But on second thought, she would rather not waste another twenty minutes, which indirectly proved just how important this matter was.
Yelisia could see that General Tilermungs's complexion went through a very dramatic change on stage. From initial uplifted spirits, his face turned ashen as if touched by death within a mont's ti.
What on earth had happened?
Yelisia's confusion did not last long.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw her own aide-de-camp rushing over.
The aide ca up to her and whispered in her ear, "General, a major incident has occurred! Among the Iron-teeth Greenskins, a new Great Chieftain is suspected to have erged. From the depths of the occupied territories, fleets of Green Skins have suddenly sward out in far greater numbers than our previous estimates. Water Fog Star and Silver Pass II have already fallen, the Northern Fleet, after being routed, has regrouped at Silver Pass III and is currently encircled. Star Domain Naval Command has ordered us to return imdiately, to fortify Golden Pass Star Sector, and to lend support to the Yunluo Fleet. The Yunluo Fleet has already taken action before us to rescue the Northern Fleet."
Yelisia's face also darkened.
The main achievents of the allied forces of the Dragonhawk Star Domain in this battle were actually two-fold: one, to stabilize the conflict-laden Golden Pass; and two, to conquer four star systems in the occupied Silver Pass Sector, which were Water Fog Star, White Fog Star, Silver Pass II, and Silver Pass III.
Six years, for such achievents, and now in the blink of an eye, two of the four star systems were lost.
However, what was most worriso was not the loss of these achievents, but the ergence of a 'Great Chieftain' within the Iron-Tooth Clan, bringing unity to the leadership of the clan for the first ti in decades.
Having lived through years of war with the Orcs, Yelisia fully understood that this race, with or without a strong leader, displayed completely different behaviors in warfare.
But this also depended on the level of the so-called 'Great Chieftain.' The last but one Great Chieftain had sparked a massive waaagh, causing the fall of three or four Star Sectors, establishing the power of the present-day Iron-teeth Empire, directing their force toward the heartland of the Dragonhawk Star Domain until he was unexpectedly killed in battle, finally halting the expansion of the Iron-Tooth Clan;
The last Great Chieftain was rather diocre, he could barely keep the fragnted Iron-Tooth Clan together, far lesser in prestige, but even so, he ended humanity's ability to recapture the four occupied star systems and caused the six surrounding star systems to fall into years of continuous warfare.
A few years ago, the Dragonhawk Star Domain decided to launch a campaign to retake the occupied territories because that Iron-Tooth Great Chieftain was challenged and killed in the brutal internal struggles of the Green Skin Orcs, and his challenger, equally lacking in authority, soon died too. Consequently, the once barely unified Iron-Tooth Clan plunged once more into internal strife.
Wasn't this a rare opportunity?
But unexpectedly, the Green Skin Orcs had quickly determined a new Great Chieftain.
Moreover, Yelisia suspected that the war actions of the Dragonhawk Star Domain might have acted as a catalyst for this.
As for the current situation, one could only hope that this new Iron-Tooth Great Chieftain was like his predecessor, who had ascended to power barely and could not truly command sincere submission from all military leaders of the Iron-Tooth Clan.
Regardless, the plan for Yelisia and others to return and regroup was now out of the question.
Even though the entire Fleet's condition was not good, many ships having sustained damage in the previous wars and needing repair, there was no choice now but to drag their wounded selves, turn around, and head back to the frontlines.
A banquet that had begun in good spirits thus ca to an abrupt end.
The Tianma Fleet hurriedly headed in the direction of its past engagents.
On the way, Yelisia took the ti to use the Star Language Tower aboard the ship to make contact with Gu Hang. She inford Gu Hang of the latest situation at the front and reminded him to take this matter seriously.
Gu Hang asked, "Could it possibly reach the Tianma Star Sector?"
Yelisia smiled, "That is unlikely."
Gu Hang understood her aning; after all, there were still two Star Sectors in between. From the occupied Silver Pass to Tianma, there was Golden Pass Star Sector and Eagle Horse Star Sector.
However, while one could hope for the best, preparations must be made for the worst.
"I understand, I will make so preparations."
"Yes. Even though the chances of the conflict reaching Tianma Star Sector are slim, if the war in the Star Domain escalates, they may consult with various leaders and governors about what to do, and there may be allocations and borrowings necessary, you really should make so preparations in advance."
Gu Hang instinctively frowned.
Allocations, borrowings... none of that sounded like good news.
Yet, if the war really deteriorated to that extent, it seed inevitable.
```
Otherwise, what can we do? Watch as the situations in the two neighboring star sectors deteriorate?
Impossible.
A tooth will be cold without the lip.
The Green Skin Orcs have almost no possibility of negotiation; if the situation really turns rotten, there's no reason they would spare the Tianma Star Sector and not attack.
However, compared to dispersing the barely accumulated wealth of the alliance to the Star Domain Governnt, or even transferring the troops, Gu Hang was still unwilling to accept that. If it really ca to that step and the situation beca unavoidable, then he would rather lead the alliance to join the battle directly.
At least having command and independence in action would be in his own hands.
Gu Hang instinctively distrusted all other commanders from outside.
When he had nothing to do and was reading so of the Empire's battle examples, docuntation, reports, he always felt that the Empire's generals or even the judges, when fighting, did not spare manpower as long as they could achieve their goals, no matter the number of deaths; it seed an acceptable price to them.
Objectively speaking, it might indeed be so.
The Empire World counted in millions; the population of the empire was imasurable, lacking everything but people.
Your Green Skin Orc dies one less, my fifty good brothers are endless.
However, Gu Hang himself truly disliked that approach.
Human resources have always been the most valued by him. A living person, in their lifeti, can create wealth far greater than being sent to the battlefield to die easily.
He certainly understood that many tis, sacrifices, even large-scale sacrifices, are inevitable. But precisely because of this, one must respect such sacrifices.
Compassion does not rule soldiers; when it's ti to be ruthless and disregard casualties, then it must be done; but when it's not that necessary, he's not happy even with one more death.
That's why Gu Hang did not like his subordinates to be commanded by other imperial forces. They didn't have his mindset and wouldn't be concerned about his soldiers.
"I understand. Maybe, we might et on the battlefield against the Iron-Tooth Clan,"
Yelisia smiled and then said seriously, "But I really hope that doesn't happen. You'd better wish for to win the battles and return triumphantly..."
Following her words, Gu Hang said, "Return triumphantly and beco my wife?"
"...Pah." Yelisia slightly turned her face away, then turned back, "Wouldn't that be the best?"
"Indeed. But... you still have to be careful and take care of yourself."
"I will."
...
Having had a conversation with her fiancé, although they didn't talk about much, Yelisia's mood had improved a lot.
She felt she had the strength to face the coming storms.
But at that mont, she was not yet aware of the severity of the problem.
The orders they received were to deploy defenses in the Golden Pass Star Sector, to support the Yunluo Fleet and the Northern Fleet.
The latter was blocked at Silver Pass III; the forr was trying to rescue them, which required a supporting force.
At the sa ti, it was also in preparation for the worst-case scenario.
If the situation at the front changed, and the achievents made in the Silver Pass Star Sector had to be completely relinquished, then the defensive line established by their Tianma Fleet would drag the Green Skin Orcs fleet into the Golden Pass Star Sector. The situation of both sides would likely revert to what it was before the war started six years ago.
This was almost the worst plan.
However, when they actually entered the Golden Pass Star Sector, they found the situation was even worse than that.
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