Empire of Shadows

One month.

After one month, the ammunition supply would not be able to keep up, and the civil war, which had just begun, would stop.

”If the frontline combat plan is set up a little more cleverly, or if the soldiers are given fewer bullets, then we can hold on for a little longer.”

Diego looked at the Minister of Logistics as if he were looking at a fool, even though he himself was not very smart.

”If I let them carry fewer bullets, can you guarantee that in every battle, before they have used up the few bullets in their pockets, they will have sent all the enemies back to God’s embrace?”

”Can you guarantee it?”

”Fuck!”

President Diego cursed out a dirty word.

Although he was a bastard most of the time, in this aspect, he was actually still not bad. Unless his emotions had really exploded, he would rarely curse at people.

Now that he could curse, it only showed that his emotions and his temper had indeed reached their limit.Looking at the already angry president, the Minister of Logistics wanted to say something, but in the end, he said nothing.

The experience of working in a government department had told him that when President Diego was angry and was losing his temper, it was best to go with his temper.

If you had to fight against his terrible temper, he would let you know why people all said that he was a ”great dictator” and a ”tyrant”!

Seeing that the Minister of Logistics had lowered his head and was not speaking, he had waved his hand, as if he were shooing away a fly. ”Now, get out of my room!”

After watching the Minister of Logistics leave, Diego had immediately given Fernandez a call. ”Just now, I asked our men. Now our ammunition reserves are only enough to maintain the current war intensity for about a month.”

”After a month, our ammunition will not be able to keep up.”

”I have also just contacted the Federal Ambassador. They claim that the weapons we are currently buying are from Jede, not from them, so they do not bear any after-sales responsibility.”

Fernandez stopped his work. He pinched the bridge of his nose and asked, ”Then what do you mean now?”

President Diego, after a few seconds, had said in a relatively slow speed, ”I want to buy some bullets from Jede.”

To say ”buy,” in fact, this money might still have to be advanced by the Jede Republic in the early stage, because he would only promise to pay with some mine resources, and not with other things.

He would not spend his own money to do anything for this country. That was his private wealth, and had nothing to do with this country. And now the country did not have much money.

Just like this batch of military equipment that had armed 200,000 people, he had not spent any money. What they had signed were some authorization agreements.

To authorize some of the merchants of the Jede Republic, to exploit some of the mineral resources in the territory of Rapa for how many years. This deal, in Diego’s own view, was still a profit for him.

After all, it was impossible for a mine to be completely exploited in a dozen or so years. It was tantamount to him having gotten these things without paying any actual money. He had profited.

But this time, Fernandez had not immediately agreed. ”I need to discuss this with the Jede side. I need some time.”

Diego had no intention of forcing him to answer immediately. ”You have enough time to discuss with your cabinet, including the Jede president, but I hope you can be as soon as possible, because we need time to respond.”

After he had hung up the phone, Fernandez had given the president a call. He had not immediately talked about President Diego wanting to import bullets, but had inquired about some of the domestic situations now, after the federal embargo on standard-specification ammunition.

”It’s not good.”

The president’s voice was filled with exhaustion. ”I have already organized a batch of engineers to study for a few days, and the results of the research are disappointing.”

”In fact, we can totally produce a semi-automatic assembly line, to assemble the various parts of a bullet.”

”But the problem is, we have no way to make bullets, shells, or other things from scratch.”

”This involves the most basic industry, and we are precisely the weakest link in this aspect.”

In fact, in these years, the industrial development of the Jede Republic had also had a certain degree of a ”research is not as good as buying” problem. For example, some of their metallurgical materials were almost all imported from the Federation.

They themselves also had steel mills, but they did not have many of the formulas for special metal materials.

Not to mention the chemical aspects, which were also their weak link.

Although their university had scoured the entire Yalan region for talents for targeted training, to wait for these talents to really play a role, it might still take ten or twenty years.

They also couldn’t wait that long. Now, for these problems, they could only say that they were helpless.

Fernandez had, after hearing this answer, as he had expected. He knew very well the current industrial potential and ability of Jede. In order to make the industrial system develop faster, and in addition, with the Federation on the side, who was willing to sell some things to them, they had, in the most basic stage, always been developing in ”great leaps.” Every day, it was possible that in a certain field of industry, they had completed the catch-up of a certain goal, which had given the entire country a feeling of industrial rejuvenation.

But only they, these who knew very well, knew that once the Federation’s side had cut off the supply, many of their factories would have to stop work.

The Jede Republic, in these few years, had not not considered to re-supplement the shortcomings of their basic industries, but this in itself was a huge problem.

The Federation, Slad, Dantra, the Empire, these industrial countries, their basic industrial development process might have lasted for decades, or even hundreds of years!

For the Jede Republic to want to make up for it in a few years, was simply impossible. The key industrial development information, in any country, was top-secret, and it was impossible to be easily revealed.

