Starting with God's perspective, how to lose an interstellar war?

Qin Qianfan sent his son to the front lines, to Wen Tingtao's command. This was a sign of trust, a test, and perhaps also a profound, unspoken entrustment.

In the battle of Savannah, Qin Beiwang achieved an astonishing victory, but also truly stepped into the shadow of death.

Now, the empire is making it clear that it wants to completely stifle this rising star.

If we were to send him on another suicide mission deep into the heart of the empire with almost no chance of survival...

Wen Tingtao could almost see Qin Qianfan's deep, ocean-like eyes, and how cold and... disappointed they would be after learning the news.

No, perhaps it's more than just disappointment.

"I can't push Qianfan's son into the fire any further."

This thought appeared with absolute clarity in Wen Tingtao's mind, overriding all strategic considerations.

The affection between old friends, the marshal's entrustment, and even a deeper fear of the unbearable consequences if something went wrong, ultimately prevailed.

He could accept the defeat of a battle, bear the fall of a star system, and even be prepared to sacrifice an entire fleet.

But Qin Beiwang's life cannot be left to be lost so unjustly, with Wen Tingtao personally taking his place in the heart of the empire.

Otherwise, he would never be able to face Qin Qianfan again in his life.

Almost the instant he made the decision, all the struggle and hesitation on Wen Tingtao's face vanished.

Instead, there is a kind of almost cold-blooded "safety" and "separation" that belongs to the highest level of the bureaucratic system.

He turned away, no longer looking at the alluring yet dangerous star map, his voice regaining its usual unquestionable authority as he clearly gave the order.

"Order."

Everyone in the command center held their breath.

"Promotion: Former Pluto Fleet Commander, Colonel Qin Beiwang, to Commodore."

"He has been transferred to the position of Deputy Commander of the Nine-Tailed Duke-class Fleet, directly under the Wan Shi Star Region War Zone."

"Promotion: Zhuang Zhixuan, former deputy commander of the Pluto Fleet, is now a naval captain."

"He is appointed as the commander of the newly formed Pluto Fleet."

The command was concise, yet it contained a wealth of information and information about personnel changes.

The room was silent, but the staff officers did not show much surprise.

Instead, it was a sense of "as expected" and "it should be this way," and even a slight sense of relief.

The young hero, son of a marshal, who has just made an unparalleled contribution and is currently enjoying great success.

He was transferred from his position as commander of the frontline mothership fleet, which was the most dangerous and most likely to be targeted by the Empire, and promoted to brigadier general.

He was assigned to a relatively rear and safer class fleet as a deputy (although it was a promotion, his real power was obviously less than that of a mother-class fleet commander who could stand alone).

At the same time, he promoted his loyal and capable deputy to take command of the fleet that was destined to become the eye of the storm.

This operation is all too familiar to everyone here.

Protective transfer. A promotion in name only, but protection in reality.

Strategically, the Pluto Fleet, as a new force, still needs to be at the forefront and bear the responsibility of destroying the Imperial Stargate.

Politically, however, Qin Beiwang must be extricated from the political arena to ensure his safety.

Even if the Pluto fleet is eventually wiped out and destroyed.

As long as Qin Beiwang is still alive, as long as he doesn't die under Wen Tingtao's direct orders or due to "inadequate protection".

That way, we can give an explanation to Marshal Qin Qianfan, to higher authorities, and to the public.

The Federation can afford to lose a fleet, even an enhanced mother-class fleet.

But we lost a "hero" with a profound background and great symbolic significance.

Especially if they are accused of "sending them to their deaths," the resulting chain reaction is something no one can afford.

If any of them were in Wen Tingtao's position, they would probably make the same, or even more "prudent" arrangements.

Chief of Staff Wen Shiheng's lips moved as if he wanted to say something, but in the end he just nodded silently.

He understood the commander's predicament and the trade-offs he was making.

The young staff officer who had suggested the surprise attack quickly lost his luster and lowered his head.

He knew that this most insane and most likely miraculous plan had lost its only possible executor with Qin Beiwang's transfer.

Whether the remaining "Pluto," under the leadership of the new commander, can launch a long-range attack into the heart of the Empire and destroy the Imperial Stargate remains to be seen.

"The order shall take effect immediately, be communicated to the entire theater, and be reported to the Joint Staff and the General Staff for record."

Wen Tingtao added at the end, his tone leaving no room for doubt.

"Notify Brigadier General Qin Beiwang and Senior Colonel Zhuang Zhixuan to prepare for the handover."

The location of the Nine-Tailed Fleet will be announced separately.

"Yes, Commander."

The adjutant immediately took notes and turned to relay them.

Wen Tingtao sat back down in his chair, feeling a deep sense of exhaustion.

Soon after, an encrypted order from the theater command was delivered directly to Qin Beiwang's command terminal.

He was promoted to brigadier general.

He was transferred to serve as the deputy commander of the Nine-Tails-class fleet.

The command, written in black on a white background, was concise, clear, and irrefutable, bearing the electronic seal of the theater command with the highest authority.

Qin Beiwang silently finished reading, his face showing no joy at the promotion. Instead, it was as if covered by a thin layer of ice, his calmness was somewhat frightening.

He turned off the screen and looked out the porthole, where countless starships of the Pluto fleet were operating according to their daily routines, their lights flickering in the shadows of Shiva.

He was not a native of this world and did not have a deep-rooted concept of military seniority.

But it is precisely because of this that he is better able to step outside the framework and see the cold, realistic logic behind the order.

An open promotion, an underhanded adjustment.

The fleet will be pushed to the front lines to carry out a mission with a slim chance of survival.

He, on the other hand, was safely moved to a relatively back position.

A few months ago, he might have accepted it indifferently, after all, he was still an "outsider" back then.

But at this moment, the Savannah gunfire, the sleepless nights on the bridge, the trusting and even fanatical gazes of his men, and the cheers when the 300,000 tons of organic food arrived at the port…

These memories are vivid and poignant.

This fleet and these people are no longer just organizations and symbols on paper.

They are the soil from which he took root in this strange universe, and the most real weight behind his name "Qin Beiwang" besides his bloodline.

"commander……"

Zhuang Zhixuan's voice rang out softly from the side.

She also received the corresponding promotion and appointment notice.

Qin Beiwang turned his head and looked at her.

Zhuang Zhixuan's face showed no joy at the promotion, only a calm after understanding, and even... a hint of relief.

She had been on too many battlefields and had become accustomed to sacrifice and compromise.

She seemed to have been mentally prepared for the fact that she was about to take over "Pluto" and would likely lead it to an extremely difficult, even doomed, end.

Soldiers will eventually die on the battlefield, only the time and place may differ.

She looked at the rare, suppressed emotions in Qin Beiwang's eyes and spoke softly.