First Battlefield Commander! - Chapter 196

Chapter 196: Mediation

Everyone listening to the low sobbing sounds was shaken.

Yes. They had forgotten. Or rather, they didn't truly understand.

They had always proudly fought for the Alliance. Every step they took was supported by powerful forces. They were different from the people of Kafa.

They believed that after the war, all the sacrifice, fear, and turmoil would bring endless suffering. Under such suffering, who would still think about the luxury of emotional attachment?

They had seen too many people whose hatred and pain had stripped away their tenderness.

They wanted to end the war, and the people also wanted to end the war. So they thought their positions were the same, subconsciously projecting their own situation onto the people of Kafa.

—The greatest desire is peace, the greatest hope is stability.

Although this wasn't actually wrong. But, unless absolutely necessary, who would voluntarily give up their own country? Wouldn't they just want it to become better?

They had no love for Kafa, but the people here did.

Even if there was only a sliver of hope, they were willing to reach out and grasp that dawn.

Fortunately, fortunately, it wasn't too late.

Kafa would continue to walk forward strongly, correct its mistakes, and then welcome a better future.

Lian Sheng looked at the man with the crew cut. The corner of his eye twitched violently; it was unclear what he was thinking. But he never interrupted her. Or rather, he couldn't interrupt.

This wasn't an extremely corrupt country; the soldiers here were genuinely working hard for the people's future. They couldn't provide overly favorable conditions, but they did their best to give them a home.

What the Alliance wanted to take away was what they once possessed and disregarded. From what standpoint could he interrupt?

The man's Adam's apple bobbed. He looked around. Cries came from all directions, telling of their love for Kafa, their repentance towards the soldiers.

Then, one after another, people expressed their regret, wanting to revoke the independence agreements they had previously signed.

It was as if they were the sinners who had lured them onto the path of tragedy, preventing the harmony of their homeland.

He frowned and shook his head.

It shouldn't be like this.

This place, Kafa, had no redeeming qualities.

Military rule, chaotic management. Forced conscription, aggressive militarism.

The education penetration rate here was low, technological development lagged behind, crime was rampant and unchecked, legal provisions were vague. The inspection and reporting agencies were unprofessional; human rights and equality were a joke.

Look at those underage soldiers, listen to that ridiculous lifetime service. They actually allowed such things to exist.

War, displacement, poverty, infighting... such terrible things constantly plagued them like nightmares. The conflict between the people and the military grew increasingly intense and irreconcilable.

If counted one by one, it had thousands of flaws. From Kafa a hundred years ago to now, it was like a fall from heaven to hell.

This place was beyond saving. You simply couldn't imagine such a country existing in the New Calendar era.

It lived like a maggot. It should be destroyed.

Why give up suddenly?

He didn't understand, why?

In his view, this place Kafa, whether the people or the military, had no merits.

He looked down on everything here.

Starting over, conversely, could make things better.

"The Alliance can't manage this place well; Kafa was originally Alliance territory!" The man walked up to the civilians, shouting loudly, "When Kafa had ore, the Alliance didn't treat us fairly. Now we have nothing left, only countless problems and hidden dangers. Do you really believe the Alliance will meet your conditions? Think carefully, this isn't something that should be changed on impulse!"

Lian Sheng stood slanted, looking coldly. "Destroying a piece of land is very simple; violence is all it takes. But destroying a country is very difficult. When you truly watch your own country perish before your eyes, you will know it's not abandonment, it's cutting, it's dismemberment by a thousand cuts."

Lian Sheng said, "Besides, I said the Alliance will be responsible for them. Why refuse to believe? Because you refuse to believe, you'd rather choose destruction? If you really did that, would you bear the burden of responsibility for the people of Kafa? Or the Gelen army? No, none of you would!"

Man: "We will be responsible for ourselves, but we will never let anyone trample on our lives again!"

