The joint conference room in the Ministry of Defense fell dead silent after Jiang Kai's blistering defense of Hu Hao.
After a long pause, the Emperor finally spoke, his voice strained. "What is Hu Hao doing right now?"
"Ah? Hu Hao... he is likely deploying his forces. He stated his intention to attack Tonglong City, and the offensive has likely already commenced," Jiang Kai replied.
"Why won't he return our call?" the Emperor asked, slowly sitting back down.
"He says he is exhausted. He says the capital gave him the designation of a Group Army, but absolutely nothing else. He has to build an army from scratch while simultaneously fighting off the Allied coalition.
"Because his initial enclave was too small, lacking the strategic depth necessary for a protracted defense, he had no choice but to expand his perimeter aggressively.
"And yet, as I just mentioned, his every strategic move is met with suspicion and interrogation from the capital. Therefore, Hu Hao is deeply aggrieved. Not only is he refusing to return calls, he is actively ignoring incoming calls as well. It took me several attempts just to get him on the line, and he spent the entire conversation venting his fury at me!" Jiang Kai explained the depth of Hu Hao's alienation.
"That fury was directed at me and the Ministry generals, wasn't it?" the Emperor noted astutely. He knew Hu Hao wouldn't explode at Jiang Kai, who had always supported him.
"Yes. He said the Ministry didn't even bother to analyze his video before accusing him of treason. He said the Ministry was so terrified of Allied retaliation that they completely missed the strategic opportunity staring them in the face!
"If Hu Hao successfully captures or neutralizes Tonglong City, we have the perfect window to launch a massive counter-offensive! How can the Allied forces fight us without ammunition?!
"When he received the interrogation call from the Crown Prince, he was furious, but also... profoundly lonely. He has been fighting on the front lines, bleeding for the Empire, only to be constantly suspected of treason by the rear echelon. Therefore, he no longer wishes to communicate with the capital.
"He explicitly told me: the Ministry of Defense can think whatever they want; he no longer cares. He is solely focused on leading his men in battle, and he will ignore everything else!" Jiang Kai relayed Hu Hao's absolute rejection of the Imperial Court's authority, hoping the Emperor would finally understand the damage his paranoia had caused.
"Mm. Regarding this proposed counter-offensive... what is your assessment?" the Emperor pivoted, addressing the tactical reality.
"If the central front launches a full-scale offensive, I am confident we can achieve significant victories! However... success hinges entirely on Hu Hao!
"Hu Hao must not only sever the Tonglong City supply line, but he must maintain that blockade for at least a week to bleed their frontline reserves dry! Only then will our counter-offensive have a guaranteed chance of success! If Hu Hao abandons the Tonglong City operation out of spite, we have no chance!
"And frankly, Your Majesty, Hu Hao doesn't need to attack Tonglong City. Strategically, his forces would be much safer expanding south rather than east. Pushing east toward Tonglong City overextends his lines. If the Allied forces launch a massive counter-attack, they could easily sever the connection between Late City and Tonglong City, trapping his vanguard. Given the severe reprimand he just received from the capital, it is highly likely Hu Hao will abandon the Tonglong City offensive and prioritize his own survival!" Jiang Kai warned, highlighting the catastrophic consequence of the Emperor's temper tantrum.
"Order Hu Hao to hold the Tonglong City blockade for at least half a month! My absolute requirement is that not a single crate of supplies reaches the central front for fifteen days! If he accomplishes this, we will launch the counter-offensive! We will let the Allied forces starve for a week, and then we will attack for a week! Are you confident you can shatter them in a week?!" the Emperor demanded, his strategic greed suddenly overriding his bruised ego.
"Yes. However, Your Majesty must consider the reality on the ground. Hu Hao's forces are primarily raw recruits, and he is critically short of officers. Furthermore, the Allied High Command knows exactly how vital Tonglong City is. They will undoubtedly hurl massive reinforcements into that meat grinder.
