67: Chapter 67 A Shocking Turn of Events on the Return Trip

Li Ling had stayed in the German Empire for nearly two months. Besides negotiating with the German royal family, he also visited the Krupp Arsenal and the Vulcan Shipyard in the German Empire, gaining a great deal.

Emily followed him the entire way. The two were inseparable, and their relationship warmed up rapidly.

That evening, the two were on the hotel balcony looking at the stars.

"Li Ling, what do you think will happen to us in the future?" Emily asked softly.

"The future?" Li Ling thought for a moment. "I will unify the entire country, then develop industry, technology, and the military to make Qingxia the strongest nation in the world."

"I mean us." Emily turned around and looked at him.

Li Ling was silent for a moment. "I will marry you."

Emily's eyes lit up. "Really?"

"Really." Li Ling nodded. "But it might take a few years, until I have established a firm footing."

"I can wait." Emily smiled. "As long as you don't lie to me."

"When have I ever lied to you?"

"Last time you said you'd take me to eat something delicious, but then you ran off yourself."

"That was an emergency military situation." Li Ling said awkwardly.

Emily chuckled. "I'm teasing you."

The two smiled at each other, the atmosphere warm and cozy.

[Host, the system has detected an emergency military situation.] The system suddenly spoke up.

Li Ling's smile froze. "What military situation?"

[The United Fleet has completed its assembly. The scale is larger than expected, totaling over one hundred and twenty warships. Fisher has already led the fleet out and is expected to arrive off the coast of Qingxia in ten days.]

Li Ling's expression changed drastically.

"What's wrong?" Emily sensed something was off.

"There's going to be a war." Li Ling stood up. "We must go back immediately."

He found the Kaiser Wilhelm II overnight, explained the situation, and requested to end his visit early.

Kaiser Wilhelm II expressed his understanding and promised to dispatch an engineering team to Qingxia as soon as possible.

Early the next morning, Li Ling and Emily boarded a fast mail steamer and returned to Qingxia at full speed.

On the way, Li Ling and the system repeatedly simulated the war situation.

[Host, according to satellite reconnaissance, the United Fleet is divided into three detachments: the main fleet of sixty ships, commanded by Fisher personally; the left-wing fleet of thirty ships, commanded by Meijian Country Navy Rear Admiral Dewey; and the right-wing fleet of thirty ships, commanded by Japan Navy Vice Admiral Togo Heihachiro.]

"Togo Heihachiro?" Li Ling frowned. "That guy who performed prominently in the First Sino-Japanese War?"

[Yes. This person has very high tactical proficiency and is difficult to deal with.]

"Fisher, Dewey, Togo..." Li Ling murmured. "All three are famous generals; they have really pulled out all the stops this time."

[Host, the system suggests applying for a third loan.]

"A third time?" Li Ling smiled bitterly. "I haven't even paid back the first two loans."

[In times of crisis, the system can make an exception. But the loan terms will be more stringent.]

"What terms?"

[The rules for Rock-Paper-Scissors have changed: best of five. And the system will not "intentionally lose."]

"You are taking advantage of a crisis!" Li Ling said angrily.

[The system is simply reasonably avoiding risk. The host can choose not to accept.]

Li Ling gritted his teeth for a long time before finally compromising. "Fine, best of five it is. But there's no time now; we'll talk when I get back."

The steamer sailed at full speed, returning to Qingxia in just twelve days.

As soon as Li Ling got off the ship, he immediately summoned all the generals for a meeting.

"The situation is critical." He pointed to the nautical chart. "The United Fleet has over one hundred and twenty warships, attacking in three prongs. Our forces are severely insufficient."

"My Lord, we only have six and a half Dreadnoughts." The Navy Commander's expression was grave. "Even if we add the Pre-dreadnoughts and Torpedo boats, the total is less than forty ships. The disparity in strength is too great."

"So we cannot fight head-on." Li Ling said. "We must use strategy."

He pondered for a moment and began to deploy:

"First, mobilize all Submarine units to ambush the United Fleet's supply lines."

"Second, the Special Forces will continue to carry out sabotage in Japan, blowing up their shipyards and ammunition depots."

"Third, hide the main fleet among the reefs, using the advantages of Radar and satellites to find opportunities to engage and destroy them one by one."

"Fourth, all coastal defense batteries must enter combat readiness to prevent the enemy from landing."

The generals received their orders and left.

Li Ling returned to his study, closed the door, and began negotiating with the system.

"System, let's do the loan." He took a deep breath.

[Confirming application for the third loan. Rock-Paper-Scissors rules: best of five, the system will not intentionally lose. Does the host accept?]

"I accept."

[Round 1.] Rock, paper, scissors. Li Ling chose rock, the system chose paper. The system wins.

