Chapter 146 A Sudden Turn of Events

"Di, di, di—"

The moment the vanguard of the First Corps advanced, alarms blared throughout the entire defense zone, deafeningly loud!

Tan Mingchao's heart surged with emotions. At that moment, over the communication terminal, a commander from the Second Army Garrison roared, "Attention! All battalions and companies, enter combat readiness!"

The entire garrison sprang into action. Everyone loaded their weapons and prepared their artillery. Soldiers stood ready, preparing for defense.

Just then, a voice amplified by loudspeakers echoed from afar.

"To the Dragon City Garrison Corps of District One, we have received orders from higher authorities to impose military control over Dragon City! You must provide a passage for our forces to pass through and avoid any armed conflict!"

The message was repeated in English after the Chinese version. The sound reverberated throughout the defense zone, clear to every soldier.

Hearing this, Tan Mingchao actually breathed a sigh of relief. He even heard cheers erupt from the forward command post.

The voice of the commander who had spoken earlier came over the communication terminal: "Everyone, hold your positions! Await further instructions!"

Beside him, the staff officer couldn't help but exclaim, "The Commander-in-Chief is truly strategic. They really don't dare to fight."

...

Meanwhile, at the garrison headquarters.

Tan Hengqiang stood before a large screen, listening to the announcement through a forward connection.

Not only that, but the enemy's air force had dispatched helicopters, broadcasting their intention to take control of Dragon City's airspace.

Zhang Xunchen, full of admiration, said to Tan Hengqiang, "Commander-in-Chief, you predicted this perfectly."

"When it comes to psychological warfare, the Chinese are their ancestors..." Tan Hengqiang said calmly, hands behind his back, "If they want to come in, let them. Once they're in, it will be to our advantage. I can devour them at any time."

After uttering these domineering words, Tan Hengqiang turned and headed for the nearby rest area. In his view, there wouldn't be any accidental gunfire tonight. Their strategy was to apply pressure, still hoping for a sliver of hope from the Dragon City Garrison and clearly not wanting war at this moment.

...

During the standoff, along the northern border, a battalion of the An faction's forces...

Under the cover of darkness, over sixty soldiers slowly pushed four rocket launchers out of the defense zone.

Because of the orders received from An Zecheng, their location was less than two kilometers away from the First Army Garrison's defense zone—very close!

The battalion commander in charge, sweat beading on his forehead, pulled out his phone and whispered into it, "Commander, as planned, we are ready!"

At the same time, An Zecheng stood in his military operations command center, watching the fighter jets circling above Dragon City on the large screen, and cursed, "Damn it, I've been in Dragon City for seven years, and you've led the dance for seven years! Today, the rhythm isn't in your hands anymore!"

With that, An Zecheng held his phone and ordered grimly, "Open fire! Shoot down their lead fighter jets!"

As soon as the order was given, the battalion commander on the border hung up and roared, "Fire!"

"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!"

A series of rapid-fire sounds instantly rang out. Dozens of anti-aircraft rockets, trailing long tails of fire, shot into the sky!

Beneath the launchers, billowing dust was stirred up by the flames. The earth trembled.

Seeing the rockets launched into the sky, the First Corps' generals and soldiers of District One were stunned!

On the Tan side, those who had just breathed a sigh of relief looked over in astonishment!

Tan Mingchao suddenly woke up, turning his head to look around and hurriedly asked, "Who? Where did that gunfire come from?"

Before his words could fade, a series of violent explosions echoed in the sky!

"Boom, boom, boom!"

Three lead fighter jets were instantly destroyed by the barrage, turning into flaming fireballs in the sky and plummeting towards the ground like shooting stars!

...

At the garrison headquarters.

In the rest area, Tan Hengqiang sat on the sofa, reaching for his teacup, ready to take a sip.

"Bang!"

The door to the rest area was violently kicked open, and Zhang Xunchen rushed in, shouting in a panic, "Commander-in-Chief, something bad has happened! Someone within our defense zone, we don't know which unit, suddenly opened fire and shot down the District One fighter jets!"

"Clatter!"

Tan Hengqiang's eyes glazed over, and the teacup fell from his hand, shattering into pieces on the floor.

...

At the District One forward base, Lieutenant General Mules stood before the sand table, preparing to issue the fourth forceful pressure order to his staff, when the entire command center lit up with red warning lights!

