CHAPTER 833: CHAPTER 833: THE EMPIRE’S DESTRUCTION

The Old Soldier followed General McCullen all the way to the deepest part of the military camp.

Throughout the journey, he was carefully observing the deployment of the camp, and the more he observed, the more shocked he became.

He saw 100 mm field artillery placed under camouflage nets, and in addition to those, even 380 mm ordnance typically found on warships had been mounted on tracks and dragged ashore.

Besides these, there were strange steel machines, some resembling supply transport vehicles, others appearing to serve air defense and support purposes.

Different from when they were in Luo Xia Province.

Back then, due to the lengthy logistics supply line, the eastern expansion faction’s ten ten thousand troops were desperately short on ammunition.

But the situation here was different.

Not only were they prepared with sufficient ammunition, but they were also fully stocked for the whole war’s consumption.

To be honest, so much material doesn’t seem like it could be mobilized temporarily.

Just as the Old Soldier was observing everything, General McCullen stopped in front of a gray camouflage tent, nodded at the guards at the entrance, and then passed through the lifted curtain to enter.

The Old Soldier quickly followed behind him, and also squeezed into the spacious tent.

McCullen picked up a kettle, poured two cups of tea, then sat down at the table and gestured invitingly.

"Have a seat."

The Old Soldier nodded and sat tensely opposite him, pondering what McCullen intended to say to him.

Unexpectedly, McCullen said nothing and took a sip of tea, first asking him instead.

"What do you think of this place?"

The Old Soldier was taken aback and asked in confusion.

"May I ask which aspect the General is referring to?"

McCullen casually replied.

"All aspects, just talk about your thoughts on the deployment here."

Just casually talking, huh?

The Old Soldier dreaded hearing the word "casual," but still spoke apprehensively.

"There is a lot of equipment stocked here, I’m afraid it won’t be just one or two battles."

Pausing for a moment, inspiration struck him, and he added.

"It’s almost identical to our frontline in Luo Xia Province!"

McCullen’s lips curled into a slight smile, nodding approvingly.

"Not bad, your observation skills haven’t declined."

What kind of observation skills are needed for this...

Isn’t it just obvious?

The Old Soldier chuckled, suppressing the urge to retort and then furrowing his brows to ask.

"What does the Southern Legion intend to do?"

McCullen replied with a smile.

"Their intentions are obvious, haven’t you seen them yet even after reaching here?"

Indeed.

Their intentions were written on the faces of the soldiers at the port.

Simply put, annihilate the damn people of Xilan!

No need for war mobilization.

As an outsider, the Old Soldier found it difficult to empathize with them, but precisely because of that, he could think calmly.

"I actually don’t quite understand... Why the Civil Official Group cooperates with them on this matter. Even if the legion acquires a large expanse of land, the prestige of the civil officials in Triumph City would be tarnished, and the small area of influence they have would be taken away. Does this really align with their interests?"

McCullen chuckled and said.

"Your ability to consider the varying interest demands within the legion’s factions is commendable. Most outsiders... even including the Weilante people themselves, misinterpret this vast political entity as a monolithic lair. But merely knowing the different interest demands of each faction is not enough; you also need to analyze their actions to achieve those demands."

Seeing McCullen appear to have more to say, the Old Soldier promptly ceded the opportunity for posturing to him and smoothly replied.

"Please enlighten me, General!"

McCullen didn’t beat around the bush and directly delved into the main topic, beginning with the incident’s origins.

"...The Civil Official Group has long been vocal about the Empire’s weakness in various affairs, which you should be quite aware of."

"Duke Garava’s various performances at the Sticky Community conference have put us, as allies, in a passive position. Centurion Bennott has repeatedly expressed dissatisfaction with him. When such a buffoon is placed in such a significant position, you can imagine the incompetence of Witch Camel himself. That guy may have a knack for political balance, but such ’adding water when there’s too much flour, and flour when there’s too much water’ gimmicks are only applicable in a feudal dynasty."

The Old Soldier nodded.

"Indeed... Duke Garava has offended almost everyone he possibly could in the Sticky Community."

"Diplomatic issues are just one aspect. Economically and industrially, it’s even worse. The wealth we’ve painstakingly helped them accumulate ended up benefiting the alliance’s underlings. The steel and cement we helped produce have all been sent to the rebels... We’ve actually seen it all, but being anxious doesn’t help. That Witch Camel is like someone deaf and mute, still fantasizing that a single technology or a battleship can turn the Empire around."