The federal government had not intended to do this, but it was just that the government and the capitalists had, unintentionally, achieved these—

They had sold the assembly lines, but had not sold the plans and formulas for the production of raw materials. This way, they could continuously sell some of the materials to the Jede Republic at a high price.

And the Jede Republic had also achieved ”self-production” in a certain field.

Now, they needed to pay the price for their leapfrog development.

”Then what are you planning to do?” Fernandez asked. ”Re-equip?”

When the president had talked about this, he had a headache. The sound of a palm hitting his skin was also transmitted from the receiver. There was a high probability that he was slapping his own forehead.

”This is also something I don’t know what to do. We have produced about 2 million weapons.”

”To be honest, I don’t even know how to face them.”

To use the weapons that they had designed and produced themselves was, in itself, also one of Jede’s development plans. At the same time, this practice could, to a large extent, increase the soldiers’ sense of honor.

After all, as the most powerful country in the Yalan region, for them to be still using the Federation’s imported weapons, was indeed a little, not having much to do with a ”strong country.”

But if they were using the weapons that the Jede Republic had designed and produced themselves, then the soldiers would have a very special emotion!

They would feel proud, and glorious, for the weapons in their hands!

Now they needed to pay the price for this glory.

2 million weapons, all of which were semi-automatic rifles. The production price of these rifles was about 230 Federal Sols.

This price was actually a lot more expensive than in the Federation.

Before, when the Federation was still selling standard-specification weapons to the outside, the cost of a rifle was about 150. They were, in effect, 50% to 60% more.

But this, after all, was produced by themselves. It was a kind of an honor, an achievement.

An expenditure of hundreds of millions of Federal Sols, had now become a waste. The Jede Republic and the industrial side had no way to bear it.

In addition to the various resources invested in the research, in order to produce the ”first domestically produced semi-automatic rifle,” and to have produced 2 million rifles.

On this project, the Jede Republic had invested a total of about 500 million Federal Sols!

Now to say that this 500 million was useless, who could bear it?

The public, when they found out, would definitely make trouble!

Fernandez could feel his classmate, friend, and president’s pain at this time. ”We can buy some bullets from other countries, and we can buy them at a premium.”

”For now, to store enough ammunition, and then to consider whether to change the equipment.”

”In addition, I believe that the Empire, or other countries, are willing to sell us ammunition. We can buy a little more at a time, as a war reserve.”

”Now this is not just our problem. It is the problem of the entire Yalan League. They also have a large number of weapons from the Federation. They also need ammunition.”

”We can sell the ammunition that we have stored for a period of time to them. This way, we can, without having to pay, and can even make a profit, to solve the ammunition problem.”

The president, after listening, had seriously thought for a moment. ”This idea is very good. I will hold a cabinet meeting to discuss it. It’s a pity you are not here.”

”Otherwise, I would have sent you to the Empire or other countries to have a talk.”

Fernandez was indeed highly valued by the president, and this plan he had proposed, also indeed had the possibility of being implemented.

Although Fernandez had not said it in so much detail, the president could understand his good friend’s train of thought.

He had given a large framework, and the president could completely fill in the contents himself.

The two had exchanged some more intelligence and then had hung up. Then he had called Diego, and had told Diego that now, the Jede Republic’s side also had no way.

Their ammunition reserves were actually also not enough, and the Jede president had also entrusted him to ask Diego if Rapa’s ammunition could be sold, in part, to Jede.

This had made Diego so angry that he had directly slammed the phone down.

He had sat there for a long time, and in the end, he couldn’t help but to give the Federal Ambassador a call. ”How much are your new weapons?”

In this civil war, he doesn’t care about others. But he, cannot lose.

If he loses, he will lose everything. Not just his power as president, but also his life, and the future of his entire family.

The Ravila family will become the first ruling family in Rapa to be annihilated in a civil war. Whether it is for himself, or for his family, or for anything else, the government army has a reason why it cannot lose.

So for this, he can pay anything, including bowing his head to the federal people.

For Diego’s inquiry about this military equipment, the Federal Ambassador had directly had him call Lance.

Now the federal side’s arms sales representatives were all on Lance’s side, and Lance had their contact information.

When the phone rang, Lance was chatting with these sales representatives.

These few days, the matter of the arms embargo had not stirred up too much of a wave in the country. For ordinary people, it was just not to sell the easy-to-use weapons to foreigners. They were not really concerned about this. After all, this had no direct connection with them.

In their eyes, a large caliber is the correct, is the just, so to do so would not make them feel that the federal government was doing something wrong.

So much so that some of the media had even taken the initiative to praise the federal government for having taken a firm step forward on the road of protecting the interests of the people.

”This is Lance...”

Lance handed the wine glass in his hand to the person by his side. Then he had looked at the people in the hall, who were still laughing and talking, and had turned to look out the window.

