above the galaxy

Chapter 581 Warning! Warning!
Poseidon Fleet. Command ship.

After the Tang bandits' fighter jets took off, Philip led his trusted confidants back to the VIP lounge.

"Your Highness, Chief Ettow Iqius just called, requesting your immediate return to the palace," Captain Howard of the guards stepped forward and reported in a low voice.

"What else did he say?"

"He said that if Your Highness does not return, the King will come to see you in person."

Philip sighed softly and said, "It seems that Father's patience has indeed been exhausted."

"Your Highness, you should go back," Howard advised. "If the King really comes, Your Highness will likely be reprimanded."

"You think you won't be scolded if you go back voluntarily?" Philip sneered, "However, I do need to go back. I also need to have a good talk with my father about things here. After this battle, he should have a better understanding of the situation, and it's time for him to change his views on the future of Phoenix."

"If the Phoenix Empire has only one leader in the future, that person will definitely be Tang Fei. Shen Wuxiang may appear strong, but he is unlikely to be a match for the cunning and treacherous Tang Fei."

Philip wasn't worried, after all, he had led the Poseidon Fleet thousands of miles to provide assistance and achieved fruitful results.

Not only did it deplete Shen Wuxiang's main force of the North Sea Fleet, but it also allowed them to share in the fruits of victory: they were stationed together with the remnants of the North Sea Fleet that Tang had incorporated into the fleet.

This is no small achievement; if one were to boast a bit, it could even be called an unparalleled feat of 'expanding territory'.

Establishing military presence in another country is extremely difficult; the Os Empire and Phoenix fought for decades without success, yet he accomplished it with ease.
Moreover, the port of Liyu has immense strategic value.

By establishing a base here, they can continuously transport various branches of the Ottoman military.

Advance to attack, retreat to defend.

King Lionheart was ambitious and always wanted to conquer his neighbor's vast empire.

I have essentially opened a huge gap for him.

“Antonio,” Prince Philip called out.

“Your Highness.” Antonio bowed.

He was the head of the Poseidon Fleet, the de facto fleet commander.

The Poseidon Fleet was simply under the leadership and jurisdiction of Prince Philip.

Those in the royal family are ultimately superior to others.

"You will stay behind and be responsible for establishing the Carp Port base for the Poseidon Fleet."

“Yes, Your Highness,” Antonio replied.

He then asked, "What are your instructions, Your Highness?"

"Yes, our joint deployment with the North Sea Fleet will inevitably lead to some conflicts. We still need to pay attention to our working methods and maintain harmonious relations with our allies."

"Yes, Your Highness."

"Of course, we must not be too weak and give in at every step; we must still fight for the interests that we should fight for."

“I really like the old Phoenix proverb: What you can’t get on the battlefield, you can’t get at the negotiating table.”

“You have the support of the entire Os Empire. Neither Tang Fei nor Shen Wuxiang wants to fight on two fronts.”

"Yes, Your Highness. I guarantee the mission will be accomplished."

"Furthermore, the North Sea Fleet was recently defeated and absorbed by the Tang bandits. There's bound to be widespread anxiety and uncertainty within the fleet, filled with fear and uncertainty about the future."

"If the opportunity arises, we can also try to gain the support and loyalty of some people. Of course, this must be done in secret. We mustn't let the Tang bandits find out."

"Yes, Your Highness." Antonio was chubby and had a friendly smile. He didn't look like a fleet commander, but more like a wealthy old man with a lot of money. "I was worried that Your Highness had a close relationship with General Tang and that you were best friends with him. If that were the case, our people wouldn't be able to perform their duties."

"Where are friends on the battlefield?" Prince Philip retorted.

"Your Highness is absolutely right. With your words, we can work with full force."

Philip nodded, his gaze falling on Patton and Nikolai: "Patton, Nikolai, you two have dealt with the Tang bandits before, and it seems you got along very well. You two will stay here as well, mainly responsible for liaising and communicating with the Tang bandits and assisting General Antonio in his work."

