At this time, on the federal land, in the Lost City Refugee Camp, each refugee watched the twelve-meter-high sentry patrols passing by, with an indescribable expression on their face. Once upon a time, the impression left by the powerful empire in their eyes collapsed overnight. The Federation suddenly launched a war against the empire and almost reached the imperial capital with an unstoppable momentum. The empire that had always been strong became a weak empire, although in the end the empire forced the federation to the negotiating table, despicably and shamelessly using the lives of hundreds of thousands of soldiers to force the federation to engage in peace talks.
At that moment, even if the Federation decided very passively to end the war, cheers resounded from all the lands within the Federation. A war established the pride and confidence of the people of the Federation. Even the powerful empire could not resist the strength of the Federation. In this world, the Federation was already the first-class country.
But at this moment, they realized what the people of the past Empire had endured.
Hesitant and panicked, why did the powerful and invincible Federation become like this overnight
The official defense line, which was promoted as an iron wall, was breached within a week without holding on, and the so-called undefeated legions also suffered heavy casualties immediately. Facing the overwhelming and covering artillery attack, countless civilians were killed under the artillery fire. Even if he survived by chance, he would still be living in fear like now.
The ground shook slightly as two sentry patrols passed by the refugee camp. It was a twelve-meter-tall, huge mechanical armor with six legs, with a cabin that could accommodate one combatant as its midpoint, walking on the ground like an octopus floating in the sea. The searchlight extending from the belly of the cabin illuminated the entire camp, and the muzzles of four dark machine guns were pointed at possible commotion on the ground from time to time.
Someone once wanted to challenge these stupid-looking sentry patrols, but the end was miserable, and they couldn't find a single intact place in their body. These robots have very good vision, and their reactions are much more flexible than what people see. They can even climb and jump. In the past, federal people could not imagine that the empire's military equipment had advanced to this point. In some street battles, similar miniature war machine troops were used, which caused huge destruction and threats to the federal defense line.
After the two sentinel patrols left, the dazzling searchlights turned from the lampposts everywhere. There was no privacy here. From time to time, someone will come to search every tent. Everything except clothes is contraband and will be confiscated. If someone hides it privately, he will be whipped, or shot in public. This also allowed the people who temporarily lived here to understand the ruthlessness and cruelty of the Imperial people.
Link is just a very ordinary federal man. He is just an ordinary carpenter and part-time woodcutter. He often goes to the forests around the city to cut down some trees that are allowed to be cut down, and then processes them into various wood products for sale. Because of his good craftsmanship and real wood, he is also considered a minor celebrity. Many people order some woodworking products, furniture and so on from him.
He shrank his head and was about to go back to sleep when suddenly a group of soldiers came over. He immediately raised his chest and stood beside his tent with other refugees. His insurance card was hung on his chest, with his labor insurance number and his photo on it. The group of soldiers came to a stop in front of him, which made his heart beat faster and his breathing become rapid.
The soldier glanced at Tou's chest, and then asked, "Are you Mr. Link? The carpenter?"
Link swallowed and nodded, "Yes, sir."
The soldier looked at Link's labor insurance number again with a cold face, read silently against the notebook in his hand, and then nodded, "Come with me, there are some things that require your cooperation."
There was a look of sympathy in the eyes of the refugees around him. This was definitely not a good thing. Poor Link might never come back once he left.
Their guess was not wrong at all. Link never came back after leaving. The vacancy he left was quickly filled with other people, and every day some ordinary people were captured at the front and sent to various refugee camps behind for temporary resettlement. No one knew what happened to Link, and they even quickly forgot that there was such a person.
Link anxiously walked with the soldiers through most of the refugee camp and arrived at a temporary house in the management area. He met an imperial officer. The young officer looked about thirty years old and was somewhat handsome.
"Hello, Mr. Link, I am Major Eric. Maybe this is not the most appropriate occasion, but it is definitely the most appropriate time!" This major officer named Eric is Dulin's good friend. He got what he wanted, and so did Dulin, and they became good friends. After the Freedom Front was wiped out, Lieutenant Eric, who provided important intelligence, was quickly promoted to the rank of colonel. When he sent troops to the Federation this time, his superior named him to participate in the war.
