"Once Hardy strengthens his military capabilities, could he expand into other regions, including Malaya, Indonesia, or even other Southeast Asian countries?"
Johnson lit a cigarette, took a puff, and said, "That’s not Arica’s concern. The stronger he gets, the higher the flag of freedom flies for the U.S."
A month later, the United States signed a military procurent agreent with the Penang dominion.
Penang acquired military supplies from the U.S., enough to equip two regular divisions, including firearms, ammunition, artillery, vehicles, armored cars, tanks, communication equipnt, dical supplies, uniforms, tents, and military provisions.
The prices for these supplies were even cheaper than the outdated equipnt previously sold, and it ca as a complete set.
As long as they had personnel, they could imdiately form an army.
A U.S. regular division typically consisted of 17,000 soldiers, so with the equipnt for two divisions, it would be enough to arm 34,000 soldiers. However, Hardy only planned to form 10,000 army troops, and these supplies were more than sufficient.
The army equipnt was just the smaller part.
The big items ca later.
Penang also purchased over 300 aircraft from the U.S., including fighter planes, bombers, transport planes, and paratrooper equipnt.
This air force alone exceeded that of many small nations.
Moreover, these planes were priced incredibly cheaply—almost as if they were being given away. Despite being from World War II, they were still advanced in Southeast Asia. Even if they were phased out in a few years, they could still be converted into training aircraft.
In addition, there were warships.
Earlier, Hardy had already purchased a batch of warships, but he still felt it wasn’t enough. Being on his own in foreign lands, with many enemies around, it made sense to prepare more weapons.
Hardy purchased eight more warships and requested two submarines. However, the U.S. wasn’t willing to sell him an aircraft carrier.
In the end, an agreent was signed.
Penang and Malacca had officially beco part of the U.S. weapons sales network, allowing the dominion to purchase advanced military equipnt from the U.S.
This was an important point.
It ant that as long as Hardy had the money, he could purchase cutting-edge military gear directly from Arican manufacturers.
For so, even with money, high-quality goods are unattainable due to restrictions.
Now, Hardy could not only buy from the U.S. but also from Europe. However, that could wait until he beca more powerful in the region.
At the very least, Hardy wanted to gain influence over a specific area.
However, Hardy wasn’t satisfied with the rifles used by the U.S. military and planned to set up a rifle factory in Penang upon his return to mass-produce the AK-47.
This was not difficult to replicate. In the future, even so village workshops could manage it. Hardy already had completed rifles and could have any technician asure them for production. The AK-47 was made mostly of stamped parts, which made it inexpensive, simple in design, reliable, and highly cost-effective. It also perford well in the complex and harsh Southeast Asian environnt. The U.S. rifles were too delicate—Vietnam would prove that.
In the future, the dominion’s military would mainly equip AK-47 rifles.
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Would the Soviets demand royalty fees for this?
Hardy won’t pay a cent for as long as they don’t send troops against him.
Two months later.
anwhile, in the British royal palace, sothing significant was happening.
For the past few days, Princess Margaret had appeared lethargic, often sleepy. In the past, she had been known to enjoy lying in bed, and people didn’t pay much attention to it.
However, recently, whenever she smoked, she would vomit. She had once enjoyed tobacco, but now even the sll of it made her nauseous.
During this ti, even Princess Elizabeth noticed her sister’s constant lack of energy, which was a stark contrast to her usual lively, playful deanor.
One day, the court lady attending to Princess Margaret ca to Elizabeth’s office, carefully reporting, "Your Highness, I need to report sothing."
"What is it?"
"Princess Margaret has not had her period for two months. She has beco very lethargic and nauseous, especially when exposed to certain slls. I suspect..." the lady hesitated to continue.
Princess Elizabeth paused. As a mother of two children, Charles and Anne, she imdiately recognized the symptoms of pregnancy. Margaret’s condition strongly resembled that of being pregnant.
But the problem was, Margaret wasn’t married. If it was true that she was pregnant, and if the public found out, it would be a royal scandal.
Elizabeth imdiately asked in a serious tone, "Have you spoken to anyone else about this?"
"No, I noticed sothing was off, and I ca directly to you first. I’m responsible for the Princess’s daily care, so no one else knows about her condition," the lady responded quickly.
Royal staff, including these ladies and guards, were thoroughly trained to ensure royal matters were not disclosed.
"Alright, go back and continue looking after Princess Margaret," Elizabeth instructed.
The court lady excused herself.
Princess Elizabeth furrowed her brow, deep in thought. If Margaret was indeed pregnant, who was the father?
This was sothing she had to tell her father and mother.
She went to the chambers where King George VI and the Queen were staying. By now, George VI was gravely ill, surviving only with the aid of dication, eating simple liquid als, and being wheeled out for two hours of sunshine every day.
Everyone knew that the forr monarch’s life was nearing its end.
After seeing her parents, Elizabeth instructed all other servants to leave the room. Then, she calmly told them about Margaret’s condition.
For the couple, who had weathered countless storms, the news, though surprising, was t with calmness.
"Is this confird?" Queen Elizabeth asked.
"Not yet," Elizabeth replied. "We haven’t consulted a doctor to confirm, but based on the court lady’s description, it seems likely."
"Who is the father?"
"We don’t know yet!"
---
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