Patton and Nicholas felt a bitter taste in their mouths. His Highness said they got along "very well" with the Tang bandits. What did that mean?

Have we already begun to doubt their loyalty?

We're really not that close.
“Your Highness, I still hope to return with you. My home is in Os, but my heart is with Your Highness,” Barton immediately stated.

“Your Highness, I would also like to serve you. Perhaps there are things you need me to do, like serving tea and water.” Nikolai wasn’t stupid and quickly chimed in.

Philip scrutinized the two men for a moment, then asked, "Do you think I'm doubting your loyalty?"

"No, no, absolutely not."

"Yes, Your Highness, we are your most loyal warriors."

“I know what kind of person Tang Fei is. He’s a guy who…” Philip paused for a moment, as if considering what words would be most appropriate to describe him: “A guy who’s always digging pits for others.”

“He deliberately acted intimately with you in front of me so that we would become divided. If I became suspicious because of this, and you also thought that I was suspicious of you, then he would have achieved his goal.”

"You are Ossians, your home and your honor are in Oss. I believe in your loyalty."

"So, feel free to stay and do your best to complete the tasks I've assigned you."

"You are the bridge and lubricant between Antonio and the Tang bandits. While protecting the interests of the empire, you must also maintain good relations with them."

"This is very difficult, so I'm entrusting it to the two of you. I trust you won't let me down."

The two men were deeply moved and immediately bowed to Prince Philip with reverence and gratitude, performing the courtly salute of the Ottoman Empire: "Your Highness, we guarantee to complete the mission."

"I am willing to give my life for Your Highness, even unto death."

Prince Philip stood up and helped them both up: "Live, for only by living can there be a bright future. The Empire needs you."
-
Phoenix City. Luojia Mountain.

After Shen Xinglan was seriously injured, Shen Wuxiang did not take him to the Qishan base camp, but sent him directly to the Shen family's old residence.

If Qishan was the military stronghold of the Shen family, then Luojia Mountain was the 'root' of the Shen family's old residence.

Uncle Biao died in battle, and Shen Boyu is recuperating in the back mountains. The old Shen family mansion is now guarded by Shen Yan.

Shen Yan's talent was not outstanding; in the illustrious Shen family, he could only be considered 'mediocre'.

But he was of noble status; he was Shen Wuxiang's eldest son and Shen Xinglan's father.

Previously a law professor at the Imperial Maritime Academy, he had to suspend his teaching duties and return home with his wife, Bai Yuhua, to help with the Shen family's troubles.

Shen Yan was mild-mannered and rarely argued with anyone in his life. Seeing his son injured like this, he angrily asked, "Who on earth injured Xinglan like this? How could they be so vicious?"

Shen Xinglan's chest was pierced, her face was as white as paper, her eyes were closed, and she looked like a dead person.

Parents rarely care what their children do outside; they think their own children are all good, and those who harm their children are naturally ruthless. Shen Wuxiang didn't reply.

He was not an old scholar from an ivory tower, but a great general who fought his way up from the battlefield.

The world is a vast jungle battlefield where people compete for victory and even face life and death.

Shen Xinglan was injured like this; it's only because he wasn't skilled enough.

How many people have died at their hands?
It can only be blamed on those people's lack of skill or their choosing the wrong side and offending the wrong people.

Shen Wuxiang looked at Shen Xinglan lying in the nutrient tank. He knew that he was still conscious, but he just didn't want to talk.

He shut himself off once again.

Perhaps it will be even more serious than last time.

As his grandfather, he didn't know how to comfort or console him.

Can you say he doesn't work hard?
Can you call him talentless?
Can you blame him for not being decisive enough?

He is top-notch in every aspect; he is the most outstanding and dazzling young man under the starry sky.

However, ever since we met that bandit Tang...
Once you lose, you lose every time.

He's probably developed psychological trauma from it.

"Father."

Shen Wuxiang waved his hand and said, "Let him stay."

"Yes, father."

