Hearing Vitali's analysis of Hu Hao's forces, Vostok was utterly stunned. He stared at Vitali. "By that calculation, Hu Hao has eleven corps over there?! How is that possible?! Does Hu Hao really dare to expand his forces without authorization? Isn't he afraid their Emperor will have him executed?!"
"I don't know if he's afraid or not, but Hu Hao definitely has a massive number of troops! No less than 600,000, possibly even more!
Actually, the most terrifying part is yet to come. Supreme Commander, have you considered this: during this recent period, Hu Hao's forces have been engaged in constant combat with our troops. Our forces have suffered catastrophic casualties, while Hu Hao's casualties are undoubtedly far lower than ours.
Think about it. How many veteran troops does Hu Hao have under his command now? Furthermore, according to intelligence from our operatives, among Hu Hao's generals, only Li Jingsong comes from an aristocratic family. The rest are all commoners.
This means that every general Hu Hao has promoted is likely capable of fighting wars. And the junior officers below them know how to fight as well! Combine that with a massive veteran force... Supreme Commander, tell me, how many of our troops would we have to sacrifice, and how much time would it take to eliminate Hu Hao on the battlefield?!" Vitali sat there, looking intently at Vostok.
"Damn it! If this keeps up, Hu Hao's army will transform into an elite fighting force! And Hu Hao's own command abilities are already formidable! This won't do. We must find a way to eliminate him quickly!" Vostok nodded, his expression grim.
"Eliminating him on the battlefield will be difficult. However, throwing them into internal turmoil... is still entirely possible!" Vitali smiled.
"Internal turmoil?" Vostok looked at him, slightly confused.
"Exactly. Internal turmoil. We've received word from Tang Long that their Emperor has begun to grow wary of Hu Hao!" Vitali smiled at Vostok.
"Wary?" Vostok looked at Vitali, who nodded in confirmation.
"Oh, that's good! That's very good!" Vostok nodded along, a smile forming.
"I plan to have Tang Long start attacking Hu Hao politically, urging their Emperor to strip Hu Hao of his military authority. Even if he can't strip his authority, he can turn Hu Hao and the Emperor into mortal enemies! Without their Emperor's acknowledgment, tell me, would Hu Hao still find it so easy to control his troops?
As long as Hu Hao loses his iron grip on his army, the rest will be easy to handle. Furthermore, Hu Hao's raid on Tonglong City was clearly an attempt to create a strategic opportunity for the Eastern Spirit Empire's central front troops. Thank goodness Tang Long delayed their ammunition delivery!
Otherwise, our losses would have been catastrophic. Right now, the majority of our troops have already withdrawn, leaving only three corps behind to hold off Jiang Kai's forces.
It is now impossible for Jiang Kai to continue pushing south; our forces have established solid defensive lines. As for the troops attacking Gunan City, we still need to carefully consider whether or not to proceed with the offensive!" Vitali explained.
"Tang Long! Haha! Oh man, I truly never expected the former Grand Marshal of the Eastern Spirit Empire to actually defect to your Mara Empire!" Vostok shook his head with a laugh.
"Hmph. With a character like that, I don't know how he ever gained their Emperor's trust in the first place. But one can imagine that their Emperor isn't exactly a good bird either!" Vitali sneered.
"Hmm. How about this, can you pass a message to Tang Long? If I recall correctly, Hu Hao is from Huaizhong Province, right? His family is still there. Have Tang Long instigate their Emperor to execute Hu Hao's family, forcing Hu Hao to turn against his Emperor!
To be honest, I'd rather have Hu Hao surrender and serve us than deal with scum like Tang Long. Tang Long has zero actual ability, but he's incredibly skilled at screwing over his own country!
Hu Hao, on the other hand, is a brilliant commander. With our Allied forces invading the Central Region, if Hu Hao became an officer for your Mara Empire or our Holy Ancient Empire, it would be like adding wings to a tiger!" Vostok smiled at Vitali.
"Excellent idea. Forcing their Emperor to kill Hu Hao's family would definitely make Hu Hao sever all ties with him. In fact, their Emperor doesn't even need to be the one to do it; Tang Long can do it himself!
