Thunder Warrior Saves the World

Page 16

eight……

2. Wow, BVVD actually released the Golden Acacia! When will they recreate the self-igniting Beyond the Horizon attack?

Then fast forward to the point where the cannon immediately bombs the enemy base upon spawning. At the start of the game, the player counts how many cannons they have and how thick they are. If they feel they are at a disadvantage, they immediately return to the garage (LoL).

BVVD, please send me an offer quickly.

Volume 1: Chapter 90, Chapter Eighty-One: The Invisible Power

William Wallace was fortunate; the people he interviewed were selected to participate in the armored battle in the north, thus granting him the right to travel with the troops. This greatly excited William. Although he gained a preliminary understanding of the soldiers' fighting methods through training and live-fire exercises, there was no doubt that reporting firsthand on the battle of a powerful ally would satisfy the higher-ups more, and would give him a significant advantage in securing the editor-in-chief position.

Because of the friendly journalist, William was assigned to the passenger seat of a truck, avoiding the need to squeeze into the infantry fighting vehicle with the soldiers. These Russians were all burly men, and with their full gear and equipment, it wasn't an easy task to squeeze into the crew compartment at the back of the BMP.

For William, the march was monotonous. He quickly grew tired of the scenery outside the window, and he didn't want to bother the driver too much. After reorganizing his battlefield interview record plan, he soon fell into a state of utter boredom. Chatting with other volunteer soldiers became the thing he looked forward to most during each rest stop.

He soon discovered that after a certain point in time, these volunteer soldiers seemed to have accumulated a surge of energy, and their pace of action became much faster. He was curious about the reason for this change in the volunteer army, but the soldiers remained tight-lipped about it. However, faced with the new situation, he quickly put this insignificant matter aside.

"Our march is long, comrades, look ahead! The regimental flag is flying high in the wind. The commander is at the forefront. Soldiers, set off! Set off! Set off!"

While William's company was resting, he heard singing at the makeshift camp. The unique melody and soft chorus immediately caught his attention. He walked towards the sound and saw a group of Elgin soldiers wearing the distinctive EMR camouflage uniforms of Amelia, recognizable as soldiers of the 6th Battalion by their tank helmets. They were gathered around a Lieutenant Amelia, learning a song William had never heard before. An Elgin reporter assigned to the 6th Battalion saw William approaching and waved to him.

“My dear, I will give you, write back along the way, hear the bugle call, goodbye, set off.”

The lyrics were sung in Common Tongue at a relatively slow pace, so William could easily decipher them. He quietly sat down next to his colleague, took out his notebook, and wrote down the lyrics.

"The soldiers are all brave and young, with sharp eyes like eagles. We all have the highest honor, having made great contributions in battle."

Although there was no accompaniment and the melody wasn't particularly stirring, William felt an invisible force welling up within him during the slow yet emotionally charged lyrical chorus. This strengthened his resolve to ultimately win the battle against the Belken Empire's invasion. William glanced around at the expressions of the soldiers in the 6th Battalion and knew they felt the same way he did.

"And today we must all continue to learn and work, so that our cities and villages can quietly prosper. Soldiers, set off, set off, set off! My dear, I will write back to you along the way. Listen to the bugle call. Goodbye, set off."

The reason for the fight is hidden in these straightforward lyrics, striking straight to the heart and dispelling the confusion of these greenhorns as they stepped onto the battlefield for the first time. Although they did not speak, the light in their eyes undoubtedly showed that these soldiers were ready for battle.

"What's the name of this song? Who wrote it?"

As the music ended, William eagerly asked his colleagues.

"I don't know either. I only heard this song for the first time today." In this era, most journalists are well-educated and naturally possess a certain appreciation for music and other art forms. Although sung in the common language, its rhythm and style differ from the main musical genres of the Ense continent, making it unique, yet it still aligns with their aesthetic standards. Seeing this, they quickly realized that a country capable of creating such an excellent song must have a long and rich history and culture supporting it.

