Empire of Shadows

The clean and bright factory building had basically been constructed according to the requirements of the two federal weapons experts. To be honest, it had cost a lot of money.

This project was initiated by the Great President, followed up by the Ministry of Defense and the military, and a state-owned enterprise was also participating. It could be said to be ”star-studded,” a truly heavyweight project.

Its purpose was to solve the current problem of not being able to import standard bullets from the Federation. Once these two bullet assembly lines were completed, the Jede Republic would achieve ”bullet freedom.”

They could not only use it themselves but also sell it to neighboring countries.

Just as they themselves were unwilling to easily re-equip, the countries in the entire Yalan region were also unwilling to re-equip.

Because re-equipment meant a large loss of foreign exchange. Their foreign exchange was extremely limited. The federal people did not recognize their local currency, so they could only use foreign exchange to purchase.

If the foreign exchange was not enough, some federal officials and capitalists would show their greedy faces and demand more valuable things from them.

As long as these two assembly lines could be successfully built, all problems would be solved, and the Jede Republic’s status and authority within the Yalan League would rise to another level.

The secretary by the Great President’s side followed the two experts throughout. ”Mr. Smith, we have already modified the entire factory area according to the second design drawing you gave us. Do you think it has already met your requirements?”

In fact, the factory had already been built for a period of time. Then they had excitedly found the two, saying that they hoped they could, through their own channels, transport some assembly lines over for installation and organize production as soon as possible.But Smith, the engineer of the two, had said that the factory building here did not meet the federal assembly line production standards.

He had found many reasons, such as the ground not being level enough, or the necessary slope of the ground not being steep enough, or the issue of space capacity. Anyway, they always had all kinds of reasons.

After a period of renovation, and wasting more than a month’s time, they finally believed that the requirements after this renovation had been met.

Coming here today was to invite them to see if this place already met the basic conditions for the placement of the assembly line.

Engineer Smith, after circling a few times, really couldn’t find any fault, so he nodded with a slight arrogance. ”It’s barely usable.”

The disdain in his tone, and that irritating attitude, made the faces of the surrounding ministers, gentlemen, and lords show a faint trace of anger.

At first, they had been very respectful of these two experts. After all, they represented an attempt, an effort, by the Jede Republic to break free from the federal control on military logistics!

This time, it might only solve the problem of ammunition supply, and they would no longer rely on the Federation.

But what about next time?

Perhaps they could also produce shells themselves instead of buying them from the Federation.

Is it possible that these industrial upgrades will bring about the rapid development of the overall industry, allowing more things to break free from their dependence on the Federation?

Very likely. There is no problem with this at all!

So they attached great importance to this factory construction plan, and had even proactively allocated 20 million Federal Sols for the construction of a military factory that ”meets the federal arsenal’s industrial production standards.”

They didn’t know what this standard meant, but anyway, it was very expensive. A lot of the building materials were imported from the Federation at a high price.

To buy their special-grade concrete locally in the Federation might only cost a few hundred dollars a ton, but if they wanted to buy it, it would cost over a thousand.

It was the same for some other things, sold to them at several times the price.

The Foreign Trade Office within the Jede Republic’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Yalan League’s diplomatic department, had all talked to the Federation about this. They didn’t ask for a discount, but at least they shouldn’t be selling it to them at several times the price.

However, the Federation had refused to negotiate, on the grounds that these materials belonged to high-precision technology products. Take it or leave it!

In the end, they could only, with all kinds of discomfort, force themselves to eat this shit sent by the Federation, and they even had to chew it.

And then it came to now. The first construction had been demolished and rebuilt once. Logically speaking, the 20 million that the Great President had allocated should have been enough, even for the money to buy the assembly line.

But now, just the construction of one factory had used up most of it. This made them have to wonder if they would need to pay more foreign exchange if they wanted to buy the assembly line.

Fortunately, now this Engineer Smith had finally nodded. This was a long-term progress.

Although everyone was impatient with this guy, and thought he was a bit overly... arrogant, the matter had, in the end, officially moved forward a step.

”Then... Mr. Smith, when can we purchase the bullet production assembly line?”

They had actually already inspected the bullet production assembly line that Engineer Smith had mentioned. Although it was not the most advanced bullet production assembly line in the Federation, the production speed of about 22,000 rounds per hour still made manual production feel despair.

Moreover, these machines could produce non-stop for 24 hours a day. That was 528,000 rounds of bullets a day.

They were going to buy two assembly lines from the Federation, which could produce 1 million rounds of bullets a day. That was 30 million rounds a month.

