Twenty Seven Years

  Chapter 530 The Darkest Night

   "Shut up."

  The door of the cell was opened.

   Celt smiled and threw Capa's head beside Verak: "You are completely finished."

  Sorrow filled Veraker's heart, but on the surface he just looked at Capa's corpse calmly: "You still chose to stand by the government."

"Of course, after all, you didn't accept the aid of Bash and Pruman at all. I will surely die if I rely on you." Celt once again won a big victory in the confrontation with Verak, and was so happy that he ignored the stench of the prison for a while. "In fact, I would also like to thank you. If you hadn't forced me so hard yesterday, I wouldn't have been able to reveal the truth to President Auston and completely remove my hidden dangers."

   "How are the comrades in the action team?" Verak didn't care about Celt's situation.

"Catched a batch, and the rest are still chasing. In short, after so many heavy losses, your operation team can no longer pose any threat. Oh, by the way, after confirming that you have not received assistance, the Feitier line of defense The troops on the side will also reorganize their attack in the shortest possible time, and this time they will break through your line of defense at any cost and point directly at the city of Leicester."

  Verak has no more questions to ask.

  At this point, the fate of the arrested comrades is predictable.

  He has to admit that being beaten back when he was so close to hope, the huge gap is quite frustrating.

   "Are you okay?" Verac's reaction made Celt feel dull.

   Anger, loss of control, pain…

  None of these performances he was expecting happened.

   "No more." Verak said.

   "Don't you care when you will be executed?" Selter was the first to be impatient, "President Auston personally gave the order, and it will be tomorrow night."

"Um."

   "There are less than 24 hours left, what wish do you have? If it is reasonable, I can satisfy you." Celt admired Verac very much, especially when Verak became his defeated opponent.

   "Bury them all well."

  Selter groaned, agreed to Veraker's request, and stepped forward to lift Capa's head again: "What about you?"

  Verak thought for a few seconds: "Can I choose a dignified way to die?"

   “…I do my best.”

  Selter stayed for more than ten minutes before leaving the prison.

  Most of the people in the action team were arrested, and there was no need for him to live in prison for a long time and take care of the busy work.

   And Verac, sitting there all night, no one knew what he was thinking, not even himself.

  He just had a strong premonition that his life was really coming to an end.

  No happiness, no sadness, no expectation, no fear.

  The whole person seems to have sunk into a quiet lake.

  —

   Late night

   Leicester City, International Equality League Office Building, Keating's Office

  For Keating, any piece of bad news is nothing compared to the secret message he is holding in his hand.

  【Operation team plan failed】

  The short seven words represent that Verak's sacrifice has become an unchangeable thing, and the collapse of Feitier's defense line has also become a matter of time.

   To the darkest hour.

  He didn't know that this was the first time he thought of these four words during this period of time.

  The International Equality League has faced countless crises, what is the result?

  Using the words of Veraker in Daymans Prison, it is 'I stand here is the best answer'.

   But now, Veraker is about to fall, and the International Equality League is also "hanging by a thread", and all the things that can be used to prove the final victory of the International Equality League are crumbling along with it.

   Is it really over?

   Keating put the code into the desk drawer, and wiped away the tears from the corners of his eyes.

  "Chairman Keating." The secretary knocked on the door and walked in. "Ambassador Selivanovich from the Bash Empire and Minister Felix from the Pruman Empire are here. They want to see you again."

  Meeting at this time is to confirm that the International Equality Alliance is at stake, and we must cooperate if we do not cooperate.

  The vast majority of people follow the rule of the jungle, and under this rule, a consensus has been formed: survival is more important than principles.

   Only when it exists can the principle be maintained.

   no longer exists, the principle will be wiped out.

   Keating has dismissed this consensus since he joined the Equality Association and the International Equality Alliance, but now, his heart is extremely shaken.

   Is it really necessary to deny assistance?

  When the government army attacked and wiped out the International Equality Alliance, countless struggles were crushed under the dust, so what are the sacrifices of so many people before?

  History is too grand and powerful.

