Chapter 2696: Heavy Burden

One day later, in the capital…

The news that the Thick Soil Sector had fallen again had been spread to the capital. The devastating outcome that the garrison of the Thick Soil Sector was entirely wiped out enshrouded the capital with blood and gloom. It was like a bad joke when the new emperor was faced with attacks from the rebels of the four families and the Covenant Alliance after he just ascended to the throne and made bold declarations.

Before the party was over, an emergence and confidential meeting began. The partic.i.p.ants of the meeting included the new emperor, as well as Li Yao, Lei Chenghu, Li Linghai, Boss Bai, Jin Yuyan, Long Yangjun, the Fist King, and some other people.

Those were not necessarily the most powerful people in the Imperium. Many big shots in the expedition army had high t.i.tles and forces comparable to theirs.

However, they were the only people that the new emperor could really trust and rely on.

“The Covenant Alliance’s attack began two to three days ago. They made thorough preparations for the attack. Before the battle, they blocked all the signals that the Thick Soil Sector sent out and simulated peacefulness with fake signals, buying them a crucial day.”

Gloomily, Lei Chenghu introduced to Li Yao and the rest of them with an enormous light beam on his back. “The expedition army had been scattered on the hundreds of planets in the hundred Sectors that we occupied in the first place. Many of them were recalled to take part in the battle against the four families. So, there were not enough soldiers in the Thick Soil Sector, and the invaders were dozens of times more than them. They tried to resist, but it was impossible for them to win.

“Supposedly, we couldn’t have learned the loss of the Thick Soil Sector yet, in which case the few Sectors near it might’ve fallen too, but thankfully, some of the soldiers who belonged to a special reconnaissance team miraculously stole a high-speed shuttle and escaped from the Covenant Alliance’s siege.

“Not only have they brought us the message that the Covenant Alliance has returned, but they also presented first-hand files on how the Covenant Alliance jumped to the main planet of the Thick Soil Sector so precisely. Please take a look.”

Battle videos appeared on the light beam behind Lei Chenghu, displaying the Covenant Alliance’s secret base as well as the super teleportation array that the soldiers of the reconnaissance team captured.

“This is…”

Everybody was attracted to the magic equipment that looked like a spire. They were also disgusted by the hibernation capsules of the Covenant Alliance.

As the best refiner here, Li Yao was obliged to speak first. He narrowed his eyes and studied for a long time before he said, “It seems like some sort of super teleportation array or a powerful signal launcher. It’s in the vintage style of the primeval age.

“Judging from the runes and the dazzling electric arcs, it was trying to tear apart the three-dimension, create mini wormholes, and send special signals to somewhere else.

“In other words, it can partly replace the s.p.a.ce gate. It’s even an advanced and secret s.p.a.ce gate itself that can summon the main forces of the Covenant Alliance from thousands of lightyears away!”

“How’s it possible?”

Li Jialing—Li Yao still preferred his old name—found it hard to believe. “How can a s.p.a.ce gate be constructed within the atmosphere? Its signals will be warped when they pa.s.s the atmosphere!”

“About that, the Covenant Alliance might have improved their s.p.a.ce gate with the new technologies that they excavated. Or maybe they hid a s.p.a.ce gate in the Thick Soil Sector, and this facility on the ground was only meant to activate it.”

Li Yao opened his hands and said, “There are many ways to do that. The only problem is that the garrison should’ve discovered the intense s.p.a.ce ripples and spiritual energy when the s.p.a.ce gate was opened. Why was the garrison of the Thick Soil Sector so sluggish?”

“Because…”

Lei Chenghu paused for a moment, and he couldn’t have looked more awful. “A while back, the garrison of the Thick Soil Sector initiated an operation codenamed ‘Absolute Loyalty’. Many traitors from the four families who opposed the reform were found. Unfortunately, the commanders of the orbit troops were from the four families and were arrested, which resulted in the flaws in the defense.”

Silently, Li Yao stared at Lei Chenghu with his eyes bulging.

Lei Chenghu could hardly confront his burning eyes. Out of his usual behavior, he turned his head aside.

