Dual wielding volcanoes, killing through the west

“I know this might be a bit excessive compared to my father’s usual principles. But these are extraordinary times. We only have two thousand men, yet we have to cross two large states and face tens of thousands of enemy troops in order to carry out a military mission.”

"War is dangerous and perilous; once a step is wrong, it is very difficult to make amends."

"I earnestly hope that Father can understand our difficulties and relax the rules a little."

……

This time, Zhang Renfeng remained silent for a long time, and the look in his eyes became very complicated. There was a hint of surprise, but more than that, there was a sense of relief.

"My bottom line is that innocent civilians cannot be dragged into this, there can be no massacre, and no indiscriminate killing," Zhang Renfeng said in a deep voice. "As for the rest..."

"Do as you say."

"Yes!" Zhang Honglu finally got what he wanted and smiled from the bottom of his heart.

Chapter 988: Secretary of State

“Mr. Zeke, here, here.”

"..."

Upon seeing that famous smiling face, Jike didn't dare to slack off and almost ran all the way to their seats.

A person's greatness is often highlighted by their attire. Stripped of his imposing military uniform and donned an ordinary suit, he was no different from the other people coming and going. He was no longer Jik Sishui, but a member of the Belmont Club, sitting in the lobby on the first floor, a place for guests to relax and socialize—nothing more.

In this city, there are too many clubs like this, some secretive, and some not even bothering to hide, just set up on the street.

Belmont Golf Club is a club specifically for golf, but it's easy to imagine that someone who can master a sport like golf, which requires a significant investment of time and money, is certainly not an ordinary person. Although there are no explicit entry requirements, the sport itself is practically excluding the average person.

It's said that this club is quite exclusive, with only about a hundred members and almost no new members. It's only open to distinguished guests and VIP members. The reason that person chose to meet here was simply because "the creamy baked lobster here has a very delicate texture," a rather absurd reason.

Jik wasn't a member, and when he first entered through the main entrance, he was subjected to a very strict check. This included identity verification, checking his invitation, confirming his identity, and checking for weapons. Forget weapons, he wasn't even allowed to bring in his own cigarettes; they were all stored in lockers.

"Do you have any particular taste in coffee? If not, I'll just order you a Coppini; that'll do. The coffee at this club is so-so, too obsequious, always chasing trends, and it lacks that rich, aromatic depth."

"However, the baked dishes and stews here are exceptional, especially this creamy mushroom soup. The flavors of pepper, cream, and mushrooms are incredibly delicate. The richness of the cream and the freshness of the mushrooms are perfectly blended in this dish."

"Try it, Jik, just one bite, and I promise you'll experience a different world."

The man in front of him smiled gently and easily, promoting the food on the table to him.

His eyes were almost slits, and judging from the slight upturn of his lips, one would likely assume he was quite pleased. Like all the other club members, he was enjoying the food, the wine, the coffee, and a perfectly ordinary, leisurely day in high society.

However, it is not.

That's how power structures work; one level presses down on the next. When facing someone a level above him, Jik had to be careful and try to figure out what they were thinking.

"Mr. Secretary of State..."

Before he could finish speaking, the man sitting opposite him raised a finger and smiled, making a shushing gesture. "As far as I know, in the military, you address everyone by their rank or title, even your own son. Is that right?"

“That’s right.” Jike nodded and said in a deep voice, “The fighting power of an army largely comes from discipline. I must let everyone know that in the army under my command, there are no fathers or sons, only officers and soldiers of all ranks. Once an order is given, it must be carried out one hundred percent, without any exceptions.”

“There’s absolutely no flexibility; that’s the reality of military regulations.” The man picked up a napkin and elegantly wiped his mouth. “During the last personnel selection, besides you, several other people were chosen, all lieutenant generals and generals. The president’s crucial vote for you wasn’t entirely due to the Krenchikov family’s recommendation…”

"After the investigation, he valued this aspect of you highly and expressed his praise and respect for your fighting spirit."

“This…this is really…” Zeke’s nearly gray beard trembled slightly at that moment.

Even though he was a seasoned veteran, when he truly felt the empowerment and affirmation from those in higher positions, he couldn't help but feel incredibly excited. At that moment, his aged body was filled with energy.

“However, this club isn’t your army, so the rules need to change. We don’t need to address each other by rank anymore.” The man crossed his arms and said with a smile, “Please just call me Hoffman.”

“Mr. Hoffmann…” Zeke frowned slightly as he saw Hoffmann finally put down his knife and fork. “Where is Mr. Albert?”

