Governors Mansion.
Li Feng stood at the entrance of the Governors Mansion, which had now been completely militarized. The Valhalla 597th Regiment, responsible for Li Feng's security, despite its previous issues, was after all composed of battle-hardened veterans.
These 'mao mei' and 'mao zi' quickly brought the entire Governors Mansion and the old city under control, uprooting numerous hidden Gretchin from the sewers and narrow city alleys.
The new lasgun machine guns proved highly effective. While their firepower was no different from traditional Imperial lasguns, their increased ammunition capacity and laser cooling system were excellent for suppressing enemies like Gretchin, who tend to swarm in groups.
Night enveloped the city before Li Feng, with the glow of urban firefights and explosions visible. Numerous valkyrie transport aircrafts and helicopters were rapidly deploying troops to various parts of the planet.
Soon, several valkyrie transport aircrafts circled above the Governors Mansion. As the aircraft slowly descended, many Soldiers disembarked. In the distance, on the highway, a convoy of armored vehicles could be seen slowly approaching.
The Governors Mansion had now become the temporary command post for the entire Gravelax cleansing operation. With Gryce, that 'kidney-deficient Gretchin,' blasted into smithereens, the Soldiers immediately began to raid his residence. Numerous attendants and clerks from the Governors Mansion were summarily executed, their bodies piled in the garden, doused with fuel, and set ablaze.
At this moment, Winters and Spears walked past Li Feng, leading several officers towards a helicopter. Li Feng patted them both on the shoulder, saying, "Go, and be careful."
Both immediately stood at attention and saluted, then led the officers onto the helicopter. The helicopter flew directly to their respective posts and units.
Winters, as the Chief of Staff, needed to return to the hotel's command center to coordinate all aspects of the military operation, while Spears needed to return to the front lines to lead directly. Li Feng watched as helicopters lowered M777ER light 155mm howitzers, which artillerymen then positioned on the spacious lawn of the Governors Mansion.
Soldiers quickly dug a pre-fabricated spade position with shovels and picks, then swiftly placed the howitzer's spades into it to secure the weapon.
Given the M777's weight of just over four tons, it was considered extremely light within the Imperium of Man's armaments. It could be rapidly deployed by helicopter, or even carried by two Astartes.
At this moment, a helicopter landed, and a young Astra Militarum Captain, wearing a distinctive European-style bicorne hat, emerged from the cabin. After quickly saluting Li Feng, he headed towards the artillery position.
The officer was not very tall, perhaps around 167 cm, but his stride was remarkably confident. Li Feng's attention was drawn by his very stylish hat.
Li Feng immediately turned and called out to him: "What's with the hat on your head?"
The young officer turned around: "Sir, this is a family heirloom hat."
Li Feng nodded after hearing this, then asked: "I don't yet know your identity, Captain."
"Napoleon from Corsica, Sir."
Upon hearing this name, combined with his height and slightly romantic accent, Li Feng's interest was clearly piqued:
"Napoleon of Corsica… will my life change in any way from this point on?"
The other man simply looked up at Li Feng, who was much taller than him, and said:
"I guarantee I will bring you a victory."
...Old City outskirts.
At this point, the entire Gravelax was in chaos, having devolved into a three-way free-for-all. News of the assassination attempt on the Tau ambassador had spread. Although the unfortunate Shasui was miraculously saved by Yang Wen-li's skillful hands, he was barely clinging to life and remained in a coma.
However, the Tau Empire was not yet aware of this news, because as soon as the guns began to fire, the Imperial Fleet in orbit immediately initiated strong electronic interference. All communication equipment, except for that of the Imperium of Man, was rendered inoperable. The Tau warrior named Il Hasse tried for a long time but was still unable to contact the Tau Empire's garrison base and embassy.