When necessary, we can have Tang Long deploy assassins to kill Hu Hao's family. That will achieve the exact same result!" Vitali smiled back.
"Acceptable. Force Hu Hao to break with their Emperor. Besides, serving an Emperor like that truly isn't worth it for a man like Hu Hao!" Vostok nodded in agreement.
"Then I'll send someone to pass the message. I'll tell him to hurry up; this must be done before the rainy season ends." With that, Vitali stood up.
They figured that since they couldn't defeat Hu Hao on the battlefield, stabbing him in the back was the next best option, and it could yield excellent results.
…
Hu Hao remained entirely oblivious to all this. Currently, he was leading the Special Operations Regiment toward Guyi City. Allied vanguard forces—two tank divisions—had already been spotted in Dingze City.
Hu Hao's forces had already occupied Guyi City, located south of Dingze City. Hu Hao was heading there to direct the battle to eliminate the forces in Dingze City. Traveling with Hu Hao were one tank division and two armored infantry divisions, rapidly advancing to reinforce Guyi City.
Although the Allied forces hadn't attacked Guyi City yet, he needed to establish his defenses in advance.
Meanwhile, the troops that had previously departed from Late City and Jinhe City had arrived in Nanlin City—the very place where Hu Hao's team had discovered the Allied forces committing a massacre. The troops in Nanlin City were now threatening Dingze City from the west.
"Hao-ge! Hao-ge, Commander Jiang wants to speak with you!" As Hu Hao slept in a vehicle, Dong Wenjun woke him, holding out a phone. This was the satellite phone Zhang Debiao had sent over for Hu Hao to communicate with the outside world!
"Oh? Hello, Commander!" Hu Hao lay there, took the phone, and answered.
"Sigh... Hu Hao, this time... this time, I've truly let you down!" Jiang Kai's first words were an apology.
"The central front counter-offensive failed?" Hearing this, Hu Hao sat upright.
"Sigh. The ammunition didn't arrive until noon yesterday. By the time we distributed it to the troops, it was already afternoon. The Allied forces that needed to retreat had already retreated and formed new defensive lines.
Right now, although my troops want to attack, an offensive wouldn't yield any significant gains. Conversely, my troops' ammunition supply is currently being choked by High Command. If the Allied forces discover I don't have much ammunition, attacking would be suicide!" Jiang Kai sighed heavily over the phone.
"You command an entire Combat Zone, yet you still don't have enough ammunition?!" Hu Hao was even more shocked.
"I have some, but it's not enough! I can't just consider offensive operations; I must also consider defense! I can't just throw all my ammunition onto the front lines. If I do, and resupplies are delayed, it will lead to a total rout, and the entire central front will be in jeopardy!
Hu Hao, I'm truly sorry. I really did my best. Over the past few days, I don't even know how many times I called the Emperor, or how many times I called High Command!
As of this morning, my troops have wiped out roughly three Allied corps. But the vast majority of the Allied forces successfully retreated, and they might threaten your position soon. Damn it!" Jiang Kai spoke with profound helplessness!
"What the hell is wrong with the Emperor?! Is he getting senile?! If he can't do the job, he should step down and let the Crown Prince take over! Damn it, such a golden opportunity, ruined just like that!
And that Tang Long! Don't you guys even suspect that he might be crazy?! Choking the ammunition supply at a critical time like this?! Is he a general of our Empire, or a general of the Allied forces?!" Hu Hao yelled into the phone, his anger boiling over.
"Hmm?" Jiang Kai was momentarily taken aback by Hu Hao's words!
"Commander, originally, if we had coordinated our attacks and wiped out the Allied forces on the central front, tell me, wouldn't we have been able to reclaim at least five provinces?! Combine that with the massive veteran forces we would have gained...
There's no way the Allied forces could easily swallow those five provinces back up! The war would have dragged on, dragging right into the rainy season in March of next year! Although the rainy season in March isn't as severe, it still has an impact!
As long as we bought enough time for the Empire, the Empire would still have a glimmer of hope! But now, thanks to Tang Long's sabotage, what is there left to fight for?!
