Counterfeit Hero

Chapter 53: Amended: Chapter 13 Natural Enemies

The whole Combat Department was bustling with activity, but Tian Xingjian and Carl became outsiders to the war, with nothing much to do. Their most important task each day was to input the checked data into the computer and deliver the results to other research labs once they came out.

So, most of the time, Tian Xingjian and Carl would just kill time in the office, chatting and goofing around.

When it came to specific battles on the frontlines, Carl, who had never actually been to the frontlines, certainly had no say. But when it came to international situations, military forces, classic battles, etc., Fatty had no choice but to be the listener.

”The Battle of Tara River! Have you heard of the Battle of Tara River? Probably not, it’s a classic army battle.” Carl’s big head bobbed up and down, gesticulating excitedly.

The ignorant Tian Xingjian could only honestly admit that he had indeed never heard of it.

”I really don’t know how you managed to get into the Combat Department.” Carl expressed his confusion: ”You haven’t even heard of the Battle of Tara River?” He looked as if he was heartbroken by his idol’s fall from grace.

Fatty waved his fist, indicating that if Carl didn’t get to the point, he would face serious consequences.

After being beaten up frequently by a reconnaissance soldier, Carl quickly learned to read the room and continued hastily: ”That battle was quite similar to the one we’re fighting now in terms of format. However, in terms of troop deployment, equipment levels, and command skills, we’re still not up to the level of the Ryan Republic and the Naga Federation from ten years ago, not to mention the superpowers.”

Tian Xingjian said indifferently, ”We may not be able to reach it, but has the Gazalin Empire, with only half of our economic strength, reached it? Just drive them out, what do other powerful countries have to do with us!”

Carl shouted, ”War is an art! An art! The Battle of Tara River is a classic example of the art of war. Besides, do you think the Gazalin Empire is just fighting us for no reason? You don’t even know their motive for starting the war!”

When it came to war, Carl would enter a frenzied state. If it weren’t for the fear of Tian Xingjian’s fist, Carl’s spit would have sprayed on his face.

Tian Xingjian asked curiously, ”Besides resources, what other motivation could there be?”

Carl felt it was a great shame in his life to have once considered Fatty an idol. This guy knew nothing besides being good at simulations. Watching Fatty’s fist, Carl calmed himself with great effort and began his lesson: ”You know the history of these countries, right?”

Tian Xingjian nodded, ”Yes, I learned it in Human Space History.”

Seeing he didn’t need to start from scratch, Carl breathed a sigh of relief and said, ”It’s been thousands of years. The capital seized during the disintegration of the Earth Federation has long been nearly exhausted. The superpowers in the central region have continuously explored new places, only to find public star domains without development value or immigrant planets. Humanity is now like a pack of wolves trapped in a cage, fighting amongst themselves.”

Tian Xingjian laughed, ”So after all this talk, it’s still about fighting for resources.”

Carl shook his head, ”It’s different. The conflict between the Fei Alliance and the Western Alliance is intensifying. Our war with the Gazalin Empire is just a microcosm under the broader backdrop of human society.”

(The military alliance led by the Feiyang Republic is abbreviated as the Fei Alliance)

(The military cooperation treaty signed in the capital of the Binart Empire, Sedon, is known as the Western Alliance)

Tian Xingjian nodded, ”I know this, but in these past few centuries, no country has been wiped out, despite all the fighting.”

Carl sighed, ”There hasn’t been before, but that doesn’t mean it won’t happen in the future. Since we are in this vortex, no one can escape. The Human Supreme Joint Council is now nothing more than a name. If two superpowers start fighting, a true cosmic war will fully break out. The Gazalin Empire is just executing the Western Alliance’s strategy of strangling the periphery and attacking the center.”

Tian Xingjian fell silent for a moment. The Leray Federation, in the human society, was just a medium-small nation. Of its three star domains, one had already been occupied by an opponent, which was just a smaller dictatorial military country. If a cosmic war truly rolls out with other countries’ participation, no one has much confidence in how long the Federation can hold out.

As for developing and exploring beyond the known world, led by the Human Supreme Joint Council, it has been carried on for thousands of years.

These thousand-plus years have been the fastest-growing period for human society. However, despite the population surge and technological advancements, no more resources have been discovered.

Conflict and friction finally emerged among the superpowers facing severe resource shortages. Like drinking poison to quench thirst, they engaged in a massive arms race—each trying to devour the other while fearing being devoured themselves. Several hungry wolves stood off against each other, consuming the limited resources in large-scale arms buildups.

It can be said to be a tragedy for humanity.

In the past few centuries, under the indulgence and provocation of these superpowers, some medium to large countries have been in a state of constant war. The range of the war fires spread wider and wider. Now, even the medium-small countries like Gazalin and Leray at the edges have been drawn in. Carl was right; this war is just a microcosm of the broader human backdrop.

”In such a situation, it’s really tough for the Federation to secure a living space. This is a crazy world.” Carl’s thoughts jumped around, and he shifted topics, ”The Federation’s warfare experience is truly lacking. Besides economics, arms, and technology, an excellent Commander can decide the victory or defeat of an evenly matched battle. Unfortunately, the Federation doesn’t have one, not even a Commander recognized internationally.”

He produced a photo album from somewhere, opened it, and pointed to the photos in it: ”Look at these, these are the best strategists in the human world.” He sighed and continued, ”Among the still-serving Generals, no one from the Leray Federation is included in this collection of great strategists, but our opponent, the Gazalin Empire Army, has one.”

Flipping quickly through a few pages, Carl pointed to a thin middle-aged general about forty years old: ”Here, it’s this guy, Russell, an Imperial Admiral of the Gazalin Empire. I heard he is the one who drafted Gazalin’s invasion plan single-handedly.”

Tian Xingjian looked closely at this ordinary-looking lean man in the photo. He was wearing the dress uniform of a Gazalin Empire Admiral, gazing calmly. The more Fatty looked, the more he felt a mysterious bond with this person, as if they were predestined friends or natural enemies. A strange feeling of either a long-lost reunion or a nemesis encounter arose.

Shaking his head, Fatty couldn’t help but laugh. Such a person is Admiral Mihailovich from the Supreme Command Department’s opponent, not someone like him, a mechanical repair soldier turned half-baked military advisor’s rival. Becoming friends with such an enemy is even more out of the question.