Great Power Reclamation

The "Ark Project" in East Africa is in full swing, with the influx of people and potential risks increasing simultaneously. Finally, neighboring countries, who have been eyeing the project with predatory intent, have found an excuse to "interfere."

Under the pretext of "preventing the spillover of the refugee crisis and eliminating illegal armed groups that threaten regional security," the "K Alliance" on the west side, together with the remnants of the turbulent "C Country" warlords and the "T Freedom Front," formed a three-nation coalition and deployed 150,000 troops on the western border of East Africa.

They claimed that East African countries were "using refugees for territorial infiltration," demanding the immediate closure of borders, the handover of all "suspicious persons," and the opening of some mineral veins for "international co-management."

The ultimatum arrived at Qingliang Palace at dawn. Also delivered was news that several observation posts on the western border had been attacked by artillery fire.

The two queens—Ye Mei and Ye Rou—did not receive the envoy at the Qingliang Palace. Instead, they appeared beneath the "Tree of Life" sculpture in the central square of Xuri City, broadcasting their message to all citizens, including the millions of new residents who had just received temporary status, via live screens across the country.

Ye Rou, dressed in a simple white hunting outfit, her long hair tied up, spoke clearly and calmly through the loudspeaker, echoing across the silent square:
"Citizens of East Africa, whether you were born here or have just come to see this place as a land of hope, some are trying to take away our homes, our future, and every tomorrow we are building together with gunfire and lies. They fear our unity and envy our vitality. We will never allow it!"

Ye Mei stood beside her sister, dressed in a dark green military uniform, her eyes sharp as knives, her voice even more impassioned:
"They think refugees are our weakness? Wrong! Every person who chooses to earn dignity through labor is the most resilient fiber in East Africa! They think peaceful development has dulled our claws?"

"Today, let the world see that the lion of East Africa has never slept! Defending our home is everyone's responsibility! No matter where we come from, at this moment, we are all under the banner of the E Federation!"

There was no lengthy declaration of war, only the most direct call to action. In the image, both queens simultaneously place their hands on their chests—a military salute in East Africa, and a solemn promise.

The square was first deathly silent, then erupted in a deafening roar: "For our homeland! For the Queen! For the Federation!"

This roar, transmitted through the airwaves, reached cities, villages, border outposts, fields in the northern development zone, and every resettlement camp. The blood of both new and old citizens was ignited in that moment.

Western border, terracotta plateau.

Yang San, the commander-in-chief of the three armed forces in East Africa and also Ye Mei's husband, has advanced his frontline command post to a rocky underground bunker less than 20 kilometers from the enemy lines.

He was nearly forty, yet his body remained as robust as a bear's, his face crisscrossed with scars—medals from his early wars to unify the tribes. Before him was a holographic war game screen, the enemy and friendly forces shifting and changing.

"The K Alliance's armored formations are making a feint at the front, while the T Freedom Front's light infantry and the remnants of the C country's desperate militias are attempting to infiltrate through the rainforest on the flanks to sabotage our resettlement camps and supply lines."

The chief of staff quickly reported, "The enemy has superior firepower and numbers."

Yang San grinned, revealing his gleaming white teeth, but his eyes held no smile, only an icy killing intent.
"Advantage? I'll fight with advantages! Order: First and Third Mechanized Brigades, hold them off from the front, don't retreat an inch! Have the engineers build anti-tank ditches and minefields right under their noses!"

"The Second and Fourth Light Infantry Regiments, under the command of Said, who always complained that his 'Desert Scorpions' hadn't drawn any blood, were sent into the rainforest to hunt down all the infiltrators in platoons and squads."

“Tell them, no prisoners, no mercy! I will turn that rainforest into a nightmare corridor for the enemy!”

His orders were brief, brutal, and bloody, yet they straightened the spines of all the officers in the command post.

This is Yang San, a commander who crawled out of mountains of corpses and seas of blood. His bravery is not personal martial prowess, but a terrifying aura that can instill an iron will into the very marrow of every soldier.

The battle broke out in full force in the afternoon.

On the main battlefield, artillery fire plowed the red soil plateau again and again. The K Alliance's tank formations rolled in under the cover of armed helicopters.

The East African defenses trembled in the scorching metallic storm, but remained unbroken. An East African main battle tank was hit and caught fire, but the crew, engulfed in flames, crawled out and, incredibly, picked up an anti-tank weapon, destroying another enemy vehicle before it exploded.