“Amelia must have a unique and brilliant culture,” he exclaimed.

“Yeah, I almost want to visit this mysterious country myself. Their world-leading technology and industry, their unique art and culture—damn, what have they been through to develop such a society?” William rarely swore.

"This song is called 'Departure,' composed on the tenth anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War, with music by V. Solovyov-Sedoy and lyrics by M. Duzin." Seemingly sensing the two foreign friends' curiosity about the song, the lieutenant, after finishing, took the initiative to introduce it to the Erzgebirge people. "Our motherland was born in war. Capitalists, the king, and the police united and took up arms against us, but we defeated their interference and defended the fruits of the revolution. Then we were invaded by fascism, and we lost vast swathes of our territory. The fascist bandits even reached our capital at one point, but we did not give up. Our troops were reviewed in front of the Kremlin and then went directly to the front lines, because we knew that a united people can never be defeated!"

"Soldiers! We are the people's militia. It is our mission to defeat the imperialists who invade our homeland and defend our towns and villages. We have an iron will and ambition, and we will surely win. Our victory will prove the will of the people of this land! For our families and compatriots, we will fight to the very end! Hurrah!"

Perhaps it was the similar experiences of the eight that resonated with the hearts of the Elgin soldiers. At this moment, all the Elgins present felt a surge of passion and roared, "Hurrah!" echoing through the sky.

Looking at the Irish army brimming with unwavering fighting spirit, William felt for the first time that the saying "the Irish people will ultimately win this war" was not a pipe dream. He also realized for the first time, in a daze, that the biggest difference between armies is not the sophistication of their equipment or the excellence of their discipline, but rather what they fight for, for whom they fight, and whether they have the firm belief that ultimate victory will come.

……

I worked on a company PowerPoint presentation until 3:30 AM yesterday, so I couldn't update.

Volume 1: Chapter 91, Chapter Eighty-Two: Panzerkampf (1)

The designated battlefield wasn't far from the base, and the participating coalition forces consisted of only two battalions, both of which were mechanized. Therefore, they quickly reached their designated positions. At this time, the Belken mobile force was still two days away from arriving.

Although the two mechanized infantry companies were not the main players in this battle, they still carried important missions. William Wallace was following behind a platoon leader, observing the movements of these Amelia people.

They dug pit after pit in the open space before them, placed a large, green, disc-shaped iron object into each pit, removed the top black cover, and then filled the pit back in with soil. Even William could guess at this point that the soldiers were laying minefields.

"Are you planning to use these landmines to hold off Belken's tanks?" William carefully avoided the locations where the mines were laid, memorizing the footsteps of the lieutenant in front of him, treading cautiously in the minefield as if following in his footsteps. Those green landmines were quite large, estimated to be thirty centimeters in diameter, and looked to contain a significant amount of explosives. William suspected that if he triggered one of these mines, finding even a few scraps of flesh would be a pipe dream.

"This thing may be old, but it's still enough to blow up a Belken tank." The platoon leader, turning around and seeing William's extremely cautious demeanor, smiled and said, "Don't worry, it's a specialized anti-tank mine. Although it uses a pressure-activated fuse, it requires considerable force to trigger. You could even stand directly on it and be fine."

really?I do not believe.

The platoon leader's explanation failed to fully gain William's trust. Sensing the skepticism of his international friend, the platoon leader turned back amidst William's questioning gaze. Then, as William's heart stopped and his face turned deathly pale, the platoon leader stomped twice on the landmine that had just been buried. With each stomp, William could feel his heart trembling.

"See? I told you this thing is safe, you don't need to be so nervous," the platoon leader reassured him.

"I believe you, I believe you, but could you please move aside a step? My legs are a little weak." The explosion did happen, which reassured William somewhat—but this change was nothing more than a classic tale turning into a 1v5 situation in a mediocre story.

