Chapter 1161: Chapter 640
"Truly foolish."
This was Marshal Lerouxâs conclusion on Gu Hangâs decision.
"Gu Hang has no idea what heâs refusing."
"But itâs no wonder; heâs just a leader from a small place who, by some chance, resolved a few issues and rose to prominence over several decades. Then coincidentally, with no one else to take charge on the Southern Line, that so-called âAllianceâ he leads became the main force, turning him into the so-called commander."
"Who knows how many illegal, irregular, and heretical elements exist within his so-called Alliance? Is Gu Hang truly fighting for the Empire, or for his so-called grand Alliance? How much of the Alliance he established is really for the Empire, and how much is for himself?"
"He says the issues in the Alfonso Star Domain arenât resolved yet? Is he trying to secure his retreat, or is his separatist mindset prompting him merely to expand territory and consolidate lands?"
"Of course, Iâm not questioning his loyalty. If someone thinks that way, it doesnât really matter. Itâs just that this isnât todayâs focus. Whether Gu Hang and his highly independent Alliance will become the next Iron Armor is a matter for the future. Perhaps there will come a time to address this issue, but now, we stand on a united front working towards one goal."
"Since he says the issues in the Alfonso Star Domain arenât resolved, let him rot in his Alfonso Star Domain. A leader with separatist tendencies, a man of fortune rising through coincidence..."
"Hmph, I still have to say:"
"He has no idea what heâs refusing."
"He is refusing the chance to fight for The Emperor."
"He is refusing the most severe punishment for traitors."
"He is refusing the highest reward given by The Emperor: loyalty!"
"He may not care for these things; a separatist warlord seeks âinterestsâ, not understanding what true noble pursuits are."
"But I am different, and so is everyone present here."
"We understand what the highest honor is, and that is the pursuit of our lives!"
"We have already fought at Leroux, crushing those Swarms. Now, itâs time to get out of those quagmires and charge into the stronghold of the traitors to end this war once and for all!"
"On the Western Line, Otaubisâs Salius Warlord is also advancing rapidly. Come, letâs compete and see who can first set foot in Reiaductus!"
"Destroy those traitors, and The Emperor will witness our glory!"
When Leroux finished speaking, it evoked a unanimous roar from the participants!
He glanced around, feeling gratified.
This way, the purpose of this military meeting was more than halfway achieved.
By stepping over Southern Commander Gu Hang, who refused to attack together, using him as a negative contrast, he successfully stirred the fighting spirit of everyone attending the meeting, aligning everyoneâs goals.
The saying that âloyalty is the best rewardâ is a universally agreed-upon value within the Empire, indisputable. By making Gu Hang a negative example, anyone who disagrees with Lerouxâs all-out offensive strategy to level the Iron Armor Battle Groupâs home base, Reiaductus, is, like Gu Hang the negative, a person with ulterior motives.
As for the competition with Salius on the Western Line, to see who can first step into Reiaductus, he spoke from the heart.
The honor of war always falls upon the one who achieves the most symbolic victory.
In the great rebellion of Iron Armor, the main villain is, of course, Iron Armor; what symbolizes the defeat of Iron Armor? Naturally, itâs the complete cleansing of the traitor battle groupâs home base.
With this, Leroux unabashedly laid his ambitions bare.
As for his claim of not caring about actual interests, that might not be entirely true. The great rebellion of Iron Armor affected four Cosmos Domains and tens of thousands of worlds, drawing significant attention from Holy Terra. If one can perform outstandingly in this war, whether through military achievements to gain tangible benefits from Holy Terra or to grant enormous political prestige to the political faction they represent, isnât that still an actual interest?
Of course, Leroux doesnât see any conflict between the two.
Gu Hang not participating in the attack on the Princess Star Domain? In fact, heâs even quite pleased about it!
Just let him rot in the South; the highest glory will surely belong to the Black Cross!
...
Lerouxâs evaluation of Gu Hang was also heard by Gu Hang himself.
First, the Allianceâs intelligence agency gathered the information and informed Gu Hang, and then the Imperial Military Departmentâs Galaraldo personally gave him a star talk to seriously discuss this issue.
That Gu Hang heard these words doesnât mean the Allianceâs intelligence agency is particularly outstanding, but rather that Lerouxâs words spread widely.
The occasion where he made these remarks was not in confidentiality. Quite a few people attended the meeting, with diverse identities and backgrounds, so these words quickly spread everywhere, even to the point of being extensively discussed.
The Alliance has people in the Northern Line, Western Line, and even Holy Terra. There are minor spies, purchased informants, and openly dispatched liaisons. With the news spreading like this, it would be impossible for the Allianceâs intelligence agency not to know, even if they were weak.
And what was Gu Hangâs response?
Indifference, certainly not.
But deep down, indeed, there was not much fluctuation.
As for what Leroux said... there wasnât much wrong with it. That was Gu Hangâs attitude.
To be in such a rush to enter the Princess Star Domain, isnât that just foolish? The territory theyâve conquered hasnât even been fully digested yet.
What Black Cross, Otaubis, and the like, their armies on the Northern and Western Lines were gathered by the Empireâs summonings. Whatever regions they conquer will not become their base of power. They have no intention of occupying land, they only want achievements.
Honor, prestige, military achievements... these are their primary goals.
Thatâs why Leroux aims to be the first to enter Reiaductus as the greatest strategic goal. In fact, Gu Hang has no doubt that this guy could make very irrational decisions to achieve this goal, even at the cost of significant sacrifices.
After all, what does it matter if there are sacrifices? If the Black Cross dies, he might truly feel heartache; but more deaths from the Star Realm Army recruited from the Star Devouring Cosmos, from other battle groups, or from the Extraplanar Tribunal, what does it matter to him?
Whereas the army Gu Hang brought consists mainly of his own forces, his own resources, even the death of one is heart-wrenching.
But, having said that, Gu Hang couldnât genuinely disregard these words and let them fester.
He promptly made a speech of his own, outlining his strategy, subtly critiquing Leroux as âsquandering The Emperorâs resourcesâ, âpursuing personal glory without regard for casualtiesâ, and âhindering the broader situationâ.