Chapter 497

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Protagonist:

Lv Muzhi

One Type 97 Kai Medium Tank after another rolled through the Zhongnan State's positions, kicking up clouds of dust.

On the bodies of these Type 97 Kai Medium Tanks were also painted the North Star symbols representing Zhongnan State.

These symbols were showing Thailand that this was Zhongnan State's armed forces, unrelated to the Youth Army and Xia Guo.

Whether the Thais believed it or not was not within Lv Muzhi's consideration.

Meng Fan waved his hand: "All follow them, launch a counterattack against the Thai First Division!"

Colonel Ruan Linqing, seeing this, likewise ordered the soldiers of his regiment to coordinate operations.

The soldiers of Zhongnan State were high in morale, having just defeated the Thais' Royal War Elephant Corps, and now they had received tank support.

"The Thais have elephants, we have tanks too!"

"Look at this tank's cannon, doesn't it look like a war elephant's trunk?"

"Nonsense! This tank's cannon can fire shells, a war elephant's trunk can only spray water!"

Such discussions occurred from time to time in the ranks of Zhongnan State's soldiers.

For this war of national defense, the soldiers of Zhongnan State felt their future prospects were very bright.

Meanwhile, in the camp of the Thai First Division, news of the Youth Army's counterattack had already arrived.

Major General Phraya of the Thai First Division panicked: "The Japanese intelligence is wrong! Colonel Hira-o, what on earth is going on?"

"My subordinates report that more than seventy tanks and armored vehicles are advancing to attack our camp!"

Facing Major General Phraya's questioning, Colonel Hira-o was instead calm and composed, looking heartbroken:

"Alas, truly one mistake in a hundred careful plans!"

"Things have come to this, we can only retreat immediately to preserve our strength!"

Major General Phraya said angrily: "Retreat now, how can we make it in time?"

"Besides, with so many tanks transported via the railway line, couldn't the Japanese Navy's reconnaissance aircraft see them?"

Colonel Hira-o was very impatient: "I said I don't know, so I don't know. I'm retreating now!"

At this moment, Major General Phraya's attendant ran in and whispered a few words in his ear.

Major General Phraya flew into a rage, drew his pistol and pointed it at Colonel Hira-o: "Dog thief! How dare you?!"

But Colonel Hira-o's two guards directly pointed their submachine guns at Major General Phraya.

"Major General, don't be so excited!" Colonel Hira-o urged.

Major General Phraya's hand holding the gun trembled: "The Japanese are simply greedy demons. You brought your naval fleet into Thailand Bay, wanting to take advantage of our domestic forces being empty to launch an invasion against us?"

The other officers in the First Division headquarters also panicked upon hearing this.

This is black eating black!

Japan originally cooperated with Thailand, unexpectedly now Thailand was about to be devoured by Japan.

Boom—rumble—rumble.

Several Japanese Type 97 Kai Medium Tanks drove over, directly knocking down the courtyard wall of the Thai First Division headquarters.

The Japanese tank commander shouted: "Colonel Hira-o, please get in the vehicle and leave quickly, the Youth Army is coming to kill us!"

Colonel Hira-o ignored the urging voices outside and explained: "Major General Phraya, don't misunderstand. The Empire's naval fleet entering Thailand Bay is to protect Thailand.

Right now the Thai army's defeat is certain. What if Zhongnan State's army invades Thailand? We are doing this to protect your country!"

"No matter what you think, I'm leaving now."

"If you want to stop me from leaving, the tanks I brought will directly flatten this headquarters!"

After speaking, Colonel Hira-o would directly turn and leave.

"Betraying our Thai army, you think your Japanese army can get away?" Major General Phraya sneered.

Colonel Hira-o was instead very excited: "Hard to say. Anyway, I just need to run faster than you Thai army!"

Major General Phraya chased out of the headquarters, only to see Colonel Hira-o climb into a tank, then depart in high spirits.

"The Japanese army's artillery unit has also retreated! The Japanese have completely betrayed us!"

"Major General Phraya, retreat quickly."

"Marshal La Wen wants our First Division to return to the country immediately to defend the capital Bangkok, preventing the Japanese army from landing in our country."

The subordinates chattered away, obviously caught completely off guard by the Japanese army's betrayal.

Major General Phraya put away his sidearm; for now, he could only try his best to take his Thai First Division back.

"Leave one regiment to cover the rear, everyone else return to the country immediately via the original route!"

The Thai First Division, hearing that the Youth Army's tanks were joining the battle, plus having suffered crushing defeats in the previous two attacks, their morale was already very unstable.

Now hearing that the Japanese had all run away with tanks and cannons, their morale was even more in chaos.

No one expected the Japanese to be so despicable, betraying their allies at the critical moment.

Not only betraying allies, but also stabbing them in the back—Japan actually wanted to send troops to occupy Thailand!

Various pieces of news spread and fermented; for the Thai army, not a single one was good news.

If the Japanese really occupied Thailand, how could the Thai armies fighting outside retreat? Where could they retreat to?

Now they truly became children without a home!

The Thai army's retreat was in name only; in reality, it was a rout.

All along the way there was no retreat order whatsoever; the Thai army abandoned a large amount of baggage along the route, even abandoning the elephants transporting supplies by the roadside.

A Thai regiment left behind to cover the retreat ran into the counterattacking Youth Army and Zhongnan State troops, and was even less able to mount effective resistance.

Meng Fan led a tank company forward to attack; after the Sanhao Tanks fired several rounds at the Thai blocking position, they unexpectedly received a surrender request from the Thai regiment left behind to cover the retreat.

Over a thousand Thai soldiers walked out of the trenches with their hands raised, having completely failed in their responsibility to cover the retreat and block the enemy.

Colonel Ruan Linqing was surprised.

The Thai First Division had chased us for so long, and now they surrendered this quickly?

The Zhongnan State soldiers punched and kicked the surrendering Thai soldiers, venting their fury on these invaders who had come this far.

Meng Fan said to Colonel Ruan Linqing: "Colonel Ruan, report victory to Hanoi; capturing a Thai regiment shows the might of your troops."

Colonel Ruan Linqing waved his hand to decline: "Not at all; I have not the slightest thought of claiming the Youth Army's meritorious service."

Meng Fan pointed to the Big Dipper Mark on the Sanhao Tank.

"There was no Youth Army involvement in this; no matter whether others believe it or not, the documents must be written this way. Understand?"

"When you are promoted and advance in the future thanks to your meritorious service, don't forget your junior brother!"

Colonel Ruan Linqing was stunned; this tremendous meritorious service had fallen on his own head!

The prisoner was only a Thai infantry regiment left behind to cover the retreat; the Thai First Division was still fleeing.

Provided that he clung to the Youth Army's big thigh, he could achieve even greater meritorious service.

He wanted to advance too much!

"Lieutenant Colonel Meng, great kindness needs no thanks; in the future I will surely repay you and the Youth Army!"

"Let the tank forces continue advancing; we'll wipe out the entire Thai First Division in one pot, and I can't wait any longer!"

Finished speaking, Colonel Ruan Linqing patted the steel armor of a Sanhao Tank and shouted at the Youth Army tank commander with half his body exposed: "Set out quickly! Don't let the Thai First Division escape!"