87: Going against his own will, Fang Le plans to start a war again!

Although the Anti-War Army stopped their migration live stream after arriving at Alice Springs, the global audience continued to follow their movements.

Thus, the news of the collective release of four thousand U.S. Military prisoners quickly spread across networks worldwide.

"Holy crap, that's a big move, four thousand people, released just like that—"

"My goodness, were there that many U.S. Military prisoners? Four thousand? Adding the dead, how many did the U.S. Military lose in that battle in Darwin City?"

"The Anti-War Army is too benevolent. No, too naive."

"Yes, although directly releasing prisoners can show the Anti-War Army's benevolence and sincerity, they also lose an important bargaining chip. If the United States reneges and plans to launch an attack before the three-month ceasefire period is up, the Anti-War Army would suffer a net loss."

"I guess it's mainly because these four thousand people are too much of a burden. After all, the Anti-War Army seems to be hiding in the mountains, using the mountain range as a base. Conditions there must be harsh, and the Anti-War Army itself probably exceeds ten thousand people, making it difficult to sustain. How could they have the capacity to manage 4,000 prisoners?"

"Hmm, this analysis is reliable... Has anyone seen those prisoners? Can we ask them about the Anti-War Army's situation in the mountains?"

"Who could run into them... I heard that those prisoners hadn't been out of the mountains for long before the U.S. Military ordered them to stay put, and then the U.S. Military dispatched large transport planes to airlift them out immediately..."

—

Pentagon, Department of Defense.

Claire, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, reported: "Minister, those four thousand people have been largely interrogated. Everyone questioned stated that they were guarded at the entrance of a large canyon and did not move further inside. They only knew that the Anti-War Army's more than ten thousand people entered the mountains and are completely unaware of the subsequent situation."

Secretary Savitz nodded.

He had already anticipated this result.

If these U.S. Military prisoners truly knew any secrets, it would be strange for the Anti-War Army to release them.

Savitz: "What about the satellites? Have the satellites detected anything?"

Claire: "Military satellites can only detect that those people entered the grand canyon, but then disappeared without a trace."

"Furthermore, satellites cannot guarantee monitoring all ground details."

"I speculate that the Anti-War Army might have discovered some natural lava caves in the MacDonnell Ranges, and with a little blasting and drilling, transformed them into temporary living quarters. This wouldn't be difficult."

Savitz also found this speculation very reasonable.

If there were no existing caves, it would be impossible for over ten thousand people, along with equipment and supplies, to completely disappear from the grand canyon in just a few days.

Savitz: "From now on, we must constantly monitor the Anti-War Army's movements. Also, if possible, send special forces to infiltrate the MacDonnell Ranges for reconnaissance. We must find the hiding place of those more than ten thousand people."

"Although that mountain range is vast, there are over ten thousand people; their whereabouts will eventually be leaked."

Claire nodded.

Savitz: "Oh, and one more thing: resources are scarce in those mountains, so the Anti-War Army will definitely leave the mountain range to operate. We must completely block all their external communications."

Claire: "Understood."

—

After the 4,000 U.S. Military prisoners were released, a large number of Anti-War Army soldiers left the mountain range and dispersed widely to carry out activities.

They would visit small towns and villages to trade with locals. Their presence was seen in large towns like Alice Springs, as well as scattered indigenous villages.

The types of goods they wished to trade for were diverse, ranging from ready-made processed foods, canned goods, and drinking water, to rice, flour, grains, oil, and various seeds and fruit trees.

Additionally, they would purchase building materials such as cement and steel.

The Anti-War Army used U.S. dollar banknotes as their trading currency.

The Anti-War Army had no shortage of cash; they had acquired a large amount of banknotes from the United States during the cashing period after the last ceasefire agreement was signed.

Initially, these transactions went smoothly.

Firstly, the Anti-War Army was very polite and amicable.

Secondly, the Anti-War Army often bought survival supplies at prices higher than the market rate.

But after just two or three days, when the Anti-War Army went out again, they could hardly trade for anything useful.

Zhao Gang reported to Fang Le: "According to intelligence, the United States notified the Australia government to prohibit this region, and even the entire Australia, from conducting any transactions with our Anti-War Army. Otherwise, if discovered, the relevant units or individuals would be penalized."

"Damn it, they're trying to trap me to death."

Fang Le pondered.

The American military's blockade strategy was indirect but very effective.

Now, his underground base facilities were well-equipped.

However, basic supplies were needed to replenish inventory and ensure the base operated effectively.

Since you're targeting me, don't blame me for being impolite.

Fang Le instructed Ouyang: "Have Old Yue and the others come over."

Soon after, at another high-level meeting.

Fang Le got straight to the point: "I want the U.S. Military to attack as soon as possible. What good methods do you have?"

The reason Fang Le adopted this "reverse thinking" was primarily because the system required him to conquer the entire Australia within one year. However, his total troop strength was limited, and occupying the MacDonnell Ranges, a territory suitable for concealing troops and easy to defend, made it easier to reduce war costs and accelerate the system's mission progress by letting the American military attack him while he defended and counterattacked, rather than actively going on the offensive.

Moreover, this could also solve the problem of dwindling reserves. When the cannons roar, gold flows!

Yue Hanshan and others quickly summarized their ideas:

"The U.S. Military has always had a poor reputation, and the three-month ceasefire period in the agreement doesn't mean much."

"But the United States dares not hastily break the agreement, firstly because we just released those four thousand prisoners, so they can't immediately turn hostile."

"Secondly, because of those more than twenty heavy bombers."

"With those bombers, we can threaten all U.S. Military bases in the Pacific, and even their homeland."

"And now, those bombers are parked in our underground air force base."

"With these bombers, even if the three-month period expires, the U.S. Military may not dare to blindly attack us."

"But now, since you, Commander, require that the next war begins as soon as possible, we can, conversely, return those bombers to the U.S. Military, or simply destroy them."

"It can be predicted that once we do this, the United States will immediately formulate a combat plan to attack us."

That makes sense.

Moreover, both sides had indeed agreed that those bombers were assets of the U.S. Military, and the Anti-War Army had to return them all within one to two months after the ceasefire agreement was signed.

However, Fang Le was unwilling to simply return those bombers.

Furthermore, this time, there was no city of Darwin to defend.

After the last operation, the U.S. Military had developed a strong fear of the Anti-War Army.

Perhaps if fighting resumed, the U.S. Military would directly use various powerful weapons, even Mushroom Bombs, against the Anti-War Army.

The risk of fighting like that was too great.

Fang Le suddenly said, "Let's go, Old Yue, Old Zhao."

"Let's go see what those military industrial experts have to say."