Why do you think I refuse to answer the Emperor's calls?! Why do you think I refuse to answer High Command's calls?! They are single-handedly burying the Empire's every chance of survival! What the hell are they even thinking about right now?!
Worrying about rebellion?! Are they insane?! Even if someone successfully rebelled right now, could they hold off the Allied attacks?! Sigh. Commander, I don't want to care about their petty bullshit anymore! I'll just focus on killing the enemy, and leave it at that!
As for Tang Long, the Emperor, and the rest... they can do whatever they want. They can do whatever the hell they please! I'm washing my hands of them!" Hu Hao declared to Jiang Kai.
"Hmm, bear with it for now. Hu Hao, over the next few days, I will bring your family over to my side. If the opportunity arises, I will send them to your territory. I have a feeling Tang Long might make a move against your family. If you continue to butt heads with the Emperor, Tang Long will definitely strike!" Jiang Kai warned Hu Hao.
"He wouldn't dare!" Hearing this, Hu Hao sprang to his feet, instantly smacking his head against the vehicle's roof.
"There is nothing he wouldn't dare do! Why do you think Tang Long can still sit in High Command? Do you think it's solely because he's the Crown Prince's father-in-law? Tang Long is an incompetent fool! What does an incompetent fool rely on to secure a seat in High Command?
He relies on being the Emperor's loyal dog! Whoever the Emperor dislikes, he unleashes his dog, Tang Long, upon them! Do you understand?!" Jiang Kai explained over the phone.
"Hiss... Tang Long... damn him!" Hu Hao ground his teeth.
"Contact your family. I will bring them over to my side first!" Jiang Kai offered.
"But if you do that, you'll be in trouble! Won't the Emperor suspect you?" Hu Hao asked.
"Let him suspect me. Truth be told, I've given up hope. This time, I have truly given up hope." Jiang Kai revealed his true feelings to Hu Hao.
Hearing Jiang Kai offer to bring his family over to his side, Hu Hao worried that if the Emperor found out, he might suspect Jiang Kai. However, Jiang Kai responded that he had already given up hope.
"Commander? You...? Didn't you trust the Emperor quite a bit before? Why the sudden change? If you didn't have enough weapons and ammunition, you could have just told the Emperor!" Hu Hao asked, not quite understanding.
"Hu Hao, I told him. By all rights, control of the arsenals shouldn't have been handed to Tang Long. The Emperor knows perfectly well that I don't get along with Tang Long, and neither do you. The two of us are out here fighting wars, yet the Emperor lets Tang Long manage the arsenals. Tell me, isn't the Emperor just guarding against the two of us?
Furthermore, I explained the stakes clearly to the Emperor this time, but he simply didn't take it seriously. Why do you think that is? Because he tacitly approved of Tang Long's actions! If he doesn't even care about this Empire, why should we care about them?
Forget it, I'm done overthinking it. Anyway, I essentially have full control of my troops now. Many sons of my Jiang family have also died on the battlefield. I, Jiang Kai, have done right by the Empire, and I have done right by the Emperor!" Jiang Kai said, his voice laced with emotion.
"But what if he declares you in rebellion? What will you do then?" Hu Hao considered the possibility and asked.
"Let him try! Is he willing to throw away the central front? The moment the gates to the central front open, the capital will fall immediately! I'm taking a page out of your book now—I'm ignoring him!" Jiang Kai declared.
"Good! Honestly, ignoring him is for the best! Oh, right, Commander, if necessary, we can force a link-up!" Hu Hao suggested after a moment's thought.
"Link up now?" Jiang Kai asked, surprised.
"Yes. When the time comes, I'll have my troops launch an offensive from Nanlin City toward Changting City, and then push onto Zhengren City. Your troops are stationed in Jianchang City, right?" Hu Hao asked.
"Correct, my troops are in Jianchang City right now. I have an entire corps stationed there!" Jiang Kai confirmed.
"Then let's link up!" Hu Hao said.
"No, we still can't. The moment you force a link-up, the Emperor will immediately dispatch a Chief of Staff to you. How are you going to deal with that? I know you, kid; you despise those aristocratic scions.
