Colonel Li Kexi certainly had reasons to be angry.
Although the Beast Slaughter Brigade had replenished its soldiers, nearly half of its personnel were still from the Beast Slaughter Group he had once led.
They fought the Green Skins in the ruins, in space, in the south against Aberrant Beasts and Cultists, and during the pacification of the Eastern Provinces they had quelled the rebels…
Every warrior in the Beast Slaughter Brigade was a fine young man.
But many of them had died here.
The exact, detailed casualty report from this battle hadn’t come out yet, but from the current estimates, the total losses of the Alliance Army might exceed three thousand——most from the Beast Slaughter Brigade, with a smaller part from the Wind-Extinguishing Brigade, and the 47th Brigade suffering very few casualties.
Among these losses, nearly a third occurred during an ambush on the Western Desert Avenue, when preparations were inadequate.
In battle, another two-thirds were lost under the enemy’s full-fledged resistance.
Within these losses, the 2nd Group of the Beast Slaughter Brigade bore an especially heavy burden.
The entire group was almost completely decimated.
The 2nd Group had only 9 combat companies, and including various other artillery, logistics, sappers, and other support troops in the group headquarters, the total force was just under 1,600 soldiers.
Now, they had practically no combat strength left. Situations like the total annihilation experienced by the 3rd and 9th companies were just two examples, but other companies also suffered heavy casualties in the fight to block the enemy’s retreat to the south.
Given the current situation, the whole group needed to return for rest and recuperation, then replenish personnel and equipment before they could restore combat capability.
That was no different from having to rebuild the group from scratch.
Colonel Li Kexi truly loved his troops like his own children and couldn’t bear to see his soldiers suffer heavy casualties. But he was a military man, a qualified commander, and if victory required the sacrifice of soldiers, he would not hesitate to pay the price.
He understood the principle that kindness does not command soldiers.
But was the victory they had just achieved really necessary?
They had indeed achieved a critical victory, clearing the last obstacle for “Operation Swift Tail.”
But… essentially, it was just patching up the mistakes made by the 47th Brigade in the south.
If they hadn’t erred, this battle wouldn’t have been necessary at all.
The fifteen thousand mechanical units, tightly locked down in the south, with the 47th Brigade keeping close watch—had they done so, the Alliance Army advancing along the Western Desert Avenue could have reached “Scorpion Tail Oasis” much faster and accomplished the strategic objectives.
Even if the Mechanical Legion had fiercely attempted to stop them, whether by directly attacking the 47th Brigade head-on or by circumventing to the west and standing in front of the Wind-Extinguishing Brigade and Beast Slaughter Brigade, it would have been a frontal battle.
Firstly, there wouldn’t have been any surprises like being bombed during a march, and secondly, the warriors of the Beast Slaughter Brigade wouldn’t have had to engage in a deathmatch with a far superior enemy force, composed of infantry, armor, and drones, without artillery support and having to dig makeshift defensive positions.
“It’s a critical victory indeed, but it’s a war fought reluctantly to make amends for the grave mistake you committed!”
“The sacrifices of the warriors are honorable, and the victories won by the warriors are also honorable, but that does not wash away the disgrace on you!”
Colonel Li Kexi continued to berate the lieutenant colonel from the 47th Brigade.
The lieutenant colonel, about to drown in Li’s spittle, just hung his head and didn’t dare say a word.
If his unit had been breached by the enemy in a blood-soaked battle, perhaps he would have had room for argument. But in fact, the enemy hadn’t even encountered any battle before they bypassed his defensive line, and he failed to detect it beforehand; it was the Air Force brothers, on their regular patrol, who spotted the situation and issued a warning to the command.
Firstly, he should have not let the enemy break through; secondly, he should have not been oblivious to it.
And he made both mistakes.
Indefensible.
In the end, even Colonel Li Kexi had grown tired of berating him.
He said coldly, “I’ve reported the relevant situation to the headquarters. You just wait for the military tribunal!”
…
Colonel Li Kexi, with the rank of colonel, temporarily taking the duty of frontline commander and in charge of four brigades, did not mean he had the authority to dismiss a lieutenant-colonel brigade commander.
But his mention of “going to military court” was not just an idle threat.
He might not have the power to remove the lieutenant-colonel, but Yan Fangxu did.
Soon, a command from the headquarters arrived.
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The lieutenant colonel leading the 47th Brigade, along with a major who was the chief of staff, were directly dismissed on the spot. The acting brigade commander and the acting chief of staff stepped up; since both of their ranks and seniority were not quite adequate, the political commissar of the 47th Brigade temporarily took over the command.
The two relieved of duty were headed east in a car, led by a team of military police, gone without much fanfare.
They were to first report to General Yan’s headquarters to state their case and provide an opportunity to explain themselves regarding Colonel Li Kexi’s reports.
But… there wasn’t much room for explanation, and a scolding was inevitable upon arrival.
Being scolded was the easy part. After that, they would have to go to Revival City to face the Alliance Military Tribunal.
The Alliance Military Tribunal operates independently outside the normal legal system of the Alliance, dedicated to adjudicating active-duty military personnel. It is overseen by Major General Tadeusz, the chief political commissar, with the help of Grand Judge Lambert.
Having studied relevant military regulations and legislation, the one removed from duty probably had a clear idea of what consequences lay ahead.