Inside the trenches, soldiers braved deafening explosions, using automatic weapons, rocket launchers, and even cluster grenades to frantically repel approaching infantry.

Their eyes were filled with fanaticism, and what they roared was not fear, but "For the Queen!" and all sorts of war cries from their tribe or new homeland.

In the rainforest on the flanks, the fighting was even more brutal and unpredictable. The light infantry under the command of the veteran Said were mostly from nomadic hunting tribes on the border; they were children of the jungle.

They were silent, swift, and deadly. Traps, sniper shots, sudden, brief attacks…

The T Freedom Front's infiltration forces found themselves fighting as if against ghosts, suffering heavy casualties and their morale rapidly collapsing.

A young soldier from East Africa lost a leg in an ambush, but he used a tourniquet to tighten the stump, leaned against a tree, and used precise bursts of fire to kill or wound three more enemies until he bled to death.

Yang San didn't just issue orders from the command post. When a key high ground was in imminent danger, he personally led his guard battalion, riding in all-terrain vehicles equipped with armor and heavy firepower, braving artillery fire to charge straight to the front line.

His thick arms controlled the heavy machine gun, and the raging flames suppressed a wave of enemy soldiers in the depression.

His arrival was like a shot in the arm for the defending troops who were on the verge of collapse.

"The Commander-in-Chief is with us!"

The news spread like wildfire across the front lines, and the already battered troops displayed incredible resilience, forcefully pushing the enemy back.

While the west was engulfed in flames of war, a stark contrast existed in the capital, Sunrise City, where the Prime Minister's office maintained a tense yet calm atmosphere.

Premier Yang Da was Yang San's elder brother and Ye Rou's husband, her most trusted advisor in governing the country. He had a lean face, often wore frameless glasses, and his demeanor was more like that of a refined scholar than a politician in the eye of the storm.

His office walls had no maps, only constantly scrolling data streams and multi-dimensional situational charts, displaying war costs, logistical supplies, livelihood security, public opinion fluctuations, and the international financial market's reaction to East African bonds...

"Prime Minister, the third batch of emergency war bonds was oversubscribed, mainly due to enthusiastic participation from refugee communities and small and medium-sized business owners in the northern development zone," the Finance Minister reported.

"Very good. The names and shares of the subscribers should be recorded in detail, and their development needs should be given priority after the war."

"Yang Da's voice was steady as his fingers slid rapidly across the transparent touchpad. 'What's the situation with grain reserve mobilization?'"

"We have activated a three-tiered strategic reserve to ensure supplies to the front lines, major cities, and resettlement camps. At the same time, we have secretly procured an additional batch of supplies through neutral countries in case of blockade."

What about public opinion?

"The two queens' speeches were very effective, boosting morale at home. International opinion is complex; while condemnation of the coalition is increasing, doubts about our refugee policy persist. Some Western media outlets are hyping up the issue of 'refugee soldiers'."

Yang Da nodded slightly, his gaze behind his glasses calm and profound:
"Instruct the external propaganda department to focus on reporting stories of resettlement camp residents spontaneously organizing to support the troops, factory workers in the rear working overtime to produce supplies, and new citizens enthusiastically requesting to join the army or participate in logistical support."

"Be specific, have faces, have names. Human stories are the best defense."

He handled political affairs like a master chess player, managing dozens of chessboards simultaneously. War is not merely a battle on the front lines, but a comprehensive contest of national strength, public sentiment, and international image.

He had to ensure that every screw in the war machine was tightened, while also maintaining basic social functions, calming the public, and preparing for all possible postwar scenarios, whether it be an expansion of victory or a recovery from a Pyrrhic victory.

While his younger brother Yang San was writing his own heroic deeds with gunfire and blood on the front lines, his elder brother Yang Da was in the rear, weaving an invisible but even more resilient giant net with policies, supplies, data, and popular support, supporting the entire country's focus in the war.

The war had lasted two weeks. Under Yang San's command, the East African army, with remarkable resilience and tactical flexibility, withstood the coalition's first fierce offensive and began to launch sharp counterattacks in some localized areas. However, casualties were also rising, and supplies were being consumed at an enormous rate.

Ye Mei and Ye Rou did not go to the front lines in person, but they were everywhere.

