The Chief of Naval Operations, McMaster, lived next to Deputy Defense Minister John Yaosok. When the gunfire erupted, he curiously came out with Special Service employees to see what was happening. Seeing a group of soldiers standing next door, he frowned and loudly asked, "What unit are you from? What are you doing!"

As soon as he finished speaking, he was riddled with bullets!

He fell to the ground with his eyes open, a look of astonishment still on his face, clearly unable to comprehend what had happened.

Those living a little farther away, such as the Defense Department Auditor, Senior Advisor, and Deputy Assistant Secretary, sensed something was wrong after hearing the gunfire. Haphazardly pulling on clothes, they rushed out, only to be shot dead by A Team stationed at the doorway.

The scene was too horrible to witness!

Colonel Alvaro Perez, leading more than 600 people, headed towards The Pentagon. The visibility was low on this rainy night, and the time and place were in his favor. However, Norman Schwartzkopf was overly cautious, establishing a security zone 700 meters outside The Pentagon, and illuminating the area with floodlights.

As soon as Colonel Alvaro Perez and his men approached, someone stepped out to loudly demand the password.

"By the will of the people, protect the nation's integrity!!"

The sentry was momentarily stunned, and in those few seconds, hundreds of bullets came raining down...

"Charge!!"

"Save the United States!" Alvaro Perez roared, clutching his assault rifle as he dashed towards The Pentagon.

Behind him followed hundreds, all with red ribbons tied to their left arms, shouting "Revolution" as they charged towards the "military holy land."

"Whoosh—"

Norman Schwartzkopf suddenly opened his eyes, panting heavily, drenched in sweat.

"What's wrong? Another nightmare?" his wife asked worriedly, turning on the bedside lamp. "Do you want to take another sleeping pill?"

After all, the old man was in his sixties, and the recent mental stress was immense. Doctors said his nerves were as taut as a string, fearing it might snap.

Insomnia, anxiety, and tension plagued him, leading to some nerve decay.

Norman Schwartzkopf forced a smile, "It's nothing..."

Bam... Bam bam bam!

The sudden gunfire made his body instantly tense, turning extremely sensitive. He sprang from bed, pulled out the handgun from under the pillow, with one eye wide open and the other narrow, like a hedgehog bristling defensively.

Thud thud thud!

A knocking sounded at the door, and Guard Captain Trent Taylor urgently said, "Uncle, the Third Infantry Regiment has mutinied and is attacking The Pentagon."

!!!!

Norman Schwartzkopf felt a rush of blood to his head and swayed slightly, quickly supporting himself on the table. His wife got out of bed to help him, but he gently pushed her away, biting the inside of his cheek to stay mentally strong, whispering, "Bring me my uniform."

His wife nodded quickly, fetching the neatly folded uniform from the closet.

As she helped him dress, she could feel her husband's hands trembling.

"If I don't come back, have Trent Taylor take you away."

The Guard Captain was also his wife's direct nephew...

Sometimes nepotism is inevitable; right now, he was too jumpy to trust anyone.

Let me ask you a question.

Do you trust someone who seems very capable but you've only met twice, or do you trust someone you've known for over ten years, whose background you know well, but who has no outstanding ability?

The answer is obvious.

If I were in charge, even the old yellow dog would be a Navy Marshal... isn't that right, Thai Royal Family?

Norman Schwartzkopf took heavy steps to the door, opened it, and saw Guard Captain Trent Taylor's face full of sweat, his eyes a bit panicked, "Uncle!"

"How many times have I told you, when wearing this uniform, address by position during work."

"De... Defense Minister."

"Yes, don't panic. When I was fighting in Iraq, what haven't I seen? It's just rebels, right? There's still armed forces at The Pentagon; defeating them shouldn't be a problem."

Hearing this, Trent Taylor's anxious heart settled.

"You stay to protect your aunt."

The old man took the lead heading downstairs, and Trent Taylor hesitated, glancing back at the woman wiping tears at the door, his lips chapped, yet he inexplicably said, "No, Defense Minister, I'm coming with you. I'm your guard; I... I should be standing in front of you."

