Chapter 1 The Guada Situation

Guada area, headquarters of the People's Army Second Army.

After receiving Xing Yao's self-recommendation, Su Tianyu and the others held a meeting overnight and finally decided to agree to let him be responsible for contacting General Palu.

Xing Yao was quick-witted and capable, making him well-suited for this task.

Around eight o'clock in the morning, everyone gathered in the conference room to discuss the strategic plans for the Guada area and the Dragon City. While they were discussing, Zhao Weihu received another call and went to the side to talk for a few minutes.

When he returned, Su Tianyu asked, "What's the situation?"

"It's a message from Santos's people." Zhao Weihu put down his phone and explained to everyone, "A company from the Old Mo government army found a chance to meet with them on the front line. They agreed to meet, but there's a condition..."

Su Tianyu pressed again, "What condition?"

Zhao Weihu spread his hands. "They said their people can't come out to talk; our people have to go. They're probably afraid we'll play a trick, make a video, or start a discord, making it impossible for him to explain to Mod'ermeng and leaving him with no way out."

Su Tianyu had dealt with this kind of person before and had already considered this possibility. "It seems like sending Xing Yao is really suitable. The kid has a very low rank right now; it's easy to check. When they see him go over, they won't think about kidnapping him. Otherwise, if we sent a chief of staff or something, there would be a risk of them being detained."

"Alright, call Xing Yao over," Zhao Weihu instructed.

"I'll go notify him." Fei Pingsheng got up and picked up the phone on the table.

...

More than ten minutes later, Xing Yao, wearing a neat military uniform, strode into the military tent and saluted everyone present. "Commander, Chief of Staff!"

"Little Xing is here, come, sit down and talk." Zhao Weihu was now very pleased with him, beckoned him to come and sit down, and then explained the matter.

After explaining everything, Su Tianyu took over the topic and specially instructed Xing Yao: "When you meet Palu, the number of people can't be large. At the same time, put on the other side's military uniform and disguise yourself simply. When you get to the front line, someone will send you over. The mission has a certain degree of danger. Can you accept it?"

"No problem!"

Xing Yao agreed without hesitation.

Su Tianyu nodded, but added solemnly, "I have no other requirements for you, remember, don't be greedy for merit, just play the hand you have well."

"Yes!"

Xing Yao immediately got up and responded concisely.

Su Tianyu also stood up, patted him on the shoulder and said, "During the negotiation process, don't provoke him, and pay attention to your own safety."

"Understood."

After everything was explained, Xing Yao left the camp to prepare.

After he left, Wang Dingyuan withdrew his gaze and sighed. "I hope this goes smoothly. The situation in the Guada area is a bit tense right now. The rebels are attacking our defenses like crazy, trying to join up with Mod'ermeng's troops. Our battle losses are huge."

Su Tianyu frowned and responded, "No matter what method we use, we must drag it out today!"

Wang Dingyuan nodded. "Of course, we finally have a card in our hand, we have to drag it out even if we die!"

Everyone immediately began to discuss and formulate the combat plan for the Guada area.

...

Around twelve noon, Guada area.

In the front-line area, the troops of the Old Mo government army's Western Expeditionary Army continued to launch assaults on Mod'ermeng's troops.

Taking advantage of one of the assaults, Xing Yao, wearing the other side's military uniform, was secretly sent to the enemy's hinterland by a unit of the Old Mo government army.

Once they arrived, General Palu's troops immediately picked them up, put them on a military vehicle, put hoods on them, and sent them all the way to a certain military camp.

Because General Palu's family members were captured, this matter happened very suddenly, and the information was controlled by Xing Yao, so the outside world was not yet aware of it.

And Palu was very cunning in this war, he ordered his troops to extend backward, "assisting" Mod'ermeng's troops in deploying defenses, with the intention of reducing the losses of his own troops.

But the intensity of the war far exceeded expectations. He had been stuck in the mountains for the past two days, and his troops had suffered heavy losses, unable to avoid it.

...

The military vehicle swayed, and it was unknown how far it had traveled. Along the way, Xing Yao was very honest and didn't say a word.

After more than twenty minutes, the military vehicle screeched to a halt.

"Get out!"

At the urging of an enemy officer, Xing Yao was dragged out of the military vehicle and then pushed forward.

"Swish!"

The hood was suddenly removed, and Xing Yao squinted his eyes, discovering that he was in a military tent. Many enemy soldiers surrounded him, confiscated his communication equipment, and then began to check him.

The inspection was very thorough, up and down, inside and out, almost sticking the detector into his large intestine to check.

After all of this was done, Xing Yao was taken into a camp in the back.

General Palu was already sitting inside, smoking a cigar, staring at him with deep eyes.

"General Palu, hello. I am Xing Yao, the representative for this negotiation."

Xing Yao walked up to him very naturally and took the initiative to greet him.

Palu nodded and said faintly, "Sit down."

Xing Yao sat down, and the two faced each other. Palu was about forty years old, very burly, with a pair of very bright eyes, staring at Xing Yao, exuding an invisible sense of oppression.

After a long silence, Palu smoked his cigar and said in an undeniable tone, "If you want to make a deal with me, you must first meet my conditions."

Xing Yao paused and asked, "What conditions?"

Palu exhaled smoke and said again, "You must first release some of my family members, including my two sons and two wives. I will give you a list."

Xing Yao looked at him. "General Palu, we can't agree to this condition. To put it bluntly, this hand is the bargaining chip that allows us to sit at the negotiating table. How can I hand it over?"

General Palu glanced at him, and said condescendingly, "I have investigated your identity. You are just a small battalion commander. With your level of thinking, you cannot feel the pressure I bear in this position. Mod'ermeng and I not only have an alliance relationship, but our interests are also closely tied together. I have already rebelled against the government army once. If I betray Mod'ermeng again, I will be cutting off my own retreat. If one day, Santos wants to settle accounts with me, not only my family members, but I, even my entire family, my entire army will be destroyed. The deal you proposed is a crucial decision for me to survive. So, you must agree to my request and let me see your sincerity."

Xing Yao frowned, but did not speak.

General Palu raised his chin and continued, "That's right, you have grasped my weakness. I also love my children and my wives very much. However, as a regional leader and a soldier, wives can be married again. Children can be born again! They are not the decisive factors that can control my life. I have inexhaustible wealth here, and I can rebuild a new family at any time."

Xing Yao pondered for a long time and then said, "I agree to release some family members, but definitely not this number."

General Palu did not give in at all. "You are not qualified to negotiate with me. If you want to make a deal, you must first release some people."

Xing Yao felt that this person was very difficult to deal with. Just as he was thinking about how to respond to stall for time, the door of the camp was suddenly pushed open, interrupting his thoughts.

A black officer walked in, saluted General Palu, and said hurriedly, "Report! A staff officer and a regimental commander from Mod'ermeng's staff department request to see you. They have arrived at the door!"

Xing Yao was stunned when he heard this, not knowing what was going on.

General Palu was obviously flustered when he heard this. His face was pale, and he immediately shouted to his subordinates, "Hide them immediately, quickly!"