Chapter 1087 Threat

The air in the conference room seemed to freeze, Qin Yue's roar was still echoing between the lead alloy walls, and everyone in the Western Theater Command had their hearts in their throats.

At present, it is no longer a question of holding the front-line troops accountable for the accidental exposure, but rather of minimizing the impact of this incident, otherwise things may develop in a direction that neither side wants to see.

Soon, Wei Jingfang, commander of the Western Theater Command, quickly regained his usual composure thanks to his strong psychological quality.

He knew that any panic at this moment would cause the situation to completely get out of control.

He didn't refute immediately. Instead, facing the glares from the legion that were about to spit fire, he spoke slowly and solemnly, his voice unusually calm, trying to suppress their anger:

"Commander Qin, all the leaders of the Corps, please be patient."

He first admitted the facts, his tone without hesitation: "Regarding the presence of our border troops in the area near Heishankou, we have not received any reports yet. As for the specific reasons, we will investigate and give you a satisfactory explanation afterward!"

Looking at Wei Jingfang's sincere and serious look on the other end of the video, the mood on the New Province Construction Corps side obviously eased a lot, and they also secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Everyone knows their own business. When the Western Theater Border Guard Regiment appeared on their own territory, their first reaction was anger, but then came fear.

As a semi-military organization mainly engaged in production and construction, the New Province Construction Corps, no matter how confident it is, is not confident enough to fight against a professional field army...

So rather than saying that Wei Jingfang was appeasing them, it would be more accurate to say that he was giving the New Province Construction Corps a way out.

Of course, Wei Jingfang also knew that this wouldn't be an easy solution, so he changed the subject, his tone becoming extremely serious and even a little frank:

"This incident exposed oversight in our troop mobility management and border coordination mechanisms. On behalf of the Western Theater Command, I apologize to you for the high tension and misunderstanding this has caused."

First, admit the mistake and ease the atmosphere. Then, he must bring the topic back on track and skillfully apply pressure:

"But Captain Qin, please think calmly. If we truly harbor ill intentions, why would we engage in such a lengthy and difficult negotiation with you? And why would we only send a small force to launch such a provocation that would only alert the enemy?"

His eyes sharpened, and his voice was not loud, but it carried a heavy weight:

"The real point is not this force that crossed the border for unknown reasons, but the overall situation that both of us are well aware of!"

"We're arguing here about whether the oil field's ownership is 40% or 60%, and about who's responsible for security. In the face of absolute power, don't these things seem a bit... putting the cart before the horse?"

He paused deliberately, letting the words "absolute power" ferment in silence, and then finally pushed the invisible behemoth to the front of the stage:

"The energy channel that the Zhongzhou War Zone is waiting for will not be delayed because of our dispute!"

"Their strategic transport aircraft are already taking off and landing at our airports, and their aid supplies are changing the living conditions in our war zone. Time is not on either side of us; it depends on whether we can quickly meet the needs of that 'strategic chain.'"

Wei Jingfang leaned forward slightly, his eyes piercing, his words like a final ultimatum, like a showdown after all disguises had been torn off:

"Cooperation is the only way out!"

"But it's not the kind of equal exchange you imagined, but rather an integration based on the actual balance of power and common interests!"

"The oil fields must be opened unconditionally, and we and the Central Plains Theater will jointly ensure their safety and operational efficiency."

"In return, the Construction Corps will receive the protection and material supplies of the entire collaborative system. This is far more than what you can gain by defending a few oil wells!"

"This is not a threat, Captain Qin. This is the only option to avoid the worst-case scenario."

At this point, the tone of the Western Theater Commander Wei Jingfang even took on a subtle earnestness:

"Otherwise, if the Central Plains Theater loses patience or believes that our Western Theater is unable to guarantee energy supply, they may take a more direct approach!"

"By then, do you think you can still hold on to these oil fields? What will be the fate of the Construction Corps?"

Wei Jingfang's words were half explanation and half intimidation.

Downplaying the unexpected incident and blaming it on a mistake, he forcibly elevated the topic to the strategic level, using the huge shadow of the Zhongzhou war zone and the tight schedule to crush Qin Yue's anger and doubts.

On the other side of the screen, Qin Yue's chest heaved violently, his face ashen.

He stared at Wei Jingfang, trying to find even the slightest trace of guilt on his face, but all he saw was bottomless calmness and an almost cold pragmatism.

Wei Jingfang did not deny the existence of the troops, and even indirectly acknowledged their deployment, but he gave them the nature of "defense" and "channel security" and tied them to the strategic needs of the Zhongzhou Theater.

The anger was still burning, but a deeper chill rose from the spines of Qin Yue and the core leaders of the Corps.

The truth is only within the range of the cannon..

He understood that what Wei Jingfang said was true. The existence of the Zhongzhou War Zone changed everything.

If we continue to hold on, the biggest possibility is not to save the oil fields, but to bring about a devastating blow.

The Hami incident had already been a foreshadowing of this, and he had no doubt that the other party would do it again if the benefits were sufficient...

The conference room fell into a longer, suffocating silence.

The other leaders of the Construction Corps were no longer excited, but instead felt a heavy sense of depression as they weighed the pros and cons.

Wei Jingfang stopped talking and just waited quietly. He knew that after going through all this turmoil, the final decision would no longer lie in verbal confrontation, but in the other party's ultimate acceptance of the cruel reality.

At this critical moment when the situation was tense and the air was almost frozen, a rapid prompt tone suddenly rang out from the encrypted communication channel in the Western Theater Command.

A combat staff officer quickly walked to Commander Wei Jingfang, leaned over, and reported in a low but clear voice the highest priority information he had just received.

Wei Jingfang's eyes narrowed slightly, and he listened attentively. Then, a complicated look flashed across his face uncontrollably.

He slowly raised his head and looked at Qin Yue, the commander of the New Province Construction Corps, who was still furious on the screen. "Commander Qin, I just received the notice."

He deliberately slowed down his speech to ensure that every word was clear:

"Major Generals Li Kun and Yu Zhengguo, the principal commanders of the Northwest Garrison Command appointed by the Central Plains Theater Command, took off from Longbao Strategic Air Force Base in Ye Province thirty minutes ago with their command echelon and advance personnel."

He paused briefly, then emphasized his tone. The number he reported was like a hammer hitting everyone's heart:

"For this transfer, the main formation consists of 48 Y-20 large strategic transport aircraft to carry out the personnel and equipment delivery mission. In addition, 12 J-16 heavy multi-role fighter jets will provide escort throughout the journey."

...

P.S.: I've been too busy lately, tired and short on time, so sometimes I can't update three times, but if I can, I'll try my best to update three times...

I've also told my group friends about my recent life situation. It's truly beyond my control, and the three updates I promised weren't just empty talk, because I'm really working hard. It's just that sometimes I get so busy that I don't have time, and I'm just too tired...