Chapter 420: Only My Way Chapter 420: Bidding Farewell to the Old Era (5)

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Protagonist:

Chen Yi

The troops Chen Yi requested worried everyone in the entire Rhombus Conference Hall.

By rights, the ruler's escort troops should be the most elite forces, but the West River Water Fortification's armed strength was actually not great; this was limited by the number of students. They remained wary of the natives, unwilling to let them grasp powerful military force.

And during this period of reconstruction from scratch, besides the military, the students were needed in too many places, so to this day the West River Water Fortification's colonial armed forces still consisted of only one standard three-platoon 120-man Inspection Company, a sparse Type 59 Tank Company and wheeled armored vehicles, and half an Armored Tank Mixed Company — the tanks and armored vehicles were operated by students, while the mechanized soldiers on the armored vehicles were native troops — plus one Police and Secret Police Battalion, total strength just over 200. Correspondingly, native armed forces had only one Standard Field Company; they still had to take turns defending the fortress bunkers outside the water fortress, one Garrison Company composed of hunter villagers and surrendered villagers for defending the bunkers and tree-top fortresses on both sides of the highway, half an Armored Tank Mixed Company, and one Armored Car Company similar to mechanized infantry. Their table of organization was larger than the student company's, totaling 350-plus, but even so, to occupy a city with 600-plus armed personnel — no one would dare make such a bold assumption.

Moreover, Yu Weichao could not deploy everyone. The West River Water Fortification had to retain at least one or two Inspection Platoons; the Police and Secret Police Battalion had best stay as well. The Tank Company could be sent out in full, replaced by the Armored Company to guarantee highway safety and smooth logistics — the Ring City Highway and Xima Highway were the water fortress's lifelines; without them, the scattered wharves, outposts, mines, and markets might all suffer attack. The full-strength Armored Tank Mixed Company could send out half; the remainder needed to coordinate with one or two native platoons to stabilize the mine environment. Only the rest could go with Chen Yi. Finally, the Garrison Company stayed entirely, the Armored Car Company went entirely. This barely achieved a fifty-fifty split. The sole benefit was sending out the Tank Company, which looked extremely impressive, while the West River Water Fortification's defense dropped to a historic low.

However, in Yu Weichao's view, whether 200, 300, or 600 people, none were enough for Chen Yi to stroll casually through Ma La. This robbing-Peter-to-pay-Paul troop shuffling gave him a headache; in the end Li Changning quietly suggested: "Organize all the students into a reserve, assign them to defend the fortress."

"Then work inside the city would halt." The reserve included all students, including re-educated Outer Hall students; these Earthlings now totaled 1,000, but most were members of specific departments — Basic Construction Group, Vehicle Group, Administrative Affairs Group, Archive Room, Finance, Hospital, Martial Arts Hall, etc. These reservists had all received standard combat training and been issued firearms and ammunition — in a place like the West Continent, banning guns would only invite trouble.

Yu Weichao had considered summoning them, but feared halting normal work would displease Chen Yi; trying to draw a tiger but ending up with a dog would ruin things.

Li Changning glanced around, saw no one, and said softly: "The ruler cares most about the mines, so places related to them don't stop work; send everyone else out."

"That's the only way."

Yu Weichao made the decision; the rest was up to She Lei and Li Feng. They scraped together 400 people, and temporarily mobilized a batch of Vehicle Department students who could drive trucks, forming two Armored Car Companies, one Tank Company, one Armored Company. One Armored Car Company possessed 30 Milan anti-tank missiles, while half the Armored Company mounted machine cannons, with four ammunition trucks accompanying them.

With such equipment, in open field battle even Temple Knights would have no chance of victory — two anti-tank missiles with auto-targeting could blow them to bits. But once in urban combat, think of what Americans encountered in Iraq and Afghanistan; non-professional soldiers using 1960s-era equipment would certainly be beaten to a pulp.

But no matter how afraid, they had to form ranks. Chen Yi was a transcendent existence on the West Continent; even atheist Party Members, in the West River Water Fortification environment, had to seek a spiritual anchor and life goal, otherwise they could not persist.

While soldiers prepared at the South Gate, many natives watched around them. Those majestic tanks and armored vehicles, the numerous armored trucks, and the strange-looking anti-tank missiles were all focal points of the natives' peeking and discussion.

People guessed their destination. A merchant who frequented the Xima Market said: "Going to the wharf to collect taxes."

A native working at the wharf retorted: "Going to Xima Market to catch thieves and profiteers."

"Going to parade and demonstrate outside Ma La." This was a nearby villager come to the city on business. Compared to the traditional citizen class, villagers outside the city supported the West River City Fortification more; daily they talked about the Ring City Highway suppression operations. Though increasingly "performative" in nature, seeing the city people's walls — those who collected taxes and rents — tremble under cannon fire, their heart's satisfaction only grew.

