Hearing this, Charles was stunned for a moment, then immediately made a decision: “Take me there right now!”
Those things the enemy had left behind—the objects that looked like gun barrels—were key evidence, and exactly what they most needed to see right now.
After all, he’d been in military work for so many years and considered himself knowledgeable about all kinds of firearms, rockets, and mortars.
One look at that barrel, and he’d be able to roughly guess which arms factory had produced it, and from there find the arms dealer supplying the Smaha organization.
That way, he could locate the arms dealer and strike at them directly.
The group quickly got into their vehicles and soon arrived at the place the soldier had mentioned.
By the time they got there, quite a few soldiers had already gathered again.
Seeing Charles arrive, they stepped aside one by one, revealing the barrels as they truly were.
Charles frowned tightly, his expression grave, and walked toward the barrels.
Judging purely from their appearance, these barrels had a caliber of roughly over 400 millimeters. Some had scorched black surfaces, and the insides were covered in traces left by oil and gunpowder friction.
But what confused Charles was that these barrels… seemed different from the rocket tubes and mortar tubes he remembered. No—very different.
For example, large-caliber rocket tubes needed to be paired with launch devices and carrier vehicles. They were definitely not just an ordinary barrel.
But why did these barrels have wheels at the bottom?
Looking at them this way, they seemed more like push carts?
Charles was thrown into confusion. He had never seen such strange, such simple rocket tubes.
“General Charles, according to our preliminary investigation, there’s a propulsion device inside this barrel, along with a remote control unit.
Based on our analysis, the launch principle should be loading the shell into this barrel, then firing it using the remote control device.”
The soldier raised his hand in salute and explained.
Charles looked at the soldier, then at the barrel: “This thing can fire 10 kilometers?”
“Not certain. We only found these barrels within a 10-kilometer radius nearby. We can’t confirm the range was exactly 10 kilometers.” The soldier didn’t commit to a definitive answer.
But Charles had already essentially made up his mind about this matter.
This military base was an important Eagle Sauce base in Barto, established specifically to prevent surprise attacks from the Smaha organization.
So when building this military base, its area of coverage was designed to extend within a 10-kilometer radius.
If Smaha hadn’t launched these rockets from beyond 10 kilometers, they would inevitably have been spotted by the soldiers at the base.
The base would have been able to counterattack.
But according to the on-site investigation, the military base seemed to have had no warning of Smaha’s attack at all—it was hit in an instant.
If these barrels were some of the world’s more advanced rockets, he could understand.
Perhaps some arms dealer really had developed a device capable of bypassing the Iron Dome interception system, making this surprise attack possible.
But judging from the several barrels left here, this equipment was far too crude!
It didn’t even look like weapons—more like steel pipes an engineering crew would use to lay gas pipelines.
Steel pipes…
Charles froze. He immediately noticed there were some small engraved characters on these barrels. They looked like Jiuzhou script!
He crouched down, looked at the characters, and called out loudly: “Can anyone read these characters?”
Hearing this, the surrounding soldiers quickly stepped back, and an officer walked forward: “Report, General Charles. I’ve read this text. It’s Jiuzhou script.”
“What do the characters say?” Charles asked again.
The officer’s tone carried a hint of confusion: “It says… Laiyang Steel Pipe Factory, batch number LY-372.”
Charles was stunned for a moment, then looked at the officer with some surprise: “Are you sure?”
“I’m very sure, General Charles. My grandmother is from Jiuzhou. She taught me these Jiuzhou characters since I was little.”
Charles was deep in thought: “Investigate! Find out immediately what kind of arms company this Laiyang Steel Pipe Factory is!”
“Yes! General Charles.”
“General Charles, the results of the exploded shrapnel analysis are out.” The investigation lead stepped forward, holding a walkie-talkie.
Charles frowned and took the walkie-talkie: “Speak. What did you find?”
“Report, General Charles. After our examination, the material used in the shrapnel remnants from these explosions is the most ordinary carbon steel, roughly 3 millimeters thick.
After investigation, this material is mostly used for civilian purposes, not the material used for artillery shells.”
The investigator’s voice came quickly through the walkie-talkie.
