Kelly had just ended his call with Supreme Commander Vostok when a senior staff officer immediately recommended a general retreat.
"Retreat?" Kelly turned to him, incredulous.
"Yes, sir. Disregarding all other tactical factors, the logistical nightmare alone will paralyze us once the rainy season begins.
"Hu Hao's troops are locals; they are intimately familiar with this climate and terrain. If they launch a counter-offensive during the heavy rains, they will slaughter us! When that day comes, we won't be able to attack, and we won't be able to retreat!" the staff officer argued passionately.
"True. Once the rains hit, keeping our frontline forces supplied will be nearly impossible," Kelly nodded, acknowledging the grim reality.
"Commander, our objective now shouldn't be the immediate annihilation of Hu Hao, but rather maintaining a strategic deterrent. I recommend we withdraw our forces to Liangchuan City.
"From there, we can still pose a threat to Hu Hao's flank. Furthermore, by occupying a fortified city, we force Hu Hao to pay a heavy price if he decides to attack us!" the staff officer proposed.
"Unacceptable! If we retreat to Liangchuan City, we effectively hand over 300 miles of territory back to Hu Hao!
"There are still civilians in the countryside and the surrounding county towns. Yes, many have fled, but there is still a significant population base. If Hu Hao controls that territory, he will recruit a massive army!
"When the rainy season ends, we won't be facing two corps; we'll be facing seven! A full Group Army! We would be signing our own death warrants!" Kelly vehemently rejected the idea.
"But Commander, if we stay here, we will die anyway! There is no chance of victory now! If our entire corps is annihilated here, how exactly are we supposed to deter Hu Hao's expansion?" the staff officer pleaded desperately.
"How do you know we'll die here?!" Kelly glared furiously at him.
"Commander, forgive me if I spoke out of turn. But think about it: we still haven't determined Hu Hao's true strength! If our forces had successfully occupied the majority of Yonghe City, I wouldn't be suggesting a retreat.
"But that is not the case! Our troops are pinned down on the absolute edge of the city. You know Hu Hao possesses at least two tank divisions. If he deploys them while we are pinned against the urban perimeter, with our backs to the open plains... it will be a slaughter!" the staff officer explained his dire assessment.
"I know! However, our strategy changes now. We will launch a relentless, fierce assault on Yonghe City! We will pound them without mercy! And when our reinforcements arrive, we will pound them even harder!
"We must secure at least half of Yonghe City! By holding half the city, we establish a fortified stalemate, effectively suppressing Hu Hao's ability to expand outward!
"Hmph! As long as we push just three kilometers deep into the city limits, we can force a deadlock. Even Hu Hao won't be able to dislodge us easily then!" Kelly declared, his jaw set in stubborn determination.
"Ah?" The senior staff officer stared at him in shock. He hadn't anticipated that Kelly would stubbornly insist on holding his ground to contain Hu Hao, even at the cost of his own corps.
Meanwhile, at Hu Hao's headquarters, Hu Hao had just woken up and entered the main command center to review the situation in Yonghe City.
"Hao-ge, the Allied forces successfully established defensive lines within their occupied sectors. Our counter-attacks failed to dislodge them from the city limits," a staff officer reported immediately.
"Why would we want to dislodge them? If we pushed them out entirely, they might actually retreat! This is perfect. Now, they won't let go easily!" Hu Hao chuckled, much to the officer's confusion.
"Ah?" The staff officer stared at him, bewildered.
"The rainy season is imminent. Did the two reinforcing divisions enter the city this morning?" Hu Hao asked, his eyes scanning the tactical displays.
"Yes, sir. They are currently deploying into their designated sectors. It should take another hour or so to complete," the officer nodded.
"Mm. Do you think the enemy commander dares to retreat now? And where would he retreat to?" Hu Hao asked rhetorically.
"Retreat? Hao-ge, they are still attacking!" The staff officer was completely lost.
"I know they are. What I'm saying is, if we hadn't allowed them to establish those initial defensive positions, they would likely have cut their losses and withdrawn—especially now that they undoubtedly know we've reinforced the city!
"Furthermore, with the rainy season approaching, they have absolutely no defensive fortifications out on the open plains. By allowing them to secure a foothold inside the city, their commander will mistakenly believe he still has a chance. He'll believe that if he can just capture half the city, he can force a stalemate.
"Therefore, their next move will be a massive, desperate assault!" Hu Hao analyzed Kelly's mindset flawlessly.
"A fierce assault? But they've been fighting for twenty-four hours straight!" the staff officer protested.
"They'll fight for a year straight if they think it'll secure their survival! Get the frontline commanders on the line!" Hu Hao ordered.
"Yes, sir!"
