Munitions Empire-Chapter 1990 - 1866: Disgusting Monster

A steel behemoth, the Great Tang Empire’s Type 96 main battle tank, roared deafeningly as it crushed a deformed steel helmet beneath its tracks. The metal was easily flattened by the steel tracks, emitting a cringe-inducing sound, as if announcing the brutality of war.

Its massive form cast a shadow on the smoke-filled battlefield, reminiscent of an ancient behemoth from bygone eras, bearing an unstoppable momentum as it pressed toward the enemy’s heart. It marched forward relentlessly, crushing the war-torn earth beneath its steel tracks, churning up dust and leaving deep imprints.

It rolled over a barrier formed by crumbling walls, rubble, and reinforced defenses, which in its path seemed as fragile as paper, incapable of resisting. Finally, the Type 96 main battle tank halted in the center of the crossroad, its steel tracks screeching against the ground as if issuing a final ultimatum to the enemy.

Its heavy turret slowly rotated, aiming its hollow main gun at the bastion still spitting tongues of fire in the distance, where enemy machine guns were frantically firing in a desperate last stand. The turret locked on the target, and after a brief silence, a thunderous cannon shot shattered the battlefield’s clamor. The shell, trailing flames, roared toward its target, striking the bastion with precision.

In the explosion, flames shot skyward, and the bastion was engulfed in swirling black smoke, with debris and dust thrown high as if by a minor earthquake. The blast wave swept the surroundings, and the bastion’s firepower suddenly ceased, leaving only burning flames and the pervasive smoke, recounting the battle’s ferocity. The Tang Army’s armored vehicles swiftly followed, charging through the smoke-filled battlefield to seize that position.

The Laines Empire soldiers emerged one by one from the hiding places among the crumbling walls and shell craters, trembling. Their once resolute eyes now filled with terror, exhaustion, and despair, marked by the traces of battle, with soil and smoke mixed together, emitting an acrid odor.

With trembling hands, they threw their empty rifles and machine guns to the ground, the clatter of metal echoing dully, announcing the end of their resistance.

"We... we surrender!" one soldier shouted hoarsely, raising his hands high, his voice filled with despair and helplessness, yet carrying a hint of relief. Other soldiers followed suit, weakly dropping their shoulders and slowly raising their hands, indicating they had abandoned resistance and were willing to accept capture by the Tang Army.

The continuous fighting had exhausted their strength and will; they had used up their ammunition and completed their mission, leaving the remaining matters no longer their concern.

In the next block, tension was palpable as the Laines Empire troops scrambled to build obstacles, attempting to ward off the impending iron flood of the Great Tang Empire. The air was thick with the smell of smoke, mixed with the scent of sweat and fear. The soldiers’ faces were grim, their actions distorted by apprehension.

A massive shell crater remained on the distant street, a relic of the aerial bomb dropped by the Tang Army. At the time, the ground truly shook, scaring the Laines Empire soldiers hidden in buildings nearly into believing they’d be buried alive by collapsing structures.

Fortunately, this was a more central part of the city, with buildings left by the Great Tang Group, and although they were older, their quality remained reliably high. Despite nearly being hit by an aerial bomb, the buildings on both sides stood firm, a testament to the Great Tang Group’s quality.

Ironically, the Tang Army now found it exceedingly difficult to destroy these buildings with ammunition, a pit they seemingly dug for themselves in the past.

"Hurry up! They’re coming soon! The gunfire has stopped over there!" a tall Laines Empire officer shouted hoarsely, pacing anxiously and occasionally shoving the slow-moving soldiers to urge them to speed up.

The Tang Army and Laines Empire’s troops were engaged in combat just a block away, soon turning this area into a battlefield. They had no retreat options, as not far behind lay the core command center of the Jade City garrison.

Paul never moved his command center, having never planned to avoid anything. As time went by, the Jade City garrison had been divided and surrounded, leaving him with nowhere to hide.

"Damn it! There’s no strategic terrain here! How can we stop those steel monsters?" the officer cursed quietly; the block was flat, without any natural barriers to use, relying only on makeshift obstacles to delay the enemy’s advance.

"Use those scrap cars, and the doors! Quick! Pile them in the middle of the road!" he shouted, pointing at the discarded items along the roadside, directing the soldiers.

"Move fast! We need to stall for time and give the rear units more preparation time!" the officer said while helping the soldiers carry heavy debris together.