If they could buy more assembly lines, the number would continuously double based on the 528,000 rounds per day.

This was an astonishing number!

In just three months, they could produce 100 million rounds of bullets. This was enough for them to use for a long time, and to export.

100 million rounds of bullets could bring the Jede Republic a profit of about 1.7 to 1.8 million. So they were not very resistant to the investment.

Not only could they break free from the federal government’s control, but they could also make money, and satisfy their own bullet demands. Why not do it?

The President’s secretary’s gaze was fixed on Engineer Smith. The others, those ministers, gentlemen, and lords, their gazes were also fixed on Engineer Smith.

They were afraid that this arrogant and stupid guy would again come up with some ridiculous reason to postpone this matter.

It was only when they had heard these words from Engineer Smith’s mouth that everyone had, at the first opportunity, shown an incredulous expression. They had not thought that everything would come so quickly, so easily!

Soon the President’s secretary had reacted. ”Then should we talk about this now?”

Engineer Smith nodded. ”No problem. I also really want to have a good talk with you.”

”Then... should we return to the Presidential Palace first? I’ll personally report to Your Excellency the President. He will definitely be very happy!”

Engineer Smith had a look of indifference. ”That has nothing to do with me. Suit yourself.”

Soon the convoy had taken them back to the Presidential Palace. Interestingly, the Jede Republic’s Presidential Palace was much grander and more magnificent than the Federal Presidential Palace.

It looked like a small, lavishly decorated palace. After all, this was the ruling family’s ”private property.”

Yes.

The presidential palace of a country was actually the ruling family’s private property. If one day the people in their family were unwilling to be the president, the newly appointed president would not be qualified to work in the presidential palace, because this was private property.

However, it was unlikely that they would give up the matter of continuously inheriting the presidency. That would not be beneficial to them.

The Great President, upon learning that this matter could finally move to the next step, also breathed a sigh of relief.

The battle on the Rapa Republic’s side had been very fierce recently. After Diego had gotten aid from the Federation, he had re-established an army of about 400,000, and was still continuously conscripting troops.

It was said that Diego had already begun to consider using quota conscription to get more soldiers.

For every household with two or more men, conscription would be based on a two-out-of-one, three-out-of-two, or five-out-of-three quota.

For example, a family has seven men. Then three soldiers would be conscripted based on the five-out-of-three quota, and then one more soldier would be conscripted based on the two-out-of-one standard. That is seven soldiers.

When the next conscription came, one soldier would be drawn based on the three-out-of-two quota.

As for whether all men would be drawn in the end, and even women would be sent to the battlefield, Diego himself didn’t know. What he knew was that he was already crazy.

Some of the things that had happened in Rapa had also made some of the Yalan League member states seem to have undergone certain changes. He knew that the diplomatic ambassadors of these countries to the Federation were showing a very close relationship with the Federation.

Now they were waiting, waiting for an opportunity.

As long as Rapa completed its ”subversion” and was the first to withdraw from the Yalan League and join the Federation, these countries would immediately follow suit.

They did not dare to do so now because they were afraid that the Jede Republic would attack them. But if someone did it first, then it would be simpler for them to do it.

Everything, everything required the Jede Republic to increase its ”deterrent power” within the Yalan League. And to be able to self-produce weapons and ammunition was one of them.

This meant that in this region, the Yalan region, their combat potential was something that no one could match.

”As long as his demands are not excessive...” the Great President looked at his secretary. He put the pen in his hand back onto the desk, and held his hands together, resting his chin on them, ”...then meet them.”

With the Great President’s instruction, his secretary immediately returned to the negotiating table.

To call it a negotiating table, it certainly wasn’t as formal as a real one.

”Engineer Smith, you have already inspected the factory building that you requested us to build. Then when can we purchase the bullet production assembly line from the Federation?”

”Our time is very tight, Engineer Smith. We have invested a large amount of funds, and have promised you a share of the profits far exceeding what we can obtain. This is to hope that you can feel our sincerity, and to facilitate the entire project as soon as possible.”

Engineer Smith smiled. ”You are very anxious!”

The President’s secretary pursed his lips. He wanted to say something, but in the end, he held back.

Perhaps realizing that his words had not achieved the result he wanted, Engineer Smith then shook his head. ”Actually, to set up the assembly line is not a complicated matter at all.”

”The first step, buy the assembly line back from the Federation.”

”The second step, we will assemble it and debug it to ensure that it can produce smoothly.”

”The third step, then you can operate at full capacity and produce.”