  Twenty years later, no one will remember the names of those victims.

  Fifty years later, no one will believe that there ever was such a group of people willingly dedicating their lives for an illusory and beautiful new world.

   "Do you want to let them in?" The secretary waited for more than ten seconds and asked again.

   "Lennon."

   "Chairman." Secretary Lennon stood up straight.

   Keating asked from the heart: "Are you afraid of being forgotten?"

  It sounds like a question that has nothing to do with what he wants to ask for instructions.

  The young Lennon pushed his glasses and was about to speak when he heard Keating's supplement.

"to be honest."

"I am afraid."

   "Why are you afraid?"

   "It just... feels like I have never existed in this world, and everything I have done is meaningless..." Lennon said.

   "But the vast majority of people in this world are forgotten." Keating looked at Lennon, "No matter good or bad, no matter whether you have done anything or not."

   "Yes..." Lennon didn't understand why Keating asked this question, and what kind of answer he wanted.

   Keating re-firmed his thoughts while Lennon was in a daze.

   It's not because of any great reason, he just realized that people will be forgotten, and forgetting is not a criterion to measure whether a person's life is meaningful or worthless.

"Tell Ambassador Selivanovic and Minister Felix that you don't need to come to me anymore, the International Equality Alliance cannot accept their assistance." Keating gave the answer Lennon wanted to know most, "Remind them at last One word, stop the violence."

   "Understood." Lennon left.

   Keating got up and went to the window, looking out.

  He saw citizens packing their bags and leaving Leliste in the cold night.

   It's normal. The situation of the Feitier defense line is not a secret. Many people know that Leliste City will soon be caught in the flames of war.

   "Chairman Keating."

  Intelligence Minister Charles is here.

   "Sit down." Keating returned to his desk and sat down.

   "Reliable information, the government forces on the Feitier line of defense are regrouping and will launch another full-scale attack tomorrow at the latest." Charles said, "Although our reinforcements and supplies have arrived, but..."

   "You want to say, should we pack up our things and make another transfer?"

   "...Yes, once the Feitier line of defense falls, the government troops will be able to reach the city of Leicester within two days." Charles nodded slightly, "We don't have much time left."

   Keating looked at the map on the side: "Where else can we go?"

"You can go anywhere, but you have to go underground. We no longer have the strength to confront the government forces head-on, and it is difficult to build another line of defense." Charles just sent Laizein's secret message an hour ago. Handing it over to Keating, he knew that there must be a lot of pressure in Keating's heart right now, "...are you okay?"

   "I'm fine." Keating patted Charles in turn, "You've worked hard during this time, go get ready."

"…clear."

  —

  December 20, early morning

   Fetier's Line

  Joseph and Adel came to the trenches on the front line and used binoculars to check the light in the distance.

"The time was shorter than we expected. The government army knew that we refused to cooperate with Bash and Pluman, but they were still determined to take our position immediately." Joseph put down the binoculars, rubbed his hands and was frozen stiff hands.

   "It took so long and I lost so much, I can't wait for anyone else." Adel put his hands in his pockets expressionlessly and looked ahead.

"The main station has sent back the news that they are organizing the evacuation. I think Riches is good. It is a permanent neutral country. It is definitely better to stay there and hide your strength and bide your time than to be chased and intercepted by government forces all day long." Joseph turned his head and looked at Adel, "You Go back and pack your things, and follow them."

  Adel snorted.

   Joseph said again: "What? Still like going to the battlefield?"

   "What is your plan?" Adel asked back.

   "Take the comrades to continue to hold the line of defense, and buy some time for the rear. There are so many wounded, so many problems that need to be solved, if we don't hold on, it will all be over."

"And after that?"

   "If we don't die in the future, we will have to carry out a strategic shift." Joseph turned and walked to the headquarters, and from time to time expressed his condolences to the comrades of the Equality Army who were on duty.