”Lance, it’s Diego. I have something I want to talk to you about. Do you have time now?”

Diego’s voice was very gentle, and it was very difficult to connect this voice with its owner.

Lance said ”hmm.” ”Do we need to meet and talk?”

”If we meet, it may take a while. I have some friends from the Federation here.”

”If it can be talked about on the phone, then I’ll go to the study.”

Diego had caught a detail in his words. ”Friends from the Federation?”

”Are those the sales consultants from the arms industry groups?”

Lance had nodded in affirmation. This had made it hard for Diego not to suspect if Lance had also played some kind of a dishonorable role in this.

On this side, the Federation has banned the sale of standard-specification weapons and ammunition, and on the other side, the Federation’s arms sales consultants have appeared in Lance’s manor. To say that they have no relationship at all, President Diego is absolutely unwilling to believe.

But at a time like this, to say these is meaningless. Behind Lance is the federal government. Even if he knew, he had no way to deal with Lance.

”I hear that the federal government has a new policy recently. You are no longer selling standard-specification weapons and ammunition to the outside?”

Lance, after listening, had replied, ”I’ve just heard. This is really bad news.”

President Diego had snorted twice, his face a mask of smiles. ”Yes, it’s terrible!”

”It just so happens that I want to talk to these arms sales consultants, about the situation of re-equipping the Rapa’s soldiers. Do you think we can sit down and have a talk?”

Lance did not refuse. ”Tonight, then.”

”Tonight we all have time!”

”Then tonight it is.”

After they had agreed on the time and place, Lance had hung up. Then he had returned to the living room. Looking at the gentlemen in the living room, he had not sat down, but had stood in the place where he had been sitting before.

This had made these arms sales consultants all stop their conversation, and their gazes were all focused on him.

Lance had picked up a new glass of wine, and had raised it slightly. ”Diego, that is, Rapa’s president, has just called me, and said that he plans to talk to you all about the issue of sales.”

All the representatives had, with a look of joy on their faces, stood up. They had raised their wine glasses, and had expressed their thanks to Lance.

They knew very well that to want to do business in Rapa, Lance and his forces were definitely a link that could not be bypassed.

Now that the civil war in Rapa had broken out, the government army and the anti-government armed forces all needed a large amount of military supplies. For the arms industry groups, this was also a big business!

In order to show their sincerity, every one of them had actually already contacted Lance in private. They were willing to take out a part of the commission and give it to Lance, as a kind of a cooperation.

After all, the one who could now decide how long this civil war could be fought, and how high the intensity, was only Lance.

After clinking glasses with everyone, Lance had taken the lead and had sat down. He had held the wine glass in his hand, and was constantly swirling it. This small action had helped his thinking and to sort out his thoughts.

”Diego, this person, is very stingy. Although he is a country’s president, he does not have the slightest bit of the magnanimity that a country’s president should have!”

”So there is a high probability that he will not pay you in cash. He will find a way to, through some other channels, to pay this money.”

”For example, mineral resources. This is the most presentable thing that Rapa has at present.”

The other representatives had all nodded one after another. They had encountered this situation before, especially when they had sold weapons to some poor and backward places.

Some of the small countries, their own currency was not recognized internationally at all, so these arms industry groups would not accept their currency. The only way was to ”barter.”

Minerals, gems, precious metals, or other valuable things. Anyway, as long as it could be widely recognized in the world, it would be fine. They were very experienced in this.

Lance had continued, ”Now the mines in the territory of Rapa are basically all in my hands.”

Looking at the astonished expressions on these representatives’ faces, a reserved, but also with a hint of a show-off smile had appeared on Lance’s face. ”Let me first make it clear. These all have property rights transfer contracts.”

”I am reasonably, emotionally, and legally in possession of these mineral resources.”

”So, if Diego says he wants to exchange mineral resources for the weapons in your hands, don’t agree. I don’t want to have any embarrassment or conflict between us, so I’ll make it clear first.”

”Maybe he can offer very good conditions, for example, to promise to subcontract a certain gold mine directly to you.”

”But I need to remind you that no matter how good the things he promises you are, without my nod, I guarantee that you won’t be able to take a single cent from here!”

The atmosphere at the scene had gradually become a little serious. He had, with a few more smiles on his face, said, ”I’m just reminding you. Don’t be so nervous.”

”You can tell him that you only accept cash, precious metals, gems, or works of art, or, to have him pay this money.”

”Diego has about 50 or 60 million in cash savings in the federal banks, which is enough to support this civil war.”

”But there is a high probability that he will not take out this money himself, so as long as you bite the bullet and don’t accept the mineral resources, then you will definitely not be able to agree on this contract!”

At this time, one of the arms sales consultants couldn’t help but ask, ”Mr. Lance, this way, I’m a little confused.”

”We both want to make this deal with him, but he is not willing to take out the money. Then how can we make this deal?”

Lance smiled. ”Have him find me.”