Empire Conquest

Chapter 661 - 7 Dreadnought of Ignorance_2

The main reason is that in the upcoming war, the Empire needed a strategic-level commander.

And that was the same reason Xue Yuanzheng had been sent to the Prime Minister Mansion years ago.

Using the words of the Holy Emperor, whenever external challenges arose, there would always be an outstanding commander who would stand out and lead the Imperial military and civilians to overcome the difficult obstacles ahead.

This time, it was Zhou Yongtao’s turn.

It was only after he finished the phone call that Lin Shiping returned to the study.

Zhou Yongtao didn’t call the military dictator of Iraq; there was no need.

If a phone call could make the Iraqi forces amassing at the border turn back, he would certainly make the call, but, unfortunately, he didn’t possess such personal charisma.

The call was made to the Emperor of Kuwait.

Luo Youbin started reminding Zhou Yongtao that it was nearly 12 o’clock precisely because of this matter.

According to the promise, the Imperial Authority would warn the Kuwaiti authorities before the situation completely spiraled out of control, ensuring the safety of the King and members of the Royal Family.

"Everything is arranged, our personnel are about to reach the palace, and then the show will start," Lin Shiping said while picking up a slice of watermelon from the plate.

It was the height of summer, the season when watermelons were abundant.

"Do you think it’s still in time if we make the call now?"

"Only if Hussein is scared will your call make a difference. The problem is, if he were really scared, he would have called you by now. Since he hasn’t called yet, it means he’s not worried, so even if you call him, it would just be an embarrassment."

Zhou Yongtao felt speechless, but complicating simple things seemed to be a common problem among intelligence personnel.

To quote Bai Zhizhan, conversing with intelligence officers could make you doubt whether your intelligence was normal.

However, Lin Shiping’s roundabout comment wasn’t wrong.

Supported by two superpowers, having just "won" the Iran-Iraq War, with a million-strong army, and possessing the majority of technological equipment in the Boss Bay area –

What was there for Hussein to fear?

Those who should be afraid were the Emperors of Kuwait!

...

Inside the palace in Kuwait City, the portly, middle-aged man wearing a red-checked keffiyeh emerged, and Lei Zhenting nodded at his companion by the car.

As his companion opened the door, Lei Zhenting turned around, blocking the approaching middle-aged man.

"Your Majesty, this way, please," Lei Zhenting said, while catching the man’s arm.

Indeed, that middle-aged man was Abbas III, Emperor of Kuwait.

At that moment, he saw another man dressed exactly the same—with a white robe and red-checked keffiyeh—sitting inside the sedan. Although he didn’t see the person’s face, the body shape was nearly identical to Abbas III. The attire and appearance were indistinguishable.

Another King?

Before Abbas III could process the situation, Lei Zhenting had already led him to another vehicle, a SUV.

Not a royal car, but one Lei Zhenting and his team had brought.

"This..."

"Your Majesty, this is for your own safety."

Upon hearing the roar of the car starting, Abbas III immediately looked back.

The royal bulletproof sedan, escorted by several Royal Guard vehicles, drove off, leaving behind three security personnel cars.

"Your Majesty, it is time to leave!" Lei Zhenting reminded Abbas III once again and opened the car door for him.

"What about my family?"

"They have all safely reached the embassy, and the Crown Prince is en route to Riyadh. You will be reunited in a few hours."

"They are all..."

"Please rest assured, Your Majesty." Lei Zhenting interrupted Abbas III rather brusquely, perhaps because he felt the King had too many questions.

After scrutinizing Lei Zhenting once more, Abbas III got into the vehicle.

He wasn’t sure what to make of this ordinary-looking Easterner, but he completely trusted the person who introduced Lei Zhenting to him.

Yes, it was Lin Shiping.

About ten years ago, back when Abbas was the Crown Prince, he had met Lin Shiping, unaware that Lin was the Deputy Director of the Military Intelligence Bureau of the Liangxia Empire.

Of course, that didn’t prevent a deep friendship between the two.

In fact, after Lin Shiping became the Executive Deputy Director of the Military Intelligence Bureau, they seldom met.

