After daybreak, Hu Hao went to rest, leaving matters here to the duty staff officers. The troops were not currently fighting, and Hu Hao had deployed soldiers from the Special Operations Regiment to keep watch over many key routes. If anything happened, they would immediately contact and notify him. Thus, Hu Hao felt much more at ease now!
Meanwhile, viewership for the video Hu Hao posted reached its peak. More and more civilians began following the First Army Group's propaganda account.
The words Hu Hao spoke in the video revealed a lot of information, including the fact that his troops had won a victory in Tonglong City, and that the Allied forces attacking the central front might retreat. Many people started analyzing the situation in the comments.
Many so-called military experts were also analyzing his words, and television stations began broadcasting his speech.
Now, citizens across the country were starting to remember Hu Hao, recognizing him as a general who knew how to fight. Moreover, when he was previously promoted to Full General, reports highlighted his commoner background, causing the public's affection for him to multiply.
"Report to Your Majesty, my troops have already begun probing attacks. Today, I just committed three corps to test the Allied forces. They don't dare to leave the city to fight.
Furthermore, according to our intelligence, I fear the Allied forces will retreat just as Hu Hao predicted. Therefore, I need a massive amount of ammunition now. I must give chase to pin them down.
As long as we pin them down for a period, they will collapse on their own. Without ammunition, they cannot fight us. Your Majesty, please allocate more ammunition to our side immediately!" Jiang Kai appeared on the display screen at High Command. Currently, the Emperor was on a video call with the generals at High Command.
"Have you contacted Hu Hao's side? What do they say?" the Emperor asked, looking at Jiang Kai upon hearing this.
"Report, we cannot reach him. Actually, Hu Hao made it very clear in his morning video that the Allied troops will retreat. Whether we can resolve the crisis on the central front depends on whether our central front troops dare to fight.
Another factor is whether Hu Hao's forces can hold the line over there. Judging from his tone, Hu Hao is determined to secure Tonglong City. So, as long as I have enough ammunition, I can definitely wipe out a large portion of them!" Jiang Kai stated as he stood there.
"Tang Long, when will the ammunition arrive?" the Emperor turned and asked.
"Report, it might still take some time. The roads are currently difficult to travel!" Tang Long stood up.
"How are they difficult to travel? The roads on our side haven't been destroyed, and we still have railway transport. General Tang Long, I need a massive amount of ammunition right now. If we wipe out these 600,000 Allied troops, our Empire can hold out for a longer time.
As long as we continuously destroy their main forces, it won't matter how many troops the Allied forces send later. On the battlefield, fresh recruit units are no match for our troops!" Jiang Kai immediately shot back.
"Every region needs ammunition right now. Moreover, your front lines require a massive amount of food, and we also need to send food to the refugees. These take up a huge portion of our transport capacity. Right now, all we can say is that we will deliver it to you as fast as possible," Tang Long said, looking at Jiang Kai!
"It must be delivered as soon as possible. No matter how much ammunition the front lines need, send it immediately!" the Emperor ordered, staring at Tang Long.
"Yes, I will do my best!" Tang Long replied.
"There's so much ammunition at the arsenals. Hasn't it been sent over already?" Luo Xin asked with a frown.
"Some was sent, but it isn't enough!" Tang Long was anxious inwardly, but still spoke calmly.
"And Hu Hao's side isn't answering your calls either?" The Emperor glanced at Tang Long before turning back to ask Jiang Kai.
"It's not that they aren't answering. They fought all through the night. When I asked their staff officers, they didn't dare answer my questions. After all, I am not their direct superior; they have no obligation to provide me with core intelligence. Right now, we just have to wait for Hu Hao to wake up!" Jiang Kai explained!
"Hmph, with such important matters at hand, how can he still sleep?" Tang Long muttered from behind.
"General Tang, Hu Hao led his troops to recapture six cities in three days. He is already deeply exhausted. Furthermore, a large number of Allied reinforcements will be arriving at Tonglong City.
Hu Hao needs to seize the time to rest now because his troops will have to continue fighting. Please show some understanding for frontline commanders. Once a battle starts, we might not get more than a few hours of sleep for several consecutive days!" Jiang Kai retorted, standing firm against Tang Long.
"Hmm, in that case, do you think Hu Hao's side will be able to coordinate with you in battle? To wipe out those Allied troops on the central front?" the Emperor asked Jiang Kai.
"It will be difficult! Hu Hao only has so few troops, and he needs to deploy them in various locations. He doesn't have many truly mobile forces. In fact, Your Majesty, you can do the math yourself. He needs to station a corps each in Yonghe City, Jinhe City, Late City, Nage City, and Xike City.
Otherwise, if the Allied forces suddenly attack, he won't have enough troops to defend. That alone accounts for five of his corps. He only has seven corps in total. Currently, his attacking forces consist of just two corps: Wu Kexiao's 106th Corps and Weng Tao's 105th Corps. He only has those two corps, yet he still has to attack Tonglong City.
