Fangzhou Xier, starting with failing the art exam

[Immediately afterwards, a swarm of drones descended like a dark cloud, clearing out the remaining firing positions.]

On the ground, groups of Tiger II tanks, kicking up clouds of dust, rolled across the defensive lines like an iron torrent, supported by long-range self-propelled artillery.

The wolves of Syracuse demonstrated their remarkable infiltration capabilities, creating chaos on the flanks; the knights of Qazimir, on the other hand, formed a rapid reaction force, using their high mobility to carry out deadly infiltrations of enemy reinforcement routes.

[Air-ground integration, multi-service coordination, an information-based command chain, surgical precision strikes...]

The tactical concepts and execution capabilities demonstrated in this exercise have completely surpassed the imagination of everyone in this era.

This exercise was not kept secret from any country.

[You want the whole of Terra to see that Letania's war machine is ready to fire.]

……

Triinttelme, Ussas Embassy.

Intelligence officer Dmitry stood by the window, observing the plumes of smoke rising from the training ground outside the city through high-powered binoculars. Even from this distance, he could almost feel the earth trembling.

His palms were covered in cold sweat.

"General."

A young adjutant walked in, his voice trembling, and handed over a newly prepared report.

"This is...this is an assessment report on Letania's new weapons that we have collected through all channels."

Dmitri didn't turn around. He put down his binoculars and rubbed his temples wearily.

"read."

　7>Emu>Age feeding research air III similar / "Yes".

"The Tiger II main battle tank has frontal armor... Our artillery fire probably can't penetrate it."

"Its main gun can destroy any of our armored units before our troops are within effective range."

"The report argues that swarm drones represent an incomprehensible mode of warfare that will fundamentally change the landscape of low-altitude and urban warfare."

With each item read aloud by the adjutant, Dmitri's face grew paler.

He had served in the army for thirty years, fighting in everything from the icy plains of the north to the deserts of the south, but every word in this report described a battlefield he could never have imagined.

“What about their industrial capacity?” Dmitri interrupted him, his voice hoarse.

"...According to our estimates and investigations, the annual production of the Tiger II tank may have reached six hundred to eight hundred, or even one thousand."

"And that kind of swarm drone equipment is also very rare. Once the production line is started, the quantity... is probably incalculable."

Dmitri fell silent.

Eight hundred tanks, one year.

Unlike the generals in China who thought tanks were toys, he had witnessed the power of the new Leitania tank.

Dmitri believes that Ursus's previous tactics of relying on the Shield Guards and warlocks to push forward are likely no longer feasible.

Tanks of this size, without warships, would probably be impossible for any country to defeat relying solely on its army.

He turned around, took the report from his adjutant, glanced at it, and threw it on the table.

"What else? What about the public's reaction? With such a massive military investment, don't their people have any complaints?"

“No, General.” The adjutant shook his head.

"On the contrary, our people, mixed in with the factories and barracks, heard nothing but praise for the emperor and expectations for the future."

"They...they're like a bunch of fanatics!"

"They firmly believed that their emperor would lead them to unprecedented glory, and their morale was terrifyingly high."

Dmitri walked back to the window and looked at the city. The pedestrians on the street hurried by, their faces radiating a confidence and hope he had never seen on the faces of the people of Ursus.

He suddenly felt a chill run down his spine.

What does a country with a powerful military, a strong industry, and a leader who is supported by the people want to do?

what can it do

Dmitry said, enunciating each word clearly, "Immediately send a report to His Majesty the Emperor through the highest level of encryption!"

……

Holy Leitanian Empire: Chapter 127: Everything Will Be Alright Once the War Ends

Southern suburbs of Triinttelme, the Empire's First Heavy Equipment Manufacturing Plant.

A deafening roar filled the entire factory as a massive gantry crane slowly moved through the air, lifting a newly welded Tiger II tank turret and placing it on the vehicle body below.

Thousands of workers, dressed in uniform, were busy at their posts. Although their faces showed fatigue, their eyes were very focused.

Lacey, dressed in a simple uniform, walked along the factory's inspection corridor, with Mecklen and Lenia following beside her.

The Minister of Industry and the factory manager followed behind Lai Si, their expressions serious, ready to answer any questions Lai Si might have.

But Lacey didn't ask those questions about production capacity and data.

Lacey walked down the passage and came to an old technician who was installing sighting equipment on a tank turret.

His hands were covered in grease, and he was so focused that he didn't even notice Lacey's arrival.

"Master Franz, thank you for your hard work," Lacey said with a smile. "Your skills are still as solid as ever."

The old technician Franz was startled and looked up abruptly. When he saw it was Lacey, he was at a loss for what to do. He wanted to bow, but he didn't know where to put the wrench in his hand.

"Your Majesty... Your Majesty!"

"I'm not...not tired!"

"It is my honor to build tanks for you and for the Empire!"

“My son is in the First Armored Division, and he drives the tanks we make! He says he feels safe and secure sitting inside!”

