Munitions Empire
Chapter 1394 - 1394: 1311 Old Capital Frontline

North line, Wangdu Airport, Liu Zhian stepped off the plane, the bumpy ride making his complexion not particularly healthy.

He slapped his trouser leg with his glove and casually returned a military salute to the few generals who welcomed him: "No need to be too formal!"

"General! Do you want to rest a bit before changing to the train..." An officer approached and suggested.

"There's no time, I need to go to the old capital today. If there's a passenger train, I'll take it, if not, I'll take a freight train." Liu Zhian waved his hand to interrupt the suggestion, speaking as he walked forward.

The officer didn't speak again, rushing ahead to open the car door for Liu Zhian. This car, imported from the Great Tang Empire, was waiting here specifically to take Liu Zhian into the city.

To ensure the generals' safety, Liu Zhian's plane did not fly directly to the old capital. Because it is not very safe there now, Tang Empire planes might appear in the airspace of the old capital.

So, taking the train is the safest option.

"How are things going?" Sitting in the car, Liu Zhian didn't idle. He asked the accompanying military general, hoping to grasp some frontline situation.

The accompanying general quickly explained: "General! The situation is very grim. The vanguard of the Tang Army has already appeared near the old capital, the city is in panic, our defensive works are not yet completely built, we can only make do with what Dahua left behind."

"How much has the troop strength been replenished?" Liu Zhian squinted, asking in the slightly bumpy car.

"There are about 600,000 near the old capital, of which more than 200,000 are emergency forces restructured from Dahua's troops." The general spoke nervously, stammering: "And, there are also 200,000 from the Dongqing side withdrawn..."

To obtain enough troops, Dahua's old forces were naturally mobilized as well. But no one dares to hope for the combat strength of these troops.

Using these troops to fill the lines is fine, as the Tang Empire's artillery does not distinguish whether the people in enemy trenches are from Dahua or Qin Country.

But expecting these Dahua troops to actually play a role is unrealistic: hoping they would fight bloody battles with the Great Tang Empire, one might as well hope for the Tang Empire's troops to stop themselves.

In fact, in the past two days, the Tang Empire's offensive troops have indeed slowed down their advance. On one hand, the troops really need rest, on the other hand, because there are too many Qin Army in the encirclement behind, they also need to be dealt with.

With Wang Luo killed, the Qin Country's troops near Xiajiang City have been completely wiped out, except for some small-scale stragglers, there are no organized Qin Country troops near Xiajiang continuing to resist.

Within the Dongqing encirclement, there are about 500,000 Qin Army. The remaining troops have all retreated near the old capital, which is why there are 300,000 Qin Army near the old capital. Most of these Qin Army are stragglers, from the Dongqing side stragglers.

After a month's advancement, the Tang Empire's troops are actually very weary as well. Tanks need maintenance, ammunition needs replenishing, fuel needs replenishing, food also needs replenishing.

Personnel wise, the Tang Empire's offensive troops really need some rest. They continuously advanced and encircled, annihilating over 1 million Qin Army, achieving brilliant results.

They took Shanchong, took Jutian, took Pingfeng. They took Xiajiang, encircled Dongqing, and controlled the Heishui oil field.

This advancement speed is faster than other countries' military march speed. Until now, the Qin Army hasn't even fought a decent battle, and yet has already collapsed.

"The weapons of the withdrawn troops are mostly lost, the armored divisions have no tanks, no armored cars, and the artillery is gone too." The general added.

Liu Zhian still didn't say anything, continuing to ask: "What about supplies? Can we reallocate weapons to these stragglers and arm them?"

He didn't use "withdrawn troops" to refer to these troops from the Dongqing side, but directly called these troops stragglers.

The general replied: "Weapons are sufficient, if we count Dahua's old weapons and equipment, there's even surplus."

In fact, Dahua left quite a lot of weapons, additionally Qin Country sent quite a lot of weapons and ammunition to the frontline, all piled near the old capital just in time.

"Well done." Liu Zhian finally nodded and then spoke: "To consolidate the defense line, take out all the mines from storage and prepare to deploy them near the old capital!"

"This... General..." Hearing this order, the entire general was dumbfounded, sweating while trying to emphasize the seriousness of using mines.

They are weapons prohibited by the convention; when Mirage Country used such a weapon, the Prime Minister and the highest army generals were hanged. If Qin Country uses it, in the end, someone has to be responsible after the war... No one wants to take the blame, right.

"You don't need to fear, I'll take responsibility!" Liu Zhian ordered: "I will sign all the documents, you only need to follow my orders."

"The Empire's rise and fall rests on this!" He opened his eyes, filled with determination: "Nurturing troops for a thousand days, using them for an hour; the Empire grants me the title of High General, I must fight to the death for the country!"

The general beside lowered his head, ashamed of his own cowardice moments ago. The People of Qin have a martial spirit; in truth, he too possessed a spirit of sacrifice.

The car drove into the city, Wangdu, because it was near the old capital, was still somewhat prosperous. Pedestrians lined the streets, with some vendors shouting, seeming to restore somewhat to the pre-war state.

Unfortunately, the trucks parked by the street and the Qin Country infantry patrolling the streets constantly reminded the people here that the war was far from over.

The fleet swiftly entered the train station within the city, a train laden with soldiers and weaponry was already waiting by the platform. Liu Zhian didn't even have a meal in Wangdu, he took the train heading towards the "old capital" which had become the frontline.

On this day, the Tang Army's vanguard bombarded the old capital, the Great Tang Empire's cavalry, finally arrived at the outskirts of the Dahua Empire's old capital "Imperial Capital!"

A 155mm caliber shell fell into the city, the city wall, recently damaged by Dahua Empire's civil war, collapsed somewhat under the sound of the cannon. All the citizens of the Imperial Capital recalled the civil unrest, remembering those frightening days.

Also on this day, the Great Tang Empire's Air Force bombed two airports in the Imperial Capital, destroying over 100 planes the Qin Army couldn't withdraw in time.

Likewise, on this day, the captured Ying An met Marshal Luff, the Chief of Staff of the Great Tang Empire in Fengjiang's prison... And Luff was here to persuade him, the "Qin Country general," to surrender.