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"Of course not!" The general turned to Lucia. "There's one thing I don't know if you've considered: if we let the prisoners of war fight directly, who can ensure they will fight for us? If our offensive goes smoothly, that's fine, but once we encounter setbacks, it's hard to guarantee that these people won't turn against us. Furthermore, managing them is also a problem; gathering them together will pose a terrible risk, and if we disperse them, it will be difficult to form an effective fighting force..."
The general's concerns were well-articulated, leaving Lucia speechless. Even Prince Banan nodded frequently. Zhang Qiu watched anxiously from the side, unable to interrupt the general and having to wait for him to finish. Once the general was done, Zhang Qiu immediately pointed out, "Your Excellency, aside from using prisoners of war, do you have a better plan?"
"My plan is to continue recruiting new soldiers," the general replied to Zhang Qiu while also suggesting it to Prince Banan.
Prince Banan found himself in a dilemma; neither the general's nor Zhang Qiu's proposal seemed perfect in implementation.
The general said, "Prince Banan, time is of the essence; please make a decision quickly."
Prince Banan opened his mouth, sighed, and continued to ponder, his brows furrowed into a deep frown that matched his complexion—truly a sight of frustration. Fearing that Prince Banan would not adopt his plan, Zhang Qiu, confident in his idea, urged Prince Banan again: "Prince Banan, I still recommend letting the prisoners of war participate in the battle. I have solutions for the concerns raised by the general."
"You have solutions?" Prince Banan's eyes lit up as if he had discovered a new continent. "Go on!"
Zhang Qiu did not rush to answer but instead asked, "Let me first ask: where are the members of the National Defense Force from? Did they live in the south or north before the war started?"
"Half from the south and half from the north; we previously used a conscription system, so the troops are quite balanced."
"That's good!" Zhang Qiu said. "Prince Banan, have your civil officials immediately formulate a reasonable policy for widespread implementation in our current regions. This policy should focus on people's livelihoods and prioritize land distribution. Additionally, since it's winter now, although Bam's climate isn't particularly cold, it undoubtedly poses another blow to impoverished families. Therefore, we need to assess the number of impoverished households and provide varying amounts of assistance..."
Before Zhang Qiu could finish, Prince Banan interjected: "I understand! You mean to gain the army's loyalty through improving people's livelihoods!" He nodded enthusiastically and praised, "This is indeed a very good method."
"That's not all," Zhang Qiu said as he glanced at the serious-looking general sitting across from Prince Banan. The general's stern expression made it hard to discern his true thoughts.
"Oh?" Prince Banan elongated his tone. "Is there more?"
"Of course," Zhang Qiu smiled. "Improving people's livelihoods to gain the army's loyalty is just one aspect. On another front, enhancing living conditions will allow people in the south—especially those in earthquake-stricken areas—to feel the significant differences between the two regions. When public sentiment aligns with us, at that point, Prince Banan won't need to worry about the army; he might just be busy governing the country."
"Wonderful, wonderful!" Prince Banan clapped his hands, not hiding his joy. "Zhang Qiu, sometimes I even wonder if you are really an ordinary person."
"Of course not, the three of us are..." Zhang Qiu started to say, but the rest of his words were conveyed with a glance. Both Prince Banan and Lucia understood what Zhang Qiu meant; the matter of the Jade Pendant Heir should not be mentioned in front of the general.
Prince Banan asked the general, "What is your opinion?"
"It is entirely up to Your Highness."
"Alright then, let's go with Zhang Qiu's plan. You should take care of it immediately."
"Yes!"
The general accepted the order and left, leaving only Prince Banan, Zhang Qiu, and Lucia in the room. A servant brought in prepared dishes on a wooden tray and placed them on the desk. Prince Banan's stomach was empty, and at that moment he had a big appetite, picking up his utensils to eat. Zhang Qiu could see Prince Banan's eagerness to devour the food, but the prince still maintained a dignified manner while eating.
That evening, Prince Banan left the conference room and returned to his room to rest. Zhang Qiu and Lucia lay on their beds, chatting casually about everything from their first meeting to their plans after leaving Tanzania. According to the current developments, Tanzania would soon achieve unification, and by then their mission would be considered complete.
The next morning, Zhang Qiu got up early and jogged around the palace. The soldiers of the guard outside were all full of spirit. A red sun rose from the east as Zhang Qiu sweated profusely, raising his hand to wipe the beads of sweat from his forehead. From a distance, he noticed a troop approaching him, draped in camouflage made of khaki rags.
Zhang Qiu's attention was drawn to them as he was surprised to see that this troop was coming toward him. As they got closer, he recognized Azure Hawk and others among them. Zhang Qiu couldn't help but ask, "You guys are back so soon? The war isn't over yet."
