Chapter 70: Hundred-Ton King Breaks the Formation (Asking for First Subscription~)

The sun hung high in the sky, shining down upon the earth.

Outside Ye City, soldiers and armor were densely packed, banners like a forest.

The Xu Province DE400, its form like a mountain, stood quietly among the army formation.

Inside the driver's cab, Lin Dao unscrewed the Sprite cap, took two sips of sweet water to relax his mind and body.

Today was the day of the agreed battle with Shi Hu, both sides intending to settle it in one engagement.

Barring accidents, this day next year would be Shi Hu's death anniversary.

"Changing tires cost hundreds of thousands; we must recoup the cost."

The Hundred-Ton King Mining Truck's tires are too expensive, each costing tens of thousands.

"War burns money—I truly feel it firsthand now."

"Lord." Liu Hu's shout came through the walkie-talkie: "The time has come."

"Received." Lin Dao put down the walkie-talkie, took another sip of Sprite, turned on the war song music, and started the Hundred-Ton King.

The engine's roar sounded like an ancient beast's low growl, shaking people's hearts until they trembled.

"A Ye."

Xie Daoyun, watching the battle from the rear, her beautiful eyes shining: "I finally understand why I resigned my office to join the Grand Commander."

Xie Yi, holding Xie Xuan while watching the battle, was even more shaken than his daughter.

He gasped in disbelief: "It wasn't like this before~"

Xie Yi had seen Lin Dao's tricycle before and had already been greatly shaken by this mechanical beast that needed no oxen or horses to pull it but moved on its own.

But that huge monster in the distance—what on earth is it~~~

"Daughter heard that the Grand Commander is an inheritor of the Mo School."

Xie Daoyun found it quite interesting: "Such a giant object—even if Mozi were resurrected, he couldn't make it, right?"

"Mozi?" Xie Yi laughed and shook his head: "He isn't even qualified to serve as an assistant to the Grand Commander."

Young Xie Xuan waved his hands in dissatisfaction; beside him, Xie Daoyun picked up a can of yellow peaches and fed him sugar water with a spoon.

"A Ye."

Xie Daoyun raised her hand to smooth the blue silk at her temples: "Daughter has heard that the Grand Commander bears some grudge against high-ranking families."

"No need to put it so nicely."

Xie Yi shook his head: "Some grudge? He wishes to wipe them all out!"

"Look at those heavily relied upon by the Grand Commander—are any of them from high-ranking families?"

"A Ye is." Xie Daoyun's lips curved slightly: "I suppose he will be heavily relied upon."

Xie Yi gently patted Xie Xuan in his arms: "No need for comfort."

"You and Qi Lang are the future of the Xie clan."

"Qi Lang is valued by the Grand Commander and has taken Wang Meng as his teacher. If all goes well, he will have a chance to inherit Wang Meng's mantle in the future."

"Eldest Daughter." Xie Yi's expression was serious: "Whether the Xie clan prospers or declines over the next four hundred years depends entirely on you."

Xie Daoyun's large eyes curved like crescent moons.

"If daughter marries, she becomes another family's wife and should naturally put her own family first; she will not look after the Xie clan."

"Hahaha~~~" Xie Yi laughed with satisfaction: "No need to look after them; as long as you are here, that is enough~~~"

While father and daughter discussed the future of the Xie clan, Lin Dao's side had already finished warming up the vehicle.

Skilled gear-shifting and pressing the accelerator, no need to worry about traffic rules—just drive however you please.

The Hundred-Ton King Mining Truck, like a small mountain, rumbled forward.

Two or three li away was the Later Zhao great army for the agreed battle.

Tens of thousands of various Hu soldiers and horses formed ranks behind the city, banners waving, stretching beyond sight.

Lin Dao's speed was not fast, after all the Gluttonous Army soldiers behind the vehicle were mostly foot soldiers and moved slowly.

The Hundred-Ton King's role was to break formations and destroy the various Hu army's morale and fighting spirit.

The true task of crushing the enemy, killing, and pursuing still fell to the Regular Soldiers.

On Ye City's city tower, Shi Hu, seated on a couch watching the battle, raised his wine cup laced with Five Stone Powder.

At this time the sun neared noon; bright sunlight fell upon the earth, shining on the Gluttonous Army formation behind the Hundred-Ton King, the glare bright enough to sting the eyes.

