Chapter 1 The Dragon City

Within Dragon City, Wang Xiao's First Independent Operations Brigade, consisting of six regiments, swiftly seized key roads along the city's edge. This action severed contact between the First Army and the city, establishing a defensive perimeter that completely cut off Xin Xiaodong's forces' retreat.

Their actions tore a hole in the southern defense of Dragon City, disrupting all existing garrison plans!

Simultaneously, the First Army Corps of the First Theater Command mobilized two divisions, coordinating with armored units and aerial bombardment, totaling over fifty thousand troops, to launch a rapid assault on the First Army's defense zone!

At this critical moment, Xin Xiaodong returned to his troops, only to find himself holding a hot potato.

The First Army was caught in a vise: facing a furious offensive from the First Theater Command on the front lines, and stabbed in the back by the Wang family.

Inside the command center, Chief of Staff Wu pointed to the sand table, briefing Xin Xiaodong on the current situation.

Xin Xiaodong frowned, his mind racing.

A staff officer considered the situation and suggested, "Commander, our situation is complex. If we don't fully defend against the First Theater Command's attacking forces, our frontline troops will be quickly whittled down. The pressure on the garrison is also immense; it will be difficult for them to provide significant support. Therefore, we must make sacrifices."

Upon hearing this, Xin Xiaodong looked up at the young officer and snapped, "Are you out of your mind?! Is there even a question of sacrifice? When war breaks out, you deal with the traitors first! That's an unchanging principle!"

The young officer realized his mistake, lowered his head, and remained silent.

Xin Xiaodong waved his hand and barked at the communications officer, "Get me the First Division headquarters!"

"Yes, sir!"

The communications officer picked up the phone and quickly dialed the First Division headquarters.

The call was quickly answered, and a man's voice came through the receiver, "Hello? This is Wang Dacheng, commander of the First Division!"

The sound of artillery fire echoed in the background. Wang Dacheng was leading his troops in resisting the First Army Corps' assault.

Xin Xiaodong said, "This is Xin Xiaodong!"

"Commander, good day!" Hearing Xin Xiaodong's voice, Wang Dacheng's spirits lifted, and he immediately shouted, "Please give your instructions, Commander!"

Xin Xiaodong, with his hands on his hips, asked directly, "I need your First Division to hold the front line for two hours. Can you do it?"

Wang Dacheng answered honestly, "Reporting, Commander, I don't know if I can! But I will not retreat from the battlefield until I die!"

"Good!" Xin Xiaodong responded immediately, "That's exactly what I want to hear! Hold them! Even if you're down to your last man, you will be nailed to the defense line, and you absolutely must not let the First Theater Command's troops break through! I need to deal with the traitors in our own house. Once I'm done, I will personally lead the army to join you!"

"Yes, sir! We will resolutely obey orders!"

Wang Dacheng's voice was loud and powerful. Xin Xiaodong nodded and hung up the phone.

...

Meanwhile, at the First Division headquarters.

The division's officers were gathered for an emergency meeting with Wang Dacheng.

Outside, gunfire and explosions filled the air!

With the communications officer's help, all communications for the First Division were silenced. Wang Dacheng, holding a communicator, stood in the camp, his eyes resolute, and said to everyone, "When war breaks out, morale falters. Too many people are wishy-washy, ready to defect and become dogs for the First Theater Command! These people must pay a bloody price! I just received orders from the Commander, ordering the First Division to hold the defense zone and block the First Theater Command's armored units!! I have no other demands. We are the main force of the first echelon, so four words: fight to the death!"

"Ooh-ooh--"

Immediately afterward, a slightly tragic assembly call sounded throughout the defense zone!

All the First Division's defenders, including related military defense forces, moved to the front lines, resisting the First Army Corps' invasion with their lives!

At the same time, Xin Xiaodong personally led the Second Division, abandoning the armored units unsuitable for urban warfare, and launched a light infantry assault into the city.

All three artillery regiments under the Second Division turned their guns, preparing to bombard the city.

Because the People's Army troops were originally stationed near the city's defense zone, the adjustment was swift, completed in almost half an hour.

The three artillery regiments were in position, their barrels aimed at the city.

...

Xin Xiaodong stood at an advanced command post, looking through binoculars at the distant First Independent Operations Brigade.

This armed force belonging to the Wang family had already set up its defense zone and was preparing to move towards the city.

After observing for a long time, Xin Xiaodong lowered his binoculars and turned to Chief of Staff Wu, saying decisively, "Sacrifice the buildings in the south, two rounds of fire, vaporize the obstacles! All troops, fix bayonets, shatter the enemy's defense zone after the bombardment, and the eight thousand men of the Second Division will capture Wang Xiao alone!!! I don't care what grievances he has, treason in the face of war, I will tear him apart!"

"Yes, sir!"

Chief of Staff Wu nodded and quickly issued the orders.

"Bang, bang, bang!"

Half a minute later, a barrage of shells tore through the night sky, landing on the Wang family's forces!

"Boom, boom, boom!"

Immediately afterward, the earth trembled, and explosions roared! Buildings collapsed in the artillery fire, and enemy soldiers turned to ashes!

The outskirts of Dragon City became a sea of fire!

"Woo-woo-woo--"

An impassioned charge sounded, and the entire Second Division, a total of eight thousand infantry troops, charged towards the Wang family's forces amid the sounds of battle!

The Wang family's forces, having just completed their garrison deployment and moving towards the city, suffered heavy casualties!

Wang Xiao, commanding at the front lines, looked at the sea of fire before him, shocked, and couldn't help but say, "The First Army reacted so quickly?"

An officer next to him said, "Yes, sir, I heard Xin Xiaodong himself has returned!"

Wang Xiao gritted his teeth and said sternly, "Ignore them, quickly advance into the city! Completely disrupt the defense line! Communications officer, get me the Fifth and Sixth Regiments!"

"Yes, sir!"

Soon, the communications officer connected the two regiments entering the city. Wang Xiao immediately asked, "Where are you?"

The two regimental commanders were together. The Fifth Regiment commander replied, "Reporting, we are about to reach the military dependents' assembly area and will soon link up with our people!"

Wang Xiao said loudly, "Those two regiments of yours, don't worry about anything else, just protect our relatives!"

"Understood!"

...

After hanging up, the Fifth and Sixth Regiments were heading to the military dependents' assembly area in a large convoy of military vehicles, about to enter the area.

"Pa, pa, pa!"

Just then, bright white spotlights suddenly illuminated the streets, turning the entire road as bright as day!

The Fifth Regiment commander was stunned and shouted in a cold sweat, "Something's wrong! Situation!"

At that moment, a line of military vehicles roared out from both sides of the street, blocking them in the middle of the road.

Immediately afterward, Su Tianbei jumped out of a military vehicle, pulled out his pistol, and fired a shot into the sky. He then shouted into the intercom, "When war breaks out, kill the traitors first! Open fire!"

"Swish, swish, swish!"

From the alleys on both sides of the road, a large number of RPGs were launched, streaking trails of smoke as they slammed into the Fifth and Sixth Regiments' vehicles!

"Boom, boom, boom!"

Fires erupted everywhere, and explosions echoed!

Just then, Gu Baishun also pushed open the car door, jumped out of the military vehicle, looked at the sea of fire in front of him, turned to Su Tianbei, and said, "Tell the troops to push forward! Link up with Xin Xiaodong's forces on the edge of the city and bury them all here!"