Next to Changle Palace in Jiangning Prefecture, the atmosphere in the Hezhong Conference Hall is extremely solemn. The Emperor of the Eastern Song Dynasty, who rarely appears in the conference hall, wore the most formal emperor's wardrobe early in the morning. Accompanied by Prime Minister Wen Daosheng and Song Lian, who is also the leader of the Zhejiang Party, appeared on the imperial throne in the center of the conference hall.

According to the practice of Xujun in the Eastern Song Dynasty, the emperor usually only appeared at the ceremony of the annual political discussion on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month every year and accepted the court of all members of the parliament. In addition, the emperor would also appear on the imperial throne of the conference hall when each member of the parliament was formally formed, and handed the tablets that symbolize the power to discuss politics to each member of the parliament.

In addition to the rituals of the fifteenth day of the first lunar month and the etiquette of the conference, the emperor generally does not appear in the conference hall. Even if the Prime Minister asks for an order to dissolve the conference, he will only issue an order in the Zichen Hall of Changle Palace.

Only one exception can the emperor come to the Council of the Union to listen to the politics. That is, when the country faces the threat of war, and when the Council of the Union to agree on war and national policies, the emperor or prince must follow the politics.

Today is not the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, nor is it the day for the new Hezhong Conference. The emperor solemnly arrived at the Hezhong Conference Hall. Is it necessary to agree on war and national policies? Could it be that the war craziness of the Western Song Dynasty fought again?

Most of the members of the congress in the Great Song Dynasty (Eastern Song Dynasty) knew that the country was now facing an unprecedented crisis. One was the "bird guano embargo" of the Great Zhou Dynasty, which would definitely lead to a major reduction in grain production.

Another crisis is that the "prosperity and decline" of Jiangnan industry and commerce, Jiangnan industry and commerce have also experienced overproduction and increased unemployment due to the use of "water heaters" and "Huang's textile machines".

The Eastern Song Dynasty, under the attack of two major crises, was a bit shaky. If another war came, would it collapse? The congressmen were heartbroken.

Although the Eastern Song Dynasty established a country in danger, it adopted the policy of defending the north and west to establish a country with naval forces from the beginning, so national defense and security were actually very guaranteed.

In the past three Central Plains Wars, the Eastern Song Dynasty only looked a little dangerous, but in fact it was as safe as a rock.

Because in the era of bastions and bronze cannons, the story of the Han River and the Sichuan River flowing downstream to the south of the Yangtze River was simply impossible to appear.

Moreover, the army of the Eastern Song Dynasty was not too weak, and its combat effectiveness was no less than that of the Western Song Dynasty. Even the cavalry of the Eastern Song Dynasty could compete with the cavalry of the Western Song Dynasty!

Although Jiangnan and Huainan in the Eastern Song Dynasty were not suitable for raising horses in large quantities, the Eastern Song Dynasty had colonies on the New Song continent! Moreover, the Eastern Song Dynasty was second only to the Great Zhou Dynasty, and could obtain good horses from the West and India, and stock them on the grasslands of the New Song continent.

Therefore, the Eastern Song army was neither short of horses nor powerful cavalry. Part of the cavalry of the Eastern Song Dynasty came from the military households on the Huai River, and part of the grasslands of the Xin Song and Xin Dongying. The kung fu on horseback was no less than that of the Western Song Dynasty cavalry.

Therefore, the members of the Eastern Song Dynasty's General Assembly were not afraid of the invasion of the Western Song Dynasty, but the time was not good at the moment... Internal and external troubles make things difficult to deal with!

Just as the members of the parliament were worried, the parliamentary chairman Song Lian announced a news that surprised them.

"Dear members of the parliament, according to reliable information, the Northern Zhou Dynasty is planning to attack our dynasty!"

As soon as the news came out, the conference hall was in an uproar.

"What? Zhou State!?"

"How is it possible..."

"Is this true?"