Charles was dumbfounded once again, staring blankly at the steel pipes on the ground, his mind in a jumble.
He had imagined these shells might be some kind of extremely advanced rocket, but he had never imagined that these things were the most ordinary, the crudest—things that couldn’t even really be considered weapons.
And it was precisely these things that had easily destroyed the sturdy fortress they had built, a military base garrisoned by over a thousand soldiers?
He clenched his fists secretly, his eyes bloodshot.
Jiuzhou… this must be Jiuzhou’s scheme!
It must be Jiuzhou pulling strings behind the scenes, and it must be Jiuzhou secretly selling weapons to Smaha.
And the purpose was simple. They saw Eagle Sauce and Barto joining forces, with Eagle Sauce selling large quantities of weapons to Barto.
Jiuzhou couldn’t get involved in the arms business anymore, so they chose to sell weapons to the Smaha organization to make money.
Moreover, only Jiuzhou possessed such advanced technology, capable of developing these rockets that looked crude but actually contained a great deal of technical sophistication.
Yes, he felt his analysis was spot on.
“Let’s go, back! I need to report this to General MacArthur immediately!”
“Yes!”
…
Across the ocean, Eagle Sauce, inside the Black House.
In the office of Five-Star General MacArthur.
General MacArthur, with his square face, hooked nose, and deeply sunken eye sockets, sat at his desk holding the phone receiver, his entire face written with gravity.
“Charles, is everything you said true?”
On the phone, Charles’s voice was furious: “That’s right, General MacArthur. I clearly saw the words ‘Laiyang Steel Pipe Factory’ on that steel pipe. The evidence is conclusive.
Moreover, according to the analysis of the shrapnel remnants at the scene, the material used was also carbon steel, not the carbon alloy material used in military rockets.
Based on my analysis, Jiuzhou must have used some kind of advanced technology to heavily disguise this steel pipe and carbon steel shells so they could evade the Iron Dome interception system.
General MacArthur, we can’t wait any longer. Jiuzhou is blatantly selling weapons to Smaha. They’re too despicable. We must severely condemn them!”
Hearing this, MacArthur didn’t answer right away. Instead, he stroked the stubble on his chin and pondered.
After a long while, he said: “I understand. Send all the materials over. I’ll handle this matter. You wait for further instructions.”
“Yes, General MacArthur!”
After hanging up, MacArthur was deep in thought.
If things really were as Charles described, then the conclusion was obvious—Jiuzhou had sold these unknown weapons to the Smaha organization.
But wasn’t this a bit too obvious?
Or rather, it showed a complete lack of respect for Eagle Sauce.
Jiuzhou characters were brazenly engraved on the barrels. Wasn’t that obviously Jiuzhou’s weapons?
However, MacArthur didn’t make a decision right away.
After all, this wasn’t a small matter. It involved the interests between Jiuzhou and Eagle Sauce, and various other interests.
But at the same time, this could also be a good opportunity to suppress Jiuzhou.
Selling weapons to the Smaha organization—before, they could let it slide, turning a blind eye.
But the situation was different now. Eagle Sauce had loudly announced its support for the Barto military, which meant they recognized the legitimacy of the Barto military and acknowledged it as Barto’s government forces.
And what was the Smaha organization? A reactionary organization! An existence that opposed the Barto military.
At a time like this, Jiuzhou was still selling weapons to the Smaha organization. This was plainly glorifying combat, fanning the flames, trying to use the Smaha organization’s power to openly defy Eagle Sauce, to openly provoke them!
Yes, that was it. That was exactly Jiuzhou’s purpose!
Having figured this out, MacArthur smiled—a very happy smile.
This time, he would definitely make Jiuzhou provide a reasonable explanation. If they couldn’t, then things would get very serious.
…
Jiuzhou, Department of External Liaison.
Wang Yang sat in his office, processing today’s documents.
Just then, there was a knock on the door.
“Come in,” Wang Yang said without looking up.
The secretary pushed the door open, his expression somewhat grave.
“Chief Wang, the Eagle Sauce liaison officer is requesting a call with you. It’s said to be about Jiuzhou violating the treaty by selling weapons to the Smaha organization.”
Hearing this, Wang Yang’s head shot up, his face full of astonishment.