"What are you afraid of? This thing has 8.5 kilograms of explosives. Once it explodes, we'll die on the spot without feeling any extra pain. If we get hit by butterfly mines or other anti-personnel mines or bounding mines, although the chances of survival are higher, we'll be crippled. That's real pain." The platoon leader comforted him considerately, but his comfort was clearly a little off-target, which made William realize the power of this thing.

“A painless, accidental death would be wonderful, but I’d much rather die peacefully in my bed,” William said with a wry smile.

“You reporters are so lame.” The lieutenant shook his head, somewhat regretfully. “We usually play with this thing like curling. We were originally planning to let you try it, but since you’re so afraid, let’s forget about it.”

"Good heavens, you guys are incredibly brave!" William stared in disbelief. Judging from the genuine regret on the lieutenant's face, he was certain that this wasn't a prank, but rather a genuine expression of regret that he couldn't play curling. These guys were truly suicidal, using an anti-tank mine loaded with 8.5 kilograms of explosives as curling stones. Perhaps only this group of people in the world would do something like that.

The thought that there was a "curling" device buried right under their feet that could send them to their deaths was unthinkable. Although it had been confirmed that the possibility of it being accidentally triggered by human movement was very low, William just wanted the lieutenant to stop jumping around in the minefield. So he changed the subject, saying, "Is our mission here just to lay landmines? Shouldn't that kind of work be left to the engineers?"

"Of course, it's not just about laying landmines. Although the emergence of airplanes and tanks has overshadowed the infantry, we infantry are still the most basic and important unit in war." Speaking of this, the lieutenant's face was full of pride. "The glory of the infantry is something that those guys hiding behind armor and flying in the sky can never understand."

Admittedly, tanks, aircraft, and warships are far more efficient at destroying enemy fortifications and inflicting casualties than infantry. However, war is always about territorial control, and various vehicles can only serve as offensive spearheads or defensive shields in this struggle. For long-term occupation of a region, infantry is the true force. In this battle, these two mechanized infantry companies were not just there to fill space; their responsibilities were no less significant than those of the tank battalion's main assault mission.

According to the operational plan, once Belken's armored forces entered the ambush zone, the two mechanized infantry companies would cut Belken's forces in half. The armored forces in front would be dealt with by the tank battalion, while the infantry behind would be held off by the two mechanized infantry companies and the self-propelled artillery company. Of course, the engineer company, which had been equipped with heavy water-cooled bulletproof armor, four BMD infantry fighting vehicles, and converted into combat engineers, would also participate in the mission of blocking the two infantry divisions.

Although it sounds like absurd and delusional to try to hold off two infantry divisions with just four companies, in reality, due to the terrain, the two infantry divisions could not deploy their entire battle lines. These four companies did not need to face them. When the battle broke out, these infantry divisions were still in a low-defense marching state. After being suddenly attacked, they would inevitably fall into some chaos. The rapid firepower of the SU-122M could prolong and spread this chaos. Then, the combat engineers equipped with heavy water-cooled armor and immune to gun attacks could launch a counterattack, completely destroying the enemy's fighting will.

Of course, if the Belken infantry's will exceeded expectations and the combat engineers failed to overwhelm the enemy in one wave, it wouldn't matter. They could simply retreat slightly, relying on pre-built fortifications and favorable terrain, the firepower of BMP infantry fighting vehicles and SU-122Ms, and some air support—if necessary, the air assault company would also be deployed as a reserve to support the Hedgehog. Their fighting could completely tie down the two infantry divisions, preventing them from reinforcing the armored units at the front. And after the tank battalion destroyed the Belken's armored units, the two armored battalions would launch an attack in conjunction with the infantry, completely crushing the remaining infantry forces.

……

I got two sets: the Fujimi Dragon and Phoenix and the NEXT Autumn Moon set. I'm very satisfied.

