Empire Conquest

Chapter 587 - 583 Do Your Best

On the evening of January 3, all the main commanders from both sides arrived aboard the "Pu" for the pre-war meeting initiated and organized by Bai Zhizhan.

In fact, this was also the first time Bai Zhizhan saw Lian Xusheng since leaving the Empire.

A few days earlier, near the southern end of the canal, Lian Xusheng had only chatted with Bai Zhizhan via radio and had not met with Bai Zhizhan on the carrier.

Since the attack was imminent, Bai Zhizhan also did not go to the beach to find Lian Xusheng.

Additionally, this was the first time that Lian Xusheng met Rommel.

Strictly speaking, it was not their first encounter.

However, more than a year earlier, when the two first met, Rommel was just a Colonel in the Tiaoman Army, and Lian Xusheng was already a key figure in the Empire’s Army. During that social evening event, Lian Xusheng didn’t remember Rommel, but Rommel was greatly impacted.

Throughout the whole event, Lian Xusheng was the absolute protagonist, attracting the attention of everyone.

As for Rommel and the other Tiaoman Army officers, they couldn’t even be considered supporting roles; they were more likened to understudies waiting behind the curtains.

In Rommel’s own words, it was after that experience he began to harbor the thought of surpassing Lian Xusheng.

However, the meeting called by Bai Zhizhan was not to foster connections among everyone, but to discuss combat operations, namely the task assignment for attacking the port of Alexandria.

Strictly speaking, it was to finalize plans that had already been drafted.

Inviting the main generals from both sides was simply to ensure the plan could be implemented.

The main purpose was to brief each other, and incidentally, to treat the Tiaoman officers with delicacies and fine wines in the world’s most luxurious Navy restaurant.

It also served as a return invitation to the banquet in Suez City.

Bai Zhizhan was not playing any tricks; besides the drinks and dishes, he also found several highly skilled chefs to prepare every famous dish from the Empire.

For the Tiaoman Empire, which had no culinary culture, the delicacies of the Liangxia Empire were absolutely lethal.

Before the outbreak of the great war, many Tiaoman military officers who came to the Empire for cultural exchange lingered and hesitated to return, captivated by the vast array of delicious food in the Empire.

It was said that a Tiaoman Air Force officer named Holman had stayed in the Empire for five years and had not managed to taste all the local delicacies. Instead, he overindulged, severely lacked exercise, and gained twice his weight; shortly after returning to the Tiaoman Empire, he was forced to retire.

However, the banquet lasted less than two hours.

The great battle was upon them, and even in the presence of such extravagant food, there was no time to dally!

First, Bai Zhizhan saw off Rommel and others and then hurried back to find Lian Xusheng.

"To tell you the truth, I didn’t believe it before, but now I completely understand why so many young people prefer to join the Navy rather than serving in the Army. The mere standard of meals is far higher in the Navy. Frankly speaking, I am sure a good part of the Navy’s budget has been consumed by you all."

"You’ve only seen the glamorous side," Lian Xusheng replied with a smile, not taking Bai Zhizhan’s words too seriously.

Bai Zhizhan did not elaborate further. The Navy ate well, but it was also more demanding, and it required higher personal abilities from its officers and sailors.

Bai Zhizhan had long noticed that compared to the last time at the Prime Minister Mansion, Lian Xusheng’s spirits were much higher, clearly related to the current situation.

The two spoke as they made their way to the deck.

"Young Brother Bai, I am truly envious of you."

"That statement..."

"Do you know? It was the Grand Secretary himself who ordered me to rush to Boss Bay and to catch up with the assault force that had been slowly advancing through the desert."

Bai Zhizhan was stunned for a moment but then sighed.

"It’s just that it’s not all for your sake, Prince Consort." Lian Xusheng also smiled. "In the Grand Secretary’s words, what we need to overcome now is not only the Alliance Group, but also includes enemies hidden within our own Empire and within the Consortium Group. We are far from the point where we can relax."

"Unfortunately, not everyone shares this understanding." After a slight pause, Bai Zhizhan added, "What about Alexandria harbor, any certainty?"

"There’s certainly some, but the key still lies on your side."

Bai Zhizhan didn’t make a sound, he obviously understood what that meant.

Although no orders had been issued yet, the Imperial Authority had already reached an agreement with the Tiaoman Authority. Attacking Alexandria would be the Empire Army’s first and final battle in the North Xuan region, which meant that after capturing this military port, Lian Xusheng would return to Boss Bay.

From then on, they could only rely on themselves in the battles ahead.

Moreover, whether it was attacking Alexandria, advancing into the Land Heart Sea to relieve Malta, or meeting with the Raleigh Navy, it was all up to the Fleet on their own.

To put it bluntly, that was as far as Lian Xusheng could help.

"How are things on your end?" Bai Zhizhan asked with some heaviness in his heart, knowing that until now, it had been Lian Xusheng helping him.

"The Giant Continent battlefield?" Lian Xusheng sighed before continuing, "It’s the same old situation. However, there is some hopeful progress on the Boi Country front."

"What?"

"Although we’ve always had doubts about the reliability of the Ter Republic, and at least their military prowess isn’t as great as they boast, considering the Ter Empire was the first to be defeated in the last war, the Ter Army has been a great help on the battlefield in Boi Country."

"They fight well?"

Lian Xusheng managed a wry smile before replying, "They’re not cut out for charging and penetrating enemy lines, but they do fulfill their duties in controlling occupied areas and providing support to the front lines."

"This..."

"Before coming here, I attended a strategy meeting at the Army Headquarter. The focus was whether to attack the Luosha Federation from Boi Country, like dispatching troops from Broad Sea. If we manage that, we can still launch an offensive even after winter arrives."

"Do you need the Navy to do anything?" Bai Zhizhan immediately asked.

"For now, it seems like deploying in the Mo Sea."

Bai Zhizhan’s eyebrows twitched a few times, "That’s indeed an option, but given the current situation, we need to negotiate with the Ter Republic first."

"Deploy shore-based air force?"

Bai Zhizhan nodded, indicating that Lian Xusheng was correct.

Simply put, because the Special Mixed Fleet was not sufficient, or rather there were not enough carriers, they could only rely on the shore-based air force once they entered the Mo Sea.

Obviously, this required securing a forward base on the southern coast of Broad Sea, essentially the Ter Republic’s homeland.

As long as they could deploy shore-based air force, then everything was up for discussion.

If the Army could get an airport on that side, the Navy could also dispatch the Fleet into the Mo Sea and even send Landing Fleets to launch amphibious landings there.

Naturally, from a command perspective, it would be most appropriate for the Navy to arrange the deployment of the shore-based air force.

To put it bluntly, the key was whether the Ter Republic was willing to open its homeland. At least up to this point, the Ter Republic had not agreed.

The two men then discussed some related issues.

Bai Zhizhan also made a promise that, once the fighting on this side was over, as long as there were no issues with the Ter Republic, he would personally propose to Liu Changxun to dispatch troops to the Mo Sea.

Lian Xusheng also made a promise that after taking Alexandria, he would immediately head to the Boi Country front.

The most crucial issue, which went unspoken between them, was clear to both in their hearts.

By attacking the Luosha Federation, or rather by increasing their involvement on the Luosha Federation front, they were effectively relieving the Tiaoman Empire, and thus could alleviate the tense situation in the Land Heart Sea.