Norman Schwartzkopf finally took a proper look at this "nephew" and slowly nodded, "Follow me."

"Yes!"

He promptly responded, leaving a few people behind, and followed him downstairs. There was another squad of guards below, and a group of people surrounded him as they headed to the front yard.

The gunfire was getting closer and closer.

Accompanied by wails, screams, and whistling noises.

Sight of armed soldiers running back and forth everywhere, their expressions solemn, their attire different from the U.S. Military, all uniformly in tiger stripe camouflage, wielding M16s with Picatinny rails, under which grenade launchers were mounted.

This unit was newly established, officially designated as: Army 31st Regiment, but internally, it was actually the "Imperial Guard" formed by Norman Schwartzkopf and his association "Golden Knights"!

Personnel were drawn from various units!

The most elite soldiers were selected, with some from Delta, the Airborne Division, and overseas units, and the battalion, company, and platoon leaders from each unit were all his subordinates from the Gulf War. This unit numbered about 1200, with formidable combat capabilities.

Deputy Defense Minister Calvin Waller clearly just got out of bed, his hair disheveled, commanding the battle.

"How's the battle going?"

"No problem, the other side only has a few hundred people, they can't break in, and the 3rd Infantry Regiment has no heavy weapons, they will soon collapse."

Upon hearing this, Norman Schwartzkopf exhaled, his eyes dark and his teeth clenched, "Have I not treated these turncoats well? Did I not give them a share of the drug profits? Colonels 30 thousand, Captains 20 thousand, Sergeant Majors 10 thousand, others 5 thousand US Dollars, tell me, who in the world is as generous as I am?!"

Saying this, he even felt aggrieved himself.

I give you money, yet you oppose me.

Has your conscience been eaten by Victor?

Calvin Waller next to him didn't know how to console him, could only remain silent.

"We need to advance our previous plan!"

The Deputy Defense Minister looked up, wanting to refuse like before, but couldn't utter the words.

The old man had mentioned more than once, "We need to put a lock on this violent institution like the army, military commanders have too much power, especially now with internal and external troubles, if they defect in full force, it's a disaster."

In other words, add a Military Supervisor!

But this proposal was tactfully rejected by Calvin Waller and others, because there was no such precedent.

But considering what happened today...

It's essential to have a Military Supervisor.

Militarism continues to spread...

If The Pentagon didn't control the distribution of supplies, the situation would have already been different.

After all, everyone can see, controlling the army means controlling the voice of authority!

"Summon the other troops in Virginia to besiege the 3rd Infantry Regiment. Whoever captures Alvaro Perez, I personally reward 500 thousand US Dollars, regardless of life or death!" Norman Schwartzkopf spoke through clenched teeth, each word seemed to be squeezed from between his teeth, his voice low and filled with strength, as if it contained an unstoppable determination and impending eruptive fury!

"Understood!"

...

Outside The Pentagon.

Alvaro Perez was leading the charge, and was also the first to get hit, shot in the arm, shoulder, and abdomen, dragged back by determination.

"The rain's getting lighter..."

The soldier beside him murmured.

Alvaro Perez looked up, indeed, the force of the raindrops hitting his face diminished, he sighed deeply, "Does God also want to watch the United States perish?!"

The wounded and defeated around him bowed their heads in silent mourning, some even sobbed softly.

He slowly stood up, looking at the impregnable The Pentagon, he shook his head, "After I die, carry my body, surrender, don't make any more futile sacrifices."

"Commander!"

Before everyone could react, he stuffed the gun barrel into his mouth, bang...

The rain splashed in shock.

He swallowed lead and committed suicide.

This inevitably failed coup, however, would affect the course of history.

"Commander!!"

Alvaro Perez held high prestige in the 3rd Infantry Regiment, having served as its commander for seven years, his entire life devoted to this unit, even having seen several batches of service dogs come and go.

Borrowing Petőfi's words: "Even if the world gave me treasures and honors, I would not leave my country. Because even in disgrace, I still like, love, and bless my country."

There are always people willing to defend their country with blood and even life.

Perhaps...

Alvaro Perez simply failed on the right path.

...