From Shi Hu's angle, it looked like a gleaming Iron Wall pressing over.

He was also utterly baffled—where did the Gluttonous Army get so much iron armor!

More iron armor than Great Zhao's million-strong army.

Shi Hu's gaze finally fixed firmly on that steel giant beast.

He knew that if the God Carriage were allowed to charge the formation, and the Gluttonous Army soldiers followed up to rout and pursue, this battle would surely be lost.

That giant object must be destroyed.

Calming his breath, Shi Hu turned to look at Ma Qiu standing by his side: "Go."

Ma Qiu accepted the order, saluted, descended from the city tower, mounted his horse, and accelerated out of the city.

"Qi Mu'an!" Arriving among the cavalry formation, Ma Qiu reined in the reins and shouted loudly: "Your unit goes first!"

Lin Dao in the driver's cab, seeing a large batch of cavalry rushing out from the opposite side, was instantly refreshed in spirit.

"They're here."

Hundreds of Jiehu cavalry charged forward in detachments.

These were all Jiehu warriors, mainly remnants of the Black Lance Dragon Soaring Army and Flying Cavalry.

The leading Jiehu rider held a horn iron, skillfully controlling his warhorse with superb horsemanship, approaching the Hundred-Ton King to throw the horn iron onto its forward road.

If they could force this monster to stop, half the battle would be won.

"Let's ram them." Lin Dao shifted gear, stomped the accelerator, and the Hundred-Ton King began to accelerate amid the engine's roar.

This modification was different from the previous one.

In light of the previously welded parts, most of which had fallen off during the continuous impacts.

This time Lin Dao abandoned other additions and specifically bought a thirty-six-meter-long high-carbon steel pipe.

During the modification, this long steel pipe was directly inlaid and fixed onto the front bumper.

From afar, it looked as if two long whiskers had grown.

The Hundred-Ton King accelerated, the steel rod trembling as it slammed into Jiehu warhorses that could not dodge in time.

The warhorses' bones shattered on the spot, and driven by the steel rod they flipped forward violently, horse and rider crashing to the ground together.

Lin Dao kept turning the steering wheel, consecutively overturning the Jiehu cavalry who rushed forward one after another.

The Jiehu cavalry were also red-eyed, charging forward with no regard for their lives, determined to throw the caltrops onto the road ahead of the Hundred-Ton King even at the cost of their lives.

Under the gaze of countless eyes, the Hundred-Ton King's massive tires finally rolled over the caltrops.

The iron chains bound to the tires rubbed against the caltrops, spraying sparks.

Those caltrops, in the next moment, twisted and deformed, pressed into the mud.

Faced with solid tires and a curb weight of over two hundred tons, these caltrops forged from wrought iron failed to achieve their intended effect.

Qi Mu'an on horseback, witnessing this scene, was filled with despair.

The Heavenly King had sworn it would work, but it was completely useless!

Watching the steel behemoth bearing straight down on him, the terrified Qi Mu'an actually turned his horse and fled.

Seeing this, Ma Qiu flew into a rage: "Shoot him dead!"

Hundreds of arrows shot forth, turning Qi Mu'an and his horse into a pincushion.

An armored cavalryman stepped forward and cleanly took his head.

Ma Qiu looked at Du Xun: "You go!"

Although he had a Han name, Du Xun was a thoroughbred Jie person.

He also knew that Great Zhao had reached a moment of life and death; as a countryman to fight desperately was only natural.

Du Xun gritted his teeth and led his troops charging out.

In their arms each carried a clay pot, filled with fire oil, sulfur, and the like.

The Jiehu cavalry on the periphery circled and fired arrows at the Hundred-Ton King.

Dense arrows struck the vehicle body, clanging.

Du Xun shouted orders to arrange manpower, to charge in units of five, ignite the clay pots, and hurl them at the steel behemoth.

The Hundred-Ton King was constantly in motion; to throw accurately they had to get close.

But once they got close they would be swept by the long steel pipe; whether man or horse wore armor, the outcome was broken bones and severed tendons.

Whole swathes and strings of Jiehu cavalry were knocked over, man and horse together, the scene extremely cruel.

Watching the miserable fate of their fellow tribesmen and comrades, some Jiehu cavalry were frightened out of their wits, turned their horses and ran.

