Munitions Empire Chapter 2020 - 1883: A Remote Control

"Aha! It's finally set! March 1st!" The aristocrat spread out the newspaper he held, his luxurious silk robe sliding down to expose the gold-threaded shirt below. An excited outburst escaped him, his voice brimming with eagerness. The front-page headline blazed in striking bold letters—"Great Tang Empire National Day Formally Announced!" He dove into reading it hungrily, eyes racing over each line, as a content grin slowly bloomed on his face.

Nearly a year of anticipation had built up for this moment, starting from when the Great Tang Empire firmly rooted itself across the Eastern Continent, armies embarked on sea voyages for deployment, and the dwarves' Ice Cold Empire fell back in utter defeat. As one of the Empire's emerging nobles, his fortunes rose higher with every surge in the Empire's might.

The Empire's strategists had poured endless effort into picking this national festivity date, debating it over and over. First off, weather played a key role—extreme cold or heat would spoil massive festivities, making spring or autumn the prime picks.

Next, the National Day couldn't stray too far from the true unification date of the Great Tang Empire, since this pivotal holiday demanded fidelity to history. Dorne's surrender came in winter, marking global unity, so pinning it to March made perfect sense.

On top of that, Emperor Tang Mo eyed long-term holiday planning. As the Great Tang Empire's calendar swept the globe, Spring Festival had risen as the year's most vibrant traditional bash. Landing usually in February, it paved the way for the close-following March 1st National Day, granting folks back-to-back breaks.

Emperor Tang Mo envisioned a grand future: with national progress, holidays would multiply. Soon, Spring Festival and National Day could merge into a real "golden month," offering citizens an epic extended vacation to refresh body and spirit.

Finally, a crucial detail—the date sidestepped clashes with other major observances, like Emperor Tang Mo's birthday or those of key Imperial Concubines.

To streamline things ahead, Emperor Tang Mo named his birthday "Emperor’s Birthday," binding his heirs and their offspring to honor it solely then. His personal celebration could stand apart, but sharing it empire-wide carried a whole different weight. Only "Emperor’s Birthday" unites every citizen in joy—the exclusive right of the founding sovereign.

"Yes, March works well, even if it's still a touch nippy; it's already pretty fine." The butler hovered nearby, bowed slightly; the heated chamber felt cozy and inviting. The Great Tang Empire's innovations had transformed lives, turning harsh winters into bearable comforts.

"Sure, it's chilly at the moment, but temps will climb for sure post-Spring Festival. March always brings fine weather." He glanced toward the window, noting fresh buds peeking from twigs, heralding spring's onset: "Right, sir?"

The nobleman gave a faint nod in accord: "True enough, though this year's spring arrived unusually soon. Heaven clearly blesses His Majesty. Picking March for National Day, with the early thaw—it's a joy. March shines, embodying renewal, growth, and boundless prosperity."

Setting the paper aside, he paused briefly before adding: "Oh yes, New Year looms, and the household staff toiled hard all year. Rewards are due."

"Master shows great kindness." The butler bowed deeply at once.

"Head to accounting, issue an extra month's pay to every attendant, servant, gardener, stable hand, and coachman. Year's end calls for cheer." The nobleman directed.

"At once, sir; I'll see to it." The butler replied with delight.

"Hold on." The nobleman halted him, pondered briefly, then settled on a fitting sum: "That includes you—three months' bonus."

"My deepest thanks, sir! Thank you!" The butler's tone quivered with thrill as he tucked away the Gold Coin: "Master truly values his people; our gratitude knows no bounds." His face lit up in a genuine, flower-like beam.

The nobleman gestured dismissively with his hand, indicating the butler could proceed. The butler offered another profound bow, spun around, and hurried away, excited to spread the joyful tidings.

As he observed the butler's retreating figure, a faint, barely noticeable smile tugged at the nobleman's lips. The fresh vibe in the Great Tang Empire wasn't just evident on a grand scale; it subtly permeated the aristocracy too. Those tyrannical old lords who used to bully and whip servants over minor issues had become scarce. Interactions now brimmed with civility and decorum, even if only on the surface.

It couldn't be helped—the purge had been ruthlessly severe. In breaking from the outdated powers, the Great Tang Empire pulled out all stops, while those idiots stirring chaos against His Majesty probably had grass towering three feet over their graves by now.

These days, hired servants and butlers carried themselves with greater respect, showing far more initiative in their duties. No longer mere entries on a slave ledger, they toiled earnestly for their futures, a stark shift from the old days of self-enslavement.

Naturally, the Great Tang Empire hadn't fully eradicated slavery; regulations still allowed nobles to buy slaves legitimately. Yet enslaving humans was banned—only orcs and goblins could serve as slaves across the empire's core territories.

This setup served as a gradual shift, basically providing a lawful path for these species to linger on the twin continents. Tang Mo truly lacked the resolve for total extermination; instead, he chose this easiest way to postpone the issue indefinitely.

Word of the Great Tang Empire setting the world-uniting 'National Day' raced globally via countless channels of hype. All awaited the debut National Day with bated breath, eager for an unprecedented, most magnificent celebration.

Sofia, thrilled by her own stroke of fortune, plunged into frenzy, convinced her shot at vengeance and epic reversal had at last emerged.

Far from slacking lately, she geared up for the ultimate lethal blow. Right now, a whopping 50 kilograms of explosives sat before her—blasts fierce enough to shatter peaks and boulders, boasting horrifying might.

This massive explosive haul must have snuck into Chang’an piece by piece, prompting Sofia to rally nearly every resource she'd hoarded for years. Truth be told, it was meant to exceed 150 kilograms; alas, the Great Tang Empire’s security forces snagged a chunk en route. She'd scraped together just this amount with all her effort.

Truthfully, it wasn't trivial at all; positioned right, it would undoubtedly turn Tang Mo’s coronation into a truly explosive spectacle.

For flawless triggering, she'd even forged a fresh persona: a noblewoman from the Eastern Continent! This guise let her blend onto the Observation Platform near Tang Mo, ignite the bomb herself up close, and watch his downfall at peak glory.

Incidentally, she'd lately unearthed this detonator—a sleek, hideable gadget seeming crafted just for her. Still, it required tweaks for use; the Great Tang Empire’s security was ramped up, and those cursed hounds appeared to sniff out peril.

Sofia had burned her bridges, with no intent to retreat... She was fully committed now, ignoring any chance of defeat.