As the two flanking fleets departed, the remaining ships of the Combined Fleet set sail, arrayed at the very edge of the Ancient Legion’s fortress radiation zone, mimicking an intent to launch a full-scale assault. This maneuver appeared to be a feint, designed solely to cover the retreat of the Third and Fifth Fleets.

Marshal Alexander had employed every tactical deception imaginable to mislead Weng Sha, layering disguise upon disguise to conceal his true objective.

At this moment, outside Io, the Ancient Legion’s warships were densely clustered, forming a veritable iron cage—a formation that suggested anyone or anything entering would leave severely mauled.

In the bridge of a Dragon King-class battlecruiser, a staff officer suddenly shouted, "Lord Weng Sha, the Earth Forces’ Third and Fifth Fleets are withdrawing toward the Asteroid Belt!"

"Hmm, withdrawing now?" Weng Sha's eyebrow twitched. He stood before the command throne, falling instantly into deep thought.

Seeing Weng Sha lost in contemplation, the reporting officer subtly raised his head. "My Lord, this retreat by the Human forces doesn't seem simple. We can find no logical reason for it among the various factors. Could they have some ulterior motive?"

Weng Sha nodded slowly. "That is obvious. It's too late for them to be reinforcing; retreating is even less likely." He turned to the officer. "Have there been any significant developments in the last two days?"

The Ape staff officer considered this. "My Lord, reinforcements from Saturn are en route and are already approaching Jupiter's orbit."

"To have those two fleets loop around via the Asteroid Belt just to intercept our reinforcements? No, haha..." Weng Sha pondered for a moment, then burst into loud laughter.

The Ape staff officer was immediately perplexed. Weng Sha's initial speculation had startled him, making him almost believe it was an Earth military plot, but the sudden laughter made him ask, "My Lord, what are you laughing at?"

Weng Sha slightly contained his mirth. "I am laughing at that human commander, Alexander, for thinking he is Zhuge Liang and that I am Cao Cao!"

"Cao Cao?" The Ape staff officer looked completely bewildered.

"That is a historical figure from Earth, from over two thousand years ago. It doesn't matter if you don't know," Weng Sha waved his hand dismissively. "There is a famous passage in an ancient Earth chronicle where Cao Cao, being extremely suspicious, always overcomplicates his thinking, but ultimately got himself trapped at a place called Huarong Pass."

The Ape staff officer maintained his expression of confusion.

Weng Sha snorted. "That fool Alexander probably assumes my mind also takes an extra, unnecessary turn. They put on this display, hoping I’ll believe they plan to attack our reinforcements. But he severely underestimates me, Weng Sha. I see right through it. Their target has always been the main body of our fleet, hasn't it?"

The Ape staff officer seemed to grasp the situation somewhat. "My Lord, what should we do?"

"We cannot let such a golden opportunity slip by. Send word to all Master-level experts immediately."

After speaking, Weng Sha sank back into his command throne, his pale gold eyes seeming to gleam, and a chilling, ruthless aura gradually spread outward, causing the surrounding Ape staff officers to shiver involuntarily.

Three hours later, the Earth Forces’ Third and Fifth Fleets vanished from the Ancient Legion’s view. The Ancient Legion’s battleship contingent began igniting their drives and setting course. They left two fleets to guard the fortress cluster while the remaining five fleets flew toward Saturn.

On the bridge of the Combined Fleet’s flagship, a staff officer excitedly reported to Marshal Alexander:

"Marshal, the Ancient Legion’s fleet has set sail! Their course is—it's toward their reinforcements!"

"Good! They fell for it!" Marshal Alexander slammed his hand on the armrest, as if victory were already in sight. He turned to the bridge crew. "Prepare our own departure. The Third and Fifth Fleets should be returning soon. Calculate the Ancient Legion’s trajectory immediately; we need to strike them from both sides mid-course."

With all preparations complete, the Combined Fleet did not depart immediately but continued to wait. Two more hours passed, and the Ancient Legion’s fleet was now far out of range; turning back would be too late for them.

"Depart," Marshal Alexander issued the command to all subordinate units.

The Combined Fleet left two second-line main forces to hold the current formation. The First-line main fleets, the Second and Fourth, along with several mercenary units, including Yang Ying’s Tran Mercenary Corps, all ignited their drives and set sail. They were positioned to flank the returning Third and Fifth Fleets—the Second and Fourth on the left flank, the Third and Fifth on the right—moving like the two small pincers of a giant claw to sandwich the Ancient Legion’s fleet.

Based on the troop comparison, the ratio between the Earth Forces and the Ancient Legion was approximately nine to five, giving the Earth Forces a nearly two-to-one advantage.

However, shortly after the Second and Fourth Fleets departed, a staff officer on the flagship cried out in alarm:

"Not good, Marshal! The Ancient Legion’s fleet has changed direction!"

