Hu Hao was just about to call Ye Zifeng to order his forces to begin their infiltration to the southwest when his phone rang. It was Combat Zone Commander Jiang Kai.
Jiang Kai was extremely anxious about Hu Hao's safety, having just received intelligence that the Holy Ancient Empire's forces were rapidly approaching Jinhe City.
"Commander, I am aware of the situation. I've already made the necessary deployments. We managed to recruit a substantial force yesterday, and they are currently holding the line at Jinhe City. As long as we prevent the Holy Ancient forces from advancing on Late City, we'll be fine. Please don't worry, Commander, I have it under control!" Hu Hao reassured him.
"Oh? You've already managed to recruit troops?" Jiang Kai was genuinely surprised.
"Over 10,000 men, sir. They are all deployed to Jinhe City right now. Combined with the units I previously detached, they can hold the line for a few days. Once I recruit more men here, I'll send further reinforcements to Jinhe City," Hu Hao explained.
"That's good. That's very good. I only just received the intelligence myself. One of the corps facing my sector—the Holy Ancient 7th Corps—secretly withdrew. We didn't even notice they were gone until High Command sent a flash report saying they were marching toward your position!
"Sigh. When I heard that, I was frantic. I had to call you immediately. As long as you can hold them off, that's all that matters!" Jiang Kai sighed in relief, the tension draining from his voice.
"Mm, it shouldn't be a major issue. I can't guarantee I'll annihilate them, but stopping their southward advance is definitely within my capabilities. My primary focus right now is recruitment and reinforcing Jinhe City.
"By the way, Commander, what is the situation on your front?" Hu Hao asked, smoothly shifting the topic.
"What problems could I possibly have? The rainy season is here. Even if the Allied forces want to attack, their logistics will collapse. I'm perfectly fine. We just have to wait out the rains. I'm currently drawing up training schedules for my troops," Jiang Kai replied.
"No plans for a counter-offensive?" Hu Hao probed.
"A counter-offensive? Who would dare launch a counter-offensive right now? Sigh. Hu Hao, do not place any hope in High Command organizing a counter-offensive. If the rainy season hadn't arrived, the Empire would have been lucky to hold out for another month.
"The rainy season saved the Empire. Otherwise, the Allied forces would have kept pushing relentlessly. My greatest fear now is what happens after the rains stop. How much longer can the Empire truly hold out then?" Jiang Kai confided his deep pessimism.
"That's a fair assessment. As long as your sector is secure, that's what matters. I was worried the Allied forces might launch a massive assault against your defensive lines. After all, you've inflicted heavy casualties on them and stalled their advance for quite some time!" Hu Hao chuckled.
"Oh, please. Other people might not know the truth, but do you think you can fool me? You know exactly who inflicted those casualties!
"Right now, my only concern is you. Surrounded by Allied forces... a single misstep and they will devour you. And the worst part is, I am completely powerless to help you.
"The Air Force can offer some support, but with the rainy season here, their sortie rates will plummet. The daily torrential downpours will ground both our fighters and the Allied bombers," Jiang Kai noted.
"Mm. I'm fine here, Commander, please don't worry. Actually, I need to finalize some defensive deployments right now. If it's alright with you, I'll call you back later when things settle down," Hu Hao said, eager to get back to commanding his own troops.
"Of course, of course! Attend to your duties. Your situation is far more critical than mine!" Jiang Kai agreed immediately.
He knew Hu Hao was currently facing the combined assault of several heavy corps; he undoubtedly had his hands full. After hanging up, Jiang Kai sat back in his chair and sighed heavily.
"How is it? Is Hu Hao confident he can hold?" Sun Qinxue asked anxiously, seeing Jiang Kai's troubled expression.
"I don't know. I can only pray he is. The Allied forces haven't just mobilized the Holy Ancient 7th Corps; the Mara Empire's 14th Corps is marching on him as well! The Grand Marshal... damn him to hell!" Jiang Kai cursed viciously.
Every Combat Zone Commander knew exactly what the Grand Marshal had done. Tang Long's claim of "boosting morale" was a transparent lie; it was a deliberate, calculated move to expose Hu Hao and get him killed.
"What can we do? The Grand Marshal knows Hu Hao is your man. Did you really expect him to show mercy?" Sun Qinxue sighed.
"But Hu Hao is an Imperial General! He bleeds for the Empire! Does the Grand Marshal truly lack even that basic understanding?!" Jiang Kai demanded, standing up in anger.
"Mm. Commander, there is a piece of news you should be aware of," Sun Qinxue said carefully.
"What news?" Jiang Kai stopped and looked at his Chief of Staff.
"The Crown Prince has grown very close to Hu Hao. Lately, Hu Hao has been reporting directly to the Crown Prince regarding all major issues. Even regarding the Grand Marshal's intelligence leak... Hu Hao complained directly to the Crown Prince, not to you," Sun Qinxue pointed out delicately.