McCullen smiled and continued.

"Thus, the Civil Official Group conceived an idea: it would be better if the Empire had another emperor."

"A stronger emperor would be ideal, one that could inject some militaristic thought into the feudal Empire, thus enabling it to serve some purpose. A new Empire doesn’t need to be very strong; it just needs to be like a fierce wolf, baring its teeth when we need it."

"Realizing this is quite easy. The Wolf Tribe people who have fought and died for the Empire have accumulated considerable discontent. Their kids bleed for the Empire at the front lines, while the Empire never cares for their lives. They are like rags, bearing all the filth, then thrown to West Sail Port to be squeezed dry of the last ounce of value."

"I am an instructor to many Wolf Tribe officers; I can sense their inner struggles. They actually long more for change than those pen pushers writing ’Red Soil,’ and indeed, they possess the strength those pen pushers lack."

"All they lack is a bit of startup capital, and this thing is easily addressed by borrowing from the Eastern Legion. They’re adept at using others’ money for their own affairs, just like bringing me here as an instructor."

"...Do you mean, this is the Civil Official Group’s..." The Old Soldier wanted to use the term conspiracy, but recalling this wasn’t the forum and realizing that the ten thousand leader stood before him, he bit his tongue.

McCullen clearly saw what he intended to say and merely offered a faint smile.

"During the time I was captured by the Alliance, I learned a saying or rather a proverb: ’The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the bird behind.’"

The Old Soldier suddenly caught on, but his voice unconsciously lowered.

"Are you saying... it’s the Southern Legion that took advantage of the civil officials’ layout?"

"Smart."

McCullen nodded approvingly and continued in a deliberate tone.

"If I’m not mistaken, the civil officials’ plan is to have the retired officers and soldiers of the Grey Wolf Army start a coup, seizing Tiandu quickly while the Grey Wolf Army is at the front line, and then establish a militaristic regime."

"In this way, the armies will increase from four to five, and the fifth army, formed by the Poluo people and remotely controlled by the civil officials, will not be bound by ancient contracts. It can advance or retreat as a local force in the Wasteland."

"They played a little trick, and the corporations, who excel at appeasement and self-deception, will certainly not intervene in this matter. The only variable is the Alliance, but realistically, the Alliance can do little as there is no military presence of the armies in the eastern region, except this vassal is slightly larger."

"Everything is within the permissible scope of the rules. We haven’t crossed the red line, just brushed against the edge of it."

Old Soldier gazed at him with astonishment written all over his face.

Before coming here, Bennott did mention they were tricked by their allies, but hadn’t explained in detail.

He thought the "ally" referred to the Empire, but it turned out to be the Southern Legion.

Seeing Pangolin’s surprised expression, McCullen smiled lightly and continued.

"However, not everyone is content just to brush the edge. Some restless fellows not only leveraged the civil officials’ layout but also added their own stakes to the original balance."

"Those who needed to withdraw have withdrawn, the uprising occurred as expected, but the one in power is a guy named Anush, an obvious scapegoat."

"Then, the fire blazed into the sky, fiercer than everyone expected, and the reckoning against the Empire also thoroughly turned into a reckoning against the Empire and the Weilante people, burning over three thousand Weilante civilians. Now even the civil officials dare not boast this is their handiwork, they can only play deaf and dumb while trying to put out the fire."

Old Soldier couldn’t help but ask.

"... Does this benefit the Southern Legion?"

McCullen glanced at the camp entrance, smiling faintly as he replied.

"The benefit is what you see outside; they can soon continue expanding."

"And once the war begins, the flames will not just burn in the Poluo Province, our vassals in Falling Leaves will also be dragged in. Given the current national strength of the Falcon Kingdom, it could instantly be pierced through by the Honey Badger nearby if the Alliance decides to help them."

Old Soldier asked in a deep voice.

"Do you want this war to start?"

McCullen didn’t answer directly but poured himself another cup of tea, nonchalantly asking back.

"What do you think?"

Old Soldier spoke truthfully.

"I think you’re telling me this because you don’t want the fire to continue burning."

"You’re smart."

McCullen’s face showed approval again; he took a sip of hot tea, wetting his throat before continuing.