“Him? He’s at the one tonight. Same city, different club, different kitchen, different tastes.” Hoffman lowered his head slightly, glanced at his slightly protruding beer belly under his suit, and said half-jokingly, “You two have different tastes, and I won’t force you to eat the same food at the same table.”

"Moreover……"

"He was the one who recommended you to us. Won't it be awkward for the two of you to meet at this time?"

“…Thank you very much for your thoughtful consideration, Mr. Hoffman.” Zeke looked at the table full of dishes, which looked and smelled delicious, but they did not arouse his appetite at all. He simply said, “As the commander-in-chief, I am to blame for the defeat in this first battle.”

“Don’t be too nervous, Zeke.” Hoffman’s tone remained relaxed. “This isn’t a work report. Strictly speaking, I’m not your boss. It’s just two gentlemen having a small get-together at the club on a sunny afternoon, enjoying some food and chatting. That’s all.”

Jike fell silent.

Only those in positions of power have the right to utter such rhetoric with ease. Anyone who takes it as gospel wouldn't even last this round; they'd be kicked off the table long ago.

What they say is never important; what matters is their actual actions.

The Secretary of State, America, is the chief cabinet minister, holding a position higher than other cabinet ministers, second only to the President and Vice President. The nominee is directly nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate, and is fourth in line to the presidency. It is a crucial position responsible for foreign affairs but also some domestic policy matters; some powerful Secretaries of State can even interfere with the President's decision-making.

If America's political system is a massive and sophisticated machine, then the man sitting across from her, eyes half-closed and a smile on his face, is one of the most crucial components of that machine!

According to him, he was going to have dinner with Albert tonight.

Albert Krenchikov was the true initiator of this counterinsurgency operation, while I was merely the executor on the battlefield. Now, the Secretary of State meeting with both me and Albert in one day can only be interpreted as conveying one message.

The federal government, and the capital alliance behind it, were very dissatisfied with the outcome of the Battle of Fordburg.

normal.

Too normal.

Jike felt that he understood them very well. In fact, the first emotion he felt upon receiving the battle report was not anger, but bewilderment.

"Huh? Can English letters be combined like this?"—This is a question that many people have.

Unlike any war before, this time there were no deserters, no prisoners of war, no news coming back, nothing at all, as if everyone on the front lines had died.

Zeke waited anxiously in the rear, while all sorts of rumors began to circulate from western Pennsylvania: that the Red Scourge had cleared eleven fortresses in less than an hour; that armored monsters were rampaging across the battlefield; that the 10,000 soldiers at the front had all been slaughtered... The more rumors circulated, the more uneasy Zeke felt.

Three days passed quickly.

This was the time he had instructed Baal to hold out no matter what. However, it wasn't until three days later that sporadic news reached the rear. Only then did Zeke finally realize that this enemy was a completely different breed from the Confederate army of the past.

Fordburg had already fallen.

Zhang Renfeng's army, numbering only a little over a thousand, was like a sharp knife piercing into the body of the Northern Federation, heading straight for its heart—Washington!

Chapter 989: Ugh—!!!

"The defeat at Fordburg was just... just an accident. Thirty years have passed, and this is our first time fighting the South. We don't understand their tactics and techniques at all." Jike lowered his voice and made a promise. "Next time we fight them, if we set up our positions according to their tactical characteristics, the results will be much better."

……

"Hmm, take a look at this."

Hoffman sniffed noncommittally, took a folded newspaper from his bag, which in a way relieved Zeke.

at last.

The long, probing conversation has finally come to an end; it's time to get down to business.

Jike took the newspaper, glanced at the headline printed on the page, his pupils dilated slightly, and he felt terrible.

"Breaking News! The Federal Army suffers a major, newsworthy defeat!"

The text provides a very detailed account of the entire siege of Fort Ford, including how the Confederate army appeared, how they attacked the city, how they breached the camp, and the appalling casualty ratio. It includes not only text but also photographs: the eleven damaged forts, the camp emptied as if swept by a storm, and the weapons and supplies captured by the Confederate army.

"The Modern Times, this is..."

“A newspaper from a newspaper in Morocco,” Hoffman said with a half-closed gaze, glancing around with a sigh. “Gik, look around you. The upper class here is still living the same life as always. Enjoying gourmet food made with top-quality ingredients at upscale clubs, fine wines, then going to the golf course, swinging a few clubs, and sweating a few drops of painless perspiration on the grass… that’s how they spend their days.”

"Perhaps, in your view, victory in war is composed of soldiers, weapons, and logistics. But here, the rules are completely different."

"Confidence is the foundation of everything."

