Counterfeit Hero

Chapter 1567: Chapter 46: Massacre (Part 1)_2

If the previous bunch of Mars bastards were a group of pirates, then the newly reorganized 3rd Armored Division bandit army stationed here now is a bunch of terrorists!

The Alliance forces that had just gathered at Hanjing had fought two battles with these guys and immediately became more compliant. The bandit army’s reputation naturally extended from the third batch of reinforcements to the fourth.

These guys have a stellar record, even beating Li Cunxin’s 31st Army, with Hastings backing them and Marshal Chuckna covering for them, while holding supplies of the Twelfth Generation Mecha. The main forces chose the most difficult task on Leifeng Star... Whether you admire or fear them, you have to admit the bandit army’s formidable strength.

Moreover, this is in Chuckna.

In Chuckna, McKinley was no stranger to the biased favoritism and love the citizens had for the bandit army. The power of the media was truly immense; the reporting from two war reporters on the front line was as formidable as a nuclear bomb.

During wartime, people naturally become obsessive. When this obsession turns into love and support for a unit, no one dares to speak ill of the bandit army in front of the Chuckna people.

If the bandit army’s interception of Hanfrey, rescue of Li Cunxin, and victory in the Northern Mountain Region of Canglang Star were the old news that Chuckna citizens still mention with excitement, then soon, because of everything happening on Leifeng Star now, they will love this unit even more.

In the future, this unit will become the core of the new Fei Alliance Joint Army!

”Admiral McKinley, what do you think of the western battle in Phoenix City?”

McKinley looked up at the sound, Hastings’ eyes shining in the night.

”This battle is textbook material!” McKinley thought of that honest-looking Fatty and couldn’t help but admire Hastings’ vision. He said without hesitation, ”With a surprise force penetrating the six major battlezones to execute a strategic maneuver, while liberating the forces pinned on the front line, finally forming an overwhelming encirclement of the enemy’s main forces at Sunset Mountain, this tactic that gathers streams into a river is genius.”

Recalling the steps of the entire campaign, he praised: ”More than the tactics, the bandit army’s combat prowess is remarkable. If not for the confidence of breaking through the enemy’s six battlezones, General Tian would not have dared to advance all reserves of the Resk Main Army to Sunset Mountain ahead of time. Without this preemptive move, the Leifeng Star Army could not have launched a counterattack at the critical moment...”

By the end, McKinley’s voice had become somewhat excited: ”The entire tactic was interconnected, yet executed with lightning speed, clinching victory in just over thirty hours, the bandit army’s tactical execution is top-notch.”

As one of the Feiyang Five Tiger Generals, even if McKinley’s fame isn’t as great as Li Cunxin’s, his vision wouldn’t be far off. Such words coming from him naturally carried great weight.

Hastings’ lips curled into a smile, while Li Cunxin beside him laughed heartily.

The old man shook his hands continuously, modestly saying, ”Admiral McKinley, don’t praise him too much; otherwise, that Fatty will be over the moon.” Though he said this, his face was full of uncontrollable pride, as if he himself was being praised!

”If we consider this battle as a lightning war example, indeed it could go into a textbook. However, that’s not the focus,” Hastings shook his head, smiling calmly, ”In the first stage of the battle, he broke the situation with force, relying on the brute strength of two armored divisions under his command. The clever part of the tactic was using the liberation of forces on the front line effectively. The most important part now is the next stage.”

He gently turned the wheelchair, facing McKinley: ”If you were commanding, how would you prepare for the next stage?”

”After taking out the Bellif Northern Cluster’s main forces, the Leifeng Star Army will have enough strength to engage in a strategic confrontation with the opponent. The most prudent tactic is to buy time...” McKinley thought of Fatty’s audacity, hesitated for a moment, and said: ”Maybe... General Tian will allow Bellif’s reserve forces to enter the encirclement!”

Hastings nodded approvingly to McKinley, his gaze also containing a hint of regret: ”You are steady in your military use, capable of fighting hard battles, and long-term battles with opponents, which is your forte. However, in terms of tactical improvisation, the courage to commit forces, and the willingness to take risks, that’s not your strong point. Against Sobel, you could maintain the Fei Alliance’s undefeated record for ten years, but could not achieve victory. Li Cunxin is too aggressive, with victory and defeat coming in an instant.”

McKinley listened respectfully. As a student personally nurtured by Hastings, this was the first time he heard Hastings’ evaluation of himself. He never doubted this elder’s vision.

Hastings continued: ”In terms of military savvy, in terms of command prowess, Tian Xingjian is not up to your level. However, when it comes to battlefield improvisation, you guys are not as good as him.”

Saying this, Hastings turned his head to gaze at the towering Sky Curtain Tower in the distance, speaking leisurely: ”You see waging war as a profession, commanding as an art, but he sees these as survival methods. His goals are clearer than yours, and his thinking is less restricted. To survive, he must defeat his opponents. This is his survival instinct. Now, he has more than thirty-five divisions at his disposal, I can predict he will use Bellif to attack the Western Alliance Headquarters!”

”He must quickly conclude the Leifeng Star battle, only then can he save everything before Leray’s last Star Domain falls.” Hastings slowly said, ”For Leray, he will spare no cost!”