Chapter 321 ·Ultimatum

After ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍completing the prisoner handover mission，they continued advancing into Britian territory。

This ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍time they were no longer a solitary Army，a defensive war had completely united the people of every class in Ernesto，thereby unleashing tremendous Cohesion，and after some simple repairs and reorganization large numbers of Ernesto troops had already begun launching attacks into Britian territory。

Heavy ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Equipment remained Ernesto’s weakness，but its Air Force had undergone massive expansion thanks to technical assistance from the Alliance。

There ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍were only a little over a hundred Tanks in total，but after the bloody battle in the skies during the defensive war，there were still nearly 2000 Avisu fighter aircraft altogether，and this was even under circumstances where the Alliance’s subsequent Military Supply Aid had been cut off，otherwise there would have been even more。

Abundant ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Forestry Resources allowed Ernesto’s Collective Workshops to continuously assemble fighter aircraft，as soon as an Engine arrived one aircraft could roll off the production line。

Pilot ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍training was even more uninhibited，Flight Schools only taught the most basic piloting skills，everything else was left for the Pilots to learn on the battlefield。

Ultimately the two sides completed their rendezvous in Sliar State within Britian territory。

The upstream section of the river in Sliar State happened to lie within Ernesto territory，reducing the other side’s marching pressure。

But when Alliance soldiers actually saw the Crimson Army arriving from Ernesto they were still somewhat astonished。

The Continent had already entered winter，most Ernesto soldiers wore nothing apart from an overcoat supplied by the Alliance，and relied almost entirely on their own legs to march，forming a stark contrast with the Alliance Third Armored Army。

The Alliance’s material aid in every respect could definitely be considered generous，especially Industrial Products such as automobiles，but Ernesto had modified all the vehicles it received as aid to haul Cannons。

Even this was not the main point，rather it was the enormous age range among these soldiers。From those with heads full of white hair to underage children，they had them all。

While everyone gathered together for dinner that evening，Erich learned through conversation with an Ernesto officer that the proportion of children in their army was not small，minors accounted for nearly 16%，with the youngest even being as young as 8 years old。

The Ernesto officer gulped down some alcohol and smacked his lips，being able to drink some alcohol to warm himself in the cold left him extremely satisfied：“Comrade，this tastes really good！”

“Home？What home is there，most of them were brought back by us from the ruins，the Military Camp is their home。At least by following us they can still have food to eat，although it’ll be very dangerous。”

His words were not without basis，Material Aid was allocated according to quotas，given the crisis Ernesto had previously faced，the overwhelming majority of aid was related to military matters，so the issue of food could only be regulated through an Allocation System。

How was it regulated？

First according to the Military-first Principle，after deducting military consumption，the remainder was quantitatively supplied from above according to State Population Statistics，with local authorities distributing food according to headcount。

On the macro level this reduced the food pressure faced by the nation to the greatest possible extent，and also achieved approximate fairness，but how things actually went when implemented was another matter entirely。

Because restrictions meant scarcity，and Scarce Resources inevitably meant that some people would find various ways to profit from them，especially when it was something necessary for survival like food。

Hunger could destroy a person’s rationality，it had nothing to do with strength or social class，this was the most primitive Survival Instinct，survival came before everything else。

And the elderly、children、women and weak were naturally Vulnerable Groups in this regard，targets for bullying，while orphans and widows without anyone to look after them were the weakest among the weak。

In that case joining the army and becoming a soldier actually became the optimal solution。

And Ernesto’s leadership might not have been unaware that these children and elderly people failed to meet the Quality Standards for Soldiers，they merely chose to turn a blind eye。

Looking at the children gathered together not far away，taking huge bites of bread，whose Military Caps would cover their eyes whenever they stopped paying attention，Erich felt somewhat heavyhearted。

He gained the most direct understanding of the saying that when a nation reached the moment of life and death，there were no children，only soldiers。

