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The expansion of a nation always causes tension among its neighboring countries, even if there are no tangible sanctions, it still makes the neighboring states wary.
This state of vigilance and preparedness persists until either a war breaks out between the parties, or the expanding nation halts its expansionist steps and goes to great lengths to rebuild its international reputation.
Of course, rebuilding an international reputation is a very lengthy process, which can only be achieved by honest and methodical persistence, one step at a time.
The Bai Kingdom refused the alliance request from the Poplar Kingdom, which was expected to some extent, but Poplar XI didn't expect the rejection to be so straightforward.
"The influence of the Shireck side, and possibly the participation of other powers too." He quickly realized that not everyone wanted to see the Poplar Kingdom grow too powerful alone.
In the end, the King of the Poplar Kingdom lay down in defeat: "Now, it all depends on whether Marquis Augustine can turn the situation around at Southwater Port."
...
In Brunas, within the newly constructed port by the Great Tang Group, Tang Mo was presiding over the launching ceremony for two warships simultaneously hitting the water.
The main focus of the Great Tang Group had been on developing Black Dragon Island recently, so the speed of warship construction was remarkably fast.
Tang Mo, standing on the dock between the two warships, announced loudly to the observing crowd: "Today is a special day! The 5th and 6th warships of our Great Tang Group are being launched! Gentlemen! The sea belongs to us! From today onwards, we will have enough forces to deal with all schemings against the Great Tang Group at sea!"
He waved his fist, instilling tremendous confidence in all Great Tang Group personnel: "Before absolute power! No one can shake our position!"
The applause was long-lasting because everyone knew these warships were nearly invincible at sea, and the Great Tang Group was set to control the ocean and acquire astonishing wealth in the future.
After the event ended, the Prime Minister of the Kingdom, who had traveled a long way to support Tang Mo, walked shoulder to shoulder with Tang Mo on the dock.
People passing by nodded to them in greeting but dared not disturb their conversation.
The old Prime Minister started praising: "Mr. Tang, today is truly an eye-opener for me! I've come to realize how powerful ironclad warships are, even capable of overturning the entire maritime hegemony."
Tang Mo laughed heartily, responding modestly: "You're too kind, sir, but really this is just a minor event, a minor event, hahaha."
In fact, compared to the next generation of warships he was preparing to build, these first-generation Brunas-class ironclads were indeed just a minor show.
The secretly built second-generation warships in another drydock adopted a completely new hull design and utilized the latest power systems, enhancing speed, armor protection, and firepower significantly.
This more advanced warship adopted the classic high-proportion shape of a cruiser, emphasizing speed, and with an improved power system, the new warship's speed reached a remarkable 28 knots—over 50 kilometers per hour!
To accommodate more boilers, this warship had four funnels, a more elongated hull, and increased tonnage up to 4000 tons, measuring a full 140 meters in length and 14 meters in width!
Such a vast territory and vast interests could not possibly be monopolized and controlled by Tang Mo alone.
Moreover, if the habit of hogging all the profits appeared, the whole world would see him as enemy number one. Rather than becoming the world's public enemy, he much preferred the feeling of manipulating everything from the shadows.
After thinking for a moment, the Prime Minister asked a question that he was very interested in, "Do you really have no ambition to dominate the world?"
Tang Mo replied to the Prime Minister's question with a mixture of seriousness and jest, "Prime Minister, in fact, I have no wish to waste my energy on such mundane matters. Isn't it better to enjoy listening to music, chatting with beauties over wine, and refining one's taste at a gambling house?"
In reality, such casual remarks, not even promises or formal statements, could not possibly be taken seriously.
So, the Prime Minister shifted the topic and asked another question that interested him, "Then, have you ever considered becoming a true noble?"
"Hm? Am I not already a Viscount?" Tang Mo had been made a Viscount by Leite VII, which was also a recent occurrence.
The current Tang Mo was an emerging hotshot among the Kingdom's nobility; even many established nobility began to fawn over this young Viscount.
Interestingly, as Shireck suffered a crushing defeat in the Battle of Brunas, Baron Stela, who once bore a grudge against Tang Mo, got so frightened that he fled abroad without ever looking back, seeking asylum with the Shireck Consortium.
And Qiumuluo, who held a blood feud with Northern Ridge, also disappeared without a trace after the Battle of Brunas, as if evaporated from the earth.
However, eyewitnesses from the battle that day confirmed that Qiumuluo had his arm blown off by a bullet; after returning to the camp, he underwent surgery to amputate his left arm.
The current Qiumuluo was a one-armed man, which lent him another distinguishing feature, boosting Tang Mo's confidence in locating him.
The Prime Minister immediately started speaking to Tang Mo, "A Viscount bestowed by a Kingdom's King is hardly a true noble."
"What do you mean?" Tang Mo looked at the Prime Minister, as if asking knowingly.
True to form, the Prime Minister laid bare his true thoughts, "If you are willing to support the Leite Kingdom... to become the Leite Empire, then His Majesty Leite VII would not be stingy. I would very much like to address you as Duke."
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He hoped that Tang Mo would support the expansion of the Leite Kingdom and ultimately transform it into a new empire. He also hoped that Tang Mo would help elevate Leite VII to the throne of Emperor, making him the revered founding monarch of the Leite Empire, as the esteemed Emperor Leite I.
Tang Mo did not take a position; instead, he shook his head and said, "I will continue to support His Majesty the King as I always have... But as you know... I'm actually not that interested in titles either."
The Prime Minister felt Tang Mo was like a cunning little fox, with deeper schemes than other 20-year-olds, crafty and wary, making him hard to tackle.
He sighed inwardly, aware that Tang Mo was now beyond his influence, and thus he held back his ulterior motives, asking curiously in casual conversation, "So what are you interested in?"
"Money!" Tang Mo answered directly without hesitation, "I am very interested in money."
"You truly have taste," the Prime Minister nodded, agreeing with Tang Mo's facetious response.
"Hahaha!" Tang Mo was in high spirits and laughed heartily. On the dock, many people looked this way, seeing the uninhibited laughter of Tang Mo.