Yin Senchen rode a Saber-toothed Beast appearing beside the tank. Though this animal could be seen in the nearby forest, a Saber-toothed Beast used as a mount still drew bursts of cheers. Its black-and-white stripes made the tank of equal height and length pale in comparison. Earth humans had never seen such a large carnivore, so they often likened tanks to herbivorous elephants, deriving from this that steel's beauty surpasses muscle. But on the West Continent, this continent not yet occupied by public opinion and fashion, people here had their own thinking — primitive, self-centered artistic cells; they worshipped power, just as they worshipped healthy women.

Amid various strange cries, the Saber-toothed Beast ran a circle around the Tank Company. The six Hard Shell Monsters aroused its intense interest; if not for Yin Senchen's restraint, it would have raised its paw to scratch them.

"Careful not to damage your claws." Even standing beside Chen Yi, Sun Ruihe was filled with a soldier's sense of honor; his subordinates likewise.

Chen Yi smiled faintly: "Yin Senchen is already a Divine Art Knight. He can infuse his divine power — that is, the Magic Net's source energy — into his mount. When clashing, those claws are many times harder than steel plate, able to pierce through twenty or thirty centimeters of steel."

"200 millimeters!" Sun Ruihe jumped in shock.

"And speed extremely fast, so don't let a Divine Art Knight close in. Also, their Knight Spears wrapped in source energy are equally boundless in power." Chen Yi deliberately told them this common knowledge. Anti-tank missile power was still considerable; though unable to one-shot kill a Divine Art Knight, causing some damage was doable. The key was to be sufficiently vigilant.

She Lei, who was integrating the troops below, ran up to Chen Yi and called out somewhat unaccustomed: "Report, Assault Team ready, total 400, actual 400."

"Assault Team?"

Jin Douna whispered in his ear: "The team prepared to accompany you to Ma La."

"Need this many people?"

Yu Weichao chuckled: "It's just a guard detachment."

"Pick 20 capable students to follow me; the rest do what they should." Chen Yi got into the Raptor. On the pickup's bed lay a 6-meter collapsible Knight Spear; if needed, he could drive the Raptor and joust. It was specially designed for him by Holy Knight Grindel.

After a round of bustle, then disbanding — Yu Weichao didn't know whether to be happy or regretful. The native soldiers all felt relieved; they didn't fear Ma La's army, but still had some dread of entering Ma La.

Chen Yi's car had already started. He hastily gave instructions to those below, and saw two armored vehicles chase after him.

"Li Feng, from today the Ring City Operation pauses, but stay ready at all times." Yu Weichao busily issued another string of orders, stopping only when Chen Yi's car could no longer be seen.

The Raptor drove all the way to Xima Market, picked up a new passenger, then proceeded at full speed.

The new passenger was Grand Knight Silva, once one of Ma La's Three Great Army Leaders. Only he had been imprisoned in the West River Water Fortification; who knew how many of his former subordinates remained.

The Grand Knight, recuperated for over half a year, looked much healthier — a radiant complexion very much like a TV leader's image. Achieving this effect without makeup showed his body was extremely good.

"How've you thought it over?" Chen Yi let go of the steering wheel, asked the Grand Knight.

"Fine." The Grand Knight nodded lightly.

Chen Yi spoke no more, lightly pressed the accelerator.

The former eastern stronghold Ma La, gates tightly shut. Thick high walls gloomy like a prison, not a trace of human presence.

The Raptor stopped right before the main gate; behind it two wheeled armored vehicles that had run nearly to exhaustion.

Yin Senchen rode the Saber-toothed Beast, body steaming, looked at Chen Yi from the car window position. Receiving his cue, he shouted: "People inside Ma La, listen! Divine Art Knight Yin Senchen has arrived!"

The words "Divine Art Knight" reverberated in the air for a long time, directly scaring the High Priest hiding in the city's tower into sitting down.

"That's the West River Water Fortification's Light Cavalry; there wouldn't be a Divine Art Knight among them." Elder Council Chairman Gasa Ye said insincerely.

Before others could speak, the High Priest smiled bitterly: "It is a Divine Art Knight. When I was at the Temple, I participated in several prayer rituals; Divine Art Knights carry exactly this aura."

He grabbed at the air, as if wanting to cup the aura and sniff it at his nose.

"Divine power." First Cavalry Regiment Commander Sir Heinuo's whole body was fanaticism; he itched to sortie and fight a great battle.

What do we do? — Gasa Ye barely stopped himself from saying it aloud, but the man softened.

The High Priest thought of the war ahead, and his interest in the Divine Art Knight grew instead. He thought: Not a great army pressing the border — then there's room to talk.

The more he thought, the more right it felt, so he said: "Chairman, shall we go out and welcome them?"

Unexpectedly, Jia Yeer said: "I'll pass." (To be continued. If you like this work, welcome to Qidian (qidian. com) to vote recommendation tickets, monthly tickets; your support is my greatest motivation.)