Chapter 373: Not Giving an Inch_1

The remaining two "Waterdrops" were destroyed by the Fifth Legion as they were leaving the Solar System.

During the retreat, the Fifth Legion began to divide their forces, one mission was to intercept the "Waterdrops," and the second mission was to systematically drive away the Trisolarans' signal jammers.

In response to the loss of the two "Waterdrops," Sophon lodged a protest with the Solar System State!

The Solar System State, however, stated that since they declared war on the Trisolarans, they had not received any form of truce or peace talk proposal from them; therefore, the two "Waterdrops" were deemed enemy targets.

This was the confidence that the Solar System United Military displayed: Not convinced? If you're not convinced, come back and fight again!

In the face of this, "Sophon" had no choice but to properly request a truce, with Cao Yang representing the negotiations with the Trisolarans, held in the Kuiper Belt.

The war headquarters specially chose a civilian spacecraft without a Sophon Blind Zone as the site for the negotiations.

In reality, there wasn't much to discuss. These negotiations were more of a show for others, as even if the Trisolarans were formidable, within the Solar System, it's the Solar System State that calls the shots.

Initially, the Trisolarans arrived with a "misery loves company" mindset; as a civilization already broadcast throughout the universe and the easily discovered Earth civilization, it was time to sit down and have a proper talk.

If humanity's power consisted only of the PDC and Fleet International, there would be nothing to discuss.

But humanity's Solar System State was different; this power would definitely achieve greater heights in the future.

However, once the negotiations started, the Trisolarans realized that the Solar System State had no intention of negotiating at all—the so-called truce negotiations were purely to annoy them.

In the end, the negotiations led to nothing and did not result in an official truce agreement.

With this, all the "Waterdrops" in the Solar System had been eliminated. With the new radar equipment of the Solar System State, any flying objects similar to the "Waterdrops" entering within 1,500 astronomical units of the Kuiper Belt will be detected.

All eight "Waterdrops" entered the Solar System secretly, six of them were those that pursued the interstellar faring fleets, and there were two additional ones from over sixty years ago that had not appeared before.

Additionally, two "Waterdrops" had been captured by Starship Earth.

And as for the fifth and sixth "Waterdrops," they pursued the 'Q-07' and 'P-325' respectively.

More than a year had passed, and the two fleets that the Solar System State dispatched to pursue them had not provided any response to the Solar System State, which likely meant ill-fated outcomes.

It was unknown, however, whether the two warships 'Q-07' and 'P-325', which were hostile to the Solar System State, had been chased down by the "Waterdrops."

...

The high-ranking officials of the PDC and Fleet International anxiously awaited the arrival of the Solar System State's negotiation representative, Rediaz.

Rediaz's hair had turned completely white, as his elderly body was somewhat uncomfortable due to living in space for so long and suddenly coming to Earth, a planet with gravity.

But the moment he stepped onto the ground, he glowed with youthfulness and was also overcome with tears of joy.

The moment he became Governor of the Solar System State, the PDC no longer dared to do anything to him, but he still had not returned to Earth.

He was always waiting for a dignified opportunity to return to Earth.

Now, that opportunity had come.

The PDC and Fleet International had to humbly send representatives to Desert North Farm to negotiate with Rediaz; some days he was pleased to talk, other days he would leave them hanging.

As the representatives of Fleet International complimented, the official negotiations began.

The PDC and Fleet International wanted to regain their territories and properties, including those in space and all the assets "requisitioned" by the First and Third Legions.

Rediaz, on the other hand, stated that these were ownerless goods they had given up on their own.

PDC representatives argued, "The Solar System State doesn't have the legal right to own these territories and properties!"

"Legal right?" Rediaz clenched his fists, "Did the Trisolarans have that legal right? You still ended up handing Earth over to them!"

The representative of Fleet International explained, "That was territory lost due to defeat in war!"

"Defeat? Did you even fight?" Rediaz challenged them, "All of the Resistance Army can live on their homelands. We won't only refrain from interfering, but will also ensure their safety and the security of their property."

The PDC representative couldn't help but raise his voice, "These are dictatorial terms! Staying means having to take up citizenship in the Solar System State!"

"It was you who abandoned them!" Rediaz roared, "Not only do you fail to support your own people's resistance against the invaders, but you also assist the invaders in persecuting your own people!

"You abandoned the last bit of your people's spine and handed over your territory gift-wrapped!

"Since you abandoned Earth, don't blame Earth for abandoning you."

The PDC representative was somewhat distraught, even pleading in such a setting, "What are we supposed to do? It was Sophon who forced us; please give us back Earth.

"We, we are willing to cede hundreds of square kilometers more land to the Solar System State, please..."

Rediaz slammed the table, "How can you have the gall to say that Sophon forced you?

"When the 'Second Battle' was under way, the Solar System United Military had such a tough fight, sending out over seven hundred thousand soldiers, and only two hundred thousand returned!

"Did we utter a single word of capitulation to Sophon?

"What were you doing at that time? What were you doing?

"Dragging down the Solar System United Military!

"Continuing to be the lackeys for the Trisolarans!"

Rediaz's beard and hair seemed to bristle with anger, like a furious lion.

After delivering these passionate and eloquent remarks, his eyes suddenly filled with tears as he said, "For those martyrs, I will not give in a single step!

"I can't let their sacrifice be in vain for you scum to enjoy the fruits of victory!

"If you continue to lead humanity, there is no hope for humanity!"

The discussion had reached a point where there was no room for mitigation, and the negotiations had to be terminated.

Rediaz returned to his office and reported the day's negotiation process to Jiang Yu, far away in the Oort Cloud, via real-time communication in writing.

In conclusion, Rediaz wrote, "PDC and Fleet International are beyond redemption; they lacked a spine before, and now they lack brains."

Upon receiving Rediaz's message, Jiang Yu thought for a while before replying, "Great generals often emerge from the ranks of defeated armies. As for Fleet International, which now depends on the PDC after losing their 'country,' it's difficult to say, but the PDC at this critical juncture of survival may still unleash their immense potential."

Jiang Yu thought for a moment and then added, "Do not go easy on them. Whether or not we pressure them, from now on, humanity will be polarized. Pressuring the PDC a little might enable them to play some role in the future."

At this moment, Jiang Yu had already paid tribute to the martyrs of the 'Second Battle' and had left a Hero's Monument at the battlefield.

The front of the monument was inscribed: The soldiers who perished in the Oort Cloud Battle will live forever!

The back bore the slogan of the 'Second Battle': Please give your lives!

Another identical monument would be erected in Jupiter City, along with a dedicated square, for future generations to behold.