"Where is our destination?" Once the fleet pierced a hidden spatial jump point, Tianhai finally couldn't hold back and asked. "You'll know when we get there." Even facing his close friend, Zhong Yun offered no hint.

This concerned not only their lives but also the survival of Dawa, so he dared not be careless. Tianhai fell silent.

The entire fleet advanced in silence, everyone making final preparations. Before departure, Zhong Yun, as the Commander-in-Chief, delivered a pre-battle address, first articulating Dawa's precarious situation in a tone of profound sorrow.

He then addressed the more than a million warriors aboard the six vessels with stirring passion: "As a man of Dawa, I absolutely cannot stand idly by while my homeland is invaded. With our nation engulfed in war, every soul of Dawa must step forward to defend our country, to defend our dignity." "I, Zhong Yun, will lead you down a path where life or death hangs by a thread.

If we win, you will be the heroes who saved the nation from peril; if we lose, you will all be martyrs who died for the homeland. In short: if you have the guts, follow me." That single coarse phrase instantly ignited the bloodlust of every warrior.

They had all come with the resolve to die if necessary. Success or death in honor.

Several hours later, just as Tianhai was about to question again, Zhong Yun suddenly gave a grave order: "Attention all warriors, enter Level One combat readiness. In half an hour, the battle begins." The four of them—Chen Wen, Tianhai, and Zhang Xiao—fixed their gazes upon him.

Zhong Yun raised his right hand, gesturing across the ship toward the distant horizon. "Target: the capital of the Hongxian Federation—Planet Puig!" Chen Wen, Tianhai, and Zhang Xiao all sucked in a sharp breath, feeling the hairs on their bodies stand on end.

Zhong Yun was planning to strike the capital of the Hongxian Federation by surprise! The three of them had never imagined he would be so audacious.

Moreover, he had truly maneuvered this fleet silently close to the capital, much like how they had slipped onto Planet Mandes. Planet Puig, the capital of the Hongxian Federation, was situated deep within its territory.

No matter which border one entered from, it was tens of thousands of light-years away. Unless one utilized the heavily guarded spatial jump points for teleportation, approaching it would take at least a decade or more.

They were almost numb to Zhong Yun's miraculous powers, his ability to vanish and reappear without a trace. They even suspected whether Zhong Yun could create a spatial channel himself; otherwise, how could he possibly achieve this?

Zhong Yun certainly did not possess such an ability; if he did, he wouldn't be helpless against a mere Hongxian Federation, concluding that they had only a one-percent chance of victory. This probability had been estimated by Xiao Ling.

Since the defensive strength of the Hongxian Federation's capital was unknown, Xiao Ling could only calculate a rough average. Based on the standard strength near Planet Vol, with a fifty percent upward adjustment, the success rate was only between five and twelve percent.

He had chosen eleven percent. Immediately afterward, the three felt a surge of heat rush to their heads, their bodies trembling slightly with excitement.

Attacking the enemy's capital with only this single fleet, deep inside enemy territory—regardless of success or failure, the tragic heroism of this act alone would be enough to echo through history. It was only then they understood the true meaning of Zhong Yun’s words: heroes if they succeeded, martyrs if they failed.

If, by some miracle, they truly managed to take control of the Hongxian Federation's capital, then Dawa could indeed stage a stunning reversal, turning defeat into victory. They would instantly become Dawa's saviors.

If they failed, there was only death. "In half an hour—" Zhong Yun's deep and steady voice continued, "—we will reach the enemy's heart—the capital, Puig.

Are you prepared?" "We are prepared!" Chen Wen, Tianhai, and Zhang Xiao shouted, their faces flushed crimson, pouring every ounce of their strength into the roar. Zhong Yun nodded.

"Await my command." He switched off the broadcast and closed his eyes. Many warriors on the ships were too excited to sit still, vigorously polishing their mechs or fighters, awaiting the moment the orders would arrive.

A dozen minutes later, Zhong Yun suddenly opened his eyes and connected with the five captains. "Begin tactical deployment now..." Hours earlier, he had dispatched the spy vessel 'Hornet Four' ahead to scout conditions on Planet Puig.

'Hornet Four' was a specialized intelligence vessel, possessing extremely advanced stealth capabilities and sophisticated detection equipment, though its size limited it to use only in the void of space. Just moments ago, he had received notification from Xiao Ling: 'Hornet Four' had completed its reconnaissance mission.

Of course, this entire operational plan had been drafted by Xiao Ling. Zhong Yun always believed that if he didn't understand something, he shouldn't command foolishly; it should be left to professionals, especially during wartime, when lives are at stake.

Zhong Yun directly transmitted the operational plan to the five battleships, briefly explaining it before instructing them to await his orders. The plan, as usual, detailed nearly every conceivable contingency.

It was even meticulously detailed down to the firing frequency of every single cannon on every ship. Seeing such a plan for the first time, the five captains were stunned.

