Chapter 686: Chapter 389, Capturing the Planet_3
Every officer present was required to lead a battalion personally to eliminate the troops that hadn’t shown up. The veterans of the Star Realm Army, who were mustering outside the city under Cai Minjin’s command, would also go, but they would not directly engage; instead, they would act as supervisory teams.
A blood-stained declaration of ambition.
The atmosphere was oppressive when the tasks were assigned.
Some people were sorrowful, some hesitant, and some clenched their teeth in anger…
In such an atmosphere, there were still those who couldn’t hold back.
“Old Commander, I don’t understand why we have to do this. They are our fellow countrymen, our comrades… We are warriors of the Fatches Family, who have served generations after generations, shouldn’t we bravely resist when foreign enemies invade? With you here, leading us, can’t we still…”
…
‘Bang.’
A gunshot rang out.
Cai Minjin didn’t give him a chance to finish speaking.
The old general’s pistol was very accurate. From a distance of over twenty meters, through many people, the bullet still precisely blew off the head of the man who was speaking.
This gunshot instantly heightened the tension in the great hall.
Though when the opportunity arose, they were not allowed to bring guns, there were still those who had brought them secretly and now instinctively placed their hands on their holsters.
Cai Minjin noticed, but he didn’t care.
He sighed and slowly lowered his gun: “I still remember him, Wang Zhongze, a soldier I once led. I remember personally awarding him medals; I went to his wedding and held his daughter…”
“It truly pains my heart, and I certainly didn’t wish for him to be the one to step forward.”
“But I am a general of the Imperial Army, and I am a Fatches man. I cannot watch someone say such things in front of me, inciting you to do what should not be done.”
“Not to mention anything else, just this matter. Do you think that with me leading you, we can resist the Imperial Army? Do you still think that the Dragonhawk Legion is the same Dragonhawk Legion that used to be stationed on planet Fatches? Twenty percent of the legion is comprised of Korolya people now, and another twenty percent have married and had children on Korolya. Minnick’s rebellion has made them the most outraged! They just want to tear apart the traitors on planet Fatches. What are you expecting?”
“Furthermore, even if the Dragonhawk Legion were on this side, would everything be settled?”
“I have seen Commander Gu’s capability with my own eyes, and I have also witnessed how formidable those elite warriors under his command are. Interstellar Warriors, Knight Mecha, and even Titan, these things that you have never seen before, are plentiful in the United Government!”
“Not to mention, the soldiers of the United Government are even more elite than the Star Realm Army. You all know the selection criteria of the Star Realm Army, always picking the most outstanding warriors among us. But even so, the quality of our troops is still a notch below those of the United Government!”
“It wouldn’t be difficult for him to wipe out all the Planetary Defense Forces on planet Fatches.”
“I was the first to volunteer to come down here, even braving artillery fire. Do you think it was for what? It’s to save you, my old subordinates!”
“Don’t talk to me about loyalty. You need to understand what true loyalty is!”
“People like Wang Zhongze are not only traitors to the Empire but also traitors to the Fatches people. If you continue to blindly follow the Fatches Family, the only outcome will be being swept into the trash heap along with them. Not only will you die without progeny, but you will also become criminals in history, spat upon for thousands of years. Fatches people will despise you, the Empire will despise you, The Emperor will despise you!”
“Now, I’ve said all that I need to say. It’s up to you! I’m standing right here alone, with hardly any of my trusted guards. If you want to turn against me, draw your guns and shoot! See if you’re capable of killing an old thing like me right here!”
Inside the great hall, no one spoke anymore.
Those few who had reached for their holsters also let go.
After waiting two minutes, seeing that no one made a move, Cai Minjin cursed, “No one wants to shoot me down, is that it? Then what are you waiting for? Go do what you need to do!”
…
The purge that took place within the Capital Guard Army on planet Fatches No. 1 was not particularly bloody.
The few regiments that refused to accept Cai Minjin’s command were attacked by their peers. They didn’t hold out for long, and the soldiers’ will to fight was very weak; they were also not so willing to accept orders from their officers and surrendered quickly.
Most of the resisting officers chose suicide in the end, or were captured and executed.
Cai Minjin didn’t continue to stir up trouble in the capital area.
Even though the entire Capital Guard Army couldn’t yet be considered completely subdued, at best they were just barely willing to follow orders with very low morale, and their thoughts were far from unified.
But he didn’t have time anymore.
Under his orders, about half a million troops were drawn from the Capital Guard Army, combined with the four Dragonhawk Legion brigades that he had brought down, and they headed straight for ‘Starport City’.
The place was about four hundred kilometers away from the capital area, and its location was right beneath the Fortress Starport that was fiercely exchanging fire with the Tianma Fleet in the sky. It had developed from the ground structures of the Starport, a city built around and to complement the functions of the Starport.
The Marshal of the Fatches Family’s Defense Army was there.
After Petes announced the United Government declaration, the Marshal also urgently issued a statement condemning Petes’ argument and also urgently declared himself the highest successor of the United Government’s power, claiming he would lead the Fatches people to resist the invaders.