"That many troops? Three hundred million? Impossible, right?" Jiang Kai asked, stunned by the sheer scale of Hu Hao's prediction.
He knew the Allied coalition would eventually commit more forces. He could even believe thirty million. Spread across more than twenty invading nations, that was an average of slightly over a million men per country. Given that these nations boasted populations exceeding three hundred million, mobilizing a million men each was easily achievable.
But three hundred million soldiers? Jiang Kai found that hard to swallow. He assumed Hu Hao was simply exaggerating for effect. However, he readily accepted that the coalition could easily deploy tens of millions.
"Why is it impossible, Commander? Do you honestly believe the next wave of the invasion will be limited to these twenty-something nations?
"The current Allied forces have already tasted the immense wealth and fertile lands of the Central Region. Do you think the nations in the Northern, Western, Southern, and Eastern Regions who haven't joined the coalition yet will just sit idly by?
"Will they just watch as the current Allied forces carve up the Central Region and take all the spoils for themselves?
"Furthermore, do you think the other nations of the Central Region can withstand a combined invasion of this magnitude? Even if our Eastern Spirit Empire manages to hold the line, what happens if the Dongxian Kingdom and the Dongjun Kingdom collapse? The victorious Allied armies won't stop; they'll simply pivot and smash into our flanks!
"Commander, this is no longer a localized conflict involving just the Eastern Spirit Empire. This is a true World War!" Hu Hao laid out the terrifying geopolitical reality.
"You mean... the nations from the other four domains that haven't joined the war yet will join the next wave?!" Jiang Kai asked, profoundly shaken.
"Absolutely. The global food crisis isn't restricted to the nations currently invading us. Every nation in the other four domains is facing the exact same starvation! Do you honestly think they'll just stand by and watch others claim the arable land while their own people starve?" Hu Hao stated with absolute certainty.
"You're right. They won't," Jiang Kai muttered, his mind reeling as he processed the horrific implications.
"And Commander, even setting aside the grand strategy... if I were redeployed to another front, who would actually let me command their troops?
"Let's say I'm sent to the western front. There are three Combat Zones there, commanded by three established Generals. Do you honestly think those seasoned commanders, especially the aristocratic scions among them, would willingly submit to the orders of a twenty-something upstart like me? Who would obey me?" Hu Hao pointed out the immediate political hurdle.
"His Majesty would undoubtedly assign you fresh troops to form your own command!" Jiang Kai countered immediately.
"Is that likely? Would His Majesty truly feel comfortable handing a million-man army over to me? A general with no aristocratic ties and no established political faction? He'd be paranoid! I might be fragged by my own political commissars before the war even ended!" Hu Hao laughed bitterly, revealing his deep cynicism regarding the Imperial Court.
"Sigh," Jiang Kai sighed heavily.
He knew Hu Hao was right. If Hu Hao went to the western front and tried to command existing units, the entrenched aristocratic officers would undoubtedly sabotage him. They would never accept orders from a commoner, especially one so young.
Conversely, if His Majesty allowed Hu Hao to independently raise and command a massive army of a million men, the Emperor would never sleep soundly again. No monarch in history had ever been comfortable handing that much absolute military power to a single, politically unaffiliated general.
"Furthermore, Commander, by remaining here behind enemy lines, I am effectively shielding both the western and central fronts. Once my forces are fully trained and expanded, I will pose a massive, constant threat to the logistical supply lines of the Allied forces attacking your fronts. By choking off their supplies, I buy you the time you need to fortify your positions.
"The real crisis is on the eastern front. The Allied forces attacking there belong to nations from the Eastern Region, and they pose the most immediate, existential threat to the Empire's core territories. Yet, from my current position, I am entirely unable to assist the eastern front.
"And worse, there isn't a single competent, brilliant general commanding the defense there. That is what terrifies me the most. I am deeply worried about the eastern front," Hu Hao confessed his greatest strategic concern.
"The eastern front is currently holding the line solely by feeding endless waves of men into the meat grinder. It's a slaughter. Honestly, the situation on the western front isn't much better, but your presence in Late City forced the coalition to divert three full corps away from the west to deal with you, which significantly reduced the pressure there," Jiang Kai admitted grimly. Hu Hao remained silent.
"Hu Hao... tell me the truth. When you look at the future of the Empire, are you optimistic or pessimistic?" Jiang Kai asked quietly into the silence.
"Pessimistic. I cannot find a single reason for optimism," Hu Hao answered bluntly.
"Yes. I am pessimistic as well. We fight today, and perhaps we die tomorrow. Whatever happens after that is out of our hands!" Jiang Kai sighed, a deep weariness settling over him.
"Commander, the Mara 1st Corps is still launching heavy assaults in Yonghe City. I need to return to tactical command," Hu Hao said, eager to end the depressing conversation. Discussing it further would only lead to the conclusion that not just the Eastern Spirit Empire, but the entire Central Region was doomed.
"Mm. Go command your troops," Jiang Kai nodded. Hu Hao hung up.
In the Southwest Combat Zone command center, Chief of Staff Sun Qinxue noticed Jiang Kai's grim expression. "Didn't he just annihilate an entire enemy corps? Why do you look so defeated?"