War in peacetime is a very precious resource, yes, a precious resource. In addition to the step-by-step mixed seniority and mixed tasks, only war can bring greater benefits and faster promotion speed in the army. Eric's boss was very optimistic about him, and the Security Committee also had war missions, so he came to the Federation with the army.
Now, he was given a mission. The General Headquarters and the General Staff formulated a plan to launch a surprise attack on Saint-Loduo, the federal financial center. Saint-Lo has always been the economic center of the Federation and is also the location of the headquarters of the Federal Bank, where a large amount of wealth has gathered. If San Luodu can be captured, it will definitely be a heavy blow to the already declining Federation.
After the plan was drawn up, it was distributed to the front lines and behind the scenes. The Security Committee also participated in it, and of course people from the Military Intelligence Department.
Link didn't know this, he just lowered his head and looked at his toes.
Eric poured two glasses of wine, holding one for himself and giving one to Link. "Drink a little, so you will feel better." After he finished speaking, he didn't care whether Link drank or not, and stuffed the glass into him. in his hand, "I heard that the wood used in the things you make is cut down in the forest yourself?"
Link nodded subconsciously. This was something everyone knew. Then he realized that this was unusual and took a nervous sip of his wine. When the wine was sucked into his mouth, it was as if his mouth was on fire, and then the flame turned into a fire snake and burrowed into his stomach. Soon the flames became softer, dispelling the chill and some fear, which made He took the initiative and started talking, "Yes, sir, that's right."
Eric nodded with satisfaction. There was a huge map hanging in the room. He stood in front of the map and looked at it for a moment, and then asked, "I heard there is a road in the forest that leads to San Luodu. And you are familiar with this forest, right?"
Saint-Loduo is about 230 kilometers away from here, and there is an almost primitive forest between the two places. The federal government may be the first country to start demanding the protection of ecological balance. After the earliest excessive logging, the federal government prohibited excessive logging of any forest. Almost all the wood needed for factory production is imported from other countries and is not produced locally. This allowed the Federation to maintain several large primeval forests that were not destroyed, and what Eric was talking about was one of them.
Although there are maps and compasses, everyone knows that when marching in the virgin forest, even with a compass and map, they may not be able to find the road accurately, and they are not familiar with the terrain in the forest, such as swamps, lakes, and rivers. There are many kinds of things, and the ecological environment of the virgin forest is also full of dangers, such as poisonous plants and animals, including some bugs and so on.
This requires a local who knows the forest very well as a guide to help them open up this route. Then, before the federal people can react, they can surprise the completely unprepared San Luodu, destroy the financial center of the federal government in one fell swoop, and destroy the entire federal government. The economy completely collapsed.
Link didn't know how to answer. He actually knew all the questions asked by Colonel Eric. There was indeed a road in the forest, but that road had been abandoned for a long time. There was no difference between the road and the road. Many smugglers used to smuggle goods through that route. Later, after the outbreak of the Civil War, the trade rules in the Federation changed dramatically. Many things were no longer afraid of being inspected, so naturally some smuggling routes were abandoned. As for whether he was familiar with this forest or not, that was definitely for sure. In order to select better wood to make the best furniture and sell it at the highest price, Link often goes deep into the forest.
Eric glanced back at Link and smiled, "I'll take it as your acquiescence. So the new question is, will you help us pass through this forest and then appear outside San Luodu?", Link Remaining silent, Eric said, "Very good, I'll take it as your promise."
Upon hearing this, Link immediately retorted, "No, I didn't..."
Eric turned around and waved his hand, stopping him from continuing and asked an irrelevant question, "Do you know why I chose you?"
Link shook his head.
"Because you have parents, a wife, children, and many relatives and friends. They hope that you can survive safely, and I believe you also hope that they can be safe, right?"
"Besides, this is not a bad thing. We both hope to end the war as soon as possible and return to a peaceful state. What you are doing now is precisely to end the war as soon as possible. You have not betrayed anyone, and you will not betray anyone. This country, you are helping it, helping the war end this morning."
"Mr. Link, are you willing to be our guide?" Eric walked up to Link with a smile and stretched out his hand.
(End of chapter)