First Battlefield Commander! - Chapter 224
Chapter 224: Finale: Advance
Lian Sheng frowned and said, "Did it really fail? But if the assassination failed, Barite should be eager to expose Maxwell's actions, right? Revealing everything would help him win over people's hearts. In that case, the news should have spread throughout Gelen by now. But there's no wind of it in the 16th District."
Hundred Meter Flying Dagger stood up, leaning on the armrest, and said, "We don't know for now, but it most likely failed. Even so, Barite might not publicize it widely. After all, if he wasn't injured and hasn't relinquished control of the military, during such tense times, even if he told the truth, people would suspect he staged it himself. A disliked person can do nothing right."
Lian Sheng let out a sigh: "Then why do you think so?"
Hundred Meter Flying Dagger said, "Gelen has opened a safe passage for us, allowing us to rush to the 1st District."
As he spoke, he picked up his optical computer, preparing to call people over for a meeting.
Lian Sheng followed behind him: "How could Gelen grant us permission so quickly? What was the point of the earlier standoff then? Even if they were preparing an assassination, such flip-flopping of orders is very suspicious. It seems Maxwell's situation isn't easy."
It looked like two forces were locked in a struggle, with Maxwell deciding to take desperate measures.
Though she didn't know Maxwell personally, she could understand his political stance. His firmness and urgency made him seem somewhat extreme.
Hundred Meter Flying Dagger said, "Whether it is or isn't, the passage is open now, and our employer is urging us to enter quickly."
Lian Sheng: "Are we going?"
Hundred Meter Flying Dagger: "Yes. In the face of a common enemy, our best ally is Maxwell. He can't afford to lose us, and we can't afford to lose him."
Lian Sheng lowered her head in thought for a moment, then called out, "Brother Dao, Boss."
If Maxwell couldn't even solidify his own position, it would be very dangerous for them.
If the Alliance, as discussed, successfully broke through the defense line and reached the 1st District, it would be like entering the tiger's den.
What if Maxwell failed in the political struggle and his authority was suddenly revoked? What if Barite successfully took control of most of Gelen's jurisdiction? What if they led troops to blockade the 1st and 2nd Districts and closed the green channel to the Alliance?
In case of unexpected events and strained combat resources, how would reinforcements get in? How long would it take to break through the defense line? Could this be a Gelen plot to lure them into a trap?
They weren't fighting on home turf now. While they had room to maneuver, there were also many more taboos to consider.
Hundred Meter Flying Dagger patted her shoulder: "Go rest first. I'll come find you after the meeting."
Lian Sheng stopped at the conference room door, leaning against the wall with one hand in her pocket. She sniffled, then opened her optical computer to search for related information.
"Lian Sheng! Lian Sheng!" Ji Ban called out as he approached from the street. "What are you doing here? Lian Sheng, let me show you Moshi's new tricks! Can you use Jiugong to slide?"
Lian Sheng calmly put her things away: "Jiugong can't be used. It's been recalled. We'd need permission to requisition it again."
Ji Ban said disappointedly, "Ah..."
Moshi was Ji Ban's personal property, but Jiugong belonged to the Alliance. If anything went wrong from unauthorized use, the Alliance would bear full responsibility.
Lian Sheng said, "But you can still tell me about it."
Ji Ban pulled her along: "Come on! Give me your code library, and I'll try it. Some amazing moves can be done with manual operation!"
Because they were stranded at the 16th District airport, their activity space was severely limited. The airport was mostly open ground, with large machinery and equipment confiscated by Gelen officials. There were no professional training grounds, let alone anything worth visiting.
The soldiers had nothing to do all day. Their main activities were fighting, running, and chatting, which eventually evolved into philosophical debates.
Now, riding the excitement of Jiugong's return, everyone sat cross-legged on the airport tarmac, ready to watch Moshi perform manual mech transformation tricks.
Zhao Zhuoluo noticed Lian Sheng's tense expression and asked quietly, "Is something wrong?"
Lian Sheng shook her head: "No. Nothing that concerns us right now."
Zhao Zhuoluo gave an "Mmm" and didn't press further.
