Munitions Empire

Leite Kingdom, King City, within a luxurious manor, the old Prime Minister sat tensely in his place, looking at his grandson.

His grandson, now 20 years old, was a very promising young man. He graduated from the Theological Academy in King City with a degree in economics and had a bright future ahead of him.

However, the demand for economic talent in the kingdom had become much more stringent, ever since Simon from Brunas became the Minister of Finance, the entire economy of the kingdom rapidly evolved in a direction that was opaque to all.

Among the kingdom's revenue, a considerable portion of Gold Coins had started to be replaced by colorful paper notes issued by the Great Tang Group.

These paper notes were initially unwanted by everyone, as real "hard money" like Gold Coins was preferred for settlements. But with a series of crafty maneuvers, the entire Leite Kingdom seemed to be gradually accepting this unprecedented form of "currency."

At first, it was for disaster relief funds. Simon actually took out all the paper money stockpiled in the warehouses that no one wanted and distributed it directly to disaster victims for relief and consolation.

This made the upper echelons of the kingdom very worried, fearing that the disaster-affected refugees would create trouble because the kingdom's disaster relief funds were not genuine silver and Gold Coin—after all, the kingdom had only reluctantly acknowledged this money out of consideration for the Great Tang Group's reputation.

Nobody thought these notes could be spent, nor did they regard them as real money. Plenty of people also complained that the Great Tang Group was engaging in fraud or that Tang Mo was maliciously expropriating wealth.

As it turned out, the Great Tang Group, in coordination with Simon, transported a large amount of disaster relief materials to the affected areas, and then it became possible to actually purchase things with those colorful, worthless pieces of paper...

When people were able to buy grain, daily necessities, and meat with paper money, and even pay taxes with it, they started to find these notes that could easily be stuffed into a pocket extremely convenient.

In the past, transporting two hundred Gold Coins often required a carriage, hiring bodyguards, and enlisting trustworthy friends and family to oversee the shipment.

Now, a wealthy merchant only needed a wallet to carry the equivalent of hundreds of Gold Coins in broad daylight, as no one could tell how much money he had.

With a sufficient supply of goods ensuring the purchasing power of paper money, which could actually be exchanged for food and other necessities, people began to widely accept the fact that the paper notes in their hands were a form of currency.

In Brunas and Dragon City, one could no longer see real Gold Coins in circulation. Instead, paper money had taken over, and everyone had gotten used to using this form of transaction.

Even many merchants from Leite, Dorne, and Suthers began to find it cumbersome to repatriate their earned Gold Coins. They left their Gold Coins with Tang Mo and, upon returning to purchase goods, simply traded with the paper notes they had on hand.

However, the old Prime Minister was not anxious about his grandson's future, for his grandson was now a student of the esteemed Simon, learning from the kingdom's Minister of Finance, and had even become one of the few financial geniuses within the kingdom.

What truly troubled the old Prime Minister was the birth of his "great-grandson," the child of his grandson, due today.

But now, the grandson's wife lying in the delivery room was in very bad condition, showing signs of a situation that might end in one death or two.

Childbirth was not an easy affair in those days; for a woman to give birth was almost akin to having a meeting with the Grim Reaper.

The rapid population growth in Brunas owed much to the establishment of a sophisticated and advanced medical system in Brunas by Tang Mo.

At least with the support of the Great Tang Medical Company, there were some miraculous medicines unavailable elsewhere that could bring a patient "back from the dead." ȐＡɴòВĘS̈

"How is it going?" the Prime Minister asked anxiously as he saw another doctor walk out.

The continuation of a family's lineage was one of the most important things in the eyes of the older generation. The old Prime Minister, being a noble himself, naturally cared greatly about whether his firstborn grandson's child could be safely delivered.

"We have done everything we could... she is too weak..." The doctor who delivered the baby shook his head with a grim expression, as if to say he had done all he could.

The complexion of the Prime Minister's eldest grandson became even paler as he looked at his grandfather, wanting to speak but only managing to open his mouth without uttering a word.

"This is truly regrettable news," the old Prime Minister said, patting the old doctor's shoulder to console him, "I know you have done your best."

This old doctor was the city's most renowned gynecologist, having delivered the Prime Minister's son and then his grandson; he was indeed a reliable and good doctor.