"I can reveal to you, this fire does bring me a little benefit personally, but if it continues burning, that’s not necessarily the case. This is true for both myself and the Eastern Legion."

Old Soldier answered straightforwardly without further ado.

"Then what should I do to stop this fire?"

McCullen gestured for him to come closer and then spoke in a very soft voice.

"Some people in the Celestial Army betrayed those who initially sponsored them, or more accurately, members of the Southern Legion offered them better benefits and promises... These people are very sensitive to the civil officials’ messengers, I’m sure Bennott warned you about who to watch out for when you get to Tiandu."

Old Soldier nodded earnestly.

"That person is called Absek, seems like that Celestial King appointed him as the Grand Duke of Lion State—"

"Shh." McCullen made a hush gesture, lowering his voice and continuing, "I don’t care what that person or those people are called, nor am I interested; you just remember. When you get there, you need to show Anush a stance of peace talks, stating you represent Triumph City."

"I’ll bet no matter how tough Anush’s face is, internally he’s delighted. He’s not foolish; he knows he can’t defeat the armies with his power, whether he sides with the army or the Alliance, he needs to find an escape route for himself. As for those killed, it’s easy to manage, just shift all the blame on those already reckoned. Eight million lives for three thousand, by calculation, it’s more than enough... but all this hinges on whether the army accepts his ’explanation’."

"You must make him believe that the army wishes to accept the explanation, but eight million lives aren’t enough, Lion State must also be sacrificed as compensation."

Old Soldier looked at McCullen in realization.

"That is Absek’s fiefdom, you’re trying to stir up internal conflict among them..."

McCullen shook his head, then nodded.

"Whose fiefdom doesn’t matter, what matters is your proposed terms should make those collaborating with the Southern Legion realize, the civil officials just want a different ally, whereas the Southern Legion wants their land. These people will never fulfill their promises, won’t care about abandoning them, and might turn to collaborate with Anush."

"This way, they’ll be fearful, anxious; after all, they killed so many Weilante people. If the Southern Legion fails to fulfill promises, they’d be buried like clowns... Once these people feel fear, they’ll try to demand more promises and guarantees from the Southern Legion, even act impulsively. That’s when our chance comes."

Old Soldier’s eyes sparkled with clarity.

"Do you want me to find evidence of the Southern Legion’s involvement?"

McCullen nodded.

"Correct, but mere evidence isn’t enough; denying and severing ties is easy, killing a ’Griffin’ is enough. You need to think externally, perhaps leak it to the Alliance. The Alliance has warships, and connections with corporations and the Academy, only with their intervention can the pyromaniac lunatics be kept calm... at least weigh the consequences of stepping in personally."

Old Soldier looked at McCullen in surprise, not expecting such words to come out of his mouth.

Using the Alliance to balance the Southern Legion.

Is this something someone of his position should say?!

"Uh..."

Seeing Pangolin’s wide eyes, General McCullen seemed to think he was shocked by his ’betrayal’.

But he did not explain, simply leaned back in his chair, legs resting on his knees.

"I don’t see it as a betrayal; it’s preventing a group of ambitious people from dragging us into an abyss without bottom."

"Although it seems like I don’t have the standing to say this... but if you trust me, then do as I say."

...

West Sail Port was quiet at night, the Southern Legion was busy preparing to fully invade the Poluo Province, the fuse attached to the larger powder keg seemed to have started burning.

Next morning.

Another passenger ship docked at the port of West Sail.

The bloodstains and bodies on the dock had been cleaned up, but the marks left by the shelling remained.

Some people knelt on the deck, while others broke down in tears.

They were all family members of the victims...

Looking at the devastated port, Penny, standing on the deck, couldn’t help but cover her mouth, her shoulders gently trembling.

"...This is too much."

It’s said that only some kids survived by the refuge offered by the Silver Moon Church.

And those who didn’t make it suffered unbearable torment and died in despair and humiliation...

Just then, Penny suddenly remembered that her father had insisted she go home, at least to Evernight Harbor to find her uncle Ross.

And not long after, the Governor’s Mansion of West Sail Port announced that a large batch of arms was being sold by the pound at Death Coast... first-come, first-served.

Her eyes suddenly widened, and an incredulous light reflected in her sorrowful pupils.

A terrifying possibility suddenly emerged in her mind.