And you can bet that over half the Chiefs of Staff the Emperor sends will be scions of the Royal Family! He definitely doesn't trust you!" Jiang Kai cautioned Hu Hao.
"It doesn't matter. If they dare come, I dare kill them!" Hu Hao replied nonchalantly.
"Then all pretenses will be completely dropped!" Jiang Kai reminded him.
"They'll be dropped sooner or later anyway. If we keep indulging them, the Empire will fall eventually regardless. Just look at High Command right now, especially our Army side—it's a foul, toxic mess! Tang Long, Ma Xiongwei... what the hell are they?! Do they know how to fight a war?!
Putting people who don't know how to fight in charge of High Command... is the Emperor treating the Empire's safety as a joke?! Like you just said, if he doesn't even care anymore, what are we still caring for?!" Hu Hao sneered.
Meanwhile, at High Command, a staff officer approached and reported, "Report! As of now, Commander Jiang Kai still hasn't sent the combat statistics report! We've urged them, but to no avail. High Command has called repeatedly, but Commander Jiang Kai refuses to answer!"
The Emperor, the Crown Prince, and the generals at High Command all exchanged glances upon hearing this.
"Contact Jiang Kai!" the Emperor ordered Luo Xin.
"Yes, Your Majesty!" Luo Xin took the phone from a staff officer and initiated the call. A staff officer answered on the other end, claiming Jiang Kai was busy and would call back later.
"His staff officer says Jiang Kai is busy!" Luo Xin reported, lowering the phone.
"What is going on?! Why hasn't Jiang Kai sent a telegram yet?! We haven't received a single casualty report since yesterday!" the Emperor demanded, looking at the generals.
"Perhaps the casualties are too high, and Jiang Kai is too ashamed to send the report! I said from the beginning that dealing with the Allied forces wouldn't be that simple. What looks like an opportunity might be a trap!" Tang Long suggested.
"Impossible. Based on previous casualty reports, Jiang Kai's side was fighting exceptionally well!" Luo Xin shook his head in disagreement.
"Why is it impossible? The Allied forces in the rear were definitely prepared. Even though Hu Hao was wreaking havoc in Tonglong City, it doesn't mean the Allied forces didn't have sufficient ammunition prepared, right?" Tang Long countered.
"Enough. Send a telegram to Jiang Kai! Order him to send the casualty report as soon as possible!" the Emperor instructed Luo Xin.
Luo Xin nodded and ordered his subordinates to execute the command.
They waited the entire afternoon, but still, no telegram arrived from Jiang Kai! The Emperor was furious!
By 5:00 PM, the Emperor ordered the technical department to establish a video call with Jiang Kai. He demanded Jiang Kai speak to him; even if Jiang Kai refused to speak, the Emperor wanted to see what he was doing.
Left with no choice, Jiang Kai's side accepted the video call. Jiang Kai stood rigidly before the camera, his expression blank, leaving the Emperor and the High Command generals utterly bewildered as to his intentions.
"Jiang Kai, are things really that busy on the front lines?" the Emperor asked from his seat.
"No, I have plenty of free time! We can't fight anymore. The troops are currently consolidating our hold on the cities we just recaptured!" Jiang Kai replied expressionlessly.
"Hmm. You recaptured those cities, why didn't you report it?" the Emperor pressed.
"It's not many, just seven or eight cities. We're currently handling the aftermath," Jiang Kai replied, maintaining his stoic expression.
"Jiang Kai, what is the meaning of this?! His Majesty is speaking to you! What is with that expression?!" Tang Long immediately stood up and berated Jiang Kai.
"You also know I am speaking to His Majesty. What the hell are you to interrupt? Incompetent fool!" Jiang Kai shot back, glaring at Tang Long.
"You... Jiang Kai, you... you!" Tang Long pointed at Jiang Kai, at a loss for words. Jiang Kai wasn't at High Command; if he were, Tang Long would have charged over and fought him right then and there.
"Jiang Kai! What exactly is going on?!" Luo Xin finally asked.
