Munitions Empire

"How can such a thing exist in this world?" The Shen Emperor, with a pale face, looked at the news coming back from the Laines Empire, so enraged his hands were trembling.

He now wanted a dignified surrender, but those damned bastards weren't going to give it to him! The Tang people! The Tang people... are too much of a bully!

The final terms offered by the Great Tang Empire were actually identical to the terms before the war started. It was a last resort after all, as the Mirage Country had no more resources to squeeze, so why not refrain from squeezing?

However, the diplomatic department of the Great Tang Empire couldn't present an identical set of terms to let the whole world laugh at them, so they added a bunch of formal conditions.

These conditions did not actually hold great material interest; they were purely made to disgust people: for example, the Great Tang Empire demanded the punishment of the navy and army supreme commanders of the Mirage Country, because they advocated suicide attacks, using small boats and planes to attack the warships of the Great Tang Empire.

In the words of the Great Tang Empire, this was a highly inhumane act! But the Shen Emperor really wanted to shout: did you damn well talk about humanity when using various cluster bombs in the Shen Capital, when using all kinds of new bombs?

Moreover, the Great Tang Empire also demanded that the Mirage Country hand over those who deployed landmines and naval mines in violation of conventions for public trial and rightful execution!

This simply slapped the face of the Shen Emperor: if responsibility were really to be pursued, wouldn't he, the King, be the chief culprit? If a trial were to be held, wouldn't he have to die?

Of course, there was also another matter that the Shen Emperor found intolerable, such as the requirement by the Great Tang Empire that the Mirage Country's capital could no longer be called the Capital, but instead be called the administrative center! This administrative center was a newly invented term specifically referring to the King City of the Mirage Country.

At the same time, even the King of the Mirage Country could no longer claim to be king, the name Shen Emperor couldn't be used, not even Shen King could be used.

From that moment onwards, the King of the Mirage Country would vanish from history, and the country could only be called Shen Island, with the king only able to call themselves the Island Master, and the title being Duke.

In other words, from a king, the Shen Emperor became a duke... If he met with the King of the Chu Country, he would even rank lower in status.

"Why do you think they added these requirements? Why? Is it just simply to get back at me, to retaliate against me?" The Shen Emperor slammed his hand on the telegraph paper, making a cracking sound that made Shen Wen Dabo and Shen Wenxin lower their heads in silence.

Honestly, everyone had breathed a sigh of relief when they heard the Shen Emperor decided to seek peace, as they could all see that the war could no longer be fought; surrendering at this moment might be the best outcome.

At least the Mirage Country could retain a piece of its land and no longer pose any threat to the Tang Country. The Tang Country had no need to annex the impoverished Northern Island, and the two sides could peacefully coexist for a long time.

The time could last until all those present were old and dead, and thus they wouldn't have to bear the infamy of a ruined country.

But no one had expected that the diplomatic department of the Great Tang Empire would issue terms so infuriating to the Shen Emperor upon being seen.

To give up the throne, not even being able to use the title of Shen Emperor that had been used for hundreds of years... damn it, who could probably tolerate that?

The kings of Qi Country and Zheng Country, even when their countries were destroyed and they met their end, did not dare to say they would relinquish their thrones... that was the most precious thing handed down by their ancestors, who would dare to easily abandon it?

Alright, even if there were irresponsible descendants who would say during peace talks that they didn't want the throne, Zheng Wang and Qi Wang never said such things until their deaths.

Additionally, within five years, the Great Tang Empire must be provided with 1 million able-bodied laborers from the Mirage Country, 200,000 each year. Plus, the production output from the mines for three years. Also, the free use of the Mirage Country's ports. And the free use of its maritime areas.

Lastly, there was a condition: troops of the Great Tang Empire must be stationed on the Northern Island to ensure the safety of the Great Tang Empire's assets and various facilities on the island.

The stationed troops of the Great Tang Empire on the Northern Island would have diplomatic immunity, possessing power above local laws, almost meaning they were people superior to others.

All of this had already turned the Mirage Country into an "abnormal state," stripping it of everything, and in the coming decades, the Mirage Country would become nothing but a puppet and a house dog of the Great Tang Empire.

Rather than maintaining such a so-called survival path, it would be better to perish together with honor right now. Many ministers of the Mirage Country present had such thoughts arising in their minds.

Even dying in battle now would be better than enduring humiliation and eventually being toyed to death without any ability to resist!

"Your Majesty! I think these terms are not an ultimatum, we can negotiate with them, get them to drop some parts." Prime Minister Shen Wen Dabo, seeing the Shen Emperor not speaking for a long time, began to persuade.

"Yes! Your Majesty! This is not the final treaty, we can still negotiate well with them, strive for..." Shen Wenyu also nodded in agreement with Shen Wen Dabo's words.

"Stop talking! There are several of these terms I cannot agree to even if I die!" The Shen Emperor interrupted the ministers, raised his voice, and said.

"The stationed troops on the Northern Island! This is absolutely unacceptable!" Shen Wenyu immediately said, "If we agree to this condition, where will be the dignity left for our Mirage Country?"

"The Shen Emperor's throne cannot be taken away! Even changing the title to Shen King can be negotiated, but what kind of title is Island Master..." Shen Wenxin was concerned about the Shen Emperor's throne on one side.

But Shen Wen Dabo was practical, he said to the trembling Shen Emperor beside him: "Your Majesty! I anticipate that the Great Tang wouldn't likely back down much, if we from this side refuse everything, it might provoke the Great Tang Empire's anger."

"They have already slapped me in the face, how can they be more furious? Kill me? Kill me?" Hearing Shen Wen Dabo's words, the Shen Emperor was immediately furious.

He roared once, startling the three ministers to quickly bow their heads. Then he had to stop because he knew surrendering was inevitable.

If they persisted, the other side might truly kill him! Then, with him dead, they would pick a puppet from his sons, and any of those terms would become reality.

Only by being alive could he perhaps reject one or two; if Ben Island were lost, then once on the Northern Island, he likely wouldn't be able to refuse even one.

But he just couldn't swallow this indignation!

The Shen Emperor clenched his fist in anger and let out a hmph, and then gave an order: "Go negotiate! Let them negotiate! Tell them to do whatever they can to reject all these terms! Whoever can make them propose one less term, I will reward him with a title!"

He hadn't lost Dingcheng yet! He still had time, he could delay! As long as he held on, he might get better terms! At least, he himself firmly believed this to be the case.