Empire Conquest
Chapter 191 - 187: Heart Destruction

Chapter 191: Chapter 187: Heart Destruction

It indeed involved Li Yunxiang, and he indeed needed to be present.

Because the Army’s advancement on the Ice Storm Peninsula was too swift and they proposed modifying the battle plans to ensure capturing Buju before the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, the Grand Secretary Xue Yuanzheng decided to call a royal strategy meeting in a few days, requiring the Navy to prepare accordingly.

There’s no need to elaborate on Bai Zhizhan; he was the hero of this battle, and even if there wasn’t a meeting, he would need to return to the Imperial Capital to receive his reward.

Having Li Yunxiang accompany him was actually to leverage his relationship with Lian Xusheng.

"Old Brother Gui, isn’t this forcing a difficult task on someone?" Bai Zhizhan was also quite irritated, as this arrangement essentially pushed Li Yunxiang to the forefront.

Using personal relations to influence military decisions was a crime that could be either big or small.

If nobody pursued it, then that was that. But if someone decided to make an issue out of it, the people involved would definitely not be able to escape involvement, and their careers would certainly be impacted.

"The thinking of General He is, just hearing some news would be enough. There’s no need to forcibly influence the Army," Gui Boyong paused briefly before adding, "If it’s what the overall situation desires and the general trend dictates, even if we don’t agree, I’m afraid we can’t change anything."

Hearing this, Bai Zhizhan couldn’t help but sigh.

For twenty years, what Bai Zhizhan heard most and least wanted to hear was about "the overall situation" and "the general trend," as it often meant that even if 100 percent effort was exerted, in the end, one could only concede and had to compromise with the so-called overall situation and general trend.

"Anyway, let’s try our best," Li Yunxiang said with a bitter smile, shaking his head.

"It’s too late today, you guys set out tomorrow morning. First, head to Mast Harbor, I have made arrangements, and there will be someone there to meet you."

"Alright, we’ll head back and get ready."

"General Bai, please stay."

Li Yunxiang was stunned for a moment but did not say anything. He nodded to Bai Zhizhan and then left the officer’s mess.

Once Li Yunxiang was out, Gui Boyong stood up and approached Bai Zhizhan. "I also just received the news, General He has now also taken on the role of Director of the Navy Armaments Department, responsible for the construction and procurement of main equipment such as battleships. According to him, the focus will definitely shift towards this in the future."

"Then we should congratulate General He."

"Someone needs to take care of the General Staff Department of the Navy."

"That’s a lucrative position, General He surely has someone in mind?"

"What do you think?"

Bai Zhizhan smiled without responding, actually playing dumb.

After Liu Changxun assumed the role of Navy Commander, Xue Yuanzheng specifically ordered the establishment of the position of Chief of General Staff in the Navy, the first of whom was He Yongxing. Officially, the Chief of General Staff was responsible for naval operational affairs, similar to the Army’s Chief of General Staff. But in reality, it was impossible to arrange it that way since the Commander-in-chief had always been responsible for operations. It can be said that the position of Chief of General Staff mainly held symbolic significance.

That is, coordinating the two major fleets at Navy headquarters.

"You don’t need to rush to make a decision, think it through."

"Alright, I will consider it carefully."

Bai Zhizhan didn’t plan to make an immediate decision, since after all, it was a straightforward assignment.

In the words of the young and vigorous officers, the General Staff Department of the Navy was the ideal place to retire in the future, a high position with little to worry about.

In other words, it lacked real power.

When Gui Boyong brought it up, Bai Zhizhan understood that it was actually He Yongxing’s intention.

If the Third Aviation Mixed Fleet was to be merged into the Special Mixed Group, Bai Zhizhan would have to hand over command. If Liu Xiangzhen was to lead the Fleet to attack Liuhuang Island, for Bai Zhizhan, who would have lost his command, the General Staff Department of the Navy would also serve as a place to settle down, at least as a temporary shelter from the storm.

