173: Someone always has to make a sacrifice.

"I understand."

Jilijiske looked toward the staff officer diagonally opposite him and asked curiously, "Oh?"

"Wang Chao raided so many families in the Luol Star System that the money he has is certainly enough to build a titan ship."

"The reason Wan Xingying is willing to become Wang Chao's fiancée might be precisely because of this."

Jilijiske nodded slightly: "That is indeed possible."

"So, how should we arrange things next? Should we retreat to the Second Defense Line?"

Jilijiske sighed, scratching his head, and said, "No. Have Wan Xingying abandon Yaoguang City and go support other fronts."

The staff officer raised an eyebrow slightly, hesitated for a moment, and then said, "Isn't that sending them to their deaths?"

Jilijiske scratched his head and sighed, "The higher-ups want Wang Chao and Wan Xingying to take the hit. If they don't die, it won't benefit internal unity."

"Understood. Someone must be sacrificed."

Yaoguang City.

He Ming opened his eyes. He had already learned of the headquarters' arrangements for them one step ahead through the omniscient notebook.

"Since you insist on playing this game, don't blame me for flipping the table."

"jarvis, connect to the Radiant Empire Command Center."

"Yes, Sir."

Radiant Empire, Frontline Command Center.

"Sir, communication request from an unknown signal source. Should we connect?"

Hmm?

"Where is the signal source?"

"Within the Star Empire territory."

Commander-in-Chief Tis: "Connect."

"Who are you?"

"Who I am is not important."

Tis furrowed his brows and said doubtfully, "Interesting. I'd really like to know how you managed to crack..."

Tis's words were interrupted by He Ming.

"Let's talk about something serious."

"Oh, why don't you tell me, is there anything more important than this?"

He Ming: "I can provide you with the Star Empire's Frontline Deployment Map."

Hearing this, Tis's expression gradually became serious.

"Are you serious?"

He Ming: "I've already sent it over. Take a look first."

Hmm?

"Sir, we received a Data Packet transmitted from an unknown signal source."

"Open it."

The Data Packet was opened, and a Dynamic Star Map showing the troop distribution of 397 Star Empire Strongholds appeared before Tis in the form of a three-dimensional virtual projection.

Tis scanned it once and instantly understood.

"Sir, the correlation between this data and the intelligence we collected reached 39%."

Tis: "What are your demands?"

He Ming: "No demands."

Tis and the high-ranking officials in the Command Center were instantly confused. He sent such a great gift for free, yet had no demands?

After the communication was cut off, Tis stared at the virtual star map and fell into deep thought.

Before long, a piece of intelligence regarding Wang Chao was delivered to him.

Tis quickly scanned it. Three tenths of the doubt in his heart was dispelled, but he still couldn't be one hundred percent certain.

"Sir, do you think this could be a play intentionally staged by the Star Empire for us?"

"We'll test it out first."

...The Radiant Empire made a major adjustment to their forces on the Eastern Front, launching a Thunderous Strike based on the intelligence provided by He Ming, using superior numbers against inferior ones and strength against weakness.

Ten days later.

A total of 132 Star Empire Strongholds on the Eastern Front were successfully captured by the Radiant Empire, without even expending too much military force.

Radiant Empire, Frontline Command Center.

"Sir, it's Wang Chao's communication."

"Connect."

He Ming: "I wonder if you are satisfied with this introductory gift."

Tis laughed loudly: "Hahahaha... Naturally, we are extremely satisfied."

"Feel free to state any demands you have. Anything within my jurisdiction, I can agree to."

He Ming: "Here is the latest Deployment Map. Receive it."

The communication was cut off.

Tis: "Quick, open the Data Packet!"

The brand-new Star Empire troop Deployment Map was displayed on the Tactical Sandbox.

"Sir, do you think they might be waiting for us here?"

Tis nodded slightly.

"It's possible, but this is an opportunity. We can test it out first."

Star Empire, Frontline Command Center.

The atmosphere inside the Command Center was extremely oppressive; everyone kept their mouths tightly shut, not daring to even breathe too heavily.

The complete collapse of the Eastern Front was a result nobody had expected or was willing to accept.

Initially, they thought an inside mole had leaked the Command Center's intelligence.

But after two rounds of investigation, no problems were found.

Jilijiske wore a gloomy expression.

Finding no issues was the most terrifying situation of all.

If there were no internal issues, then how exactly was the intelligence leaked?

It couldn't possibly be a problem with the AI Brain, could it?

"Sir, the forces have been redeployed!"

"I know."

The communication system in the command room has been fully taken over by the Star Empire's AI Brain; all information input and output must be reviewed before it can be transmitted normally.

"Stronghold 179 reports an emergency!"

"Stronghold 125 reports an emergency!"

"Stronghold 118 has been breached!"

Jilijiske felt his vision go dark, staggered, and felt a suffocating tightness in his chest.

"What exactly is going on!"

"Can anyone tell me!"

The atmosphere inside the Command Center became even more oppressive. Everyone wanted to know the answer, but reality was this cruel.

It wasn't that the Star Empire's warships had less firepower than the Radiant Empire's.

Rather, the Star Empire's command system was completely overwhelmed by the Radiant Empire's command system.

They were constantly restricted, being attacked using superior numbers against inferior ones and strength against weakness.

Three days later.

The Star Empire suffered a total rout and was forced to retreat to the Second Defense Line... Stronghold 307, Command Center.

Wan Xingying rubbed her temples, watching the Battle Reports appearing on the terminal, her expression growing increasingly solemn.

In just half a month, the Star Empire suffered a complete defeat across the entire front.

This situation had never occurred since the rise of the Star Empire.

In terms of military strength alone, the Star Empire was not much weaker than the Radiant Empire. Even if the Radiant Empire had planned for a long time and gained the initiative, the current situation should not have happened.

"The Eastern Front can no longer hold! If this continues, they will reach the Wan Star System!"

Wan Xingying suddenly stood up from her chair, her eyes seeming to shoot flames.

"What good are these useless people?"

He Ming: "We haven't received the retreat order yet. It's no use for you to worry."

Wan Xingying sighed: "If the Eastern Defense Line collapses again, the Radiant Empire will be able to drive straight in and take at least a quarter of the Star Empire's territory!"

"And these territories will become the frontline battlefield. At that time, who knows how many people will die."

Governor Wang Nianchang, who had retreated to Stronghold 307 with them, stood up angrily and snorted, "If this keeps up, I won't bother being a Governor anymore. We might as well just defect to the Radiant Empire."

Wan Xingying frowned slightly. Although she wanted to refute him, she couldn't find a good argument.

If her territory was gone, she would become a mere Figurehead Commander.

The Star Empire treated her as a disposable pawn, yet she didn't harbor rebellious thoughts.

But now, the Wan Star System was facing a crisis of life and death, and 12.1 billion people within its territory were about to be dragged into the vortex of war.

If they couldn't hold the Eastern Front, the consequences would be unimaginable.

"That's right. My entire foundation is about to be wiped out. If the territory is gone too, there will truly be no hope of turning the situation around."

Wang Changnian looked around, finally locking his gaze on Wan Xingying.

There were five Governors present, and Wan Xingying's status was the highest among them.

"Governor Wan, what is your view?"