”This assembly line is theoretically 22,000 rounds of bullets per hour, but in reality, if we increase the production speed, 25,000 or even 27,000 rounds per hour is not a problem.”

”Now the most advanced assembly line in our Federation is its improved model. The theoretical production is 38,000 rounds per hour, and the actual production is around 41,000 rounds.”

When the President’s secretary, and the military representatives, and the people from the Ministry of Defense in the room heard this data, a look of pleasant surprise appeared on their faces.

The President’s secretary even asked impatiently, ”Then what are we waiting for now?”

Engineer Smith tilted his head slightly, as if he were looking at a fool. ”You, you all, don’t think that as long as you say ’what are we waiting for,’ I can just conjure the assembly line from my hand, do you?”

”You have to pay for it. You have to buy it back, and only then can you do what I said.”

The President’s secretary asked, ”How much?”

”Fifty million.”

When he had said this number, everyone was stunned for a moment, including the President’s secretary. He said with some uncertainty, ”Are you saying... 50 million Larry?”

”Larry” is the official currency of the Jede Republic. Its exchange rate with the Federal Sol is about ten to one. Ten Larry for one Federal Sol.

50 million Larry is 5 million Federal Sols.

Although this price was a bit expensive, it was still within their tolerance.

But, are the numbers that these federal people are talking about really in Larry?

Or are they... in Federal Sols?

A look of foreboding appeared on the President’s secretary’s face. The next second, Engineer Smith shook his head and laughed. ”Of course it’s Federal Sols. You don’t think that your country’s currency is also needed by people in the Federation, do you?”

As he spoke, he laughed arrogantly. The laughter was irritating. ”I don’t know why you people of the Yalan League are always like this. You always feel that you are on the same level as the Federation.”

”No offense, I’m just telling the truth. If it weren’t for the fact that you helped us a lot, I wouldn’t even be willing to come here!”

The President’s secretary’s expression became somewhat ugly. ”We inquired. The price of the bullet production assembly line you mentioned is less than 4 million.”

Engineer Smith did not refute. On the contrary, he agreed. ”Your information is very accurate. More accurately, it’s about 3.2 million for a complete assembly line.”

He held up one finger, which also meant that his tone was about to change. ”But, even if you use 50 million, you won’t be able to buy this assembly line in the Federation.”

”I don’t even need to guarantee anything to you. I know you feel that I am extorting you, but you can try it yourself first.”

”You arrange for your people to try to buy these assembly lines and see if you can get them.”

”Then we can talk about whether this price is reasonable.”

Engineer Smith was not in a hurry at all. On the contrary, he spoke slowly and deliberately.

The President’s secretary’s expression changed again and again. ”50 million, is that for two assembly lines, or...”

”Two!” Engineer Smith was at least kind enough not to make his mood worse. The average price was about eight times the original price. These damn federal people!

The President’s secretary could no longer sit still. ”I need to report to Your Excellency the President. I don’t have the authority to decide on such a large fund flow.”

Engineer Smith still had that same look. ”Suit yourself. Time is what we have plenty of.”

”If you need a relatively long time, I think I can go back to my residence with my friend first. After you have finished your discussion, you can contact me.”

He seemed certain that the President’s secretary would be gone for a long time. The President’s secretary did not respond to his request, but after making an apology, he quickly left.

Not long after, the Great President looked at his secretary. Listening to the words he said, he couldn’t help but be angry. ”This is extortion!”

His secretary nodded repeatedly, and said with some grievance, ”I have always suspected what these two federal people are here for.”

”They don’t seem like they are here to help us complete the installation and production of the bullet assembly line. They are too greedy.”

His Excellency the President nodded. He considered for a long time. This 50 million was at a limit that was very difficult for him to accept, but he could endure.

If the other party had asked for a little more, he might have considered letting the university side start trying to research and develop their own bullets.

But 50 million... The funds were enough for the research, but he didn’t have that much time.

”Let our people go to the Federation first and ask around. See if they are willing to sell these assembly lines, even if we pay a little more.”

”Five million for one set. If five million doesn’t work, then ten million. I don’t believe that these capitalists can resist this!”

He seemed to be very knowledgeable about these capitalists’ nature. He had continuously raised the stakes as soon as he had opened his mouth.

The secretary did not refuse. ”I will contact them immediately. As for Engineer Smith and his group, I will let them go back first. I’ll just say that we need to consider it, after all, it’s such a large sum of money.”

His Excellency the President was very satisfied with the secretary’s reasoning. ”Just tell them that. When there is a follow-up to this matter, contact me immediately.”