Every day, Ye Mei would broadcast the battle situation to the whole country in a calm and firm voice, expressing her gratitude for the soldiers' bravery and the dedication of the people in the rear.

Special thanks are due to the new citizens for their role in maintaining production and order. She visited hospitals to comfort the wounded and inspected reinforced factories; her white-clad figure became a symbol of stability and peace of mind.

Ye Rou appeared on the screen more frequently, playing intense yet inspiring battle footage from the front lines (especially images of soldiers shouting slogans), interviewing ordinary people who were providing full support from the rear, and even refugee representatives who organized women in resettlement camps to sew clothes and make rations for the army.

Her dark green figure and inflammatory words continuously fueled the nation's war machine with emotional energy.

They are totems, the core of the spirit. Soldiers on the front lines charge into battle carrying portraits or symbols of the Queen.

The people in the rear viewed supporting the front lines as a direct expression of their loyalty to the Queen;

Even in the resettlement camps, the new citizens from different countries and speaking different languages ​​began to shout "For the Queen!" in broken East African, just like the others.

A sense of community that transcends blood ties and birthplace was generated, solidified, and solidified at an unprecedented speed under the tempering of war.

The war continues and is far from over. But this war machine in East Africa, led by two queens, with the Yang brothers respectively in charge of military and political affairs, and driven by both new and old citizens, has already demonstrated a tenacious vitality and terrifying internal cohesion that frightens its adversaries.

Amidst the smoke of war, the lion of East Africa not only opened its eyes but also unleashed a roar that shook the mountains. This roar embodied the ferocity of ancient tribes, the will of a newly formed nation, and the desperate, all-or-nothing resolve of millions searching for their homeland, vowing to defend this last hope to the death.

The fighting on the western front reached a bloody stalemate in Red Rock Valley. This narrow valley, surrounded by weathered rocks, became a millstone that devoured steel and flesh.

The K-Alliance's armored forces could not be fully deployed, while the defenders in East Africa relied on the treacherous terrain and the deep fortifications they had built in advance to fight for every inch of land.

Commander-in-Chief Yang San moved his front-line command post to a cave in an almost vertical cliff on one side of the valley.

The cave was filled with the smells of rock dust, sweat, and the acrid odor of overheated electronic equipment. The vibrations from the shelling sent dust scattering from the rock walls, settling on his stubble-covered, granite-carved face. "The third anti-tank ditch has been breached," the communications soldier's voice was hoarse. "The Seventh Company has less than two squads left. Company Commander Khalid is dead, and the deputy company commander has taken over command. The report says... they're almost out of ammunition."

Yang San stared at the glaring red arrow representing the enemy's vanguard on the sand table, which had already driven deep into the blue defensive line. He didn't look at the casualty report; he knew the numbers by heart. He grabbed a military water bottle next to him and gulped down a large mouthful of murky local liquor, the burning sensation running from his throat to his stomach.

“Tell the Seventh Company,” his voice was unusually clear and even somewhat calm during the lull in the gunfire, “to hold out for another thirty minutes. After thirty minutes, I’ll have them retreat to Eagle’s Beak Rock to rest.”

The chief of staff hesitated: "Commander-in-Chief, Eagle's Beak Rock is too far back. If we abandon the current position, the valley entrance will be..."

“I didn’t say I was going to give up the valley entrance.” Yang San interrupted him, a hint of almost cruel cunning flashing in his bloodshot eyes.

He stretched out his thick fingers and jabbed them heavily on the two prominent flanks of Red Rock Valley on the sand table.

"Have two companies of the 'Desert Scorpions' sneak back from the rainforest and reinforce these two highlands. Equip them with all of our last remaining 'Stinger' man-portable air defense missiles and heavy anti-materiel rifles."

He paused, a cold smile curving his lips: "The K Alliance's air support is annoying. Their commanders are used to using helicopters to guide artillery fire and take out our firing positions."

“Let their helicopters in, fly low into the canyon to support ground troops. Then,”

He pointed his finger sharply downwards and shouted, "Smash those iron birds from the high ground on both sides! Tell the air defense teams to target command aircraft and armed transport planes. I want to blind their aerial eyes first!"

The order was given swiftly. This wasn't textbook warfare; it was fraught with risk—

By deliberately abandoning part of the forward position, the enemy is lured into a narrow area, and then the terrain is used to launch a fatal flanking attack.

