Munitions Empire-Chapter 991 - : 913 Proud Tang People

Chapter 991: 913 Proud Tang People

The Tang Empire is proud, and so are its citizens. They learned to be proud in just five years, as they indeed had the capital to be proud of.

Their days were better than others, their supplies abundant, their lives prosperous; every morning they woke up happier than the civilians of other countries, hence they took pride in being Tang People.

On the bustling streets of Linshui City, a variety of people walked by, with most citizens of the Tang Empire dressed decently, for their country was indeed very wealthy.

Even the wages of the porters working at the dock were much higher than in other places. They needn’t worry about bribing the patrol officers at the dock due to lack of money, nor about not finding work, as everything operated on a well-established pattern, ten times more advanced than before.

With no oppression from the Nobility and no exploitation from officials and soldiers, as long as people worked honestly, they were paid honestly—a testament to the simplicity and humility of the common people, which often shamed the rulers.

So many commoners, only wishing for food to eat, a place to shelter, a family to continue their days with—nothing more.

But due to greed, past dynasties always played the game until bankruptcy. This left citizens destitute and hopeless.

Eventually, when the common people had no choice left, they would take up arms and bravely resist tyranny, leading to the downfall of dynasties and the vanishing of rulers, leaving behind a group of landlords and merchants from the Nobility who compromised with the new rulers to play the same old game anew.

In this game, the rulers enjoyed wealth, glory, and supreme authority, but ultimately, they had to pay the price with the lives of their descendants. The common people had to endure oppression and exploitation generation after generation, erupting in despair and then electing a new ruler to continue this ancient game.

The only class that didn’t have to pay the price, or rather, enjoyed the most resources while being relatively safe, was the so-called Nobility, landlords, and merchants.

They monopolized resources, cheated and exploited the entire world, but in times of change, they hid themselves again and again, posing innocently, packaging themselves as superior beings, staying uninvolved and enjoying peace.

Unfortunately, this game was disrupted by a person who did not belong to this world, who did not hope to compromise with these despicable scoundrels.

Yes, this man was Tang Mo, who established an empire that did not need the Old Nobility or landlord families.

Merchants were placed outside the circle of power, no longer able to meddle in the administration and operation of the Great Tang Empire with their wealth unchecked.

Without these bastards stirring in the middle, the citizens of the Great Tang Empire suddenly found the chains that bound them disappearing.

Without this oppression, people were free. Thus, these reborn citizens felt genuine pride. They identified with their nation, believing this place was where they belonged.

They called themselves Tang People, and there was a tone of pride when they uttered this term, even more so than someone claiming to be a Baron.

This chapt𝒆r is updated by frёewebηovel.cѳm.

When a transport ship flying the flag of Mirage Country arrived at Linshui Port, the porters sitting on the dock didn’t even want to stand up to help.

Among them were many from Qi and Zheng—that was their past designation. Back then, they endured bullying by Mirage Country folks, putting up with their arrogance. Now they were Tang People, no longer having to look at the faces of these Mirage Country people.

The gangway of the transport ship was slowly lowered, and sailors tied the ropes to the steel piles on the dock. Soon, Mirage Country officers cautiously descended the gangway, standing beside it and carefully observing this spectacular dock that instilled fear in them.

The huge cranes in the distance were taller than the masts on their ships, and one colossal vessel after another docked nearby, the entire port busy and rhythmed with order.

These Mirage Country people had never seen such an extravagant port, which seemed to gather all the products of the world; skyscrapers in the distant city stood like a giant beast lying on the shore.

“Hey! Where did these Mirage Country officers come from?” The usually calm dockworkers were a bit stunned to see the officers from Mirage Country; since the founding of the Great Tang Empire, Linshui City had seen Dwarf Elves, blonde Eastern Continent people, but seldom Mirage Country Goblins.

“Look! Not just officers, there are soldiers too! What’s going on? How did these Mirage Country people get in?” As they watched, some dockworkers noticed something was amiss because one after another, Mirage Country Soldiers were disembarking from the transport ship.

These short-statured Mirage Country soldiers lined up on the dock one after another, led by an officer who wore a “dagger” at his waist and carried a Shireck Model 1 bolt-action rifle.

“Must be at least two hundred, huh? How come so many Mirage Country folks with guns are allowed in Linshui?” Long-time dockworkers were always sensitive to numbers.

As long as they casually glanced twice, they could probably determine the number of people in the team. This was their professional habit, as well as one of their skills.

