Randomly Pick a Surprise Country!

"To be honest, this is a real relief."

The slander and accusations from Griffin, which distorted the truth, did not anger Kang De; on the contrary, they made him feel at ease—because it meant that his enemy intended to openly confront him.

It's better than this guy hiding in a dark corner, thinking all day about how to annoy and attack you.

He ordered, "Ministry of Unity, it's time to get to work. Explain the truth to the people and ensure the morale of the Council's faction forces remains stable. Ministry of Peace, send out reconnaissance aircraft to conduct focused reconnaissance of the Council's northern cities, especially the border areas. The previous mobilization order remains in effect; we must continue to gather troops!"

Tina and Horus agreed, Iron Son replied in a deep voice, "Shall we launch a preemptive strike?"

"Develop relevant plans."

Kang De said something, then sighed, "But if I'm not mistaken, this fellow dared to jump out so quickly; he must have been prepared and won't repeat his previous mistakes."

He looked at the ministers of the Shogunate: "The situation is unclear. It would be unwise to advance again while the enemy is prepared... Gentlemen, this battle must be fought head-on."

Dong Tianming stroked his beard and said, "We cannot rely on surprise attacks for long. In a conflict between two nations, we must fight a fair and square battle."

After the Imperial Tutor finished speaking, he glanced to his left and right. Among the ministers of the Shogunate present, in terms of personal relationships, he was more distant from Kang De, even less so than from his disciple Hong San. From a certain perspective, this was actually a good thing.

There are things that others can't say, but he can say frankly.

"The fact that they dared to speak out so quickly shows that the enemy chief is no longer afraid of the lord's sneak attack. If this old minister's guess is correct, then Griffin must possess more than one Deceleration Field and Age of Gods Mechanism, and perhaps even other means."

Dong Tianming inquired, "Then may I ask, my lord, if Griffin were to deploy that Deceleration Field in the enemy city or even on the battlefield, rendering Forbidden Spell ineffective and even affecting the power of conventional alchemical weapons... how would you, my lord, lead a mighty army to victory?"

Almost every intelligent person can see that Kang De's dominance over the continent was due to the advantage of Forbidden Spell. Now that Mass Projection has been restrained, it means that the greatest threat no longer exists. This will not only make the forces hostile to Kang De restless, but also cause unrest among the people within the country.

"Alchemical weapons are not limited to kinetic energy damage, and our army is not only equipped with my alchemical weapons," Kang De replied. "There are also chemical energy weapons, Mortal World alchemical military science, even the war technology of Yilan-Tai'er, the mechanical runes of Cathay, and the practical application of Paradox Element... In the past few months, the weapons technology research of the Truth Office has progressed rapidly, and it can be put into actual combat testing in this battle."

The matter concerning Earth could not be discussed in detail yet. Kang De simply said to Dong Tianming, "The laws of victory have long been established... War is merely a continuation of politics. What I am pondering now is not how to defeat the enemy, but what purpose this war should achieve. This is where Mr. Dong. Dong's wisdom should be put to use."

Hong San, sitting to the side, lowered his eyes.

That's a very straightforward statement: I'll make the decisions about fighting myself, so you don't need to worry about it.

Any staff member with ambitions for national affairs would find it hard to tolerate such contempt, let alone the renowned Cathay Tutor of China, who was skilled in both literature and martial arts. He glanced at his master with concern.

But Dong Tianming remained expressionless, neither pleased nor angry. "Very well... War is a continuation of politics. So, what does my lord believe this war should achieve?"

Kang De said calmly, "A swift victory... reduces internal strife within the Council, prevents blood feuds between the North and South and the division of the country, and keeps the intensity of the war within a certain range."

The Imperial Tutor nodded slightly. "My lord has great ambition, worthy of the name of the chosen one who opposes the Star Palace. In order to fight against a powerful enemy from beyond the heavens, you are willing to give up a great opportunity to weaken potential competitors."

Then he changed the subject. "But the other nations are not as magnanimous as you, my lord. To obtain the secret of the Deceleration Field from Griffin in order to defend against the Forbidden Spell, they would agree to any of Griffin's conditions, and supporting him to establish himself in the north would be no problem. In fact, they would be happy to see it happen, because it would split the Council —even if they knew about the threat from the Star Palace, they would not be as selfless as you."

