Empire Conquest

Chapter 655 - 5: Imperial Chief Minister

On the other side of the Earth, in New City, Newland Republic.

As the host of the multilateral negotiation, the Newland Authority not only rented the entire Empire Building but also provided thoughtful services to the representatives of each party involved in the negotiations.

However, these measures had not led to a change of heart from the Iraq authorities.

The final round of negotiations had lasted an entire day, and due to the time difference, they had to reach an agreement before midnight, or they would miss the last chance.

The afternoon consultations continued until after 7 p.m.

Because the nighttime consultations were scheduled to start at 8:30 p.m., and with many documents needing timely processing, Bai Huamin had no time for dinner.

After organizing the relevant materials, she went to the special envoy’s office.

Seeing the expression of Special Envoy Nong Chengpei, the plenipotentiary representative negotiating on behalf of the Imperial Chief Minister, Bai Huamin realized that the result was already out.

"Special Envoy Nong..."

"Just received."

Nong Chengpei did not elaborate further, he simply pointed to the document on the desk and then took out a cigarette and walked over to the window.

Bai Huamin hesitated for a moment but then walked over and picked up the still-damp document.

It was just a telegram, with only a few sparse lines.

The gist of it was that the Iraqi military had completed deployment for the attack, war would break out in a few hours, and there was no need to waste any more time on negotiations.

"Is it over, just like that?"

"You should get ready." Nong Chengpei sighed deeply and then put out the cigarette he had only taken two drags from. "Although hope is about to be extinguished, we still have to make one last effort. I will go find the Iraqi negotiation representatives, even if it’s just for the sake of a clear conscience."

Bai Huamin nodded, understanding the envoy’s intention.

While Nong Chengpei went to find the Iraqi envoy, Bai Huamin made a phone call to the embassy’s liaison staff to arrange for a diplomatic plane.

As previously arranged, whether the consultations failed or the ultimatum expired, the Empire’s negotiating team would immediately board a diplomatic plane and return home.

Bai Huamin was Nong Chengpei’s chief assistant, mainly responsible for miscellaneous tasks and coordination.

Half an hour later, Nong Chengpei hurried back.

The result was as Bai Huamin had expected; the plenipotentiary representative of Iraq refused Nong Chengpei’s alternative proposal to extend the ultimatum by 72 hours.

Although there were still a few hours left until the final deadline, the diplomatic efforts had already been declared a failure.

After calling the Newland Assistant Secretary of State who had organized the negotiations, Nong Chengpei led the Empire’s negotiation team to Kenny International Airport.

There, the diplomatic plane was prepared for takeoff.

No one mentioned the negotiations on the way, and the atmosphere was very somber.

Although the outcome was expected, after such a long effort to come back empty-handed was hard for anyone to accept, and it definitely impacted their mood.

After boarding the plane, everyone rested with their eyes closed.

Over the past three days, from Nong Chengpei down, the more than twenty members of the Empire’s negotiation team had not had a moment’s respite.

In Nong Chengpei’s words, if they could prevent the outbreak of war and save innocent civilians, it would be well worth losing sleep for another three days and nights.

Maintaining world peace and stability was the sacred duty of diplomats.

Bai Huamin did not immediately sit down to rest; she first talked to the pilot about the return journey, then went to find the steward to arrange a late-night snack.

Because the deadline had not yet arrived, this chartered airliner with a maximum range of 14,000 kilometers, capable of flying directly from New City to the Imperial Capital, would have to wait a few more hours at Kennedy Airport, taking off only when everything was too late to salvage.

In the meantime, a late-night snack definitely needed to be arranged.

After she was done with her tasks and came back to sit down and rest, Nong Chengpei was flipping through a copy of today’s "New City Times."

The front-page headline was an editorial on the current tense situation.

Of course, in Nong Chengpei’s eyes, those nonsensical editorials were more like the work of a third-rate writer’s thriller.

"You should also take a break; there might be work to do tomorrow."

"Don’t talk about tomorrow, in a few hours we’ll be able to sleep in peace." Nong Chengpei put away the newspaper, took out an encrypted handheld phone from his briefcase, and handed it over. "You’ve been the hardest working these past few days. Call your family and let them know you’re safe."

Bai Huamin was taken aback before taking the phone and walking toward the forward cabin door.

However, she did not make the call.

It wasn’t that she did not want to, but there was no need.

If the negotiations had already broken down, then her spouse, Li Tianling, was sure to have received his orders and probably returned to his unit a few days before.

Perhaps in a few days, he would be flying to the battlefield aboard the Eagle!

...

At this moment, in the Prime Minister Mansion in the Imperial Capital of the Empire.

The meeting was still ongoing when the secretary brought in the breakfast that had been warmed up for the third time.

Taking advantage of the opportunity to report the news, the secretary reminded the Grand Secretary that it was almost 10 a.m. and that the attending Cabinet Ministers and generals had not yet had breakfast.

"It’s getting late; everyone should have breakfast."

After the Grand Secretary said that, everyone got up from their seats.

However, Zhou Yongtao had no appetite at all.

When the ministers and generals left and the secretary closed the door, he then pushed away the bowl of glutinous rice balls in front of him.

Five years ago, on his 66th birthday, his former boss and the Commander he most admired, Grand Marshal Bai Zhizhan, the former Navy Commander-in-chief, presented him with a choice.