It was her intuition as a journalist.

Could it be her father...

...

The Weilante people on the boat were looking at the port, and the people at the port were looking at those on the boat.

The "Battle-Ready Wolf" with a backpack was silent for a long time, then suddenly spoke.

"I suddenly feel that the legion isn’t that great."

They were about to set off for Tiandu, and now they were back on the Yarman ship packing their luggage.

The "Mucking Stick" gave him a strange look and hippily placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Brother, let me interview you. When did you ever get the illusion that they were good?"

Old Wolf glanced sideways at him and then looked at the people on the passenger ship and its deck.

"I don’t know, maybe it’s an intuition... I feel like they’re pretty good to their own people."

The "Mucking Stick" continued with a cheeky grin.

"That’s good. Specifically in what aspect? Is it the B-cup Weilante men in the Triumph Newspaper, or is it using a big and thick caliber to avenge fallen compatriots? To be honest, no matter how loud the cannons are, can the dead come back to life? It seems to me that burning paper money is more effective; at least it can make them more comfortable underground."

The Weilante military officers who stayed in the Alliance did burn paper for the fallen soldiers of the Expeditionary Army.

No one knows who taught them.

Old Wolf stubbornly defended.

"But at least vengeance was served."

As if seeing something amusing, Old Stick laughed and quipped.

"Really? I thought the enemy was in Tiandu, but it turns out they’re still in West Sail Port."

"But if you ask me, where does the hatred even come from? Aren’t those who died in the craters outside the Grand Canyon not all clones? Even those poor guys had parents or children, yet no one even collected their bodies, only scavengers rifling through them. Are these the kind who treat their compatriots as human? Those who died there were no fewer than those who died here!"

For a moment, Old Wolf was speechless.

He wanted to say that those who died were soldiers, different from the civilians who died here, but he couldn’t articulate what their essential difference was.

They seemed to be stakes in a gamble.

Though playing different games, they were both betting on an almost impossible victory.

If they won, then their sacrifice would be valuable, but he couldn’t explain what this so-called value was.

Didn’t the legion have enough land already?

Yet they were still far from their Utopia.

As for that great expedition, of course, they won.

In the Triumph Newspaper, the Alliance and the Desert Countries lost bitterly without losing an inch of land, barely surviving through corporate and academic maneuvering.

And the Grand Canyon was huddled under the Holy Shield, not daring to move, not even participating in negotiations...

"Militarism plus racism, the debuff is maxed out but still think it’s all good. A wife cake at least has a cake even if there’s no wife. These guys, besides saying ’Ikka’ and ’Tatakae,’ are the harshest on their own people." Old Stick continued his taunting, rendering Old Wolf speechless.

Not wanting these two to start arguing again, Eagle hastily coughed to discourage them.

"Alright, stop talking about useless shit, go cosplay somewhere else... As for whether the legion is good, you can ask Vanus. At least he’s a military noble, right?"

Old Wolf nodded seriously.

"...I’ll visit him when I return to the City of Dawn."

Eagle sighed, squinting his eyes at the port and then at the nearby downtown area.

"We’ll talk about the future later. For now, think about how to complete this damn mission first."

The Conduit Dog couldn’t help but roll his eyes.

"Can you stop saying damn this and damn that all the time? I’m the one who talks the least."

The Mucking Stick chuckled.

"But you babble the most!"

Conduit Dog: "@#%@!"

Seeing the two argue again, Eagle couldn’t help but hold his forehead. Just as he was about to say something, a familiar hometown accent came from the side.

"Hey, what a coincidence, are you here for the mission too?"

The four turned their heads simultaneously, only to see a player without a VM standing there.

"Damn!"

"Big Boss!!!"

"Pangolin!"

Seeing the big boss right in front of them, the faces of the four newbies instantly lit up with excitement.

Especially Eagle.

Alliance double agent Pangolin!

With this big shot around, the mission is a sure thing!

He didn’t want to think anymore, was ready to lay back.

Seeing this group of energetic newcomers, Old Soldier made a helpless smile.

Just because of that joke those bastards made that day, his nickname is now more famous than his ID.

"You’d better not act too close to me... consider it me asking you for a favor."

Eagle’s expression immediately became serious, making a hateful face, he whispered through clenched teeth.

"Got it, brother... we’re enemies. By the way, I didn’t see you mention you’d be coming on the forum?"