"Grand Marshal... sigh, just let them play their games. I have no desire to listen to any more news or orders from High Command. Oh, right, regarding those weapons and ammunition: send them if you want, don't send them if you don't. It doesn't matter either way. But when the central front falls, don't you dare blame me for fighting poorly!
As for everything else, handle it yourselves. Do whatever you want. I don't have the mood to deal with your nonsense anymore! I'm tired. That's all!" With that, Jiang Kai turned to walk away from the camera!
"Wait a moment!" Hearing this, the Emperor immediately stood up, staring intently at Jiang Kai on the large screen.
Jiang Kai's words bore a striking resemblance to Hu Hao's final words to them. This gave the Emperor a deeply ominous premonition.
"Your Majesty, if you don't want the Empire, then so be it. You are the Emperor, this world is yours. Since you don't want it, stop tormenting us. Torment them instead!" Jiang Kai pointed at the generals of High Command.
"What do you mean by that?!" the Emperor demanded sharply.
"Nothing much. We are fighting wars on the front lines, and not only do you refuse to support us, you actively drag us down! Sigh, let's just leave it at that!" Jiang Kai waved his hand dismissively and turned to leave again.
"Jiang Kai, if you dare rebel, I will execute your entire extended family to the ninth degree!" Tang Long pointed at Jiang Kai and threatened.
"Go ahead. Many of my clansmen are currently in enemy-occupied territory. Go execute them! What a joke!" Jiang Kai retorted before walking off-screen.
"What exactly is going on?!" the Emperor roared.
"Cut the video feed!" Luo Xin ordered a staff officer.
"Hu Hao acts like this, and now Jiang Kai acts like this too?! What exactly is going on?!" The Emperor was on the verge of madness, shouting at the top of his lungs.
"I said a long time ago that they wanted to rebel and that we had to be on guard! Now that they have enough troops under their command, they're starting to think about rebellion!" Tang Long immediately chimed in.
"You shut your mouth!" Luo Xin pointed at Tang Long and roared. Both the Emperor and Tang Long looked at Luo Xin in shock!
"It is precisely because of you that the Empire lost over half its territory to the Allied forces in less than two months! And you still have the nerve to speak?!" Luo Xin yelled at Tang Long.
"I... Luo Xin, stop spitting venom!" Tang Long pointed at himself, then pointed at Luo Xin and shouted.
"All of you, shut your mouths!" the Emperor roared.
"Your Majesty, do you know why they are acting like this?! Your Majesty, the only Commander-level generals in the Empire who know how to fight are Hu Hao and Jiang Kai! And now... they are thoroughly disillusioned with you, Your Majesty, and with High Command!
Your Majesty, why?! Hu Hao and Jiang Kai's forces are the pillars guarding the central region! They have been fighting continuously on the front lines! Why has it come to this?!" Luo Xin cried out, his voice filled with anguish!
"Hmph, disillusioned?! How has His Majesty treated them poorly?! Jiang Kai is a Viscount! And Hu Hao, barely in his twenties, is already a Full General of the Empire, commanding hundreds of thousands of troops! Are they still not satisfied?!" Tang Long immediately countered.
"Your Majesty, if those two refuse to obey High Command's orders, tell me, does the Empire still have any hope?! There is no hope left! With so many nations joining the Allied forces, once the rainy season ends, the Empire will be destroyed!
Originally, if Jiang Kai and Hu Hao had coordinated their attacks, they could have wiped out the Allied forces on the central front, annihilating hundreds of thousands of enemy troops! If the Allied forces wanted to attack us again, they would have had to amass new forces, giving our Empire more precious time!
But... but our Eastern Spirit Empire, even by possessing a complete military-industrial system... yet couldn't provide ammunition to the front lines! Your Majesty, tell me, who wouldn't be disillusioned?! Who would be willing to keep fighting?!" Luo Xin shouted passionately.
"It's already been sent!" Tang Long yelled back!
"What fucking use is it now?! The Allied forces have already retreated from the central front and established defensive lines in the rear! Furthermore, their supply lines are now even shorter! Continuing the offensive now would be suicide!" Luo Xin cursed.
"Stop! Say no more, all of you!" The Emperor sat back down, waved his hand wearily, and then sat there in a daze.
(End of Chapter)