Chapter 922: Chapter 922: The Consequence of Repeated Probing
The endless sea surface was adorned with burning steel, turning the clear sky after the storm into a sunset.
This is an unnamed sea area less than five hundred nautical miles away from the Baiyue Strait, with only a small island nearby measuring less than a few square kilometers, historically known as Selick Island.
The fleet of the Southern Legion and the fleet of the South Sea Union engaged in a clash near this small island.
The Southern Legion deployed a total of twenty-three ships and five iron airships.
While the South Sea Union’s fleet only had one Harpoon cruiser, four destroyers, and three nuclear-powered submarines, plus a land-based anti-ship electromagnetic cannon pre-deployed on Selick Island.
The South Sea Union, having just gone through a civil war, was severely weakened, especially with its battleships, the core of its combat power, sunk to the seabed.
Judging purely from the data, the disparity in strength between the two sides was enormous.
It was precisely for this reason that upon discovering the fleet of the South Sea Union, the Southern Legion approached without taking it seriously, with heads held high.
The entire battle lasted several hours.
Yet the final outcome of the battle astonished everyone.
Faced with the grand and invincible fleet of the Southern Legion, the South Sea Union used anti-ship missiles and cannon-fired drones to kite them, and with a few maneuvers, managed to sink all twenty-three of their ships to the seabed at almost no cost!
Not only that, but in the air, the accompanying five iron airships had two hit by the land-based anti-ship electromagnetic cannon, leaving the remaining three to flee from the battlefield in panic!
Frankly speaking...
This battle was won a bit too easily.
In the bridge of the Harpoon, the adjutant, holding a telescope, gazed at the flames floating on the sea and couldn’t help but sigh.
"I didn’t expect the Southern Legion to be just like this..."
Among these twenty-three ships, surprisingly, half were diesel-powered, a single missile shot set them spewing black smoke.
The staff officer on the side also had a complex expression, nodding.
"...Twenty-three ships, two-thirds are coastal support ships, apart from the five iron airships that barely count as a threat, the others aren’t even considered threats."
Compared to the astonishment of the soldiers, Commander Li Minghui was quite calm about this victory.
The Legion relied too heavily on airships, and this was particularly evident in the Southern Legion.
When facing aboriginal survivor forces, iron airships indeed had overwhelming advantages, whether in firepower density or strike efficiency, surpassing ground artillery and conventional flying units, and when paired with special warheads could achieve the miraculous effect of "one cannon for ten."
However, this alternative war tool was a different story when facing evenly matched opponents.
Through multiple engagements with the Legion, the Union had accumulated rich experience in countering iron airships, and later absorbed technology from various sources.
From afar, they would use the anti-ship electromagnetic cannon to overload; when closer, they would use the phase gun to break the shield and paralyze the engine. The Union and its allies had developed a mature system for combat against airships, and the Union had now passed this method on to the South Sea Union.
Of course, it is worth mentioning that although the naval power of the Southern Legion gave the feeling of being merely an appendage of the army, this was not the entirety of the Legion.
For instance, the naval power of the Western Legion on the New Continent was formidable.
Judging by their reconnaissance and counter-reconnaissance techniques, their strength was probably not weaker than the South Sea Union’s.
But perhaps for this reason, these guys never truly made a move until the end.
This seemed somewhat hard to understand, but Li Minghui understood the logic behind it.
The South Sea Union’s fleet’s hypothetical enemy was the Legion’s airship, thus they developed a fleet system centered around battleships.
And the fleet system of the Western Legion was also centered around battleships...
To call this a coincidence, would indeed be too coincidental.
Those so-called businessmen never intended to board the Southern Legion’s broken ship from the start.
Business was just business, after all.
"After this battle, the Southern Legion is no longer to be feared, and our hypothetical enemy strategy should be adjusted,"
putting down the telescope in his hand, Li Minghui said.
The adjutant standing by knew what he was referring to.
"You mean... the Western Legion?"
"Yes," Li Minghui nodded seriously, "we won this time, but I have a premonition this will mark the beginning of the Legion’s awakening... The Southern Legion was their sacrificial pawn, and there are even more troublesome foes after this."
The staff officer pondered for a long time, suddenly recalling a discussion at a seminar held with alliance officers.
"Facing a combat system centered on battleships... Developing aircraft carriers and carrier-based aircraft might be a good idea."
The adjutant beside him laughed bitterly.
"History does seem to be a circle."
If he remembered correctly, aircraft carriers were things from the pre-Prosperity Epoch era.
It was not until the advent of sky-based weapons, which brought various aviation equipment onto the stage of history, shifting the battlefield from ground to sky, that those outdated weapons were eliminated.
If the Wasteland Era cannot end immediately, they might just walk down these already tread paths again once their gravity wells are established.
Of course, this was just a possibility.
Li Minghui nodded, expressing a neutral attitude.
"I don’t think the path forward will simply repeat history, let’s just take it one step at a time."
...