"What!" Marshal Alexander startled and stood up, demanding, "Where are they turning?" "Their target was supposed to be the Third Fleet and the Fifth Fleet—the right flank!" the officer's voice rose an octave.

Marshal Alexander’s face instantly turned ashen. He ordered the officer, "Display the tactical map!"

The main screen of the bridge immediately showed the plotted course of the Ancient Legion’s battleships—a curved trajectory pointing directly at the right flank units.

At this moment, the two fleets on the right flank, having to make a significant course correction to return, were farther away from the left flank units but considerably closer to the Ancient Legion’s approaching fleet.

"They saw through it?" Marshal Alexander rose again, pacing back and forth twice before addressing the staff officer. "But there is still a chance. Order the Third and Fifth Fleets to hold the enemy at all costs and wait for our support. The Ancient Legion isn't much stronger than them; they must be able to hold on!"

In terms of ship count, the Ancient Legion had a ratio of approximately five to four against the two right-flank fleets. In ship numbers alone, the Ancient Legion’s advantage was not overwhelming.

"Yes!" The officer immediately relayed the order.

On the Bridge of Ship Number One, Yang Ying, using the Observer function, had already grasped the entire situation. He then received the command from the flagship ordering all units to rush high-speed support to the right flank.

Yang Ying stroked his chin. "It looks like the situation is turning dangerous. Marshal Alexander's tactic has been seen through by Weng Sha. Yet, he refuses to let the right flank retreat and insists on proceeding with the plan—that is too risky. What if Weng Sha has a contingency plan? No, Weng Sha definitely has a contingency plan. The right flank could suffer heavy losses before we arrive."

"Should we try to persuade the Marshal?" Howard asked, turning to him.

"Connect me to the flagship," Yang Ying nodded.

The communications officer immediately handled the setup. After a few seconds, the connection to the flagship was established.

"Commander Yang Ying. What is it? Are you here to advise me to retreat as well?" Marshal Alexander’s brow was deeply furrowed, and he seemed visibly impatient with Yang Ying’s call.

Yang Ying’s heart sank. Someone must have already tried to dissuade him, but Alexander clearly hadn't listened. Nevertheless, he voiced his concerns and urged, "Your Excellency, please order the right flank to fall back and wait for the next opportunity at Jupiter. There is still time."

Marshal Alexander shook his head. "We finally managed to lure Weng Sha out. Once the left and right wings converge, no matter what scheme Weng Sha has, he cannot succeed against our absolute numerical superiority."

"We are just one step away. If we can cripple that force in this battle, taking Jupiter's orbit will only be a matter of time. It's worth staking everything on this gamble."

Yang Ying stood up, walked two steps closer to the screen, and emphasized his point, "But Weng Sha is clearly playing along with the deception. He must be prepared and won't let your plan succeed so easily."

Marshal Alexander continued shaking his head. "Stalemate at Jupiter is no solution. We have tried numerous methods; we’ve used almost everything available. Weng Sha is like a turtle hiding in its shell, refusing to leave the defensive perimeter of his fortress. Since losing Europa and Callisto, the Ancient Legion’s defense zone has shrunk, meaning their troop deployment is denser. Finding another landing opportunity like Callisto is now extremely difficult. Without resorting to siege warfare, we simply cannot break through."

He paused, took a breath, and continued, "As time passes, the defenses on Io and Ganymede will grow stronger. You know the reinforcements from Saturn include many engineering units. They will fortify old fortresses and build new ones. If we don't take Jupiter now, new engineering corps will arrive endlessly, making the assault increasingly difficult. Do you understand what that means?"

Before Yang Ying could answer, he continued, "It means the longer we wait, the greater the cost to attack them. Conversely, resolving the situation with Weng Sha sooner will incur a lesser price. Now that we finally have a chance to settle this quickly, I expect your support for my decision!"

The reason Marshal Alexander explained himself so thoroughly was his recent increased regard for the Tran Mercenary Corps; otherwise, he would have simply dismissed Yang Ying with a curt order.

Yang Ying's mind raced through potential countermeasures. Suddenly, an idea sparked. "Since you put it that way, Marshal, I will press the matter no further."

Hearing this, Marshal Alexander’s brow relaxed slightly.

"However," Yang Ying’s tone shifted, "I request the Marshal's approval for the Tran Mercenary Corps to detach from the left flank. This is not desertion, but an attempt to carve out a separate path for our two wings."

"What path?" Marshal Alexander’s expression immediately soured upon hearing that the Tran Mercenary Corps wished to leave.

Yang Ying spoke slowly and deliberately, "I request permission from Your Excellency to allow the Tran Mercenary Corps to attack those reinforcements coming from Saturn!"