Under the protection of the He Family, headed by He Yongxing, no one would dare to trouble Bai Zhizhan.

Of course, one might also call it lying low.

Waiting for the situation to change before making a comeback wasn’t too late.

What to fear was that after lying low like this, one might not be able to get up again.

Let’s not forget, Zhu Shijian had lain low in the Naval Academy for more than twenty years. If not for the grace of Zhou Kuande, he might have stayed there until retirement.

"Oh, there’s one more thing." When Bai Zhizhan reached the door, Gui Boyong spoke, "The last time he returned to the Imperial Capital, Li Yunxiang had contacted someone from the Land Air Force."

Bai Zhizhan’s brows twitched rapidly, but he refrained from turning around.

"It’s probably not something particularly important, but you know, Li was originally a Land Air Force pilot, and he has always felt that the Navy is too petty."

"That’s not wrong."

"Indeed, everyone has their own aspirations."

Bai Zhizhan smiled and pushed open the cabin door.

Everyone having their own aspirations was not wrong, but what Bai Zhizhan did not expect was that these words would come from Gui Boyong.

To speak frankly, Gui Boyong was sowing discord.

Why?

It was to push Bai Zhizhan to prod Li Yunxiang, thereby urging Li Yunxiang to speak harshly to Lian Xusheng, and through Lian Xusheng influence the Army’s combat operations.

Was it possible?

Don’t forget, Lian Xusheng was a Frontline Commander.

Although he wasn’t very familiar with the Army’s situation, in the Navy, Bai Zhizhan was clearer than anyone about how much power a Frontline Commander had.

It was this battle that had already proved several times the value of the "power to make decisions on the spot."

If it was the same in the Army, it could be said that unless the enemy was too strong, when to hit Buju would definitely be determined by the Frontline Commander.

A few dozen days earlier or a few dozen days later were all a matter of several combat orders.

Moreover, why did Gui Boyong first bring up He Yongxing concurrently acting as the Minister of Armament and also hint that Bai Zhizhan could serve at the Naval General Staff Department?

That was the price being offered!

Thinking about all this, Bai Zhizhan felt somewhat speechless, or rather uncomfortable.

If he really wanted to side with the He Family and become He Yongxing’s close confidant, Bai Zhizhan would have done so twenty years ago, and he might have even become the He Family’s favored son-in-law.

Speaking of backing, at least for the past twenty years, Bai Zhizhan’s support had come from Zhu Shijian.

Regrettably, the Principal had already retired.

In peacetime, having no backing just meant slower promotions.

During wartime, without backing, don’t even think about getting any credit.

"What are you thinking about?"

Bai Zhizhan was startled, but then he saw it was Li Yunxiang.

On the deck below, several sailors were preparing the shuttle boat. The "Imperial Capital" was a few thousand meters away, refueling from a tanker docked alongside.

"What did Old Brother Gui tell you?"

"General He is concurrently acting as the Minister of Armament, and he will focus on equipment construction and procurement."

"So, are you getting a promotion?" Li Yunxiang immediately understood—after all, his decade and more in the Navy hadn’t been spent in vain.

"I haven’t agreed, nor have I thought about agreeing."

"Why?"

Bai Zhizhan gave Li Yunxiang a look before smiling and saying, "I’m still not married, let alone have children, do I need to worry about retirement? Brother Li, I think you are more suited. If you’re interested, I can talk to General He and get him to reserve the position at the Naval General Staff Department for you. How about that?"

"Great, you don’t want to go, so you let me be the one to face the firing squad?"

"The shuttle boat is ready; let’s go down."

Watching Bai Zhizhan’s retreating figure, Li Yunxiang sighed.

Actually, he could tell that Bai Zhizhan was deeply troubled. But since Bai Zhizhan was reluctant to talk, it was not good for him to keep asking.

Bai Zhizhan’s personality was such that if he wanted to talk, he would tell Li Yunxiang. If he didn’t want to talk, even if Li Yunxiang asked, he would just brush it off with a few words.