The next morning at eight, a live video appeared on Gelen's optical network.
Barite sat in front of the camera, eyes half-lidded, staring ahead for two seconds.
Maxwell, also seated at his desk, was on edge. In those two seconds, countless thoughts flashed through his mind as he guessed what Barite's first words would be. Finally, he pressed his hand to his nose, no longer looking at the screen, just listening quietly.
Barite said, "To all my people of Gelen, I am deeply sorry. I love you. I revere Mr. Edwin. Since joining the military, I have always remembered General Edwin's dying wish to lead Gelen into a more prosperous spring. The people of Gelen have fought through blood, sweat, and poverty, using our tenacity and effort to resist the world's injustices. But because of conflicts of interest, some, out of naivety and selfishness, would undermine our nation's unity, forcing me to turn our artillery on our own people."
"For Gelen's bright tomorrow, to eliminate the obstacles and enemies between us, I will represent the military in launching a full-scale attack on the 1st and 2nd Districts. To avoid innocent casualties in the merciless flames of war, I ask all who believe in me to prepare in the shelters. The Gelen United Army will soon bring you home!"
"As for the parliament's various decisions..."
Barite had escalated from military deterrence and standoff to preparing for an all-out attack. What steeled his resolve was likely the assassination attempt. But from start to finish, he never mentioned it.
He was alive, meaning the assassination had failed.
This outcome was both unexpected and understandable.
Maxwell had only just confirmed this fact, though he'd long been prepared for it. How could Barite be so easy to kill? The person blown up in the 3rd District wasn't him.
The intelligence had been wrong.
Maxwell slumped back into his chair, covering his nose as he exhaled heavily.
The man before him said sympathetically, "Sir."
"It's fine." Maxwell waved a hand. "Let me collect myself. I need to calm down."
The man opened his mouth to speak but held back.
When he'd first heard the news, he'd been torn between laughter and anger. He'd come to the office intending to confront the president.
Why would Maxwell, of all people, trust Barite's son? They were family, after all.
Perhaps they'd once talked big about ideals, but that was in their youth. After years of trials, how many could retain their original aspirations? Even Maxwell himself couldn't. And after seeing the broader horizons and darker political realities, such ideals were bound to change.
Fortunately, he'd been cautious enough not to sever ties with the Alliance. Even upon hearing the false news of Barite's assassination, he'd immediately summoned Alliance reinforcements.
If they could hold out a little longer, they'd have the Alliance's aid—their last hope for revolution.
Opposing Barite meant this revolution was walking a tightrope. Maxwell bore immense pressure, but he didn't want him to become a gambler.
The man said, "Luckily, General Barite didn't mention the assassination attempt."
"No..." Maxwell opened his eyes. "That's the worst part."
The man: "Sir?"
Maxwell said, "This matter doesn't need to be publicized. Barite only needs certain people to know. By not handling it publicly, he's giving parliament a chance to deal with it internally. Those people are smart—and more suspicious. They'll immediately realize what I've done. Barite is using his restraint to show his willingness to reconcile. And new enemies will emerge between different factions. No matter their stance on the war, I believe dissatisfaction with me will be their common ground."
Maxwell smiled wryly: "Internal issues always draw more attention than external ones, don't they?"
The accusation that the political faction had attempted to assassinate Barite—no matter how disliked he was, if he personally confirmed it, some would believe it.
Especially since it was true.
In such circumstances, to cover up the scandal and save face, those cunning politicians would never admit it.
The military and political factions were now irreconcilable, with deep-seated grievances. The timing was suspicious too. Punishing Maxwell immediately would make parliament's position highly questionable, tantamount to admitting guilt.
From an interest perspective, no matter how much those old men hated him, they'd let him keep up appearances for a while. Even his unauthorized opening of the green channel to the Alliance could be overlooked temporarily. Maxwell would actually be safer.
Now it was different.
Maxwell was exhausted. Already advanced in years, with no time even to dye his hair these days, it had turned white in patches, making him seem to have aged dramatically.
He tilted his optical computer and smiled at the man before him.
