Chapter 1677
Chapter 1677 - 1673: Trade
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"...Thank you, thank you, if it weren’t for your country’s support, our defensive lines would indeed not hold..."
In a small conference room, on one side were a white-bearded old man and his staff hurriedly expressing their gratitude, and on the other side were the Official negotiators and two Eastern Country Admirals as mere decorations.
Lu Ping’an, as part of the entourage, sat at the back utterly bored. He couldn’t understand the local language, but he found the old man somewhat familiar, as if he often saw him on TV news.
The remainder of the Mountainous Country government team came after learning about the arrival of reinforcements; they hurried over without hesitation... The reason it was only part was that not a few among the original "Minister level" had died in the war, some positions were rapidly filled, others less related to the war were temporarily set aside.
Mountainous Country fought much harder than reported in the news. As a landlocked Kingdom bordering the Eastern Country, it was undoubtedly targeted as the core attack point.
Their country’s southern terrain is relatively good, mainly plains suitable for industrial development, and also the most economically developed area in the past... but the other side of being near the ocean and having flat terrain, is almost being swept away in one wave.
Facing the overwhelming armed forces, sometimes even the most robust defenses were no match for rotten ground and quagmire.
The first wave of attacks left at least four million population lost in Mountainous Country, and at least five major domestic cities suffered massacres... these Foreign Invaders, starving, do not need further explanation as to what they would do after coming ashore.
"Great Disaster" is the term used domestically; in fact, the Eastern Country had issued warnings previously, but obviously, they were still too slow.
If we consider the current battlefield as the middle line, Southern Yue could be said to be completely doomed, while the survivors of Northern Yue used their geographical advantages to form a barrier, which barely held off the crisis of national destruction... It is hard to say whether they truly won the battle or if those beasts had eaten their fill and returned home to digest and rest.
Although Lu Ping’an greatly admired the human anthems of courage, from the data he saw and the comparison of combat power between the sides, he guessed it was more likely the latter... Perhaps the invaders saw this region as a natural "breeding ground," where killing everything at once might not be advantageous.
Once they moved into the mountains and forest regions, the overly stretched terrain also extended their supply lines, reducing their momentum to continue the hard fight.
Even so, at least over 90% of the administrative managers in Mountainous Country were killed... Their Capital was among the first to be destroyed during the disaster, and it suffered the most brutal massacre.
The current Mountainous government is no longer what it was before; the white-bearded old man currently in power, who seems to have been in the opposition party previously, followed the old-era militaristic line of the Extreme Faction and even has a guerrilla team of about a hundred people. He was once the country’s top fugitive but unexpectedly became the legitimate power after the fall of the original government.
Lu Ping’an remembered that when the Eastern Country media mentioned this person, it was always in a good light, usually prefixed with descriptors like "fearless of life and death" and "steadfast will."
"...We need help."
But now, this resolute Old man was directly asking for help.
"If we had this drone production technology, our defensive lines would be much improved..."
"The entire battlefield has collapsed, we don’t even know what to do next, we’d better exercise proactive initiative..."
Indeed, it had come to this point.
Watching the skilled politicians above negotiating and bargaining with official platitudes, Lu Ping’an also gauged the situation.
This deal, presumably, should be successful, as both sides truly have mutual needs.
The changes in the era may lead to a technological breakthrough that could distort the entire war form.
𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎
In the current scenario, the greatest advantage of Earth’s native technology lies in its sophisticated civilization... These Creations are ineffective in Foreign Domains but can indeed be used as cheap and high-quality killing machines on native ground.
Most importantly, these gadgets were originally only technological reserves, which were suddenly put into practical application and mass-produced in these three years.
This is not just about drones, but also a myriad of automatic machinery and manned equipment created by technology; it’s just that drones have been determined to be extremely effective, hence production has been maximized.
This technological and military lead is the result of over three years of the Eastern Country enduring hardships and sacrifice, but it is also the crystallization of Earth’s technology... As an ace card, it is always most useful at the moment of its reveal.
Now, taking it out before the invaders are prepared naturally means achieving as much as possible in combat success.
This expedition to Dragon Moon Island will go as far as this technology can maintain its advantage.
Also, because of the reality that has been exposed, it’s completely acceptable to share some technology and finished products with the Allied Countries... Of course, they will definitely be versions with reduced features, but how much reduction depends on the relationship between the parties.
Mountainous Country is now essentially helping the Eastern Country defend the southern gate, and adequate support is certain; a certain degree of technology transfer is also possible, just that...
"Do you even have industry left..."
A negotiator asked this helpless statement.
Have industry? Their agricultural lands have been bombed to nothing. Without support from the Eastern Country, they would have already faced famine.
They were forced to hide in the forest and wage guerrilla warfare; the possibility for industry had long been gone. Even making a mere fire was courting death, let alone having an industry.
Without industry, providing you with any technology is just nonsense, and might even end up aiding the enemy.
"...Then, we will establish a new drone factory on the side bordering Cloud Mist State, and prioritize the output for you. Also, for your existing drones, we will provide swarm upgrade services..."
The negotiator didn’t plan to humiliate them either, directly offering conditions that they could accept.
Clearly, this had been thought through in advance. Our negotiators knew that the opposing side would ask for technology. Of course, this goodwill wouldn’t be free either.
Investing post-war resources? Actually, on the other side of the border where they would transport ores and such, it should be quite easy, as trains bringing weapons would return carrying ores and fruits.
However, as the only industry and resource of the local area, what Mountainous Country provided was not smooth... On one hand, there was a lack of human resources, and on the other, a tendency to cut corners where possible.
The Eastern Country, on their part, turned a blind eye; after all, if they severed ties, the other side might be gone by next week, and then the southern states of the Eastern Country would suffer the ravages of war.
But this time, the situation is somewhat different.
"...We will continue moving southward soon, and we need more minerals."
This time, the Eastern Country plans to settle the final accounts while at it.
Defaulting the pay? Inconvenient transportation? No such thing, just transport them directly to Dragon Moon Island, if you’re short on manpower, I’ll have Dragon Moon Island just assimilate (consume) that part of the mining area.
Watching their own negotiator pressing aggressively, Lu Ping’an felt even more optimistic about this cooperation.
The carrot-and-stick approach is fundamental in diplomatic cooperation; since their side has already shown its deterrence, they naturally prepared a more valuable lure.
"...Before we leave, we will launch a decisive battle. Whether or not you can reclaim your capital and territory depends on yourselves."
— End of Chapter 1677 —