Forge a path to success.

Chapter 373 War and Turmoil (3)

Night fell, the rain gradually stopped, and the Second Pulse was unusually quiet. The cicadas whispered among themselves about the impending outcome of the battle. The little guys hoped that the Allied forces would prove their reliability, but they also worried that if the Allied forces were to win, the camp would look like a bunch of incompetent fools.

People no longer dueled in private; most citizens thought less than cicadas. Because after two more days, once a victor was decided, the higher-ups would make a decision… and no matter how absurd the decision-making process, the decision itself was significant. Once the important figures spoke, people would know how to act… if independence was advocated, they would follow suit; if opposition was firmly stated, they would oppose.

More or less, they all mocked this herd mentality, but were those who actively advocated for it truly acting out of their own "opinions"? Were their beliefs their own, or were they what others wanted them to believe?

No one knows the answer... So, it's best to follow a soldier's duty and obey orders. Once the outcome is decided, this matter can finally be over.

In a bar in a narrow alley, a tall, thin man stared blankly at the dirty glass. He wasn't wearing his usual white coat and looked like any other disillusioned middle-aged man, yet the bartender treated him with extreme respect.

"Your wine, sir."

He paused for a moment before recovering, then took the glass and laughed, "I'm no longer your superior..."

“That was an unfair trial,” the bartender said. “That’s what everyone thinks.”

"That's fair. People always have to pay the price for their actions."

“That’s unfair,” the bartender kept repeating, the tall, thin man scratching his head helplessly. Just then, a new customer squeezed into the small bar, waving his large hand in greeting: “It’s a perfect evening for chatting with old friends! Can we have a little space?”

"Yes, Captain!"

The bartender stood at attention, saluted, and jogged out. Huan Ge poured himself a small glass of fruit wine and sat down at the bar.

"Did you hear that? Call me 'Captain,' while you're the 'Commander.'"

“It’s just a habit… You don’t like being called ‘commander,’ do you? That’s just how it is.” The tall, thin man, Just Trek, chuckled. “Being a military leader isn’t easy, is it?”

Huan Ge downed the wine in one gulp and slammed the cup down.

Sometimes I really think it's a good thing that there are strong and weak people in this world!

“How come you see?”

“If Heng Kong and the others hadn’t been able to suppress both sides, the internal strife in this military camp would probably have broken out into a full-blown war long ago. And if I hadn’t been able to suppress them all by myself, how could the chaos of the second lineage have been resolved in such a childish way?” Huan Ge said. “It is precisely because everyone knows the difference between the strong and the weak, and knows the importance of the opinions of us strong individuals, that the collective is willing to accept the result of the contest… and that they feel that this is not a bad solution!”

"Only through such tricks could I make them realize the strength of the Allied forces and their own limitations. But if you and I were all of equal strength and ability..."

He clutched the empty wine glass and sighed, "This military camp is probably already a river of blood!"

Trek poured him another glass: "This world is very unfair. The strong are born carrying the lives of the weak. Your commands will determine their life or death, and your words will change their minds... So it's better to be a little foolish than to be cautious. There's no need to delve into things that can be overlooked. This is what those in high positions mean by being careful with their words and actions."

“Absolutely right,” Huan Ge said in a deep voice. “But you see things so clearly, why haven’t you stepped forward yet? Commander-in-Chief Jastry!”

Trek remained silent for a long time, then smiled bitterly and said, "The chaos in the military camp stems from me alone. Even if I'm shameless, what right do I have to speak to them?"

The rampant separatists, the general despondency of the city-state, the turmoil within and outside the military camps, and even the rise of Parrimanism after the war—all of this stemmed from the final bloody battle 20 years prior. At that time, during a lull in the battle lines, heretics seized the opportunity to launch a surprise attack, while a large number of demons attacked the city-state from the sea. The city-state of Jingsha was on the verge of collapse, yet from the nobles to the soldiers, no one ever doubted the outcome of their battle.

Because the commander-in-chief at that time was Just Trek.

He commanded troops for ten years, winning every battle, and his military strategy and martial arts were universally acknowledged as top-notch. More importantly, his Holy Grail, supported by the Divine Tree, allowed for the rapid transfer of troops, enabling unprecedentedly high-mobility combat. At that time, the city-state was beset by internal and external troubles, and everyone knew what the right choice should be.

Withdraw the main force back into the city, repel the demons, and then use the city-state's terrain to defeat the enemy forces on the front lines. If they can simply hold out until the next reinforcements arrive, the predicament of the thorny shrubs will be resolved, and the ten-year war will finally be over!

But Jas Trek did not command in this way. He left only a small force to return to the city to reinforce it, while leaving the main force to fight to the death on the outer pass. That line was held, but the soldiers who should have been able to return home died in the final moments of the battle.

The city-state of Thorns gained nothing. The families of the fallen, in their grief, called for severe punishment of the negligent commander and for justice for the dead. As a result, the commander-in-chief was court-martialed and demoted to the Third Divine Guard. Meanwhile, Parriman, who led the remnants back to the city-state, was hailed as a hero and rose rapidly through the ranks.

The events of twenty years ago ended with the downfall of a high-ranking official.

"This is utterly absurd!" Huan Ge shouted angrily. "Something that can be understood with just a glance at a map, if the common people who are unfamiliar with warfare don't understand it, how could the people in the military court not understand it!"

