Counterfeit Hero

Chapter 1336: Chapter 73: Handshake

The virtual screen in the dock hall is still repeatedly playing the scenes from the assembly of the 31st Army amid the changing lights.

The formation began from a corner, as if someone had spread a black tablecloth on the ground. The movements of more than twenty thousand Feiyang Mecha soldiers in black uniforms were so synchronized, so clean and efficient, as if they were one person.

Moments later, the entire formation had already taken shape.

This picture, no matter where or when viewed, evokes immense shock and endless aftertaste. But now, in this deathly silent port, no one has the mind to look back at it again.

The five Chuckna Generals and six Feiyang Generals standing in front of the Fatty stand taller than those soldiers in the honor guard who practice military posture every day. Among them, the oldest is over fifty, and the youngest is nearly forty. Most have long been famous, especially Admiral Feng Zhi, who is the third-ranked figure in the Chuckna military.

Chuckna boasts many great generals, ranking among the top in overall military literacy in the entire human world. And among these great generals, after Chen Fengxi and Li Hongwu, is Admiral Feng Zhi.

His appearance and demeanor are gentle and elegant, but everyone knows that he is a general famous for fighting tough and brutal battles. Even Old Marshal Li Cunxin once said that among his students, Feng Zhi resembles him the most, even more than his own son, Li Hongwu!

In every aspect, these generals should not be simultaneously saluting in front of the Fatty. The Fatty standing in front of them is not only much younger but also less renowned than them.

If you have to say this Fatty has some fame, it might be his notoriety for surrendering.

In the entire Fei Alliance, this Fatty has become infamous.

Yet, these generals unanimously stepped out of the ranks, not just the Chuckna people, but also the Feiyang Generals who were originally supposed to receive the welcoming ceremony. Every word they spoke to the Fatty was heard clearly by everyone.

No one doubted it. Because everyone understood that among these eleven generals, any one of them is a man of his word. Their identities, their statuses, their awe-inspiring reputation are not casually discarded as garbage in such a situation.

They are willing to step forward in front of tens of thousands of civilians, to salute the Fatty with military etiquette, indicating that in their hearts, this Leray Fatty Vice Admiral deserves their heartfelt admiration and respect.

Twelfth Group Fleet, Longbow Star System, Canglang Star, Gazalin.......

The illustrious military exploits in the Fatty’s career have always been objects of ridicule. No one believes they are true. After seeing the face of the surrendering Fatty, these so-called exploits seem particularly laughable. In daily conversations, there are even people who boast that they had captured the Emperor in Gazalin, taken down Stephen, and did this and that, eliciting a burst of laughter.

The past derision still lingers in the air, but now, upon hearing these familiar words again, no one can laugh aloud. This is no joke; these generals are the ones who personally experienced it, and they have the most right to stand here, in front of everyone, to proclaim loudly to everyone present everything they know, to loudly praise the illustrious military exploits of this Fatty General!

Margaret and Milan had unknowingly retreated to stand behind the Fatty, watching him embrace and shake hands with the generals, talking about experiences since they last parted, and they couldn’t help but feel a surge of emotions.

”Why put on such a show,” the Fatty said to Feng Zhi, ”it’s making me quite embarrassed.”

The generals roared with laughter, for the Fatty was beaming, with no hint of embarrassment. Those who know this guy know that his thick skin far exceeds his ability and military record. Someone who dared to cry and surrender in front of tens of billions of viewers, how could he have the habit of being embarrassed?

And this is exactly what people admire about him.

Reviewing the entire Canglang Star Campaign, the generals, just from the battle report, can see the thrills of it.

If it weren’t for Fatty repeatedly attacking three armored camps, holding 415 Highland, to buy time for the troops’ covert movement toward Hot Spring Town; if it hadn’t been for his arrival at the critical moment of the Hot Spring Town battle, breaking through the enemy’s blockade line. Not to mention Marshal Li Cunxin, even the entire force would have long been wiped out. The subsequent Canglang Star landing battle and the great victory in the Northern Mountain Region would have been out of reach.

To achieve that level is already a miracle, not to mention he subsequently led the team to infiltrate and destroy two Jiepeng Armored Divisions, threatening Beiguan City, and finally diverting the Second Armored Division with a Suicide Camp. When at the end of the road, he bravely led over a hundred Suicide Camp warriors to charge the entire division...

What a magnificent spectacle, what a soul-stirring moment it was!

How could such a person possibly be a weeping, surrendering coward?!

Everyone present, all seasoned soldiers of numerous battles, knew with just a serious glance at the intelligence at the time that Fatty was buying time for the landing of the Transport Ship.

For the survival of over a hundred warriors behind him, he could risk his life to launch that final Thunderbolt strike and could sacrifice his dignity and reputation to pretend to surrender. If such a person is not worthy of admiration, who is?!

No one wants such a person to be wronged. Even knowing that this guy is in fact competing with Leefer’s 31st Army, everyone present wants to fan the flames.

All are soldiers who walk on the line of life and death, braving bullets and flames, with no extra concerns.

Those who are likable are friends, those who aren’t, can get lost.

It’s that simple.

Completely ignoring Madhuwan on the reviewing stand, whose face was livid, and Faset, whose eyes were half-closed with a gloomy gaze yet seemed detached. Feng Zhi smiled and said, ”I heard that when the Second Armored Division was captured, Jiepeng Emperor Nicholas V smashed a pair of his favorite vases. On the civilian network, this footage has been completely blocked by the Western Alliance.”

