Chapter 66: Urgency

Your Majesty, General Paris, the Holy Light Divine Kingdom, and the Germanic Republic have jointly issued a statement declaring that they will form a strategic alliance to wage war against the Song Empire!

One thousand vanguard cavalrymen of the Holy Light Divine Kingdom have already crossed the border and are advancing toward the Franconia Plain. Behind them are 50,000 infantrymen led by General Paris and 100,000 main forces of the Holy Light Divine Kingdom commanded by the Grand Master of the Holy Order. According to the investigation of the Jinyiwei, the troops led by General Paris are standard-equipped with bayonet-fixed flintlocks, while the grand army of the Holy Light Divine Kingdom consists of the Holy Order and new-style armies largely made up of nobles, which are also basically equipped with bayonet-fixed flintlocks. Combined, the coalition forces possess around a hundred artillery pieces, mostly consisting of 3-pounders, 6-pounders, and 9-pounders, which are mainstream across the European continent today.

The 100,000 guards of the Germanic Republic have already assembled at the entrance of the Islia Peninsula and will soon set foot into the Fornipo region to support the coalition of the Holy Light Divine Kingdom and Paris. The Germanic guards are also primarily composed of infantry.

The enemies in both directions have mobilized their respective main national forces. It seems they intend to thoroughly drive our influence back into the ocean once and for all.

As for the Elven Empire's suppression campaign in the Istanbul region, our reconnaissance confirms that the harassment by the human resistance forces has become extremely weak and can no longer affect the logistical supplies of the Elven Empire's grand army. Marshal Aldo Gitte has assembled about 200,000 troops in Istanbul and simultaneously declared war on us. Right now, it seems he is... is he negotiating with the Holy Light Divine Kingdom for passage on a distant expedition?!

At this point, the expression of the Gestapo agent turned rather peculiar.

"I am truly honored. The moment the Song Empire showed the slightest sign of weakness, these European natives mustered 400,000 active combat legions. Haha, that's tens of thousands more than the total forces of both sides when I fought the decisive battle against the Dwarf Empire!

However, they are underestimating me far too much. They actually split into two separate fronts instead of throwing all their might together, each harboring their own petty calculations. If these European natives had a unified leadership—even a true alliance—they might actually have a chance at victory.

Since they have divided their forces, this is the golden opportunity for our Great Song to truly unify the European continent!

Pass down the order: have the Blue-Shirt Army in the occupied territories build fortifications. Nail yourselves firmly to the conquered land and buy as much time as possible for the Song Empire. Give me just another half year—no, wait. I only need three months to annihilate one of their armed forces. Make sure those Blue-Shirt Army officers pull out all the stops to hold their ground for these three months. If I see enemy infantry enter my field of vision within three months, those officers will no longer need to exist in this world!"

"As you command, Your Majesty!" the Gestapo replied respectfully.

"Oh, right, how is the Dwarf Empire reacting?"

The Gestapo paused awkwardly. "Your Majesty, the social system of the Dwarf Empire is somewhat unique. Their homeland is populated almost exclusively by the dwarf race. Humans are only permitted to operate and trade in the border zones, so our Jinyiwei spies simply cannot penetrate deeply enough to obtain effective intelligence... We only know that the Dwarf Empire's homeland features a highly developed railway network with formidable transport capacity. Furthermore, after their defeat, they appear to be undergoing full-scale national mobilization to replenish their military losses. However, according to our assessments, the combat effectiveness of these newly mobilized conscripts is far inferior to the veterans of the past. As for anything else, please forgive my incompetence..."

After finishing, the Gestapo cast a cautious glance at Sun Li's expression. Seeing no sign of anger, he breathed a sigh of relief. It truly wasn't for lack of effort on the part of the Jinyiwei; it was just that the Dwarf Empire completely locked out all other races!

Hmph. The Dwarf Empire chose to play it this ruthlessly—a nation composed of a single race. In a world brimming with humans everywhere, that is truly a rarity... I wonder what the level of their industrial development is like...

"Very well, you may withdraw first, and compile a detailed intelligence report on the enemy for me," Sun Li waved his hand, dismissing the Gestapo.

In military affairs, the Jinyiwei founded by Sun Li concurrently handled all intelligence operations, which was why Sun Li typically discussed such information with the Gestapo in private.

"Xiaobai, can the system detect the technological status of the Dwarf Empire?" Sun Li had already learned the technological levels of all other factions on the European continent besides the Dwarf Empire. To his relief, the technological level of these so-called powerful nations had just advanced to the stage of bayonet-equipped flintlocks and muzzle-loading artillery, posing no threat to the Song soldiers equipped with Minie rifles. The only variable was that mysterious Dwarf Empire.

Sun Li had originally planned to use his hard-earned reputation to deter other factions, waiting until the new main legions—formed using reward points obtained from major battles—were completed to sweep away the Dwarf Empire, whose technological prowess remained shrouded in fog and seemingly formidable.

Who would have thought that this Dwarf Empire, whose very emperor had conceded defeat, still possessed so many fearless, disobedient, and fanatical zealots? Damn it, they had punctured the colossal illusion of the Blue-Shirt Army in one fell swoop...

The factions of the European continent were also ruthlessly decisive. The moment news spread, they ordered their troops to assemble, declared war, and marched out immediately...

Even with no shortage of reward points and gold coins, it still took time to recruit tens of thousands of troops!

Xiaobai remained silent for a moment, seemingly probing something. A few minutes ago... no, a few moments later: "Because you prematurely introduced military technology exceeding this plane, the Dwarf Empire—possessing the most advanced technological level on this plane—has been severely stimulated. According to the system's evaluation, simple and convenient weapons like hand grenades will be imitated by the Dwarf Empire within a year and put into practical combat. Furthermore, the Dwarf Empire actually possesses the technological capability to rifle gun barrels. Sample rifles are already on display in the Dwarf Empire's weapons laboratory. The reason they did not appear in this campaign was primarily due to difficulties in reloading, complex manufacturing, and the lack of a military concept for skirmisher tactics. According to the system's estimation, within the next two years, the Dwarf Empire may prematurely develop practical rifled flintlocks due to this disastrous defeat. Perhaps they won't be as heaven-defying as Minie rifles, but the gap in range shouldn't be that vast. Please prepare yourself accordingly, Host!"

Upon hearing this, Sun Li frowned deeply. Time truly waited for no one; it didn't even leave him time to hoard gold coins and build a massive army. If the Dwarf Empire's technology really caught up, the outcome of this war would indeed be uncertain!

No, he could no longer hold back his reward points!

"Xiaobai, exchange all reward points for Minie rifle infantry. No need to exchange gold coins for line infantry; trade them all for artillery and Polish elite winged hussars!" (To be continued.)