Chapter 16: Hijacking Southern Munitions! A Daring Plan!
As for whether his lies would be uncovered, Jiang Bai had already thought it through thoroughly.
The Federal Hanssi Military Academy had suffered repeated destruction and reconstruction, resulting in the loss of a vast number of records and documents.
Verifying Jiang Bai’s background would be next to impossible!
Without delay, Jiang Bai put forth his request:
“Esteemed Ambassador, I am acting on the orders of Grand Marshal Chengyun, tasked with forming a new, elite infantry division.”
“Our manpower is essentially in place, but there remains a considerable shortfall in weapons and equipment.”
“Therefore, I hope to purchase some advanced armaments from your nation to outfit my troops.”
“If this initial cooperation proves satisfactory to both parties, I may suggest to the Grand Marshal a deeper partnership in coal and steel trade, and a large-scale introduction of your country’s weaponry to form divisions equipped with German arms!”
“It is a great honor, Commander Jiang! I assure you, you are making the right choice!” Feng En exclaimed, his face alight with excitement.
“I can say with pride that, in terms of quality, our Hanssi weaponry is absolutely world-leading!”
This was truly an unexpected windfall! A veritable fortune was about to be made!
The Chengyun faction’s forces alone numbered some three hundred thousand!
And that did not even include the other warlords scattered across the new regime.
It was common knowledge that arms deals were enormously profitable.
Yet, despite such a vast market in the new regime, Hanssi arms had always struggled to gain entry!
Compounded with the recent sharp downturn in Hanssi’s domestic economy, resulting in millions unemployed each year,
If this opportunity could be seized to break into the new regime’s market,
It would be a godsend for both Feng En personally and for Hanssi!
“Your Excellency, Ambassador, here is our preliminary weapons order. Please review it.”
As he spoke, Jiang Bai withdrew a sheet of paper from his pocket and handed it over.
As these were to be his command’s first units, Jiang Bai was determined to build them to perfection.
Given that Chengyun’s arms industry lagged far behind that of the West,
Not only were many types of equipment impossible to produce locally, even basic maintenance was beyond their means.
Feng En glanced over the order, unable to hide his delight.
His smile nearly split his face.
“Fifty thousand Mauser 1898 precision rifles, five hundred Mauser binoculars. One hundred and fifty MG-08/15 general-purpose machine guns, one hundred 37mm quick-firing guns, and fifty 105mm howitzers, as well as seventy-seven field guns, plus corresponding ammunition.”
This was a major client!
No, a superlative client!
After carefully reviewing the order several times, Feng En put it away with the utmost seriousness, then asked:
“Commander Jiang, is all this weaponry truly intended for your division alone?”
As the resident diplomat in Chengyun, Feng En was intimately familiar with the scale of their forces.
Even the elite units of Chengyun, fully equipped, numbered only about 180,000; this order clearly exceeded their needs.
Even half of these arms would easily suffice to outfit several divisions.
To Feng En’s question, Jiang Bai replied with composure:
“Sir, there is an old saying in our country: one must take precautions before trouble arises. It is always wise to be prepared, is it not?”
Feng En nodded in agreement. “Your perspective is most reasonable!”
At this moment, Jiang Bai was his most important client; even if Jiang Bai declared that the little devils of Tianhuang were the spawn of harlots, Feng En would find a way to politely concur.
“Distinguished Commander Jiang, this batch of weaponry totals over four million. Would you be able to pay a portion as a deposit?”
Four million?
At this figure, the guards behind Jiang Bai could not help but pale.
After all, the entire annual budget of Chengyun’s finance ministry was only six million.
This order alone would consume eighty percent of their funds!
The Grand Marshal would never approve of this!
While the guards were wracked with anxiety, Jiang Bai had already responded:
“I am sorry, Ambassador, but I do not have sufficient funds to pay that amount.”
Feng En maintained his smile. “Then, how much do you have at your disposal?”
Jiang Bai raised two fingers. Feng En guessed, “Two million?”
To his surprise, Jiang Bai shook his head, smiling. “No, twenty thousand.”
Twenty thousand?
Attempting to purchase four million’s worth of weaponry with twenty thousand?
Sheer fantasy!
Feng En’s expression soured instantly.
No one present had expected Jiang Bai to make such a proposal.
Were it not for Jiang Bai’s status, Feng En would have shown him the door at once.
However, the awkwardness did not last long.
Jiang Bai spoke calmly:
“In fact, besides twenty thousand, I can offer other resources in exchange.”
Feng En relaxed a little, his tone friendly again. “What do you propose, Commander Jiang?”
“It is quite simple. As far as I know, your nation has recently experienced a severe economic crisis.”
“This has led not only to the closure of several military academies due to lack of funding, but left many officers displaced.”
“Therefore, you are fully welcome to establish branch academies in our country, which would both provide employment for these officers and enable instruction.”
“In the initial phase, we can accommodate at least twenty thousand faculty and students, and at full scale, up to two hundred thousand.”
“All expenses and funding for these branch academies will be provided by us.”
“Mr. Feng En, what is your opinion?”
This so-called military academy proposal was actually modeled after the mutual assistance agreement between Hanssi and the Bear Empire.
After the First Dynastic War, Hanssi was constrained militarily and could not conduct research at home.
Meanwhile, the Bear Empire needed reconstruction; thus, Hanssi aided in industrial buildup while the Bear Empire supplied facilities and abundant materials for training and research.
As a result, even when conflict between the two powers intensified, the Bear Empire continued to ship wheat to Hanssi.
Jiang Bai believed there was no reason Feng En could refuse such a proposal.
A military academy plan? Twenty thousand students and faculty?
Feng En was deeply moved.
Indeed, as Jiang Bai had said, Hanssi was enduring hardship unseen in a decade.
Institutional failure and inefficiency had led to massive business closures, soaring unemployment, and widespread hunger.
Against this backdrop, the public had stormed military facilities multiple times, demanding military budgets be reallocated to basic needs.
Many military academies had closed, and countless professional soldiers, unable to transition to civilian life, had starved in the streets.
For Feng En, himself a soldier by training, this was a tragedy.
If the academy plan could be realized, not only would it resolve the plight of many officers,
It would also preserve a lifeline for the Hanssi army.
It was a most appealing proposal.
“Commander Jiang, I must admit your proposal is remarkably forward-thinking.”
“But I cannot persuade our civilian authorities to allocate another four million for the military in such dire times, merely to provide for officers.”
Just as Feng En was preparing to decline politely, Jiang Bai’s next words transformed the entire situation.
“Ambassador, I urge you not to reject this so hastily.”
“To my knowledge, the Shuifang warlords have also ordered enough equipment from your country to arm seven divisions, which should soon arrive in our coastal waters, am I right?”
At this, Feng En was suddenly enlightened, and he responded nervously, “Commander Jiang, what are you implying?”
“It is quite simple: if your arms shipment were to experience a certain ‘technical malfunction’ in the coming days and be forced to dock at Dalian Port, we would be most grateful.”
Only then did Feng En understand Jiang Bai’s plan.
He intended to intercept the Shuifang warlords’ arms shipment!
This plan was nothing short of audacious!