Chapter 144: The Unstoppable Transport Army!
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“At present, if we are to seize Blue Island, the first thing we must face is the devastating bombardment from the enemy’s coastal guns and vast artillery formations. Sending our infantry forward alone would be nothing short of suicide.”
His words made the Army Minister and the Army Chief of Staff look even more grim. They exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with shock and disbelief.
They had never imagined that an enemy they had once dismissed could inflict such enormous damage in so short a time.
If the situation continued to deteriorate, the Tianzhong civilian administration would undoubtedly order them to withdraw, placing their very lives in grave danger.
After a brief silence, the Army Minister asked in a deep voice, “How do you think we can completely turn the tide on South Island?”
The Army Chief of Staff pondered for a moment before a note of resolve flashed through his eyes. “If there truly is no other course, then we can only call upon the navy.”
His voice remained calm, but his gaze was firm. “We possess the dynasty’s most powerful fleet—the Third Fleet. This is no time for them to stand by and watch.”
“It is time to employ the guns of our warships and destroy Blue Island Fortress outright.”
He immediately added, “Once the support of that great fortress is gone, the enemy garrison will find it difficult to withstand our warriors.”
His words plunged everyone present into thought. The air was heavy with oppression and tension, yet a spark of anticipation burned within it as well.
“Consider requesting naval assistance?” the Army Minister murmured to himself, anguish on his face and conflict in his eyes.
Deep down, he was unwilling to lower himself before the naval commanders and ask for help. He feared that doing so would damage his prestige and make him an object of ridicule among his fellow army officers. Yet cold logic told him that without naval support, he might not survive. Faced with a choice between dignity and life, the Army Minister made his decision.
At that very moment, the Army Chief of Staff sensed his hesitation and suggested, “If you prefer, I could make the request to the Navy Minister on your behalf.”
The Army Minister shook his head. His gaze was resolute, his expression decisive. “No. I will bear that responsibility myself.”
His voice was filled with determination. “If we are still concerned with personal pride at a moment like this, then we can only face an even more tragic outcome.”
Seeing how firmly the Army Minister had made up his mind, the Army Chief of Staff said no more. He merely nodded solemnly, admiration shining in his eyes.
“Army Minister, the dynasty will forever remember your sacrifice and devotion.”
Once the strategic plan for Blue Island had been settled, the Army Minister could not help raising another concern. “What is the current situation on the Chengyun front?”
He looked expectantly toward the Deputy Chief of Staff. “I recall that Lieutenant General Andongze had already made progress there.”
Unexpectedly, the Deputy Chief of Staff shook his head and reported that the situation was unfavorable. The Army Minister’s expression immediately grew grave.
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“Reporting to the Army Minister, the situation on the Chengyun front is likewise extremely unfavorable to us.”
The Deputy Chief of Staff gave a detailed account of the grim circumstances at the front. The Army Minister and the Army Chief of Staff exchanged a worried glance, their hearts filled with unease, as though they had sensed that an even greater challenge was approaching.
Deep concern showed in both their eyes. They realized that the dynasty might be standing at a turning point.
As dark clouds gathered over the Army Minister’s heart, an operations officer burst into the room in a panic. His face was taut with anxiety, his eyes filled with fear and unease, as if he carried some ominous news.
“Army Minister, something terrible has happened! An unforeseen development has occurred in the Chengyun theater!”
Under ordinary circumstances, the Army Minister and the Army Chief of Staff would certainly have reprimanded him for such abrupt and reckless behavior. But the gravity of the situation left them no time to concern themselves with etiquette.
“How is the battle progressing?” the Army Minister asked in a tense, hurried voice, doing his best to maintain his authority.
The operations officer handed over a telegram. Their eyes locked onto the page, and with every word they read, their faces grew deathly pale. Shock and disbelief were written plainly across their features.
After a moment of silence, the Army Minister finally slammed his hand against the table and roared furiously, the muscles of his face contorted with rage.
“How dare those shameless bastards do such a thing!”
“They actually intend to wipe out two of our divisions in a single stroke!”
“Even our fiercest enemies of the past never possessed such audacity!”
Burning with fury, he had plainly lost his usual calm and reason. Yet however fiercely he vented his anger, he could not conceal the fear buried deep in his eyes.
The Army Chief of Staff was equally tense. He understood all too clearly that if the Fifth Division and the Infantry Division were annihilated, the men who had planned the operation would never escape responsibility.
Confronted with the prospect of taking their own lives and being nailed to the pillar of disgrace by history, he spoke with urgency and resolve.
“Army Minister, this is no time for fear or retreat!”
“We must immediately mobilize the Seventh and Eighth Divisions and send them to the harbor, relying on the navy to get them to the battlefield as quickly as possible.”
“At the same time, we must notify Andongze that he must hold his position by any means necessary.”
“As long as the reinforcements arrive in time, we still have a chance to turn the situation around!”
A glimmer of hope flashed through the Army Minister’s eyes. His composure returned slightly, and he hurriedly replied, “Exactly. You are right!”
“As long as we can assemble reinforcements quickly, victory will ultimately be ours!”
His brows remained tightly furrowed, as though he were weighing the constraints of time against the possibility of success.
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“But it will take at least three days, perhaps longer, for the reinforcements to reach the battlefield.”
“The question is, can Andongze hold out for three days?”
The Army Chief of Staff’s brow furrowed deeply. A harsh resolve flickered in his eyes, and his tone revealed a determination that allowed no compromise.
“Whatever the cost, they must hold for more than three days!”
His voice was low and powerful. The murderous light in his eyes exposed the fury within him and the absolute nature of his command.
“If they cannot do so, then Andongze will have only one path left!”
The Army Chief of Staff’s voice grew even darker, as if it foretold an ominous end. Almost grinding his teeth, he continued:
“With such incompetence, he is unworthy of serving as a soldier of the dynasty!”
As they anxiously discussed how to deploy the reinforcements as quickly as possible, a staff officer hurried into the room and interrupted them.
“Army Minister, headquarters has sent a message. An emergency military conference has been called!”
His voice was urgent, edged with anxiety.
“The Army Minister and the Army Chief of Staff are to report there immediately.”
The Army Minister’s expression darkened further. A flash of anger and helplessness crossed his eyes.
The corner of his mouth twitched faintly, revealing his displeasure at the news.
“Damn it. It seems Tianzhong already knows what is happening on the battlefield.”
He understood that the civilian officials, led by Tianzhong, still had no desire for the army to become deeply involved in this war.
Amid the tense atmosphere, the Army Minister and the Army Chief of Staff hurried to the prime minister’s residence. When they arrived, they found that members of the other institutions had already gathered there.
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