Sun Qinxue pulled Hu Hao into a separate meeting room. As soon as they entered, Hu Hao dropped into a chair and looked at the Chief of Staff.
“I say, Chief of Staff, Lao Jiang isn’t playing fair. He’s using me as a shield, isn’t he?” Hu Hao said.
“Nothing of the sort!” Sun Qinxue quickly pulled out a cigarette, handed it to Hu Hao, and lit it for him.
“Nothing? Hah? I’m not an idiot, Chief of Staff! The moment I walked in, that Tang Junjie was staring at me, and the second I spoke, he started snapping back. When I lit a cigarette, he came at me with an interrogation. I don’t know him, and we have no history, so why is he targeting me if Lao Jiang didn’t start something?” Hu Hao asked.
“Aiya, sigh!” Sun Qinxue sighed deeply.
“Don’t just sigh, speak clearly. Dammit, I’ve at least earned some merit for you guys, right? And this is how you treat me?” Hu Hao pressed.
“We didn’t intend to use you as a shield; it was a coincidence, you know? A pure coincidence!” Sun Qinxue insisted.
“Coincidence? There were several Colonels and Brigadiers in the command post, but my arrival was just a ‘coincidence’?” Hu Hao asked again.
“No, I don’t even know how to explain it to you. This actually has nothing to do with you. It was just because you walked in and mentioned that the Air Force was short on fighters, which triggered Tang Junjie’s counterattack.” Sun Qinxue explained.
“Why? Was what I said wrong?” Hu Hao asked.
“It wasn’t wrong. The problem is you don’t know that High Command originally allocated us two fighter divisions and four bomber divisions. The Commander kept calling High Command to ask for more, but the Grand Marshal refused, saying the bombers were for wiping out the enemy in large numbers.
“He argued that since we are on the defensive and have anti-aircraft units, we don’t need that many fighters. The Commander disagreed and kept reporting it until he eventually reached the Emperor. The Emperor called the Grand Marshal, and our fighters were increased by two divisions, but our bomber divisions were reduced.
“The moment you suggested we don’t need bombers, Tang Junjie was bound to snap at you. That’s how this whole mess started. By the way, Tang Junjie is the youngest son of Grand Marshal Tang Long, and the one he values most. If nothing goes wrong, he’ll likely succeed the Grand Marshal in his position. Sigh, what a mess!”
“Holy shit, just one comment and I cause this much trouble?” Hu Hao asked.
“Exactly,” Sun Qinxue replied.
“Lao Jiang and the Grand Marshal don’t get along? Why?” Hu Hao thought for a moment and asked.
“Why? Simply because we didn’t follow his orders to stay and defend—we chose to attack instead. Back then, the Commander told the Grand Marshal to his face that he intended to go on the offensive. The Grand Marshal threatened that if the Commander failed, his family estate would be seized. The Commander didn’t back down and told him to try it if he had the guts.
“Later, the Emperor called the Commander and supported his decision to strike, which gave the Commander the confidence to fight. You know the rest—both the Commander and I received titles of nobility. Do you know what that means?
“The Grand Marshal himself is only a Viscount. Now the Commander has also been made a Viscount. Do you think the Grand Marshal is worried? In the Empire, the only non-royal noble titles are held by five people: the Grand Marshal, the Prime Minister, the Minister of Personnel, and the Generals of the Left, Middle, and Right. Among them, only the Grand Marshal and the Prime Minister hold the rank of Viscount, a tradition that has lasted hundreds of years.
“Now, suddenly, a Combat Zone Commander appears who is also a Viscount. Can the Grand Marshal not be worried?” Sun Qinxue explained.
“Oh, so you’re saying the Grand Marshal is worried that if the Commander keeps racking up achievements, he might eventually replace him?” Hu Hao asked.
“What do you think?” Sun Qinxue countered.
“Dammit. Then what’s the point of those two coming here? He Jingzhong is a Vanguard General, right? Is he here to supervise the battle?” Hu Hao asked.
“Supervise my ass. They’re here to inspect our defenses. We only received news last night that the Allied forces might attack. Based on that intelligence, the Commander wanted to finalize a defensive strategy last night.
“But then those two arrived. Since Tang Junjie works in the Strategic Staff Department, they joined the Commander to draft the strategy. The Commander looked at their plan and felt something was off, which is why he called you last night to come and take a look.” Sun Qinxue continued.
“Wait, so that defensive strategy was designed by them?” Hu Hao asked.
