On the night of August 12, the official residence of the first assistant of the imperial capital.

The meeting had been going on all day, with a diplomatic meeting in the morning and a cabinet meeting in the afternoon, and after dinner, all the generals of the military came.

However, there is also the Minister of Defense who stayed for dinner.

It's just that Luo Youbin doesn't know how long the evening meeting will last.

As usual, he could only instruct his staff to be ready to provide services as soon as they were needed.

To say, it means serving tea and pouring water, and arranging a supper that is usually delivered at 11:30.

Luo Youbin is also very impressed, and knows that if the current trend continues, I am afraid that it will not be long before everyone wants to have a little leisure.

It's been a whole day of meetings, and it's all about what happened yesterday.

In the early hours of 11 August, the coalition forces advanced Operation "Overwhelming" to the second phase, that is, to begin the focused clearance, as planned.

This stage is mainly aimed at striking the Iraqi army's long-range weapons, especially tactical ballistic missiles such as the "Scud".

During the first wave of bombing in the early hours of the morning, the imperial army dropped more than 500 cruise missiles and dispatched nearly 400 combat aircraft to carry out several rounds of high-intensity bombardment of all identified missile launch positions in Iraq, especially the fixedly deployed ballistic missile launchers.

As for the results of the bombing, there is nothing to say.

In fact, this is also the first time after the start of the war that the Imperial Air Force has used laser-guided bombs and other precision munitions on a large scale.

In the first round of assaults, 16 "Zh-11" stealth attack planes and 44 "Zh-16A" heavy multirole fighters dropped a total of more than 200 laser-guided bombs with a total mass of more than 100 tons, destroying at least 174 targets.

Compared with the indiscriminate bombardment of the previous few days, the proportion of precision-guided bombs used has increased nearly tenfold.

In addition, the "Snow Owl" unit, which carried out the task of suppressing air defense, also projected hundreds of anti-radiation missiles and destroyed dozens of air defense radars.

It was only under the cover of the "snow owls" that the "Zhan-16A" was able to penetrate deep into Iraq and bomb the closely protected ballistic missile launch sites.

In general, the strike efficiency of precision-guided munitions has been fully demonstrated in this battle.

To put it bluntly, the reserves of precision-guided bombs are seriously insufficient, and only a few advanced combat aircraft produced and equipped in recent years can be mounted and used, and most of the combat aircraft that were in service before the 140th year of the new calendar cannot use precision ammunition.

According to the plan, the next step is for the "Zhan-16A" to play the leading role and hunt ballistic missile launchers.

In addition, coalition air power will continue to carry out targeted bombing of Iraqi military targets, especially military bases, as well as the Republican Guard.

Although according to the forecast of the Joint Forces Command, the air strike time could be shortened to 15 days and the ground war could be launched half a month ahead of schedule, the General Staff did not approve the plan and still demanded that the air strike be arranged according to the 30 days determined in the original plan.

The reason is that it takes 30 days to deliver war supplies to the front line.

However, by yesterday morning, the situation suddenly changed.

Without any warning, the Purman authorities issued a very strongly worded statement, demanding that the coalition forces led by Liang Xia unconditionally stop military operations against Iraq, respect the choice of the Iraqi people, and promise to withdraw their troops from the Posha Bay area.

This was tantamount to asking the Liang Xia Empire to give up Posha Bay.

Subsequently, the Manman authorities recalled the ambassadors to the Liangxia Empire.

In the next few hours, the other member states of the Western Continent Group successively recalled their ambassadors to the Liangxia Empire.

At that time, the Manman authorities also sent a diplomatic note demanding that the Liangxia Empire cease its military operations within 24 hours and recognize the referendum conducted by the Iraqi and Kuwaiti peoples, otherwise they would sever diplomatic relations with the Liangxia Empire and expel the Liangxia Empire's diplomats.

The Manman authorities had no intention of talking about it at all, but directly forced the Liangxia Empire into a corner.

In accordance with the diplomatic note sent by the Hindman authorities, the ownership and sovereignty of Kuwait were to be voted on by all citizens of Iraq and Kuwait.

This proposal amounts to recognition of Kuwait as part of Iraq.

There are more than 20 million people in Iraq and less than 3 million in Kuwait. Under the advocacy of Saddam's regime, almost all Iraqis felt that Kuwait was originally an Iraqi province and therefore it was a matter of course to send troops to annex Kuwait.

