Go back in time and be a chaebol

Chapter 2584 An Unwavering Hometown (First Update, Please Subscribe)
Ethiopia, a place overlooked by the world.

The war that has taken place on the roof of Africa in recent years has profoundly changed this country. Although the direct intervention of the Soviet Union saved the country's fate, the long years of war have made this "breadbasket of Africa" ​​no longer prosperous.

The war, which has lasted for several years, has not yet yielded a clear victor. The Free Army controls nearly a quarter of the country's land, and with the support of their respective backers, the war shows no signs of abating.

The mountain winds blowing from the plateau swept across the camp filled with tents, mingling with the roar of the UH-1 helicopter, echoing over the camp.

This is a camp of the Free Ethiopian Army, but looking around, none of the soldiers training there look like locals. They all wear green berets and tiger-striped camouflage combat uniforms, and are generally small in stature. Despite their physical disadvantages, they have sharp eyes, move swiftly and decisively, and every gesture exudes the competence and composure of seasoned veterans.

These men are members of the Free Army's "International Legion," which, to put it bluntly, is a group of mercenaries fighting for survival. For the past few years, these outsiders have been the Free Army's most reliable core fighting force.

Faced with the joint encirclement and suppression by the well-equipped and well-trained Soviet army and the Ethiopian government forces, it was their rich combat experience and fearless fighting spirit that allowed them to hold the line time and time again, enabling the Free Zone to survive in the cracks.

Not only did they look different, but they even wore a striking yellow three-stripe armband on their uniforms—the flag of the long-vanished Republic of Vietnam, the only remaining mark of their homeland in their hearts.

Fan Wenxun stood on the earthen slope high in the camp, his gaze slowly sweeping over the soldiers training below, his eyes filled with complex emotions. He wore the same insignia on his right arm.

The wind dispersed the smoke he exhaled, and it also dispersed his thoughts, pulling him back to that distant and desperate afternoon. That day, Saigon fell, the air thick with the smoke of battle and panic. Northern troops were pouring into the city from all directions, launching their final assault. The Presidential Palace's surrender order was broadcast throughout the city, instantly shattering the psychological defenses of countless people.

The situation descended into chaos, with scattered soldiers and fleeing civilians crowding the streets. Just then, several UH-1B helicopters roared to the various command posts. This was part of a pre-arranged evacuation plan by the Joint Chiefs of Staff, aimed at evacuating senior officers.

His comrades pulled Fan Wenxun toward the helicopter, but he suddenly broke free and looked at his men, saying:
“I have a wife and eight children. I can leave my family, but I can never abandon my two thousand soldiers under these circumstances.”

At that time, he was the commander of the 81st Parachute Special Operations Regiment. Looking at his comrades who had stayed by his side, how could he escape alone?

On that day, how did those generals, whose names were adorned with stars, behave when the nation faced a life-or-death crisis?
Faced with this crisis, all sorts of ugly behaviors have been exposed: hesitation, shirking responsibility, escapism, and compromise, which are unbearable to witness.

It was a tragedy that a colonel had to step forward to uphold the last vestige of honor for the entire army. This is not only a national tragedy, but also a profound irony of military honor—when the stars lose their brilliance, what truly shines are often the neglected epaulets.

Just as he decided to obey orders and lead his men to surrender to the north to uphold the last honor of soldiers, a voice suddenly came over the radio informing them that helicopters were on their way to pick them up. Shortly afterward, helicopters appeared on the horizon, and he boarded one with more than 2000 soldiers, flying off into the unknown distance.

He and his comrades retreated to Kunlun Island, where he met General Dawn Island.

From that moment on, they never returned to Vietnam, the country they had fought for, which became nothing more than a memory of the past.

They became exiles without a homeland. Although they found refuge on Kunlun Island, they also experienced the bitterness of losing their country.

To survive, and to find a way for their comrades to live, they eventually came to the unfamiliar land of Africa and became mercenaries. On the Ethiopian highlands, they exchanged blood and lives for payment, struggling to survive in battle after battle.

Memories of the past flooded back, causing Fan Wenxun's eyes to redden slightly.

He was homesick, once again.

He wasn't just thinking about his home, but also about his country. For a soldier, the greatest pain is failing to protect his country.

Just then, a series of hurried footsteps came from behind, and a young soldier ran up to him, shouting excitedly:

"Colonel! Quick! He's about to speak! It's His Excellency speaking!"