Lian Sheng walked closer to him. "After securing your own interests, you will leave. You only destroy, arrogantly never looking at what you've caused. This wreckage is the glory you won for your motherland; you can proudly speak of these things. But look at them again. Apart from the different names crowning your heads, what difference is there between you? Why do you have the courage to do such things?"

Lian Sheng faced him, her words like drops of blood, pressing the question: "Has your conscience never extended to other innocent civilians? Does your blood not flow with the compassion shared by all humans? Has your life never known respect for life? Do you still dare to loudly state the reason why you stand here!"

The man's neck flushed red as he roared back at her, "Right now! I stand here for the future of Kafa! Don't mention Gelen again!"

"Even if soldiers fight to protect their country, the act of trampling another country for that purpose cannot be called protection! It is cruelty! It is massacre! It is sin! Can you still state the meaning of your standing here?!" Lian Sheng asked. "Aren't you tired of wars fought purely for slaughter and profit!"

"We are for the long-term peace of Kafa! Just because they made sacrifices in the past doesn't mean we should endure!" The man clenched his fist, roaring, "Can momentary emotion support future life? Can emotion change society, change the world? Can emotion stop war?! Emotion alone is useless!"

"Emotion can do nothing, but people can. What change doesn't start with people? If they are willing to walk forward, they can walk forward." Lian Sheng grabbed his hand and asked, "What about you? Can your persistence give you the courage to face the guilt of destroying the future of millions?"

The corner of the man's mouth twitched, his lips moved. "It's not like that."

No one joins the military to kill. No one risks their life to take the lives of others.

Lian Sheng said, "Your position and their position are different. You have no right to make decisions for them."

The person standing behind directly raised their gun and aimed at Lian Sheng.

The emotions of the people inside and outside the square were not calm.

The old soldier, listening to the commands in his communicator, waved his hand. "Go!"

The new recruits were still holding their guns in a daze when they were suddenly kicked in the backside.

The old soldier glared. "Damn it! Go quickly!"

Everyone snapped back to reality and rushed out.

The civilians guarding the entrance looked up at them, then warily raised their weapons again.

"Alliance soldiers, not enemies." Fang Jianchen waved his hand, signaling quietly, "Those giving up resistance, move aside. Otherwise, tranquilizer guns will be used for subdual."

There were too many people here; it was impossible to confirm who was dangerous. He raised his gun and took down several civilians still holding weapons.

A commotion erupted on the opposite side, people pushing and shoving each other. But they didn't attack proactively; instead, they retreated to both sides, clearing a path for them.

At this moment, screams and frequent gunshots came from inside the venue.

Cornell: "Charge!"

The front-row soldiers immediately hugged their guns and approached. Cornell overtook them from behind.

Before reaching the entrance, he swung his arm and threw a smoke grenade inside. He put on protective goggles with one hand, preparing to throw another smoke grenade with the other.

Several other squads successfully broke in through various windows. By the time Cornell rushed into the venue, it was already filled with white smoke.

Terrified screams echoed all around as people ran frantically, coughing, crying.

Cornell couldn't distinguish friend from foe amidst the dense crowd before him. Or rather, they couldn't distinguish them originally either.

A nearby soldier shouted, "Everyone stay put! Remain calm! Moving now will only cause trampling and be more dangerous! Crouch down! Everyone crouch down!"

However, amidst the gunshots, no one could remain calm.

"Lian Sheng—!" Cornell shouted. "Everyone remain calm! Exit orderly through the entrance!"

In such an environment, it was unlikely anyone could hear his voice.

Just then, a sharp voice cried out, "Middle! Shoot the middle!"

Everyone raised their guns, aimed at the center, and began a series of shots.

As the opponents raised their guns, the Expeditionary Force had already broken in through the windows.

The crew-cut men huddled together numbered over a dozen.

The two squads engaged almost simultaneously, shooting down four people from the left and right. At the same time, smoke billowed, obscuring vision.

The trainee soldiers reacted quickly, immediately retreating to the side. Simultaneously, several bullets flew towards their direction. The casualty situation was unknown.

