Chapter 131: with translation of chapter title

North of Shen City, near the train station.

Boom!

An artillery shell exploded on the position of the Security Army's First Division. The Lu faction's Eleventh Brigade's artillery was still putting up a desperate resistance.

Suddenly, a low rumbling sound came from afar.

"What is that sound?"; Brigade Commander Yang lowered his binoculars, his face suddenly changed.

The ground began to tremble slightly. The rumbling grew closer and denser, like hundreds of engines roaring simultaneously.

"Report!"; a signalman rushed into the command post in panic, "North... north, a large armored force has appeared!"

"What?"

Brigade Commander Yang hadn't even reacted when a 155mm artillery shell exploded in front of the command post. The first volley from the Marshal's Staff self-propelled artillery battalion instantly tore apart the Security Army's defenses.

"My heavens..."

Everyone was stunned. In the distance, rows of Tiger King tanks slowly approached. Their 88mm main guns glinted coldly, and the ground where their tracks passed emitted a low rumble. Behind them were countless Leopard tanks and armored vehicles.

"It's the Fourth Bureau!"; someone exclaimed, "It's Lin Yu's unit!"

"Everyone retreat!"; Brigade Commander Yang shouted hoarsely. But it was already too late.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

The Tiger King tanks fired a salvo; a barrage of shells screamed toward the Security Army's positions. Wherever the steel torrent passed, all resistance was destroyed in an instant.

Meanwhile, in the eastern district, the Lu faction's forces suffered the same fate.

The assault teams of the Armored Grenade Troop jumped from their armored vehicles, advancing rapidly under tank cover. They wielded MP40 submachine guns, moving in perfect unison, well-trained.

"This isn't a fight humans can wage..."; a company commander of the Lu faction muttered. Their Lanyang-made rifles and homemade mortars paled helplessly before this steel army.

In just one hour, the entire battlefield situation was completely rewritten.

Both the Security Army and the Lu faction's troops retreated in disarray, but the Phantom Division did not pursue. They merely used overwhelming firepower to control the situation, forcibly separating the two sides.

"Is this the strength of the Fourth Bureau..."

Gazing at the imposing Tiger King tanks in the distance, everyone sucked in a breath of cold air. They finally understood why even the Eastern Ocean Division had been utterly annihilated before this unit.

This was no longer the level of warlord skirmishes; it was a truly modernized armored force, a steel army capable of changing the very nature of war...

Shen City battlefield.

"First Armored Battalion, advance east!"; Shiteyin stood on the command vehicle, voice stern, "Second Armored Battalion, cut off the Security Army's retreat!"

"Jawohl!"

In unison German replies, the steel torrent began to divide and converge.

The Tiger King tanks led the way, their tracks rumbling over the streets. The Security Army's hastily emplaced field artillery opened fire, but 75mm shells striking the Tiger King's thick armor left not even a white mark.

"How is this possible!"; the artillery company chief shouted in despair, "Even the newest Krupp field gun..."

Before he could finish, a salvo of 88mm main guns tore the entire artillery position to shreds. Those field guns just purchased from Germany appeared utterly feeble before this truly modernized armored force.

"Damn it..."; Yang Chengdong stared at the battle report in the command post, his face ashen, "Just what are these steel monsters?"

Before his words faded, the second volley from the Marshal's Staff self-propelled artillery battalion began. Dense 155mm shells screamed down, shaking the command post violently. Yang Chengdong watched the severed phone line, feeling true helplessness for the first time.

"Armored grenadiers, follow!"; Shiteyin continued issuing orders.

Armored transport vehicles roared out of the smoke. Fully equipped German-style grenadiers leapt from the vehicles, moving with machine-like precision. The Security Army's machine-gun nests in the corner buildings fired desperately, but the old Maxims could not halt the armored advance. The crossing fire of the MG42 general-purpose machine guns instantly suppressed these positions. The gunners didn't even have time to change ammo belts before being riddled by a hail of bullets.

Meanwhile, on the other side, the Lu faction's forces endured a nightmare.

"Leopard Tank Battalion, deploy!"; Shiteyin's order came over the radio, "Cut off their supply lines!"

More than seventy Leopard tanks fanned out across the wide road, their tracks kicking up dust. The soldiers of the Eleventh Brigade hid behind buildings on either side of the street, firing their Lanyang-made rifles wildly, but bullets striking the tank armor only sparked.

One Leopard tank plowed straight through their brick-and-stone street barricade, crushing resisting soldiers under its tracks. Other tanks' 75mm guns kept pounding, reducing the buildings held by the Lu faction to rubble.

"Retreat! Retreat quickly!"; Lu Xiao shouted hoarsely.

But the Phantom Division gave them no chance. Armored vehicles carrying grenadiers flanked from side streets; amid the staccato bursts of MP40 submachine guns, soldiers attempting to break out fell one after another.

"Do not pursue."; Shiteyin calmly ordered, "Just contain them."

In just two hours, the entire battlefield fell into an eerie silence. Only the rumble of tank engines and occasional gunfire echoed. The Security Army and Lu faction's troops were pinned in their respective districts, like beasts trapped in an iron cage, unable to move.

The streets were littered with destroyed field artillery, scrapped machine guns, and discarded rifles. These weapons had once been the pride of the warlords, but before this truly modernized armored force they were useless.

"The mission is complete."; Shiteyin reported to Lin Yu, "The main forces of both sides have been contained, casualties kept to a minimum."

"Very good."; Lin Yu's voice came over the radio.

Shiteyin lowered the communicator, gazing at the distant warlord forces shattered beyond recognition. This battle would likely make them remember forever what true military power is.

Security Command Headquarters.

"Bang!"; Yang Chengdong slammed his fist on the table, the teacup tipping over and tea splashing everywhere.

"Lin Yu, you madman!"; he gritted his teeth, "Daring to strike both us and the Lu family's forces!"

The adjutant stood aside, not daring to breathe. The battle report just delivered showed the First Division and the Seventh Mixed Brigade had been scattered, suffering heavy losses. That suddenly appearing armored force was nothing short of a nightmare.

"Our finest field artillery battery couldn't even pierce one of their tanks."; Yang Chengdong's face turned ashen, "The Lu family's two main brigades aren't any better—reports say they were beaten so badly they couldn't even fight back."

He rose and walked to the window. In the distance, the cannon fire had ceased, replaced by the low rumble of tracks. That was the sound of victors, the sound of the steel torrent crushing everything.

"This Lin Yu..."; Yang Chengdong clenched his fists, "Where on earth did he get such a force? Even the latest weapons the Germans sold us are like toys before them."

The smoke outside the window gradually drifted away, but Yang Chengdong knew the war was far from over. Only now did he feel true helplessness for the first time.