When the applause finally subsided, Russell began his first class, which focused on explaining battle scenarios. Instead of discussing the Federation’s strategic thinking, he first meticulously analyzed the defense system and strategic concepts of the Gazalin Empire.
"...As everyone knows, among the five immigrant planets in the Galileo Star System, the most strategically important one is the Galileo Main Star, Lucerne. The Gazalin Empire’s defensive deployments follow this concept as well. If Lucerne is lost, the other four planets will suffer endless attacks from the Federation Fleet stationed on Lucerne. These attacks can target any one of the four planets at will, and with the current strength of the Gazalin Empire Space Fleet, they cannot be stopped. Therefore, regardless of who it is, no matter how great a military strategist he is, abandoning a critical location must be backed by the strongest capacity. Does Gazalin have such strength? They do not. Hence, from this perspective, the Federation has choices, but the Gazalin Empire does not..."
"I don’t understand why the Gazalin Empire insists on holding onto the Galileo Star System. Ever since they lost the battle in the Newton Star System, they should have realized that the Galileo Star System is an indefensible place for them. Whether it’s from the strength of their Space Fleet, the continuous uprisings on the immigrant planets, or the second Space Jump Point opened by the Federation, all these should be enough for the Gazalin Empire to decide to abandon the Galileo Star System. Unfortunately, they did not, and instead chose the foolish path of stubbornly holding on, despite the uncertain future. It seems the Imperial Family does not regard the lives of their soldiers as the Empire’s wealth, valuing a system marked on a map for comfort over real benefits..."
Russell first analyzed the Gazalin Empire’s perspective and approach towards the war from a strategic standpoint. However, his words were laced with critical and sarcastic remarks throughout.
"...The Lucerne garrison was likely meticulously planned by the Gazalin Empire’s so-called military genius, the Third Prince Stephen. He concentrated most of the ground forces on Lucerne. Did our Intelligence Department not notice such a large-scale troop movement? Just a little bit of thinking would reveal the troop deployment. He concentrated most of his forces on the Eastern Hemisphere to force our army to land in the Western Hemisphere, creating an East-West standoff..." It seemed Russell had completely dismissed Stephen, treating this so-called genius as nothing more than a fool in his evaluation.
The more Fatty listened, the more confused he became. Investigating the enemy’s strategic deployments is indeed possible when time is sufficient, but in urgent situations with false intelligence flying around, the Federation’s intelligence agencies hadn’t known the exact deployments of the Gazalin Empire’s forces. What game was Russell playing now? ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ ɴovᴇl(ꜰ)ir(e).nᴇt
Russell spent a full hour analyzing the Gazalin Empire’s headquarters deployments. His analysis was logical and thorough, and his disdainful mockeries frequently brought knowing smiles to the faces of the students and generals.
"The Eastern force deployment is too presumptuous. Our army certainly won’t fall into their trap. As for what kind of trap this is, let’s have my student, former Army Lieutenant Tian Xingjian, reveal it. He will report on how to see through a landing plan on this topic..."
Amidst warm applause, Russell stepped down from the podium, smiled at Tian Xingjian, and sat down. The applause hadn’t completely died down when it began anew, and Tian Xingjian, steeling himself, walked onto the podium. From there, he looked down to see countless eyes staring back at him. Being the center of attention wasn’t as glamorous as imagined; it felt like every flaw of his was being scrutinized and magnified under a microscope, exposed in the light of day.
The greatest advantage of a bachelor is the ability to go all out in any situation as long as there is no life-threatening danger. Fatty was the ultimate bachelor. After a brief greeting, he began his unprepared analysis and explanation: "As a military advisor, I am honored to have participated in this landing plan’s simulation, and stood in opposition to my teacher, General Russell. Without access to any intelligence, I was only provided with what the Gazalin Empire might know. I don’t know whether to be grateful or angry." The students and generals below let out amused laughter. Despite Fatty’s unremarkable appearance, he at least had a sense of humor.
Tian Xingjian shrugged and continued, "The most annoying part is that although I was standing from the Gazalin Empire’s perspective, I actually only had the intelligence known to the Federation Intelligence Department. I knew nothing about Gazalin’s actual deployments. In those days, I most wished I could be the Gazalin Emperor myself." A burst of laughter erupted from the audience. Fatty continued, "Of course, that’s it. If such an emperor had to live in constant fear of getting beaten up by the Leray Federation, I’d rather be an Army Lieutenant." Another wave of laughter followed. Like his teacher, Fatty showed no mercy towards the Gazalin Royal Family with his sharp tongue.
"During the first stage of the landing implementation, I couldn’t see the focus of the Federation’s overall strategic plan. Landing battles are an indisputable mode of warfare for us. The usual practice is to land at the enemy’s weakest point. If our forces are strong, we strategically assault key positions. If weak, we hide our strength. Regardless of our force’s strength, we need support from follow-up troops. Starting from a single point and then expanding through successive landings to consolidate landing sites, we aim to finally form a forward base with a standoff line and a solid rear. Such a base can be large, formed by multiple forward bases, or can be linear bases scattered throughout the planet, constituted by numerous small forward bases supporting each other. But what I saw in this landing was a scattered mess without a rear or follow-up forces."