Chapter 10: The Military Assembly Really Is More Efficient Than the Lower House

When he arrived at the conference room of the Supplies Department—

All six logistics department heads were already in place, waiting for Ning Luo to arrive.

Of course—

No one voiced any complaint about Ning Luo’s tardiness. Just from his dark circles and haggard appearance, it was clear he hadn’t slept in days. He had been constantly revising the proposal over the past few days. Professionals indeed held privileges over administrative personnel.

Ning Luo handed the documents to Priscilla, instructing her to distribute them to all the department heads.

“I believe everyone already has a general understanding of the plan. The detailed implementation steps will be handled by professionals. I’ll now give a brief explanation of the new optimization plan.”

Ning Luo picked up a pen and drew a line across the large wall map.

“We need to construct a highway from the city of Brittany to the Brittany Fortress front line. This road will be dedicated to providing reinforcements for all soldiers on the western front. Relay points will be set up at various locations along the road—these are marked on the maps in your hands. We need to requisition a large number of soldiers and nearby residents to reinforce and widen this road. It must be a continuous operation, day and night, to ensure the front line keeps functioning.”

“The day will be divided into different time slots, and each slot will be assigned a specific type of supplies and units. We’ll designate different priority levels—for example, medical supplies will have the highest priority. Food and munitions will be second priority. Emergency road repairs will be third. As for cycles, I’ve set a twelve-hour period per cycle.”

...

Ning Luo’s proposed plan could be considered both complex and simple.

It was simple in that it operated like a waterwheel—constantly rotating and repeating. But it was complex because it involved a wartime logistics system affecting hundreds of thousands of people on the front line.

Lieutenant Colonel Wolsey from the Finance Department voiced a subtle dissatisfaction.

“Captain, the number of carts and horses needed is far too great. This already seriously exceeds our budget ceiling.”

“Lieutenant Colonel Wolsey, does it exceed your budget ceiling, or does it exceed the logistics budget ceiling?”

Lieutenant Colonel Manners from the Transportation Department immediately retorted.

Lieutenant Colonel Wolsey emphasized,

“In that case, perhaps Lieutenant Colonel Manners and I should jointly request a position swap from the General Staff Office, so you can personally see how the budget should be managed.”

“Captain Ning Luo’s proposal clearly outlines the entire budget plan. If Lieutenant Colonel Wolsey wants to object, then please present a better plan—not just oppose everything without taking any action!”

The clash between the Finance Department and the Transportation Department was to be expected.

According to Ning Luo’s optimization plan, the entire logistics division would be reorganized to support this new transport system, requiring a vast amount of manpower and resources. All materials would be mobilized under the Transportation Department.

This meant the power of the Transportation Department would expand significantly—becoming second only to the Supplies Department within the logistics system. As the war dragged on, the Transportation Department could very well become the most important division.

So it was natural for Lieutenant Colonel Manners of the Transportation Department to strongly support Ning Luo.

At this moment—

Even if Lieutenant Colonel Wolsey from the Finance Department wanted to object, he had no way out. The plan Ning Luo presented was already a compromise. If Lieutenant Colonel Wolsey continued to oppose it, what awaited him next would be an investigation by the General Staff and a military tribunal.

At this point, it was time for Colonel Charles Pe Hawkins from the Supplies Department—the highest-ranking officer present—to speak.

His gaze swept across the room.

“If no one else has further objections, let’s proceed with a show of hands.”

After speaking—

Colonel Hawkins was the first to raise his hand.

Next came Lieutenant Colonel Manners from the Transportation Department, followed by the Health Department, the Ordnance Department, and the Engineering Department. Most of them were waiting to see Colonel Hawkins’ stance. In the end, even Lieutenant Colonel Wolsey from the Finance Department slowly raised his hand.

However—

Just then—

The door to the conference room was flung open urgently. It was Colonel Hawkins’ adjutant from earlier, rushing in, panting heavily.

Colonel Hawkins frowned, but he immediately understood—his adjutant wouldn’t burst in like this unless something serious had happened.

“What happened?”

“Sir! …The enemy has breached the Seventh Line of Defense! General Asfled has already gone to the front!”

A deathly silence fell over the conference room.

Colonel Hawkins waved his hand, signaling the adjutant to leave.

Everyone else present fully understood what the fall of the Seventh Line meant.

After the three defensive lines along the Samat River were breached, the Western Front had reorganized its defenses around the city of Brittany. The Seventh Line of Defense was the western coastal line stretching from the city to the shoreline. Its breach now made the Fontaine Kingdom’s military strategy abundantly clear.

They intended to encircle the Brittany Fortress from both flanks, severing its supply lines, and then wear it down piece by piece.

Once the Brittany Fortress fell—

The city of Brittany would be fully exposed to the Fontaine army.

If Brittany City fell, it wouldn't just be a problem for the Western Front—every battlefront would start to collapse.

Colonel Hawkins turned to look at Ning Luo.

This situation was already beyond his ability to control. One could say things had reached the worst possible scenario.

Ning Luo took a deep breath.

He turned around, removed the original map, and once again placed both hands on the table.

“Everyone… all contents in the previous plan are hereby canceled. We will revert to the initial version of the plan. A new Logistics Planning Bureau will be established. All supply distribution will now be coordinated through the Logistics Planning Bureau. All logistics departments will be reorganized as follows: Procurement and Supply Department, Transport and Delivery Department, Ordnance Department, Field Operations and Engineering Department, Medical Support Department, and Finance and Resource Management Department.”

But it wasn’t as simple as Ning Luo made it sound.

This department reorganization plan, while appearing superficially similar to the previous structure in name, in reality broke up and restructured all departmental powers.

