Munitions Empire-Chapter 974 - 896 Fengjiang City’s Preparation

Chapter 974: 896 Fengjiang City’s Preparation Chapter 974: 896 Fengjiang City’s Preparation A nondescript DC-3 transport plane landed slowly at the military airport in West Fengjiang. On another runway, Dahua fighter jets landed one by one, and the ground crew was bustling around.

The first person to descend the gangway, after the cabin door opened, was a young strategist from Prince Zhao Yu’s entourage. As he stepped off the plane, he returned a military salute to the soldiers standing at attention beside the runway.

“Everything is under control!” As he approached and briefed them on the situation, the military advisor from the Great Tang Empire made a welcoming gesture, “The car is ready. West Fengjiang City has just announced across the Dahua Empire in support of Prince Zhao Yu.”

“There are 17 divisions of Dahua’s troops stationed near Fengjiang, totaling 300,000 men, all well-equipped.” As they walked, the advisor briefed his status: “All command of the troops is now in the hands of our advisory team.”

“Your Highness!” On the other hand, Zhao Yu, who disembarked afterwards, instantly felt an ease he hadn’t felt in a long time. He was greeted by saluting officers, and the scene made him feel somewhat elated.

These officers had stayed behind to lend support, clustering around Zhao Yu and giving ample face to the Prince.

“The Dahua Empire is currently mobilizing troops, with movements in the surrounding 40 divisions.” At the car, the lead commander from the advisory group spoke confidently, “But please rest assured, our offensive capabilities might be inadequate, but our defense is more than sufficient.”

...

“Thank you for your hard work.” Zhao Yu’s strategist extended his hand with a smile and shook hands with the military advisor, “I’m Xu Guo, named after the phrase ‘to devote oneself to the nation.'”

“Luo Xiao, Colonel of the General Staff of the Land Forces.” The Tang officer, who appeared a couple of years older than Xu Guo, also introduced himself.

“Sir! Sir!” Zhao Yu, walking behind, caught up at this time, looking much more relaxed, and called out, “I’ll ride in the same car as you, Sir!”

“Then let’s go!” Xu Guo did not refuse and got directly into the car. A procession of cars then grandly left the airport and headed towards the bustling Fengjiang City.

In a much farther and remote area, at the periphery governed by West Fengjiang City, trucks loaded with goods one by one entered a large military barracks.

This barracks was built to guard against the attacks of the Great Tang Empire, able to accommodate an entire battalion’s troops, with a vast scale and well-equipped facilities, even surrounded by permanent defensive works.

To counter the formidable air force of the Great Tang Empire, a battery of anti-aircraft guns, equipped with five guns, was also deployed near the barracks.

However, now this place had become the frontline of the Dahua Empire’s civil war, where soldiers were ordered to organize their ammunition, anxiously inquiring among themselves what had exactly happened.

Inside the barracks, soldiers anxiously eyed the rifles next to them, the atmosphere already quite tense.

One soldier cautiously asked his comrade, who was checking distributed bullets, “What exactly is going on?”

The veteran raised his head to look at the uneasy young recruit: “I’m not entirely sure, but I heard that some cities in the west were jealous of Fengjiang’s prosperity, and they misrepresented us to His Majesty the Emperor.”

The recruit became displeased once he heard this; after all, he was from Fengjiang and indeed his family had enjoyed good fortune in recent years. At Fengjiang’s port, even a minor business could thrive abundantly.

So, he was upset, feeling that others had jeopardized his happy life: “Isn’t this just stirring up trouble? We were living our lives just fine.”

The veteran sighed, remarking, “Exactly, His Highness the Prince has done so much good for us to live well, but the Crown Prince just can’t tolerate his own brother.”

“If the Crown Prince ascends to the throne, we in Fengjiang won’t have good days ahead,” other soldiers chimed in after hearing the veteran’s words.

These lower-ranking soldiers didn’t care much about politics; Zhao Yu had always been active in advancing Fengjiang’s commercial environment, and so they naturally supported such a benevolent Prince.

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The veteran sighed again: “We don’t even have to wait that long, I heard that the neighboring troops are already coming to fight us.”

The recruit was now agitated. He grabbed the rifle next to him and said fiercely, “Let them come! Damn it! Are we afraid of them?”

“Exactly! Is our Fengjiang military afraid of those rubbish? We are much better equipped than they are!” Another recruit shouted.

Compared to other areas, the troops in Fengjiang were indeed some of the better-equipped and trained in the Dahua Empire — due to its proximity to Fengjiang, abundant resources, good welfare benefits, and a larger stockpile of ammunition.

Moreover, this place was a vital fortress against the Great Tang Empire, and to withstand the formidable military of the Great Tang, the fighting capability of Dahua’s troops here had to be assured.

