By this point, Gu Hang's face was expressionless.
"You!" General Tilermungs was frantic with rage.
When Gu Hang said he would send someone off, he really dared to do it.
But did he dare to go?
Was he scared that just after setting sail, only a few steps out, he would "die in a Green Skin attack"?
Clenching his teeth and with a low growl in his voice, he questioned Gu Hang, "What exactly do you want to do?"
"I want to win this war. And you, General Tilermungs, under your leadership, the United Fleet cannot win. We need a leader who can bring us victory."
"Enough!" General Tilermungs said, "I'm tired of your insatiable greed. The Tianma Fleet will not fight alongside you anymore. I will report to the Star Domain Naval Command. The Tianma Fleet will also leave this place and head to the Yunluo Starfield. You can handle things on your own!"
"Let's go!"
With that call, he intended to leave.
What he said was partly in anger. But now that you, Gu Hang, have shown your true colors and flipped the table, let's flip it together and see who's afraid of whom.
Without the Tianma Fleet, are you planning to use your head to block the Green Skins' military front?
Yet, no one present followed him.
Reaching the door of the conference room, General Tilermungs also realized the awkward situation at hand.
He spun around abruptly and demanded of Du Shiliang and Yelisia, "Why aren't you coming? Do you want to cause a division?"
Yelisia's expression remained calm, but Du Shiliang looked somewhat troubled.
He had intended to consult Mr. Gu's opinion, but he didn't expect the situation to escalate to such an outright confrontation.
Was it time to choose sides now?
If he really had to choose, he would undoubtedly choose Gu Hang.
The reasons were blatantly obvious.
Although General Tilermungs was his direct superior… could the Tianma Fleet really leave the Alliance now?
Your ship's cannon shells, energy, all rely on others for resupply. The Star Domain Naval Command you're counting on? They are far away, separated by several Green Skin-occupied Star Sectors, can they even be counted on?
To turn against Gu Hang and stand by General Tilermungs?
And then, impoverished, lead the fleet away like a lost soul?
Or to traverse the Green Skin-occupied zones without supplies and head to Yunluo?
That's completely unrealistic!
Moreover, aside from those reasons, there's also the fact that deep down he truly agreed with Gu Hang's statement:
The most important thing right now is to win the war, and that requires a commander who can lead them to victory.
Is that person Gu Hang or General Tilermungs?
Even a fool could make the choice.
In the end, Du Shiliang closed his eyes, pursed his lips, and remained seated like a wax statue, not giving General Tilermungs any response.
"Very well! So you want a rebellion?"
General Tilermungs was furious. He waved at the other three captains who had always followed him.
But they too looked troubled and dared not to move.
One brigadier general spoke softly, "There's no need for the situation to escalate like this, everyone sit down and let's talk this through..."
Their thoughts were similar to those of Du Shiliang.
Although they hadn't cooperated with Gu Hang for a long time and were not familiar with him, they were fully aware of the situation in the Eastern Star Domain and their performance in previous wars.
Emotionally, they were more inclined toward General Tilermungs, and they also believed that as the noble Imperial Navy, forming a United Fleet with escort teams and armed merchant ships, the leader should naturally be one of their own.
It was for this reason that when General Tilermungs communicated with them privately in advance, they all showed their support.
But their support didn't extend to wanting to see the two sides turn against each other, let alone follow General Tilermungs out the door and accompany him to his death.
Of course, they had also realized that General Tilermungs's so-called "heading to Yunluo" was most likely said in a moment of anger, but they didn't want to create a situation where it would be too embarrassing to back down. What if they were really forced into a corner and had to take that step?
That would be marching toward death.
Moreover... all three captains have, more or less, received favors from the Fufana Family in the past. Or you could say, there's hardly anyone in the Tianma Fleet who hasn't been lifted up by the Fufana, including Tilermungs.
If it were someone else, that'd be one thing. But Yelisia stepping up as this United Commander...
It seems not entirely out of the question.