"The two countries are friendly countries for more than 200 years!"

"It's impossible. I just met the visitor from Huaihang yesterday. It's safe!"

"Dongdongdongdong..."

Song Lian held a wooden hammer and beat the small leather drum on the table, and the hall suddenly became quiet.

Song Lian said: "Now the Prime Minister speaks."

Prime Minister Wen Daosheng stood up, bowed to Emperor Zhao Hao, and then nodded to the leadership of the political affairs Song Lian: "Inheriting the political affairs, just three days ago, Zhou State sent a huge fleet of three first-class battleships including the Shenzhou, Republic, and Jofa to Nanyang in the name of escorting Wu Yuankai to Egypt to get married to Queen Anna.

In addition, the United government also received reliable information that the bird guano islands and bird guano deserts in the Southern Tian Province of South America are rich in bird guano resources. It will not be fully mined within fifty years!"

According to the rules of procedure of the United CPC meeting, no debate can be made between parliamentarians, and all parliamentarians can only exchange opinions with the governor, that is, dialogue must occur between parliamentarians and the governor.

This is to prevent quarrels and fights among lawmakers...

"Leading the political discussion," the leader of the opposition party immediately stood up and asked, "Maybe Zhou wants to increase the price of bird droppings."

Song Lian asked Wen Daosheng: "Prime Minister, please answer."

"The negotiations on the price of guano have broken down," Wen Daosheng said, "the State of Zhou does not intend to resume supply."

"Can we find a new island of guano?"

"prime minister……"

"Not found yet! Our inventory will be exhausted within the year. Starting next year, there will be a huge gap in our food supply!"

"Can we make up for it through imports? Jiaozhi, Annan, and Champa have enough food, and Siam also has a lot of land that can be reclaimed."

"If Zhou did not intend to attack from the sea, the supply of food would not be too tight... But from the current analysis of various signs, Zhou was preparing for war!"

The focus of the discussion in the United States Conference shifted from food supply back to the imminent war!

Prime Minister Wen Daosheng then presented many evidence that Zhou State was preparing for war, mainly secret reports from the Dujun Pilot and the Huai Shang Prefectures.

War preparation is impossible without signs!

This war has been planned for more than ten years, and it has been several years since it really started to prepare for a big fanfare.

The most obvious war preparation is the huge naval shipbuilding plan.

The Eastern Song and Great Zhou were both world empires that relied on maritime hegemony, and both countries had huge potential for war. It was difficult for anyone to win quickly in land battles, so the decisive victory of naval battles is particularly critical.

And naval battles can quickly determine the outcome!

Because both countries must defend their own shipping routes, it is impossible to defeat the enemy by "protecting ships".

Therefore, after Wu Yuanlong succeeded in re-election as head of state, he immediately promoted the construction of the "Aquaman Plan" to start the construction of 10 "Aquaman" first-class battleships.

The "Aquaman" class is a new ship developed based on the Shenzhou class. This type of battleship has an empty-load displacement of 60,000 stones and 120 cannons.

It is also equipped with 4 10-inch caliber cannons cast using confidential hollow casting method. This giant cannon can fire powerful heavy flowering shells. It only takes one hit to severely damage or even sink a first-class battleship!

Although this cast iron cannon is still a secret weapon, the construction of 10 "Aquaman" class cannot be kept confidential.

Therefore, the United States of the Eastern Song Dynasty had discovered the Great Zhou shipbuilding plan and formulated corresponding plans. They also wanted to build 10 new first-class battleships!

However, the Dong Song Dynasty's shipbuilding plan was launched late, so their 10 newly built first-class battleships would be in service.

Therefore, the Eastern Song Navy will have a dangerous period!

Another situation that can prove that the Great Zhou had an attempt to start a war was the revision of the Great Zhou Citizen Law and the Military Service Law.

The Senate of the Great Zhou Republic is discussing the amendment of the Citizenship Law, which has been implemented for more than 200 years, and will implement universal citizenship rights, that is, no longer distinguish between civilians, citizens, and citizens.