Lian Sheng took the opportunity to duck down, but instead of escaping, she moved closer towards the direction where she remembered several people were, locked onto the leading man, and pinned him to the ground.

Lian Sheng was irritated by the high-concentration smoke grenade, unable to open her eyes, her vision already affected. She just lowered her head and clamped down on the man's arm below.

Then she felt a needle prick her body; her limbs went weak, and consciousness began to drift away. Dimly, she saw a figure rushing towards her, dragging her aside.

The plan failed. After this commotion was quelled, the surrounding Gelen United Army forces proactively withdrew.

Although spies remained within Kafa, they couldn't conduct a rescue and had to choose a strategic retreat.

Moreover, capturing spies gave any nation the right to execute them directly. Given the volatile diplomatic relations between the Alliance and Gelen, friendly negotiation for exchange was impossible.

Hiding their identities might allow them to survive in this chaotic situation.

The effect of the tranquilizer dart wasn't strong. When Lian Sheng woke up, she was still leaning against the corner wall of the venue. Faint crying sounds reached her ears, and a thin blanket covered her.

Her eyes felt unusually sore, tear glands constantly secreting fluid. She wanted to open them but was forced shut again by the stimulating light from outside.

Lian Sheng forcefully pounded the ground and exhaled.

The old soldier walked over to her side. "Look up!"

Lian Sheng obediently tilted her face up. The old soldier held her eyelid open and administered eye drops.

The soreness finally began to slowly subside.

Lian Sheng blinked and held out her hand. "Give me some more."

The old soldier simply tossed the bottle to her, clapped his hands, and said, "Play with it yourself."

Lian Sheng forcefully squeezed the liquid out of her eyes. Her dilated pupils slowly began to focus, allowing her to see the situation clearly.

There were several suspicious bloodstains on the ground; most people had already evacuated.

Outside was quite noisy; people were still waiting by the roadside for transport vehicles.

After settling the crowd, the old soldier came back to call people. "Let's go, we're leaving too. Still need to go back for meetings, physical exams. And grab a meal, rest a bit."

He took off his hat, sighed, and asked, "How do you feel? If it's nothing major, don't waste national resources. The soldiers at the medical point are swamped right now. Minor cuts and pains, I can treat you."

Lian Sheng looked at him silently. The aftereffects hadn't subsided yet; a clear stream of liquid flowed down.

"Tsk tsk tsk, don't be like that, little girl! Don't cry! I really have bandages." The old soldier clutched his chest, his features contorted. "Makes it look like big brother bullied you."

Lian Sheng forcefully wiped her face. "It's not like I can control this. Didn't you think about it when you threw the grenades?"

The old soldier said, "If we hadn't thrown them, would you still be sitting here alive?"

Lian Sheng: "What happened afterward? I heard several gunshots."

"It was okay. Accidental casualties were far less severe than trampling casualties. The opposition's resistance wasn't high either. It was mainly the trampling, exhausting work," the old soldier said. "Except for a few Gelen soldiers whose identities couldn't be concealed anymore—the main instigators of this uprising and the weapon suppliers—everyone else kept their identities hidden. Several were subdued on the spot; the rest didn't attack civilians."

After all, the situation was decided, the defeat irreversible. Killing a few more civilians wouldn't achieve anything.

Just pointless killing and venting.

Lian Sheng nodded and stood up, leaning against the wall. Her limbs hadn't fully recovered their strength; they felt numb and tingly, a particularly invigorating sensation.

The old soldier tapped his hat against his hand, head bowed, standing still.

Seeing he had no intention of helping, Lian Sheng self-reliantly hugged the wall and walked outside.

She heard the old soldier behind her say, "Actually, as a fellow frontline soldier, I understand them very well."

He sighed softly. "Besides believing, we have no other choice."

Justice or evil is just a matter of standpoint. But they never had the right to choose their standpoint.

Whether self-deception or not, they could only convince themselves to believe.

