Chapter 131 The Eve of the War

The next morning, St. Paul's City, the command center.

Gustav, dressed in military uniform, stood in front of the large screen, his hands behind his back, watching the city defense map.

More than a dozen officers stood behind Gustav, discussing the current situation in low voices.

Soon, a piece of intelligence was delivered to the chief of staff. After reading it, he hurried to Gustav and reported, "Report, General! The Dragon City United Armed Forces have sent a unit that has moved into the southern border of our city overnight and constructed a military defense!"

"How many men?" Gustav asked slowly, his expression unchanged.

"About ten thousand, all Chinese troops." The chief of staff reported truthfully, "According to reconnaissance, it is definitely the Third Division under Chi Jun, commanded by Xin Xiaodong, with Liu Yu as the chief of staff."

"They move quickly." Gustav nodded, then ordered, "Order the Fifth and Sixth Divisions to garrison the southern line, do not attack. The logistics units, clear out the military supply stations outside the defense zone, and return to the city."

"Yes!" The chief of staff immediately turned and left to deliver the order.

"Dilingling!"

Just as Gustav was looking at the map, studying countermeasures, the phone suddenly rang.

"Hello?" Gustav answered, "My friend."

"The higher-ups have already made a decision." Gwen's voice was low, "We will not send armed forces to directly participate in the war. But according to my intelligence, Su Tianyu has mobilized a total of nearly 50,000 troops this time, preparing to take St. Paul's City. I am trying to find a way to change the decision of the higher-ups..."

"No, no, no, I don't need your military help." Gustav emphasized, "You just need to give me money, give me military equipment, and I can fight this war well. You don't need to worry too much about other things. The battles around St. Paul's City have been going on for thirty years. For my soldiers, fighting is as simple as drinking water."

Gwen was silent for a while, then said, "I understand, I will try to get you more money and military equipment."

"Of course, I and my soldiers like these things very much." Gustav hung up the phone with a smile, then his expression immediately turned cold, and he continued to direct the work.

...

8:00 a.m., Jia City, the temporary command center of the Blackwater Mercenary Group.

Su Tianyu, Jiang Zhou, and Wu Han had already arrived. After a while, Xin Xiaodong, Bo Ang, Jin Maohui, and senior generals such as Sun Wei, Fei Pingsheng, and Wang Xiao also arrived.

An Qiqi and Yu Mingyuan then walked into the command center with several officers from the An family.

In total, there were twenty or thirty people sitting below, waiting for the meeting to begin, while Jiang Zhou and Wu Han sat on the side to listen, not participating in the discussion.

Su Tianyu quickly walked to the front, turned around, and looked at these excellent generals. For a moment, he felt a surge of emotion and shouted loudly to everyone, "I will be the commander-in-chief of this offensive operation. Let's talk about the purpose of this attack on St. Paul's City first."

All eyes were focused on Su Tianyu. He held up two fingers and continued, "We have two goals to achieve this time. First, force Gustav to surrender. Second, if he doesn't surrender, then we have to fight our way into the city and completely eliminate the remnants of the Huagong Association. From today onwards, all military actions must be carried out around these two points."

Everyone nodded. Su Tianyu took out several colored thumbtacks and first picked out a blue one, pinning it on the military map behind him. "In this offensive plan, the Third Division will be the main attack force, leading 10,000 people to attack the southern line of St. Paul's City."

"Yes!" Xin Xiaodong immediately stood up, saluted, and answered loudly.

Su Tianyu took out the second black thumbtack and pinned it on. "The Blackwater Mercenary Group, leading 18,000 people, will also enter the southern line to prepare for battle, as the second main attack unit, ready to rotate with the Third Division at any time."

"Yes." Bo Ang gave a Blackwater Mercenary Group salute.

Su Tianyu picked out green and yellow thumbtacks and pinned them together on the supply line. "Fei Pingsheng, you will lead the First Field Regiment of the Chi Army, a total of 6,500 people, to be responsible for logistical support. Wang Xiao, you and the armed forces of the Huagong Association will cooperate with the First Field Regiment to protect our supply line along the way."

Fei Pingsheng and Wang Xiao nodded. Su Tianyu then chose a red thumbtack and pressed it on a mountain range on the map. "The air force units of the Blackwater Mercenary Group will fully enter the Jia City military airport, ready to take off. Heavy artillery units, you will occupy this high ground. Before the Third Division advances, you must first carry out a twenty-minute artillery barrage of the enemy area. Begin advancing at six o'clock tonight!"

"Guarantee to complete the mission!" A Blackwater Mercenary Group commander accepted the mission.

Su Tianyu continued to assign the remaining tasks. The meeting lasted for almost an hour.

When all the tasks were assigned, near the end, Su Tianyu stood on the platform, supporting himself on the table with both hands, his eyes sweeping over everyone in the room, and shouted with澎湃and excited voice, "I hope everyone understands that this battle is a true battle for rise. After five or six years of development, the size of our armed forces and the scale of our social organization have reached their peak and bottleneck period! Therefore, even if we don't want to fight, they will take action sooner or later. Their splitting of the Huagong Association is the best proof! Compromise and defense are not the way out, offense is! If we win this battle, then the overseas Chinese community will help us take off completely with the arrival of all nations!! The independence of the Dragon City regime is just around the corner! But if we don't win, we will also face a situation where everyone beats a drum, and countless opportunists will kick us when we're down. How glorious we are today, how miserable we will be tomorrow!! For the First District, the fall of St. Paul's City is definitely not the end, but for us, if we can't take it down, it will be the beginning of decline and being strangled by all sides!!"

Su Tianyu paused, raised his hand, and shouted, "Therefore, this battle only has offense, no retreat! We will not return to court without killing Huo Dongsheng!! The guns cannot be stopped until Gustav is forced to surrender!!"

"Shua!"

Everyone stood up, saluted Su Tianyu, and shouted loudly with boiling blood, "We will not return to court without killing Huo Dongsheng!!"

"Each unit, set off according to the planned schedule, dismiss the meeting!" Su Tianyu waved his hand.

...

After the meeting, everyone dispersed to carry out their respective tasks.

Yu Mingyuan quickly walked over, grabbed Su Tianyu's arm, and asked anxiously, "Xiao Yu, what are the arrangements for our side?"

Su Tianyu stopped and looked at Yu Mingyuan, asking, "Have the people from your side arrived yet?"

Yu Mingyuan shook his head, "Not yet, they are being transferred here, should be soon."

"Then wait for now." Su Tianyu patted Yu Mingyuan's shoulder, "It's a bit too late, wait for the follow-up. You can go up when there is a need for rotation!"

"Okay." Yu Mingyuan nodded slowly.

...

Dragon City, the mayor's office.

Old Li was sitting in his office drinking tea when Ouyang Zhen pushed the door open and entered.

Ouyang Zhen went straight to the point, roaring, "We must immediately stop this military action!! Su Tianyu must withdraw his troops, there is no room for bargaining!"