Chapter 134: Lin Yu's Threat Theory

French Concession, a hidden Western-style club.

At eleven at night, several cars entered the rear courtyard one after another. Yang Chengdong, Sun Lingyun, Lu Xiao and others walked into the meeting room in succession. The opponents, originally tense and ready to fight, now had to sit at the same table.

"Gentlemen." Zhou Special Envoy stood at the head seat, his gaze sweeping over everyone present, "I suppose you all have seen today's battle situation."

No one spoke. The crushing defeat this afternoon still left everyone with lingering fear.

Yang Chengdong instinctively touched the gauze on his forehead. When his command center was blown apart by self-propelled artillery, he had almost been buried alive inside.

"That armored unit..." Lu Xiao's voice hoarse, "It simply doesn't seem like something from this world."

"Our most elite field artillery left not even a dent on their tanks." Yang Chengdong gave a wry smile, "How can we fight this war?"

Sun Lingyun sat in the corner, silent. His gaze occasionally swept toward Yang Chengdong, barely concealed hostility. If it weren't for this bastard's sudden provocation, we wouldn't have been dragged into this nightmare.

"Quiet down!" Zhou Special Envoy slammed the table, "Now is not the time for internal strife."

The meeting room fell silent. The sound of patrol footsteps outside made the atmosphere even more solemn.

"Gentlemen." Zhou Special Envoy lowered his voice, "The court has decided to eliminate Lin Yu, this scourge, at any cost. Reinforcements will arrive soon, but before that..."

His gaze swept over everyone's faces one by one: "We must join forces to hold off that steel unit. Otherwise, by the time reinforcements arrive, possibly all of Shen City will already..."

He didn't finish the sentence, but everyone understood his meaning. Today's battle has proven that this armored unit is capable of sweeping aside any force daring to resist.

"But..." Qin Chang'an hesitated before speaking, "Our weapons are basically..."

"There will be a way." Zhou Special Envoy cut him off, "What matters is whether you can set aside your prejudices and truly join forces."

They looked at each other. Hatred and hostility still flickered in their eyes, but compared to that terrifying armored unit, these seemed to have become less important.

"Time is short." Zhou Special Envoy said solemnly, "Gentlemen, please make your choice."

"Do you gentlemen know why Lin Yu has intervened in your struggle?" Zhou Special Envoy spoke slowly.

Everyone startled. Indeed, if it weren't for Yang Chengdong's sudden attack on the Jiangnan Four Young Masters, Lin Yu would have remained idle.

"Because..." Zhou Special Envoy's voice grew low, "He is waiting for this opportunity. Waiting for you to kill each other, waiting for the situation to descend into chaos, and then..."

"And then what?" Sun Lingyun frowned.

"Then he will destroy all local powers in one fell swoop!" Zhou Special Envoy emphasized each word, "You have also seen today the strength of that armored unit. If Lin Yu gains power, do you think he would tolerate any uncontrolled armed force existing?"

The meeting room fell into silence. Everyone was digesting this terrifying speculation.

"Not bad..." Yang Chengdong suddenly spoke, "I've been wondering why he would strike both sides indiscriminately. Now I understand—in his eyes, we are all targets to be eliminated!"

"It's ridiculous that we're still openly and secretly fighting over petty interests." Lu Xiao gave a wry smile, "Yet we failed to notice the sword hanging over our heads."

Zhou Special Envoy nodded, "The court has long noticed Lin Yu's ambition. The power he has accumulated over the years far exceeds our imagination. Today's armored unit is probably just the tip of the iceberg."

"What should we do then?" Qin Chang'an voiced what everyone was thinking.

"Join forces!" Zhou Special Envoy declared firmly, "Let go of past grudges and concentrate all our strength. We can afford to lose a city or territory, but we absolutely cannot let Lin Yu seize the opportunity to grow strong!"

Sun Lingyun glanced at Yang Chengdong, the past hostility seeming to ease a bit: "Indeed, compared to those steel monsters, our grudges really amount to nothing."

"That's right." Lu Xiao also nodded, "Today's battle has proven that any single faction facing that unit alone is courting death."

Zhou Special Envoy surveyed everyone, "Gentlemen, now is not the time to play it safe. If Lin Yu succeeds, all of Shen City will have no place left for us to stand!"

A low rumble came from outside the window. That was the Ghost Master's armored unit on night patrol. The sound made everyone involuntarily tense their nerves.

Indeed, compared to such terrifying power, what is their squabble worth?

"Time is pressing." Zhou Special Envoy took several telegrams from his briefcase, "Gentlemen, please contact your respective forces now and request reinforcements."

"I'll contact my father right away." Sun Lingyun was the first to declare, "The Sun Family still has two main brigades in Jiangling that can be moved north immediately."

"As for Nanjiang, I'll handle it." Lu Xiao took the telegram slip, "Although my father is usually cautious, given the current situation..."

Zhou Special Envoy nodded, "Remember, in the telegrams emphasize the terror of Lin Yu's armored unit. Make them understand this is not an ordinary local dispute but a matter of life and death for everyone."

Yang Chengdong hesitated, "My garrison division has suffered heavy casualties, but the Third Mixed Brigade is still in Chongyang and can..."

"Send them all!" Zhou Special Envoy interrupted, "Now is not the time to preserve strength."

Qin Chang'an also spoke, "I can contact a few security regiments in Clear River; although their equipment is inferior to the regular army, their numbers..."

"Numbers are no longer important." Zhou Special Envoy shook his head, "The key is to hold them off until the court's main forces arrive."

Everyone began to write telegrams. The only sound in the meeting room was the scratch of pens on paper.

"According to intelligence." Zhou Special Envoy suddenly said, "The reinforcements the court is sending will arrive at the earliest the day after tomorrow. We only need to hold out for forty-eight hours."

"Forty-eight hours..." Yang Chengdong gave a wry smile, "I hope we can still last that long."

"We must hold on!" Zhou Special Envoy's voice was firm and unyielding, "Otherwise, when reinforcements arrive, all of Shen City will fall into Lin Yu's hands. By then..."

He didn't go on, but everyone understood the consequences.

"The telegrams are already written." Sun Lingyun stood up, "I have instructed my father to make sure the two main brigades are in place by tomorrow midnight."

"The Nanjiang side is similar." Lu Xiao put down his pen, "Father has agreed to send the naval marines north. Although my father is usually cautious, he also knows the situation is serious."

Zhou Special Envoy nodded satisfactorily, "Very good. Remember, within these forty-eight hours, everyone must follow my unified dispatch. No selfish motives, no hesitation allowed!"

"Understood!" Everyone replied in unison.

Walking out of the club, the sky was already faintly light. In the distance, the rumble of the armored unit could be faintly heard, like some kind of ominous omen.

But this time, they would no longer fight separately. Because everyone understood, the stake of this war is their right to survive.