Chapter 1231: Chapter 29: I’ll Hold the Line (2)
In the command hall, the applause surged like waves.
Fatty beamed with joy, feeling a strong affection for the old man in front of him. Modestly, he said, "Marshal, you overpraise me. I’m just lucky, that’s all."
"Lucky?!" Li Cunxin’s eyes widened as he said, "Could luck allow Gazalin Emperor James to fall right into your hands?! Could luck hold back over a thousand mechas of the Desic Hunter Mecha Group for a full four hours?! Could luck take the entire Mars Free Port with just one destroyer?!"
The old man’s words hit Fatty’s sweet spot.
Seeing the Chuckna officers’ surprised and admiring gazes all around, Fatty felt that the old man was kind-hearted and wise, growing a sense of camaraderie among heroes; he almost wanted to give him a hearty embrace and kiss.
"If it weren’t for being in such a vigilant place, I’d want to have a drink with you!" Li Cunxin shook Fatty’s hand vigorously, leading him forward to the officers, introducing them one by one starting from Pei Litong.
After a while, everyone sat down in a convivial atmosphere. Pei Litong leaned forward and said, "General Tian, I’ve heard from returning warriors that your fleet has already blocked the Western Alliance’s attack with Feiyang Douglas’s Nineteen Group Fleet in the Longbow Star System. Currently, is the Longbow Star System still in our Fei Alliance hands?!"
As soon as this question was raised, silence fell over the surroundings.
The officers became serious, all gazing intensely at Fatty.
In today’s Resk Star System, which has become the main battlefield in the Southeast Battle Zone, the fate of the Longbow Star System affects the entire Resk Battle and the lives of countless Chuckna soldiers.
The Western Alliance’s two punches are exceedingly fierce.
Jiepeng and Suss abandoned centuries of suspicion and defense, cooperating seamlessly. Mikami Yuto’s surprise attack on Canglang Star—that’s one punch! Sobel, foreseeing troubles, preemptively reinforced the Southeast. When Dougla recently ambushed the Longbow Star System, he seemed to perform magic, producing Desic 5th Group Fleet and two of Hanfrey’s Royal Elephant-class Fleets—another punch!
If Hanfrey Fleet drives straight from the Southeast Main Channel to attack Resk, the Fei Alliance Joint Army will lose not only Canglang Star but all immigrant planets including Leifeng Star within the Resk Star System!
The newly formed main force of the Fei Alliance Eastern Battle Zone will also face a devastating blow. At that time, hope of counterattack will be lost, and the two surviving divisions on Canglang Star will have nowhere to die.
Though it is unknown when the Fei Alliance might start a counterattack, holding on until then is everyone’s spiritual pillar here.
In the two hours Fatty was resting, everyone had heard this news from warriors who chatted with bandit soldiers, confirmed by some bandit soldiers, yet they still wanted confirmation from the Major General in front of them.
If true, it would be a huge morale boost for this fleeing army!
In the midst of countless eager eyes, Fatty smiled and nodded.
The entire command center erupted in celebration. Several officers immediately ran out of the fortifications to announce the news promptly to all the troops.
Li Cunxin and Pei Litong exchanged a glance, both unable to contain their excitement. The miserable feeling suffered during the escape seemed to dissipate completely. Although the Allied forces’ counterattack rescue was still unseen, at least there was a hopeful expectation for these twenty thousand warriors!
Pei Litong immediately stood and saluted, followed by the officers standing one after another.
"General Tian, you are the benefactor of our 13th Armored Division and 51st Infantry Division, of all 1.3 billion people of Chuckna, and we shall follow your command unto death."
"You’re too kind, you’re too kind!" Fatty hurriedly returned the salute, frowning, "Right now, the important thing is to get these twenty thousand brothers out. Once we step out of the encirclement, we can hold on until the Allied forces counterattack."
Li Cunxin gestured with his hand for everyone to sit down, then asked, "General Tian, do you have any suggestions for our army’s subsequent actions?"
"May I take a look at SkyNet?" Fatty pointed at a row of computer screens within the fortification.
"Of course," Li Cunxin rose briskly.