Lian Sheng turned back and said, "That situation doesn't exist. At least now, we can fight with a clear conscience. No matter when, just maintain the fear felt when pulling the trigger, that's enough."

The old soldier put on his hat. "Let's go. There's not much good food here now. Supplies are scarce, food prices have increased more than tenfold."

Lian Sheng asked disbelievingly, "What about them? That bunch of ingrates?"

She had risked her life to save them, delivered a passionate speech, worked hard, got tranquilized, fell into a deep sleep, and finally woke up all alone, without even someone to serve tea or water.

General Lian could not accept this.

The old soldier said, "Excitedly went to raid the vending machines on the street! Too late, they're gone!"

Lian Sheng: "..."

Lian Sheng: "..."

Relief supplies could only provide easily portable and storable food, plus some necessary nutrients. But it was all water, flour, biscuits, cup noodles, protein powder, vitamins, and the like.

For a short time, they would likely return to a life of steamed buns, white porridge, and clear soup noodles. If they wanted snacks or different flavors, they had to seize the moment before the civilians reacted and commandeer the vending machines on every street!

"Your... that who's-his-name, led the charge, hijacked one of our relief trucks, forced our driver to stop, kicked him out. Then a group of them wandered the streets. Heard they're now looking for a place to hide the loot," the old soldier complained. "Taking advantage of our affection for the younger generation, causing trouble here, aren't they impressive!"

"..." Lian Sheng said, "Well done."

The old soldier led Lian Sheng onto the next relief vehicle.

Someone in white clothes hurried over, drew a tube of blood from her arm, and hurried away again.

Before the battle, soldiers were scarce. During the battle, soldiers and doctors were scarce. After the battle, anyone capable of working was scarce.

A large part of Kafa's basic infrastructure had been destroyed. Although much better than the 36th District, it still wasn't enough to accommodate everyone.

Lian Sheng and the others were still assigned to a separate building to rest and adjust.

Returning to her room, Lian Sheng felt extremely tired. She took a shower and lay down directly on the bed to rest.

The bed underneath, whose it was unknown, was soft and carried a faint plant fragrance, likely freshly washed and changed.

Lian Sheng faced the window, hearing various noises from below. Sometimes, clamor is a sign of vitality.

Unconsciously, she fell asleep in this environment.

This group of trainee soldiers seemed remarkably resilient. After suffering such a huge shock and fright, and raiding a street, they were back to being lively lunatics.

They stayed out until late at night. Without thick clothes, they only came back when they felt cold.

Poor Zhao Zhuoluo and the other injured were picked up midway and driven around the city districts. Overwhelmed by the annoyance, they felt their heads were splitting.

Perhaps due to the lingering effects of the injection, Lian Sheng slept very soundly. When she woke up, she felt none of the previous tension. It seemed like everything was just a dream.

Before... Kafa had experienced internal strife, right?

Lian Sheng raised her hand, staring blankly at the ceiling. She emptied her mind, lying still.

Soon, the overhead light flickered on. The harsh light shone down, and she quickly covered her face. A group of people squeezed in through the door, shouting for her to get up.

"Get up quickly! Why aren't you awake yet?" Fang Jianchen shouted. "We're treating you to a meal! Come out, come out!"

Ji Ban: "It won't be fresh if we don't eat it today, the expiration date is almost up! The last day to feast on meat!"

Lian Sheng slowly sat up from the bed, feeling her joints crackle. She let out a groan, stood up, and stretched her body.

Then she was pulled by the crowd towards the dining room.

A group of old soldiers was crowded in the kitchen, each holding a tray, gathered around the table, feasting heartily.

Some still had bloodstains and mud marks on them; only their hands and faces were clean, their clothes torn.

Clearly, they hadn't rested, just been relieved, and brought straight here to eat.

An old soldier held half a meat bun, leaning back in his chair. "Just grabbing a bite, don't mind us."

The soldiers nodded along.

Lian Sheng scratched her head and walked over, wanting to find a bottle of water first. She was really thirsty.

