Munitions Empire-Chapter 1125 - 1046 Elf Princess

Iryn could see the bustling port outside through the glass windows of the ship’s hull, witnessing such a colossal harbor for the first time, with docks coming into view ever since she started looking, and without end in sight.

Those enormous cranes were busy at work, hoisting one giant rectangular container after another from the massive ships—such a sight is not common at the Elf’s Southwater Port.

From time to time, one could hear the loud blast of steam whistles, signaling the arrival or departure of a behemoth vessel over ten thousand tons from this place called Linshui.

For several years now, the world’s number one port is no longer Brunas. Or rather, since the Great Tang Group left Brunas, that place is no longer bustling.

Whether it’s the Dragon Harbor of the Great Tang Empire, Dongwan Port of the Great Tang Empire, Linshui of the Great Tang Empire, Beiyuan Port of the Great Tang Empire, or Nanshan Port of the Great Tang Empire... all are now more prosperous than Brunas. Now, the world’s top three ports are completely dominated by the Great Tang Empire competing with itself.

In terms of size, Linshui Port of the Great Tang Empire is obviously the largest in the world right now, where its giant docks can accommodate warships over 100,000 tons, and its various models of cranes outnumber the combined total of any other two ports.

This is because it has already begun to transition to container ship services: This efficient transportation scheme is now only used on a large scale in the ports within the Great Tang Empire, and while other countries’ ports are also increasing their container lifting equipment, they are obviously not as rapidly popularizing it as the Tang Empire.

The new container transportation has increased efficiency and reduced transport costs: As soon as this mode of transportation emerged, it almost completely replaced the old maritime lifting method.

The Great Tang Empire didn’t hide this technology but openly shared it with the world. This was also a strategy to improve the speed of transportation worldwide, as the Great Tang Empire was securing time for its own development.

The Princess with her pointed ears fluttering could be seen in good spirits, her curiosity making her forget the fatigue of the long journey.

"Your Highness the Princess... we have arrived," an elegant Elf Officer approached, wearing a large-brimmed hat, standing at the doorway and nodding slightly, reminding her: "In approximately ten minutes, you will be able to go up on deck."

Iryn, only 16 years old this year, was very proficient in the royal court etiquette. She had spent several months learning about it in the Imperial Palace of the Poplar Empire, so her every frown and smile was proper.

"Thank you, Colonel," the Elf Princess, who was "marrying afar" to the Tang Empire, thanked him and stood up, allowing her maid to check whether her gown was presentable.

This dress was specially commissioned from Elf Race designers, fully integrating traditional Elf culture. To be frank, the Elf Race’s artistic cells are not that impressive, after all is said and done, it could only be praised as "uniquely styled."

After all, the world’s best fashion designers, or the leaders of the trend-setting culture, are all in the Tang Empire, with other countries’ fashion circles only able to follow, without the capacity to appraise.

Soon, the band arranged on the deck began to play, and the attendants laid a red carpet on the gangway used to disembark. The welcoming party for the Elf Princess was not small in scale; it included local Elf merchants, journalists from other countries, and crowds who came to watch.

Everyone has heard that the carefully selected Elf Princess is exceptionally beautiful, and who wouldn’t want to see with their own eyes what an Elf Princess, deemed as a top choice amongst a Race known for its handsome men and beautiful women, actually looks like. free𝑤ebnovel.com

In reality, the time Iryn showed her face wasn’t long: she only needed to walk down the red carpet, then she could get into the royal car prepared for her, after which she would leave the dock under the protection of the Imperial Guard of the Great Tang Empire and head to a carefully prepared manor.

Having traveled across the sea, Iryn would rest at the manor for one night; the next morning she would visit Linshui University, and then on the third day, she would take a plane to Chang’an.

"Their warships look very small," Iryn, who had seen large battleships in her own naval ports, commented while standing on the deck, looking at the Great Tang Empire warships moored in the distance.

The Elf Officer also noticed the two Tang Empire destroyers docked at the pier, but, being a professional, his thoughts were quite different from the Elf Princess’s.

He noticed at a glance the radar antennae on the mainmast of the Tang Empire’s destroyers: the Poplar Empire had similar equipment, although the similar radar antennae of the Poplar Empire were deployed on land.

What made this Elf Officer somewhat uneasy was that these two warships were fitted with two sets of radar equipment, one on top of the mainmast and another at a rear mast.

And it was clear that the radar antennae at the rear were larger, with a purpose he couldn’t understand. At the front of these two destroyers, he didn’t see any cannon installations, only a structure similar to a mount covered with tarpaulin.

