Great Power Reclamation

One of the main directions of attack was once again directed at Crimson Rock Valley. But this time, the roles of offense and defense had reversed.

The E Federation forces, who had nearly bled to death in the valley, returned with reinforcements and burning hatred.

Instead of holding their ground, they used dazzling squad tactics to leap and weave through the rugged valley.

They knew every crevice and cave like the back of their hand; it was a memory bought with the blood of their comrades.

Yang San moved the command post to a high point on the outskirts of Chiyan Valley, overlooking the battlefield.

He peered through his binoculars at the rising smoke and flashing gunfire in the valley, his face expressionless. Over the communications channel, the reports from the assault team leaders were concise and bloody:
"Team A has captured Eagle's Beak Rock and wiped out an entire enemy platoon."

"Team B encountered an enemy armored squad. The anti-tank team destroyed two tanks, and the rest retreated."

"Team C reports: Suspected location of enemy command post detected. Requesting artillery fire coverage at coordinates XXX..."

He personally coordinated the few remaining long-range artillery pieces in the rear and the limited number of rocket launchers that had just been obtained through "special channels" to launch a brief but fierce surprise attack on several key nodes.

After the artillery barrage subsided, the E Federation infantry pounced like wolves smelling blood.

The allied forces in the valley, having already suffered losses and bayonet attacks, were thrown into disarray by this sudden and fierce counterattack.

They found that their familiar positional warfare tactics were no longer effective; the enemy was everywhere yet nowhere to be found. Panic began to spread.

Meanwhile, on a broader battlefield, other parts of the "furnace" are also heating up simultaneously.

On the northern front, a commando unit composed of the remnants of Yang San's most valiant armored battalion and newly formed mobile infantry, with precise intelligence and flank cover provided by the "Grey Wolf" mercenary group, suddenly broke through a relatively calm junction of the Allied forces' defenses, penetrating twenty kilometers into the rear and directly threatening an important Allied logistics transit point.

On the southern front, the E Federation forces, in coordination with the "Blood Diamond Squad's" sabotage operations, besieged and persuaded an isolated coalition force to surrender (by broadcasting news of attacks on the coalition's rear and supply disruptions), successfully forcing most of the force to surrender and capturing a large amount of equipment.

The entire Allied western front was as if it had been pierced by countless red-hot steel needles at the same time, causing excruciating pain and chaos.
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Behind, the Prime Minister's Office.

On the screen in front of Yang Da, the initial results of "Operation Crucible" are constantly being updated.

His expression remained calm, but his eyes behind his glasses shone with an astonishing light. Every victory was a new bargaining chip for him on the international and domestic chessboards.

He quickly issued a series of instructions:

• Domestically: The propaganda machine was fully activated to amplify the victory of "Operation Crucible" (even if it was localized), emphasizing the bravery of the military and the unity between the old and new citizens.

At the same time, the Ministry of the Interior was ordered to begin making secret contacts with tribal elders and local power holders in East Africa’s controlled areas or spheres of influence, who originally belonged to the surrounding turbulent regions (such as Country C and Country T), using “post-war security cooperation and joint development” as bait to pave the way for possible territorial changes or expansion of spheres of influence.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a strong statement, declaring that "Operation Melting Pot" was an "act of self-defense and liberation" against East Africa's sacred territory, and demanding that all "foreign mercenaries and illegal armed groups" immediately and unconditionally withdraw from the territory of the Federation of E.

It also publicly condemned several countries that provided "substantial support" to the coalition for the first time, threatening to take "all necessary measures" to hold them accountable.

Through special channels established by the Ye family and certain connections with "Bayonet," selected battle reports and "unintentionally" intercepted communication fragments showing the collapse of morale and mutual accusations within the Allied forces were passed to the financial backers of the coalition.

This suggests that East Africa has the ability to drag the war indefinitely and make the interventionists pay an unbearable reputational and substantial price.

Meanwhile, it was informally suggested that East Africa was willing to negotiate a ceasefire on the basis of "restoring the pre-war line of actual control," but only if the other side recognized the E Federation's sovereignty or "special security jurisdiction" over certain disputed areas that it had already occupied and that might be "liberated" in the future.

