Under the leadership of Su Ran, Great Qing was pushing forward with its various reconstruction and development plans with great intensity. Yet, beneath this appearance of calm, a greater crisis was quietly descending. Urgent intelligence from agents stationed overseas reported that a mysterious force, having united with other factions coveting the mainland’s resources, was assembling an unprecedentedly massive coalition. They were preparing to launch a retaliatory, all-out war against Great Qing and the foreign powers.
Upon receiving this news, Su Ran’s expression turned grave. He sat in his study, clutching the intelligence report, his brow furrowed in a deep, troubled frown. His gaze was profound and heavy with anxiety. He knew well that this crisis was more severe than any he had faced before. Although Great Qing had gained experience and increased its strength in previous battles, it could not afford to be complacent in the face of such a powerful coalition. Moreover, the peace agreements recently concluded with the foreign powers were far from stable. At this life-or-death juncture, whether all parties could join hands once again to resist the enemy remained an unknown.
Su Ran immediately summoned the court’s key ministers, military commanders, and diplomatic envoys to discuss countermeasures. In the imperial hall, the atmosphere was so heavy and oppressive that it was suffocating. The ministers sat rigidly, their faces ashen, their eyes revealing deep apprehension. An…
Chapter 44