Of course, there are still restrictions on voting rights. However, they will only limit tax payments and military service. The relationship between citizen contribution and referendum is emphasized.

While the civil rights are being distributed, joining the army has also become a common obligation!

Since all citizens of the Republic are equal, they have the obligation to defend the country.

Now is the era of line infantry... When line infantry becomes the main force in the battlefield, the more troops, it is easy to win wars.

Because it is difficult to kill the shooting in line to cause too much casualties. Kill 1,000 enemies and lose at least 500 of them.

Therefore, a side with a large population is always easy to win.

There are many people in Zhou State now, with 180 million! However, most of them are not citizens and have no obligation to defend the country. Therefore, without amending the Citizenship Law, there is no way to turn the advantage of population into a military advantage.

Once the Citizen Law and the Military Service Law are amended, the Great Zhou Republic can recruit huge continental troops that can defeat the Song Dynasty.

In addition, in conjunction with the amendment of the Citizenship Law, the Military Service Law, and the Naval Expansion Plan, the expansion of the Knights Academy and the Naval Academy.

Only with officers can the troops be organized and the fleet can be exerted.

The gathering of situations points to the point where the Great Zhou Republic is preparing for a large-scale war.

And the enemies that can make the Great Zhou Republic carefully prepare are only East and West in this world.

When Wen Daosheng put the evidence that the Great Zhou was preparing to start a war before the members of the Congress of the United Nations, everyone was extremely shocked.

Their United States is facing an unprecedented crisis!

"What should we do?" someone asked loudly.

"Of course it's a battle!" someone immediately replied, "The Song Dynasty is not afraid of war!"

Are you really not afraid?

Not many members of Congress responded.

Song Lian looked at Prime Minister Wen Daosheng, "Prime Minister, what should we do?"

Wen Daosheng said: "To lead the political discussion, we should first consider joining forces with Chang'an!"

There was another uproar in the conference hall.

"How can we join forces with the Guanlong thieves?"

"Yes, they have beaten us three times..."

"The Guanlong bandits will never die if they destroy me!"

"Dongdongdongdong..." Song Lian beat the drum a few more times, and shouted: "Sujing! Sujing... Listen to the Prime Minister."

Wen Daosheng cleared his voice and said loudly: "Everyone is a little relieved, please listen to Wen's words. If today is the lower part of the three points, the third part of the momentum can be maintained, it is up to the two countries to join forces to control one of them. No matter what country wants to break the balance of the three countries, it will be defeated by the other two countries. In the past, Chang'an wanted to break the balance of the power, so our country would unite with Zhou to break it. But today the down part of the situation has changed drastically, the northwest is broken and the north is extremely prosperous. If our country wants to maintain the balance of the three countries, there is no other way, so we can only join forces with Chang'an.

As long as we can join forces with Chang'an, our country will remain undefeated. Only by standing in undefeated can we stop fighting with our strength. Even if we fail to stop fighting, we can still fight and win."

"But is Chang'an willing to join forces with us?" Someone immediately asked loudly.

Wen Daosheng smiled and nodded at the head of the political affairs, Song Lian nodded, "The head of the government affairs, the cabinet is negotiating with the secret envoys of Chang'an. At present, a preliminary agreement to jointly curb Zhou State!"

There was another uproar in the conference hall.

Song Lian quickly beat the drum and shouted "Silent".

Wen Daosheng turned around and bowed to the emperor who had been a puppet clay sculpture on the imperial throne for a long time.

Zhao Hao coughed and said, "The country is in a troublesome situation, and it must fully respond with the multi-party coalition government. I am appointed by Wen Daosheng to organize a new wartime multi-party coalition government in order to unite the strength of the fifty states and overcome difficulties together. I hope you can support Prime Minister Wen Daosheng and his leadership of the multi-party coalition government..."
To be continued...