Within moments, the faces of six regimental commanders appeared on the main communication screens.
"Greetings, Hao-ge!" they shouted in unison.
"You lot are commanding the defense now?" Hu Hao asked with a smile.
"Yes, Hao-ge. The units that fought through the night were exhausted, so we rotated our fresh regiments in to relieve them," one of the commanders reported.
"Mm. Pay close attention. I am certain the Allied forces know we've brought in reinforcements. They are going to panic, which means they are going to launch a massive, desperate assault against our lines.
"They charged in here full of arrogance, but we beat them bloody. They've likely realized we have a massive force concentrated here. To avoid total annihilation, their only option is a furious offensive to secure a larger chunk of Yonghe City, making it much harder for us to wipe them out later!" Hu Hao warned them.
"They're going to launch a fierce assault now? We beat them like dogs all night! They barely have any fight left in them!" another commander scoffed in surprise.
"They absolutely will. Do not forget: just as you rotated fresh troops in, they have reserves they can commit as well. Haha! And don't forget, a significant portion of their force is still sitting out on the open plains. If I ordered our tank division to charge right now, how many of them do you think would survive?
"The only reason I'm keeping them alive is to use them as a whetstone for all of you! If I wanted to annihilate them, I would have done it last night!
"Your objective today is to hold the line. They will throw everything they have at you today. The pressure will be immense. I will dispatch two or three additional regiments to support your sectors!" Hu Hao instructed.
"Yes, Hao-ge! Please rest assured, we will hold them!" a commander promised fiercely.
"I know you will. But remember this: do not defend rigidly! Do not fight to the last man for every inch of rubble! There is no need.
"Your primary objective is to experiment with flexible, creative tactics to inflict maximum casualties on the enemy, not to obsess over holding a specific street corner!
"My goal here is to train you! To teach you the intricacies of urban offensive and defensive warfare! This is about forging our troops and honing your command skills. Try different approaches! Be flexible! Be unpredictable!" Hu Hao emphasized his core philosophy.
"Yes, sir!" the commanders shouted, understanding his intent.
"Mm. Remember: I do not care if we hold this city or not! I only care that you and the troops emerge from this crucible stronger and more capable!
"Furthermore, as commanders, your absolute priority is managing your casualties! Do not order your men into meaningless slaughter! A commander who wastes his soldiers' lives is unfit to lead!" Hu Hao concluded sternly.
"Understood! We will not fail you, Hao-ge!" they chorused again.
Hu Hao nodded in satisfaction and ended the transmission. The regimental commanders immediately returned to managing their sectors, their minds buzzing with new tactical possibilities.
"Order Bai Ye to dispatch three fresh regiments from the newly arrived divisions to the front lines immediately. The enemy will push hard today!" Hu Hao told the staff officer beside him.
"Yes, sir!" The officer hurried away to relay the orders.
Meanwhile, in Ling City, the Crown Prince had just arrived at his office within High Command.
"Your Highness, we just received an urgent flash from Military Intelligence. They have detected significant Allied troop movements. The Mara Empire's 14th Corps is redeploying from the western front toward Late City. Simultaneously, the Holy Ancient Empire's 7th Corps is moving from the central front toward Late City as well!" an intelligence secretary reported the moment the Crown Prince sat down.
"What?! Two entire corps are marching on Late City?! Has Hu Hao been informed?!" The Crown Prince bolted upright, staring at the secretary in alarm.
"Report: likely not yet, Your Highness. This intelligence was acquired through our deep-cover assets. It is highly probable that frontline reconnaissance flights have not yet detected the movements," the secretary shook his head.
"Understood. You are dismissed," the Crown Prince waved him away mechanically, his mind reeling.
He was furious. He was furious at the Grand Marshal. Just yesterday, Hu Hao had explicitly warned him that if his presence in Late City was leaked, the Allied forces would mass a massive army to destroy him. And now, exactly as predicted, two corps were bearing down on him. This was exactly what the Grand Marshal had hoped would happen.
"Foolish! Absolutely foolish! Sigh!" The Crown Prince paced his office, his hands clasped tightly behind his back.
A moment later, a royal guard entered the office. "Your Highness, His Majesty just called. He summons you to the Imperial Palace immediately!"
"Oh... I understand. Prepare my car. Sigh." The Crown Prince nodded heavily.
He knew exactly why his father had summoned him. The Emperor undoubtedly knew about the Grand Marshal's disastrous intelligence leak yesterday. The only reason the Emperor hadn't acted immediately was likely to observe the fallout.
Now that Allied High Command had officially redeployed two corps to hunt Hu Hao, there was no way the Emperor's intelligence network hadn't picked it up.
(End of Chapter)