They even wondered if this young commander was joking. No tactical plan could possibly account for every minute detail, as war was inherently volatile, with many factors impossible to predict beforehand.

Therefore, a commander’s order usually laid out a general objective, leaving the precise execution to the captain's discretion. Furthermore, such a detailed plan was only possible if one possessed intimate knowledge of the enemy's deployment and firepower—something that, short of having spies within the enemy ranks, was utterly impossible to obtain.

Yet, the progression of the war left the five captains utterly shocked. The battle proceeded almost exactly as the plan dictated, as if it had been rehearsed beforehand, with this operational plan serving as the script.

The main reason they had followed Zhong Yun in attacking Planet Mandes, and why they were now here without even a fixed objective, was Zhong Yun’s almost magical command artistry. In their view, this had transcended mere command; it bordered on the miraculous.

From attacking the enemy's first base to assaulting Planet Mandes, they had fought ten battles in total. They had annihilated one enemy 'Quasi-Satellite Class' warship, twenty-one 'Mist Mountain Class' warships, one hundred and thirty-four destroyers, nearly five million mechs and fighters, and over a dozen large supply vessels.

Their own cost? Merely a few thousand mechs!

Such combat results were unbelievable. Even an advanced civilization battling a mid-level civilization might not achieve such a favorable exchange ratio.

Upon reviewing the enemy’s deployment, the five captains gasped again. Planet Puig, the capital of the Hongxian Federation, was guarded by three massive bases, equipped with a total of eight 'Quasi-Satellite Class' warships, thirty-three 'Mist Mountain Class' warships, and two hundred destroyers.

With such strength, let alone their five 'Mist Mountain Class' warships and one unspecified 'Mars' vessel, even the entire remaining fleet of Dawa concentrated together would likely be unable to breach such defenses. Setting aside everything else, a single full salvo from the warships of just one of those bases could annihilate their entire force.

Continuing to read, the five captains fell into a profound silence after finishing the entire operational plan. The plan was too risky; it was virtually a certainty of death, with no conceivable path to success.

Time ticked by second by second. The five captains remained silent, but Zhong Yun showed no sign of impatience.

At this point, only five minutes remained until the time he had set for the war to commence. "Since we have arrived here, we have no room to retreat," the First Captain suddenly declared, looking up, his gaze firm.

"Just as the Commander-in-Chief said, this is our last chance. If we succeed, Dawa can turn the tide and snatch victory from defeat.

If we fail, the situation cannot possibly worsen. It will merely cost us our lives." "Since the day I enlisted, I never considered retiring alive," another chimed in.

"It is my honor to offer my life for my country," one man stated, placing a hand over his chest, his face filled with piety. Zhong Yun smiled faintly.

He had not misjudged them. Judging by their records, the five captains were all retired Lieutenant Generals.

The fact that they abandoned comfortable lives to answer the call and join the 'Rescue Team' after retiring proved they were not men afraid of death. After cutting off the communication, Zhong Yun looked tenderly at Liu Yunqi, who offered him a gentle smile.

"Do you regret it?" Zhong Yun asked softly, paying no mind to the others present. Liu Yunqi reached out and took his hand, shaking her head, resting her head on his shoulder.

"As long as I can be with you, I fear nothing." Zhong Yun felt a surge of emotion, reaching out to embrace her, resting his chin against the top of her head, inhaling the fragrance of her hair, and saying softly, "I will not let us die here." Zhang Xiao looked at the command console, a flicker of sadness crossing his eyes. "Xiao Yun is too ruthless, pushing us like this," Tianhai murmured.

His gaze was unfocused as he stared ahead, a hint of melancholy on his face. "You still can't forget her?" Chen Wen suddenly asked.

Tianhai gave a self-deprecating smile. "I always thought I could forget, but only now, at this moment, do I realize I cannot." "When we get back, tell her," Chen Wen said, looking down at the operational console, his eyes slightly vacant.

"Let's worry about having a way back first," Tianhai took a deep breath, as if trying to drive the shadow of 'her' from his mind. "What about you?

At a time like this, which woman are you thinking of?" Tianhai turned to his friend. "You would never guess," Chen Wen suddenly let out a light laugh, as if recalling an amusing joke.

Chen Wen's expression told Tianhai that the woman he was thinking of must be very special. Suddenly, a flash of insight struck Tianhai.

"That girl who splashed water all over you? What was her name again..." "Wang Lingling," upon hearing the name, a rare tenderness surfaced on Chen Wen’s face.

"You rascal..." Tianhai realized with a start. "I wondered back then, with your skills, how you could have been splashed by her.

So, you were already smitten with her." "Attention everyone, the battle is about to commence..." Zhong Yun's sharp shout snapped them to attention. All lingering sentiments of romance were cast aside; now they faced the most powerful enemy in history.

P: Another chapter tonight.