Shen Wuxiang arrived at the back of Luojia Mountain, passing through numerous checkpoints to reach the private, important area.

He stood before the cold pool, gazing at its dark, deep waters, remaining silent for a long time.

He didn't know how much time had passed before he said softly, "Xinglan is injured again, and it's even more serious than the last time."

"The Ottoman Empire is eyeing us covetously from the sidelines, and together with bandits, they have seized Carp Port and several major cities."

"The Dushan Army had also rebelled and fought with those barbarians for decades. They never imagined they would one day fight side by side with each other."

“I handed Lu Yu over to return Xinglan. It was you who suggested that I spare his life back then, and I never expected that he would be so useful today.”

"The internal situation isn't good either, because we haven't been able to unify the overall situation, which has given them an opportunity to take advantage of us."

"Some are hesitant, some are uneasy. I've been thinking about a question: are we being too lenient?"

"In order to get that position and to protect the reputation of the Shen family, we used as many appeasement tactics as possible."

"But this country doesn't belong to us yet, and the hearts of the people don't belong to us either."

“I heard you tell a story. Zeng Guofan was originally a scholar, but he was forced to get involved in the war and was very distressed about it. His friend Hu Linyi gave Zeng Guofan a couplet: ‘Have the heart of a bodhisattva, but act with thunderous methods.’”

"I think this couplet also suits our belief that only blood and fire can bring us victory."

"Nothing else, I just wanted to chat with you. You should get some rest."

Shen Wuxiang gave the cold pool a deep look, then turned and left.

I don’t know when it started, but his tall and straight spine, which was as majestic as a mountain, began to bend.

He is a man, not a god.

He also feels tired.

The cold pool was as still as a mirror, like a stagnant pool.

Suddenly, the pool water churned and surged, bursting open in a thousand layers of waves.
-
Nine-Bend Ridge.

Also known as Jiulongling.

Looking down from high above, it resembles nine giant dragons coiling and intertwining, a truly magnificent and spectacular sight.

In a yellowish-brown mountain range, a lone vulture flies, its eyes searching for targets on the ground like radar.

A gust of wind passed by.

boom!
The vulture that was just peeking out from behind the trees was smashed into a pulp by something.

Even as it died, the vulture kept its dark brown eyes open; it wanted to know...
In the end what happened?
Who killed me?

"What is that?" Tang Fei opened his eyes and asked.

“A bird,” Lu said without turning his head as he piloted the starship.

This is a miniature fighter jet with stealth capabilities. After placing the life-restoring device containing the old man inside, it can only accommodate Tang Fei, Fatty, and Lu Siyu.

Lu Siyu could only go to the cockpit, after all, Little Fatty's size took up the space of two people.
Lu Siyu even teased Little Fatty about this, saying that Tang Fei had a reason for not letting him come over before.

Little Fatty, still half-asleep, looked over and asked, "Have we arrived?"

"No." Lu Siyu chewed on bubble gum, but her expression was very serious. "It'll be soon."

She was extremely cautious; although there was an autopilot system, she kept a close eye on the radar display screen inside the cabin the entire time.

Because she valued this mission more than anyone else, and her closest family members were in the cabin.

"Is there anything unusual?" Tang Fei asked.

"No. If I did, would I be able to sleep peacefully?"

"."

This woman's mouth is like it's been smeared with poison.

The Nine-Bend Ridge and the desolate land are adjacent to each other. Tang Fei and his men chose to enter the pass from here in order to use the complex terrain to evade the omnipresent Sky Eye radar.

Once they enter the desolate land, even if Shen Wuxiang's army catches up, it will be of no use.

After all, the Lu family had been operating in the desolate land for many years, and it was not so easy to break through their defenses.

If they could break through, they would have done it long ago instead of waiting until now.

Just then, the electronic mechanical alarm of the intelligent system sounded in the cabin:
"Warning! Warning! We've been locked on."

"Warning! Warning! We've been locked on."

(End of this chapter)