Inside the palace, Bishop Savan slammed the war report onto the table.
He stood up and walked to the window, looking out at the smoke-filled battlefield.
"How could you let a small unit of the corpse emperor's forces ambush you from behind and cause such damage!"
At this moment, the Chaos Traitor Army officer, wearing a uniform that was now in tatters, lowered his head and said:
"They were stragglers from the air assault who were regrouped.
Last night, they ambushed High Ground 30, using the heavy artillery we left behind and their own cannons to launch a surprise attack from the rear."
Bishop Savan turned to look at the officer, realizing he was only a colonel, not Frax's Chaos Commander Akers, whom he had appointed.
"Where is your Commander Akers?"
Hearing this question, the officer stammered a bit but replied, "General Akers... he went to discuss life with a Slaanesh Daemon..."
"Damn it! Soldiers don't go to war! They go to discuss life with a Slaanesh Great Daemon! It seems I must personally intervene!"
30 kilometers south of the landing zone, Bastogne industrial town.
Under centuries of corruption, this town had long lost its vitality.
Large numbers of workers had been turned into Chaos thralls, their bodies carved with blasphemous runes and curses, and adorned with cruel instruments of torture and shackles.
In this industrial town, they would provide a continuous supply of materials for the front-line Chaos Traitor Army while enduring eternal torment, for they had lost their souls.
Savan arrived here with his retinue and the Chaos Traitor Army, establishing it as the forward command post, where he would personally oversee the battle.
He looked at High Ground 30 on the map, while before him stood mortal Chaos Traitor Army generals, Chaos Daemons, and Chaos Astartes warbands.
"This enemy force, fleeing eastward, has become nothing but marauders! They are merely replaying the old tricks of Istvaan! They are probably trying to get back to the landing zone.
We must send heavy troops to surround them completely! And wipe them out!"
...High Ground 30,
The intensity of the battle at the landing zone had clearly decreased significantly after last night's ambush.
Li Feng stood precariously on the hilltop, even vaguely seeing that construction had begun within the landing zone.
With High Ground 30 captured by their side, it became like an "Imperial Astronomican" on this battlefield, guiding a large number of scattered Soldiers, who had failed in the air assault, to join them.
Winters' recent statistical report indicated that the number of Soldiers under Li Feng had increased from 2,500 to 30,000, though this was still a small fraction of the 2 million airborne troops.
Now, the hillsides and strongholds near High Ground 30 were covered with loyal Imperial Soldiers, and Li Feng could now act as a division Commander.
Of course, with the help of the Adeptus Mechanicus, Li Feng also managed to contact the landing zone command post using the Chaos Traitor Army's radio on High Ground 30.
Li Feng reported his situation, and the command post was greatly relieved.
However, Li Feng requested that the command post keep their situation confidential, giving the reason that the unit was operating behind enemy lines and needed to be able to disperse and regroup at any time, so the enemy should not know their specific details.
After several considerations, the command post agreed to Li Feng's request, but only for secrecy below the general level.
Li Feng had his own ideas at this time; he had a bold operational plan, and for this plan, he needed both the Imperial faction and the Chaos faction to act according to his scheme.
He needed both the Imperium and Chaos to passively follow his pace, only then would he have complete initiative on the battlefield.
Nevertheless, Li Feng and the troops he led still received commendations.
Their excellent performance yesterday successfully helped the Krieg forces defend and consolidate the Frax landing zone's defenses.
Therefore, Li Feng and all his men were promoted by one rank, and Li Feng was promoted by two ranks to become a colonel.
At the same time, Li Feng's unit also received a designation:
"Frax Provisional First Assault Regiment."
However, Li Feng and the Soldiers still preferred to call themselves the "Cannon Fodder Regiment," because they were a unit formed from the cannon fodder of "Operation Market Garden."
So now, both the Imperial faction and the Chaos faction knew there was a combat regiment in the enemy's rear.
Who was the Commander? Unknown.
How many people? Unknown.
What kind of weapons and equipment? Completely unknown.
Because of last night's action, the enemy was extremely angry at this time.
They had drawn a large number of troops and deployed them between the Cannon Fodder Regiment and the landing zone, ready to attack High Ground 30 at any moment.
Moreover, the great traitor Bishop Savan, with his retinue and Daemons, was personally overseeing from the town of Bastogne to the south.
The traitors were determined to annihilate them.
At this moment, the command room on High Ground 30 was in chaos.
Many officers suggested breaking through to the landing zone; if they could break through the traitors' layers of defense, they could return to the landing area.
At this time, Li Feng looked at the enemy and friendly dispositions on the map and found them so familiar... Surely that Bishop Savan wasn't also someone who micro-managed and kept a diary...
Just as the officers were arguing endlessly, Li Feng slammed the table.
He stood up and looked at the surrounding officers.
Here, Li Feng had the highest rank, and in yesterday's operation to capture High Ground 30, they only had 10 deaths, some of whom were from accidentally stepping on landmines or not wearing their gas masks properly.
"We are not fighting them here! I still say the same thing: of the Thirty-Six Stratagems, the best is to run!
The traitors won't let us reach the landing zone, besieging us here with heavy forces, so we will quietly slip away, and while the traitors' rear is empty, we will hit them with a counter-attack!"