"do not talk……"

Huan Ge insisted, "The pressure on the front lines is so great that if we don't hold the line as quickly as possible, the forces of the outsiders will bypass the city-states and sail downstream, directly attacking the thousands of small and medium-sized dust islands in the rear, as well as our support outposts on the periphery! The first to fall will be Huilong City of Jiqiu Peak, and then the reinforcements from Longquan Township will be cut off by the outsiders at sea. The fresh troops of the next decade will suffer heavy casualties before the battle even begins!"
By then, let alone breaking through the Heavenly Prison, even maintaining the defense for the next ten years will likely become a major problem. Given the situation, we must defend it with all our might!” Trek said in a deep voice, “It won't be your family or mine that die in battle!”

Huan Ge stood his ground: "But what I'm protecting is the peace of millions of families!"

The two soldiers glared at each other, their eyes so cold, like blood-soaked arrows. In the end, Trek was defeated, slumping dejectedly onto the bar.

“The people need an explanation,” he said softly. “The families of the fallen need an explanation. Someone must be held accountable for so many deaths and injuries. How can this matter be resolved if no one takes responsibility?”

"So many orphans and elderly people! Children who have lost their fathers, wives who have lost their lovers! Are you going to tell them this is justified? Are you going to tell them that soldiers deserve to die?!"

Trek's voice grew louder and louder; he was almost out of control, repeating the same monotonous questions. Parriman walked the world wearing a mask, and he was, in reality, just like everyone else. His mask was that cynical demeanor, that listless style. But he couldn't remove the mask; beneath it lay regret and sorrow, words he couldn't speak to his family, couldn't speak to his subordinates. Only when he met his old comrades could he, fueled by alcohol, utter a few words.

“The city-state of Thorns needs Jas Trek to be put on trial, just as it once needed Parryman!” Trek sighed. “How can the war be declared over if I do not shoulder this responsibility!”

"Nonsense, utter nonsense!"

The bar door was kicked open, and a thin, elderly man in a military uniform, his eyes blazing with rage, pointed at Trek and said in a trembling voice, "Is this how I taught you? Did I teach you to be moral and just?"

Trek was momentarily stunned: "General Slayne..."

"You're a soldier! As a soldier, you must obey orders and follow commands. As a general, you're concerned with the overall situation, victory or defeat, life or death!" Slain rebuked. "You're just a soldier; all you should be thinking about is victory and defeat, how to win!"

"War has broken out, people have died, and you will face the grieving families. You must go up to them and say that your family members died gloriously! They sacrificed themselves for justice and for all living beings! Tell your children that you must inherit your father's bravery, that you must become a great soldier in thorns to slay your father's enemies, and tell your wives that you must inherit your husband's will, that you must raise your children to be great citizens of the city, to fight alongside us, and not to be ashamed of the souls of the dead!"

"That's your duty! Your obligation!" Slain roared. "You're a ruthless soldier, your mission is to make the Allies win! Public opinion, morality, what the hell are those? That's for politicians! Are all those politicians in Fort Mansa incompetent? Who are you to worry about them?!"

Trek remained silent, and Huan Ge tried to smooth things over: "Old man, this is too much... We should always have some humanity..."

Silayn turned and yelled, "Shut the hell up! Could you make this decision if you were in my shoes? Twenty years ago, you probably would have committed suicide!"

"I'll shut up, I'll shut up."

Huan Ge sat there, eyes downcast, pretending not to hear anything. Si Lai En stared at her prized student, her eyes filled with deep disappointment.

"Trek, why didn't you do that?" the old man asked.

"Old General, you make it sound so easy!" Trek gritted his teeth. "How dare I speak? Am I supposed to tell you that your good grandson died a glorious death, and ask you, a lonely old man, to cheer up and support me in weathering the criticism in the city?!"

“Yes! That’s exactly what you should say!” Thlaine glared. “No matter how much pressure you’re under, you have to withstand it. If those around you can’t hold on, you have to pull them up yourself. You have to give speeches, garner support, guide public opinion, exaggerate the consequences of defeat, and make everyone believe that it was you, Jastry, who saved the Allies, and that you are the undisputed hero of the city!”

"But you ran away. You went to a military court yourself, but in the end, that coward Palliman got the postwar media benefits, turning a clown into a city-state hero!"

Trek shook his head: "Now, let's talk about this..."

“Yes, it’s pointless.” Slaine interrupted it. “You’re just a squad leader now, and I’m an old man whose mind is filled with nothing but my dead grandson. We can’t even stand up straight anymore, so let’s just live on in despair.”

"Run! Run! Run as far as you can. If all goes well, at least we can survive overseas for another 2 or 30 years, spending our last days alone amidst the siege of outsiders!"

After the old man left, Huan Ge drank two more cups and said to his old friend, "I have to say something ruthless."

"I have heard many heartless things today."

“The city-state of Jingsha needs Jas Trek,” Huan Ge said calmly. “If we fight a few battles, we might be able to temporarily suppress public opinion… but neither I nor Chu Hengkong can change everyone’s mind.”

"Twenty years ago, you were prepared to become a sacrifice. Now, I wonder if you still have the courage to stand under the gaze of everyone?"

Huan Ge left too, leaving only a drowsy Trek in the small bar. Some time later, the bartender returned to tidy the bar, and Trek lifted his bleary eyes.

"If I were to give a speech now, would you listen?"

“Yes, sir,” the bartender said. “Whenever.”

(End of this chapter)