"No!" Azure Hawk looked up at him. "The war is over."
"Over?" Zhang Qiu was puzzled.
"That's right. In a sense, the war has already ended at this point. The king is at his last gasp; my continued presence in the war zone no longer holds much significance. Take me to see the prince; there are some matters I need to report to him in person." Azure Hawk then ordered the soldiers behind him, "All troops, stand at attention!"
The soldiers immediately lined up in formation. Azure Hawk said, "Dismissed!"
The soldiers dispersed, and Azure Hawk said to Zhang Qiu, "Let's go."
Zhang Qiu nodded and led Azure Hawk and the others to meet the prince. Seeing the members of the White Wolf Special Assault Team full of energy, Zhang Qiu finally felt relieved. If any one of the six were to repeat the mistakes of K, Zhang Qiu would never forgive himself.
Prince Banan expressed similar surprise at Azure Hawk's appearance, prompting Azure Hawk to explain to the prince what he had previously told Zhang Qiu. When Prince Banan inquired about the situation on the front lines, Azure Hawk replied, "Since we set out, we have maintained radio silence. Upon reaching the front lines, we split into six teams, each taking a squad deep behind enemy lines to destroy local fuel stations, communication facilities, and several large factories. One team managed to infiltrate an enemy camp silently and engaged in silent combat. However, due to limited training time and unfamiliarity with tactical maneuvers, one team member accidentally made a noise during the operation, leading to mission failure and a withdrawal after gunfire. One soldier was killed, two were injured, while the other teams remained at full strength."
"That's simply thrilling!" Prince Banan exclaimed upon hearing Azure Hawk's account. The idea that just a few teams could inflict such significant damage on the south was unimaginable.
"Prince Banan, with all due respect, I cannot commend the combat effectiveness of the National Defense Force. During operations, many individuals simply crouched behind cover with their guns raised over their heads and fired off rounds without even aiming. Because of this, our actions proceeded very smoothly."
Prince Banan appeared somewhat embarrassed and admitted, "I have noticed your situation as well; therefore, when training the New Army, I intentionally brought in military instructors from Europe for basic tactical guidance."
Azure Hawk continued, "Today, I brought back two teams to continue training while four teams remain in the combat zone. By the time this war is over, any one of those I have trained can serve as an instructor on their own. Improving military standards is not something that happens overnight; there is still a long way to go from weak to strong."
"That's simply wonderful. In that case, why don't you stay on as instructors? When I brought in European instructors initially, I paid each of them one hundred thousand dollars. For you all, I'll offer two hundred thousand each," Prince Banan expressed his strong agreement with Azure Hawk's philosophy and was moved by his straightforward approach.
Azure Hawk smiled slightly and said, "Thank you for your kindness, Prince Banan; however, we will not be staying."
"I can offer you more money!"
"It's not about the money."
"Then why is that?"
"Because we are Chinese soldiers!"
Prince Banan was taken aback as he studied Azure Hawk's chiseled profile and the resolute look in his eyes. After a long pause, Prince Banan finally said, "I think I now understand why your nation can be so great."
Azure Hawk simply smiled and did not express any opinion on the topic. Prince Banan did not press the issue and affectionately put his arm around Azure Hawk's shoulder, saying, "Come on, let's welcome our hero."
"Wait!" Azure Hawk said.
"What is it?" Prince Banan stopped and looked at Azure Hawk.
"I haven't finished reporting on the situation in the south; there are some circumstances that you might not be aware of."
"Alright, you!" Prince Banan pulled Azure Hawk down into a chair. He particularly appreciated Azure Hawk's attitude towards matters.
"When I led the Special Operations Team in the Southern Region, we established many bases using the vast rural areas. The local farmers and urban workers were willing to help us. As a result, many regions have directly declared independence from the king's rule. This situation is still ongoing, and I believe it won't be long before the territorial area and number of soldiers for both parties will flip."
"Is that so!" Azure Hawk's words brought even greater surprise to Prince Banan. The independence of the Southern Cities was not a coincidence but rather a scheme orchestrated by Azure Hawk and others. "You are truly amazing!" Prince Banan exclaimed repeatedly. "You planned the Southeast independence movement, while Zhang Qiu strategized for me, utilizing the National Welfare Corps to deal with prisoners of war. You are like helpers sent by God."
Upon hearing Prince Banan's introduction, Azure Hawk looked at Zhang Qiu with a hint of admiration and smiled, saying, "The vast ocean of people's war."
"Exactly!" Zhang Qiu also smiled, suddenly recalling his homeroom teacher Zhao Guohong. It seemed that learning more history was indeed useful; unfortunately, Zhang Qiu had spent too much time on extracurricular activities during Zhao Guohong's history class.
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