Chapter 327 A Desperate Gamble

In the Yanhuang Federation's conference room, everyone remained glued to the satellite feed, not daring to blink.

Suddenly, someone burst in.

"Report! Urgent military situation! The United Front Work Department has just detected a large number of fighters launching from the Western Frontier and Northern Border Theater Commands! The Western Frontier's Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Air Force Brigades have left their bays, and the Northern Border Theater Command's Special Operations Air Brigade is scrambling!"

"Over a thousand fighters are deployed, carrying thirty split-core missiles, twelve from the Western Frontier and eighteen from the Northern Border!"

"This deployment has reached the level of a national-level combat mission! But the United Front Work Department has not received any prior combat requests or orders. Therefore, we are here to ask for instructions from the leaders. Has this combat mission been approved?" The United Front Work Department officer saluted and asked loudly.

The expressions of those present changed upon hearing this, and they quickly looked at the two empty chairs beside the conference table. Immediately, someone asked, "Where are Chen Qiong and Old Zhang?"

It was only then that everyone noticed they had been gone from the conference room for over half an hour!

"Re... Report! Twenty minutes ago, Commander Chen and Commander Zhang claimed they had received a combat mission and returned to their military regions via special plane!" At that moment, a headquarters dispatcher entered the conference room, stammering.

Hearing these two pieces of news, everyone understood almost instantly.

"They... they dare to mobilize troops without authorization?" Someone asked in a trembling voice.

Premier No. 1's brow twitched. He picked up a satellite phone and dialed a number.

Soon, Chen Qiong's voice came from the phone: "Hello, this is Chen Qiong!"

"Chen Qiong, are you trying to rebel? Do you know what the penalty is for arbitrarily mobilizing troops during wartime? Do you want to be shot?" Premier No. 1 suppressed his anger and said sternly, "Immediately order your troops to cease all actions and come back here immediately!"

"..." Chen Qiong was silent for a long time, and then said decisively, "That's impossible! Our fighter squadrons have already crossed the border. Once the arrow is nocked... there's no turning back!"

Premier No. 1 naturally knew that Chen Qiong and the Western Frontier leader's troop mobilization couldn't be a rebellion. Based on Chen Qiong's attitude towards Kuangxi Island earlier, he easily deduced the troops' destination!

"You are committing a crime," Premier No. 1 said sternly. "Do you know that no matter the outcome of this matter, you will be judged? Do you know how serious the consequences are?!"

Chen Qiong fell silent. Yes, after this incident, regardless of whether Li Tianran's attitude toward Yanhuang remained cold or improved, Chen Qiong's unauthorized troop mobilization would be judged. All his honors and status would be stripped away, and he himself might even be imprisoned or executed!

Because for a country, for a commander of great importance, Chen Qiong's actions were absolutely unacceptable, no matter what!

"I! Will! Bear! It!" Chen Qiong's three crisp words left everyone speechless.

Premier No. 1 was speechless, helpless.

"We have left the border. In twenty minutes, we will arrive at the Kuangxi Island battlefield..."

"If I cannot see that future day, let history tell later generations whether my actions today were right or wrong for the Federation!"

After Chen Qiong finished speaking, he hung up the phone directly.

On the special plane, Chen Qiong and the Western Frontier leader sat facing each other, flames burning in their eyes.

For the future interests of the country, some were willing to play tricks and control everything from behind the scenes!

Some were willing to shed blood and gamble with their lives and honor!

Chen Qiong and the Western Frontier leader knew very well that once they left, everything they owned would vanish upon their return. This might be the last time they held power!

This was the most precious glory and life they had earned through a lifetime of struggle!

But now, they were giving it up so easily, without a word of complaint.

At this moment, they were not scheming politicians playing power games.

They were soldiers, true warriors!

Shedding blood, even if the road ahead was dark, even if their corpses were buried under the soil, unknown to anyone, still...

Moving forward without hesitation!

...

"Squad 6, Ship 8 has been destroyed, detonating the armory!"

As the cold report rang in Li Tianran's ears, another huge plume of fire rose from the sea, countless steel fragments flying, along with the remains of sea beasts.

"Boss, the Pioneers Legion reports! The six hundred thousand beast tide attacking the original defense line has been completely wiped out!"

"Our casualties..."

A series of data points entered Li Tianran's ears. After six hours, the first wave of beast tide attacking the Pioneers' defense line was finally completely wiped out!

One hundred and seventy-two Pioneers died, seven hundred and eighty were seriously injured, and more than thirteen hundred were slightly injured.

More than thirty warships were sunk, and there was also damage to fighter jets, Adult Berserkers, and Tank Berserkers.

The Mecha Berserkers did not suffer any major damage, but their energy and ammunition were severely depleted and urgently needed recharging.

Overall, the Pioneers Legion's losses were only about one-tenth of the mechanical forces' losses!

Since the start of the battle, five waves of naval fleets had been completely wiped out. Li Tianran's score loss was as high as tens of billions. His three large warehouses were emptied, and less than one-sixth of the beast tide had been killed.

"Boss, the Pioneers Legion is requesting to move their defense line forward. They want to join the mechanical forces in battle!" Qin Yiming said in a deep voice.

"Let them rest where they are," Li Tianran said softly. "It's not their time to go on stage yet."

"But they strongly request to join the battlefield!" Qin Yiming said helplessly, "They said... it breaks their hearts to watch ship after ship and fighter after fighter fall!"

"Tell them that their lives are worth more than these mechanical things," Li Tianran said expressionlessly. "Rest where you are. That's an order!"

Qin Yiming heard the unquestionable tone in Li Tianran's words and did not dare to press further, conveying the order to the Pioneers.

"Fleet 7, prepare to depart!" Li Tianran ordered within the system. A massive fleet set out again from the port, heading towards the beast tide dozens of kilometers away like moths to a flame.

But at that moment, the outlines of huge warships suddenly appeared on the distant sea.

Through the patrol radar's feedback, Li Tianran saw an equally massive fleet, but what appeared on the decks of that fleet were groups of human deserters and Beast Kings. He could even see the Beast Kings' sinister smiles!

"It's the technological forces of the beast tide cities!" Li Tianran frowned.

The Beast King groups were acting like madmen, not only mobilizing a massive beast tide, but also using the modern technological forces within the beast tide cities. How eager were these monsters to destroy Kuangxi Island!

Li Tianran took a deep breath. With the addition of this force, the pressure he had to bear would be even greater.

But... so what?

Even when he had faced the five great powers at the same time, he had never been afraid.

"Missile silos, aim at the fleet approaching us from the southwest and sink it!" Li Tianran ordered in a deep voice!

Boom, boom, boom!

Several missiles shot out!

But before Kuangxi Island's missiles could approach, Li Tianran saw an even brighter line of fire appear in the northwest sky!

No, it wasn't just one. Behind that line of fire were countless other lines of fire!

They illuminated the entire sky as if it were daytime.

At the same time, an ear-piercing alarm sounded.

"Non-Kuangxi Island missiles detected overhead!"

"A large number of aircraft detected approaching!"

The lines of fire landed on the far-reaching beast nest fleet, and in an instant, a huge mushroom cloud billowed into the sky!

One second!

The fleet evaporated instantly!

Li Tianran was stunned.

Ignoring the system's piercing alarm, he looked up at the sky.

He saw countless fighters roaring in from the distant horizon.

On the wings of the fighters, the gold star on the blood-red flag shone brightly in the firelight!