"Hm? Oh. I am happy! Winning battles is always a cause for celebration. But... I just asked Hu Hao for his strategic assessment of the future. He believes that not only is our Empire in grave peril, but the entire Central Region is ultimately doomed.
"When I asked him if he was optimistic or pessimistic about the Empire's survival, he said he was entirely pessimistic. Sigh! Happy? How can I possibly be happy when the man who just annihilated an elite corps tells me we're still going to lose the war?" Jiang Kai said, his hands clasped behind his back.
Sun Qinxue fell silent. He wasn't surprised by Hu Hao's assessment in the slightest; he shared the exact same pessimistic view of the Empire's future.
***
Meanwhile, in the Imperial Palace, the Crown Prince was waiting anxiously in a private study. The Emperor had already retired to his bedchambers, but the Crown Prince had insisted the guards wake him for an urgent matter. After a tense ten-minute wait, the Emperor entered the study.
"Greetings, Imperial Father. I deeply apologize for disturbing your rest," the Crown Prince immediately bowed respectfully.
"Mm. What is so urgent?" the Emperor asked, waving a hand dismissively. He knew his son wouldn't wake him in the middle of the night unless it was a matter of utmost national importance.
"I bring three matters of vital importance, Imperial Father," the Crown Prince stated.
"Three matters? Very well. Sit down and speak," the Emperor said, slightly surprised but gesturing to a chair.
"Yes, Imperial Father. The first is incredible news from Hu Hao's front. Roughly an hour ago, Hu Hao's forces completely annihilated the Holy Ancient Empire's 7th Corps! The Corps Commander, Chief of Staff, and all Division Commanders were killed in action. Hu Hao has already transmitted photographic evidence of the bodies; I currently have Military Intelligence verifying their identities," the Crown Prince reported, unable to hide his excitement.
"Oh?! Such glorious news?! Haha! Excellent! Truly excellent!" the Emperor laughed heartily, his fatigue instantly vanishing.
"Indeed, Imperial Father, it is a magnificent victory. However, I must clarify that Hu Hao's actual troop strength is still severely depleted. The annihilation of the 7th Corps involved a significant degree of luck and relied heavily on the enemy's gross miscalculation.
"The 7th Corps Commander grossly underestimated Hu Hao's strength and tactical audacity. Hu Hao seized the opportunity, committing his newly conscripted, untrained recruits to a massive, desperate counter-offensive that caught the 7th Corps entirely off guard!" the Crown Prince explained, framing the victory to suit his upcoming proposal.
"Mm. Very good! Exceptional work! Another corps destroyed!" the Emperor nodded in profound satisfaction.
"The second matter, Imperial Father... I beseech you to personally speak with Hu Hao and order him to redeploy to one of the primary defensive lines. I am deeply concerned that the other fronts will collapse. While the rainy season prevents massive offensives right now, the Allied forces will undoubtedly launch apocalyptic assaults the moment the dry season returns.
"Currently, only Commander Jiang Kai has stabilized his sector on the central front. The commanders on the eastern and western fronts have proven entirely incapable of holding the line. I strongly propose we redeploy Hu Hao's forces to take command of either the eastern or western front!" the Crown Prince made his pitch.
The Emperor stared at the Crown Prince in silence. The Grand Marshal had made a very similar proposal recently, suggesting that Jiang Kai be transferred to another front and Hu Hao be brought in to hold the central line. The Emperor had rejected it immediately, recognizing that the Grand Marshal simply wanted to separate Jiang Kai and Hu Hao to secure his own political position.
"Imperial Father, I harbor no ulterior motives. I know the Grand Marshal proposed something similar for his own selfish reasons. But my intent is entirely different!
"I simply want our defensive lines stabilized before the dry season returns! When the Allied forces inevitably escalate their offensives, if we don't have competent, proven generals commanding those fronts, the Empire will fall!" the Crown Prince hurriedly explained, using the exact arguments he and Liu Yuzi had rehearsed.
"Mm. It is commendable that you are thinking of the Empire's grand strategy. However, Hu Hao previously stated that remaining behind enemy lines allows him to draw massive Allied forces away from our primary fronts, effectively securing the central line. I believe his strategic logic is sound," the Emperor replied impassively.
"Yes, that strategy has merit. But the central front is currently stable! It is the eastern and western fronts that are on the verge of collapse!" the Crown Prince argued urgently.
"Are you suggesting we order Hu Hao to launch a massive offensive, punch a corridor through the Allied encirclement, and march his entire army to the western front?" the Emperor asked, raising an eyebrow.
"That would be the ideal scenario. If a full breakout is impossible, then I propose we order Hu Hao and his core cadre of brilliant young officers to evacuate via air cavalry helicopters! If they move swiftly and choose their route carefully, I am confident they can return safely to assume command of a new army!" the Crown Prince proposed his alternative plan.
"Mm. But Hu Hao will never abandon his troops. He is a man who values loyalty and brotherhood above all else," the Emperor pointed out the fatal flaw in the plan.
(End of Chapter)