Dong Tianming sneered, "As long as the Star Palace doesn't descend on a large scale and attack right under their noses, obtaining the Deceleration Field is the most important thing for them."

Kang De scoffed, "A bunch of selfish and callous people; I saw right through them long ago."

But Old Dong then asked, "This old minister asks again, my lord, what was the reason for stopping the civil war between the North and the South?"

Kang De frowned. Hadn't he already said that? He replied anyway, "Because when fighting against the Star Palace, we need the power of the Arcane Council; we can't let it waste its resources on meaningless internal strife."

Dong Tianming smiled, "So, the fundamental purpose is to prevent internal strife within the Council and to prevent their national power from being lost out of thin air, rather than simply to prevent the North-South split of the Arcane Council?"

Kang De's doubts deepened, and he nodded, saying, "Yes, but isn't this one thing?"

The Imperial Tutor's smile turned sly, "Who said that?"

A flash of inspiration struck Kang De; he seemed to have grasped something.

Dong Tianming glanced at the map on the wall and said leisurely, "Before this, the Arcane Council was a unified national entity, but wouldn't such a Council free from internal strife?"

"Domestic factions abound, the Senate is rife with infighting, and the OPA organization established by the first Speaker has evolved into a powerful nation. The once wise senators have transformed from shrewd spellcasters into greedy political animals. This country has gradually become corrupt and arrogant, suppressing potential rivals for its own benefit... This is where their conflict with us originated."

As he said this, he glanced at Kang De.

Some things were left unsaid.

Dong Tianming had always speculated about Kang De's origins.

He didn't believe Kang De was from Cathayan, but now his doubts grew because his lord seemed to take national unification for granted, instinctively believing that a unified country could exert greater power. Therefore, he didn't even consider the issue of the North-South division in the Council.

That's really interesting.

Dong Tianming began, "A unified Council only gradually rot and deteriorate from within, because the territory under the sun has already been divided up, and their beneficiaries are already full and cannot tolerate the enormous risks of war to compete with the Empire and the Elves... So, internal strife has already begun."

"But... if the North and South were to split, the situation would be different."

He said calmly, "Normally, when a country splits into two regimes that are hostile to each other and irreconcilable, war will be the inevitable cause, leading to the destruction of cities, displacement of people, widespread suffering, and endless warfare."

"Even if war doesn't break out immediately, they will still prepare for war and accelerate military buildup to avoid being militarily outmaneuvered. This would be seen as exploiting the people's resources and engaging in excessive militarism, with all research and production efforts tilting towards military purposes. In essence, it would be a waste and a drain on resources..."

Dong Tianming looked at Kang De and smiled slightly, "But the current environment is about countering the impending Star Palace. If the war preparations made by the two divided regimes of this country to eliminate each other, including developing weapons, recruiting soldiers, accelerating production, and improving efficiency, are all used against the Star Palace in the future... then how can this be called a waste and internal strife?"

Upon hearing this, Kang De's eyes widened.

He understood what the Imperial Tutor meant.

Mr. Dong's smile was full of mockery of the young man's naiveté.

A renowned prime minister from Cathay emphasized. "As long as the North-South war doesn't break out, and it's merely mutual hostility and war preparation, it doesn't count as internal strife... On the contrary, Council."

With a bang, Kang De slammed his hand on the table. "Brilliant!"

"Furthermore, as far as I know, the Southern and Northern Council are already rife with conflict due to differing ideologies and development paths. Prematurely igniting this conflict might not be a bad thing."

The Imperial Tutor explained, "The North focuses on weaving, while the South focuses on agriculture. In recent years, the interest groups in the South Council been expanding into the southern islands, establishing numerous farms, enslaving the local people, and making a fortune, while suppressing the North... All these contradictions are like a magic crystal about to explode. Even Griffin can only barely manage to mediate the situation. Who knew that something like this would happen?"

He tapped the table. "If we can't get along, let's separate, as long as we don't go to war."