"If Hu Hao is forced into a protracted, desperate defense of Tonglong City against veteran Allied corps... his casualties will be astronomical. I severely doubt his newly formed army can sustain those kinds of losses!" Jiang Kai pointed out the fatal flaw in the Emperor's demand.
"Tell Hu Hao this: for every soldier he loses holding Tonglong City, I will authorize a corresponding increase to his official establishment quota! I will replace his losses!" the Emperor offered, his tone absolute.
"That... Your Majesty... the immediate issue isn't troop quotas. The issue is whether Hu Hao is even willing to launch the offensive anymore. I am not in a position to negotiate this with him," Jiang Kai hesitated, gently reminding the Emperor of the political reality.
"Mm. Sigh." The Emperor finally understood. The dynamic had completely flipped. Moments ago, the Emperor had been furious with Hu Hao. Now, Hu Hao held all the cards, and he was furious with the Emperor.
"Tell Hu Hao to call me. Tell him I have important matters to discuss with him directly," the Emperor commanded, attempting to regain control.
"He is ignoring my calls, Your Majesty," Jiang Kai replied flatly.
"Perhaps I should try calling him?" Luo Xin offered.
"It's useless. He explicitly stated he will not answer any calls from the capital. I suggest we leave him be for today. He genuinely will not answer," Jiang Kai advised.
"Then call him tomorrow! If he initiates the assault on Tonglong City tonight, we still have a few days to coordinate our probing attacks on the central front before launching the main offensive!
"By the way, Jiang Kai... are you absolutely certain Hu Hao will initiate the assault on Tonglong City tonight?!" the Emperor asked, needing confirmation.
"That is what he told me. He said we would see the results by tomorrow," Jiang Kai confirmed.
"Excellent," the Emperor nodded, a glimmer of hope returning to his eyes.
"Report! General Vostok, the Allied Supreme Commander, has just released a video response to Hu Hao's broadcast!" a staff officer interrupted, pushing open the conference room doors.
"Oh?! Put it on the main screen immediately!" the Emperor ordered.
The video played. Vostok sat behind his desk, speaking in the Southern dialect, with Eastern Spirit subtitles scrolling across the bottom of the screen.
"General Hu Hao... I grant you the title of General because your tactical acumen has indeed exceeded my initial expectations. However, your streak of luck ends here! I am fully aware of your intent to assault Tonglong City!
"Consider this a formal warning: Tonglong City is an impenetrable fortress! It will be your graveyard!
"Furthermore, regarding your audacious demand for a ransom... haha! The wealth of the Allied coalition is reserved solely for our brave soldiers! We do not pay tribute to dead men!
"General Hu Hao, I look forward to meeting you on the battlefield at Tonglong City. Let us see if your bite matches your bark! And remember my name: I am General Vostok, Supreme Commander of the Allied Invasion Force!" Vostok sneered, exuding absolute confidence before the video abruptly cut out.
"Mm. It appears the Allied coalition is indeed preparing to mass overwhelming force in Tonglong City for a decisive battle against Hu Hao," Luo Xin observed gravely.
"Jiang Kai, we will end the call here. When the opportunity arises, impress upon Hu Hao the necessity of returning a call to myself or the Crown Prince!
"Furthermore, assure him that I maintain absolute faith in his loyalty! Tell him I simply do not wish to see his 1st Group Army needlessly annihilated by the Allied forces!" the Emperor instructed. Jiang Kai acknowledged the orders and ended the connection.
The Emperor immediately ordered the staff officers to replay Hu Hao's original broadcast.
"Your Majesty? Do you not intend to punish Hu Hao for his insolence? Regardless of his perceived grievances, his disrespectful language and blatant insubordination cannot be tolerated, can it?!" Tang Long probed, desperate to keep the focus on Hu Hao's treason.
The Emperor turned and glared at Tang Long with absolute venom.