"Imagine the panic that would be caused if a newspaper like this were to be distributed all the way to Washington, D.C."

"But... how could they have such a clear shooting angle..."

Jike flipped through the newspaper and even saw a photo taken from inside Ford Fort – the photographer was inside the fortress, taking a picture from a distance towards the battlefield. In the picture, at the horizon, stood a figure in armor, exuding a strong sense of oppression.

According to written reports, this terrifying figure breached Fort Ford's defenses within the next thirty minutes.

"Confidence is like a foundation stone. It takes time and effort to build, laying each stone one by one. But it can be destroyed with just a few digs in the right place."

Hoffman picked up the newspaper and waved it in front of Zeke.

"This is the first shovel the Southern Sanyuan Group has swung at us. If the Red Peril continues to win, there will be a second shovel, a third shovel..."

"The President is very concerned about the current situation."

Despite saying that, Hoffman seemed completely unconcerned. He picked up his cup, took a sip of coffee, and said with a smile, "In less than a day, they've breached the defenses of ten thousand men and eleven fortresses. At this rate..."

"They will be in Washington before Christmas this year. The history of the Northern Union may be coming to an end during his term."

He looked at Zeke, and the smile on his face slowly faded, turning into a terrifying, insincere grin.

"Jike Sishui".

"We don't have time."

----

As far as the Secretary of State is concerned, the subtext he is conveying at this moment is crystal clear; even a fool could understand it.

From the moment the war began, Zeke was already one of "us".

In short, it means "you don't have time either."

“Indeed, Mr. Hoffman, I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately. Strategy, tactics, objectives, and…”

Jike said in a deep voice, "Our real adversary in this war."

"Oh?" Hoffman resumed his calm, squinting smile. "I'd love to hear your opinion."

"Many people believe that our opponent is the entire South, or the Triumph Group that truly controls the sixteen southern states. In my opinion, this view only sees the surface of things and ignores the essence."

Jike said in a deep voice, "Even if the sixteen southern states are completely controlled by the Sanyuan Group, so what? At best, they will only be on par with the north."

"They have the Tripartite Group, which can help in the war. We also have the combined assistance of the Krenchikov Industrial Group and the Atlantic Federation Industrial Group, which can provide enormous resources and funds for the war."

"In terms of land, population, military strength, industrial productivity, weaponry, and the pool of talented generals, the North is not inferior to the South!"

"The powerful families in the South are willing to risk everything to support this war. When the time comes, I believe the powerful families in the North will not be inferior."

"In conclusion, the real gap between us and them is not in terms of military strength, weapons, industrialization process, urbanization level, etc., which require complex calculations. On the contrary, it is as simple as it gets: it is just one person."

"The Red Peril, Zhang Renfeng, and his family."

Hoffman's eyes narrowed slightly, but he didn't interrupt him, signaling him to continue.

“To be honest, Mr. Hoffman, even now, I still find it hard to believe the contents of the battle reports, including these.” He pointed to the headlines in the newspaper with his finger. “When I first received the battle reports, I thought it was an internal infiltration, spreading false information to demoralize us.”

"But then I thought, even by the standards of fake news, this news is far too outrageous. Even if it were made up, it wouldn't be made up like this. It wasn't until later, when the news was repeatedly confirmed, that I had no choice but to believe it..."

"Our entire American government's true enemy, from beginning to end, has only been [Red Calamity]."

"With his death, the massive Sanyuan Group will immediately collapse. The remaining people will naturally be no threat. However, his superhuman strength makes this very difficult to achieve in a real war... This is probably why he is called the Red Bane."

"but……"

"In other words, our opponent has changed from an army to a single person. As long as we can contain this person, the situation in the war will take a turn for the better."

“Looks like you’re finally getting into the swing of things,” Hoffman said with a smile, resting his chin on his hands. “So, how do we apply restraint?”

"human nature."

"human nature?"

“Everyone has weaknesses in their human nature…that’s true for everyone.” Zeke’s tone was very firm, like a gambler who had already lost a round but was still unwilling to give up and kept raising the stakes. “Therefore, we’re targeting the weakest link in his interpersonal relationships, which is also the easiest to exploit!”

……

……

……

After a brief moment of blank expression, Hoffman didn't linger for a second longer. He wiped his mouth with a napkin and slowly stood up.

"Seeing that you have a strategy puts my mind at ease. Let's do as you say," he said with a smile. "I have some official business to attend to, so I'll have to keep you company."

"The President sends his greetings."

----

……

Hoffman got up and left.

Jike sat at the table for a long time, so long that the cream of mushroom soup in front of him almost solidified into a thick layer, before he got up and left.