Because of this, those 'human traitors' who had converted to the Tau Empire also began to attack the Imperial Army and government departments. At the same time, the Imperial Army was clearing out Gretchin, and the Gretchin were attacking those Tau Empire 'human traitors.' Li Feng, in any case, had given orders: if anyone attacked the Imperial Army, fire back immediately, and report to command afterward. Li Feng even directly said:
"A living person cannot be suffocated by urine. If you truly cannot judge, ask your front-line officer, and his judgment will be the direct decision."
And now, the most anxious ones were actually these Tau friends beside Li Feng. Because if the Tau Empire misjudged that the Imperium of Man had killed the ambassador and proactively initiated combat... that would not align with the greater good, especially since humanity had even helped save the ambassador's life.
At the edge of the city, Lieutenant Sura led her company in a large plaza, fighting an endless stream of Gretchin. The number of Gretchin was immense; after all, even the Planetary Governor had become a Gretchin. The fact that this planet had not yet rebelled could only mean that the Tau Empire garrison might have truly had some effect.
The Soldiers held the windows on both sides of the street opposite the plaza. Two machine guns were enough to seal off a street intersection, and the Gretchin corpses were so numerous they completely blocked the street. Sura now picked up the radio receiver from a Soldier's back and immediately reported:
"Broadway! Broadway! This is Boxer! We need artillery support, give those Gretchin a good pounding! Coordinates 62123-44252, direct fire for effect! Over!"
At the other end, Captain Napoleon, the artillery Captain at the Governors Mansion, immediately marked the coordinates on a piece of paper with a pen, then used the artillery augur to calculate, and then picked up the microphone to reply:
"Boxer, this is Broadway, artillery fire will arrive immediately, prepare yourselves. Over."
Napoleon walked out of the command tent, his short stature emitting a confident voice:
"New fire for effect mission! Two high-explosive, two white phosphorus, using coordinates 62123..."
Upon hearing this, the artillerymen immediately stood up and began to work. Two Sergeants immediately started to crank the barrels of the howitzers. Three Soldiers installed the fuses onto the top of the shells. One Soldier knelt on the other side, preparing the propellant charges for separate ammunition.
A Servitor, with only half a body, was installed in the center of the artillery position. Its body had undergone a complete Transformation, with countless cables directly connected to several howitzers, beginning to calibrate data for the guns.
As a Soldier pushed a shell into the breech, three propellant charges followed it in, and the breech closed.
"Gun one ready!"
"Gun two ready!"
"Gun three ready!"
"Gun four ready!"
Napoleon took off his hat, put on his earmuffs, then raised his hand... and quickly brought it down. The simultaneous volley of four 155mm howitzers directly shook the ground, and a tremendous roar, like thunder, echoed through the Governor's Garden.
The shells, like arrows from a bow, rapidly spun and flew within the rifling, exiting the muzzles and soaring into the distance... The breeches opened, and the Soldiers began the second round of shelling.
"Report, Boxer, artillery has fired, you can prepare."
After hearing this, Sura, faintly hearing the 'thunder' from the distant rear, immediately picked up her lasgun... "Friendly fire! Take cover!"
After speaking, Sura hid in a building, because friendly fire from artillery was a common occurrence in the Imperium of Man... so this was considered a life-saving measure.
The Soldiers collectively lay down, hiding behind some sturdy cover. Then they heard the whistling sound of the shells plummeting from the sky.
"Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!"
The vibrations from the explosions transmitted through the ground to their bodies. The explosions of 155mm high-explosive shells immediately sent black smoke soaring into the sky from the distant plaza. Instantly, the Soldiers could see shrapnel and fragments of Gretchin bodies flying through the air.
And the next second, two more shells fell, directly exploding into white smoke that shot into the sky... "Smoke grenades?"
"No! Those are white phosphorus rounds! Put on your gas masks, that stuff is poisonous! Do not let it touch your skin! Otherwise, it will burn!"
And very quickly, several figures emerged from the white smoke. Those Gretchin were emitting white smoke all over, white phosphorus covering their entire bodies and burning fiercely. They screamed, howled in pain, and rolled helplessly on the ground...
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