Volume 1: Chapter 92, Chapter Eighty-Three: Panzerkampf (2)

The placement of minefields is a meticulous process; it's not simply a matter of picking a spot that looks good, digging a hole, and throwing in a mine. Especially since armored battalions also need to pass through this minefield to launch attacks deep into enemy positions, haphazardly laying mines would inevitably result in the attacking armored battalion being caught in the crossfire. Therefore, when laying mines, the mechanized infantry company must pre-plan one or two paths that can support two armored battalions' attacks, avoiding the catastrophic accident of friendly fire. The laid mines must also be marked on the map at their corresponding locations so that they can be dug out after the battle.

Meanwhile, the engineer company was not idle either. They were doing their job of building tank bunkers that provided concealment and protection for the armored battalion, while the self-propelled artillery company was marking firing data and constructing complete artillery positions so that they could unleash the most ammunition on the enemy as soon as possible when needed.

Of course, William, who was working with the mechanized infantry company, did not get involved in the work of other units. He simply stayed on the position with the mechanized infantry after completing the minefield layout, the construction and camouflage of the ambush positions, and waited for the enemy to arrive.

Unlike the battle-hardened, seasoned motorized infantrymen, William was clearly unable to sleep soundly on the battlefield like the veterans. The impending large-scale battle had him highly excited, but this was followed by sleeplessness at night. He couldn't stop his wild thoughts—one moment he imagined a sea of ​​Belken men breaking through their layers of defenses and utterly defeating their mere four companies; the next he imagined valiant motorized infantry slaughtering the invaders.

The consequences of such insufficient rest were panda-like dark circles under his eyes and Wu Jing's listlessness the next day. In this state of fatigue, the wait became even more unbearable. Unlike William, who was gripped by anxiety, the veterans seemed quite at ease. Those responsible for the same front line huddled together in small groups, passing the pre-battle boredom in their own ways—playing cards, chatting, or even performing Slavic dances. Although they appeared completely out of combat mode, a closer look revealed that these veterans never strayed far from their positions, even when gathered together; a few steps back was all it took. Clearly, William still had much to learn about how to adjust his mindset on the battlefield.

Thanks to the chivalrous spirit upheld by the Belken Empire, the Imperial Army was known for its strict punctuality and never experienced delays due to heavy rain. Therefore, the entire mobile force moved almost exactly as predicted by the intelligence company. Just the day after the ambush site was set up, as night fell, the reconnaissance troops sent out by the mechanized infantry company finally made contact with this massive mobile force.

As if the two sides had conspired beforehand, the force, spearheaded by tanks and followed closely by infantry in vehicles, drove precisely into the trap.

The enemy situation had been transmitted to the ambushing troops via radio waves. The few voices that were still on the position suddenly disappeared, leaving only the slight sounds of objects colliding. The soldiers silently took off their night vision goggles, engaged the safety on their weapons, and chambered rounds. In a very short time, all the troops went from a comfortable resting state to a combat state.

"Is it coming?"

Seeing this change, William swallowed hard, clutching his prized camera and following closely behind the lieutenant.

“Yes, according to the scouts, Belken’s armored forces are only a few kilometers away. You’ll see their tanks soon.” Leading the reporter into the temporary forward command post, the lieutenant glanced back at William, who was following closely behind. His gaze fell on the reporter’s signature weapon hanging around William’s neck, and he frowned. If he remembered correctly, this old-fashioned camera seemed to have a blindingly bright flash, and it couldn’t be turned off, right? That thing was definitely not good for nighttime use; not only would it be a firing indicator, but it would also inadvertently expose the position.

However, simply confiscating William's camera seemed a bit too harsh. Fortunately, the 7th Brigade did issue military cameras to reconnaissance soldiers, so the lieutenant had logistics send over a camera, switched it off with William, and reported the potential problem to higher command. Once William had a basic grasp of how to use the camera, the noise of numerous engines reached the forward command post, which was located right next to the front lines.

A large, diamond-shaped iron box appeared at the end of the road, its tan paint obscuring the steel's luster. Fortunately, the moon was bright and the stars were few tonight, and the moonlight was unobstructed by clouds. With the help of his camera lens zoom, William could clearly see the convoy of Belken tanks moving along the road.

