Colonel Keren retorted, "The frontline situation is just the enemy throwing all their forces into the smoke of the Jialuo Mountain Battlefield. Russell, as a military commander with countless wartime experiences, is not likely to make such a mistake of harming eight hundred enemies while losing a thousand of his own. This is clearly a trap. Of the current few defense lines, only Jialuo Mountain can sustain such a large-scale offensive. If other defense lines draw away their forces, it would only take three armored divisions or just the Mythical Army to break through and achieve the same strategic objective!"
A Lieutenant Colonel staff officer from the 5th Research Room nodded in agreement: "Colonel Keren makes a valid point. The enemy isn’t likely to break through Jialuo Mountain at such a high cost, and their forces are insufficient to support such an offensive until the end of the Jialuo Mountain battle. The best strategy would be to divert forces from other Federation defense lines, especially given that the terrain limits the deployment of forces. If we treat Jialuo Mountain as a grinder to wear down our forces bit by bit, the Gazalin Empire would have the opportunity to seize one of those defense lines and directly penetrate to Kato. Most importantly, once our forces are depleted, Jialuo Mountain’s strategic advantage will be unable to respond to enemy forces that have infiltrated behind us!"
Keren nodded: "If we have to say the enemy’s forces have increased, whether or not the intelligence department has failed, these increased forces must have come from somewhere. The reports of the besieged cities do not indicate any decrease in enemy forces, and the blockade by the Space Fleet prevents the enemy from receiving reinforcements from other planets. Therefore, I am very certain that the enemy’s offensive won’t last beyond 4 PM!"
Azibolt pointed at the simulation map showing the Federation’s casualties and asked, "Then how do you explain our casualties? From the simulations, if the enemy did not receive reinforcements, they could not sustain such an offensive until 10 AM!"
A staff officer from the 7th Research Room also stood up: "Exactly, this is already the fact before us. If we continue to ignore it and wait until the enemy truly breaks through Jialuo Mountain, who will be responsible?"
The staff officer from the 3rd Research Room who supported Azibolt also seized on the point: "Right, if you can solve this doubt, we’ll acknowledge that the enemy is just bluffing!"
Clearly, this was something Keren had not thoroughly thought about. He exchanged a hesitant glance with the 5th Research Room staff officer.
At this moment, Colonel Wakeley from the 1st Research Room stood up and said, "The key issue here in the smoke is that the Mythical Army has participated in the direct attack on Jialuo Mountain. The combat prowess of this unit is well known. Their appearance has caused great casualties among our frontline soldiers. I think this may be the reason the enemy’s force data in the simulation increased. In reality, it’s not an increase in forces but an enhancement in combat power!"
This explanation seemed quite logical and was immediately agreed upon by Keren and the 5th Research Room staff officer.
Azibolt, however, was not convinced and shook his head. "I have seen the combat reports of the Mythical Army. In the direct offensive on Jialuo Mountain, they have deployed no more than a regiment, with the largest attack being one battalion to contest Hill D1. For the other hills where the Mythical Army appeared, none deployed more than a company! Even such elite troops could not have raised our casualty data to this extent."
For a moment, both sides held their arguments firmly, disputing endlessly. Whether it was Keren’s side or Azibolt’s side, it seemed both had ample reasons to support their own viewpoints.
Bernadotte and several generals exchanged bitter smiles. This expanded war situation meeting almost replicated the previous General Command Center’s war situation discussion. Essentially, these two opinions had been debated numerous times among several generals, and just like now, no one would surrender their own viewpoint, and no one could persuade the other. Such arguments would not have any result.
Tian Xingjian finally shifted his gaze from Ann Lei, still pondering the strange Pearce symbol amid the arguments of the staff officers.
Russell, the renowned military strategist ranked within human society, had been setting up this trap from the start, holding the most critical point in his hands like a magician performing a ring-trick...
Ring-trick... magic...
Tian Xingjian felt as if he had glimpsed something, like a flash of lightning in the dark, which disappeared immediately...
Seeing that the focus of the debate remained on these two aspects, Bernadotte waved his hand in disappointment, signaling the staff officers from the various research rooms who attended the expanded meeting to leave for now. He needed to make a decision with several generals, even if it might be the wrong one!
Tian Xingjian stood up, following the crowd leaving the meeting room, when he suddenly heard Admiral Bernadotte call out, "Lieutenant Tian Xingjian, stay for a moment."
Hearing his name called out, Tian Xingjian’s first reaction was to look at Ann Lei.
Ann Lei was clearly taken aback, lifting her head towards the door. When her eyes met Tian Xingjian’s, a flicker of complex emotions surged in her gaze, but her expression remained unmoved, as if he were just a stranger.
Tian Xingjian stayed behind with a bitter smile, feeling utterly dejected.
Ann Lei nonchalantly picked up the pen she dropped in her earlier haste and resumed her note-taking...
The staff officers departed, and the large meeting room suddenly felt empty, with only a few generals and the directors of the research rooms still deep in thought.
Bernadotte smiled and said, "Lieutenant Tian, I asked you to stay because I want to hear your views on the frontline situation. Although the 6th Research Room is responsible for calculations, I think you might provide us with a new perspective." Thɪs chapter is updated by ɴovᴇl_Firᴇ.ɴet
Fatty’s mind was in turmoil, standing there mechanically, mumblingly unable to organize his thoughts. In front of Ann Lei, he lost all control over himself. This woman in front of him was the deepest scar in his heart.
Ann Lei looked up at Tian Xingjian without any emotion, as if merely waiting for the report from a lieutenant staff officer.
Pat noticed Tian Xingjian’s prolonged silence and encouraged him, "Lieutenant Tian, the forward command values your opinion highly. General Bernadotte specifically requested your attendance at the meeting. Don’t hesitate to share your thoughts for everyone’s reference."
Thoughts? Should I tell them that Russell, for some reason, is courting death and left us a symbol without knowing how to actually kill him? Should I tell them this guy is performing a ring-like magic trick, which I have no idea how to dismantle?
Regardless of the generals’ disappointment, Tian Xingjian remained silent. When he noticed a tinge of disappointment in Ann Lei’s eyes, Fatty finally steeled himself. If I am but a foolish coward in your eyes, then let me be a fool one more time!