Chapter 1158: Bait Planet Fengkao Shield

"Zuola,"

Valken finally asked.

"If you were the Commander-in-Chief, what would you choose?"

The intelligence chief was silent for a long time.

"I don't know. But as a soldier, I understand Admiral Olaf's choice."

"Understanding does not equal agreement."

"Yes. But Commander-in-Chief, no matter which path you choose, someone will condemn you. Choose to attack, and if you fail, you will be accused of recklessness. Choose to retreat, no matter how well-founded the reason, you will be accused of cowardice. This is the price of being a Commander: making decisions in solitude, then bearing the consequences in solitude."

Valken smiled bitterly.

She was right.

No matter what he chose, he could not satisfy everyone.

All he could do was choose a direction based on his own judgment, and then walk forward.

"I hope we win. But hope cannot replace preparation."

Zuola saluted and left.

Valken was left alone in the holographic room.

He walked to the viewing window and looked at the fleet in the void outside.

"May Three Eyes watch us."

Meanwhile, behind the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance defensive line, Guilliman stood on the Bridge of the *Xiuluosheng Glory* and received the report of the Iron Hands' success and the warning of a large-scale mobilization of the Fengqi Fleet.

"The prey is becoming restless."

Guilliman said to Donatus beside him.

"Blood loss makes a beast more dangerous, but also more... predictable."

"Do you think they will choose a full-scale assault?"

"It is their only choice."

Guilliman pulled up the Nankang Star battle report sent by Ferrus.

"Having lost their logistics, delay is death. They will concentrate their forces, search for weaknesses, and attempt a single, fatal blow."

"Then what we must do is... let them find a 'weakness'?"

The corners of Guilliman's mouth rose slightly.

"Exactly. Tell the commanders of each defensive line: begin 'feigning weakness' according to the plan. Let the Fengqi believe they have found a breakthrough."

"And the real trap..."

"Is already prepared."

Guilliman looked at a predetermined position on the star map.

"When Valken sends his main force into that gap, we will consume them. What we want is not a repulse, but total annihilation. Let this battle be the end of the Fengqi Star Alliance's military power."

The order was transmitted.

The war machine of the Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance began to turn, every gear in its predetermined position, waiting for the prey to step into the trap.

Xiuluo Holy Star Alliance controlled zone, flagship *Xiuluosheng Glory*.

Guilliman stood before the tactical holographic table on the Bridge, his hands behind his back, his eyes reflecting the flickering data streams of the star map.

In the holographic image, the purple light dots representing the Fengqi Fleet were converging from three directions.

And the target was marked as "Fengkao Shield planet, codename 'Bait'", which was just an inconspicuous yellow dot on the star map.

"The enemy vanguard fleet has entered reconnaissance range, 0.8 light-years from the bait planet, expected to arrive within twenty-four hours."

First Company Commander Xikasi reported.

"According to energy signature analysis, it is the Third Fleet commanded by Kalivento, including eight Capital Ships and fifteen auxiliary vessels."

"Kalivento..."

Guilliman repeated the name.

"A young Fengqi commander, eager for merit, prone to impulse. A perfect target."

Guilliman pulled up the defensive deployment map of the "Fengkao Shield" planet.

On the surface, the defensive power of this planet was pitifully weak.

In orbit, there were only four Destroyers and twelve small defensive platforms; stationed on the surface were seven Astra Militarum legions, the Death Korps of Krieg and the Modian Iron Guard, totaling about 600,000 men.

No Space Marines, no heavy orbital defenses, no Capital Ships stationed.

"To the Fengqi, this is a bone that looks easy to chew."

Guilliman's Adjutant Deximus commented.

"But they don't know there is poison hidden inside the bone."

"The poison is not on the bone, it is around the bone.

When they bite the bait, we will encircle them from three directions and crush them."

A perfect encirclement tactic.

But Deximus still had concerns.

"Father, this plan relies on the Fengqi acting exactly as we expect. If they don't attack the 'Bait', or only send small detachments to probe..."

"They will attack."

Guilliman said confidently.

"Valken's supplies are only enough to last twelve days; he must win quickly. And Kalivento is eager to prove himself and will not pass up any victory that looks easy. More importantly..."

Guilliman pulled up the intelligence report.

"The Fengqi's reconnaissance network has already been infiltrated by us."

All the intelligence they received indicated that the 'bait' planet was a weak node in the Star Alliance's southern defense line, because the main forces had all been transferred to deal with other directions.

They would believe this intelligence because they were willing to believe it."

Psychological warfare. Information warfare.

Guilliman was not only setting a military trap, but was also manipulating the enemy's perception and decision-making.

"Notify the commanders of Krieg and the Modian Iron Guard. They must hold for at least forty-eight hours to buy time for the encirclement. Tell them: every minute concerns the success or failure of the campaign."

"Understood."

Deximus saluted.

"Additionally, regarding Lord Ferrus and Lord Vulkan... do we need to synchronize their actions?"

"No need."

Guilliman shook his head.

"They have their own Task."

Star Alliance bait planet "Fengkao Shield"

"Fengkao Shield" is a gray-blue rocky planet, its surface covered with a thin atmosphere and sporadic ice caps.

On the strategic star map, this planet is marked as "Ci Ji Fang Yu Jie Dian-07", theoretically only worthy of deploying the most basic orbital sentry stations and a company of the Astra Militarum for garrison.

But at this moment, the surface and near-Earth orbit of Fengkao Shield are undergoing a reshaping.

At the bottom of the largest rift on the surface, the "Yong Hen" rift, the Temporary Command Center has been completed.

This is a semi-buried structure, with heavy alloy armor plates covering the rock walls, camouflaged as a natural geological formation.

Inside, the holographic tactical table emits a dim blue light, reflecting two faces of vastly different styles.

The commander of the Seventh Legion of the Modian Iron Guard, Colonel Sitelake, is examining the deployment map with his one intact mechanical prosthetic eye.

"32 degrees north latitude, east wall of the rift, the field of fire for artillery position C-7 still has a 3-degree blind spot."

His voice carries the precise tone peculiar to the Modian people.

"The Third Artillery Company needs to be moved 150 meters to the left, or... lay a minefield in the blind spot."