At the No. 10 Settlement, inside a simply decorated city hall, Chu Guang donned his azure power armor once more.
Although he no longer needed this stuff nowadays, the significance of this armor to the Alliance citizens had long surpassed its practical use.
It was like a totem.
Facing the camera lens, Chu Guang adjusted the microphone with a steady and firm tone said.
"Today is a special day."
"In just the past week, we have witnessed a series of appalling events."
"The Southern Legion, without any warning, detonated a nuclear bomb of over ten thousand tons in our actual control area recognized by the Sticky Community."
"And while we optimistically thought this might be a misunderstanding, with no member of the Union’s Light perishing in that nuclear explosion, 20,000 armed Vellante soldiers broke into our homes..."
"The detonated nuclear bomb, the 20,000 soldiers, including the twenty-three ships headed for the Baiyue Strait... It is hard not to connect these three incidents."
"And there’s no doubt that these are acts of war!"
"A beast cloaked in human skin, after some pretentious probing, finally tore off its last disguise, revealing its menacing canine teeth to us."
"I believe there’s no need for me to explain what they intend to do, while up until yesterday, they were still vainly embellishing the image of their love for peace, gentleness, modesty, and courtesy with clumsy lies and hypocritical gestures."
"But we won’t be fooled again, the war has already started."
"I believe our armed forces, relying on the united will of our people, are bound to achieve inevitable victory!"
"We will thoroughly end this mistake that has lingered for a century and a half, we will thoroughly liberate all survivors oppressed by the Southern Legion, including the Vellante people oppressed by the Southern Legion."
"On behalf of the Alliance, I declare, due to the despicable conduct of the Southern Legion’s undeclared war, the Alliance and the Southern Legion are in a state of war!"
"This is an official declaration of war!"
The moment Chu Guang’s voice fell, the live broadcast of the speech was transmitted across the entire territory of the Alliance through cables and signal towers established by the Alliance.
The Alliance officially declared war on the Southern Legion!
The war in the Poluo Province was no longer just a contest between volunteers and mercenaries.
Simultaneously, the war between the two sides was no longer limited to the battlefields of the Poluo Province!
In a tavern in Giant Stone City, the television on the bar counter finished broadcasting the three-minute speech.
And at the same time when that sonorous voice faded, the entire tavern burst into enthusiastic cheers and applause.
They had been waiting for this moment for too long.
Those big-nosed folks, time and again, acting smart, attempted to overstep the Alliance’s bottom line.
Since all the troubles were caused by these guys, why not simply put this root of all evil into the grave?
A drunken drunkard stood up and roared with a coarse voice.
"The Manager is calling me, tomorrow I will join the army! It’s time to end this riddle!"
A brewery worker on the side also stood up, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"Count me in! Since the Southern Legion wants to fight! Then let’s have a good fight with them!"
This sentence resonated with everyone’s hearts and gained the support of countless people.
Not just the brewery workers, but also the militia of the militia group.
People whistled, cheering and applauding these brave young men.
They can’t always hide behind the Residents of the refuge.
Now that Giant Stone City has emerged from the shadow of crisis, it’s their turn to shine and contribute.
They will not relinquish their duties; they will stand side by side with everyone in the Alliance.
From the trenches at the front lines to the factories at the rear!
They will continue to fight until they eliminate all the jackals on this planet who dare bare their teeth at their brothers and sisters!
A guy who had too much to drink clambered onto the Table, shouting at the raucous crowd.
"I declare! The 1st Division of the Expeditionary Army of Giant Stone City is officially formed! Wait for our good news; we will follow Mr. Manager all the way into the den of these Looters!"
The resounding voices supported that nameless nobody, which was also the heartfelt voice of countless Workers’ Association members.
"Relying on that bunch from the Workers’ Association to throw money around will never save the worker brothers of the Poluo Line; we have to pick up guns... Damn, we should have done this long ago!"
"Not just the brothers in Poluo Line, but also those in the Great Desert! And in Yavente City!"
Those eagerly responding to the call for War weren’t just from Giant Stone City, the stronghold of the Alliance’s Radical Faction.
From City of Dawn to Dawn City to Falling Leaves City, people who have lived comfortably for a long time picked up guns once again.
Including Weifu City, as well as Potato Harbor and No.1 Settlement.
Both Radical Faction and Conservative faction have reached a consensus on one thing at this moment—
The methods of civilized people only apply to civilized people; facing beasts with no shame requires fire and guns!
As long as they live on this planet, it’s impossible to ignore what’s happening here.
To achieve true peace, they must completely resolve the trouble of the Southern Legion!
At the same time, in the Governor’s Mansion of Tiandu.
Absek, sitting at his desk, was watching TV attentively, watching the broadcast of the Alliance Managers’ speech by Jin Galun Harbor TV.
When he saw Chu Guang uttering that last sentence, Absek was as excited as a kid, standing up with a quick motion and walking around his desk three times.
His hands clenched into fists, his voice trembling with excitement.