Fatty scrutinized the electronic virtual sand table, troop strength, weapon supplies, troop distribution, positions along with previous command deployments and newly received intelligence. After examining thoroughly, he sat deep in thought silently.
Time ticked by; Li Cunxin and Pei Litong watched Fatty quietly, saying nothing.
The situation had improved greatly compared to a few hours earlier.
From the mouth of the captured Jiepeng 172 Armored Division commander Zhongshan Yi, they learned that this Leray Major General had wreaked havoc behind enemy lines, thoroughly disrupting Jiepeng’s battle plans.
Originally, Zhongshan Yi had positioned an armored group and a Special Forces Camp at the 415 frontline. Later, deciding to carry out a concentrated attack on the 415 position, he ordered the withdrawal of a group from the rear and another from south of the 415 Heights to focus on the 415 direction. The plan was to launch an all-out attack after 59 Armored Division’s two regiments arrived.
But now, two battalions of the first group and one battalion of the second group had been devoured by Tian Xingjian, with the third group’s battalion at the base also badly damaged. Even he himself became a captive.
Without a commander, the 172 Armored Division is like a heap of sand, having lost four battalions, and the commander captured leaves soldier morale plummeting. Even if Magi assigns someone to temporarily take over the 172 Division, there’s no hope of the division capturing the 415 position. Now, Magi’s only option is to reorganize forces using the 59 Division as the backbone.
If things go as expected, the 172 Division should leave one or two battalions to assist the attack, while the others retreat to rest. Meanwhile, the 194 Armored Division located in the south will move closer to the 415 position.
Given this series of steps, the Chuckna army should gain at least eight additional hours! If the 194 Division moves slowly, this time may extend further.
This means that before 2 PM, the Jiepeng army is unable to launch an attack. Even if they attack, it will only be the 59 Division’s containment or reconnaissance attack.
To this end, Pei Litong specially contacted Balmer, postponing the breakout operation targeting Hot Spring Town. Time is ample, and the armored company that has broken out still contains more than forty mechas. Among them are ten medium mechas and six heavy mechas, a significant aid for Hot Spring Town. More importantly, there are also ten War Gods!
"I support the breakout from Hot Spring Town." After a long silence, Fatty finally spoke, "Currently, Jiepeng has mobilized eight divisions to encircle us, including four armored ones. This configuration clearly shows their determination to wipe us out. However, they still seem to underestimate us."
Fatty traced a red line through Hot Spring Town to the Northern Mountain Region, smiling as he said, "Canglang Star is a Level 1 Immigrant Star with town density far exceeding Second-level Immigrant Stars. Once we enter the Northern Mountain Region, leveraging the surrounding thirty settlements and six cities, survival is possible. This place is a natural guerrilla zone. As for escaping, I’m somewhat experienced."
Li Cunxin and Pei Litong exchanged a glance of agreement, recognizing that this Leray Major General’s strategic vision was beyond doubt. While Lower Star Castle and Kaff Town seemed easier for breakthrough and offered larger roaming space, the best route for infantry action was indeed through Hot Spring Town! For surviving infantry, the Northern Mountain Region was best!
"However, the current problem is how to withdraw as much of the troops as possible." Fatty tapped on the electronic map and turned to Li and Pei.
Both men looked serious, having sought Fatty’s opinion for this principal purpose.
"Let me handle it!"
Fatty chuckled gleefully, "The main force goes first, leaving one battalion at the position. After two hours, the battalion withdraws in three waves, with the final wave pulling out after six hours."
Leaving only one battalion on the position, and even so, withdrawing it in three waves?
The Chuckna officers were stunned. If the personnel were evacuated, who would hold the 415 position?!
"I’ll defend the position!"
Fatty’s gaze focused sharply on the enemy’s forward base location on the electronic map.
Without infantry burden, without anyone to protect, ten Twelfth Generation mechas, ten completely unfettered Mechanical Gods........if I don’t toy and harass those Jiepeng folks until they roll on the ground blushing exquisitely, I’d be dishonoring the ancestor of the Caihua Sect!
.
.
.
Spending time with my daughter on Sunday, this is for Monday, apologies.
.
.
