flstandardbreds Chapter 349 The Struggle Between New and Old
Chapter 349 The Struggle Between New and Old
This secret meeting between the two sides played a decisive role in the subsequent battle.
"Radiaz, have your men withdraw. Abandon all defense lines. Order the First, Third, Tenth, and Sixteenth Fleets to the eastern defense line of Earth, and the Second, Seventh, and Eighth Fleets to the southern front. The remaining space cities can all be abandoned."
Luo Congmin's order immediately stunned all the Lin Party members present.
Then, Luo Congmin looked at Wang Miao and the others.
"Uncle Wang, let the Science Department's troops withdraw as well. They only need to protect the Ringworld."
"Xiaomin... what's wrong with you?"
Wang Miao was somewhat puzzled.
In his view, although the local league is not in a dominant position now, it is far from being so disadvantaged that it needs to sacrifice a pawn to save the king.
Moreover, even if it's a case of sacrificing a pawn to save the king, it doesn't make sense. With the current development of the Earth Alliance, the Ring World is its main base. Luo Congmin's formation is clearly intended to protect the Earth Alliance Building.
The main fleet has been mobilized to the defense line on Earth, leaving only the Academy of Sciences' fleet here. This is too risky.
But Ding Yi, who was standing to the side, seemed to have noticed something and stopped Wang Miao, who was about to continue speaking, with a gesture.
"Zhang Xiang".
Zhang Xiang, who was hanging up his phone in the conference room, sat up abruptly like a schoolchild daydreaming in class when Luo Congmin suddenly called his name.
"Ah... what's wrong? Is there anything I can do for you?"
Luo Congmin looked at Zhang Xiang, who was completely bewildered... and swallowed back the words that were on the tip of her tongue.
After a few seconds of silence, she picked up the communication device again.
"Um... could you ask Zhang Beihai if Uncle Shi Qiang could come back for a while? I feel it's unreliable to leave my dad and the others in Zhang Xiang's protection."
……
Meanwhile, another meeting was also taking place.
Only a few high-ranking members of the People's Federation attended the meeting.
Zhang Beihai sat at the head of the table, flanked by Dongfang Yanxu and Chu Yan on either side.
Across the conference table, Liu Chang was calmly resting with his eyes closed, while Shi Qiang leaned back in his chair, idly counting the number of times the indicator lights on the electronic screen behind Zhang Beihai flashed.
No one spoke.
Everyone realized that this meeting was no ordinary one.
Three hours ago, the Human Alliance fleet had already arrived at the outer edge of the solar system and had seen the space fortress built by the Star Ring Group.
But Zhang Beihai hesitated the moment he saw it.
He locked himself in his office for about fifteen minutes to ponder, and when he came out again, he ordered the entire ship to stop and begin to slow down.
At that moment, everyone suddenly felt a little lost.
Yes, they've been forgetting one problem, or rather, one that everyone has thought of but no one is willing to accept.
Are they still considered Earthlings now?
They haven't been home for hundreds of years, and even some of the immortals from back then are now either dead or gone.
This Earth is no longer the Earth they know.
If I go back, what will they be like?
It's likely an endless life imprisonment.
If Lin Xuan were here, she would only tell them one thing.
"No, you're thinking too lightly. All that awaits you is conviction and execution."
Imagine you are the head of state of a country that almost lost a war, but under your leadership, the country regained its sovereignty. Then, the generals who fled back then returned to the country with an army of 100,000, saying they wanted to submit to you. What would you do now?
Everyone knows that Zhang Beihai could never want to be the president of this regional alliance.
But... how long has it been since Zhao Kuangyin's example? This act of donning the yellow robe is no joke.
Even if Luo Congmin doesn't consider himself, he has to consider Lin Xuan.
With Ai AA's Star Ring Group occupying the territory, Lin Xuan could kill people without any psychological burden.
But the people in the Human Alliance are all from the Space Force who followed Lin Xuan back then; they are all from the Red Coast Base.
Let Lin Xuan choose; killing either one seems inappropriate, as this is a struggle between the old and new Lin factions.
Finally, Zhang Beihai broke the silence first.
"If anyone wants to return to Earth, please excuse yourself from this meeting."
Upon hearing this, everyone present exchanged bewildered glances.
If they had some doubts about Zhang Beihai's actions before, now it's basically confirmed that he's doing what he wants.
A brief silence fell over the meeting room. A few seconds later, Liu Chang was the first to stand up.
He first bowed to the people present before speaking.
"Gentlemen, I will not get involved in this matter. Lin Xuan is my student, and I am only suitable to be a teacher."
Without waiting for the others' reactions, he turned and left.