Kang De, who had been frowning in thought, said, "Griffin controls the North, then whether or not there's a war isn't up to us. Besides, even if we switch to another one, we still won't..."

Dong Tianming laughed and said, "Then why doesn't our lord replace Griffin with him?"

"..."

???????

Kang De was astonished.

He acted as if he were meeting Dong Tianming for the first time.

--I didn't realize this old man had such a big appetite!

"Why be surprised, my lord? You should know that Griffin enjoys great prestige and support in the Council, but the reason for this is not some kind of personal charisma. It's simply that Griffin is a Northerner, and he gives the Northerners, who are oppressed by the South, a chance to breathe. That's why those large workshop owners, mage towers, and magical families support him... Can't my lord give what Griffin can give?"

The Imperial Tutor said proudly, "In the end, as long as our lord crushes Griffin's forces with overwhelming force, exposes their sinister plots to the world, breaks the Deceleration Field, and uses Forbidden Spell to intimidate the northern towns, do you think those large workshop owners and interest groups will perish with Griffin?"

"With a little manipulation, the North and South will become enemies. Can these Northern interest groups, who were once humiliated by the Southern forces Council the Council, rejoin the Council as defeated parties and be treated harshly and exploited? If our lord extends a helping hand at that time and is willing to guarantee their independence and interests, would they refuse?"

"Add economic aid, technological exchange, and profit sharing to them, and we'll bind them to the economic cycle. In the long run, with our interests intertwined, would they ever easily betray us again?"

"Even if they harbor rebellious intentions, would they have the resolve to raise the banner of rebellion if they considered the lord's swift and decisive victory over Griffin? With the lord's military support behind them, yet maintaining a sufficient distance, the Council's northern and southern regimes would not dare to easily declare war... This is in the best interest of the entire Mortal World."

At this point, Dong Tianming bowed to Kang De.

"Of course, how to decisively defeat Griffin, how to maintain military deterrence... just as my lord said," he said with a respectful smile, "The laws of victory have been established, and the battlefield is where you put your wisdom to use."

"..."

Kang De, unusually, blushed.

This old guy really held a grudge about what I just said, and he finally found a chance to get his revenge.

He still has that much composure; after all, he's a modern person.

He rose from his seat and bowed deeply to Dong Tianming: "I am humbled by your instruction; I was too blunt earlier."

Dong Tianming rose to return the greeting. "Your Highness is right. Although I fought some battles in my younger days, the art of war is ever-changing, and each nation has its own unique formations. Using the military experience of Cathay to command the Holy Empire's magical square formation would only lead to mistakes and chaos. Not to mention the powerful army under my lord's command, whose weapons, formations, tactics, and logistics strategies are vastly different from those of Mortal World nations. My experience is utterly useless. If I were to interrupt rashly, it would only hinder military operations."

What could Kang De say besides grinning foolishly?

Damn, he truly deserves to be called a great prime minister. He must have had the Cathay Emperor of China completely under his thumb back then. A famous minister is just different; he speaks so well, I really liked having him as my subordinate.

"It's just that this old minister doesn't know, but he can't remain ignorant forever."

Dong Tianming bowed and said, "Your subject is not old. Although I do not understand Your Majesty's military strategies, I am willing to learn them. When Your Majesty leads a large army to conquer Griffin in the future, I request to accompany you. The plan to split the North and South and to lobby the Northern interest groups in the Council was proposed by this old subject, and of course, it should be implemented by this old subject."

He bowed again and said, "This old minister once traveled to the Western Continent and focused on investigating the Arcane Council. I have old ties with the families of the North and am willing to serve my lord's great cause."

Since pledging allegiance to Kang De, Dong Tianming has almost always been the one to guard the home whenever something major happens. The Imperial Tutor always felt that he was being used as a super henchman and a mascot to stabilize the hearts of the people of the Cathay faction... This is unacceptable.

He, Dong Tianming, also needs to have a name.

If they don't hold much weight in the lord's eyes, how can the plan to return to aid Cathay be implemented in the future?

Thinking of this, he glanced at Hong San, his eyes blazing with anger.

You traitor! If your parents hadn't given you that useless Dio, why would I have had to personally take action?