What is the significance of such a vote?

In addition, the Iraqi military invasion preceded the cessation of the military operations of the coalition forces.

Even if a referendum is held, let Iraq withdraw its troops first!

All in all, the authorities have no intention of negotiating at all.

If anything, because there is not even room for turnaround, it is not even an ultimatum.

As a result, last night, Zhou Yongtao ordered the recall of diplomatic personnel stationed in the Riman Empire, as well as in other member states of the Western Continent Group.

It was only a few hours later than the recall sent by the Manman authorities.

Subsequently, Zhou Yongtao personally called the leaders of all the allied countries, as well as the leaders of other countries that had sent troops to participate in the joint force.

Busy until the early hours of this morning, Zhou Yongtao said the same thing dozens of times to dozens of national leaders.

The main thing is to clarify the basic position of the empire on this matter.

There will definitely be no compromise, even if it is a direct war with the Western Continent group led by the Riman Empire.

In Zhou Yongtao's words: If you can talk, you will continue to talk, and if you want to fight, you will be accompanied, and intimidation and threats of any nature are useless to the empire.

When it comes to morality, the Empire will never compromise!

After a four-hour break, Zhou Yongtao convened the foreign minister and other key diplomatic officials to convene a high-level meeting of the diplomatic system.

Clearly, the top priority now is to stabilize diplomacy.

Although there are dozens of allies and friendly countries, the empire has to win the sympathy and support of more countries in the face of unwarranted accusations from the Empire.

To put it more bluntly, it is to occupy the moral high ground through diplomatic action.

It's just that in the matter of Kuwait, it's really unclear.

Historically, Kuwait was indeed a province of Iraq.

During the last war, after the Liangxia Empire captured Posha Bay, in order to strengthen its control over Posha Bay, and in order to combat the influence of the former suzerain, the Bran Kingdom forcibly divided Kuwait through military occupation and supported the current Kuwaiti royal family.

To this end, the Emperor also canonized the King of Kuwait and provided security guarantees to the Kuwaiti royal family.

This arrangement is also related to the Republic of There.

A divided Mu'a is obviously more conducive to the re-establishment of the colonial order in the local area of the Republic of There, and it is more in line with the interests of the Republic of There.

As for the Hindan Empire, in order to maintain good relations with the Republic of There, it did not object.

After the war, Kuwait also relied on its relationship with the Liangxia Empire to gain international recognition.

As for the discovery of oil fields, that was later.

When Kuwait became independent, the Liangxia authorities' intention was really to gain a firm foothold in the Posha Bay area.

To put it simply, Kuwait is used as a military fortress to control Posha Bay.

That's where the problem lies.

Because of Kuwait, the imperial authorities have always been not very interested in Iraq, which has created the current situation.

If you want to talk about it, the key is one point.

At the time of the establishment of an independent state, the Iraqi authorities recognized Kuwait as an independent State and established diplomatic relations, which amounted to the renunciation of territorial claims.

As for the current Hussein regime, it came to power by a coup d'état.

This is also the main reason for the empire to fight back diplomatically.

Even if Hussein came to power through a coup d'état, he should inherit the mantle of the previous government as long as he declares himself the only legitimate regime in Iraq.

Crucially, when Hussein came to power, Kuwait was already a globally recognized independent state.

If every new government comes to power and overthrows everything, the world will be completely in chaos.

Moreover, Kuwait was recognized by the Empire and other members of the Western Continent Bloc.

Now, talking about Kuwait is obviously out of nowhere!

However, it is clear that diplomatic efforts will not resolve the current crisis.

If anything, no means can resolve the current crisis.

It was also in the morning that the Military Intelligence Agency sent an absolutely reliable piece of information.

Yesterday evening, the Empire had already begun to mobilize for war, and at least 120 trains had begun to deliver weapons, equipment, and war materials to the eastern border areas of the Losha Democratic Republic, and all the officers and men of the main forces had received orders to return immediately.

The Empire has begun to prepare for the war!

In addition, several key members of the Western Continent Group are also mobilizing.

All 60 standing divisions of the Democratic Republic of Rosa have been put into combat readiness, and the Air Force has stepped up patrols in the eastern border areas.

Even when the ocean falls in the north sunset, the situation is already extremely tense.

Also last night, more than 200 warships of the Western Continent Combined Fleet, dominated by the Manman Navy, left port at almost the same time.