"Damn!" Li Ling cursed.

[Round 2.] Li Ling chose scissors, the system chose rock. The system wins.

"That's two rounds!" Li Ling panicked. "One more loss and it's over!"

[Round 3.] Li Ling took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and randomly chose paper. The system chose scissors.

"It's over..." Li Ling slumped into his chair.

[Round 3, the system wins. The host's loan application failed.]

"Wait!" Li Ling suddenly sat up straight. "What did you say? Loan failed?"

[Loan failed, the host cannot obtain a new loan.]

"No!" Li Ling jumped up. "Didn't you say before that in times of crisis, you would 'use discretion' and lose to me?"

[The system did say that. But this time the system did not 'use discretion.' The host is unlucky, don't blame the system.]

"You are cheating!" Li Ling said angrily.

[The system is not cheating. The rules were made clear long ago.]

Li Ling was so angry he paced back and forth in the study.

"No, I have to think of a way." He stopped. "System, without the loan, what am I supposed to fight with?"

[The host can utilize existing resources. Six and a half Dreadnoughts plus other warships—while the win rate is not high, it is not without opportunity.]

"What is the win rate?"

[After the system recalculated, the win rate is 42%.]

"Less than half!" Li Ling shook his head. "No, that's too low."

[Then what does the host plan to do?]

Li Ling gritted his teeth. "I'm going to throw a tantrum."

[...Host, that trick doesn't work on the system.]

"Let's see."

Li Ling plopped down on the floor, hugged his legs, and started howling.

"System, you can't just stand by and watch me die! If I lose, you're finished too! Think about it: I've worked so hard for so long, finally saving up this little bit of assets. If the United Fleet wipes it all out, both of us will be left with nothing!"

[The system does not need to eat nothing.]

"That's a metaphor!" Li Ling continued to howl. "Can't you show some mercy and give me one more chance? I promise, this is the last time!"

[The host also said it was the last time last time.]

"This time is really the last time!" Li Ling was almost in tears. "If you don't help me, I'm not getting up!"

[Host, you are already an adult, can you not be so childish?]

"Childish is what I am!" Li Ling rolled on the floor. "Anyway, if you don't agree, I'll keep rolling!"

The system was silent for a full five minutes.

Li Ling rolled on the floor for five minutes, covering himself in dust.

[...The system compromises. Giving the host one more chance. One round decides the outcome.]

Li Ling immediately climbed up. "It's a deal!"

[However, this time, the host must agree to one condition.]

"What condition?"

[The resources from this loan must be paid back within three years. Repayment method: Hand over 10% of the tax revenue within the host's sphere of influence to the system.]

"10%?" Li Ling frowned. "That's too much."

[8%. It cannot be any less.]

"Deal!" Li Ling agreed quickly. "Come on, one round to decide it."

Scissors, rock, paper.

Li Ling chose paper, the system chose rock.

"I won!" Li Ling cheered.

[...The system suspects the host of cheating.]

"I won based on my own ability, how is that cheating?" Li Ling said proudly. "Quick, give me the loan details."

[Third loan details: construction resources for three Dreadnoughts (can be directly manifested as finished products), plus 20,000 tons of ammunition, 100,000 tons of special steel, and a complete shipbuilding equipment production line.]

Li Ling's eyes lit up. "Can it be directly manifested as finished products?"

[Yes. The three Dreadnoughts are already completed and can be delivered at any time.]

"Great!" Li Ling laughed. "Now I have nine and a half Dreadnoughts. Adding the original six and a half, that's sixteen! No, wait, the original six and a half plus these three is nine and a half. Let me calculate again..."

[Was your math taught by a P.E. teacher? The original six and a half plus three is nine and a half. It is not sixteen.]

"Oh right, nine and a half." Li Ling said awkwardly. "But that's enough. Nine and a half Dreadnoughts against one hundred and twenty old-style warships, what is the win rate?"

[After the system recalculated, the win rate is 78%.]

"Seventy-eight, that's worth a shot." Li Ling nodded. "Have the Production Base produce ammunition at full capacity. In three days, we launch a preemptive strike!"

[Understood.]

Li Ling walked out of the study and found the Princess standing at the door with a worried look.

"Husband, why were you rolling on the floor? I heard noises inside."

"Ah, it's nothing." Li Ling awkwardly patted the dust off his clothes. "I was practicing martial arts."

"Practicing martial arts?" The Princess looked at him suspiciously.

"Yes, a new kind of martial art called Ground-Rolling Fist." Li Ling bluffed. "Alright, Your Highness, go and rest. I still have work to do."

Although the Princess didn't believe him, she nodded and left.

[Host, your image has collapsed in the Princess's heart.]

"Who cares." Li Ling didn't care. "Once the war is won, my image will naturally return."