This requires the remaining frontline soldiers to hold off the enemy for another thirty minutes with their own flesh and blood, requires the flank troops to complete concealed maneuvers and deployments within a very short time, and requires precise timing.

Thirty minutes later, the front lines of Red Rock Valley turned into hell. The remaining soldiers of the Seventh Company, including the wounded, used their last rifle bullets, grenades, and even entrenching tools and rocks to fight off the surging enemy infantry.

Shouts, screams, and explosions echoed and pounded among the rocks. Time seemed to stretch out, each second soaked in blood.

Finally, the order to retreat came. The survivors helped each other up and stumbled back towards Eagle's Beak Rock, with the enemy's vanguard hot on their heels.

As Yang San had predicted, two armed helicopters and one utility helicopter from the K Alliance took the opportunity to advance at low altitude along the canyon, attempting to pursue and annihilate the remnants of the army, while providing more direct air cover for ground troops.

Just then, flames of death suddenly burst forth on the seemingly silent high ground on both sides.

Whoosh—! Boom!
The first armed helicopter exploded in mid-air, turning into a fireball as it fell to the ground.

The other aircraft pulled up to avoid the attack, but its tail flame was caught by a second "Stinger" missile, and it crashed into the rock wall, trailing black smoke.

The general aviation helicopter frantically tried to climb, but the dull thud of heavy anti-materiel rifles rang out from the high ground. The cockpit window shattered instantly, and the helicopter spun and veered into the valley, bursting into flames.

With air superiority lost instantly, the K Alliance ground forces' vanguard, which was in pursuit, was immediately exposed to relentless crossfire from the high ground on both sides.

The carefully deployed heavy machine guns and automatic grenade launchers unleashed a deadly hail of bullets into the crowded canyon passage.

Meanwhile, in the direction of Eagle Beak Rock, the remnants of the Seventh Company, having received a brief respite and replenishment of ammunition, launched a desperate counter-offensive reinforced by a platoon of reinforcements.

The tide of battle turned within minutes. The K Alliance vanguard, having penetrated too deep, found themselves in disarray in the narrow terrain, caught in a pincer attack from three sides, suffering heavy casualties and forced to abandon a large amount of equipment in a chaotic retreat.

Inside the cliffside cave, Yang San listened to the victory reports and the still intense sounds of gunfire coming from the communication channel, but his face showed no joy. He picked up his water bottle and slowly poured the remaining strong liquor onto the ground.

"Recommend the Seventh Company for commendations, both the living and the dead."

He told the chief of staff, his voice a little hoarse, “Compile the battle report, especially highlighting the results of the troops on the flank high ground and the air defense team. Send it to the Prime Minister’s Office, and also… send a copy to Her Majesties the Queens.”

He knew that this tactical victory, won with blood and cunning, needed to be transformed into confidence and support for the rear.

When the details of the bloody battle at Red Rock Valley were presented to Yang Da in the form of encrypted telegrams, he had just finished a video conference with representatives from several major agricultural regions in the south, finalizing the wartime plan for increasing grain production and allocation. He took off his glasses and gently pinched the bridge of his nose.

He carefully read the battle report, his gaze lingering on the casualty figures for a moment before falling on the tactical details and equipment consumption.

He pressed the internal communication button: "Minister of Equipment, immediately verify the stockpile of Stinger missiles and 12.7mm anti-materiel rifle ammunition and the subsequent supply channels. I need a worst-case scenario assessment of the sustainable operational cycle."

"In addition, we contacted the Northern Development Zone and several cooperating precision machinery factories to assess the possibility of simple front-line repairs of some damaged light weapons and observation and aiming equipment under the existing conditions."

He put down the communicator and looked at the report that the finance minister had just sent. The international financial market had downgraded the rating of East African bonds again, and some neutral countries were experiencing "technical delays" in their procurement channels.

After a moment of contemplation, Yang Da instructed his secretary: "In my name, contact our old friends in the Pan-African Union and several Gulf countries, and informally reveal some details of the battle results at Red Rock Valley, emphasizing our determination to resist aggression and our ability to control the battlefield."

"At the same time, it implies that our long-term supply contracts for certain rare minerals... may be 'prioritized' after the war."

He wasn't flexing his muscles; he was engaging in a sophisticated confidence trade. Every victory on the front lines was a bargaining chip he could use in the financial markets and on the international diplomatic front.