Crucially, these warships were originally deployed in more than a dozen naval bases from the Eastern Continent Heart Sea to the Kingdom of Weijing.

This is the Navy!

Without advance preparation, it would have been impossible for so many warships to be dispatched on the same night, and it would have taken several days just to get the officers and men back to build.

In addition, in the early hours of this morning, more than 10 long-range reconnaissance planes of the Hinder Empire appeared near Scapa Bay.

Scarpa Bay was the only military base of the Imperial Navy in the North Sunset, and the nearest other military base was Alexandria in the eastern part of Luxinhai.

Obviously, this is definitely not a coincidence.

As for the sources of intelligence, there are certainly no problems.

The intelligence on the movement of ground forces by the Western Continent Group mainly comes from reconnaissance satellites, not only photographic reconnaissance satellites, but also electronic reconnaissance satellites.

Through the intercepted radio communication signals, even if there is no way to crack it, it can be known that a large number of troops are entering a combat state.

From the point of view of military intelligence, the sudden increase in radio activity was a precursor to war.

In the afternoon, Zhou Yongtao convened all the members of the cabinet and convened an emergency meeting.

In the face of undeniable facts, except for the foreign minister and three other ministers who abstained from voting, the other ministers all supported the temporary resolution proposed by Zhou Yongtao, that is, to raise the combat readiness level of the imperial army by the same range, to issue a war alert to the Federal Republic of Luosha, and to demand that all member states of the Eastern Bloc raise their combat readiness levels in accordance with their obligations under the "Mutual Security Treaty."

Here's the key.

Although waging war, as well as mobilizing for war in a more comprehensive way, requires the authorization of both houses of parliament, that is, the submission of a bill of war, the adoption of the "Treaty of the Common Security Alliance," which has existed for decades and has the force of law, can be used to circumvent both houses of parliament, carry out military mobilization within the limits stipulated in the treaty, and take necessary military action, which can be submitted to both houses of parliament for deliberation afterwards.

Of course, there is a prerequisite that the enemy against whom the Eastern Bloc is targeting has increased its combat readiness or has already taken military action.

There were two enemies targeted by the treaty, the Western Continent Group of the Empire, and the Northern Orphan Group led by the Republic of Nuland.

In addition, the treaty provides a very complete and detailed definition of military mobilization and military action.

In general, it is mainly reflected in the defensive aspect, that is, the premise that both military mobilization and military operations can achieve the common security of the Eastern Bloc.

Now that the Western Continent Group has raised its level of combat readiness and begun to mobilize for war, it can act in accordance with the treaty with solid evidence.

Although it was the first time he had encountered such a situation, Luo Youbin knew very well that unless a miracle happened, a third global war was inevitable.

The last time a similar situation arose was more than 20 years ago, when the Empire decided to send troops to participate in the war against the Boi State.

The difference is that this time it was the empire that took the initiative.

More importantly, before sending troops, Lian Xusheng, who once again served as the first assistant of the empire, did enough diplomatic efforts to give a clear explanation to the Empire, which was capable of intervening at that time, and also explained the situation to the Nuland Republic, which had grown and developed and had a certain threat through a third party.

On this basis, the Liangxia Empire officially sent troops, and suffered its first crushing defeat after the Great War in the next eight years.

It can be seen that there was no possibility of a global war at that time.

In addition, the international situation at that time did not allow for the outbreak of a global war, the Empire of Juman was no match for the Liangxia Empire, and the wings of the Republic of Nuland were not full enough.

In fact, that is, after the Polish-Iraq War, the Eastern Bloc revised the content of the "Mutual Security Treaty", deleted the part of the initiative to attack, and emphasized the military concept of focusing on defense, so that the Liangxia Empire could no longer wage war on the grounds of common security.

This time, it's different.

The Riman Empire suddenly attacked, and there was not even a little sign in the early stage, let alone inform in advance!

It is clear that it is heading towards war!

The key is that there is really no other way to alleviate the current international situation except for a war.

Immediately after dinner, Zhou Yongtao convened a military meeting to discuss the war with the defense minister and military generals.

The big war is coming, let alone a night, and it can't be delayed for a few hours.

However, it is clear that the problems we are facing now cannot be solved immediately after the meeting.

If anything, it would be nice to be able to come up with a reason for it this evening and move on to the implementation phase.

Luo Youbin is not speculating.

In the specially vacated back garden study, more than a dozen generals have already fought for each other, but they haven't even touched on the main topic.

。