"Here, hero." The old soldier pushed a plate in front of her. "After you get promoted and rich, don't forget us little guys."

Lian Sheng looked at the table, a complete mess.

Empty plates nearly covered half the table. Several unopened bags lay on the floor. Several stoves in the kitchen were boiling water simultaneously, preparing to steam and heat ingredients. Several trainee soldiers were responsible for watching the heat nearby.

They seemed to have really looted quite a bit. Instant noodles, canned beef and fruit, various instant steaks, pizzas, and lots of cheese and ham.

But this group's cooking skills were worrying. A bunch of rough men, their only homemade food was noodles. Plain boiled noodles. Sprinkled with cheese and ham, it became a bowl of mixed noodles, their staple food.

Lian Sheng looked disdainful and shook her head.

Lu Mingyuan said tactfully, "There are still some ingredients in the fridge. We also got some things from the market."

She said admiringly, "Impressive, you guys. Bandits aren't even one ten-thousandth as good as you."

Fang Jianchen laughed heartily. "Take off the uniform, and we're a bunch of heroes. Robbing vending machines with a bunch of civilians is also quite interesting."

Zhang Ce clapped his hands. "Thanks to Comrades Cornell and Harry for their friendly help, pointing out all the vending machine locations. Then thanks to tycoon Ji Ban for the financial sponsorship; it was all bought with his money. Finally, thanks to the Expeditionary Force's relief truck. This is everyone's honor."

Everyone applauded.

Lian Sheng: "..." Having fun, are we?

Ji Fangxiao and Zhao Zhuoluo sat at the other end of the dining table, unresponsive, as if in another dimension.

Ji Fangxiao had been hit by a tranquilizer dart earlier. When they pulled him away, his mind was still fuzzy. Bouncing around in the vehicle, he still hadn't fully recovered.

Zhao Zhuoluo had burn ointment applied to his face. Midway, they took him to the medical point for a rough check of his wounds, then dragged him away again.

But... what was going on?

An old soldier let out a loud burp, wiped the grease from the corner of his mouth, and said with sincere emotion, "Although the organization will criticize you, personally, I am very grateful to you! You are all good soldiers. Rest assured, even if you receive disciplinary action, we brothers are proud of you!"

The old soldiers nodded again.

Lian Sheng: "Yeah. You committed theft while on duty, robbed the Kafa vending machines, and can still be so carefree? Grabbing social resources like this, how come you haven't been publicly criticized."

Everyone said seriously:

"Lian Sheng wanted pizza."

"Lian Sheng wanted ham."

"Lian Sheng wanted things from the vending machine."

"Lian Sheng, that Lian Sheng!"

"..." Lian Sheng. "Lian Sheng rejects your reasons."

"So, just grabbing a bite, don't mind," the old soldier slapped the table and laughed. "What's important is harmonious communication."

A soldier nearby drank a glass of water, put on his jacket, and said, "I'll head over first, you guys continue eating. I'll go relieve the third team."

The old soldier stood up, tugged at his clothes. "I'm heading over too. Cook more noodles in the kitchen, add some salt and meat, otherwise, it's not filling enough."

They constantly came and went, rotating teammates.

After wolfing down a meal, without much chatting, they continued preparing for work.

Lian Sheng watched them. This group probably hadn't rested for nearly forty-eight hours. Counting from when Kafa sent the distress signal, possibly even longer.

They stayed up late last night investigating, and today they had to stay up late dealing with the aftermath.

But during such a sensitive post-war period, they were indispensable.

A group of trainee soldiers was clumsily chopping vegetables in the kitchen, while several others disinfected soldiers' wounds nearby.

The dining room lights were somewhat yellow, gradually becoming too crowded.

Lian Sheng casually grabbed a slice of pizza, bit into it, walked to the adjacent kitchen, rolled up her sleeves, and said, "Everyone move aside."

Everyone exaggeratedly stepped back, shouting, "The BOSS is about to unleash her ultimate move! Everyone clear out!"