Next, he reviewed the public opinion briefing. Morale at home remained high, and the daily broadcasts and images from the two queens served as a stabilizing force.

However, some discordant notes have emerged: there have been sporadic panic buying of supplies in some cities, and subtle comments have begun to appear online questioning whether "refugees are truly loyal" and "whether the cost of war is too high."

Yang summoned the Minister of the Interior and the head of the propaganda department.

"Regarding the panic buying issue, on the one hand, we should increase the supply of essential goods at affordable prices; on the other hand, we should have the police thoroughly investigate and prosecute several cases of hoarding and speculation, but this must be done in accordance with the law and with solid evidence. Public awareness campaigns should emphasize 'overcoming difficulties together during this time' to avoid creating panic. (Regarding online comments,)"

He paused, then said, "The main focus is on guidance, with blocking as a secondary measure. The key is to push out testimonials from frontline soldiers (including outstanding new citizen soldiers) and stories of people in the rear (including refugees in resettlement camps) working hard to produce supplies to support the front lines."

It must be authentic, detailed, and empathetic. Let dissenting voices be drowned out by the emotional resonance of the mainstream narrative.

His instructions were clear and comprehensive, like a master chess player simultaneously managing the placement and relationships of dozens of pieces.

For him, war was a comprehensive test of the operation of a massive national machine under extreme pressure. He had to ensure that every gear meshed precisely, even if some gears were being worn down by the flames of war.

The battle report that Ye Mei and Ye Rou received was a version that had been selected and polished by Yang Da, reducing overly cruel details and highlighting bravery and victory.

But they were not unaware of the horrors on the front lines. The mutilated limbs and silent eyes of the wounded soldiers in the hospitals were more impactful than any report.

Ye Mei adjusted her broadcast. She no longer simply reported the battle results, but began to read excerpts from letters home that the soldiers had agreed to share, as well as the innocent drawings and blessings written by children in the resettlement camps to their "uncles on the front lines."

Her voice was softer, filled with maternal resilience and comfort.

“Each of us is a member of the E Federation family. The warriors on the front lines are bleeding, and we in the rear are sweating; our hearts beat together.”

She launched the "One Thread, One Heart" campaign, encouraging people, especially women and children, to weave or make simple amulets, gloves, and socks to send to the front lines.

This symbolic and participatory move quickly swept the nation, even reaching the most remote resettlement camps.

Boxes of handmade goods, perhaps rough but full of affection, were transported to the front lines, becoming a source of morale boost that was even warmer than medals.

Ye Rou went even further. After receiving tight security guarantees, she suddenly appeared at a large transit center in the Northern Development Zone.

This place is home to a large number of troops who are about to be rotated to the front lines or are taking a rest, as well as many new citizens who are here to support the front lines.

Ye Rou did not climb the platform, but walked among the soldiers and workers. She patted the young soldiers on the shoulder, checked the amulets they had received, and chatted briefly with soldiers and workers from different backgrounds in slightly awkward but sincere tribal dialect or newly learned refugee native language words.

She even tried operating a machine that produced compressed rations for the front lines (under the guidance of workers), and although her movements were clumsy, it drew good-natured laughter and even more enthusiastic applause.

The images spread rapidly. In the footage, Ye Rou's dark green figure blended into the oil-stained workers and dusty soldiers.

She is no longer an unattainable totem, but a leader who can be reached and stood shoulder to shoulder with. Facing the camera, her face smudged with flour, her eyes shone with an astonishing light:
"Look around us! Look at these most admirable people! They come from all corners of the world, but now they have only one name—Guardians and Builders of East Africa!"

"Does the enemy think they can divide us? They will never understand what true, unbreakable unity is!"

The two queens, one serene and the other dynamic, one comforting and the other inspiring, transformed the suffering and sacrifice of war into a stronger collective identity and emotional bond.

Under the royal banner, the hearts of the people are coalescing into a Great Wall that is even more majestic and unshakeable than the Red Rock Valley.

The smoke of battle had not yet cleared from Red Rock Valley, and even more brutal fighting was bound to follow. But the war machine of East Africa, fueled by fierce battles on the front lines, meticulous operations at home, and a powerful morale boost, was emitting a deep and awe-inspiring roar, grinding through the mud of war and heading towards an unknown future. (End of Chapter)