After October began, the winds grew a bit stronger.
A six-man squad of government soldiers, dressed in autumn uniforms, patrolled the border near Hidalgo State. From here, one could see far into Turang Xingge, a city known for its fierce and combative culture, which was also home to the Roman Catholic Archdiocese.
In Age of Empires 3, there's a type of Turang Xingge cuirassier cavalry, which actually originates from this region.
If we're talking about what's most famous here...
It would be hardcore wrestling, which has a strong market presence here. It's also a form of gambling, where killing your opponent is the only goal. Every year, Yanks come over to place their bets.
Of course, this activity has always been popular in Mexico, but when Victor came into power, he outright banned it and took severe actions against it.
After all... no, regular people's lives are lives too. If you really want to fight, do it in a proper sports venue. If you gain fame, you might even get a chance to compete in the Olympics next year.
While the government soldiers were on patrol, a low voice called out from beyond the fence. The leading lieutenant sharply turned his head and saw a burly man raising his hand as he emerged from behind a tree.
The soldiers hurriedly aimed their guns at him.
"Don't shoot, officer, we're here to surrender."
"We're border guards from Hidalgo State. We want to join the government forces. I can lead the way, I can lead the way!"
The burly man turned out to be the one cursing injustice at the checkpoint yesterday.
Sobered up early this morning, he felt somewhat cowardly. But when he thought about his family starving at home, he decided to gamble it all. He brought his men and carried out the plan.
"Raise your hands and keep them where we can see them. You, come here." The lieutenant gestured to a corporal, who retrieved a pair of pliers from his toolkit and cut a hole in the fence.
He motioned for the burly man to crawl through.
"Francisco, officer."
This name is very common, quite casual, akin to China's Zhang Wei or Li Na – you could encounter it on any street.
"I have comrades who have already returned to the town in the rear. Nine o'clock! They said they'd kill the mayor at nine!" The burly man pointed at his wristwatch, which was somewhat old, "They sent me to request reinforcements, hoping you could fight your way in."
The lieutenant furrowed his brow, unsure if this was true. "Come with me. I'll report this to the higher-ups. I hope you're not lying to us, or else... huh!"
"I swear, officer! If I'm lying, let no one commemorate me during the Day of the Dead!" Francisco quickly said.
The lieutenant's expression relaxed slightly. For Mexicans, that was one of the most serious oaths they could make, equivalent to ancient people swearing by the Luo River, saying if they didn't keep their word, they were born of shameful origins.
But, as facts later revealed, he would rather have been born of shameful origins...
This "Southern Deserters Incident" was reported immediately to the "Baroque Palace," which referred to the Department of Defense located on Tepeya Mountain.
Kennedy had recently risen from army commander to the position of defense minister, while Erich Ludendorff, formerly the deputy chief of staff, had been reassigned as Army Chief.
These changes were all completed in recent days.
The average age in the military: 32.3 years!
This was likely the youngest military leadership among all countries. Victor wanted to show everyone: stick with me, and riches and glory will be yours!
"Did the staff department send the report over?"
"Yes, a copy has been sent," the secretary quickly replied.
Kennedy nodded, picked up the phone, and called Horatio Herbert Kitchener. "Hello, it's me. How does the staff department view this sudden situation?"
The chief of staff remained calm. His tone was composed. "If the deserters' account is accurate and Ravenna Town does descend into chaos, then by occupying this location, we would be in full control of Hidalgo. From there, we could radiate our influence to Tras, Morelos, and Puebla States."
"If we take Hidalgo, based on the previous economic conferences, this state would be integrated into the new Mexico City economic zone. The general's vision is to expand Mexico State entirely, making it not only North America's but one of the world's most prosperous regions in terms of economy and population."
"So?" Kennedy raised an eyebrow.
"I suggest a three-sided offensive. Strike with the speed and power of a thunderbolt to capture Hidalgo, Tras, and Morelos States!"
Hearing this, Kennedy rubbed his temples in frustration. "It's too sudden. There weren't any military operations planned for the year."
"Mexico City is too close to the border. We need to establish a buffer zone for the capital. Moreover, we have three reasons why victory is certain."
Horatio Herbert Kitchener organized his points: "First, the general has rewarded the army. Morale is soaring, and troops everywhere are requesting to fight. Their spirit is like clouds reaching the heavens."
"Second, the United States has withdrawn its support for the Southern Government. This deals a heavy blow to them. As their situation declines, ours improves, making our advantage even greater."
"Third, judging by the deserters' motivations, it's clear that the Southern forces' rank-and-file soldiers are demoralized and hold admiration for us. If we launch a surprise attack, we might not even encounter effective resistance."
"With these three factors, victory is ours!"
"The advantage is in our hands!"
Kennedy pondered for a moment and realized it was indeed the case. After ascending to a high military position, he had studied numerous historical cases, the most classic among them involving morale.
It was China versus India.
Back then, India had fought Spain in a battle called the "Goa War," which made them feel invincible as they proclaimed themselves the leader of the Third World. But what happened during the Sino-Indian War?
A British journalist described it this way: apart from the great East African wildebeest migration, there had never been a sight of mammals fleeing en masse with such speed...