From now on, everything in Kafa was taken over by the Alliance, including their soldiers here. However, regarding organizational structure, there were significant differences. It was only due to manpower shortages that Kafa's local garrison was temporarily needed to help maintain order, analyze maps, and guide routes.

The Alliance sent additional soldiers to station in Kafa, registering the identities of all civilians one by one. It was impossible to verify everyone's identity authenticity in a short time; careful investigation was still required.

Everyone was placed in fixed camps, subject to comprehensive supervision by the Alliance military until the danger was eliminated.

Starting the next day, the trainee soldiers were also assigned tasks for formal rescue efforts.

For the first few days, everyone was incredibly busy. Even during rest times, those who could endure persisted. Only later, as things gradually stabilized, did they have time to rest.

Local residents like Tina, who had lived in Kafa for many years, knew many people. There were even people within the military who could vouch for their identities. During the local uprising, those who hadn't joined the enemy forces or committed major illegal acts were quickly released from the supervised area.

They collected food from the supply point on time daily, could volunteer for post-war construction work, and received wages based on labor.

The Alliance wouldn't assign too many tasks to civilians either.

They were very experienced. First priority: handle casualties, maintain urban order.

Nearby cultivated farmland had to be protected. Damaged areas were replanted. Mature crops were harvested with the help of farmers. Harvested crops were counted as supplies purchased by the Alliance and distributed per capita.

After stabilizing the urban mood, logistical tasks like distributing food, caring for the injured, and cleaning streets were assigned. Non-injured individuals were mandatorily assigned eight hours of work per day, paid at standard rates.

Simultaneously, construction and medical professionals were mandatorily assigned to specialized positions.

It had to be said that the Alliance, in such situations, could be ruthless and hold its ground.

Because the entire population participated in the post-war cleanup, work efficiency increased dramatically.

Next came the issue of residents' vocational education, implemented concurrently. Free supply of materials also began to be gradually withdrawn.

Harry, Cornell, and other mech soldiers spent these days piloting mechs, assisting with large-scale cleanup and transport work.

They were already very proficient, needing no guidance, nearly doubling the efficiency predicted by the Alliance. Those unaware might think they graduated from a construction site, prompting collective gasps of "What the hell" from the Expeditionary Force members.

The old soldiers tried to save face: "It was just inconvenient coming out this time, no approval for mech piloting, otherwise we'd definitely be better than them!"

Everyone could find something to do.

Although busy, they could chat and joke during leisure time. They sweated profusely, working hard everywhere.

Looking at the gradually completing, prospering, and orderly city, a sense of accomplishment and belonging took firm root in their hearts.

This time, their houses were built very carefully, very sturdily. This time, it should be a permanent home.

"Not bad, look at this. Right?" Lian Sheng said. "There's nothing that can't be solved when everyone works together. They've grown up too."

Cornell said, "The road is still long."

Lian Sheng: "Yeah, but this time you finally don't need to lead them by the hand. They can walk forward on their own."

Cornell sat on the old wreckage, silent.

The masses were living fulfilling lives, so fulfilling they forgot to hold a commendation ceremony for Lian Sheng.

But the Expeditionary Force comrades were still very polite towards Lian Sheng, including most of the people of Kafa. Gratitude overflowed in their words.

They hadn't seen Lian Sheng's face, but wasn't it true? Female comrades in the military were such a rare presence; no need to show face, just chest was enough.

Lian Sheng submitted a report and went to visit the previously detained Gelen spies. After internal discussion, the Expeditionary Force turned a blind eye and agreed.

The truth was, the other party refused to cooperate, yielding no intelligence. At the same time, his physical condition was very poor.

Actually, they hadn't done anything to him, truly wronged.

"He hasn't eaten at all. Just barely maintained by nutritional injections. But continuing like this damages the digestive system. Except in special circumstances, nutritional injections aren't recommended."

Lian Sheng nodded, picked up a tray, and walked in.

