Munitions Empire - Chapter 1290 - : 1207 truce treaty

Chapter 1290: 1207 Truce Treaty

Upon seeing the telegram, the Shen Emperor, who should now be called Island Lord, finally breathed a sigh of relief. He had finally ended this damned war and managed to preserve his… half, or perhaps a small portion, of his realm.

At least from this moment on, the road from Ben Island to Northern Island had been cleared, and the Great Tang Empire’s warships would no longer attack Mirage Country’s ships. As long as he spoke to acknowledge this treaty, he would most likely be able to travel safely to Northern Island.

Honestly, he now felt an impatient urge to sit in front of the microphone immediately and announce this good news to all the nationals: The war is over! The war is completely over!

“Finally, it is over.” He took a deep breath and said to the few ministers in front of him, “The Great Tang Empire accepted our surrender, the war… is over.”

The ministers at this moment also breathed a sigh of relief: They had had enough of this one-sided war. Rather than saying they were at war with the Great Tang Empire, it was better to say they were enduring the attacks from the Great Tang Empire alone.

All the attacks they launched, including the suicidal attacks certain to end in death, had been countered one by one by the Great Tang Empire’s military equipment, rendering them unable even to die together with the Great Tang Empire’s soldiers.

This was simply a humiliation, but fortunately, the humiliation had now ended. However, the price of the end… is somewhat enormous.

“According to the treaty, our captives can be returned… that’s several hundred thousand people… we can…” Even knowing his own fate, Shen Wen Dabo still opened his mouth to advise the Shen Emperor.

The Shen Emperor glanced at his Prime Minister, nodded and said, “The population of Northern Island will increase by dozens of times, then it won’t be labor we lack, but food.”

As he spoke, he chuckled bitterly, “The Great Tang Empire promises to provide us with food, but everything must be purchased with money. Northern Island has some minerals and some fishery products, overall… we can buy some things to maintain.”

This basic trade in the contract seems more like charity. The Great Tang Empire allows these goblins to go home, letting them live… just like a kind of charity.

By then, Mirage Country would rely on such a damned poor place as Northern Island to sustain enough population to support the original four islands.

It won’t take a year before the goblins start fighting amongst themselves; as for that so-called Island Lord of Northern Island, who knows how to handle it then.

“But the industrial system is completely wrecked, all the industry is ruined!” Finally, thinking about Northern Island with almost no industrial base, the Shen Emperor felt even more depressed.

To say there’s no industrial base at all isn’t quite accurate, Northern Island actually has some industrial base… but those few hydropower plants, thermal power plants, some broken airports, and a few workshop-like small factories can really be said to be negligible.

Relying on this bit of industry is almost as good as having none at all. Plus, being such a bitterly cold place, many restrictions are inherent in developing there.

“Your Majesty, it’s just starting over again, we still have a chance.” Shen Wen Dabo consoled.

Upon hearing this, the Shen Emperor felt somewhat resentful and snorted, unhappy, “How can we have time to start over again? The Great Tang Empire keeps developing, yet we are to stand still in the future…”

Shen Wen Dabo continued to emphasize that the goblins still have their opportunity: “Your Majesty! In fact, we still have a chance! Look… we’re already a vassal state of the Great Tang Empire; as long as we don’t do anything defiant, they likely won’t continue squeezing us.”

He talked fluently, enlightening the still confused Shen Emperor: “This is a great time to develop because if the Tang people wanted to annex us, they could do so now! The fact they haven’t done this indicates they won’t choose to do so later, at least not in the near future…”

It must be said, Shen Wen Dabo grasped the point very accurately, and indeed the Great Tang Empire was not prepared to annex Mirage Country, which is why Mirage Country could continue to survive on Northern Island.

If the Great Tang Empire wished to wipe out Mirage Country, Mirage Country couldn’t possibly hold out until winter arrives. Even if it persisted until winter, by next spring, Mirage Country would be thoroughly conquered.

But it’s clear, the Great Tang Empire is unwilling to accept the goblin race, hence they have given the goblins Northern Island as a place to retreat.

From this point of departure, Shen Wen Dabo foresaw a future in which the goblins might again thrive: Look at Chu Country, serving as a dog for the Empire; it’s obvious this dog is living better than other nations and developing faster!

So Shen Wen Dabo expressed his opinion with such certainty that Mirage Country indeed still has potential for ascent: “In order for other nations to believe in the Great Tang Empire and maintain the relationship with vassal states, the Great Tang Empire might even give us some benefits to let us play a model role.”

