Chapter 1635
Chapter 1635 - 1631: Planning for the Future
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"...You’ve all worked hard, rest well, we will return to the country within a week."
The battle has come to an end, and the Third Fleet begins to withdraw from the War Zone, allowing Lu Ping’an, who had been highly vigilant, to finally breathe a sigh of relief.
After all, as a manager, his primary concern had always been to safely bring back the fleet entrusted to him... Lu Ping’an’s biggest worry had always been the potential loss of the Third Fleet here.
Should the worst-case scenario occur, it would mean a gap in the defence line of the 3rd Military District.
A flood does not need to break the entire dam; a single leak is sufficient to destroy everything... The coastal cities and even regions further inland might be completely overrun by the Exotic Realm Invaders.
The Eastern Country dispatched several newly built fleets, clearly showing their commitment to saving Sakura Island, but when action became untenable, they wouldn’t likely throw their valuable fleets into an endless war in this abyssal maritime area.
That is why these days, the fleets have been focusing on search and rescue missions, acting relatively conservatively.
After all, fleets have their own responsibilities...
"After we return, the fleet will likely be reorganized, dealing with this Mixed Army is too discomforting."
In the days leading up to their return, Lu Ping’an has little time to rest, with too many issues to handle and too many reports to personally write.
Some are related to rescue operations, others to assessments of the enemy’s high command, and some even to matters not suitable for public disclosure... Just the reports related to the Awakening Disease alone took up a lot of Lu Ping’an’s time; moreover, the superiors also inquired about maritime diseases.
This war has just ended, but the Planners must already consider the next one, possibly even those that could occur in the following years.
"....After we return, the fleet will probably be disbanded."
Lu Ping’an has already begun to sense that the current state of the 3rd Military District is too "temporary" and no longer fits the needs of the time.
The battleships, composed of at least twenty vessels with a dozen different technologies, employ tactics that are too "free"; managing to not interfere with each other’s operations is already an achievement, and they can only be seen as an assembly of floating decks.
Other world lines have their carrier groups, submarine wolf packs, battleships, and escort vessels, each with its own strategic design and requirements. Every fleet has its own strategic targets and patrolling areas, unlike now where vessels are forcefully patched together, mainly for transporting personnel and goods.
Such a navy virtually has no essential difference from a maritime transport squad... The Eastern Country needs time and resources to develop a new era navy that meets the demands of the time.
"...Please be sure to produce a large number of underwater vessels and drones; the new era of warfare requires more autonomous machinery, especially those that can perform integrated search and strike missions....."
As Lu Ping’an contemplates, he also writes some reports about future weapons.
He isn’t sure if they will be useful, but given the development of two world lines, they must be on the correct path.
From his perspective, the greatest advantage of Earth in the warfare against the Exotic Realm has always been Earth’s technology... The civilization in this world has actually developed to a considerably high level, where various war machines are indeed capable of posing serious threats to the Exotic Realm Creatures, especially when they are prone to the adversities of an unfamiliar environment.
Strategic risk-taking is valuable, as striving with all one’s might always yields results. However, in Lu Ping’an’s view, leveraging the technological advantage in warfare is currently the crucial task.
In his letter, he fully supported the practices of certain big shots freeing AI, Electronic viruses, and Mechanic Spiritualists...
"...Under the current situation where the oceans are contaminated, life forms will suffer severe damage underwater, but Metal Creatures will not, and most Parasites and viruses will not harm drones, small submarines, and war machinery. With sufficient underwater machinery, we can actually become the main holders in the sea..."
"This advantage will disappear over time; even the worst environments will be overcome. It is estimated that in no more than three years, this marine defense line will be cracked, by then it will still be a fierce battle like the point of a needle against a stalk of wheat..."
"I personally estimate that within half a year, if there are no major changes, the guests from the Exotic Realm in Sakura Island and even mainland Australia will not start attacking our homeland. They need time to adapt to the environment... I suspect they will focus on attempting to change the ocean’s structure, and while we may be able to weaken it, I’m afraid we won’t be able to decode it; eventually, the ocean will still become a favorable environment for these Sea Tribes..."
𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎
"For long-term strategic advantage, I recommend solving the problem completely within ten years, at least pushing the opponents back to mainland Australia, which is achievable, but for the first three, even five years, we should be in a strategic defensive period."
"Our greatest advantage is the speed of technological innovation. The Octopus, these invaders, are a mature aggressive ethnic group, which also means they have not changed for hundreds or even thousands of years. They cannot understand the innovation that bursts forth from us, a short-lived species, when our lives are threatened..."
Lu Ping’an patiently wrote the report, focusing more on the strategic predictions for the coming years.
He actually felt that he would not last long as a commander in this military region... When short-term combat turns into long-term operations, his coordination skills won’t be as crucial; ultimately, it should be left for professionals to handle professional matters.
Lu Ping’an has his own career and organization, and he can’t be consumed with organizational and promotional work in the military region like this.
"The next two to three years will be very tough..."
Having experienced the burst of future technology, Lu Ping’an is quite confident in Earth’s technological capabilities, especially in the application of drones and AI in warfare patterns.
But technological transformation into finished products requires a lot of time and real combat, the initial experimental products are certainly fragile and will attract much criticism.
Lu Ping’an not only plans to write letters in support, but in the following days, he will also fully support the development and production of war machinery; perhaps he and his homeland too can try to keep pace with the times?
"...Perhaps, I should invest a bit in this area as well, Fang Wen is a Rule-level after all, and Mechanic Spiritualists of Rule-level are very precious."
As a businessman, Lu Ping’an smelled a business opportunity again.
Actually, it’s okay for Lu Ping’an to temporarily manage a military position, but in the long run, it’s not good for either party; it’s unlikely that he would really sit there long-term directing military affairs.
And for him, what truly matters during this period of strategic defense is the extent of technological progress and the pace of armed reform — these are the absolute fundamentals in this battle.
Once it drags on past ten years, it’s likely to become more difficult... The increasing number of Plane Invaders is one aspect; the local Fishman population has probably bred generations adapted to the environment, and the increased otherworldliness will bring more troublesome battlefields; the Pacific Ocean, completely fallen into the Otherworldly, will become a long-term nightmare for the entire world.
"Defending for three or four years, stalling for one or two years, a total offensive in five or six years would be considered quick..."
Lu Ping’an indeed sees far ahead, and he is also among those most confident in the Eastern Country.
Having seen through the future, he naturally planned and prepared for his own and his companion’s futures.
— End of Chapter 1635 —