In the conference room, Zhang Debiao listened to the corps commanders’ reports. First Li Jingsong, then Xiao Quan, followed by Lu Guangsheng and the others. With each report, Zhang Debiao would point out the direction for their future development and inquire about their current troop situations. This was the only way he could quickly grasp the condition of the entire army.
Furthermore, Zhang Debiao’s words earned their admiration. They felt that following Zhang Debiao offered a sense of stability. In truth, when Zhang Debiao and Hu Hao fought wars together, they embodied the concept of orthodox and unorthodox warfare—Zhang Debiao was the steady anchor, while Hu Hao employed risky, unconventional tactics!
By the time the meeting ended, it was already 5:00 PM. They now had a general understanding of Zhang Debiao. As for Hu Hao’s words, they harbored no doubts.
Since Hu Hao wanted Zhang Debiao to command the combat operations, they would listen for now. As for whether he was truly capable, that would only be proven on the battlefield.
After the meeting, Hu Hao and Zhang Debiao moved to another room!
The moment the door closed, Hu Hao burst into laughter. “Brother, was I awesome or what?”
“You brat! You wronged yourself!” Zhang Debiao chuckled, understanding perfectly well what Hu Hao had done.
Hu Hao acting submissive outside and getting scolded in the conference room was all a show for the others. He urgently needed to establish Zhang Debiao’s authority.
Zhang Debiao had realized this from the very beginning. He understood Hu Hao well enough to know that his little brother loathed being cooped up in a command center. Now that he was here, Hu Hao would definitely hand over the command of the troops to him. Zhang Debiao’s mind was as clear as a mirror regarding this.
“Brother, don’t hit so hard next time. Do you know how hard it is for me?” Hu Hao complained, looking at Zhang Debiao.
“So what if I hit you? You brat, since you arrived on this planet, why didn’t you try to find me?!” Zhang Debiao glared at Hu Hao. He then pulled out a cigarette and handed one to him.
Hu Hao took out his lighter, lit Zhang Debiao’s cigarette, and then lit his own.
“I haven’t been on this planet for long, just a few months. How long have you been here, brother?” Hu Hao sat down and asked.
“Sigh, I was born here! I thought I was the only one. I missed you, I missed Da Xiong, Houzi, those two monks, your sister-in-law, and all our relatives. Do you know how lonely I was? I didn’t even start speaking until I was five. I didn’t want to speak; I just kept thinking about all of you!
I was so confused. Didn’t I die? How did I end up here?” Zhang Debiao sat down and recounted his experience.
“Hehe, well, we brothers are reunited now, and that’s a good thing!” Hu Hao smiled and leaned back in his chair. Zhang Debiao sat beside him.
“Mhm. Now that you’re here, my heart is at ease. Damn it, before this, I was even planning to organize a guerrilla force to fight. I figured no matter what, I’d just fight them slowly. Let me tell you, Er Lengzi, I managed to gather over 3,000 men! But we didn’t have enough guns. Since I couldn’t get my hands on any, I had to rely on myself to kill the Allied guard units.
Back then, I kept thinking: if only you were here, I could have as many guns and as much money as I wanted! Too bad you weren’t. But now that you have an entire Army Group, I’m even more relieved.” Zhang Debiao nodded and told Hu Hao.
“Brother, things are actually pretty troublesome right now. The Eastern Spirit Empire can’t hold on. The Allied forces consist of over seventy nations coming to attack the Central Region. The nations in the Central Region haven’t united yet, and honestly, even if they did, it wouldn’t make a difference. Sigh!” Hu Hao leaned back and explained.
“So many nations invading our Eastern Spirit Empire?” Zhang Debiao looked at Hu Hao in shock.
He didn’t know much about the outside world because the internet in the occupied territories had been cut off, leaving him completely in the dark.
“What did you think? Sigh. I didn’t want to fight a war originally, but seeing the Allied forces slaughtering the citizens of the Eastern Spirit Empire like this, I couldn’t hold back!” Hu Hao nodded and sighed.
“Alright, let’s fight then. What else are we supposed to do? The heavens brought us brothers here, probably exactly for this reason—to fight wars!” Zhang Debiao sighed in resignation.
“Mhm. Brother, I’m leaving the command center to you. You know I don’t want to do this! I’m going out to handle some things!” Hu Hao smiled at Zhang Debiao.
“Handle my ass! Handle, handle, handle! Are you not afraid of death?! The weapons now are way better than the ones we had in our past lives! One bomb drops, and you’re dead, you little brat! Would it kill you to stay in the command center?!
We brothers need to build this army up together,” Zhang Debiao scolded.
“Brother, don’t worry, it’ll be fine!” Hu Hao brushed it off nonchalantly.
“Bullshit! In this world, apart from my parents here, you’re my only family. If you die, what am I supposed to do?!” Zhang Debiao glared at Hu Hao.
“It’ll be fine! Staying in the command center all day is so annoying!” Hu Hao complained, looking depressed.
“You are not allowed to go! You can lie around and sleep all day, play all day, hell, even if you make some ‘lifestyle mistakes,’ I won’t care! But just try going to the front lines! I can spoil you in every other way, but not this!
