Chapter 735: The

Kelei Mengsuo stared at him: "Rest? You withdrew battle‑hardened veterans and left the rookies. You pulled out your most elite troops and left the weakest defenses for us—this is called rest?"

Ge Lei said nothing.

Kelei Mengsuo continued: "Moreover, you didn't start withdrawing only today. You began on January 31, and by now have withdrawn 150,000 people. Where are those 150,000 now?"

Ge Lei still said nothing.

Kelei Mengsuo sneered: "In the Mediterranean? On a ship bound for Egypt?"

Ge Lei finally spoke, his voice soft: "Prime Minister, Yingguo's military deployment does not need to be explained to Faguo."

Kelei Mengsuo's eyes narrowed.

"No need to explain to Faguo? Sir Ge Lei, we have fought in a trench for three years. Our soldiers have bled together, starved together, died together under Deguo's shells. You now tell me, there's no need to explain to me?"

Ge Lei looked at him, a hint of complexity flashing in his gaze.

After a few seconds of silence, Ge Lei spoke.

This time, his voice lacked the diplomat's courtesy, containing only a cold, icy calm.

"Prime Minister, as far as I know, the French have also sent people to Dubai."

Kelei Mengsuo's complexion changed instantly.

Ge Lei continued: "How long did Mr. La Wa Er stay in Dubai? What agreement did he sign with Chen Feng? London knows all of this."

The office fell into a death‑like silence.

Kelei Mengsuo stood there, motionless.

Ge Lei adjusted his collar, his voice regaining diplomatic politeness, but that politeness was more uncomfortable than his earlier firmness.

"Prime Minister, Yingguo and Faguo are allies. Yet allies also need candor. Since Faguo can have its own 'overall considerations,' why can't Yingguo?"

He bowed slightly.

"If there is nothing else, I will take my leave."

He turned and walked toward the doorway.

Reaching the doorway, he suddenly stopped, turned back, and gave Kelei Mengsuo a glance.

"Prime Minister, I wish you all the best."

After the door closed, Kelei Mengsuo plopped onto the chair.

He stared at the closed door for a long time.

Pi Xiong stepped out of the corner, whispering, "Prime Minister…"

Kelei Mengsuo waved his hand.

"Go out. Let me be alone for a while."

Pi Xiong hesitated briefly, then turned and left.

The door closed again.

Kelei Mengsuo sat alone, watching the gray‑hazy sky outside the window.

He recalled three years ago, when the war first broke out. Then Yingguo and Faguo stood side by side, swearing to fight together to victory. At that time, the Yingguo Prime Minister said the Ying‑Faguo alliance was unbreakable.

Unbreakable.

He gave a wry smile.

In the distance, a church bell rang. One, two, three— it was three p. m.

He stood up and went to the window.

Outside, on the streets of Paris, several women in black mourning attire walked slowly. They were mothers of fallen soldiers, widows, women who had lost sons.

He watched them and suddenly felt exhausted.

Three years of fighting, millions dead, and now allies begin to scheme against each other.

When will it ever end?

He didn't know.

He only knew that from today onward, Yingguo and Faguo would no longer be the same as they once were.

At the same time, on the French front.

Panxing sat in the command post, a thick stack of reports before him. They were the recent position‑handover records from various units.

Third Division position: British Army withdrew, Meilika's First Division took over the defense.

Fifth Division position: British Army withdrew, Meilika's Second Division took over.

Seventh Division position: British Army withdrew, Meilika's Third Division took over.

Tenth Division position: British Army withdrew, Meilika's Fourth Division took over.

…

He stared for a long time, then looked up at Chief of Staff Ha Bo De.

"Ha Bo De, have you calculated how many Yingguo troops have withdrawn?"

Ha Bo De took a statistics sheet from his briefcase.

"General, from January 31 to today, Yingguo has withdrawn at least twelve divisions, 180,000 people. Over at Meilika, seven divisions, 100,000 people. All have been recorded."

Panxing was silent for a few seconds.

"180,000 people. Ha Bo De, where did the Yingguo send so many?"

Ha Bo De shook his head: "I don't know. But it certainly wasn't for rest."

Panxing stood and walked to the window.

Outside, Meilika soldiers were training in the trench. Some clumsily practiced bayonet use, others rehearsed grenade throws, and some gathered to listen to an officer explain defensive points.

They worked hard. Yet they lacked experience.

Panxing recalled his first time on a battlefield when he was young. He thought he knew everything, but when the first shell fell, his legs went weak with fear. If the veteran beside him hadn't pulled him up, he might have died.

These young people will also experience the same fear.

But the problem is, after they have gone through the fear, can they still be alive?

"Ha Bo De," he suddenly asked, "Do you know why the Yingguo withdrew?"

Ha Bo De thought for a moment: "Because Meilika arrived, they thought they could relax?"

Panxing shook his head.

"It's not about relaxing. It's that they have to go fight elsewhere."

He turned and looked at Ha Bo De.

"Do you still remember what President Wilson said?"

Ha Bo De was startled: "The President said many things, you refer to—"

Panxing's voice was light: "The Yingguo used countless underhanded tricks to get Meilika Entry into War."

Ha Bo De's complexion changed.

Panxing continued: "The Lusitania incident, those so‑called Deguo atrocity reports, those Meilika youths who enlisted under the Yingguo propaganda machine—do you think any of those were true?"

Ha Bo De said nothing.

Panxing walked to the map and pointed at the front line in northern Faguo.

"Look, the Yingguo pulled back their most elite veterans and left the weakest defenses to us. If the Deguo attack now, how many Meilika will die?"

Ha Bo De fell silent.

Panxing turned and looked at him.

"So, from now on, remember one thing."

"What thing?"

"Do not trust a single word the Yingguo says."

Ha Bo De was stunned: "General, you mean—"

Panxing gave no answer. He stared out the window at the young soldiers, his gaze complicated.

"Ha Bo De, do you know, I received a letter yesterday."

"A letter?"

"It was written by my wife. She said she saw in the newspaper that the Yingguo thanked Meilika for its aid. Thanked us for sending troops to save Europe."

He let out a cold laugh.

"Save Europe? We are here to block the Yingguo's guns."

In the distance, artillery roared again. It was the routine shelling of the Degjun, a dull and far‑off sound.

Panxing listened to the gunfire and suddenly asked, "Ha Bo De, do you think the Deguo know the Yingguo withdrew?"

Ha Bo De shook his head: "They probably don't. Our positions aren't empty; the men are all here."

Panxing nodded.

"That's good. At least for now, the Deguo still don't know."

He walked back to his desk and sat down.

"Send orders to all units to tighten vigilance. The Yingguo are unreliable; we must rely on ourselves."

Ha Bo De nodded: "Yes!"

He turned to leave, but Panxing called him.

"Wait."

Ha Bo De stopped.

Panxing was silent for a few seconds, then said, "Tell the division commanders, if— I mean if— the Deguo really attack, do not count on the Yingguo. They will not return."

Ha Bo De was stunned.

"General, then what shall we do?"

Panxing looked at him.

"What to do? Fight. Even if we lose, we must fight. We are Meilika soldiers, not cannon fodder covering the Yingguo's backs."