“Therefore, I feel that although we have paid the price of territory, yet we’ve gained a chance to develop!” He spoke up to this point, then paused and looked at the Shen Emperor.

“If you could continue to aid me, that would be even better.” The Shen Emperor, or rather the Island Lord of Northern Island, sighed, speaking to Shen Wen Dabo standing before him.

Now he felt a bit regretful; it’s hard to find talent, sending such an experienced and somewhat capable minister to die was indeed a waste.

Thinking of this, he glanced at Shen Wenxin, the minister spared by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Great Tang Empire, seemingly worse than Shen Wen Dabo in every aspect.

Unfortunately, now it’s too late to say anything because Shen Wen Dabo’s fate has been fixed by the treaty between the two countries.

Not only him, but Shenwu Ke, a general of Mirage Country, was also waiting solemnly for the fate that belongs to him.

Shen Wenxin felt that he should find a hole to crawl into… he hadn’t flirted with the Great Tang Empire either, so why did the Great Tang Empire specifically mention him during negotiations?

Recently, he often pondered this question and the reasons he thought of even included flattery but he did not think he qualified for such attention from the Great Tang Empire.

So he considered another possible reason: The people from the Great Tang Empire just mentioned him casually, maybe happened to hear the goblin diplomat mention their chief’s name as Shen Wenxin…

Thus, the Great Tang Empire casually uttered his name, and that casual mention pushed him into a situation with no escape on earth or in heaven.

Seeing the guilt-ridden Shen Wenxin avoid his gaze, the Shen Emperor felt discontent again. He clenched his fists, yet didn’t dare to truly rage at Shen Wenxin.

Because he also knew, if Shen Wenxin was truly a person of the Great Tang Empire, or under the favor of some dignitary of the Great Tang Empire, then him showing anger towards Shen Wenxin might lead to retaliation from the Great Tang Empire.

If Shen Wenxin wasn’t a man of the Great Tang Empire, venting anger towards Shen Wenxin seemed to be falling for the Great Tang Empire’s plot, and clearly that was a mistake.

Being disliked on both ends, the Shen Emperor refrained from making such an irrational and unwise choice. He merely withdrew his gaze and began discussing further plans of Mirage Country’s migration to Northern Island with Shen Wen Dabo.

Why discuss such plans in front of Shen Wenxin? This was also a stance, in case Shen Wenxin truly was a man of the Great Tang Empire, then he would convey the genuine migration preparation news of Mirage Country back to the Great Tang Empire.

The words spoken by Shen Wen Dabo earlier, letting Shen Wenxin hear them, actually also served to reassure the Great Tang Empire: Mirage Country merely wanted to cling to the sturdy leg of the Great Tang Empire like a dog with no thoughts of vengeance.

In fact, there was indeed no vengeance thought left, since the goblin tribe had been scared witless by the terrifying war power of the Great Tang Empire, and those courageous soldiers… seemed to have all been eradicated.

Mirage Country’s ability to hold out until now relied mainly on the crazed loyalty and fervor of the nationals towards the Shen Emperor. Now those fanatics, and brave soldiers, were already exhausted in this year-long war.

They died in repeated charges, died using Sting Thunder to attack enemy tanks, died flying suicide planes, died piloting suicide speedboats…

Importantly, they all perished, leaving only cowards and some ordinary citizens.

For the people of Mirage Country, there was still plenty of good news, at least the orc troops had ceased firing after receiving orders from the Great Tang Empire.

The constantly present rumbling cannon fire in the ears of Mirage Country’s goblins finally ceased on this day. They no longer had to sneak around, skirting and avoiding to survive, nor did they need to worry if their lives could be preserved.

Amidst the ruins, the soldiers of Mirage Country could finally rise, feeling the cold wind brush against their faces.

Previously, they didn’t dare raise their heads because the orc snipers would put a hole in their heads. Now they could observe those orc soldiers across the street, see the weapons and equipment they dared not to look at before.

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They had so many steel helmets, their machine guns were so good, their padded coats were so thick… they were so tall.

On that afternoon, the Shen Emperor broadcast to all nationals the reading of the ceasefire treaty. He formally announced that the war was over.

Alongside this announcement, he revealed the news that Mirage Country no longer existed, only Northern Island existed in the future. Many Mirage Country civilians cried loudly, and some Mirage Country officers even chose to commit suicide after the war ended.

Subsequently, the Shen Emperor announced another piece of news causing even greater cries among civilians: They would be forced to leave their homeland, abandon their land and homes, move to Northern Island… where they would continue to live.

This migration was destined to become a disaster for the goblins of Mirage Country.