After returning to the headquarters, Adel sat on the side and smoked a cigar: "Lezer's action team was hit hard, and the plan to mobilize the front-line government troops to help back failed. Our pressure has not been reduced, so we don't have the objective to reverse the situation." Possibly. Especially now that the government forces have occupied more than a dozen surrounding towns, further reducing our room for maneuver, breaking out and strategic shifting are indeed the only way.”

Joseph poured a cup of hot water to keep warm: "Simply put, it is procrastination, waiting for a favorable situation to emerge. We are just short of time than the government forces, which does not mean that they are not in a hurry. After the strategic shift, they must continue Choose between the two general directions of encircling and suppressing us, and forming an alliance with Dunman and Wellland."

  "They can only choose to form an alliance first, to contend against Bash and Pullman."

"That's right, that's our chance. But before that, we have to step up our preparations for the strategic shift. It's best to divide the army into several groups and passively cut the government army apart. The simpler reason is, We can't all stay on the same boat." Joseph took a few sips of hot water, and after recovering, he poured Adel another glass.

  Adel asked: "Has the route been determined? Where shall I take my comrades?"

   "Didn't I tell you to go back to the terminus?" Joseph laughed.

   "Stop joking." Adel spread out the map, arms crossed.

"The initial idea is to divide the troops into two groups, advancing east and southeast respectively." Joseph also came to the map, "If we drag it down, we will definitely be able to drag it down until the government forces can mobilize troops to fight against Bash and Pruman, but on the whole Our situation is still not optimistic. The government will never completely ignore us, or send troops to intercept us. Without the stable supply of Lelister City, our long strategic shift must be full of countless challenges."

   "What about after the breakout?"

   "Waiting for the opportunity, join forces." Joseph smiled, "It's a bit early to say this, it must be a few years later."

  Adel still had a cold face: "It is a victory if you can not be encircled and suppressed during the period."

   "Yeah, our strengths are still too far apart." Joseph sighed.

   "I'm in charge of leading the Second Army to go southeast." Adel took the initiative to choose the most difficult path, "Otherwise, I don't worry about changing anyone else."

"In terms of these two breakout directions, the strategic transfer from the southeast is the most difficult. The terrain is complex and rough, and the government troops are stationed in a large number. There will be no stable supplies at that time. What do you eat? What do you wear? You have run out of bullets." What to do?" Joseph wondered if Adel had considered these serious issues.

   "I will find a way to solve it, so you don't have to worry about it."

  Joseph didn't say anything more: "This one was originally given to you. I only hope that after this strategic shift, one day in the future, we can join forces successfully."

   "Yes." Adel suddenly thought of Veraker again, "The failure of the plan of the Lazerin action team means that Comrade Veraker cannot be rescued, right?"

"Lezer's action team suffered extremely heavy losses. It is unknown whether the remaining comrades can survive, so there is no need to expect a miracle." Joseph studied the map, "What's wrong? Feel sorry for Comrade Verak? "

   "The last time I saw him was at Comrade Nord's wedding. Less than half of the comrades who were present at that time are still alive." Adel stubbed out the cigar.

   "I hope we can all survive." Joseph said.

   "Raid! Raid!"

  Joseph and Adel were just about to study the two routes of strategic transfer in detail, when gunfire came from outside, and then a comrade rushed in without knocking on the door.

   "What's the situation?!" Joseph asked, helping the comrade who almost fell.

   "Government forces have launched an attack!"

   "Aren't they still gathering?" Adel frowned.

  Just a few tens of minutes ago, he and Joseph used binoculars to see that the main force of the government army was still gathering. According to common sense, if you want to complete the preparations for a full-scale attack, you have to wait until tomorrow afternoon at least.

   "That was to confuse us on purpose! Their main force has now come from both sides of the defense line!" Comrade said.

   Joseph and Adel looked at each other subconsciously.

  The transfer of Leicester City will take time, and the many wounded and supplies cannot be left in vain.

   "Let's go." A tougher battle than two days ago was about to start, and Adel didn't look too heavy, "We have to face it."

   "Let's go, you have to hold on to everything you say." Joseph gradually showed a resolute smile.

  (end of this chapter)