For example, all logistics departments would now be subject to orders from the Logistics Planning Bureau. Every department would lose its ability to make independent decisions.

Each department’s power would also be affected. For instance, the Transportation Department would gain the ability to influence the Supplies Department. By controlling the supply chain, the Transportation Department could dictate which resources must be prioritized for procurement and storage. Meanwhile, the Procurement Department would gain the authority to make autonomous purchases, independent of the Finance Department.

It wasn’t just the logistics departments that would be affected—this plan would also infringe on the interests of front-line commanders. For example, the supply chain could now mandate that front-line troops serve logistical operations. The Ordnance Department and Engineering Department would likewise require deeper integration with field units and engineering corps.

In short—

This proposal would completely dismantle the power structure the logistics system had originally been built on. The impact of these changes would reach deep into the Empire’s rear command.

Colonel Thomas from the Health Department was the first to speak up.

“In your documents, it states that the highest-ranking officer of the Logistics Planning Bureau will be the Chief Logistics Officer. In your opinion, who should hold that position?”

“I will.”

In truth, this was indeed the best choice.

Colonel Hawkins couldn’t be appointed as Chief Logistics Officer—he was already the most powerful department head within the logistics system. If he were given that role, even the Quartermaster Director would refuse to accept it. And if another department head were appointed, neither Hawkins nor the others would agree.

If Ning Luo were appointed instead—this plan was, after all, proposed by him—it would work, as Ning Luo did not belong to the logistics system, and his military rank was too low to serve long-term. This would also make it easier for everyone to accept.

However—

This was, ironically, the least important matter in the proposal. The new plan had already touched upon all of their interests, and no one spoke further.

Not even Lieutenant Colonel Manners from the Transportation Department.

If the new plan were implemented, this would no longer simply be about power.

Lieutenant Colonel Wolsey from the Finance Department could no longer hold back.

“Captain, the original optimization plan was already sufficient. There’s no need to adopt such a radical approach. Even if it were necessary, it should be left to the Quartermaster Director to decide.”

“If the war hadn’t escalated, the original plan would indeed have been enough—but it has. The situation has already worsened to this point,”

Ning Luo emphasized.

“Captain Ning Luo, are you absolutely certain the original optimization plan is no longer viable? A hasty and sweeping reorganization of the logistics system could leave our soldiers in a deeply unstable state.”

“Lieutenant Colonel, who understands the optimization plan better—you or me?”

“I understand the logistics system better.”

“Then, can you take responsibility for the Empire’s defeat?”

“And if your optimization plan causes defeat, will you take responsibility?”

“I will!”

...

Just as Ning Luo and Lieutenant Colonel Wolsey were about to erupt into a full-blown argument, Colonel Thomas from the Health Department quickly stepped in to mediate.

“This isn’t the time for us to argue. Let’s all calm down and discuss this properly.”

It was clear that everyone present was on edge.

Understandably so.

The war had escalated to a point where everyone was essentially being roasted over an open fire—virtually no one was getting proper sleep. Ning Luo himself hadn’t rested for several days.

Ning Luo took a deep breath.

“In that case, let’s put it to a vote. If anyone is willing to take responsibility and has a better plan, they are welcome to propose it.”

“I support only the original plan!”

Lieutenant Colonel Wolsey stood up and stated firmly.

“It wasn’t without reason that Lieutenant Colonel Wolsey had so fiercely opposed Ning Luo’s plan. The logistics system involved interests that reached into every corner of the Empire; once Ning Luo’s reorganization was carried out, all those vested interests would be shattered and remade.

Wolsey was far too deeply entangled in that web of interests—he could not simply extricate himself.

And if he tried to step away—

Who knew how many people would want him dead?

“I’m not asking you, Lieutenant Colonel Wolsey,” Ning Luo’s bloodshot eyes swept over everyone present. “I’m asking everyone here—you may cast your opposing vote!”

This was not a decision anyone could make lightly.

If they agreed to the new plan, their power and their interests would be shaken.

But—

If they rejected it, the blame for defeat would likely demand all of their lives in repayment.

Lieutenant Colonel Manners from the Transportation Department raised his hand first.

Bang!

Lieutenant Colonel Wolsey slammed his fist onto the table.

“ I object! Captain Ning Luo, you’ve already taken so much of the Finance Department’s budget—are you still not satisfied?!”

“Lieutenant Colonel!” Colonel Charles Pe Hawkins, seated at the head, called out sharply.

This sort of thing could be spoken of in private, but once it was put on the table, it could become catastrophic.

“Don’t lecture me! And you others—do you think you’re clean? I will never agree to this plan. If it continues, we’ll take it to the General Staff Office! Let’s see whose idea this really was!”

It was obvious Wolsey was emotionally unsteady; under no circumstances would he consent to the proposal.

But the logistics situation could not continue like this. The front had deteriorated to the extreme; logistics had to be immediately reformed to provide sufficient support.

Colonel Hawkins was about to speak.

At that moment—

“Priscilla, execute him.”

The cold voice came from Ning Luo.

Everyone present froze, stunned; not even Priscilla reacted at once. She turned to Ning Luo to confirm his meaning.

“ I am Austin Calvin Pe Wolsey, Lieutenant Colonel of the Empire’s Logistics Finance Department—how dare you…!” Wolsey roared at Ning Luo.

Colonel Hawkins immediately stood, but before he could call out—

Priscilla’s slender fingers had already closed around the knife’s hilt.

Bang!

With the flash of a blade—

Blood sprayed from Lieutenant Colonel Wolsey’s neck, and the knife remained planted before him.

Colonel Hawkins froze for a heartbeat, then burst for the door and shouted at the soldiers who had rushed toward the meeting room upon hearing the commotion.

“An emergency meeting is now in session—no one may approach without my permission!””

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