Empire Conquest-Chapter 905 - 122: The Prince Joins the Battle (Part 2)
Key to note, Saudi Arabia is exceedingly wealthy.
There is an idiom that aptly describes Saudi Arabia.
Having a jade invites crime!
As the world’s largest oil reserve, producer, and exporter, Saudi Arabia earns billions of Gold Yuan each year just from oil exports, allowing its 30 million citizens to live comfortably without effort. The tens of thousands in the Saudi Royal Family are even more famously indulgent and extravagant worldwide.
The wealth owned by Saudi Arabia surpasses that of Fanluo Country, which has a population more than twenty times bigger!
Even in the Boss Bay region, compared to surrounding oil-producing countries, Saudi Arabia’s wealth is unparalleled. For instance, Boi Country has twice the population of Saudi Arabia, yet its revenue from oil exports is only about a third, with average wealth per capita less than half of Saudi Arabia’s.
In peacetime, wealth can be exchanged for peace and stability.
But in wartime, it isn’t that simple.
Not to mention Boi Country watching eagerly from the north, and the Tiaoman Empire eyeing the New Moon Region, even the Liangxia Empire, whom the Saudi Royal Family leans on for support, might not tolerate a lazy ally, especially as Saudi Arabia hasn’t formally allied with the Liangxia Empire.
Of course, the Saudi Royal Family has always been preparing for reform.
The most convincing evidence is that upon reaching adulthood, every prince must further their studies at the Saudi Royal Military Academy, and after graduation, serve in the Royal Army for at least three years, while direct-lineage princes with throne succession rights must serve an additional three years.
The reason is simple, becoming an officer grants military command authority, and the army is the foundation of maintaining royal domination.
Furthermore, nearly all direct-lineage princes undergo refinement during their service in Bakistan and the Liangxia Empire, with some serving as honorary officers in the guard under the jurisdiction of the Liangxia Royal Family, thereby acquiring honorary officer certificates issued by the Liangxia Royal Family.
This is to maintain amicable relations with the Liangxia Empire.
Simply put, it involves arranging for princes with throne succession rights to serve the Liangxia Emperor, thereby acknowledging the Liangxia Empire as Saudi Arabia’s "suzerain."
The current Saudi King, over 20 years ago, served as a guard for the Liangxia Emperor and was named Crown Prince during that time.
Since all princes have undergone systematic military training, even if many are genuine second-generation rich without actually learning anything, finding hundreds capable of commanding troops among thousands of princes isn’t difficult.
Actually, for many concubine’s sons, enlisting in the army is the primary, even the only, path forward.
Hence, concubine’s sons highly value this route, whether studying in military school, getting the chance for overseas refinement later, or serving in grassroots troops, they perform admirably, with personal military talent at least adequate for leading battalion-level units into battle.
Arguably, these concubine’s sons have always been the backbone of the Saudi Royal Army.
According to Ding Zhennan’s understanding, concubine’s sons account for over sixty percent of the grassroots Army officers in the Saudi Royal Army.
In several Saudi Arabian troops participating in combat operations—tasked with logistical support—those sent to the frontline to endure hardships are these concubine’s sons.
In fact, it is these concubine’s sons who changed Ding Zhennan’s view of the Saudi Royal Family and military.
From another perspective, the existence of concubine’s sons also forces the Saudi Royal Family into reform, or rather, becomes the number one reason for decentralization.
Would those concubine’s sons who have gained combat experience and earned the endorsement of grassroots soldiers not harbor political ambitions?
For many concubine’s sons, what is lacking is merely an opportunity to develop and grow, and this major war delivers such opportunity to their doorstep.
When thousands of concubine’s sons gain military power, but their political demands remain unmet, the consequences will be unimaginable.
If an internal conflict erupts in the Royal Family, the ones ruined wouldn’t just be the direct lineage in power but the entire Saudi Royal Family and even the nation.
As for the current rulers, their end will certainly be ugly.
So, objectively speaking, the Saudi Royal Family’s only choice is to reform, granting those concubine’s sons who have distinguished themselves in combat more power and benefits.
Additionally, it involves gradually aligning with the secular world through reform.