Usually, they would just phone each other to send greetings.

Last month, at the beginning, after a five-year hiatus, Lin Shiping reappeared before him suddenly, without even a phone call in advance.

Soon after, Abbas III heeded Lin Shiping’s advice and sent the Crown Prince away under the guise of a pilgrimage, gradually arranging for other members of the Royal Family to leave the country.

Now, almost all those left in Kuwait City were women.

Of course, Lin Shiping kept his promise.

Yesterday afternoon, intelligence operatives arranged by Lin Shiping arrived at the royal palace to take away several of Abbas III’s wives and daughters.

The last to arrive was Lei Zhenting’s team.

Abbas III recognized Lei Zhenting, as just last month, Lei Zhenting had accompanied Lin Shiping to Kuwait and was specifically responsible for Abbas III’s security.

Otherwise, Abbas III would never have left the Royal Guard to go with this Liangxia man alone.

But now, it seemed the situation had changed.

After getting into the vehicle, Lei Zhenting didn’t instruct the driver to start immediately, but instead took out a detection device and scanned Abbas III thoroughly.

Quickly, he found a signal transmitter hidden in a ring.

It was nothing surprising; it was a tracking device installed by the Royal Guard.

"Your Majesty, this is for your safety," Lei Zhenting said before taking the ring off the middle finger of Abbas III’s right hand.

Abbas III looked visibly panicked, but he didn’t ask any questions, clearly trying to remain composed.

Lei Zhenting offered no explanation, handed the ring to a colleague standing outside the car, then closed the door and ordered the driver to start.

After leaving the royal palace, the three SUVs didn’t stick together but immediately went their separate ways.

"This..."

Abbas had just started to speak when the phone on Lei Zhenting’s body rang—it was a bulky wireless phone.

After gesturing for Abbas III to be quiet, Lei Zhenting answered the call.

"It’s me...understood."

He listened carefully for a while, spoke just a few words, and then hung up.

"It has started, proceed with Plan B."

After Lei Zhenting’s orders, the driver didn’t ask any questions and floored the accelerator.

"What has started, what are you starting..."

"Your Majesty, Iraqi troops have crossed the border; the war has begun!"

Abbas III was instantly stupefied.

The war, had it really broken out?

At that moment, explosions could be heard from behind, still at a distance, so there was no immediate concern.

Throughout the journey that followed, despite the sporadic acceleration, braking, and zigzagging, Abbas III was in a daze, completely beside himself.

By the time he came to his senses, he found himself on a speedboat cutting through the waves.

The land was no longer visible; Kuwait City was dozens of kilometers away. Explosions filled the air with smoke, and fighters could be seen flying low.

However, they should have been Kuwaiti Royal Air Force combat planes.

"No, I cannot be a king in exile, I..."

"Your Majesty, stay calm!"

Lei Zhenting was always watching Abbas III’s actions and caught hold of the king’s arm when he became agitated.

"Three of my men have just been killed by a bomb. If you go back now, their sacrifices will be in vain!"

"But...but..." Abbas III suddenly understood and looked at the Liangxia man beside him with total disbelief.

Obviously, the problem was with that tracking device.

The security staff member who had taken the ring was in an SUV with just three people!

In other words, there was a traitor within the Royal Guard, and it was very likely a high-ranking official.

The Military Intelligence Bureau had long been in possession of relevant intelligence; Lin Shiping had then dispatched Lei Zhenting and even arranged an evacuation plan that most wouldn’t have thought of.

At this time, a rumbling sound approached from the front; a helicopter was flying towards them at a low height above the sea.

Fortunately, it was a Liangxia Navy "Z-8T" Special Forces helicopter, its most distinctive feature being the retractable refuelling probe mounted on the nose.

This type of helicopter was mainly in service with Special Forces, thus often deployed on amphibious assault ships or carriers.

Clearly, neither a carrier nor an amphibious assault ship would be acting alone.

There must have been a Liangxia Fleet nearby.

With the Liangxia Fleet in the vicinity, there was nothing to fear!