This is typical of Yang Da's style: military victories serve political goals, and every step is calculated in the long run.

Amidst the ruins and smoke, he had already begun to calmly plan the post-war landscape, attempting to extract the greatest possible security and development benefits for the E Federation from this brutal war.
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The good news from the front lines and Yang Da's carefully guided public opinion shifted the mood in East Africa from a tragic steadfastness to a passionate, even aggressive, sense of pride. The images of the two queens also evolved accordingly.

Ye Mei's radio broadcasts began to incorporate more themes of "liberation," "recovery of homeland," and "defending the hard-won life."

Her visits and condolences extended from wounded soldiers and their families to families who had lost loved ones in the counter-offensive but still supported the army's advance, as well as new citizen representatives in the resettlement camps who volunteered to participate in support work or even applied to join auxiliary military organizations.

She told everyone gently but firmly: "Our sacrifices must bring lasting peace and prosperity to future generations. The peace we want is not something we beg for, but something we fight for!"

Ye Rou was even more direct. She secretly inspected a frontline special operations training base established with the assistance of "Bayonet" (ostensibly for East Africa's own elite units to train).

There, she watched a drill simulating urban warfare and assaults in complex terrain, guided by "bayonet" instructors.

Facing the wounded but spirited veterans and sharp-eyed recruits, she didn't say much, but simply showed them the latest batch of individual equipment donated by the people in the rear and overseas "patriotic compatriots".

“I know what you’re going to do and where you’re going.”

She looked at the soldiers who were about to be deployed to the most dangerous missions:
“I’m not talking nonsense. I’ll just tell you: every inch of East Africa is soaked in the blood and sweat of our ancestors and our generation.”

"Now, someone wants to take it away. The guns in your hands are not just weapons, they are plowshares! They will plow the enemy and all forces that dare to invade our land! Where the royal banner points, the will of the E Federation will follow!"
The victory at Red Rock Valley was not the end, but the crater where "Operation Furnace" erupted in full force.

Yang San's order was like a red-hot iron, searing into the bodies of all the East African troops who could still move: advance westward, northward, without stopping!
This was a peculiar offensive. Instead of a traditional, continuous battle line, it was filled with countless scorching bayonets—

Yang San's elite assault team and reinforced mobile forces, in coordination with various mercenary squads under the "Bayonet" company, formed a comprehensive and effective offensive network.

They advanced along roads, valleys, and ridges, organized by battalion and company, in multiple routes. When they encountered fortified strongholds, they either bypassed and trapped them or called in the remaining long-range firepower from the rear to carry out a "surgical" elimination; when they encountered a rout of the enemy, they pursued and annihilated them without mercy.

Their goal was clear: first, to reclaim all E Federation territories that had been occupied by the Allied forces in the early stages of the war;

Second, seize those areas that were disputed before the war but had strategic value (such as water sources, mineral areas, and transportation hubs);
Third, to undermine the ability of the remaining coalition forces to regroup in the border region as much as possible.

Yang San himself moved westward along with the vanguard command post. The modified command vehicle he rode in was dusty and covered in antennas.

He no longer commanded solely through maps and reports; more often, he personally visited the newly captured positions, observing the terrain with eagle-like eyes, and engaging in brief, blunt, yet effective consultations with officers covered in gunpowder smoke, exhausted but excited.

"Leave a company here, equipped with anti-tank teams and mortars, to block this mountain road."

"Send the 'Desert Scorpions' (referring to Said's light infantry) forward thirty kilometers to scout out whether there are any enemy troops gathered in this valley."

“Contact Premier Yang and ask him to send a ‘political working group’ as soon as possible. The elders of this town need to be appeased. Tell them that once they come to East Africa, they will not leave, but their safety and traditional rights will be guaranteed.”

His command style blended the experience of a veteran, the instincts of a hunter, and the ruthlessness of a ruler. With each conquered territory, he considered not only military defense but also how to truly integrate it into the fabric of East Africa.

He knew that territory won by force needed to be governed and absorbed.
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In the wider shadows of the battlefield, "Bayonet" and his mercenaries play a freer and more destructive role.

Their operations often extend beyond the lines of the regular East African army, penetrating deep into enemy territory and even the border regions of neighboring countries.

