Chapter 21: News from Europa

Song Kingdom, Santaren Training Ground.

The sound of gunpowder explosions echoed intermittently throughout the training ground. Sun Li stood on the viewing platform with several accompanying officials, observing the combat effectiveness of the troops equipped with the new model grenades.

Sun Li examined the wooden-handled grenades filled with granular gunpowder. They boasted greater explosive power and longer throwing distances, but most importantly, their failure rate was significantly lower—more than twice as reliable as the disappointing first-generation iron ball bombs!

Now, this was truly a battlefield weapon!

For the first time, Sun Li found the consumption of technological development points somewhat acceptable.

Aside from the 12-pound siege cannon, which remained unused due to funding shortages, the true breakthrough of this era—the explosive shells, or grenades—delivered a level of destructive effect that left Sun Li thoroughly satisfied.

If only they could be combined with *** (censored or unspecified technology), the power of the artillery shells might rival the firepower seen in World War I.

Ah, if only the costs were lower… It seemed he would have to wait until the gold mine in Jinzhou was secured before making further plans.

Thinking of the gold mine, Sun Li felt a pang of frustration. He had yet to fully recruit the system’s maximum allowed 100,000 troops—truly infuriating!

Through plundering the European continent and squeezing resources from the Orc Continent over the past two years—yes, squeezing was the right word—Song Kingdom’s system citizens, essentially first-class commoners, fared reasonably well. However, the second and third-class orcs were essentially livestock raised by Song Kingdom, fattened up only to be shorn of their wool in batches. The daily burden of labor and drudgery was never lacking; the Orc Continent was far too backward, with too many places in need of development.

By relying on this relentless war-driven exploitation, they had only managed to arm 50,000 troops.

Money! Money! Money!

Sun Li’s mind was filled with nothing but the unhealthy obsession of robbery, which explained his impatience and frequent visits to inspect how the new weapons performed in the field.

Suddenly, a scout from the Imperial Guard arrived at the training ground and whispered something to Sun Li. Immediately, Sun Li ordered a return to the palace. Well, “ordering a return” was more symbolic than actual—the Song Kingdom’s ceremonial guard spared no expense when it came to saving money…

From his simple and frugal style, Sun Li truly deserved the title of a wise ruler—at least he always thought so himself.

In Sun Li’s study, only he and the Gestapo remained. Sun Li sat, reading the intelligence report in his hands, while the Gestapo stood respectfully by his side, waiting silently for his orders.

Indeed, the old, crumbling empire of Madrid had played itself to death. Its 100,000-strong garrison was wiped out, and the country descended into chaos like the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period. Before the English Empire and the Frankish Empire could invade, the old emperor was overthrown by a peasant uprising.

What? The Frankish Empire’s main legion was defeated by a band of armed peasants? And it was a near-total annihilation!

The Frankish Empire’s Royal Guard and the First Heavy Cavalry Legion—seeing the names of these elite units destroyed, Sun Li knew this rising empire was left with little strength to recover. The Frankish military, controlled by the martial aristocracy, had lost more than half of its core forces in one blow.

The loss of tens of thousands of troops would severely cripple those nobles. Yes, this Amasca was quite capable—he had just helped Sun Li eliminate another obstacle.

Now that the Frankish Empire’s elite were done for, the mobilized troops of the English Empire on the Iberian Peninsula were likely next. Sun Li wondered whether Queen Victoria would send reinforcements to save the sizable cannon fodder or let them fend for themselves against Amasca’s German Republic army. The better it was if the two fought to the death—the more casualties, the easier Sun Li’s campaign into Jinzhou would be.

The German Republic! If it could hold out, it would be a new opponent. Nationalism? Amasca was indeed an intriguing figure.

The Imperial Guard’s spread across the European continent had not been in vain. Though the court’s secrets, the rulers’ vices, and the number of mistresses remained elusive, the war intelligence was exceptionally detailed.

From the German Republic’s new tactics to bayonet usage, every word was meticulously recorded. Sun Li felt that the tactical advantages of the Song Kingdom’s army would soon be learned by their bitterly defeated enemies, much like the Maurice phalanx of old. The combination of wide ranks with deep formations and all-musketeer units wielding bayonets would soon become the mainstream military force across Europe.

After all, the slow-to-modernize, decaying powers like the Madrid Empire had mostly collapsed. The empires at their peak had a strong spirit of learning. Oh, except perhaps the Kingdom of the Radiant God, with its fanatical zealots and holy knights—that might be an exception.

None of that mattered. What mattered was that the English and Frankish Empires had plunged into a quagmire of war, with the Frankish Empire suffering a devastating defeat! They would be unable to participate in the next round of power struggles for years. Though the English Empire’s foundation remained unshaken, its finest 120,000 troops were stationed in the Phoenipo region, guarding against the Radiant God’s kingdom.

But would the English Empire still be able to send large reinforcements to its colonies while fighting on two fronts? At this moment, Sun Li was filled with unwavering confidence. Song Kingdom’s expansion would begin by seizing the wealth veins of the English and Frankish Empires!

“I order the Imperial Guard to monitor the war situation on the European continent with full attention. Report directly to me at all times—I want to see the state and military strength of every nation immediately. Next, prepare to coordinate with the main army in the expansion of Jinzhou. You know what to do,” Sun Li instructed the Gestapo.

“As you command, my emperor. The Imperial Guard will always be your most loyal hounds!” the Gestapo replied with a respectful expression.

Seizing this divinely granted opportunity, Sun Li immediately mobilized the entire army. Forty thousand troops, along with weapons and ammunition, began boarding the long-prepared transport fleet. Ten thousand regular soldiers remained within the Song Kingdom to guard against a possible desperate counterattack from the English Empire in the Caracas region.

As for the so-called envoy of the English Empire—he had long since vanished. Sun Li did not inquire how, only cared for the outcome. The Imperial Guard’s methods were reliable.

Launching such a massive overseas military operation—even crossing a narrow strait—was an enormous undertaking. Although the Caracas region was large, populous, and prosperous in trade, it lacked the gold mines Sun Li coveted most.

Therefore, Sun Li planned a swift surprise landing on the wealthy Mexican colony. Before open hostilities broke out, he would deploy his forces onto the Jinzhou continent. From that moment, the Song Kingdom’s dominance of the world would begin.