Alien Arms Empire.

Chapter 1869-1870 The Power of the People

Warm sunlight shines into the office of the Imperial Tax Department through the clean glass windows. The world outside the window is clear, with white clouds floating in the blue sky like fluffy cotton candy. Occasionally, a silver passenger plane cuts through the sky, leaving a long white trail.

"Tsk tsk, look at today's news, it's really exciting!" A tax official in uniform put down the documents in his hand, picked up the newspaper and read: "Marquis Binghan made a public speech in Linshui, expressing his deep regret for his previous actions of being an enemy of Your Majesty, and swore allegiance to the Tang Empire."

As he spoke, he took the hot tea handed to him by his subordinate and took a sip: "It seems that this marquis is also a man of insight."

What he said, he had already arrived at Linshui, how could he not know the current situation? In front of the largest port of the Tang Empire, one of the most prosperous cities in the world, and tens of millions of people who loved the great Emperor of Tang, he said that he actually wanted to have a duel with the Emperor of the Tang Empire?
Let’s not get too serious about whether his remarks can be published in the newspaper. I estimate that after he finishes speaking these words, he will most likely be blocked by angry people and trampled into a photo…

Did you know that the Emperor of the Tang Empire personally delivered several speeches to appease the people of the empire on the Western Continent after the war broke out? If the Emperor did not want to, he could at least recruit 2000 million troops and send them to the Eastern Continent to prove that the Tang Empire was full of martial virtue.

"That's right," his subordinates agreed with a smile, "I heard that Grand Duke Yangmu also arrived in Linshui yesterday. This is the second former emperor to come to Linshui."

"Grand Duke Yangmu has arrived too?" Another official leaned over from the next desk, looking surprised. "Have you seen the news about Marquis Susas? He boarded the ship at Bunas Port yesterday, and he will probably arrive in Linshui soon."

"I saw it, I saw it," the official who spoke first said with a smile, "I almost laughed my ass off when I saw this news. Did you know? His sailing schedule is only one day different from that of the Marquis of Raines, and the Marquis of Raines boarded the ship today. I checked the shipping list and found something even more interesting..."

His words successfully aroused the curiosity of his colleagues around him. Everyone stopped what they were doing and listened attentively.

"Hmm? What's interesting?" Someone asked impatiently, "Don't keep us in suspense. Tell us now!"

The official cleared his throat and said mysteriously, "The cruise ship that Marquis Susas is on will stay at Dongwan Island for seven hours for resupply. That is to say, although he and Marquis Lanes set out at different times, they will most likely arrive at Linshui on the same day! Just imagine, two former kings arriving at Linshui on the same day, how embarrassing that scene would be! Hahaha..."

The office suddenly erupted in laughter, and everyone's smiles became even brighter as they imagined the scene of the two former kings meeting.

"That's not all," a young official interrupted, "Don't forget, there's also Grand Duke Nanla! It's said that he's also heading to Linshui. Now, three former emperors... no, four former emperors are gathering in Linshui. It's like a gathering of 'kings of fallen nations'!"

"That's right!" An old official smiled and sighed: "Our Majesty has really collected all those who have claimed to be emperors! If you don't know, you would think that your Majesty has a habit of collecting former kings!"

"Haha, this is an interesting idea! Perhaps Your Majesty really has a hobby in this area." Everyone nodded in agreement.

Indeed, if we could gather the emperors of various countries and place them in Chang'an, and let them show their faces at every grand court meeting, the scene would be very spectacular. Just thinking about it makes people feel happy and full of a sense of accomplishment.

Tang Mo actually had this idea, because after all, in a world he was familiar with, there really was a Tang Empire that had a Khan come out to dance or something. If he also let these former monarchs come out to perform during festivals, perhaps the effect would be very good.

But there is no point in him doing this. No enemy will be affected by this kind of deterrence. He has already completely ruled the world.

……

Linshui, Binghan Yishi was completely shocked by the prosperity of Linshui. Like many people, he was only frightened by the huge transport ship of the Tang Empire when he boarded the ship in Yongdong City, but what he saw after arriving at Linshui was completely beyond his imagination.

The transport ship they boarded in Everwinter City was not a civilian cruise ship, so Ice Cold I, now the Marquis of Ice Cold, did not actually feel the kind of luxury that Sophia felt, but he still witnessed the power of technology: huge ships can transport more than one billion rounds of bullets at a time. Such logistical supplies support the operations of the frontline troops of the Tang Empire. How can the dwarves win?
After Marquis Binghan came to Linshui, he had really accepted the fact that he was bound to fail: the East Continent and the West Continent were simply not in the same era, and the prosperity of Linshui had far surpassed that of Eternal Winter City.

The huge mechanical cranes here stand like trees in a forest, and there are so many factory buildings that you can't see the end of them at a glance.

The most terrifying thing is that the things produced by the people here are no longer something he can understand. He, the former ruler of this icy region, has no idea what an integrated circuit is, nor does he know what a chip processor is, let alone a capacitive screen or a smart phone...

"Ah..." Marquis Binghan sighed, his eyes fell on the exquisite and small smart phone, his eyes were full of confusion and loneliness.

"I guess this is why I am bound to lose. I don't even understand my opponents. I don't know how strong they are..." He muttered to himself, his tone full of bitterness and helplessness.

The old butler stood by, watching the once high-spirited monarch now so dejected, with mixed feelings in his heart. He knew that for the Ice Marquis, the shame of defeat and the pain of losing power were like maggots that gnawed at his heart all the time.