Of course, he couldn’t guess that these were the Great Tang Empire’s first-generation experimental anti-aircraft missile destroyers undergoing modifications: because it was not entirely mature, similar destroyers hadn’t been equipped in large numbers by the Great Tang Empire Navy.

But indeed, they were armed with the newest type of anti-aircraft missiles developed by the Great Tang Empire, guided by radar, capable of attacking aerial targets up to 19 kilometers away.

It can provide the fleet with the necessary air defense, and it also accumulates experience in air defense missiles and radar guidance for the Great Tang Empire.

"Your Highness, the main naval ports of the Great Tang Empire are on Dragon Island... The warships here, in fact, are not their main force warships," The officer shifted his gaze away from the two parked Great Tang Empire destroyers in just two or three seconds and lowered his head to explain to Iryn.

"Really? I wonder if the Great Tang Empire has those very large warships with many big guns," Iryn also withdrew her gaze, but she was still preoccupied with her own country’s battleships.

"The Great Tang Empire also has its own battleships," the Elf officer explained again. He knew that the Tang Empire did have battleships with very high overall combat capability, which was the "Dongwan-class" that had been in service for several years and the exact number of which was now undetermined.

In fact, the Great Tang Empire only had two Bismarcks, which were the Dongwan-class battleships. These two battleships were essentially advanced guard ships for the carrier fleet of the Great Tang Empire Navy; they have been retrofitted twice and equipped with radar and an increasing number of anti-aircraft guns.

Finally, Iryn stopped looking around and didn’t ask any more questions about warships; she walked down the gangway amidst welcoming applause and music, conducting herself very appropriately throughout.

She waved to the crowd, then ducked into the small car that had come to pick her up amid cheers. It was at that moment that the Elf Princess was truly conquered by the luxury of the Tang Empire’s Royal Family.

The regret of not having seen the Great Tang Empire’s massive battleships was immediately diluted by the luxurious decor inside the car. She had never seen such a level of car in the Poplar Empire before.

Although the Poplar Empire imported a considerable number of Rolls-Royce cars, they could really not buy the exaggerated versions exclusively used by the Royal Family of the Great Tang.

Whether in terms of wheelbase or width, the versions used by the Great Tang’s Royal Family were slightly larger than the models for export. In every aspect, the Great Tang’s own edition was superior.

And when the car left the dock, Iryn peered through the car window at the city outside, and saw skyscrapers on both sides of the streets, she, a young girl, realized what "prosperity" meant.

The number of high-rise buildings she had seen in the Poplar Empire over the past few years seemed not to match the quantity she was seeing now: there were simply too many buildings here, so many that they were beyond count.

Even during the day, neon lights flickering on both sides of the street were visible, with advertisments everywhere showing what luxury and fashion trends are to passers-by.

A giant woman’s profile was painted on a several-meter-long screen, next to her fiery red lips stood three different colored lipsticks side by side. The advertising slogan was also very enticing: There’s always one that’s right for you!

On the other side of the street, the congested traffic and occasional honking attracted Iryn’s attention: to her, this could be all the cars of the city.

So many cars lined up, one after the other, with no end in sight. Initially, Iryn counted them, but eventually gave up: after counting to a hundred, she still could not see the end of the cars driving in the opposite direction.

Fortunately, her car was assisted by escorts which allowed it to maintain a relatively fast pace of advancement. Even so, Iryn felt that driving in the Great Tang Empire was just too slow.

This was actually unavoidable: Linshui was constructing more subway lines, and construction teams were everywhere, along with subway entrances and exits and ventilation holes prepared for construction convenience.

Therefore, the journey was not easy, and Linshui did not hide anything in order to welcome the Princess of the Elf Race: this was Linshui on just any ordinary day, honest and true!

It was this frankness and reality that kept the development speed of Linshui at the forefront of various cities in the Tang Empire. It was developing all the time, like a greedy snake, constantly devouring the surrounding land and population.

Few years ago, what was still the countryside around Linshui has now become residential areas within the city: It was indeed too large, so large that it was beyond Iryn’s imagination. Now the population of the city has already exceeded eight million, rightfully the first in the world.

"How much longer until we arrive?" Iryn, feeling a bit sleepy looking at the buildings and overpasses, ultimately couldn’t help but ask the question.

"Oh, Your Highness," said the female diplomat in the passenger seat, turning her head, "It will take about an hour more to drive, as Linshui is indeed very large."

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Update, will continue to update tomorrow.