Old Soldier didn’t act as convincingly, just turned into a poker face like usual, shrugged his shoulders and said softly.

"The forum is so big, it’s normal for posts to get buried. I actually PM’d you guys on the forum just now, but you didn’t reply, so I came online."

Old Stick suggested.

"...This isn’t the place to talk, why don’t we log off and chat?"

Old Soldier quietly said.

"Don’t talk either, come with me to Tiandu... uh, I’m the Army’s messenger, you guys play the Alliance, and after we get to Tiandu, we need to find someone."

Duct’s dog excitedly exclaimed.

"I get it! We’re supposed to find that mole, right?"

Mole?

What mole?

Is it that Absek?

Old Soldier was stunned for a moment, then nodded.

"Yes, I guess it’s a mole... Well, you guys already got the mission? Then it’s easy to handle, let’s just go."

Old Wolf worriedly asked.

"If we move together, won’t the Heavenly King Army think we’ve made a pact?"

Old Soldier chuckled and said.

"That’s okay, let them misunderstand, it’s beneficial for what we need to do."

As the five were discussing their next steps, news of Tiandu City’s fall also finally spread throughout Poluo Province.

Heavenly King Anush announced his ascension! Declared the Anush Dynasty! And simultaneously appointed thirteen Wolf Tribe Kings!

Not only that, a series of rumors accompanied it, like the atrocities committed by the Heavenly King Army inside the city.

The entire Empire was in an uproar.

Hearing his harem was seized, Witch Camel, who was hosting a grand banquet on a ship, blacked out on the spot, couldn’t catch his breath, and fell straight into the arms of the old ministers around him.

"His Majesty has fainted!"

"Quick! Call for the royal physician!"

"Why call a royal physician now!! You bunch of useless people are going to drive me crazy, quickly dock and send him to the hospital!"

The deck of the royal merchant ship was in complete chaos.

The leftover noble elders who were dining found the banquet couldn’t continue, didn’t care about the emperor, frantically pulled out plastic bags, and started stuffing the messy cups and plates into them.

Together with the dishes themselves.

The scene was in complete disarray, no one cared about them taking advantage of the chaos.

But their flustered appearance added some comedic relief to the people trying to save the day on the other side...

It’s not just a small boat on the Everflow River plunged into chaos.

Also nearby Lowell State, Tiger State and Leopard State, and even the bordering Horse State of Mammoth State.

The military faction of the Tiger Army was the first to telegraph, condemning the barbaric acts committed by the Heavenly King Army, declaring they would never acknowledge a filthy hyena riding on the Tiger Clan’s head.

The Black Panther Army, engrossed in making a fortune quietly, was a bit slow to react, but also promptly sent a telegraph to Tiandu, denouncing the treasonous acts of rebels, declaring staunch support for the emperor and the Xilan Dynasty, and even offered if the emperor had nowhere else to go, he could stay in Leopard State if he didn’t mind.

Apart from that, the Black Panther Army also telegraphed the Tiger Army, agreeing to mutually protect each other.

If either side is attacked by the Heavenly King Army or the army, the other will also mobilize to resist together.

Obviously, these two military leaders had some smart people under them, even considering the possibility of army mobilization.

Aside from the rather tough Black Panther and Tiger Armies, the other states didn’t have such hard spines.

For instance, the Northern Three States.

The central Elephant State, southern Snake State, and western Lion State, Bull State, and Wolf State have all implicitly given up resistance.

They actually had no way to resist.

Relying on the city defense army’s limited combat power, it probably wasn’t enough time for them to flee.

As for the Horse State bordering Mammoth State, it stayed silent, but clearly had given up, placing all hope on the bandit suppression by Arai Yang.

Ironically, in the end, the two states that least listened to the emperor, and the least trusted Arai Yang, became the empire’s last loyalists.

Even if the entire world abandoned Xilan, they did not abandon their emperor, still attempting to salvage the situation.

But whether it’s useful or not, who knows.

The wheels of time are beyond human resistance; the waning twilight eventually sank into the ocean, and the pitch-black darkness finally descended upon these lands...

Wasteland Era remains unchanged as the Wasteland Era.

At least this fire hasn’t yet spread beyond Poluo Province.

And for the survivors of Poluo Province, a bloodier and more chaotic era is just beginning...