In Lu Guangsheng's sector, the torrential rain continued to fall heavily. The low-lying areas quickly filled with water. After roughly an hour of continuous downpour, the runoff began surging into the creeks and streams, causing water levels to rise rapidly.
Lu Guangsheng had just received Hu Hao's telegram ordering him to eliminate the remaining Vaal Kingdom forces as quickly as possible and prepare to infiltrate southward.
The Vaal Kingdom forces in his sector were already severely depleted, currently trapped within a small county town. Lu Guangsheng estimated they had fewer than 5,000 men left.
Meanwhile, Lu Guangsheng had successfully rotated all three of his newly formed divisions through combat. They had performed reasonably well; at the very least, every division had now tasted blood and experienced real warfare.
"Corps Commander, how are we supposed to fight in this kind of rain?" a staff officer asked, standing beside Lu Guangsheng.
Lu Guangsheng's headquarters was currently established in Nage City. The city still held a significant civilian population, comprising both original residents and refugees who had fled the initial Allied advance.
Lu Guangsheng and his troops had put immense effort into convincing these civilians to stay, distributing large tracts of farmland and even providing them with seeds for planting. Consequently, the relationship between the military and the civilian population in Nage City was excellent.
"Hao-ge didn't specify an exact deadline for wiping out the Allied forces. With rain this heavy, fighting is impossible anyway. We'll wait for a lull in the storm. Our troops have been fighting continuously for days; they could use the rest.
"By the way, have the 5th and 6th Divisions begun their march?" Lu Guangsheng asked.
"They have departed, sir. However, their progress will be slow. Our engineers have to construct pontoon bridges ahead of them. Why did Hao-ge order our forces to deploy so far away?" the staff officer asked, puzzled by the strategic maneuvering.
"For training. Our troops are almost entirely raw recruits. They need combat experience; they need to see blood. There aren't many Allied forces left in our immediate vicinity, so our troops here wouldn't have any battles to fight!" Lu Guangsheng explained.
"Ah, that makes sense!" the staff officer nodded in understanding.
"According to Hao-ge's orders, our sector needs to push the perimeter 300 kilometers forward. Three hundred kilometers south... that puts us right at the capital of Tianhe Province! There's undoubtedly a massive Allied presence there. We'll have plenty of fighting to do!" Lu Guangsheng traced the route on the map.
"Corps Commander, what if Ninghe City—the provincial capital—is heavily garrisoned? What do we do?" the staff officer asked nervously.
"If there are troops, we fight them. We execute Hao-ge's orders without question. The only reason our forces have grown so rapidly is because of Hao-ge. Without him, would we have this many troops? Would we even be alive? Would the civilians out there be alive?
"If Hao-ge orders us to push 300 kilometers forward, he has his reasons. No matter how immense the difficulties, we must accomplish the mission!" Lu Guangsheng stated firmly.
"Yes, sir! I understand!" the staff officer bowed his head.
"Are you afraid of fighting?" Lu Guangsheng asked, looking at the young officer.
"N-no, sir!" the staff officer shook his head quickly.
"Right. You haven't been to the front lines yet, have you?" Lu Guangsheng realized.
"No, sir," the officer admitted.
"Once you've been to the front, you'll understand that fighting is our only option. If we don't fight, we have no way to survive. Do you think we want to fight? No one wants war. But if we don't fight, we die!
"If we fight now, we might die, but the civilians in this city might live. If we cower and hide, then both we and the civilians will definitely die. Remember that!" Lu Guangsheng instructed gravely.
"Yes, sir! I will remember!" the staff officer nodded solemnly.
"Mm. You are dismissed. I need to formulate our operational plans," Lu Guangsheng ordered.
"Yes, sir!" The staff officer saluted and left.
"Report! Hao-ge is requesting a video conference!" another staff officer announced, hurrying over.
"Put him through immediately!" Lu Guangsheng nodded.
A moment later, Hu Hao's image appeared on the main screen.
"Greetings, Hao-ge!" Lu Guangsheng snapped a crisp salute.
"Mm. Are you experiencing heavy rain in your sector?" Hu Hao returned the salute and asked directly.
"Yes, Hao-ge. Torrential rain. I've ordered my troops to halt their offensive against the Vaal Kingdom forces and rest for now. The conditions are entirely unsuitable for an assault," Lu Guangsheng reported.
"There's no rush. Just finish them off within the next few days. Your primary objective now is preparing for the southward push. I was just reviewing the maps.
"As your forces push south, you will eventually reach Ninghe City, the capital of Tianhe Province. I suspect the Allied forces are using it as a major forward logistical hub. It will likely be heavily garrisoned, definitely no fewer than two divisions.