Unfortunately, this time the patient's condition had exceeded what he could handle, leaving him at his wit's end.

"My lord..." a servant walked in and whispered into the ear of the old Prime Minister, "Minister Simon has arrived, he's right outside... and he... he has brought a strange carriage..."

"Hmm?" The old Prime Minister knew he didn't invite Simon today, the man had come unbidden. He looked at his grandson, and with the young man's expression, he deduced somewhat, "Did you ask for them to come?"

"Yes, Grandfather," the grandson admitted anxiously. "I was afraid Fanny would be in trouble, so I asked the teacher..."

"I see," the old Prime Minister then turned back to the servant, "Please let Mr. Simon in!"

"I have brought a doctor, as well as an entire medical team from Brunas. They have experience with hundreds of childbirths," said Simon as soon as he entered, approaching the Prime Minister.

"I appreciate your kindness, but... the situation is indeed very grim," the old Prime Minister sighed dejectedly. "The best doctors in King City have already tried their best..."

"Leave it to them, rest assured, they are all women, and they will not cause Miss Fanny any more pain," Simon tried to persuade him.

The Prime Minister was stunned for a moment. It had never occurred to him that the medical team from Brunas were all women. The fact that his daughter-in-law would not have to be examined by another man was comforting to him.

He then turned to the seventy-year-old doctor, somewhat awkwardly hoping to get his consent.

The old doctor nodded slightly and said, "I have done all I can, and the patient's condition is very bad, so... if they think they have a method, let them try."

A doctor's heart is a parent's heart; without even a shred of medical morality, this old doctor wouldn't have been able to practice medicine in King City for so many years. He was really not the kind to be petty and jealous with some unknown figures.

Then, an entire childbirth team from Brunas got out of the automobile and entered the mansion, taking over the care of the mother in labor.

Over an hour later, the previously critical birthing process was brought under control. Then, the old obstetrician couldn't help but walk into the delivery room, eager to witness the miracle himself.

About ten minutes more had passed when the old Prime Minister couldn't resist sending a maid to check on the delivery room; she reported back that Miss Fanny, though very weak, seemed to be showing signs of improvement.

Although she wasn't sure what characterized a sign of improvement, she knew that the well-known old doctor from King City, who was visiting the delivery room, was utterly engrossed, oblivious even to her entering and inquiring.

In the end, it was a female nurse who told her that Miss Fanny was getting better but was still in great danger and needed observation and continued guidance and treatment.

Another two and a half hours passed, and still, no uplifting news came from the delivery room. Instead, Simon had taken up residence in the Prime Minister's home and wasn't leaving. Read new chapters at m_v-l'e|-.net

That evening, just before dinner was finished, the cries of a baby finally rang out from the delivery room. This was a full five hours after King City's best obstetrician had declared Fanny beyond help.

A nurse came out of the room, holding Miss Fanny's child and reported with a smile to the Prime Minister, "Congratulations, my lord, both mother and child are safe. Miss Fanny has given birth to a boy."

"Gods above..." the Prime Minister collapsed back into his chair, letting out a long breath. And his grandson, after glancing at his child from afar, saw the baby taken back into the delivery room.

When the Brunas doctor, who was perhaps only forty years old, emerged from the delivery room, an elderly man in his seventies was trailing behind her, bowing.

Like an apprentice, the old obstetrician asked quietly yet persistently, "Is disinfection in the delivery room really that important?"

"It is a necessary measure to protect both mother and child. Do not take it lightly just because disinfectants are expensive; it can easily lead to medical accidents! Everything here is too backward; it must be improved," the female doctor rebuked without mincing words about King City's medical conditions.

"I was trained by my teacher until I could practice independently... but I've never learned any, you... no, your knowledge. May I... continue to follow you?" the old doctor asked awkwardly.

"If you don't see an issue with it, neither do I. Also, you must have some apprentices, right? Have them come too; I need hands," said the female doctor while letting her assistant wipe her hands.

"Yes, yes!" the old doctor replied, flattered. "I have many apprentices; I'll have them all come to help! Besides, I can donate my assets! I also know many people, I can help with..."

The old Prime Minister watched thoughtfully as Simon spoke, "I owe you a favor! Minister Simon... or rather, I owe Mr. Tang Mo a... very big favor."

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