Going to the front lines? Keep dreaming! You can play every day, spend money like dirt, and I won’t even bat an eye!” Zhang Debiao laid down the law.
“Hehe!” Hearing this, Hu Hao reclined, crossed his legs, and smiled smugly!
Hu Hao was inwardly delighted. With his big brother here, his life would be so much easier! There were so many things he wouldn’t have to manage anymore—not even the combat operations! However, since they lacked capable generals right now, Hu Hao knew he still had to help out a bit.
“By the way, you said you and I both ended up here. Do you think Houzi, Da Xiong, and the other brothers are here too?” The thought occurred to Zhang Debiao, and he asked.
“I don’t know. How would I know why we’re here? I’m just as confused!” Hu Hao replied, puffing on a cigarette as he lay there.
“Think about it! With a brain as sharp as yours, how could you not know?” Zhang Debiao pressed.
“I’m not an immortal! How the hell am I supposed to know?!” Hu Hao retorted.
“True. It’s so strange. How did the two of us end up here?” Zhang Debiao sat there smoking, lost in thought.
The two brothers then spent about half an hour chatting about things back on Earth, primarily about what happened to their families after Zhang Debiao passed away, with Hu Hao filling him in on all the details.
Eventually, a knock came at the door.
“Hao-ge, Biao-ge, the fighting in Tonglong City is about to start!” a staff officer announced from outside.
“Let’s go, brother! It’s starting!” Hearing this, Hu Hao stood up, and Zhang Debiao followed suit. Zhang Debiao opened the door and walked out first, with Hu Hao trailing behind.
“Brother, this is the drone footage of Tonglong City!” Hu Hao pointed at the large screens.
“Hmm, Tonglong City. Fighting is fine, but Er Lengzi, we cannot occupy this place! The moment we occupy it, the Allied forces will fight us to the bitter end. Therefore, you have to control the degree of the attack.
I’m guessing you attacked Tonglong City to create a strategic opportunity for the defending forces on the central front. Have they started fighting yet?” Zhang Debiao stood there and asked.
“Sigh, don’t even mention it. Damn it, I attacked Tonglong City precisely to eliminate the threat to our north and allow the defending forces on the central front to wipe out the Allied troops there.
But then the central front tells me they don’t have enough ammunition! Isn’t that pure bullshit?!” Hu Hao cursed in frustration.
“No ammunition? That shouldn’t be possible. Our country is so wealthy and has a complete industrial system. It’s completely impossible for such a problem to arise!” Zhang Debiao was puzzled.
“Sigh. Do you know about that Tang Long guy at High Command?” Hu Hao sighed and asked.
“I know him. Grand Marshal! Used to see him on TV all the time!” Zhang Debiao nodded.
“That’s him. He’s not Grand Marshal anymore, he’s General of the Left. He doesn’t get along with the Central Front Commander, Jiang Kai, and he doesn’t get along with me either. So regarding the central front… hehe, I don’t need to say more!” Hu Hao chuckled cynically.
“The country is in this state, and he’s still playing these games?! Is he looking to die?!” Zhang Debiao said, staring at Hu Hao.
“Exactly! I can’t go back right now. If I could, I’d kill Tang Long myself!” Hu Hao ground his teeth.
“Good. Such a person cannot be allowed to live!” Zhang Debiao nodded in agreement.
“Oh, right. Brother, and all of you, listen up! From now on, in this command center, Zhang Debiao—my big brother—has the final say. If there are any problems, or if my brother asks any questions, you answer them! Whatever orders he issues, execute them immediately!” Hu Hao addressed the staff officers.
“Yes, sir!” the staff officers shouted loudly.
“Alright, brother, take command!” Hu Hao told Zhang Debiao.
“No need for me to command. You’ve already arranged the attack on Tonglong City. I just need to review the current situation of our troops. The crisis around Gunan City must be resolved!” Zhang Debiao nodded.
“Mhm, alright. Uh, Wu Kexiao, Zhao Yang, you guys head back now. Oh, Zhao Yang, leave a squad of Special Forces here at the command center to protect my brother!” Hu Hao instructed the two of them.
“Yes, sir!” Zhao Yang immediately called a Team Leader over, ordering him to keep his squad stationed at the command center for training and protection.
“Hao-ge, the files are ready!” Mo Qin walked over with a stack of documents and informed Hu Hao.
“Mo Qin, learn from my brother. My brother possesses true ability!” Hu Hao took the files and placed them on the table.
“I understand, Hao-ge!” Mo Qin nodded.
“Then Hao-ge, Biao-ge, we’ll be heading to Tonglong City now?” Wu Kexiao said to Hu Hao and Zhang Debiao.
“Go ahead!” Zhang Debiao nodded!
“Brother, you keep an eye on things here. I’m going to take a piss!” Hu Hao suddenly announced.
Zhang Debiao immediately fixed a hard stare on him.
“What?” Hu Hao asked quickly, seeing the look on Zhang Debiao’s face.
“Go in ten minutes!” Zhang Debiao ordered.
“I can’t hold it! I haven’t gone in so long!” With that, Hu Hao bolted!
“Hmph. You little brat, if you dare sneak off, I’ll kill you!” Zhang Debiao shouted at Hu Hao’s retreating back.
(End of Chapter)