Chapter 569: Stars and Anchor Chains

"Now the world is at war. Europe has already lost five million people, and the fighting continues to spread. Many ask: What should Lanfang do? Should we join the war? My answer is: Lanfang's army has only one mission—protect Lanfang."

Chen Feng's voice rose a bit:

"We do not invade others, but we will never allow others to invade us. We do not actively start wars, but we will never fear war. If anyone threatens our security, if anyone infringes on our interests, if anyone harms our people—then Lanfang's army will deliver the most decisive retaliation!"

Applause sounded for the first time. It wasn't enthusiastic, but low and powerful, like a war drum.

Chen Feng raised his hand, and the applause stopped.

"Today fifteen generals are being commissioned; you will soon head to different stations. Borneo, Basra, Kuwait, Oman… there are our oil fields, our ports, our compatriots. Your mission is to hold these places, so Lanfang's people can live peacefully and Lanfang's economy can continue to develop."

He looked at Wang Guojian: "General Wang, you go to Borneo. There is a 3‑million‑ton annual oil field there, and the largest shipyard in Yazhou. Your task is not passive defense; you must make anyone eyeing that place think twice before acting."

Wang Guojian replied firmly: "I guarantee the mission will be completed!"

Chen Feng nodded, his gaze turning to the other generals:

"Each of you must remember: the units you command are either Chinese divisions or Arab divisions. But in my eyes, they are all Lanfang soldiers. There is no ethnic distinction, only differences of loyalty and courage. What I want you to achieve is for soldiers to trust you, and for soldiers of different ethnicities to trust each other. Only a united army is an invincible army."

He stepped back one pace and nodded to the master of ceremonies.

The commissioning ceremony began.

Chen Feng personally placed the brigadier general insignia on each general. With each placement, he shook the officer's hand and said a brief but forceful line:

Wang Guojian: Borneo is yours.

Liu Zhenjie: Armored troops are blades; they must be honed sharp.

Chen Keyu: Political work must not slack.

…

Shen Peng: The reserve must be ready to be deployed at any time and win the fight.

Fifteen men, fifteen sentences. Each one addressed their specific mission.

When the ceremony ended, Chen Feng walked back to the microphone.

"Finally, I want to tell all the troops: History is undergoing a great upheaval. The old order is collapsing, new forces are rising. Lanfang, as an emerging nation, cannot choose the era we were born into, but we can choose what role we play in this era."

His voice echoed across the square:

"The role we choose is not hegemony, not conqueror, but defender—defending the hard‑won peace, defending our right to develop equally, defending the dignity of every Lanfang person."

"This role is not easy. We will face pressure, threats, even war. But as long as we are united, as long as we are steadfast, as long as we remember why we fight—then whatever lies ahead, Lanfang can get through."

He stood at attention and saluted.

Three thousand people saluted simultaneously.

The military band played the national anthem again. Amid the stirring melody, Chen Feng stepped down from the review platform and entered the official car.

When the vehicle started, Wang Wenwu sat beside him and whispered, "Well spoken."

Chen Feng looked out at the rapidly retreating soldier formations outside the window, saying nothing.

He thought of Wilson, of London, of Berlin, of Tokyo. The world is like a huge chessboard, each nation a piece, and the players are moving a game that decides the fate of billions.

His next move is Borneo. To meet Saionji Kimio, to meet Yamamoto Gonbee.

He must give the Sakura Nation one final lesson.

The car left the Army headquarters, heading toward the port. The Huaihe has been refueled, provisions restocked, and will be ready to set sail early tomorrow.

Meanwhile, far away in Washington, Lieutenant General Rodman is preparing his gear for Dubai.

Two routes will converge in the Persian Gulf.

The next act of history is drawing its curtain.

Underground command center of the military headquarters building.

The atmosphere here is starkly different from the solemnity of the square. No flags, no music, only cold steel, flashing indicator lights, and a low mechanical hum. In the center of the operations room, a massive sand table occupies almost the entire space, meticulously depicting terrain from the Middle East to Southeast Asia.

Chen Feng had already changed out of his dress uniform into a plain dark‑green military service coat. The fifteen newly appointed brigadiers sat on chairs around the sand table, each with a thick file folder spread before them. Chief of Staff Zhou Hongwen (a newly revised name) stood beside the table, holding a slender pointer.

"Begin," Chen Feng said, his voice unusually clear in the sealed space.

Zhou Hongwen nodded, tapping the pointer on Borneo's position on the sand table.

"General Wang, General Yang, General Fan—your three defense sectors," the pointer moved. "Borneo's garrison totals three divisions, with Wang Guojian's Fifth Division and Yang Guoyan's Sixth Division being Chinese divisions, and Fan Pupu's 27th Division an Arab division. Total strength is 54,000 troops."

He marked several key points on the sand table:

"The primary defensive focus is the oil field here," the pointer landed on the coastal area of northern Borneo. "It produces 8,000 tons of crude daily, accounting for forty percent of Lanfang's total output. The wells, refinery, storage tanks, and oil‑export terminals—all these facilities must be surrounded by a three‑dimensional defense system."

Wang Guojian stood and walked to the sand table: "My plan is to make the oil field the center and build three concentric defense rings. The outermost layer is a mobile patrol unit equipped with armored vehicles and motorcycles, patrolling a radius of fifty kilometers. The middle layer consists of fixed outposts and artillery positions controlling all ingress and egress routes. The innermost layer directly guards the core facilities; each critical node has a company stationed there twenty‑four hours a day."

"What about air defense?" Chen Feng asked.

"We have already deployed thirty‑six 75‑mm anti‑aircraft guns and twelve anti‑air machine‑gun positions around the oil field. In addition, the air force has pledged to station a fighter squadron in Borneo, ready to scramble at any time."

Chen Feng looked at Yang Guoyan: "What is the mission of your Sixth Division?"

Yang Guoyan also stood: "The Sixth Division is responsible for defending southern Borneo and the inland area, focusing on the shipyard and the military‑industrial complex here." He pointed to another spot on the sand table. "At the same time, it serves as the island's mobile reserve. If enemy activity appears in any direction, my division can complete assembly and maneuver within six hours."

"General Fan, what about your Arab division?"

Fan Pupu's reply was concise: "My division is garrisoned on the east coast, responsible for coastal defense and anti‑landing combat training. At the same time… we are also conducting a pilot program for ethnic integration."