"Heavens above the fallen Tiandu... Silver Moon Goddess, bless me!"
The Alliance declares War on the Southern Legion!
The Alliance finally formally entered the fray!
After the sacrifice of millions of military and civilians, they finally succeeded in dragging out the change to usher in the arrival of opportunity!
As the highest Leader of Poluo Country, no one knows better than him what this means!
The energetic demeanor scared the cat napping under the desk into a puffed-up ball.
Absek looked at the National Defense commissioner standing at the door, spiritedly issuing an order.
"Transmit the order to all forces, prepare for counterattack!"
"Yes!"
The National Defense commissioner solemnly saluted and turned to stride out the door.
Watching the spirited Great Leader, Internal Affairs commissioner Wadia’s brow furrowed with a hint of concern.
Recently, the actions of the local army in Snake State have been considerable.
And the Grey Wolf Army involved in the continued tug-of-war with the Southern Legion in the South of Wolf State is swelling like a leech in increasingly murky waters,
The pawn originally placed in the south by the Great Leader to check Shaluk has now become a tail-dragging problem.
Compared to the stagnant offensive of the Southern Legion, he always felt that the problem posed a more fatal threat to Poluo Country.
"But Shaluk..."
Absek chuckled and said spiritedly.
"Shaluk is just a slippery one; back when the situation was unclear, I really had to fear him three points, just in case he turned to the Army and reversed to stab us. But now it’s different, the War in Poluo Line has become a World War, and this guy is cunning, not blind; he knows what to do."
It’s not just that.
Under this prolonged confrontation, Poluo Country’s military force has already changed from before.
He now commands brave generals, and strong soldiers, not only intelligent commanders like Yishel the "Jungle Rat" but also fierce generals like Pickles the "Butcher."
Shaluk?
Can such a thing capable of not even standing up to the Southern Legion’s poker cards contend for Tiandu?
Listening to oneself boast is meaningless; one must also see how others speak.
Looking at the overconfident Absek, Wadia smiled wryly and nodded.
"Yes..."
Elsewhere, far away in West Sail Port, General Giulion also learned from his intelligence officers about the Alliance’s declaration of War against the Southern Legion and pieced together the entirety of the declaration speech from intercepted radio signals.
Initially, upon hearing that the War had finally reached the Alliance’s mainland, his face was filled with excitement.
However, when he noticed that the Alliance seemed to understand all the plans and even listed the action code names without error, his smile finally faltered.
Grabbing the arm of the officer standing in front of his desk, he asked.
"What is our response? Has Yavente City responded to the Alliance’s declaration of War?"
The officer hesitated and, after a moment of pause, said wryly.
"I... I don’t know."
Seeing this guy puzzled, General Giulion roared.
"Why are you standing here! Go ask quickly!"
The officer nodded hastily and bolted out of the office.
Returning to his desk, Giulion paced back and forth, and the foreboding feeling in his heart grew stronger.
Logically, this shouldn’t happen...
In normal circumstances, if the chief strategist’s ingenious plan is a resounding success, he should receive the news even before the Alliance.
Surely, the General Staff or the Command would inform him of the next step, preparing for the Alliance mainland invasion.
Just like the military operations following the West Sail Port massacre.
After Olet sent troops to control the situation, they dispatched the large forces almost immediately, completing all preparations before bedding down.
Yet now, the result seems that the plan, at its most critical stage, has inexplicably stalled.
The massive General Staff became mute, seemingly.
And he, the war zone’s chief commander, must rely on his intelligence officers, sourcing enemy television news to gauge the current plan’s progress.
This felt as if the one caught unprepared was not the Alliance, but rather they themselves threw a spanner in their own works.
Sitting down again at his desk.
After taking several deep breaths, Giulion managed to calm his wildly beating heart and muttered to himself.
"At least, in the Poluo Province War Zone... the advantage remains with us."
Even though he said this, he knew in his heart that the Poluo Province War Zone’s outcome was never determined by the pieces on this chessboard.
Just then, hurried footsteps echoed from the hallway outside the office, and the officer he had sent to contact the Command rushed back.
The officer barged into the office, forgetting even to knock.
But upon seeing his pale face, Giulion was too concerned about such trivial matters, quickly standing up to question him.
"What did Yavente City say?! What’s the current situation!"
The officer’s face was filled with panic, his lips trembling, only managing to squeeze out a sentence after a long pause.
"Enterprise... They said the Enterprise has also declared War on us."
The Enterprise has also declared War...
Those East Coast turtles.
Hearing these words, Giulion froze for a full minute, then sat silently back in his chair, listening to the silence.
The situation had completely spiraled out of control and was swiftly barreling towards a direction he had never envisioned.
As of now, Yavente City’s decisions no longer seem pivotal; only Triumph City has the say to determine what course the Weilante People will take...
...
(Year-end is here, and Dian Niang is urging for extras. Which characters would you like to see? I lean towards writing more daily content and characters with less involvement in the main plot. _(:зゝ∠)_)