Perhaps because they were already close to Swobella, the tanks didn't turn on all their lights, only their headlights. The air was thick with tiny dust particles kicked up by the tank tracks, making the beams of light from the headlights exceptionally conspicuous in this hazy atmosphere. The procession of hundreds of tanks would obviously take some time to complete, and this process easily gave William the illusion that the Belken tanks were endless. He pressed the shutter, capturing this awe-inspiring scene before him.

However, the reaction of the soldiers of the 7th Brigade was much more subdued, especially the soldiers lying in ambush on both sides of the road. This kind of product, which was not even a mere showpiece and was at best an outdated product with empty showmanship, could not stir any emotion in them at all. As for the trucks following closely behind, full of infantry, they were even more like easy targets for them.

"They are preparing to enter the minefield."

The long convoy of tanks had already passed the section of road visible from the forward command post. Inside the command post, someone whispered something like this.

The order to prepare for battle was issued to each squad, and index fingers began to rest on the trigger, ready to pull it at the most opportune moment.

William didn't know which truck was driving by, but he pricked up his ears, waiting for the order to attack.

The minefield laid by the mechanized infantry company was not entirely composed of pressure-activated mines, but rather a composite minefield mixed with remote-controlled mines. To maximize casualties within the minefield, the pressure-activated mines were mainly concentrated in the rear half and the left and right sides. Finally, as William waited anxiously, one of Belken's tanks triggered a pressure-activated mine deep within the minefield. The towering flash of the ammunition's explosion illuminated the surrounding scene. Before the Belken men could even realize what had happened, remote-controlled mines, receiving orders, exploded one after another, causing the earth to tremble, and the orange light momentarily dispelled the darkness.

...7

BWD, you've really got some serious talent! You're making me want to just go straight for an East German MiG-23!

But then I thought, wouldn't it be better to use that money to insult 343...?

Volume 1: Chapter 93, Chapter 84, Panzerkampf (3) 6

As towering flames erupted in the distance, self-propelled artillery behind the lines roared, unleashing 122mm shells that whistled as they slammed into the heads of the still-stunned Belken soldiers.

The thin steel plates and canvas of the transport trucks offered absolutely no protection. The shockwaves from the explosions and shrapnel easily inflicted horrific casualties on the unprotected soldiers. In an instant, red became the dominant color on this land, whether it was the fireballs from exploding shells or the pillars of fire from exploding fuel-fueled ammunition; a firestorm swept across the region. At that moment, the air trembled, as if the sky itself were ablaze.

William quickly grabbed his camera, and the excellent Leica lens accurately captured the scene before him, transforming it into a media medium that could be stored for a long time and easily distributed through a complex mechanical structure. 7

The shelling continued. Although the SU-122M lacked an autoloader, the sheer speed of the self-propelled gunners' strong bodies allowed them to load ammunition even faster than an autoloader for a short period. This astonishing speed led the Belken soldiers to believe they were under fire from an entire army-level artillery unit. This rapid loading continued for three minutes, depleting a significant portion of the SU-122M's ammunition. Only then, due to exhaustion and depletion of ammunition, did the self-propelled gun battery slow its firing rate and begin to extend its fire towards the rear of the column.

Meanwhile, combat engineers, already donning 25-kilogram FORT OBP-3S water-cooled body armor, rode in BMD-4 paratrooper fighting vehicles and began their assault on the battlefield. The field, already ravaged by the firestorm, was nearly deserted. Belken soldiers who had survived the artillery barrage and maintained their fighting spirit were extremely rare. They would soon find, with despair, that they were utterly helpless against these green giants clad in bulky, bulletproof armor—unlike their own heavy assault troops, these green giants were protected in every way. Their torsos were protected, and even their knee pads, elbow pads, and transparent face shields were bulletproof. Their rifles were like water guns, providing only slight feedback to the fully armored soldiers, offering absolutely no lethality. The combat engineers, however, carried PKM machine guns, which were not water guns; a single burst was enough to send these attackers to their deaths.