The African headquarters, where Yang Geyong and Zhou Guihua were stationed, functioned as a highly efficient dark hub, receiving intelligence, assigning tasks, settling commissions, and mediating frictions between various mercenary groups.

Their goal is not just to create chaos, but to reshape the rules.

A mercenary squad indirectly commanded by "Bayonet" raided a secret logistics coordination center of a coalition country located in a third country. They not only destroyed the supplies but also seized some internal communication records related to the coalition's troop deployment and supply routes.

This information, after being quickly processed and analyzed by Zhou Guihua's team, became extremely valuable tactical intelligence for Yang San, and also became "dirt" for Yang Da to use to exert pressure on relevant countries internationally. Another unit, the "Gurkha Blade" squad, which had a long-term cooperative relationship with "Bayonet," was hired to "clean up" a smuggling route connecting the coalition-controlled area with an important mining area.

They not only drove away the local warlord who had previously controlled the passage (who had provided convenience to the coalition forces), but also "incidentally" reached a new "toll and protection agreement" with influential local tribes.

The implicit clauses in the agreement ensure that future profits from the mining area will flow more towards East Africa and "Bayonet".

Zhou Guihua even launched a cyber psychological warfare program called "Echo," which involved manipulating social media accounts, hacking into local radio stations, and spreading carefully crafted rumors and misleading information.

The strategy aimed to sow distrust and fear among the people in the occupied territories and rear areas, exaggerate the "invincibility" and "determination for revenge" of the East African army, and subtly imply East Africa's "generosity" towards the people in the "liberated areas" and its "commitment" to future development.

This kind of invisible attack has an effect that guns and cannons cannot achieve in shaking the foundation of the enemy's rule and undermining its war potential.

Yang Geyong's assessment was simple and direct: "When it comes to fighting, you have to exert effort in all aspects. Those who only know how to swing their fists are reckless. You have to learn to use knives, ropes, money, and even how to blow the wind."
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The victories at the front and the expansion of the area under Yang Da's actual control provided him with unprecedented diplomatic leverage and domestic political capital.

His focus is rapidly shifting from managing wartime emergencies to laying the groundwork for the impending political showdown and postwar arrangements.

He first strengthened internal integration. Leveraging the victory of "Operation Melting Pot" and the call to "reclaim lost territory and open up new land," he further promoted the integration of new and old citizens.

He issued a provisional decree stipulating that all new citizens who contributed to the East African campaign during the counter-offensive (including in logistics, medical care, and intelligence), as well as their immediate family members, could obtain full citizenship and related benefits at an accelerated pace.

At the same time, he began to formulate temporary administrative regulations and preliminary economic development plans for the newly controlled areas to ensure that military victories could be quickly translated into actual governance.

Externally, his methods are more flexible and diverse.

He secretly conveyed the possibility of a "separate peace" to the "T Freedom Front," which had suffered heavy losses among the Allied forces and was experiencing a surge in anti-war sentiment at home.

Provided that its troops completely withdraw from the territories claimed by East Africa (including newly captured disputed areas) and pledge not to be hostile again, East Africa may consider not pursuing its war responsibility and even granting it limited preferential treatment in certain border trade.

Regarding the remnants of "Country C," which is mired in civil war and whose main warlords have been crippled, he supports East African frontline commanders in making direct contact with powerful local tribes or factions, providing limited armed and humanitarian assistance.

The aim of fostering pro-East Africa proxies is to turn the border areas of Country C into buffer zones or spheres of influence.

As for the "K Alliance," the main force of the coalition and backed by a major power, he launched a more intense diplomatic and legal war in conjunction with military pressure.

Using evidence obtained through "bayonet" and Ye family channels, he submitted charges to the International Court of Justice alleging that the K League used prohibited weapons and deliberately attacked civilian facilities during the war.

At the same time, he instructed his financial team, with the cooperation of capital affiliated with the Ye family, to conduct probing and covert financial pressure on overseas assets related to key figures in the K Alliance regime.

His most important step was to formally propose a ceasefire and negotiations based on the current line of actual control to all parties to the conflict and the major powers behind the scenes through neutral countries.