”A pair? Wasn’t it said to be ten pairs?” a Chuckna Admiral questioned in surprise.

”Ten pairs?” A Feiyang Major General cursed: ”I heard it was over a hundred antiques in the entire study that were smashed!”

The crowd looked at each other in confusion. As they pondered, Admiral Lakelif of Chuckna hesitantly said, ”None of that’s right, I’ve heard that idiot slaughtered over ten of his own bastard sons.”

As Margaret and Milan chortled, the crowd erupted into laughter.

Amid the laughter, Fatty glanced sidelong at the parade platform and met Fasset’s knife-like eyes.

In the face of his rival, Fatty, who was never shy, curled his lips into a smile, cocked an eyebrow in a teasing manner, then laughed heartily, saying to the generals, ”Alright, the welcoming ceremony is about to start, so I won’t delay you further. I’ll go report to my superior first, and we’ll find a time to drink to our hearts’ content.”

When it comes to alcohol, there are few soldiers who don’t enjoy it. The generals were overjoyed at once, laughing as they shook hands with Fatty to bid farewell. A group of people took a few steps towards the parade platform. The Chuckna generals put away their smiles and, under Madhuwan’s cold gaze, walked indifferently to the welcoming lineup beside the honor guard. Meanwhile, the Feiyang division commanders returned to their respective units.

Fatty approached the parade platform, smiling as he shook hands with everyone on the platform one by one. When shaking hands with Admiral Peng Feng, commander of the Feiyang 6th Army, Vice Admiral Benjamin Holden, commander of the 39th Army, and Vice Admiral Kevin Raine, division commander of the Double-headed Eagle No. 2 Division, they couldn’t help but lift their eyes to glance at Margaret behind Fatty, giving him meaningful looks. In contrast, the Vice President of Chuckna, Madhuwan, joyfully held Fatty’s hand for a long exchange of pleasantries.

Finally, Fatty reached Fasset. They exchanged smiles, saluted, and shook hands.

Fasset’s palm was large and cold. Fatty asked with concern, ”General Fasset, have you been waiting long? I see your face has gone stiff. It’s chilly here, you should wear an extra layer.”

”Thank you for your concern, General Tian,” Fasset replied with a faint smile, his gaze sharp as a blade. ”Illness is nothing; what’s worrying is dying before the mission is accomplished. Leray is now fractured, and everyone is counting on you, General Tian, so take care of yourself.”

The two silently shook hands, looking into each other’s eyes.

Though it was their first meeting and handshake, both knew they could never become friends.

Power struggles can be more brutal than wars between nations. Differing beliefs and ideas are forced onto the same path, inevitably leading to a life-or-death conflict.

For Fatty, his entire ideal is a peaceful and prosperous Leray Federation; he cherishes democracy and freedom. In this war, he most considers allowing as many people as possible to survive, using victory to achieve peace.

For Fasset, Leefer is his faith. This is the era of soldiers. A true man should achieve greatness and make a name for himself at this time. Only through sacrifice and by any means necessary can a soldier achieve victory until there is only one voice in the world. Only then can the world be redeemed.

He never thought of turning back. From the first day of following Leefer, he knew he was walking a path different from everyone else. If anyone blocked this path, he wouldn’t hesitate to eliminate them in any way possible.

Their voices were quiet, and the moment of eye contact was fleeting, but both understood the opponent’s challenge might far exceed their imagination.

Fasset could see in Fatty’s eyes a determination, a challenge. The future Resk Battlefield would also be a battleground for both of them. In the Southeast Star Domain, the bandit army would never allow the 31st Army to intervene!

In Fasset’s eyes, what Fatty saw was... damn it, he couldn’t see anything.

Fatty turned away in frustration, somewhat superstitious about Fasset’s remark about dying before the mission is accomplished. Having just arrived in Chuckna and encountering such a person clearly didn’t align with the safety-first principle. He wondered if this guy had understood the message in his eyes that he could surrender at any time.

Fatty turned around and headed towards the wharf exit.

Behind him, Stewart, Rashid, and a group of bandit army officers silently followed.

This time, these bandit soldiers were not joking or fooling around. Although their ranks remained dispersed, when this unit advanced silently, everyone could feel their sharpness.

Fasset squinted his eyes. From these soldiers, he saw a kind of sternness and detachment that could only be cultivated through the storms of gunfire, a natural aura of surviving many battles.

Over twenty Mechas, based on Fatty’s prototype, guarded the sides of the silent advancing formation. The ones in front sprinted quickly, their strides maintaining a unique rhythm.

This rhythm, like a bright light, stung Fasset’s eyes.

He knew that on the battlefield, these Mechas could respond in the shortest time, whether facing long-range attacks or close combat.

And this reaction would undoubtedly be a ferocious and fatal blow.

In the distant crowd, as a solitary applause started, it quickly turned into a sea of claps.

That was for the bandit army!

.

.

.I haven’t checked the rankings in the past few days and just discovered that I’ve been surpassed by White Goose. March is already at the end of the month, and everyone has started to push hard. Seventy-two here requests everyone’s support with monthly votes. March, April, May... no matter what, I will keep fighting like this month.

.

.

. (To be continued, to find out what happens next, please log in to www.qidian.com, more Chapters available, support the author, and support legitimate reading!)