To put it bluntly, this was a massacre, a massacre like that of medieval knights in plate armor slaughtering peasant soldiers with pitchforks. If we disregard the difference in class between the two, this moment was exactly like that moment.

The combat engineers quickly advanced into areas where artillery fire was insufficient, and their rapid advance slowed abruptly. This wasn't due to the enemy's attacks being effective, but simply because the engineers' equipment was too heavy, and the softer ground had taken a toll on their stamina. The engineers' fearless figures and distinctive green armor quickly shattered the survivors' will to fight. They screamed in panic, "Demons! Demons!" and began a rout, sweeping away their allies.

As the Belken soldiers abandoned their vehicles, the mechanized infantry company began to infiltrate the Belken ranks, cutting the enemy in two according to pre-arranged tactics. Now, unless these soldiers could overcome their fear of the "devil" and turn to charge these invulnerable enemies, the tank units stuck in the minefield would be left to fight alone.

The tank units, equipped with sturdy armor and powerful cannons, seemed to be in no better situation than the infantry.

After witnessing more than a dozen armored vehicles inexplicably explode, some tank commanders realized they might have entered a minefield. They wanted to order the vehicles to reverse along the original route, but this action would undoubtedly cause chaos within the unit, and the nature of remote-controlled mines meant that this measure would be largely ineffective. At this moment, two armored battalions lying in ambush were not to be outdone.

The burning wreckage of tanks on the battlefield provided excellent illumination for the artillerymen of the 6th Battalion. Positioned on the enemy's flank, they easily spotted the moving, unsuspecting figures flanking them in their scopes. It was all as simple and natural as their training at the base: estimating target distance and speed using mils, adjusting the sights to predict the shell's impact point, firing and reloading, assessing the effect, and then either firing again or moving to the next target. This cycle was second nature to them; for these Elgin soldiers, it wasn't necessarily much more difficult than firing at moving targets at the base.

The roar of artillery was so pleasing to the ear. The propelled shells easily pierced the armored defenses, exploding inside the vehicles. Watching targets halt in their tracks and crews flee in disarray through the gun peepholes, a sense of exhilaration welled up in the soldiers' hearts. Fortunately, the rigorous discipline training Bai Xue had implemented earlier had ingrained the soldier's duty of obeying orders into the very bones of these recruits. Driven by this passion, they did not engage in unauthorized attacks or other unauthorized actions.

Snow White's armored battalion, on the other hand, had an easier time.

The armor of the Belken tank was a joke against the long-rod APFSDS rounds fired from the 125mm main gun; there were even cases of severe over-penetration where the steel needles pierced through the front and rear of the vehicle before causing damage. The experienced tank crews quickly realized that using steel needles was ineffective, so they switched to fin-stabilized high-explosive anti-tank rounds that utilized the Monroe effect to penetrate armor. And surprisingly, this change in ammunition type significantly increased the tank's destroying efficiency. The entire battalion, organized by platoon, efficiently cleared enemy targets in their path.

Belken's tank crews were then desperately confronted with attacks from multiple directions—front, flank, and below. They were utterly helpless against any of these attacks; their once invincible armor against the Elgins seemed to have crumbled into paper. The enemy on their flanks should have been within their firing range, but the enemy's cover and their own panicked state resulted in a terribly erratic counterattack. The 6th Battalion didn't even realize the enemy had launched a counterattack. They tried to escape this graveyard of steel, but their rampaging tanks were either destroyed by mines or targeted by Allied tanks.

Unable to defend, unable to hit, and unable to escape, the Belken tank crews, facing dire straits and suffering heavy casualties, finally realized one thing: continuing to hide inside their tanks would only lead to certain death.

Volume 1: Chapter 94, Chapter Eighty-Five: Panzerkampf (4)

The tanks that were once invincible against the Elgins have now become steel tombs, just as a song goes, "If fate ends us, at least our loyal tanks will give me a steel tomb."