Hearing Dong Tianming's self-recommendation, if it were written in the style of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms or Water Margin, then...

Kang De was overjoyed upon hearing this.

He helped Dong Tianming up and said with a smile, "If we were to use Western terminology, then this idea and action Council splitting the council and dividing the North and South should be named the 'Tianming Plan'."

The Imperial Tutor laughed loudly, "That's not necessarily a bad thing; it sounds quite impressive!"

"Then let's remember it this way."

Kang De held Dong Tianming's hand, gazing at the Imperial Tutor's white beard and hair, and said softly, "After defeating the Star Palace, this plan will be unsealed and made public. I hope we will all live to see it, and I hope the whole world will know of your life's dedication and great achievements, so that we won't have to wait for future generations to judge us."

The Imperial Tutor was taken aback.

He remained silent for more than ten seconds, then sighed and said, "My lord, you are the true king chosen by Heaven."

Whether this statement has a double meaning, or not, what it means... is not worth delving into.

Kang De patted his hand. "Make preliminary preparations and see how things develop."

After the two finished speaking, Tina, who had been listening in, said, "Kang De, as of now, envoys from the Imperial Court, the Silver Moon Council, the Dwarven Royal City, and the Grizzly Bear Duchy have all sent official notes to the Ministry of Unity, stating that they are highly concerned about the truth of the Tula Xiaye Incident. Please explain your accusations against Griffin."

Kang De sneered, "Reply to each of them, tell their king to eat shit—forget the elves, just tell their elders to eat shit."

Tina smiled and said, "Okay."

Kang De never cared about diplomatic implications or national dignity.

So a strategy was decided.

Observe the situation calmly, make preparations, and all departments begin to operate.

Kang De didn't need to stay in the Distant Harbor... Diplomatic rhetoric, alliances and intimidation, and even domestic affairs, as well as various early war preparations and defenses, were all handled by the four Shogunate. This was the significance of the subordinates.

Those were not things Kang De was good at, nor did he need to be. With the help of Superman, reliable ministers could handle economic, domestic, and foreign affairs perfectly.

Kang De's work is irreplaceable.

He was not only the ruler of the Distant Harbor, but also the military source and war leader of the Shogunate. He provided supreme military protection for this emerging nation or organization and ensured that the Distant Harbor always had absolute military superiority. If it had it, then it would have more; if it didn't, then it would find a way to create it.

So, he returned to Earth.

Sitting in Zhuerban's mansion, Kang De scrolled through his phone.

AWSL Company has grown significantly – many employees have realized that the ultimate mission of this bizarre company is to better support its boss, who has too much money to burn.

Just like now, Kang De's phone has a unique app installed.

It was specially developed by the company's programmers.

A shopping app.

It's unique in the world because, apart from this, no other shopping app in the world offers a complete range of products from military firearms to self-propelled howitzers in its "Military Goods" category. This category is meticulously categorized and filled with all sorts of strange and unusual items available for purchase worldwide.

Kang De places the order, and the company's purchasing department executes it.

"Alas, buying is never as good as robbing, and robbing is never as good as printing."

Some things are hard to buy, and even if they are easy to buy, you can't find the ones you want, and they might even be expensive. Plus, life is uneventful and there's nothing challenging about it.

Kang De gazed at the drawing on the paper of the Deceleration Field Age of Gods Mechanism.

Fighting Griffin would almost certainly mean facing another or even more Age of Gods Mechanism. These machines could greatly affect Forbidden Spell and even Earth weapons, and only a small portion of Earth weapons could unleash their full power... The more the better, he needed to stockpile some in advance.

Buying is not as good as grabbing, grabbing is not as good as printing.

"Then, let's randomly pick a surprise country."

Kang De turned the globe, looking at it from different angles.

But quickly, he shook his head and said, "No, no, we have to be reasonable. After all, they're living a good life, and it wouldn't be right for me to suddenly cause trouble, so..."

He took out his phone and opened the news.

Let's see which bastard is causing trouble again in the trending topics!

After watching for a few seconds, a country came into view, and both old and new grievances surged into my heart.

"Fuck your mother, it's you guys!"