Fan Wenxun snapped out of his reverie, his brows furrowing slightly. What did the Emperor's words have to do with them? Once upon a time, he, like the General of Dawn Island and many others, had been filled with hope for SEA. They believed that the Emperor would help them reclaim their country. But years had passed, and although millions had fled the country, Chang'an had never intervened.

Is this still the Chang'an that upholds justice?

Therefore, to some extent, they were disappointed, which is why Fan Wenxun felt nothing.

Before he could ask a question, the soldier emphasized another point, his tone full of urgency and expectation:
"Colonel, this time is different! The message says the speech—is related to us!"

These words struck Fan Wenxun like a thunderbolt. He turned around abruptly, his gaze fixed on the broadcasting station in the center of the camp, where a large number of soldiers had already gathered.

The roar of the helicopters gradually subsided, and the noise in the camp slowly quieted down. Everyone's eyes were focused on the broadcast, and the air seemed to be filled with tension and anticipation.

Fan Wenxun took a deep breath and strode toward the radio. He had no idea what kind of fate this voice from distant SEA would bring to them.

But, as always, they waited with anticipation; they waited every single day. As he approached, his deputy, Ridley, saw him and excitedly came over, saying:

"Sir, it's Your Excellency. You're about to give a speech... which is relevant to us."

Looking at Ri Deli's expression, Fan Wenxun said in a calm tone:

“You think that way almost every time. You always believe that Chang’an will help us.”

"They definitely will."

Looking at Ri Deli in front of him, and seeing his stubborn expression, Fan Wenxun smiled. Ri Deli then said:
"Colonel, we must have confidence! After all, that's SEA!"

After saying that, they went to the camp together. The camp was very quiet. The soldiers of different ages, wearing berets, stood there, and their expressions all showed a kind of expectation, waiting for Your Excellency to speak.

Is it related to us?
In fact, for the nearly 3,000 officers and soldiers of the 81st Parachute Joint Command, their expectations are not so much about themselves, but more about their country.

They longed to return to their country, not just to go back, but to liberate it, to restore it.

As the most elite unit in the army, they hoped to return to Saigon as liberators, but they all knew that hope lay elsewhere.

Not the United States.

The United States abandoned them long ago. It is the SEA that can help them, help them reclaim their lost country, and liberate the people there.

At this moment, some people even seemed a little nervous. Ruan Shaoguang, who was in the crowd, was one of them. He anxiously took out a pack of cigarettes and tried to light them with a match, but he couldn't get them lit after striking them several times. Wu Weiguo, who was next to him, took out a lighter and tried to light them for him. He struck the lighter several times as well. Finally, the two of them smiled awkwardly. Then, someone handed them a lit cigarette and lit it with the cigarette butt.

"nervous?"

"How can I not be nervous?"

Neither of them said anything more; they just stood there quietly. After all, the repeated dashes of hope over the years had long since made them accustomed to it.

Will it all fall apart again?

"This time seems a little different."

"It's different. It seems like no one has ever given advance notice of this before, saying that the speech is related to us."

Actually, they all misunderstood. A few hours earlier, the official spokesperson released a message stating that His Excellency would be giving a speech on the situation in Southeast Asia. However, the message was sent in very vague language and did not specify where. Nevertheless, it could not withstand outside interpretation.

Almost everyone believed that this speech must be related to the situation in Zhenla.

After all, just a few days ago, big news came from Cambodia: the once invincible Acharya Khanate, under the attack of the Thang Long army, not only lost Phnom Penh a few months ago, but also its rule collapsed after it fled Phnom Penh. In the past few days, with the elimination of its leadership, more and more people have chosen to surrender.

The republic, which once lost its country like a stray dog, is about to return to Chenla and declares that it will retake Phnom Penh.

Therefore, as the most important supporter of the Republic of Zhenla, Chang'an's speech must be related to Zhenla.

If that's the case, then what does it have to do with them?

They definitely have no connection whatsoever.

Almost subconsciously, everyone was analyzing the situation in their minds and came to the same conclusion: it had nothing to do with them. However, they were unwilling to give up hope, because now everything depended on this last glimmer of hope.

A homeland they will never betray... perhaps a homeland they can never return to.

As people waited with mixed feelings, a voice finally came over the loudspeaker.

(End of this chapter)