Governor's Mansion top floor.
Inside the office.
Behind was a display of calligraphy that was boldly and carelessly applied, revealing a deep mastery; the true aning of life was conveyed in the minutest detail of the brushstrokes, which carried the vicissitudes of the human world.
It was written with just two characters: Loyalty!
Looking at the lower right corner, Victor.
This painting, if put on the market, would fetch no less than a million US dollars at the very least, and many were eager to buy it.
But at the mont, this general, bearing the fate of tens of millions of souls, tiredly rubbed his temples, his desk cluttered with significant work.
The Northern Army's strides had been too large...
Within a year, they had taken four states, and they did so with such finality that the aftermath left gaping economic voids to be filled...
This had also offended Japanese capital, and at that ti, Japan's economy was the second largest in the world.
Quite formidable indeed.
"Eh?" Suddenly, Victor spotted a proposal letter that piqued his interest after just a couple of lines. It suggested that xico was looking for new investors, like Saudi Arabia.
The reasons were several:
Saudi Arabia did not get along well with the mainly Jewish Arican capitalist consortium, they differed in religious beliefs, and the latter often portrayed "those wrapped in scarves" as terrorists in their dia propaganda—such extremist ideology.
In Hollywood, the Arabs were mostly cast as villains.
Ideologically, Saudi Arabia naturally stood opposite Jewish capital.
Second, the Saudi people were too rich; they literally didn't know where to put their money.
Third, despite the deep political, economic, and military ties between the United States and Saudi Arabia, the Saudis were actually quite wary of the Aricans.
The Aricans didn't seem much like good folks.
They were very much interested in oil.
It was like you treating him as a brother, but your brother gazes at your wife with glowing eyes, greedily telling you, "Brother, your wife is really charming." What do you think about that?
The proposal also stated, "We can obtain Saudi investnt and loans, as well as import oil, with weapons."
Victor thought the proposal was quite good. He looked at the na, Svilen Krosic, recalling a young and promising advisor under the Finance Departnt.
Just as he was about to call for him to co and discuss the strategy, soone knocked at the door.
"Co in."
"General, our Operation Minceat is progressing smoothly. Ten minutes ago, the Central Puppet Governnt's Air Force attacked the 1st Marine Division!" George Smiley rushed in to report.
"Chief of Staff Horatio Herbert Kitchener has already commanded the Fourth Marine Division to contract the battle line, and Popovich and his n are starting to take the bait!"
Victor's eyes sparkled as he stood up. George Smiley very perceptively picked up a cigar from the desk, lit it for him, and handed it over. Taking a drag and arching his brow, he stated, "The stuff from Brazil is strong. Let's add more credibility to the Puppet Governnt and announce that Erich Ludendorff, the Deputy Chief of Staff, is reassigned as the commander of the Marine First Division!"
"Understood!"
"The frontline troops must retreat 20 kiloters!"
"What about the troops in Monterrey?"
"They'll retreat too. Anyway, that at isn't going to spoil if we leave it out. Once we deceive the Southern support forces and beat them, the at on the table will be ours to eat leisurely, won't it?"
"I want to break the backbone of the Central Puppet Governnt in one battle, to decide our fate in one fell swoop. Within six months... Within six months, I want to push to the footsteps of xico City!"
"Next year, I want to place the First Republic's royal palace on Tepeya Mountain!"
This place lay to the northeast of xico City. It wasn't renowned for unique landscapes nor staggering heights, yet it held an extraordinary significance and irreplaceable status in the hearts of the xican people, for it was said to be the site where the Virgin of Guadalupe, xico's protective deity, appeared.
George Smiley gazed at the General's silhouette, took a deep breath, "General..."
"What?" Victor didn't even turn to ask.
"There's a proposal circulating among the civilians, they hope you will beco the Emperor of the First Republic."
Victor sharply turned around to look, and George Smiley hurriedly bowed his head.
What nonsense from the civilians?
Many were waiting down there.
If he beca the Emperor, then many below would be able to assu marquisates and beco chancellors; who wouldn't want to rise further?
Even Casare occasionally suggested during casual conversations that he hoped Victor would beco Emperor.
Did Victor want it?
He did!
"The ti isn't right yet, xico is not yet fully unified, drug traffickers are still brazen, and if I beco Emperor now, what would it be like? A monkey dressed in silk, shalessly acting like a clown."
"A country fragnted by drugs to this extent is already a failure. Once I've unified it, no one will be able to refuse ."
"I want my statue to stand on Tepeya Mountain. If the Virgin cannot bless xico, then it's my turn!"
Smack!
Victor's hand landed on George Smiley's shoulder, causing a shudder.
"Tell the brothers, don't be impatient. Their day will co, and they won't be shortchanged in rank or riches."
"As for the civilian group..."
"Never mind them; it's the people's choice," Victor said, smiling.
He straightened George Smiley's clothes with a grin, "Go attend to important matters first; it's not ti yet."
The other man nodded and stepped out of the office. Before closing the door, he glanced back at the general, then at the calligraphy hanging on the wall.
He softly muttered, "Loyalty!"
...
Monterrey.
A ruin.
The Fourth Division's 355th Regint had been grappling with drug traffickers here for half a month!
The enemy stoutly resisted using sewer systems, ruins, and fortresses, and despite several rounds of bombings from the air, they had not been taken down.
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