Unseen for some time, the previously energetic man with the crew cut now looked desolate. His face was stubbled, unkempt. His eyes were bruised purple underneath, indicating chronic insomnia.

When Lian Sheng entered, he sat motionless on the floor, hands clasped, eyes vacant, lost in thought.

Lian Sheng pushed the tray over, squatted down, opened her optical computer, and showed him the photos inside. She waved it in front of his face to attract his attention.

The man with the crew cut stared blankly at her screen.

"You said the Alliance wouldn't fulfill its promises? No, we did. Haven't they gotten better? They will become even better in the future." Lian Sheng put away her optical computer. "I think hope is sometimes fleeting. It might be a mirage, but it could also be real salvation. But as long as there is light, one should grasp it. That dawn might lead you out of the abyss."

The man finally spoke, his voice hoarse. "Why are you showing me this?"

"Just came to tell you, I was right, you were wrong," Lian Sheng said. "If seeing this makes you happy, then I hope it can at least resolve one of your worries. If seeing this makes you unhappy, then angering you is also good."

Man: "..."

Lian Sheng lowered her head, looking at the photos. "Everyone is striving to live. I think the most precious thing about life lies in change. Death can never atone for sins; only living can. For things one regrets and is disappointed about, death cannot make them disappear either. One must strive on their own."

The man raised his face. "The Gelen army isn't like you imagine either. We have beliefs, goals. Not necessarily wrong. And I don't regret what I did."

Lian Sheng shrugged. "Is that so?"

Half a month after the battle.

Kafa had basically stabilized. The power of the Kafa military department was to be formally transferred. The issue of soldier organization also needed reconsideration.

Kafa's original army assembled to announce this matter.

That noon, the sun shone brightly. Lian Sheng and the others accompanied the Expeditionary Force to observe.

She stood to the side, wearing her military cap.

Before the General spoke, he first walked up to her.

"This time, thank you," the General said. "If it weren't for you, because of my mistake, the people of Kafa might have lost their homeland."

Lian Sheng corrected, "From now on, it is already the Alliance's 42nd District, sir."

"Yes. But as long as they are all here, Kafa still exists." The General lowered his head. "As long as someone remembers this place, loves this place, then Kafa will always exist. Even if the name changes, even if taken over by the Alliance, it doesn't matter."

"Someone skilled in warfare may not necessarily govern a country well. You are like a parent who indulges a child's mistakes without knowing how to discipline," Lian Sheng said. "Allow me to speak bluntly, reflect on yourself, sir."

The General showed no anger, agreeing, "You are right."

He turned around, took off his hat, and looked at the soldiers behind him.

Their uniforms were wrinkled, their facial features obscured by dirt.

Face after face, all young, still carrying childishness and youth. They were about to face a completely new life, and he didn't know if he had taught these young people the knowledge and courage to face the future.

His eyes swept over face after face, finally lowering his head.

"I'm sorry," he choked out. "It was me who consistently subjected you to unfair treatment. I'm sorry."

He bowed deeply.

"I grew up amidst war. I personally watched my parents die in the crossfire, and personally watched countless people like me struggle in pain through tragedy. I know the cruelty of war, yet I couldn't stop the war. I wanted to compensate the people here, yet I sacrificed you..."

"I am a foolish person who committed unforgivable crimes. I will use the rest of my life to make amends as much as possible."

"I am very fortunate that you still have the chance to start over. Although perhaps a bit late, a bit difficult, but, I hope you can walk step by step downwards, peacefully, steadily."

"I can only say sorry to you."

"I'm sorry."

I mentioned before, due to some unknown reason -.-# (not my fault), there are two types of numbering: national designation and national internal region designation. (Like a secondary classification)

Over a hundred years ago, Kafa was an independent nation with the national designation 16th District. Gelen was not at that time.

Later, Edwin appeared, took Kafa's national designation, and the Gelen United Nation emerged. Kafa sought help from the Alliance and became its vassal state.

After the internal strife occurred, Kafa was completely taken over by the Alliance, becoming the Alliance's 42nd District.

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