“Exactly. The Commander felt it was wrong from the start. When Tang Junjie tried to stop you from looking at it, the Commander became certain. He realized there was definitely something wrong with that strategy, which is why he insisted you see it.
“The result? Hah, dammit, the Grand Marshal is trying to screw us over. He’s afraid our troops will distinguish themselves again. If we do, the Commander really might take his place!” Sun Qinxue lowered his voice as he spoke.
“No way? Isn’t the promotion to Grand Marshal supposed to take years of experience as a Vanguard General and then as a General of the Left, Middle, or Right?” Hu Hao asked skeptically.
“How is it impossible?” Sun Qinxue looked around to make sure no one was near, then whispered, “The Southern Combat Zone has completely collapsed, losing five provinces. The Southeast Combat Zone has collapsed, losing seven provinces. The Western Combat Zone collapsed, losing seven provinces. Even our Southwest Combat Zone has lost six. Half the Empire’s territory has fallen!”
“Holy shit!” Hu Hao stood up in shock, staring at Sun Qinxue in disbelief.
“Sit down!” Sun Qinxue pulled Hu Hao back into his seat, fearing he would shout.
“In just over a month, half the country is gone?” Hu Hao asked, his eyes wide.
“You tell me. The Emperor is extremely dissatisfied with the strategies drafted by High Command. He’s also furious that High Command failed to take timely measures after the invasion began. Therefore, the Emperor is preparing to replace them.
“However, the Grand Marshal’s family has been in the military for hundreds of years. Removing him all at once would be difficult, so the Emperor is letting the Commander build up his strength. Now, even the Grand Marshal’s family troops have been deployed.
“Previously, they didn’t move a single man. This time, the Grand Marshal’s troops are deployed to defend against the Allied forces in the south. If the Grand Marshal’s own family fails to hold the line, just think about what that means!” Sun Qinxue said.
“So, the Grand Marshal wants to ensure his own troops win while making sure ours lose?” Hu Hao asked.
Sun Qinxue nodded.
“I’ll be damned! Hasn’t he considered that it doesn’t matter if we lose? As soldiers, dying on the battlefield is our job. But what about the civilians behind us? Hasn’t he considered that once our line is broken, even if there are troops further back, the Allied forces will flood into Dingkang Province and the neighboring provinces? Hasn’t he thought about the people? The Allied forces are slaughtering everyone!” Hu Hao asked loudly, prompting Sun Qinxue to cover his mouth.
“Lower your voice! You can’t say such things out loud!” Sun Qinxue warned.
Hu Hao suddenly felt like a deflated balloon. He slumped into his chair, threw his cigarette butt on the ground, and lit another one.
“There’s no other way. The Commander told me last night that we couldn’t deploy with peace of mind until you personally looked at the defensive maps. Those two wanted us to move our troops and begin deployments last night.
“But the Commander refused, saying he needed more time to consider. Those two have been following him all day today. The Commander was anxious to see you, but didn’t dare rush you for fear they would catch on and cause you trouble. He could only wait.
“When you finally arrived and said the map looked comprehensive but actually defended nothing, the Commander knew for sure. Those two bastards didn’t come here with good intentions!” Sun Qinxue lit a cigarette and sat there with Hu Hao.
“Sigh!” Hu Hao exhaled a breath of smoke, feeling utterly helpless.
“I’m telling you, you must find a way this time. Like you just said, it doesn’t matter if we die, but the civilians behind us cannot be slaughtered. Half the country is already gone; who knows how many people have been killed?
“Dammit, we’re thinking about reclaiming our land, but they just want us all to die so they can keep living in comfort!” Sun Qinxue continued, but Hu Hao remained silent.
Seeing no reaction, Sun Qinxue turned to him. “Hey, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” Hu Hao shook his head and continued smoking.
“Let me tell you, don’t worry about Tang Junjie this time. As long as the Commander is here, no one can touch you. No one!” Sun Qinxue thought Hu Hao was worried about the consequences.
“Why would I be afraid of him? I’ve got nothing to lose!” Hu Hao said with a faint smile.
Sun Qinxue nodded, remembering how Hu Hao had handled Zhang Liangqi before. Hu Hao might lack many things, but he certainly didn’t lack courage.
However, he soon noticed that Hu Hao remained motionless, his expression one of profound grief. Sun Qinxue couldn’t understand what had happened to make Hu Hao look this way so suddenly.
(End of Chapter)