There were also red-eyed ones, like Du Xun who actually embraced an ignited clay pot, spurred his horse forward and crashed directly into the Hundred-Ton King.

Before he himself was knocked flying, he struggled to smash the ignited clay pot onto the Hundred-Ton King.

More Jiehu cavalry, following their Qianfu Chang, embraced clay pots and crashed straight into it.

Clusters of flames bloomed around the Hundred-Ton King.

On the city tower observing the battle, Shi Hu's fat face flushed with an unnatural red.

"Burn! Burn him to death!"

The next moment, a large amount of white mist sprayed from around the steel behemoth—

Under the spraying white mist, all the flames were actually extinguished.

Shi Hu froze on the spot.

The flush on his face rapidly faded, turning iron-blue.

"How can this be, how can this be~~~"

"Why can't we stop it! Why can't we burn it!"

"Heavenly Ancestor Earth Mother, why is this happening!!"

"Master." Qin Lang's shout came through the walkie-talkie: "We have reached three hundred paces."

Lin Dao glanced at the rearview mirror, picked up the walkie-talkie and replied: "I'll charge first, you follow up!"

The previous maneuvering left and right was just waiting for the army formation behind.

Now that the army formation has arrived, what follows is the real main event.

The Hundred-Ton King mining truck's engine roared even more fiercely; this time the vehicle's nose pointed straight at the Jiehu foot soldier formation not far away.

Directly facing them were the East Palace Imperial Guards, the High-Power Imperial Guards, directly under Crown Prince Shi Xuan.

An elite force composed mainly of Jie people.

The High-Power Imperial Guards, previously severely damaged at Xiangguo City, had their organization restored after large batches of reinforcements were added, but their combat strength and military morale had greatly declined.

Facing the roaring steel behemoth, the foot soldiers under enormous psychological pressure gradually began to panic and tremble, and deserters even appeared.

"No running!"

Shi Xuan at the rear supervising the battle waved his waist blade, cutting down deserters: "Hold the line! Hold the line for me~~"

The Hundred-Ton King knocked away the front-rank soldiers, charged into the formation and rampaged horizontally, instantly creating a scene of gore.

The steel pipe swept horizontally in swathes, the giant wheels crushed flesh into paste, the roaring sound like thunder striking terror into the heart.

The High-Power Imperial Guards used grappling spears to stab, short weapons to hack and smash, foot bows to shoot.

They employed every weapon they could, yet could not even make the Hundred-Ton King slow down slightly.

Without the slightest surprise, under the Hundred-Ton King's rampaging charge and crushing trampling, the Gao Li Imperial Guards, renowned for their elite status, collapsed.

The routed soldiers lost their wits, scattering and fleeing, only wanting to get away from the giant beast.

"No running!"

Shi Xuan, his eyes bloodshot, led his guards in waving weapons and hacking wildly to block the routed soldiers, shouting, "Go back, all of you go back!"

In the eyes of the routed soldiers who had collapsed, there was no such thing as a crown prince or not.

Anyone who dared block their flight, even the Heavenly King or the Old Father of Heaven, they would dare to hack.

Shi Xuan was smashed off his horse, and in an instant was swallowed up by the routed soldiers.

The Gluttonous Army soldiers stepped forward and slaughtered the scattered Hu captives.

Having lost their army formation, the scattered soldiers and rogues had no power to resist.

"What were you thinking." Lin Dao in the Driver's Cab, looking down from above, saw the Moat not far ahead, "I'm not stupid."

"Do you really expect me to just drive straight in?"

He turned the Steering Wheel, avoided the Moat, and rushed towards another Hu army formation.

The Hundred-Ton King smashed into the formation, and the Gluttonous Army soldiers followed up to slaughter.

The Hu army formations were broken one after another, and routed soldiers were everywhere outside the city.

Fu Hong, at a slightly greater distance, immediately turned his horse's head, leading his Di people under his command, fleeing far away without looking back.

He did not want to be buried with the Jie people.

"Heavenly King!"

Ran Min, fully armored, strode up onto the City Tower, "Please, Heavenly King, return to the palace at once."

Shi Hu's gaze was vacant, sitting on the Couch as if he had not heard.

This great defeat had crushed his Spirit and Energy.

"Quick!" A flash of ferocity crossed Ran Min's eyes as he waved his hand to summon the soldiers, "Escort the Heavenly King back to the palace!"

End of Chapter