"Isn't that normal? Hu Hao is a Group Army Commander now. He is no longer my direct subordinate. He is required to report to High Command and the Crown Prince. If he reported to me first, that would cause massive political problems!" Jiang Kai dismissed the concern.
"That may be true, but... he didn't even mention it to you. Doesn't that bother you?" Sun Qinxue pressed.
"Don't overthink this, Old Sun. You and I both know exactly what kind of man Hu Hao is! I trust him implicitly. Furthermore, his actions are incredibly shrewd. By securing the Crown Prince's favor, he effectively neutralizes the Grand Marshal's overt hostility. It's the only way he can secure the resources and support he desperately needs.
"And even if Hu Hao has genuinely aligned himself with the Crown Prince... so what? The Crown Prince is the heir apparent, the future Emperor. Who else should a young, ambitious general follow? One of the lesser Princes?
"The only reason we aren't closely aligned with the Crown Prince isn't because of any flaw in the Prince himself, nor because we've been swayed by his brothers. It's solely because the Grand Marshal stands between us. I can never reconcile with the Grand Marshal.
"If I ever reconciled with Tang Long, I wouldn't be sitting in this chair. Do you think His Majesty would allow the Grand Marshal to consolidate that much unified military power?!
"Old Sun, remember this: the Crown Prince is the Crown Prince. He belongs to His Majesty; he belongs to the Imperial Family! The Grand Marshal is just a Grand Marshal. No matter how much power he wields, he is not Imperial blood. Think about the implications of that carefully.
"You mentioned Hu Hao reports directly to the Crown Prince. Protocol dictates he should report to the Grand Marshal. Why the bypass? I guarantee you, during their video conference, His Majesty explicitly ordered Hu Hao to bypass High Command! And why would His Majesty do that? Hm?
"Because right now, besides his own sons and his Imperial Guard, who else can His Majesty truly trust? The Grand Marshal? Hmph. Ridiculous!" Jiang Kai sneered coldly.
"That... makes perfect sense. I hadn't considered that angle at all!" Sun Qinxue nodded, his eyes widening in realization.
"Hu Hao is maintaining direct contact with the Crown Prince precisely to protect me. If he didn't, His Majesty would never trust me. Combined, Hu Hao and I command over a million troops. Why do you think His Majesty insisted on appointing his own Chief of Staffs to Hu Hao's Group Army? Do you think Hu Hao doesn't know why?
"His Majesty still doesn't fully trust Hu Hao! But he needs Hu Hao to fight his wars, just as he needs us!" Jiang Kai concluded his brilliant political analysis.
"Mm. So you truly aren't worried about Hu Hao growing close to the Crown Prince?" Sun Qinxue smiled, relieved.
"Not in the slightest. I know Hu Hao. He will never turn against me, and he will certainly never align himself with the Grand Marshal. He despises Tang Long's character and his total lack of military competence!" Jiang Kai laughed.
"Mm!" Sun Qinxue nodded in total agreement.
Meanwhile, Hu Hao was on a video call with Ye Zifeng.
"Your biggest weakness right now is a lack of real combat experience. I ordered you to send two divisions to Jinhe City specifically to get them blooded. In a few days, I will rotate two battle-hardened divisions back to your sector.
"Once they arrive, your forces are to begin pushing southwest immediately. My orders are simple—advance as far as you physically can!" Hu Hao ordered firmly.
"Understood! We have currently recruited enough men for five divisions, and the recruitment drive is ongoing!" Ye Zifeng reported eagerly.
"Remember, your corps officially consists of exactly six divisions. However, I authorize you to expand the headcount of each division to 16,000 men. This allows me to justify the numbers to High Command without raising suspicion. If you suddenly manifest ten divisions, I won't be able to explain it!" Hu Hao warned him.
"Understood!" Ye Zifeng nodded.
"Furthermore, as you push southwest, keep your eyes fixed on the Allied supply lines! Raid them! Plunder them! Every crate of supplies you capture accelerates our own development exponentially.
"More importantly, severing their logistics will paralyze their ability to launch major offensives elsewhere. I have very high expectations for your sector. I will prioritize reinforcing your forces in the future!" Hu Hao promised.
"Yes, sir!" Ye Zifeng saluted.
After ending the call with Ye Zifeng, Hu Hao immediately contacted Wu Kexiao. He issued similar orders—push southeast, expand their territory, and exploit the rainy season to consolidate power. If they waited until the dry season, the Allied forces would simply mass several corps, compress their perimeter, and crush them against Late City. They needed strategic depth.
Having finalized the grand strategic deployments, Hu Hao returned to the main command center. The brutal urban combat in Yonghe City was still raging. However, Hu Hao's focus had already shifted away from that meat grinder.
His attention was now fixed on Jinhe City. He ordered the engineering staff to establish secure communications with the regimental commanders currently holding the line there. Many of Hu Hao's newly formed divisions still lacked official Division Commanders.
The regimental commanders all knew the score: perform exceptionally well in the coming battles, catch Hu Hao's eye, and a promotion to Major General and Division Commander was practically guaranteed!
(End of Chapter)