“No worries, they’ll leave soon.” A passing patrol officer who apparently knew the origins of these Mirage Country people pointed to the soldiers from Mirage Country who were forming up and said to the dockworkers: “Mercenaries from Mirage Country, heading to Fengjiang.”

“Fengjiang? Oh, no wonder.” Hearing what the patrol officer said, everyone felt relieved as long as these people from Mirage Country did not come to Linshui to cause trouble.

The newspapers issued by the Great Tang Empire were recently filled with news about the civil war in Fengjiang, and the radio broadcasts also reported the same.

Now, even the girls in the Flower Street and Willow Alley of Linshui could probably recite quite a few pieces of news about the battle in Fengjiang.

Of course, their stance was surprisingly unanimous: The fight in Fengjiang disrupted Great Tang’s trade, causing the price of stockings in Linshui to increase.

Hmm, this matter was unbearable, especially for those men lingering in the alleys, hearing about the price hike of stockings that girls could no longer afford, they immediately wanted to personally go to the Dahua Empire and kill those damned bastards.

As for why the war in Fengjiang caused a spike in the price of stockings, nobody questioned it; everyone just sought a topic of conversation, that was all.

But if the Great Tang Empire were involved in the war, then the matter would be completely different. Those worldly people drinking and enjoying themselves would really rush to the recruitment office at the first chance, clamoring to sacrifice themselves for the country and take a trip to the Dahua Empire.

Don’t ask why, asking is like saying why wouldn’t a man bear his sword and directly capture fifty states… Haven’t you seen those who return with medals on their chests, how spirited they are, how respected they are!

Even seeking pleasures amidst flowers, goddamn, there are discounts, and no need to line up… How could this be tolerated? It’s intolerable! Heaven knows how many Tang People are waiting for the next war, they truly are eager and restless.

So, as long as the battle of Fengjiang is mentioned now, everyone knows about it, as the literacy rate of the Great Tang Empire has already far surpassed other countries.

The policy of keeping the population ignorant has long been phased out here; nowadays, everyone learns a few characters at night school, and not knowing how to write almost invites discrimination. Literacy has become a part of Tang People’s pride, another part is prosperity!

“Hey! You there! You can’t spit everywhere! Damn it! Did you hear me!” The patrol officer, who just turned around, saw the gathering mercenaries from Mirage Country on the dock, picked up his baton and walked over, without showing any fear.

The soldiers from Mirage Country who were lining up were startled by this sudden shout, and when they looked over, they found that it was just one person.

“I’m talking to you! Who allowed you to spit on the ground?” The patrol officer walked over and scolded loudly: “Spitting on the ground, fine 10 silver!”

“Bastard!” The leading officer from Mirage Country spoke out of reflex, as no one dared to talk to him like that in his own country.

“Bastard!” Before the officer from Mirage Country could react, another shout came from a distance. When the officer clearly saw who was coming, his expression immediately changed—his ferocity vanished, replaced by a face full of smiles.

The person was Shenwu Xinguang, the general in charge of the transfer of Mirage Country’s mercenaries; he walked over with his hand on his waist sword, then slapped the cursing officer: “Apologize!”

“Yes, sorry.” The officer from Mirage Country covered his face, immediately bowed his head and admitted his fault.

“Apologize to him!” Shenwu Xinguang pointed at the standing patrol officer beside him and scolded sternly.

The officer from Mirage Country immediately changed direction, covered his face, bowed his head and said again: “Sorry! Sir!”

“Insulting a patrol officer, fine 30 silver, spitting on the ground 20 silver… Pay the fine.” The patrol officer pulled out a small booklet, tore off a receipt: “Next time you run into someone with a worse temper, you won’t be so lucky.”

After speaking, he slapped the receipt on the forehead of the officer from Mirage Country: “You are mercenaries! Not armed forces of Mirage Country! Remember this point and don’t forget it, otherwise it will be a gruesome death! According to the rules of the Great Tang Empire, armed forces from other countries, unless invited, must be killed upon entering! The only reason you haven’t died after walking in with guns is that you are no longer the military of Mirage Country, understand?”

“Teach them to follow the rules, otherwise if something really happens, I’m afraid your Mirage Country won’t be able to withstand it.” The patrol officer said this while already looking at Shenwu Xinguang, without changing his tone because of the military uniform of the general from Mirage Country.

“I will remind them,” Shenwu Xinguang, being a general, naturally had some temper, and snorted as he spoke.

Under the curious gaze of the dockworkers, several officers from Mirage Country finally scraped together 50 silver coins for the fine… After these soldiers from Mirage Country were stuffed into trucks and taken away, the workers burst into a round of laughter.