The proposal is strongly worded, explicitly regarding the disputed territories newly occupied by the E Federation as "restored and liberated territory," and demanding that new boundaries be drawn based on this. This is tantamount to demanding that the opponent acknowledge defeat and territorial changes.

Yang Da knew that the proposal was likely to be rejected, but its significance lay in setting the framework for negotiations, demonstrating the E Federation's determination and bottom line, and at the same time winning the sympathy or acquiescence of those countries in the international community who were tired of indefinite war.

Within East Africa, especially as news of the counter-offensive victories continued to arrive, the images of Ye Mei and Ye Rou were further deified. They were no longer simply guardians, but more like ancient queens who led their people to expand their territory and achieve prosperity.

Ye Mei appeared more often during inspections of reconstruction and newly incorporated territories.

She visited the people in the newly controlled areas (often under heavy security), promising to bring order, healthcare, and education; her white figure became a symbol of "civilization and revival."

She presided over a large-scale commendation of outstanding military and civilian personnel during the war (including brave new citizen soldiers and support models), tightly binding the sacrifices and honors of these individuals into the national narrative of East Africa.

Ye Rou continued to strengthen her ties with the military, especially with front-line combat troops. She spearheaded the establishment of the "Queen's Guard Fund," specifically for providing relief to the families of fallen soldiers, funding the rehabilitation of wounded veterans, and rewarding units with outstanding combat achievements.

She even approved the military's application to award the "Ye Rouqi" honor to a new citizen company that had performed exceptionally well in the counter-offensive.

This battle flag, embroidered with a golden lion and Ye Rou's signature, has become one of the most enviable honors in the East African army.

The sisters' portraits are appearing side by side in more and more public places, family shrines, and even in the makeshift bunkers of soldiers on the front lines.

They represent not just royalty, but a complex belief that blends traditional authority, modern national identity, the glory of war, and hope for the future. They are the living embodiment of East Africa's rebirth from the ashes.

As the military climax of "Operation Crucible" gradually subsided, the counter-offensive in East Africa reached the limits of its logistical and strategic capabilities.

The new line of actual control is jagged, but it has undoubtedly pushed much further west than before the war.

The remnants of the Allied forces retreated to key border points, their morale was low, and internal conflicts intensified.

Faced with the fait accompli, the high cost, and the troublesome and ruthless nature of East Africa and the forces behind it (the Ye family, "Bayonets," etc.), the "masters" behind the scenes began to seriously weigh whether to continue this clearly miscalculated gamble.

The war has not officially ended; large-scale shelling and fighting continue in some areas of the border, but the intensity has decreased.

Instead, there are more complex diplomatic games, espionage battles, economic competition, and low-intensity standoffs and frictions in border areas.

Yang San returned to Xuri City to attend the Supreme Military and State Joint Conference chaired by Yang Da.

He was travel-worn and looked haggard, but his back was straight and his eyes remained sharp as ever.

At the meeting, he heard reports on defense deployment in the new controlled area, military rest and reconstruction, and future border security strategies.

When someone cautiously suggested that they should consider appropriately shrinking their defenses to alleviate economic and diplomatic pressure, Yang San merely gave the other person a cold look.

"Contraction?" His voice wasn't loud, but it silenced the entire conference room.

“Every drop of blood we shed has seeped into the soil beneath our feet. Anyone who wants me to vomit up the meat we've eaten will have to be prepared to pay an even higher price than before.”

He looked at the new, winding, and prominent boundary line on the map.

"The war isn't over yet. It's just been fought in a different way. Tell the kids on the front lines, keep your eyes wide open and don't take your fingers off the trigger."

"The negotiating table is a matter for His Majesty Yang Dahe and His Majesty; our military's matter is to ensure that at any time, we have the capability to deter anyone who dares to provoke us—"

He paused, then spoke each word slowly and deliberately, like a bullet being chambered:

"I regret being born into this world."

After the meeting ended, Yang San walked to the window, gazing at the bustling scene below Xuri City and the faint outline of the new territory in the distance.

He knew that peace was only a temporary respite, and greater challenges might lie ahead. But he and his army, and the nation that had been forced to become tough, cunning, and united in the flames of war, were ready.

The map of East Africa has been redrawn by blood and steel. And a new story will continue to be written under the shadow of swords and ploughshares. (End of Chapter)