At the same time, according to the briefings I've received, the Allied forces have a corps stationed in both Tianxi City and Liangyuan City. There are also troops positioned to Hu Hao's north. Moreover, once the central front troops retreat, they will also threaten his northern flank.
Therefore, we cannot expect his troops to coordinate with our combat operations. As long as he can sustain his attacks on Tonglong City and threaten the Allied supply lines, he will have already done us a massive favor!" Jiang Kai explained to the Emperor.
"That is true. It looks like Hu Hao has quite a few troops right now, but the number of truly deployable ones is low!" the Emperor nodded in agreement.
"The main issue is that Hu Hao's forces are all fresh recruit units; their combat effectiveness is limited. It is already quite a feat for him to have fought this well. Furthermore, if he wants to continue expanding his territory, these troops are definitely not enough.
He needs to position three corps around Late City alone. As his controlled territory expands, he certainly won't have enough remaining troops!" Jiang Kai nodded and told the Emperor.
"Your Majesty, Hu Hao's forces cannot be expanded any further. The First Army Group currently has 430,000 troops. If it continues to grow, it will be equivalent to the forces controlled by a Combat Zone Commander. This might cause dissatisfaction among the other Combat Zone Commanders," Tang Long immediately interjected.
"Tang Long, you have to consider that Hu Hao's forces are currently surrounded. He needs a massive number of troops to defend against Allied attacks, and he also has to take the initiative to strike and recapture lost territory. How can this small number of troops be enough? Hu Hao is a general who knows how to fight; the Empire ought to value him!" Jiang Kai shouted, addressing Tang Long directly by name.
"Hu Hao is not loyal to His Majesty right now. If we give him more troops and something happens, who will dare to take responsibility?" Tang Long argued, using the incident with Hu Hao from yesterday.
"I will!" Jiang Kai shouted loudly.
"Hmph, you and Hu Hao wear the same pair of pants. With him having more troops, you feel even more emboldened. Who doesn't know this?" Tang Long sneered, staring at Jiang Kai.
"I will!" Luo Xin stood up and declared.
"I will!" Liang Kuan also stood up and said.
"You... you all! You will regret this! Your Majesty, please reconsider!" Seeing Luo Xin and Liang Kuan stand up, Tang Long was furious. He pointed at the two of them, at a loss for words, and could only cup his hands toward the Emperor in plea.
"I also believe that Hu Hao is loyal to me!" the Emperor stated. Hearing this, Tang Long stood there in silence.
"Jiang Kai, continue trying to contact his side. At the same time, relay this order to him: I am granting him the designations for three new corps—the 107th, 108th, and 109th Corps. This will put ten corps under his command to continue the counter-offensive against the Allied forces.
I hope he will speak with me. Although there is some friction between us, I still believe in him!" the Emperor instructed, standing there.
"Yes, Your Majesty!" Jiang Kai replied, standing at attention!
"Luo Xin, submit the organizational charts for these three corps. I will approve them for Hu Hao!" the Emperor told Luo Xin.
"Yes, Your Majesty!" Luo Xin nodded.
"Jiang Kai, your forces must continue to attack the Allied troops. You cannot let them retreat just like that. Wipe out as many of their troops as you can. If you can recapture lost territory, even better.
I will be able to give the citizens an explanation. I also wish to reclaim our lands, and I have done my utmost. At the same time, I hope that all you generals will do your utmost as well!" the Emperor said to Jiang Kai.
"Yes, Your Majesty!" "Yes, Your Majesty!" Jiang Kai and all the generals in the conference room stood at attention and saluted the Emperor.
"Good. Go busy yourself with frontline matters. If you face any difficulties, contact High Command or me directly!" the Emperor told Jiang Kai.
"Yes, Your Majesty!" Jiang Kai nodded and then ended the call. The Emperor sat down!
"Your Majesty, you cannot give him the designations for three new corps. If you do, he will command ten corps—over 600,000 troops..." Tang Long pleaded with the Emperor in bitter distress.
But seeing the Emperor glaring right back at him, he felt a flash of fear.
"Your Majesty?" Tang Long asked tentatively, feeling somewhat intimidated.
"So what if I give him ten corps? So what if I give him twenty? I wish to save this realm and preserve the Eastern Spirit Empire's 800-year foundation. I will use whoever has the capability. Hu Hao rebelling? I don't believe it!
As long as I am here, as long as the Royal Family is here, it is impossible for him to rebel! General Tang Long, you are the General of the Left, you should be considering the combat operations on the front lines, rather than keeping your eyes fixed on Hu Hao and Jiang Kai all day long!" the Emperor warned him sternly, glaring at Tang Long.
(End of Chapter)