“Seriously?”

Li Yao, however, did not let him go. He gnashed his teeth and asked, “You’re doing a purge at the frontline at such a critical moment when the Covenant Alliance may attack anytime?”

“What choices do I have?”

Veins jutted out on Lei Chenghu’s neck as he bashed the table and roared, “Since their failure in the Seven Seas Sector and the capital, the four families have been trying to win the expedition army over. They know that they’re losing, so they’re investing tremendous money to attract the soldiers in the expedition army who belong to the four families and instigate them to rebel!

“n.o.body wants to treat their comrades so cruelly. I do not want the soldiers to be killed by their own men either. However, vetting and loyal education are necessary, or the whole expedition army might pledge loyalty to Emperor Chengwu overnight!

“Yes, the garrisons of different Sectors have different ways of investigation, and some of them are radical, but what can I do? Can I split myself into thousands of parts and supervise the investigation in every Sector like a kindergarten teacher?

“Don’t say that it’s cruel! How can we ensure the expedition army’s loyalty to the new emperor, to the reform, and to the new Imperium? By asking a Cultivator to make a speech to them or to play p.o.r.n videos for them again?”

“You!”

Li Yao was so angry that he did not know what to say. “How can you do that?”

“Alright, you two…”

Li Jialing was new to being an emperor. His performance during the coronation ceremony was good enough, but he lost the manners of an emperor under the emergency. He could only say, “What happened has happened. We better figure out a solution instead of fighting among ourselves! Lei Chenghu, how are things going on in other Sectors? Has the Covenant Alliance attacked them?”

“Not for now.”

Taking a deep breath, Lei Chenghu managed to calm himself down. He displayed the map of the newly-recovered area on the light beam behind him before he said hoa.r.s.ely, “However, the loss of the Thick Soil Sector is already very severe, if not critical! Please take a look. The Thick Soil Sector is an intersection of many sailing routes in the newly-recovered area. It’s a transportation hub for different battle areas, so a lot of resources have been stacked there.

“The fall of the Thick Soil Sector has not only made us lose a lot of precious resources but also disrupted the supply to the frontline. Earlier, the troops from dozens of worlds rested and replenished in the Thick Soil Sector when they marched, and if they have to choose a different route, they will have to consume 20% more fuel and resources.

“More importantly, after occupying the Thick Soil Sector, it’s like the Covenant Alliance has smashed a nail into the heart of our newly-recovered area. They can attack all the nearby Sectors with the Sector as their base.”

Lei Chenghu clenched his fists as he talked.

“I tried to explain to the Council of Elders a year ago that our battle up until then had been going on too well. Our expedition army was projected to more planets and more sailing routes when the main forces of the Covenant Alliance were not destroyed yet, and we lost our mobility!”

Lei Chenghu said coldly, “Now, the main forces of the Covenant Alliance have been gathered into a fist that can punch anywhere they want, but we have to divide our army to defend a hundred Sectors simultaneously. It’s possible that none of them can be secured in the end!”

“Then…”

Naturally, Li Yao asked, “Can you abandon part of the newly-recovered area and gather our forces to fight the main forces of the Covenant Alliance, or at least to defend the most critical locations?”

“It’s very difficult. It was the best strategy a year ago, but it’s not an option right now. It’s not a military problem; it’s a political one.”

Lei Chenghu shook his head and said, “We’re different from the Covenant Alliance. The people of the Covenant Alliance are a bunch of lunatics and machines who do not care about consequences. They can abandon dozens of Sectors without any hesitation and bury themselves for years if not decades for the best opportunity of a comeback, but we can’t do the same. We’re the army of the Imperium. We’re the guardians of mankind that represent the glory of our civilization!

“Now, the new emperor has just been coronated, and the Imperium is about to be ushered into the most splendid age, but we’re retreating from dozens of Sectors and making those worlds fall into darkness again?

“If so, the new emperor and the Imperium will be in too much of a disgrace. We can’t explain to the people, and the rebels of the four families will definitely attack us with that excuse or even instigate the expedition army to take their side!”