But clearly, these Belken tank crews lacked the "fearless" spirit of the German Third Hans, who sacrificed themselves for Hitler's ambitions. Rather than perish with their tanks, they hoped to survive this hellish battlefield. The tank crews, having lost their will to fight, abandoned their vehicles and fled. Those crews who still retained their fighting spirit and remained calm, recognizing the despairing technological gap between themselves and the enemy, suppressed their fear of death and chose to remain in place, waiting patiently for the enemy to reveal their true strength.

Their choice, by a twist of fate, allowed them to avoid the first wave of attacks from the two armored battalions. In this environment, for the 6th Battalion, which had not yet fully mastered visual training, moving objects were far more conspicuous than stationary ones. Although the T-72AVs of the 7th Brigade's armored battalion were equipped with dual-channel high-definition thermal imaging, thanks to the heat sources everywhere on the battlefield, the thermal images were filled with large, bright white blocks, practically blinding. It was almost impossible to distinguish between damaged and normal tanks. Although they had fully mastered visual training and situational awareness, anyone can make mistakes; otherwise, there wouldn't be so many blind people on Andon. A considerable number of Belken tanks survived the attacks from the Allied tanks.

After calling out the names of all the Belken tanks within sight, just like a homeroom teacher, the tank graveyard finally quieted down for once. Even though the gunfire was reduced to some extent, the prolonged exposure to the noise of close-range firing still made Bai Xue's ears a little numb. She took off her tank helmet, pressed her ear tragus, and tried to alleviate the buzzing in her head through this action.

Turning the commander's shovel, she saw that the tank unit opposite them had fallen completely silent. Ignoring the fleeing figures, she focused entirely on determining whether the tanks were still combat-ready. Those riddled with holes, their hatches wide open, and still smoldering, were of no concern; the inconspicuous, silent vehicles hidden behind the wreckage were what she needed to pay attention to.

"Did you kill them all?"

"This is what Bai Xue's driver asked."

“It’s not that simple. Even if it’s two hundred pigs, it’ll take some time to slaughter them. There will definitely be some that slip through the net.” Bai Xue was very certain of this outcome. She pressed the call button on the communicator. “Lei Ming, you lead the 1st Company to break in. The 2nd Company will stay outside to provide support. The 6th Battalion will stay in place and stand by.” Bai Xue dared not let the 6th Battalion, a unit with special political significance, charge into battle recklessly. Their bunch of old vehicles were practically fragile chickens. They could be easily destroyed by Belken tanks at close range, not to mention turretless tank destroyers like the SU-57. Instead of sniping, they were doing CQB. You need at least ten years of brain thrombosis to do something like that.

Upon receiving the order, the various units began to execute it. The 1st Company's 10 T-72AV tanks, led by Company Commander Lei Ming, broke out of their cover and, in a double column formation, each tank's turret pointed in a different direction. After ensuring every position in the formation was under surveillance, they began their advance into this steel graveyard. Only Soviet tanks, practically covered in reactive armor, dared to do this. If it were a Han Chinese Panther tank, its side and rear armor, more fragile than a membrane, would be pierced and decimated by the thick, black tank gun of the Belken.

Belken's swoosh... Unlike the 7th Brigade, the Belken tanks didn't have thermal imaging or low-light night vision devices. They could only rely on the most primitive optical equipment to locate the enemy. This meant that by the time the Belkens detected an approaching tank unit, the distance between the two sides was only a few hundred meters. This short time simply did not allow the Belken tanks to create a suitable ambush zone.

The low-slung hull and the numerous small, square shapes on the front, enough to trigger trypophobia, were a completely different design from the tall and imposing Belken tanks they were used to; there was absolutely no chance of misidentification. The Belken tank crew moved efficiently—they had accumulated a lot of resentment from being unilaterally attacked, and this resentment now translated into efficient action. The main gun, within its firing range, began to slowly move, its muzzle pointing at the Allied ranks.