The only thing that made him feel somewhat better was that in the battles ahead their Armored Groups would charge at the front line and crack the toughest defenses，there would be no need for the Ernesto Crimson Army to use their own flesh and blood to withstand gunfire and artillery anymore。

The feeling of a full stomach brought satisfaction and happiness，after dinner the soldiers sitting around the bonfires discussed amusing things from their memories in groups of twos and threes，introducing their hometowns and their families to one another。

Sharing the same hatred for the enemy，they condemned the ugliness of those nations within the Allied Army together，with the People’s Revenge Army formed by Surians shouting the loudest of all。

When the Alliance originally launched the Support Movement，apart from students and veterans within the nation，quite a few people from within the Kingdom of Suria had also been moved by its ideals and traveled to Ernesto to provide support，allowing them to escape the catastrophe。

But sometimes living could be crueler than dying，they had to shoulder their hatred，and personally seek justice for their dead family members。

“I wonder when this damned war will finally end，it must be very hard for my mother to farm alone。”

No one knew where these words came from，but the previously impassioned atmosphere immediately quieted down，leaving only the sound of the bonfires burning。

They had already endured the most difficult period，now the counteroffensive had already begun，they would defeat these nations，return everything inflicted upon them，they believed this unwaveringly。

Everything was developing in a good direction，but how long would they need to push back through so many nations？When final victory arrived，would they still be alive on that day？

Leaning against a Tank Turret，an Alliance soldier spread out a somewhat dirty sheet of paper and wrote with a pencil：

“The situation on the Front Line is generally going smoothly，but the situation of the unit I belong to is not very clear，when will we meet again next time。Are you doing well？Is everything at home alright？”

“If I Sacrifice Myself，please don’t grieve for me。When the day of our victory arrives，go to the mountain behind our home where we often went as children and stand on the summit，if a mountain breeze blows toward you，that will be me coming to see you。”

At Sera Capital International Airport in the Alliance Capital，a Long-haul Passenger Aircraft landed safely，and under the towing of a Ground Service Vehicle slowly came to a stop on the Apron。

Yadov walked down from the aircraft with the support of his Secretary，and warmly shook hands with Alliance Prime Minister Coy who had come to receive him，he raised his head and glanced at the enormous Passenger Terminal in the distance and sighed：“Coming to Seris，is like coming to another world。”

Coy smiled：“Ernesto will also achieve this kind of development，I believe that day will not take too long to arrive。”

Yadov laughed heartily，his entire mental state seemingly improving considerably：“If I can live to see that day arrive，then I’ll have the face to go down there and give my old brothers an explanation。”

Naturally there was an important meeting requiring his participation and final decision for the elderly Yadov to fly such a long distance to the Alliance Capital，and besides Yadov，King Bratt had arrived one step earlier，with the three nations jointly holding discussions。

Compared with Yadov，Bratt could hardly be said to be in a good mood。

Others might have no way of learning the specific circumstances behind the Gods falling dormant，but the Churches serving as their Dependents were certain to know，it was just that the Church of Holy Light maintained an extremely tight blockade on information about the Empress，and externally it always gave the same vague explanation anyway，even the Alliance itself did not understand much。

It was just that Bratt was a little more miserable，because he could not even manage to know that little，Miwei who had already risen to become the Pontiff gave Bratt no face whatsoever，and had repeatedly refused to see him。

The main reason was that this fellow had practically written his intentions all over his face in the past，and remained the same even after becoming King，Miwei naturally was not happy when someone coveted the good things belonging to her own side。

The purpose of this Three-nation Conference led by the Alliance was actually very simple，it was to negotiate and organize the reconstruction of the postwar order，or rather，to divide the spoils。

Yes，they had already begun discussing the Postwar Order before the war had even ended，after the Closed-door Meeting the Alliance，acting as the General Representative，publicly issued the ‘Sera Announcement’，in the announcement the Allied Nations were urged to surrender immediately and unconditionally，otherwise，the only thing awaiting them would be

“rapid and complete destruction”。