"According to the latest intelligence from High Command, the Allied forces maintain significant troop concentrations in the southern regions of Tianyu Province, Dingxi Province, and Longxi Province.
"Their objective are first, they are likely preparing for subsequent offensives deeper into the Eastern Spirit Empire.
"Second, it is highly probable they intend to invade the Dongjun Kingdom next.
"Regardless of their ultimate goal, they will undoubtedly station at least two divisions in Ninghe City to secure their rear supply lines. Therefore, your forces will encounter stiff resistance when they reach that area!" Hu Hao warned him.
"I was just looking at the map as well, Hao-ge. I also anticipated a heavy Allied presence there," Lu Guangsheng nodded.
"You must deploy your reconnaissance units immediately to gather accurate intelligence. We still have civilians living in the occupied territories to the south. Currently, the Allied forces are primarily focused on massacres within the major cities; they lack the manpower to systematically cleanse the countryside.
"However, the rainy season changes everything. The Allied troops won't be actively campaigning, which means they'll have plenty of free time. I fear they might turn their attention to slaughtering the rural population!
"Therefore, your advance must be rapid. I just detached two of your newly formed divisions and sent them to Jinhe City for combat training. Once they are hardened, I will return them to you. But your remaining forces must begin infiltrating southward immediately!" Hu Hao ordered with a heavy heart.
"Understood! I am organizing the infiltration units now. However, Hao-ge, I feel my current troop strength is insufficient for such a deep push," Lu Guangsheng admitted.
"It is insufficient. You are directly facing the Allied southern staging areas. We have no idea how many troops are stationed in those massive camps, but the numbers will undoubtedly be staggering.
"Eventually, I will deploy another full corps to your eastern flank to advance south alongside you and expand our perimeter eastward.
"Furthermore, many of the veterans wounded during the defense of Bopa City have recovered and been discharged from the hospitals. I've retained the officers who earned significant combat merits, but I am organizing 5,000 experienced enlisted veterans and sending them to your sector. With a core of 5,000 hardened veterans, you can easily forge several new divisions!" Hu Hao revealed his plan to bolster Lu Guangsheng's forces.
Lu Guangsheng's sector was the southernmost tip of Hu Hao's expanding territory. When the Allied forces inevitably launched a massive counter-offensive against Hu Hao, they would almost certainly strike Lu Guangsheng first. Given his proximity to the coastal staging areas, the sheer volume of troops he might face was unpredictable.
"Thank you, Hao-ge! With 5,000 veterans, I won't have any problems! Are they mostly regular soldiers?" Lu Guangsheng smiled, immensely relieved.
"Yes, primarily enlisted men. They are perfectly capable of serving as squad leaders and deputy squad leaders. Many of the more capable ones can be promoted to Platoon Commander with the rank of Second Lieutenant. I will send you the detailed roster once it's finalized," Hu Hao smiled back.
"Excellent! 5,000 veterans! Haha! Hao-ge, I can build three full divisions around a core that solid!" Lu Guangsheng boasted happily.
"You may. Continue your recruitment efforts. If you run out of local veterans, recruit raw civilians and train them. Once the first class graduates from my training regiment here at headquarters, I will dispatch several hundred company- and battalion-level officers to your sector, along with a few regimental commanders!" Hu Hao promised.
"Thank you, Hao-ge! I'll begin massive recruitment immediately!" Lu Guangsheng agreed enthusiastically.
"Focus on expanding your numbers, but remember this: you are officially authorized for exactly six divisions. However, I permit you to inflate the headcount of each division to 16,000 men.
"We still don't know who the Emperor intends to send to fill our vacant Chief of Staff positions. Until that situation is resolved, do not create any new formal unit designations, or it will be impossible to hide our true strength from them!" Hu Hao warned explicitly.
The division-level and corps-level Chief of Staff positions were still technically vacant, reserved for the Emperor's appointees. While Hu Hao vehemently opposed their arrival, he had to weigh the political consequences of simply eliminating them if they did show up. Therefore, he needed to maintain plausible deniability regarding his troop strength.
"Understood! Don't worry, Hao-ge, I won't cause any trouble for you!" Lu Guangsheng assured him.
Hu Hao nodded and ended the video conference.
Just as he was about to contact Ye Zifeng, a staff officer approached and informed him that Combat Zone Commander Jiang Kai was on the line. Hu Hao immediately took the receiver.
"Greetings, Commander! This is Hu Hao!" Hu Hao answered cheerfully.
"Mm, good! The rainy season is almost upon us, and I hear the Holy Ancient Empire's forces are rapidly approaching Jinhe City! What is your plan? If they secure Jinhe City, Late City will be in immediate danger! You must hold them back!" Jiang Kai's voice came through the line, laced with genuine concern.
(End of Chapter)