Chapter 1 The Dragon City Rises

Long City, the mayor's office.

Li Mingsheng sat behind his desk, listening to Ouyang Zhen's questioning, without saying a word. He just lowered his head and drank his tea, unhurried and calm.

Ouyang Zhen looked at him, hands on his hips, and roared, "Speak! Why aren't you talking? Cat got your tongue?!"

Li Mingsheng raised his head and glanced at him, then gestured, "Don't shout, have a seat first, let's talk slowly. Given the current situation..."

Ouyang Zhen looked at Li Mingsheng and waved his hand, interrupting him directly. "Spare me that crap! I'm just asking you one question: can you get Su Tianyu to withdraw his troops?!"

Old Li slowly put down his teacup, frowned, and looked at Ouyang Zhen, asking, "Do you think I can control this situation right now? Or that Su Tianyu can control it? The situation has already taken shape. How many people's real interests are involved? Even if you don't want to fight now, Gustav might not back down!"

Old Li's words weren't an excuse, but the truth.

The current situation was the result of a joint effort from multiple parties. No single force or individual could completely control it.

The warlords wanted to profit from the war, the Hua District couldn't accept the Hua Gong Hui being split up like this, and Su Tianyu wouldn't compromise with Huo Dongsheng's team. Furthermore, there were plenty of warmongers in the Ruler Army, Panama City, and the An faction.

Withdrawing now? Easier said than done.

Ouyang Zhen understood the current situation, but he couldn't help pointing his finger at Old Li's nose and cursing, "Damn it, if you can't control the situation, then what are you doing in that seat?!"

These words were a bit excessive and showed a lack of political savvy, but they were a true reflection of Ouyang Zhen's emotions, an eruption of the conflict between his friendship and working relationship with Old Li.

In normal times, Old Li would have exploded upon hearing these words, or at least started arguing. But now, he was very gentle, not angry at these words, not even meaning to refute them.

Ouyang Zhen trembled with anger, slamming on Li Mingsheng's desk as he angrily questioned, "Last time you attacked Panama City, and this time you're going to attack St. Paul City. If St. Paul City falls, are you going to attack Hua Fu in a few days? When are you going to attack District One? What am I supposed to do? What are those people above who support you supposed to do?!"

Li Mingsheng was silent.

Ouyang Zhen's voice trembled as he roared, his face pale, "How am I supposed to explain this to the people above? Tell them that my repeated insistence ultimately resulted in raising a viper? This is an extremely stupid decision for a team, even a party! It's destined to be nailed to the pillar of shame in District One, forever remembered! Because you're openly declaring your independence now. All my arguments at various meetings were secretly providing you with resources to rebel, right?"

Li Mingsheng looked at Ouyang Zhen, feeling guilty, because the other party had indeed helped him a lot, even saving him many times at critical moments.

"Speak! Don't you always have a lot of reasons? Why are you silent now?" Ouyang Zhen angrily questioned.

"Sigh!"

Li Mingsheng sighed deeply, slowly rising to respond, "As far as the Second Faction is concerned, from the moment I, Li Mingsheng, entered Long City, my position was just as a puppet responsible for fighting for power. My personal honor, disgrace, and safety are insignificant compared to this goal. Of course, the higher-ups did give me a lot of support and protected me when I was surrounded by enemies. But over the years, the political returns that Long City has given to the Second Faction have also been quite substantial. Those politicians above you are showing off with reports of Long City's rapidly increasing economic tax revenue; with the rise of Chinese social groups and various behind-the-scenes confrontations, they have ample reason to criticize the First Faction's stupidity. How much of Long City's mineral resources, real estate, light industry, and heavy industry has been converted into the capital of the Second Faction to take charge of the overall situation within five or six years? Old Ou, tell me, haven't I given enough?"

"These are two different things!" Ouyang Zhen emphasized angrily, "You can't...!"

"To me, the Second Faction is the boss, and I'm just an employee. There's no talk of faith, and the cooperation is very fair." Li Mingsheng looked at him, "I'm not corrupt, I don't love money, and I don't mess around with women. I'm willing to put my energy, even my life, into Long City, so what am I after?!"

Ouyang Zhen was stunned by these words.

"Old Ou, I'm grateful to you, even guilty." Li Mingsheng sighed deeply, "Alas, but if I could do it again, I would still take this path."

"Then what do you mean?" Ouyang Zhen looked at him blankly, clenching his fists, and asked, "You're determined..."

"Yes, I'm determined to do it." Old Li looked directly at him, answering crisply, "The fire has already been lit, and everyone will have their own choices. Old Ou, a person only lives once, and they always have to leave something behind. Rather than running errands for that bunch of dog-cussing politicians in the Second Faction, using the livelihood and suffering of my Chinese main city as chips and arguments for political games, I'd rather go to hell and do something big ourselves!"

"?????"

Ouyang Zhen was dumbfounded, gritting his teeth and cursing, "Li Mingsheng, you're not only rebelling yourself, but you're also trying to incite me to revolt?!"

Old Li looked at him without replying.

Ouyang Zhen was silent for a long time, then said in a hoarse voice, "Have you thought about it? At this moment, you're standing on a cliff. Once you fail, the result won't just be your own destruction. You're going to take a group of people and jump off the cliff...!"

Old Li poured tea while saying calmly, "It's just death... Haven't I already died once many years ago?"

...

St. Paul City, the southern border.

At four o'clock in the afternoon, dense swarms of drones were rapidly flying over the southern front line. Soon, the intelligence was sent to the command post of the Third Division stationed here.

Xin Xiaodong stood inside a temporary camp, looking at the intelligence that had been delivered to him.

According to the drone reconnaissance, Gustav had sent two divisions to be stationed on both sides of the southern line, and defensive positions had already been built.

Xin Xiaodong glanced at the disposition of forces on the map, thought for a moment, and said to the officers in front of him, "We've fought against the rebel army from Old Mexico and the mercenary groups from Panama City, but we haven't fought this side yet. We don't know what their defense strength is like. How about this, tonight at eight o'clock, we launch a night battle and test the intensity first."

After making up his mind, Xin Xiaodong mobilized two mechanized infantry regiments and piled them on the front line.

At eight o'clock, the Blackwater Corps' helicopters and artillery units immediately began to bombard the enemy's garrison area.

Rows of rocket rounds lit up the night sky, sweeping through the enemy's garrison area with a thunderous momentum.

"Rumble...!"

Violent explosions echoed one after another, the earth trembling. The enemy's positions had already been engulfed in a sea of fire, with wreckage scattered everywhere.

Looking at the sea of fire in front of him, Xin Xiaodong put down his binoculars and immediately ordered, "Begin the attack, advance!"

With a command, groups of armored vehicles and light pickup trucks broke through the sea of fire and launched an attack on the enemy's position.