Chapter 255 : From the Richest to the Poorest—All It Takes Is One War

Even though the combined population of the Allied Nations exceeded seven hundred million, and whether in resource density or total economic output they surpassed the Alliance by at least twofold on paper, overwhelmingly eclipsing the Alliance's overall foundation—

Having resources and being able to mobilize and utilize them effectively were two entirely different matters.

According to Mitia's estimates, under extreme wartime conditions, the Alliance could realistically redirect seventy percent of its industrial capacity toward the military-industrial sector.

The Allied Nations, even under the most optimistic assumptions, could manage no more than thirty percent.

After all, none of their rent-seeking classes had disappeared.

At every stage of society, each class pursued interests that fundamentally conflicted with one another.

Manor lords and industrialists were natural enemies.

Undermining one another was simply the norm.

Meanwhile, because most Alliance factories still couldn't fill their recruitment quotas, an enormous number of positions were being opened to female comrades.

In terms of population mobilization, the Alliance's explosive potential far surpassed that of the Allied Nations.

Its efficiency in utilizing resources was on an entirely different level.

From beginning to end,

Mitia had never once doubted her own victory.

The only thing she needed to consider was how to poke a single hole in the giant hydrogen balloon called the Allied Nations—

and let its own pig brain overload until it exploded into pieces.

【Only by exploiting the centrifugal force created by internal division can the Church truly be dismantled.】

Deep within Ernesto's secure rear area, untouched by the flames of war, Veronica wrote those words during a military conference before turning to the Crimson Army officers seated below.

"The Battle of Como City has been brutal and agonizing. Our comrades are still struggling within that flesh grinder."

"Fortunately, the threats on the other fronts have largely been eliminated. The state capitals occupied by the White Army insurgents have all been recaptured one after another."

"The most important news, however, is that the Seris Alliance has broken through the Church State's defensive lines and successfully linked up with us."

"They have completely annihilated the Church State's elite forces, allowing us to withdraw part of our defensive troops for rest and resupply while further strengthening the defenses of Como City."

"At the same time, the Alliance has already dispatched a reinforcement force of two hundred thousand soldiers that is currently on its way."

"I believe the day when we launch a full-scale counteroffensive against the Allied Nations is not far away!"

"However, before that, we have one difficult problem that must be solved."

Veronica placed both hands on the table.

"How do we completely eliminate the Church State and sever this crucial arm of the Allied Nations' Eastern Theater?"

One officer spoke up.

"But our country is being invaded. How could they possibly refuse to defend their homeland? Personally, I'd rather let the boys fight without restraint. Anyone suspicious should simply be shot."

Veronica shook her head.

"No. No, no."

"This isn't an invasion."

"We're liberating them."

"Unless absolutely necessary, our troops are forbidden from initiating combat."

"They don't even possess land they can truly call their own—just like we didn't several years ago."

"Can a country like that truly be said to belong to them?"

"Do they genuinely recognize it in their hearts?"

"Our primary objective in entering the territory of the Dmitria Church is not to wage a two-front war."

"It is to help our poor comrades reclaim their country."

Many officers immediately brightened.

Indeed.

Viewed that way, they were no longer invaders.

They were liberators.

Since they were assisting rather than dominating, such an approach naturally wouldn't provoke as much resistance.

Combined with the Alliance's humanitarian assistance, this line of reasoning was completely justifiable.

After all, the risks involved in utterly conquering and destroying an entire nation were simply too great.

Ernesto had already lost enough people.

If they entered the Church State as liberators—

Ending the endless cycle in which manor lords and nobles swallowed up more and more land—

Redistributing that land to ordinary people who owned nothing—

Then they could effortlessly gain enormous public support.

Would those people really continue fighting Ernesto to the death?

Supporting comrades who shared the same ideals and fighting alongside them would greatly reduce the pressure Ernesto faced while serving its own interests far more effectively.

Looking even deeper,

If they truly intended to destroy the Church State completely, there was a high probability they wouldn't even get past the Alliance's approval.

Because Veronica and the others represented the thinking of the Alliance's highest decision-makers.

Their position also aligned far more closely with the Alliance's values.

Compared with provoking the Church's civilians into fighting desperately and sinking countless troops into endless urban warfare...

Supporting a reliable ally and turning enemies into friends was clearly the more profitable choice.

Mugrin, Royal Capital of the Kingdom of Suria

Bratt stared at the latest frontline reports with bloodshot eyes.

His fingers unconsciously tightened, crumpling the paper before he finally let out a weary sigh.

"Have the Alliance reinforcements still not arrived?"

Nowadays, simply reading reports detailing military supply consumption made his heart ache.

The Seris Alliance had provided Suria with enormous quantities of military aid—

Including, but certainly not limited to, light and medium tanks, along with artillery ranging from 75mm to 152mm.

Deliveries of artillery shells had never once stopped.

Yet it almost seemed as though the soldiers of the Kingdom of Suria only ever used exactly what the Alliance supplied them.

Not one shell more.

Defend the nation?

Charge into battle with rifles?

What a joke!

"I've got more money than I can spend. And you expect me to die? Are you after my wife and my family fortune?"

Suria certainly possessed elite troops.

But there really weren't many of them.

Altogether, they numbered fewer than one hundred thousand.

Almost all belonged to Bratt's personal elite legions, which had been holding the very center of the frontlines since the beginning.

The remaining units, however, were nowhere near as courageous.

Every one of them stayed safely inside the cities, bombarding the enemy outside with artillery.

Even their tanks had been dragged into position and used as stationary gun emplacements.

Faced with such overwhelming firepower, the Allied forces on both flanks had absolutely no desire to experience an artillery barrage firsthand.

At the same time, the Surian troops refused to leave their cities to fight.

As a result, nearly all of the pressure shifted onto the central front.

As time passed, the Allied commanders continuously transferred forces from both flanks toward the center.

This further increased the burden borne by Bratt's elite army.

The two sides gradually became locked in a prolonged war of attrition.

Yet Bratt dared not significantly reduce the supply allocation to either flank.

He feared that if either side were breached, the central army would be encircled, causing the entire defensive line to collapse.

Thus, the stalemate continued.

The Allied Nations' army of five hundred thousand troops had failed to break through a defensive line held by fewer than three hundred thousand Surian soldiers for one reason alone—

Firepower.

But every single day's artillery expenditure cost an astronomical amount of money.

Sitting in the royal capital, Bratt felt his heart bleeding.

He almost wanted to bite on a handkerchief and burst into tears.

Forget about the future.

After this war, nearly all the wealth Suria had accumulated over the years would be spent repaying the Alliance for the enormous quantities of weapons it had supplied.

They would practically end up selling the clothes off their backs.

That was why he desperately hoped the Alliance would intervene as soon as possible and bring this exhausting stalemate to an end.

"No, Your Majesty..."

"The Seris Alliance replied that the nearest Army Group has been transferred to the Western Front to liberate occupied territories such as Kawaventar State."

"All we need to do is pin down the main force of the Allied army."

"As long as our main defensive line isn't broken, the encirclement crisis will resolve itself within a month."

"A month?! Do you have any idea how much money that's going to cost?!"