Arguably, the Liangxia Empire has always somewhat neglected relations with Saudi Arabia, like not signing an alliance treaty with Saudi Arabia to date. The significant issue is Saudi Arabia’s refusal to reform, reluctance to abandon power, failing to evolve into a normal, modern nation.
In essence, Saudi Arabia remains a feudal kingdom.
Obviously, for the most powerful industrial nation globally today, definitely delineating boundaries with a feudal kingdom is essential to maintaining a progressive and enlightened image.
Remember, due to the "Empire" status, the Liangxia Empire has consistently faced disparagement and criticism from "democratic" countries like the Newland Republic, even though the Liangxia Royal Family has long self-reformed, relinquishing state management power and establishing a superior national governance system today.
Evidently, the Liangxia Empire also hopes Saudi Arabia will reform!
To put it politely, if the Saudi Royal Family refuses to reform, then when the timing is right, everything will be changed through a revolution.
For the Saudi Royal Family in the vortex center, obviously, they don’t want to see such an occurrence.
Anyhow, what the Saudi King is doing is essentially maintaining royal domination, akin to elongating the Royal Family’s lifespan.
For concubine’s sons long pushed aside and outside the core circle, this is likewise a golden opportunity to turn the tables!
According to Shi Shouliang, after the Saudi King announced the royal reform plan, over a thousand princes expressed willingness to serve in grassroots troops.
However, it’s not just princes heading to grassroots troops.
Under the Saudi Royal Family’s arrangements, a security detail will be assigned to each prince, all personnel originating from the Royal Guard.
Additionally, the Alliance provides equivalent security forces, specifically assigning a detail to protect each prince.
The key is, the Alliance must dispatch instructors with equivalent military rank to grassroots troops to serve as adjutants for Saudi Princes.
Although nominally, the military advisory group led by instructors commands Saudi troops, nominally these troops remain under Saudi Royal Family control. Simply put, the advisory group merely offers suggestions, with the prince serving as commander issuing combat orders.
This arrangement seeks to maintain absolute royal control over the army.
Shi Shouliang expressed that while he has exerted effort, the Saudi King’s unwillingness to compromise and relent forces him to accept this demand.
Regarding this, Ding Zhennan is similarly at a loss.
Of course, he hasn’t been idling these past two days.
Prior to Shi Shouliang’s return, he had already drawn over 1,000 officers and soldiers from the 5th Marine Division, the 17th Armored Division, and the 7th Armored Division.
Among them, approximately 600 officers and soldiers originate from the 5th Marine Division, all of whom are recovered patients.
Relying on these soldiers, alongside liaison officers drawn from the Alliance Headquarter—literally translators—he assembled a total of 50 military advisory groups, each comprising 20 members.
Facing Shi Shouliang’s inquiries, Ding Zhennan was forthright.
That day, he drafted 50 promotion orders and handed them to Shi Shouliang for signature.
Simply put, it’s appointing 50 majors.
Fortunately, Shi Shouliang, as Battle Zone Commander and Alliance Commander-in-chief, possesses relevant authority without needing approval from the Ministry of Defense.
To be precise, after Shi Shouliang signs, subsequent approval by the Ministry of Defense is granted. 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶
As it involves promoting lower-ranking officers to middle-ranking officers, typically, refusals are unlikely, although achieving Lieutenant Colonel rank would necessitate Ministry of Defense authorization.
Regarding these 50 officers, strictly speaking, they are Ding Zhennan’s people.
According to Shi Shouliang, Ding Zhennan seized this chance to promote a batch of talented young officers.
Yet, this comes as no surprise.
Even if someone else were in place, they too would seize this opportunity.
Key to note, these young officers promoted by Ding Zhennan had performed excellently during previous battles, proven their capabilities long ago.
Nonetheless, it resolved the issue.
As for security personnel, they are uniformly organized by the Alliance Headquarter, sparing Ding Zhennan the worry.
On the night of September 30th, Ding Zhennan hosted a farewell banquet at the headquarter, essentially a dinner gathering, with added dishes.
Subsequently, the 50 military advisory groups departed for their respective units.
According to the plan, the offensive against Bag x will commence tomorrow morning!