When Shi Qiang saw that Principal Liu was about to leave, he immediately stood up as well.
But he was embarrassed when he stood up.
Liu Chang is a principal of a prestigious C9 university. Even if he were to return to the local league now, he could smoothly retire to a secondary position.
Given his condition, it seems like he won't be able to do anything if he goes back.
After a moment of silence, Shi Qiang suddenly turned around and put on a sly smile.
"Principal Liu, do you still stand by what you said back then: that I would be assigned to the school's security department as a police dog and receive the same treatment as a regular animal when I returned to Earth?"
Liu Chang: ...
Everyone:...
It has to be said that Shi Qiang hasn't changed over the years. As long as it's in his favor, he's completely willing to disregard any sense of shame.
Watching the two of them leave the meeting room, Zhang Beihai breathed a sigh of relief.
He was not at all surprised that these two chose to leave.
Liu Chang's expertise in biology and genetics is comparable to that of Ding Yi and Wang Miao, so it doesn't matter where he is; even if he returns to Earth, he won't be seen as a threat.
Shi Qiang's skill level is too low, so it doesn't matter where he is. Even if he goes back, he won't be seen as a threat.
After those two left, the remaining people in the meeting room were the true backbone of the People's Federation.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I know that Earth was once our home, but sometimes our actions are only for self-preservation. I hope you can understand me."
……
Liu Chang and Shi Qiang's return request was approved instantly by the Earth Alliance. The two boarded a transport ship and separated from Zhang Beihai and the others' main force, heading straight for the solar system.
Watching the Human Alliance fleet gradually recede into the distance behind him, and the Earth Alliance defense line constantly approaching, Shi Qiang, for some reason, felt no joy at the prospect of returning home.
Things have changed. Everything here is different. This is no longer the Earth he once knew.
Liu Chang remained silent, focusing intently on studying the experimental samples and seeds he had brought back.
He left a copy of these things for the People's Federation, and of course, he also planned to give a copy to the Local Federation.
After all, he was a staunch supporter of the Lin faction, so naturally, everyone had to be treated equally.
Seemingly realizing that the atmosphere was a bit awkward, Shi Qiang took the initiative to speak and ease the tension.
"Do you think if we enter the Earth Alliance at Mach 31, people will mistake us for an enemy missile?"
Upon hearing this, Liu Chang glanced at him.
What's the joke?
Shi Qiang was taken aback.
"You don't know? This is an old joke from the UN General Assembly era."
Then, he patted his head.
"Oh right, you were the principal back then, so you probably didn't know about all this messy stuff."
"This happened many years ago. At that time, China was still developing chemical rockets. One year, news reports said that the rocket took off at Mach 31 and landed smoothly."
"As a result, this matter was spread by marketing accounts at the time as a rumor that our country had already achieved a strike capability of Mach 31, making it the world's fastest."
"The funniest thing is that they even made up a bunch of jokes, forcibly linking the return of cultural relics that started years ago with this matter."
"As a result, this matter was spread more and more outrageously, with some saying that one should be established by the age of thirty, and others saying that one could catch up with the Father of Ultra. In short, the more absurd the story became."
After listening to Shi Qiang's account, Liu Chang remained silent for a moment before slowly speaking.
"Mach 31... Is that fast?"
Shi Qiang waved his hand.
"I didn't understand. I thought it would be quick too."
"There's really nothing wrong with it." Liu Chang stroked his chin.
"Mach number is the ratio of speed to the speed of sound. The speed of sound varies at different altitudes and temperatures, but it is generally within a normal threshold range. The speed of sound... if I remember correctly, that's knowledge from junior high school physics."
"A speed of Mach 31... that doesn't even exceed the second cosmic velocity when converted."
"The first cosmic velocity is the speed at which a spacecraft escapes the Earth's surface, which is mostly converted to Mach 23.2. The second cosmic velocity theoretically requires the range of Mach 36. Of course, in reality, it certainly doesn't need to be that fast, since this value is only calculated and the actual speed will be significantly different due to temperature differences or other factors."
"Mach 31... that's just considered normal. Without external factors, any lower and he wouldn't be able to launch into space. How can that be the world's number one? Wasn't that achieved a long time ago? Anyone who has studied junior high school wouldn't believe such outrageous news, right?"
"This is equivalent to saying that our country's planes can take off at a speed of 200 kilometers per hour and land smoothly, so we are the world's fastest, which is just as incredible."
Shi Qiang shook his head.
"I don't understand what you're talking about, but I do know that a manhole cover was blown into the sky by an underground nuclear test back then, and that manhole cover was traveling at Mach 156."