Li Feng's words made many officers gasp; in their eyes, this action was undoubtedly suicidal.
So, Winters was the first to raise a question:
"Sir... Colonel, according to our observations, we are being surrounded not only by the Chaos Traitor Army but also by Daemons and Chaos Astartes...
If we flank, I fear our rear will be overrun by the enemy."
Winters' words were not without reason.
His Soldiers had no problem fighting the Chaos Traitor Army, and with the advantageous terrain of High Ground 30, a frontal engagement would yield an excellent casualty ratio against the enemy no matter what.
But if these mortal Astra Militarum faced true Warp Daemons and Chaos Space Marines, they would be practically a roasted lamb on a platter, at the mercy of others.
Li Feng looked up at the sky, at the expeditionary fleet in low orbit.
He had actually noticed an extra ship yesterday.
That ship looked like a Space Marine battleship, with a symbol of a sword and two wings... belonging to the Emperor's eldest, the First Legion Primarch, Lion El'Jonson's "Dark Angels."
"Don't worry, I have a plan, though I admit it involves an element of gambling!
But we can only try.
If we try a frontal breakthrough, then at best, less than 100 of our current 30,000 men would make it out."
Hearing Li Feng's words, the officers lowered their heads.
They hoped Li Feng wouldn't be like that Montgomery above...
Night, near High Ground 30,
Thirty thousand Soldiers had prepared their gear, the transport team had organized the supplies, and the crossing point was set up, long awaiting Li Feng's order to cross the river.
At this moment, Li Feng stood at the summit of High Ground 30, watching the enemies below, who were densely creeping up.
Among them were Chaos Space Marines of the Death Guard, Greater Daemons of Chaos, and a large number of Chaos Traitor Army...
Li Feng picked up a loudspeaker and shouted towards the sky:
"Ahem... I have Fallen Angels here! They are hiding among the Chaos below!"
After a while... no reaction... instead, it caused the Chaos below to look confused...
Li Feng was a little flustered at this moment; no way, was that really just a rumor?
No choice, he had to try again...
Li Feng raised the loudspeaker again and shouted towards the sky:
"First Legion Dark Angels! No secrets! The only secret is!!! Listen closely! The second..."
Before Li Feng could finish his sentence, countless giant green drop pods slammed heavily onto the ground not far in front of High Ground 30!
The symbol on them was precisely that of the current Dark Angels Space Marine Chapter.
Li Feng quickly threw away the loudspeaker in his hand and ran!
"Quick, quick, quick! Everyone take advantage of this time! Cross the river quickly!"
At this moment, in front of High Ground 30, a Space Marine emerged from a drop pod: wearing a lion-winged helmet, a cloak, and green power armour.
This person was none other than Azrael, the supreme grand master of the Dark Angels! (Image in paragraph comments)
And from these drop pods emerged all Inner Circle Supermen of the Dark Angels.
The Dark Angels Space Marine Chapter is one of the oldest Space Marine Chapters of the Imperium, one of the founding Chapters from the Legion reorganization.
The Chapter has a long and mysterious history, full of betrayal, secrets, and atonement.
The warriors of the Dark Angels are known for their extreme loyalty and indomitable will... At the same time, their internal organizational structure is exceptionally complex, like interlocking chainmail.
The Inner Circle of the Dark Angels Space Marine Chapter is the most mysterious and highest-ranking organization within the Chapter.
It is composed of a very small number of high-ranking warriors who hold the Chapter's secrets.
These secrets deeply influence the Chapter's goals, combat methods, and culture.
Inner Circle members are not only responsible for commanding the Chapter's daily operations but also bear the secret mission of hunting down the Fallen Angels.
At the same time, their motto is: "The First Legion has no secrets..."
"Where are the Fallen Angels!!! Where is that person who holds the secrets... bah! Who spreads false rumors!!!"
Another Dark Angel, who descended from the same drop pod as Azrael, was a figure wearing a cloak and holding a Dark Angels Chaplain's crozius.
This person was Asmodai, the Interrogator-Chaplain of the Dark Angels Space Marine Chapter! (Image in paragraph comments)
At this moment, Azrael turned to look at the Chaos Host below.
The Chaos Host was stunned.
What was going on?
Why were these Imperials so abstract?
Azrael looked at them and asked:
"Did you hear anything just now?"
At this, a leading Greater Daemon of Chaos said, "Hahaha! Someone seemed to be talking about Fallen Angels or something..."
Azrael shouted, "Asmodai!"
"Interrogate?"
"Our suspicions are confirmed!"
"What!"
"They hold the secrets of the Dark Angels!"
"Secrets!!!"
"They are allied with the Fallen Angels!"
"Fallen Angels!!!"
"Asmodai! Make him repent!"
Asmodai raised his crozius, sprinted two steps, and flew into the air, smashing it heavily onto the Greater Daemon of Chaos's head, shouting at the same time!
"You shall repent!!!!!!!"
...Li Feng stood on the pontoon bridge, watching the Dark Angels and Chaos Host exchange fire at High Ground 30 behind him, and let out a sigh of relief.
It turned out that warfare was so simple.
All the Soldiers and officers around Li Feng kept at least 5 paces away from him...
They felt they had just heard something extraordinary... It was better to stay away from Li Feng, lest they also get dragged into it and die mysteriously... die full of secrets...
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