Tang Long flinched, utterly confused as to why the Emperor was directing his fury at him when Hu Hao was the one who had committed treason.
"General Tang, whether His Majesty chooses to pursue disciplinary action is a separate matter entirely! The paramount issue before us is the viability of a massive counter-offensive on the central front! If we succeed, we could annihilate 600,000 Allied soldiers! This is a critical turning point for the Eastern Spirit Empire! Your Majesty, I urge you to prioritize this operational planning!" Luo Xin stood up, forcefully redirecting the conversation.
The Emperor remained silent, his gaze sweeping over the Army generals. He noticed that Tang Long (General of the Left), Ma Xiongwei (General of the Vanguard), and Yu Hongyu were all conspicuously silent. A massive ground offensive should have been spearheaded by the Army high command.
Yet, these aristocratic Army generals offered absolutely no strategic input. They simply stared at Tang Long, waiting for his lead. And Tang Long was clearly entirely unconcerned with the frontline war effort; his mind was entirely consumed with plotting the political downfalls of Hu Hao and Jiang Kai.
"Your Majesty?" Luo Xin prompted gently.
"I formally support the proposed counter-offensive!" Liang Kuan, the Air Force General of the Right, added his voice.
"We will table this discussion for now. I require some time to think in peace. If Hu Hao calls, notify me immediately. Crown Prince, Luo Xin... come with me," the Emperor stood up and walked out of the conference room, his hands clasped behind his back, his posture heavy with exhaustion.
Meanwhile, in Xinqiao City, Hu Hao received the confirmation he had been waiting for: the Special Operations Regiment had successfully detonated multiple critical railway and highway bridges, effectively severing the Allied logistical arteries leading to the central front.
Hu Hao smiled grimly. The trap was sprung.
"Hao-ge, the arteries are severed! But... I still don't quite understand. If we're so furious with the Emperor and the Ministry of Defense that we're ignoring their calls, why are we risking our elite operatives to execute a grand strategy that primarily benefits the central front?! Why not just let the Allied supplies flow?! If we eventually capture Tonglong City, wouldn't that sever the lines anyway?!" Wu Kexiao asked, genuinely puzzled by the apparent contradiction.
"You guys... you don't understand the burden of command until you're the one paying the bills!" Hu Hao pointed at them and laughed.
"Ah? Hao-ge, what does severing supply lines have to do with paying bills?!" Weng Tao asked, equally confused.
"Idiots! What exactly are those supply lines transporting?! Supplies! Combat materiel! Food! Ammunition!" Hu Hao stated the obvious.
"Right... but Hao-ge, we aren't exactly short on supplies, are we?" Weng Tao pressed.
"Exactly! We have the Daman City armories producing weapons, and the civilians in our enclave have started farming again! We have plenty of food and ammo!" Wu Kexiao agreed.
"Plenty?! Hah! Do you think manufacturing our own ammunition is free?! Do you think our farmers growing grain doesn't cost time and resources?! Furthermore, where do you think the Allied forces got all those supplies they're transporting?! They looted them from our country! They stole our grain!
"Do you have any idea how many refugees are currently flooding our enclave?! I haven't seen the official census, but I guarantee it's no less than sixty million people! And more are arriving every single day! Do you think those starving refugees brought their own food?!
"We need massive amounts of resources to sustain our population! If we let those supply trains pass, the Allied forces use our stolen grain to feed their armies! But if we blow the bridges, those supplies pile up in the transit depots... right where we can raid them! We take back what is ours, we feed our people, and we slowly bleed the Allied logistics dry!" Hu Hao explained his pragmatic, ruthless logic.
"Hao-ge, a staff officer from the Ministry of Defense is on the line! He's demanding a detailed report on our current troop deployments!" a communications officer called out, interrupting their strategy session.
"Tell him to screw off! Ignore him!" Hu Hao ordered without hesitation.
(End of Chapter)