He was an old friend who had always been with the Ice Marquis. He had witnessed the Ice Kingdom's army marching into Ironforge, dominating the dwarven region, and becoming the glory of the Ice Empire with the support of the Tang Dynasty Group. At that time, the Ice Marquis seemed to have touched the door to dominating the world. "Sir..." The old butler called softly, bowed slightly, and wanted to say something to comfort him, but he didn't know where to start.

"They call this... a cell phone, right?" Marquis Binghan ignored the old butler's address and just stretched out his fingers, gently stroking the smooth screen of the cell phone, as if he was touching a treasure from another world: "Such a small thing... can actually do so many things... It's incredible..."

"We didn't lose unfairly..." Marquis Binghan smiled bitterly and shook his head, his tone full of self-mockery and helplessness: "It should be said that losing to such an opponent is a matter of course. We... really didn't have any chance of winning from the beginning."

He raised his head and stared blankly ahead, as if he was lost in endless memories. "I still remember that when I learned that the Tang Empire's army had landed on the Western Continent, I actually felt that I still had a chance of winning..."

"At that time, I was still thinking, even if the Tang Empire is extremely powerful, it can span the entire Endless Sea and unite the entire East Continent. What do you think?" The Ice Marquis laughed at himself, with a hint of bitterness in his tone: "That's what I thought at the time... and that's what I did..."

"I have assembled the best troops from across the country, ready to completely wipe out those enemies who dare to invade..." The voice of the Ice Marquis gradually became low, as if he was in deep self-blame and regret: "But... I was wrong..."

"I don't understand my enemies at all... I underestimated their strength... and their determination..." Marquis Binghan closed his eyes in pain, and the tragic scenes of the war emerged in his mind.

"Our brave soldiers fell under the enemy's artillery fire... Our solid city walls were completely destroyed by the enemy's steel torrent..." The voice of the Ice Marquis trembled, as if he was in great pain, "And I... could only watch all this happen... I was powerless..."

“I… wrongly blamed Marshal Moss… and also wrongly blamed those soldiers who fought to the very last moment…” Marquis Binghan took a deep breath and tried to calm his excitement. “They have tried their best… It was me… it was me, a foolish and incompetent monarch, who pushed them into the abyss…”

"Sir..." The old butler looked at his master with heartache. He wanted to speak to comfort him, but he didn't know what to say.

"Forget it...it's all over..." Marquis Binghan waved his hand weakly, signaling the old butler not to say any more.

He stood up, walked to the window, and looked into the distance, his eyes full of confusion and loneliness, "I just don't understand... why? Why has the world become like this? Why is the gap between us so big? Is it really just the gap of one person? Just because of... one person?"

……

"Of course it's not just me! This is the result of the joint efforts of thousands of Tang people!" Tang Mo's hearty laughter spread across the table. He picked up a piece of food and explained to the concubines around him easily: "If it was just me, or if it was just the weapons and equipment and some advanced technology I provided, the Tang Empire we are familiar with would never have developed to such a powerful level today."

He put down his chopsticks, and glanced at every beauty present, with a serious tone: "You must remember that the truly great and indispensable ones are always the hardworking people! It is their sweat and wisdom that have nurtured the prosperous Tang Dynasty today. I just pointed out a direction for them, a goal to strive for."

After Tang Mo finished speaking, he picked up the wine glass again, took a sip, and continued: "It's like a car. The people are the powerful engine and the endless source of power, and I am just the driver who controls the steering wheel."

He paused, a hint of pride in his eyes: "Although the driver is important, without the engine to provide power, the car can't move at all, right? Those countries that were once our enemies, those failed rulers, they always think that it was me who raised the technological level of the Tang Empire with my own efforts, making the Tang Empire invincible on the battlefield. "

He shook his head, with a hint of helplessness in his tone: "But in fact, they completely misunderstood! More important than the technology I provided, more important than those weapons and equipment, is that I have opened up a brand new path for all the people of Datang, for this country, a broad road leading to a bright future! A road that will no longer be oppressed, exploited, or repeat the tragic fate of the past!"

As he spoke, he put down the half-eaten snack and his eyes became firm: "Those losers, if they still can't figure this out, then even if they are given ten or a hundred chances, they will still fail in the end!"

At this point, Tang Mo pointed to his temple with a hint of sarcasm in his tone: "Because it was not me who pushed them to destruction, but themselves! It was their own corrupt rule, their own oppression of the people, and their own confusion about the future!"

He paused, as if thinking of the opponents who were now his prisoners, and then he collected his thoughts and said meaningfully: "They really should reflect on why the people who support them are all those bastards who are despised by the people and hung on the street lamps by the people! Why the people who support them are all those greedy and corrupt parasites who exploit the people! If they don't want to figure this out, they will never know where they failed."

"They probably won't know why they lost until they die." Alice raised her wine glass, saluted Tang Mo from a distance, and said with a smile.

"Indeed! They may not know this until they die, but we must know it. If we forget this, then we, or our descendants, will be defeated one day!" Tang Mo picked up the wine glass again and drank it all in one gulp. His eyes were full of confidence and determination: "The power of the people is the greatest power in the world! And I have only awakened this long-dormant power! The monarch of the Tang Empire must always be the user of this power, the master of this power, instead of being afraid of it, sealing it, and eventually letting it become the power in the hands of others."

He smiled and looked at his concubines who were looking at him with admiration, his tone was relaxed and joyful: "So, the real heroes are the working people who have worked hard for the prosperity of the Tang Dynasty! Without them, there would be no Tang Dynasty today! Without them, we would not have everything we have now!"

(End of this chapter)