Within the fleet, it was tacitly understood that Yelisia would eventually be the Commander of the Tianma Fleet, it was just a matter of sooner or later. Once she accumulated enough experience, it would be time for her promotion. Including Tilermungs himself, everyone knew he was just a placeholder. Of course, he wouldn't be at a loss either, with an added decade or so as the Commander of Tianma on his resume, any subsequent postings wouldn't be of a lower status.
And now, if Yelisia stepped up, it would simply be hastening the inevitable.
It seems not entirely out of the question.
Seeing their reactions, Tilermungs was truly disappointed to the extreme.
With a wave of his hand, he declared, "Disobeying a direct order from a superior, this is mutiny! I will report all of your actions, wait for the military tribunal!"
Having said that, he pushed the door open and left.
However, just as he pushed the door open and took no more than a few steps forward, he felt two massive shadows envelop his body.
Looking up, he saw two giants clad in crimson powered armor.
Through their helmets, the indifferent gaze that fell upon him cooled his inner rage quite a bit.
He couldn't help but take two steps back, turning his head in shock and anger to look at Gu Hang, "What are you trying to do? Mutiny?!"
"You need to cool down, General Tilermungs."
As Gu Hang's voice subsided, the two Phoenix Interstellar Warriors suddenly stepped forward and directly subdued General Tilermungs.
He opened his mouth to curse angrily, but in the next moment, an iron gauntlet firmly covered his mouth and nose, making it very difficult for him to breathe, let alone make a sound.
He was thus taken away by the two Phoenix warriors, like a little chick.
Afterward, two more Phoenix warriors appeared at the door, politely closed the conference room door, and stood guard outside.
Gu Hang nodded in satisfaction and said to the remaining people with a smile, "It seems, in a little while, General Tilermungs will calm down, agree to the establishment of the United Fleet, and also agree to the appointment of the two United Commanders."
His gaze turned towards Yelisia and Du Shiliang, continuing, "I hope we can work closely together in the future."
Yelisia nodded with a smile, while Du Shiliang was wiping sweat off his forehead, "Certainly, certainly."
At that moment, a commodore captain asked, "Then... what about Tilermungs?"
Gu Hang said gently, "He is the Commander of Tianma appointed by the Imperial Navy Command, and no one will change that. The Tianma Fleet cannot be without him; he will return to Tianma Star Sector Wings Star, to oversee the future shipbuilding projects at the Flying Wing Star Shipyard. It's a very important task, only with General Tilermungs can we be reassured."
Upon hearing this, everyone felt a lot more reassured.
Of course, they knew this was akin to a forced resignation following a power grab.
But this outcome was relatively acceptable.
As long as they didn't kill Tilermungs and make things irreparable, that was fine.
The rest could be overlooked for now; everything depended on victory in the war. Other matters could be discussed after winning and establishing contact with the Star Domain Government.
Whether or not Gu Hang should be punished wasn't something these captains could decide. It would depend on how Star Domain Naval Command, the Military Affairs Department, and even the Star Domain Government saw the situation.
...
After the military conference ended, only Gu Hang and Yelisia remained in the conference room.
With the formalities over, the other captains tactfully departed quickly one by one. No one would question why Yelisia didn't follow suit.
Facing Yelisia, Gu Hang revealed a genuine smile, "Long time no see."
Indeed, it had been a long while.
Since the fleets regrouped, the two had communicated many times, but always through virtual images.
After the campaign ended, they met in person, but it was either a banquet or a military meeting, and only now did they finally have a private meeting.
Previously, Gu Hang hadn't disclosed to Yelisia what he was going to do, but it seemed there was a special tacit understanding between them, and everything went smoothly.
In this moment, freeing herself from the pretense and revealing her true tiredness, Yelisia sincerely said to Gu Hang, "Yes, it's been a long time."
Seeing her current state, Gu Hang thoughtfully walked behind her.
"Hmm?"
"Shh, don't move just yet." Gu Hang's hands touched the sides of her forehead, "Close your eyes, it'll be over soon."
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