Tang Mo shook his head, rejecting Li'ao's suggestion, "It's no use. Our fleet must stabilize Dorne before it can head south from Hotwind Port. Without Hotwind Port, our logistical support is under too much pressure."
If Dorne falls under attack by Xilun Kingdom and Taren Kingdom on land, then the safety of Hotwind Port is not guaranteed.
At present, Tang Mo's only reliance was on Bernard's fleet, so he couldn't afford to let the fleet venture further south.
Should Hotwind Port fall... his fleet would have no supply station to return to, and the cost of such an eventuality was unpredictable.
Therefore, Tang Mo made his decision in an instant, even if it meant ordering the fleet to withdraw back to Dragon Island immediately instead of allowing Bernard to take the warships near Taren Kingdom's waters on a risky venture.
Then Tang Mo added, "Moreover, even if we blockade Taren Kingdom, forcing them to compromise, we cannot resolve Xilun Kingdom's issue in the short term."
Li'ao, somewhat irate, complained, "Damn Shireck, they always use such underhanded methods to trouble us."
To Tang Mo, however, it was not a concern; he had seen too many such incidents before he traveled to this world.
Everyone undercutting each other, calculating against each other, setting traps for each other, and slaughtering each other. After all, cooperation is temporary, antagonism is eternal.
Hence, it was only natural for Tang Mo to pull out a cigarette from his case, place it in his mouth, and mutter with an ambiguous smile, "There's nothing surprising about it. If they had more forceful methods, they would have used them long ago. They can only skulk in the shadows because it shows that they have no good options against us, who hold the technological advantage."
"What should our next move be?" Li'ao asked further.
Tang Mo lit the cigarette, took a deep drag, and said to Li'ao, "We should focus on ourselves... We must have that confidence! As long as we do our job well, everyone else will end up under our feet!"
"Understood, Master." Li'ao bowed slightly.
"Go now! Send a telegram to our people immediately, have them prepare themselves, and remain vigilant!" Tang Mo leaned back in his chair, the cigarette pinched between his fingers, appearing to enter a meditative state.
Without a word, Li'ao backed towards the door and left Tang Mo's office as if afraid of disturbing him.
...
In the guardhouse beneath the walls of Dorne's King City, a young man was drafting a new logistical supply placement chart.
He rubbed his temples, showing signs of fatigue by twisting his neck, then looked out at the bright sunshine through the window.
Truth be told, his capabilities had been recognized by many, including the monarch of Dorne Kingdom, a very enlightened His Majesty.
As a young man from Brunas, he had been named as the captain of the 1st Regiment, 2nd Battalion of Dorne, which was quite a promotion.
His movements were swift, catching his target off guard like an agile cheetah. In an instant, his fingers touched the warm surface of the gun.
Unfortunately for him, fast though he was, there was someone faster—the young officer raised his arm, revealing the handgun already clasped in his palm.
In the blink of an eye, the young officer showed no hesitation and pulled the trigger, a bullet piercing the messenger's chest.
"Ah!" the man, unprepared for the officer's readiness, screamed in agony as the gun he had just held fell to the floor with a dull thud.
Blood splattered instantly, and the gunshot alerted nearby guards. The door was smashed open from outside, and a soldier wielding a rifle charged into the room, pointing the cold barrel at the man lying on the ground.
"The coup has begun! We have already won! Hahaha! You're all going to die! All of you!" The man on the floor, clutching the bloody hole in his chest, screamed with all his strength.
"Sir! Are you hurt?" asked an anxious voice as he looked at the still-breathing man on the floor.
"I'm fine!" the young officer, picking up his weapon, walked past his desk to the fallen man and looked down, "I hope Minister Sumer won't be too disappointing! Farewell!"
After speaking, he pulled the trigger again, and before more guards rushed in, he finished off the would-be assassin.
"Sir..." An officer who had quickly arrived at the blood-covered office frowned and addressed the young officer.
"Gather the Troops! Head for the Royal Palace immediately! Protect the King!" The young officer stretched out his hand, took the Longsword from a nearby soldier, hung it on his waist, and commanded, "You stay here! Take charge of 100 soldiers from the first squad and control the city gates and the camp! Anyone who approaches and you don't see the King or me... open fire!"
"Yes, sir!" The officer snapped to attention and saluted, then added, "Be careful, sir."
"I will!" the young officer patted the man's shoulder, picked up his handgun, and walked out.
...
"Soldiers! The King is now in danger! We must go and save him! There is no need to fear! No need for nerves! We are here to defend our country, to protect our King!" said the young officer as he climbed onto his horse outside and shouted to his assembled Troops.
He jerked the reins, making the warhorse turn in place, and continued to shout loudly, "Who's willing to stand with me to defend Dorne, to protect the King?"
"Willing! Willing!" All the Dorne Soldiers answered loudly. Though only a few hundred strong, their shouts were thunderous, creating the momentum of a thousand men: "Protect the Emperor! Defend Dorne!"
"Then! March with me! To the Royal Palace!" the young officer commanded loudly as he kicked his horse's flanks.
Carrying K1 Quick Guns, the Dorne Soldiers marched out of their barracks in neat rows, heading toward the Royal Palace along the bustling streets, without heavy artillery but with dozens of horse-drawn carriages, which lengthened their ranks considerably.
"What's happening?" A civilian, unaware of the events, pointed at the Soldiers suddenly appearing on the street, armed to the teeth.
"Don't know, but... definitely not something good!" An old man at the civilian's side, watching the Soldiers walk by, remarked with an anxious tone.