On the large screen, three fighter jets were turning into fireballs, plummeting towards the ground.

Mules was stunned by the sight.

Through the communication system, the air force urgently reported, "Reporting, General! The enemy launched anti-aircraft rockets. Three of our lead fighter jets have been destroyed! Should we retaliate against the Dragon City Garrison Corps of District One?"

Mules's face flushed red. After a pause, he grabbed the communicator and roared, "They are no longer the garrison corps of District One! They are the enemy! Relay my order: attack the origin of the rockets!"

After speaking, Mules put down the communicator, turned to his staff, and said, "From this moment on, there is no chance for negotiation with Dragon City! Inform the forward units to quickly advance into enemy territory! Use a steel furnace to shatter Tan Hengqiang's dream of becoming a frontier king!"

"Yes!"

...

In a matter of seconds, the tense situation in the entire northern defense zone of Dragon City collapsed!

In the sky, dozens of fighter jets formed a squadron, launching an assault on the area where the An faction's forces had just been!

At the same time, the artillery positions of the First Corps of District One began a barrage, carpet-bombing the An faction's garrison area!

"Bang, bang, bang!"

"Boom, boom, boom!"

The sound of artillery fire was incessant, and the earth trembled.

As the First Corps launched its attack, the An faction's forces rapidly dispersed, indiscriminately entering the Second Army Garrison's area.

On the hillside, Tan Mingchao, with binoculars in hand, watched the densely packed An faction soldiers below, all lightly armed, scattering towards their position. He finally realized what the problem was.

At the same time, shouts came from the An faction's side.

"The enemy is attacking! We are providing full support to the Tan faction's garrison!"

"Charge! All personnel, enter the Tan faction's garrison base as quickly as possible!"

"Boom, boom, boom!"

The sound of artillery fire grew closer and closer, and flames soared into the sky.

Along the entire border, all the lightly armed soldiers of the An faction rushed into the Tan faction's garrison base as soon as the firing started.

Guns and cannons have no eyes!

In this way, the District One artillery positions, originally focused on the An faction, were now hitting the Tan faction as well.

The fighter jets dived twice, and the dark earth was completely engulfed in smoke and fire!

...

At the garrison headquarters.

Tan Hengqiang stood in the command center, angrily pointing at the ground and shouting, "Bring An Zecheng to me! Ask him what he's trying to do!"

Ten minutes later, An Zecheng walked into the command center with a group of people.

Tan Hengqiang looked at him, ready to unleash his anger, but An Zecheng preemptively said, "Commander Tan, the enemy attacked without warning! Our forward units have suffered some losses, but it's no problem. All my reinforcements are already supporting the garrison's defense zone! Now, you are the supreme commander of Dragon City. Tell us what to do, and we'll do it!"

The words Tan Hengqiang wanted to say were stuck in his throat. He clenched his fists, his lips twitching as he looked at An Zecheng.

An Zecheng took another step closer, staring at Tan Hengqiang, face to face, and said, "Since I came to Dragon City, I've called you Big Brother for seven years! The An faction has always been an armed force under the leadership of the garrison! Now I'm giving you the authority. You point, and I'll fight! Big Brother! It's all up to you!"

Listen to your mom!

Tan Hengqiang cursed inwardly, his heart pounding, his lips twitching, but he still didn't dare to lose his temper!

How could he? The hundreds of kilometers of the defense line had all opened fire! At this moment, even if Zhuge Liang came, he'd have to fire a few shots before leaving! (Zhuge Liang was a famous strategist in Chinese history)

They had no choice but to fight! Offending An Zecheng now, that old fox, could lead him to withdraw his troops and sell out the Tan faction at any moment!

After a long while, Tan Hengqiang slowly said, "You understand me! I've wanted to fight them for a long time!"

"Bring the map to the Commander-in-Chief of Dragon City!" An Zecheng waved his hand calmly, facing Tan Hengqiang's murderous gaze.

An Zecheng had been lying low in Dragon City for seven years, biding his time, clinging tightly to the garrison's thigh, even going so far as to break with his son-in-law and orchestrate a split in the association!

What was it all for?

It was to push Tan Hengqiang, step by step, to the highest military seat in Dragon City! To make him think about problems and interests from the perspective of the top man!

In this way, Lao Li and the An faction would have the opportunity to develop and rise!

In this battle, An Zecheng unified the military of Dragon City without bloodshed, in effect, through the garrison!