Lacey nodded, then patted him on the shoulder. "Don't be nervous, I just came to check on you."

Lacey picked up a clean rag from the side and naturally wiped the grease off his hands.

“I remember five years ago, when I first came here, you were still worried about the gearbox problem of the Tiger I model. Now, you are the key figure in the entire final assembly line.”

Franz's eyes immediately reddened.

He never expected that the emperor, who was so busy with state affairs, would still remember the name of an ordinary technician from five years ago and the technical problems he had encountered at that time.

"Thanks to you, Your Majesty!" He was so excited that his voice trembled.

"Our Tiger II is now the best tank in the world!"

"With it in hand, our young men will never have to be afraid of those foreigners again!"

“Tell your son to train hard.” Lacey smiled, then looked past him to a few young tank crewmen making final adjustments not far away.

When they saw Lacey, they immediately straightened their backs, their faces filled with undisguised admiration and excitement.

Lacey walked toward them.

"How's it going, guys?"

"Your Majesty! It feels fantastic!"

The young man at the head of the group, with a few freckles on his face, answered loudly, his cheeks flushed with excitement.

"This thing is a steel beast! Sitting inside, I feel like I could punch a hole in the sky!"

His companions behind him let out a good-natured chuckle.

Lacey looked at the young soldier, his eyes burning with a desire for victory and a vision for the future.

"What is your name?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty! Private Marco!"

“Marco.” Lacey nodded.

"Remember this beast you are riding. Its power is to protect the land beneath our feet, to protect families like Master Franz in the factory, and to protect every compatriot in Trilintelme who loves music and life."

Lacey reached out and slammed her hand heavily on his breastplate.

"I entrust the glory of Letania to you."

Marco's breath hitched. He looked into Lacey's eyes, feeling a surge of heat coursing through his body. With all his might, he roared:

"For His Majesty the Emperor! For Letania!"

"For Letania!"

The soldiers and workers around them spontaneously gathered together, raising their arms and shouting.

At this moment, Lacey closed her eyes, feeling the power brought by the spirit of unity.

……

On the way out of the factory, Lenia finally found an opportunity to speak.

She handed over the documents, her brow furrowed: "Your Majesty, this is the financial report for this quarter."

“Expenditure on military production has reached 60 percent of the total budget. In order to maintain the five-year plan, we have almost emptied every gold coin in the national treasury.”

"Moreover, the factory's three-shift system is a huge burden on the workers' health, and I'm worried about it in the long run..."

“Minister Lenia, we need to think long-term,” Mecklen immediately retorted.

"This is our investment in the future. When the war ends, we will get back these investments a hundredfold or a thousandfold."

"As for the workers, haven't we already tripled their wages and benefits? Look at them, they're full of energy!"

"There's even less to worry about regarding fiscal expenditures. We still have Syracuse and Kazimir, so let's just make things difficult for them," Mekren said matter-of-factly.

Lenia did not refute his last statement, but insisted: "We overthrew the old system so that people could live a better life, not so that they would jump from one fire pit into another."

Having once been a noblewoman, her way of thinking has long since changed.

Seeing the two trusted ministers arguing, Lacey stated, "After this war ends, all of the empire's resources will be used to improve people's livelihoods."

"I will ensure that everyone who has contributed their sweat to the empire enjoys the fruits of victory."

"But before that, we must be patient."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over Lenia.

"Peace is not something to be taken for granted; it needs to be defended by force."

"Every tank we produce today is so that in the future, Leitania will no longer need to produce tanks."

After saying that, Lacey didn't say anything more and walked away.

Mechlan and Lenia followed behind, no longer arguing.

……

……

Twin Towers, strategic command center.

Gertrude stood before the sand table, which depicted the entire territory of Victoria, down to every city, every river, and every military fortress.

"Your Majesty, this is the result of our five years of hard work."

She pointed to the sand table, on which dozens of chess pieces were placed throughout the heart of Victoria.

“We successfully turned the Duke of Normandy’s chief financial advisor against us, and he provided us with the location of all of the Duke of Normandy’s secret vaults and the flow of funds.”

“We bribed the mistress of one of the Duke of Wellington’s legion commanders, and she stole for us the most detailed troop deployment map of the Wellington defense zone.”

“Duke Godotin’s most trusted messenger is now one of ours, and we will read every secret letter he sends out first.”

"And the Duke of Caesar's grey top hat, they think they're being discreet, but we've already planted three spies inside them."

Gertrude’s tone was calm, but the content was enough to send chills down the spine of any national leader.

“Victoria’s insides have been eaten away.”

“Those dukes are still fighting amongst themselves for the smallest bit of power. They even spend a lot of money hiring our people to investigate each other’s dirty laundry.” A mocking smile appeared on her lips.

"Their greatest enemy has never been us, but themselves."

"Their internal strife is more serious than we anticipated." Lacey looked at the sand table and nodded.

"Yes, Your Majesty."