troops and sent to the front lines.

What remains are ordinary young men with no military experience, coming from various professions, but unlikely to know how to fight.

To be honest, the Qin Country is already an Industrial Nation now, needing a significant number of workers, whose crucial roles can’t be easily sacrificed at the front.

Every department has its connections and writes documents during critical moments to protect their essential personnel.

For instance, steel production factories hold onto their workers. After all, steel refining during wartime is crucial work and can’t be halted. So these factories distribute "Exemption Certificates" to ensure their workers aren’t forcibly conscripted to the front lines.

Factories producing steel have these proofs, and similarly, those making cables... those manufacturing firearms, tanks, airplanes, explosives, and various chemicals do too...

Indeed, the industrial system liberated numerous people, but also restricted many. On the Qin Country side, recruitment was chaotic due to the time constraints, with many striving not to be sent to the front to die.

Chen Li sat in his office, worrying about how to get abundant supplies and personnel to the old Capital front lines.

His railway system was damaged and could only reach areas near Wangdu. With the Tang Army’s ongoing long-range strategic bombardment, a majority of his supplies could only reach the station at West Gate at most.

Further east transportation was virtually impossible, and therefore, many troops had to advance slowly, carrying their food supplies and weapons and ammunition.

Despite this, these troops had to only move during nights, avoiding large-scale Tang Army bombardments and tactical attack aircraft harassment.

The time wasted on the road and the supplies consumed were staggering. For example, the Qin Army tanks often needed their tracks replaced to continue fighting upon reaching the front lines.

Dahua troops armed on the spot had far more interesting equipment; generally, Dahua Infantry was equipped with a single Mauser 98K Rifle, standard 50 rounds of ammunition, a bayonet, two hand grenades, as well as steel helmets and military uniforms.

Due to the Qin Army’s insufficiently prepared winter uniforms and extensive abandonment along the retreat path, the Dahua troops hadn’t been issued any new gear.

Hence, on the battlefield, Dahua soldiers wore their former Dahua military attire, standing alongside occupiers donned in Qin Country’s uniforms, resisting the "invasion" by the Great Tang Empire.

This truly was a fantastical situation; such differences in uniforms within the Qin Army sparked more issues, possibly causing more headaches for Qin Country commanders than the Tang Army’s offensive.

...

Another person with a headache was far away in the Laines Empire, within the enormous capital Laines City in the palace of Holy Laines, where the Laines Empire Emperor resided.

Currently, Leines I was visiting Dragon Island of the Great Tang Empire, leaving this palace temporarily without a master.

In the office of this palace, the regent Crown Prince sat in a chair, his thin face revealing no expression.

For days, he had been pondering a very serious question: Does he really need a father anymore? If he actually nodded and expressed his wish to the monarch on the Great Tang Empire throne, he might become the second Emperor of the Laines Empire.

But, would an emperor given his throne by others, asking others for help, serving at others’ behest, still truly be an emperor?

A voice kept persisting in his mind. He very much wanted to follow this voice, take that throne, and become Laines the Second.

He believed if he took that position, he would outperform his father, who had been captured by an enemy nation. He had his own ambitions and even had a mature plan!

Even while serving as Crown Prince, he was contemplating many matters, such as how to strengthen the Laines Empire... He planned to initiate a vigorous reform in the Laines Empire, learning from the Great Tang Empire!

Once he became Emperor, he would break ties with the increasingly declining landlord and gentry groups, and divide these leeches’ wealth to expand his Empire.

If he emulated Tang Country and eliminated these classes, his Empire would become strong. He would be supported by the people and would become the greatest emperor in Laines Empire history!

Indeed, for this day, he had made many preparations; he had united with many modern businessmen, who became his most solid supporters.

As soon as he took that position, these people would become his followers, helping him eliminate obstacles, allowing him to showcase his abilities, making Laines the second "Great Tang Empire."

This is indeed the portrait of many countries: Their secondary industries are flourishing, and the ancient primary industries are losing their dominance.

Landlords and gentry’s statuses are precarious. Some of them morphed into capitalists and bureaucrats, while a few stubborn ones remained in their original positions.

Yet clearly, modern countries no longer need these positions, and so numerous countries are squeezing these people’s survival spaces.

Compared to a decade ago, the Great Tang Empire’s defiant approach has begun influencing the world, showing many another future they never envisioned.

"Then let him... never return again." Laines the Second lifted his head, his gaze growing fierce and resolute.