Because of their massive size, Belken tanks naturally had extremely spacious interiors, and each tank was equipped with a radio. It was thanks to this that a considerable number of Belken tanks have survived to this day. These crews naturally elected the highest-ranking officer among them as their temporary commander. Under the command of this temporary commander, the crews managed to suppress their urge to fire.

Despite encountering no resistance along the way, Thunder's 1st Company did not lose its caution. This made it difficult for Belken's commander to find the most suitable time to strike. Turning the vehicles around and calling in nearby tanks to form an encirclement was too dangerous and would easily alert the enemy. Weighing the pros and cons, the increasingly frequent radio communications indicated that the patience of the ambushing comrades was rapidly dwindling.

Never mind all that! Belken's temporary commander gritted his teeth and finally gave the order to fire.

Belyu Han: Cover = (Seven ˉˇ Slaughter 6〖；¤□Four 牭 Two Ken tank's main cannon finally spewed out flames of vengeance, but this finally relieved Lei Ming and the others. The enemy hidden in the shadows is the most terrifying, but once they are exposed, they are no longer a threat.

The two lead tanks naturally became the primary targets of Belken's concentrated fire. After all, if the lead tank was disabled, the tanks behind it could only stop or dodge to the sides. The difference between the two countermeasures was like that between a fixed target and a moving target. But a third situation, which Belken did not expect, occurred.

The explosion caused by the shell hitting the lead tank was far more violent than the Belken tank crews had imagined. But the sight of the tank emerging from the flames and smoke made them question their existence—the main gun had clearly hit the target, yet such a violent explosion had only damaged some small boxes? Damn it, why were you guys trying to snipe from a distance? With armor this strong, why didn't you just rush in with your whole family and win? Stop playing those damn tactics!

But no matter how much the Belken people cursed these well-equipped and tactically skilled guys, these round-headed guys had already charged forward under their fire, using their longer and thicker main guns to open the cans one by one.

……

Volume 1: Chapter 95, Chapter 86: Panzerkampf (5)

The Belken tank crews, who had initially believed that "close combat is to their advantage," finally realized that although their tanks were known as land cruisers and had numerous main guns, tank warfare was never about who had more guns. In terms of firepower, mobility, and protection, they were completely inferior to the Belken tanks of the 7th Brigade and had no chance of fighting back.

"Damn it, we can't let all five of us perish here! We have to break through!" Commander Lin Si looked at the dwindling resistance and felt as if he had fallen into an ice cave. The enemy's strength and unparalleled superiority had made him stop thinking about why the enemy's tanks were so much more advanced, or how much funding the Imperial Intelligence Agency had embezzled over the years. He now had only one thought: get the tank crews still on the battlefield to run. Their counterattacks were just scratching the surface of the enemy; with sacrifices being futile, every survivor was a precious asset. But an unorganized rout would obviously make it difficult to escape the enemy's carefully laid encirclement. Someone had to step up and hold off the enemy to buy time for the others.

"Brothers, we've already lost this battle. Staying here will only lead to your deaths. Leave while you still can." Major Roy hesitated for a moment, then instead of spouting any grand principles, he said something that could land him in a military court.

"Major, what about you?" A familiar voice came through the communication, and Roy recognized it as a tank commander from his battalion.

“Someone has to stay behind to draw your attention.” Roy knew that what he said sounded nice, but it also implied a willingness to atone with their own lives. If he had ordered them to retreat from the beginning, so many people wouldn’t have died here in vain. As their commander, Roy had to take responsibility for this.

"...I'm sorry, Major." After a long pause, he heard a reply over the radio. From that point on, more farewells came through the communications, but he was surprised to find that he did not feel sad about it.

“You can get out of the tank if you don’t want to die,” Roy said to the crew inside. Belken’s tank unit required every tank commander to have been a driver before, so even if Roy was the only one left in the tank, he could still drive it into battle.

"No, brother, you know my family situation. If my father, who's in the navy, finds out I deserted, he'd rather be dead," the second gunner flatly rejected his suggestion.