Munitions Empire

"Time! What we need now is time! Laying down telephone lines takes time, moving the tanks and heavy weapons to the front takes time... mobilizing soldiers takes time, constructing defense lines also takes time..." Emperor Qin Ying Duo muttered, feeling like his head was about to split open.

The losses on the Qin Army frontline were too great, and the collapse was too fast, so the rhythm of all subsequent operations was disrupted.

Currently, the more than three million troops summoned within Qin Country were mostly still in place. The railway and highway capacities of Qin Country simply did not have the ability to transport such a large number of troops to the front line in a short time.

This was because more than half of Qin Country's transport capacity was already lost, or rather, more than half was in a paralyzed state: previously, the railway lines had exhausted themselves to send their troops and supplies into the Kingdom of Dahua, ensuring the Qin Army could attack swiftly.

But this was not without cost, the cost being that many trains were within the borders of Dahua, and it took time for them to return to Qin Country.

Even more frustrating, many trains could not return. These trains transported the Qin Army rapidly to Xiajian, only to be destroyed in Xiajian, or become spoils of the Tang Army.

The remaining trains were either destroyed on the railway between Dongqing and Xiajian, or some were paralyzed in Dongqing.

This transport capacity could definitely not serve Qin Country in the subsequent war, and lacking this transport capacity, Qin Country naturally could not mobilize its troops as it did before the war broke out.

In addition, the years of war have already caused much dissatisfaction within Qin Country; the people need convenient transportation, but the number of trains and automobiles left to them has sharply decreased, seriously affecting national economic activity.

This is not simply a matter of losing a few trains or reducing some flights. The delay in logistics and transportation, the allocation and integration of supplies, would all be affected. In severe cases, it could directly lead to a reduction in agricultural production and the halt of industrial production.

For a country, this is already very dangerous. What's more, this country is still in a state of war, and everything it produces almost affects the outcome of the war.

The mobilized troops have no way to reach the front line at the first moment; the winter clothes, ammunition, fuel, and parts they need... all need transportation.

The troops on the collapsing front line also need these supplies, they also need the transport capacity to be maintained. Even if they are retreating, don't they need to eat, drink, and satisfy their basic needs?

"If we let the Tang Army maintain this speed of attack, we expect that we will only be able to stop our retreat near Daxiguan." The chief of staff said rather pessimistically.

"That might be the best result." Liu Zhian was even more pessimistic than him: "Being able to hold off the Tang Army's attack near Shahun was already pretty good."

After speaking, as a general, he proposed a suggestion that made people change color: "I think we should lay mines on the retreat route! Delay the pursuit speed of the Tang Army!" Liu Zhian gave the best solution he could think of.

Qin Country also had landmines and a complete landmine production line. The difficulty in producing this kind of weapon was extremely low, and the cost was quite cheap.

Using landmines to delay the enemy's attack speed is a very cost-effective choice. Sometimes, just a few minefields would cause the opponent to slow the attack speed due to fear.

Moreover, positions built relying on minefields were more solid, using only a small number of infantry to block large-scale enemy attacks.

The chief of staff's face turned green upon hearing this suggestion, immediately reminding: "General Liu! Laying mines violates the convention, and at that time Tang Country's retaliation will not be worth the loss."

It's not that he was timid or fearful, but previously, Mirage Country laid mines, and was finally forced to surrender a Prime Minister and a top military commander to barely settle the incident.

If Tang Country pursued the matter afterwards, he feared being made a scapegoat, sacrificed as the Qin Country's chief of staff...

Upon hearing this, Liu Zhian did not take it seriously, assuring: "It's okay! I'll take full responsibility! Deploy me to the front line, and I'll order the mines to be laid! At that time, Your Majesty may execute only me to appease the world!"

"General Liu! I have no doubt about your loyalty, but at a time like this, Qin Country cannot do without you." Ying Duo also persuaded, not wanting to casually let a general take the blame leading to certain death.

Liu Zhian bowed his head and said to Emperor Qin: "Your Majesty, the current situation is we must quickly drag the war into a trench warfare phase. Once the battle line stabilizes, those little tricks of the Tang Army won't work. So, as long as we order the laying of mines, the opponent's attack speed will slow down!"

He was quite confident, for the landmines indeed had a deterrent power: "Once they really slow down, we'll have enough time to stabilize the front, deploy troops... and drag the entire war into a rhythm favorable to us."

"General Liu has a point, but as for Tang Country, it might not end well." Actually, Emperor Qin Ying Duo was already tempted, but he feared it would be difficult to avoid the consequences afterwards.

After all, looking at the situation, it seemed unlikely Qin Country would emerge as the victor atop Tang Country in this war. At the very least, Qin Country needed to compromise on some things.

Then, if Tang Country really demanded severe punishment of the chief culprit who violated the weapon prohibition convention, Qin Country possibly would have to hand over some key figures.

"It's okay, I alone am acting on my own initiative, it has nothing to do with others!" Liu Zhian was very forthright, not fearing death, willing to sacrifice his life for Qin Country.

"Moreover, I'm not necessarily dead. As long as Tang Country doesn't win outright, by the time the battle lines confront each other and the war stabilizes, no one can do anything... If Tang Country presents conditions, we might not necessarily agree, isn't that right?" He comforted Emperor Qin and the others: "As long as Tang Country can't defeat us, we can fully negotiate their conditions or even ignore them, can't we?"

"Makes sense! By then, the international situation will change unpredictably, other countries will stand by us! Tang Country, isolated and without support, will ultimately be unable to last." Prime Minister Ying Ke nodded, agreeing with Liu Zhian's view.

"Also, we must retaliate! Retaliate against Dahua, and leave Tang Country a mess!" Liu Zhian's face showed cruelty as he added: "Burn down all the villages we pass! Leave the locals to the Tang Army! Drag them down!"

"Destroy the railways! Blow up the highways! Damage the bridges! Blow up all the water plants, power stations..." He showed no consideration for the locals, planning from Qin Country's angle, offered the most inhumane plan.