But they had no reinforcements, and although Fengjiang had a substantial military presence, the surrounding troops of the Dahua Empire were even more numerous.

And behind these troops of the Dahua Empire, there were even more Dahua troops available for combat, making the stationed troops in West Fengjiang seem isolated and unsupported, like a lone tree struggling to stand.

As they talked, the mood soon grew despondent as they felt there was truly no hope for victory, as if their path forward was bleak.

“Some say the Great Tang Empire also supports us. The Crown Prince’s perverse actions have caused us problems with our trade with Great Tang. Would Great Tang be pleased with that?” someone said, trying to boost everyone’s spirits.

Another person retorted firmly, “We don’t need their support! We can take down those bastards to the west on our own!”

“Having support is better than none, otherwise we’d be at a disadvantage,” another pragmatically added. Having support is better than being ignored.

Such topics were quickly passed over, and the soldiers soon shifted the conversation back to supporting Zhao Yu and opposing the Crown Prince, “No matter what! Let’s march to the Imperial Capital! Make Zhao Yu the Emperor!”

“If Zhao Yu becomes Emperor, we’ll all have better days ahead! To the Imperial Capital!” everyone shouted in unison.

They didn’t have to wait long before the doors of the barracks were opened, and soldiers carrying boxes of supplies and equipment entered. The officer in charge of distribution shouted from the doorway, “Everyone get your new equipment! Wait by your bunks! Don’t cause chaos! The equipment handlers need to move quickly!”

To everyone’s astonishment, brand new M35 Steel Helmets were distributed to each bed, and they even bore the national seal of the Dahua Empire.

It was clear these helmets were specifically made for them, as the Border Defense Force of the Great Tang Empire had begun to massively replace their helmets with a new model the year prior.

Although the M35 Steel Helmet was a classic, it was becoming less practical with the development of many new technologies. Great Tang’s paratroopers and army tank operators had already begun using lighter, impact-resistant plastic helmets.

With advances in materials, the Great Tang Empire had begun equipping its troops with lighter synthetic material helmets covered with camouflaged cloth, moving away from the bare M35 Steel Helmets.

In any case, there was still a large stockpile available, so these were sent as aid to West Fengjiang for Zhao Yu’s troops to use.

“Isn’t this a Great Tang Empire’s helmet? Why did they give it to us?” a new soldier asked, surprised.

Another young soldier put the helmet on his head and swaggeringly asked, “Sergeant, wearing a Great Tang Empire’s helmet, whose soldiers are we considered to be?”

The sergeant, understanding the confusion, cursed, “Shut up! Isn’t it because they’re worried that in battle everyone will look the same, making it hard to tell friend from foe. You’d be comfortable getting shot by your own people, would you?”

Then everyone suddenly realized there was such a purpose behind changing their equipment, “Ah? Sergeant, you have a point…”

“Get lost! Check if there’s anything wrong with it! You won’t be able to replace it if it’s broken later,” the sergeant snapped again, clearly frustrated.

While someone was inspecting their Steel Helmet, he couldn’t help but express his admiration, “How can you not say that the Great Tang’s troops have high combat effectiveness? Look at the lining of this helmet, it’s leather, adjustable, much more comfortable than the junk we had before.”

“Exactly, wearing this Steel Helmet, even I feel better looking. Earlier, looking at the sentinel on the opposite side, he seemed so handsome,” a new soldier stated, feeling as though his combat strength had increased by +5 BUFF.

An experienced soldier viewed things differently. Being handsome was merely an added feature; what he really valued was protection, “Enough talk, this thing is heavy on my head, you can tell it’s made from thick, quality steel, not like our old thin helmets that were like paper.”

“You’re right… our previous Steel Helmets were so thin, what could they possibly protect us from?” Without comparison there is no harm, but now, seeing the difference, a new soldier felt like they had been deceived before.

Soon, someone nearby began the usual cursing of the corrupt officials, “Bloody hell, those damn officials must have pocketed it all! They couldn’t care less whether we soldiers live or die!”

“Those bastards! No wonder we lose every time we fight Great Tang, are we even using the same gear?” Looking at the Steel Helmet in their hands and then at the original tattered ones hanging on the wall, everyone began to curse vehemently.

While they were cursing, the soldier delivering supplies distributed other items to everyone: including candles and matches, underwear, and replacement socks.

All distributed at the logistical level of the Great Tang troops, therefore, these items immediately astonished everyone.

To avoid wasting Dahua troops’ reserve ammunition, the military aid from Great Tang didn’t immediately provide weapons; they would wait until these troops had used up their existing ammunition reserves before providing them.