As the external liaison officer, there were some things he knew very clearly—it came with the job.
And matters concerning arms sales were especially critical. He had to be well-informed to calmly handle whatever might come up.
But in his memory, Jiuzhou had not sold weapons to the Smaha organization.
After all, ever since Eagle Sauce got involved in the conflict between Smaha and Barto, they had strictly forbidden anyone worldwide from selling weapons to the Smaha organization.
At the time, Jiuzhou couldn’t be bothered to stir up trouble. Besides, the Smaha organization’s weapons needs were simply too small, so Jiuzhou had stopped selling.
But now, Eagle Sauce was turning things around, accusing them of selling weapons to Smaha?
He wanted to see exactly what was going on.
He pursed his lips, pondered for a long time, and then said: “Put the call through.”
“Yes, Chief Wang.”
The secretary nodded and turned to leave.
Shortly after, the phone on his desk rang.
He picked it up without hesitation and heard the familiar voice of an Eagle Sauce official on the other end.
“Hello, Chief Wang Yang of Jiuzhou. I believe you already know the purpose of Eagle Sauce’s call today?”
Facing the other party’s aggressive attitude, Wang Yang frowned, not the least bit intimidated: “Mr. Manes, since you put it that way, I’ll get straight to the point.
On what grounds does Eagle Sauce believe that Jiuzhou illegally sold weapons to the Smaha organization? Do you have any evidence?
Or have you caught us in the act, and can fully confirm that it was Jiuzhou who sold weapons to the Smaha organization?
Mr. Manes, when you speak, you need evidence!”
Wang Yang was not afraid of the other party at all and immediately fired back.
Manes’s tone also became somewhat impatient: “Chief Wang Yang, Eagle Sauce has indeed gathered sufficient evidence, which is why we’re making this call.”
Then, Manes took a deep breath and spoke solemnly.
“Last night, at around 10 p.m. local time in Barto, the Smaha organization launched a surprise attack on a Barto military base.
At the time, the military base suffered heavy casualties. One of our Eagle Sauce generals died on the scene, and Barto also lost several high-ranking officers.”
“What does that have to do with us?” Wang Yang directly interrupted.
Manes continued: “Chief Wang Yang, please let me finish.”
Then, without waiting for Wang Yang to speak, he forcefully continued: “Chief Wang Yang, after our post-battle investigation, we found several rocket tubes discarded at a location 10 kilometers from the military base.
After preliminary investigation, we found that these rocket tubes all had ‘Laiyang Steel Pipe Factory’ engraved on them, and this so-called ‘Laiyang Steel Pipe Factory’ is one of Jiuzhou’s military factories!
Furthermore, the shrapnel left at the explosion sites also showed that the material was carbon steel, and the shape was like—like a gas canister. After investigation, these shells also came from Jiuzhou!”
Wang Yang was instantly stunned. His eyes showed confusion, bewilderment, and deep disbelief.
Laiyang Steel Pipe Factory, and gas canister shells…
What on earth was all this!
Not to mention that he didn’t even know what this Laiyang Steel Pipe Factory did—just that gas canister shell thing alone seemed absurd to him.
Gas canisters were for cooking, for lighting gas stoves. Who would use them as artillery shells!
Although a gas canister explosion could be powerful, it was still completely inadequate for military strikes.
And if Jiuzhou was selling weapons like that, it would be utterly humiliating. A country exporting gas canisters and steel pipes as weapons—it would make people from other countries laugh their teeth out.
Wang Yang frowned tightly, his mind racing.
No matter what, the priority now was to hold this matter down first. At the very least, they needed to investigate thoroughly before giving a real response.
With that thought, he took a deep breath: “Mr. Manes, I hope you can produce the so-called evidence. Also, don’t you think it’s ridiculous that Jiuzhou would sell weapons like that?
And just because you say it’s a weapon, it’s a weapon? That’s clearly gas pipeline equipment sold by that steel pipe factory to the local area for gas pipeline installation! The gas canisters were also exported to the local area for the local residents to cook with.
Those aren’t weapons at all! Mr. Manes, I hope you’ll investigate thoroughly. Otherwise, reckless talk comes with a price!”