"See?" Maxwell said. "They're coming to hold me accountable already. They're always the fastest to point fingers."
The man asked, "What will you do?"
Maxwell began organizing the documents on his desk. He shredded several records and destroyed them. The rest were filed away securely.
Seeing his silence, the man hesitated before saying, "Should we close the external safe passage first? The Alliance hasn't set out yet, and no irreversible damage has been done. This way, you still have—"
"No. I don't need that kind of chance or retreat. We've done so much for this day. I can't betray those who believe in me or those who've sacrificed for me. Carry out my orders as usual. As for the others... I'll handle them." Maxwell took the coat beside him, shook it out, and draped it over his shoulders. His lips curled—whether in mockery or resignation was unclear. "Though I've made a colossal mess, I believe no one else dares take charge now. They'll still have to leave it to me."
The political faction's image was tied to him. If they changed their stance now, their supporters might revolt, and others would dislike them too. They'd be truly stuck between a rock and a hard place.
Even if the gallows awaited him, until then, he still had hope to overturn everything.
Maxwell buttoned his suit and exhaled. He pulled open the door and glared down the hallway. "You've already staked your lives on the front lines, paving the way with your bodies. Leave the rear to me. Just keep moving forward."
No matter where they were, there were endless meetings. Because the matters were significant, more people needed to be gathered for discussion. And the more people, the more divergent opinions, making it harder to reach decisions quickly.
Another day passed before Hundred Meter Flying Dagger emerged from the conference room, exhausted.
His eyes ached. Torn between sleep and hunger, he passed the cafeteria, found Lian Sheng, and led her to the restroom at the end of the hall.
The two faced each other in silence as Hundred Meter Flying Dagger massaged his temples.
Unable to stand the awkward quiet, Lian Sheng asked first, "What did you want to say?"
Hundred Meter Flying Dagger: "What did I want to say again?"
Lian Sheng: "..."
Lian Sheng: "..."
Hundred Meter Flying Dagger said, "Oh, right. It's like this. Your earlier speculation—after discussion, we think it makes a lot of sense."
Lian Sheng: "Which speculation?"
"The one about how attacking the 1st and 2nd Districts is highly risky, how the safe passage's opening might not represent most of Gelen's opinion, how the Alliance's safety depends on Maxwell's reliability, and how we can't be sure of Maxwell's stability in Gelen yet." Hundred Meter Flying Dagger said, "So in this situation, accepting—"
Lian Sheng: "...I hadn't actually said that out loud."
Hundred Meter Flying Dagger brushed it off: "Oh, really? Whatever. It's fine. I know you were thinking it."
Hundred Meter Flying Dagger raised a hand to stop her: "Don't interrupt. Anyway, we've decided your squad will stay in the 16th District to handle cleanup and missions. We'll start assembling this afternoon and aim to leave the 16th District today."
Lian Sheng said sternly, "Are you joking?"
"Who's joking? It's settled. Everyone agrees. Your squad will stay in the 16th District on standby. If Gelen makes any suspicious moves, cover for us and save some face to narrow the gap. If the attack goes smoothly, the Alliance will send a second fleet for reinforcements. You can rejoin them then." Hundred Meter Flying Dagger waved a hand. "What's not to like? I'd pray to the gods for an assignment like this. You're being dumb. I'm not talking to you."
Lian Sheng: "That depends on which god you're praying to and what you're asking for. Why our squad?"
"You need to be strong enough and smart enough. With only one squad staying, I wouldn't trust anyone else. Of course, the main reason is you're special. You know that." Hundred Meter Flying Dagger placed a hand on Lian Sheng's head. "It's settled. Behave and don't cause trouble, understand? You're leading a team now—act like it. Don't let me down. I know you're sensible."
Lian Sheng understood perfectly.
With the Alliance having no choice but to deploy, keeping their squad in the safer rear was both an acknowledgment of their strength and a sign of high expectations.
Manual mechs, new sensor prosthetics, special status. All members were elite young recruits with unparalleled mech piloting skills—trailblazers in their field.
Their existence represented greater possibilities. Given a choice, the Alliance had kept them in reserve.
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