The Qing Dynasty is about to end

Chapter 907 MacArthur and His First Armored Division (MacArthur's father makes an appearance! Requesting monthly votes)
Deep within Fort Cumberland Army Base in Maryland lies a vast training ground cordoned off by tight security.

The air was thick with the smells of coal smoke, engine oil, and freshly compacted earth. A deafening roar echoed from behind a large grove of trees, shaking the ground beneath their feet. An open carriage, escorted by a troop of cavalry, traveled along a makeshift rammed-earth road, carrying President Garfield, Secretary of War Lincoln, and Army Commander-in-Chief General Sherman. Driving them was Brigadier General Arthur MacArthur, the Major General commanding the 1st Armored Division.

The 37-year-old commander was tall and imposing, dressed in a crisp, well-tailored general's uniform. His resolute chin was slightly raised, and beneath a gleaming boat-shaped cap lay meticulously combed chestnut hair. A signature corncob pipe dangled from his lips, wisps of smoke curling upwards. A wide leather belt cinched his waist, with a leather holster on his left side holding a gleaming Colt revolver, and a short field knife and binoculars on his right. At this moment, he was personally pulling the reins, his movements steady and efficient.

"Please make sure you three officers are seated firmly, as there will be quite a commotion ahead." MacArthur's voice was not loud, but carried the characteristic efficiency of a soldier. He slightly increased the speed of the carriage as it rounded a dense grove of poplar trees.

Beyond the woods, a panoramic view of the expansive training ground suddenly bursts into view!
President Garfield felt his breath catch in his throat! Secretary Lincoln's lips were pressed tightly together, his eyes sharp as an eagle's. Even General Sherman, who was used to seeing big scenes, had a slight upward twitch at the corner of his mouth on his fierce face, which was full of the motto "war is hell"—a complex expression that mixed pride, confidence, and even a kind of destructive impulse.

What unfolded before the president was not a traditional army of tens of thousands and artillery formations, but a terrifying steel jungle composed of countless steel behemoths!

More than two hundred colossal machines, painted in a dark green rust-proof coating, were lined up in an unprecedented and chilling manner. They had low, wide hulls, with short gun barrels (37mm recoil-operated rapid-fire cannons) protruding from the front, and a state-of-the-art Maxim water-cooled heavy machine gun with bulletproof steel plates mounted on top. Tracks! Their lower bodies were equipped with a running gear consisting of thick steel track plates, five pairs of road wheels, and a suspension system that even Sherman and MacArthur wouldn't recognize. Each steel behemoth resembled a prehistoric reptile crawling on the ground, shrouded in a thin mist of white steam emanating from its boilers, exuding a chilling sense of oppression.

These are the United States' secret weapons—MK.1 steam tanks. Nearly eight meters long, over three meters wide, and weighing a staggering twelve tons! At this moment, they stand in neat rows of massive steel formations, their bodies gleaming coldly in the afternoon sun. At first glance, it's clear they are far superior to the fragile steam tanks of the last civil war and the imperial chariots that brought down Napoleon II's empire in Europe!
Rumble... Whoosh—clang! Clang!

The distinctive roar of steam engines rose and fell, merging into a deep, deafening background noise. The tracks pounded heavily against the soft ground, clumsily propelling these steel monsters into motion. White steam billowed from the exhaust pipes and intricate pressure relief valves, instantly leaving trails of slowly dissipating white smoke behind them, like a legion of mechanical behemoths awakening from the mist.

"Mr. President, please allow me to introduce you to the formidable strength of our 1st Armored Division." MacArthur stopped the carriage, picked up his binoculars and handed them to Garfield. His voice, clear through the roar of the steam-powered vehicles, reached the president's ears: "What you see before you are three complete MK.1 steam tank regiments, seventy-two tanks per regiment, totaling two hundred and sixteen main battle tanks! They are the absolute core of our offensive spearhead!"

He removed his pipe from his mouth and pointed to another unit moving alongside the tank formation not far away: a large number of wheeled vehicles painted the same green—the latest military steam trucks. They were filled with solemn-faced soldiers, armed with Springfield M1880 repeating rifles and grenades at their waists, while light field artillery was towed behind the trucks. On top of the trucks, Maxim machine guns, also secret weapons, were already set up.

"This is a steam-powered infantry regiment, equipped with our latest improved 'Bighorn' steam trucks. They will follow closely behind the tank vanguard, responsible for clearing out the remaining enemy forces in the trenches and capturing positions." MacArthur's gaze drifted into the distance, where positions simulating enemy defenses were being constructed. "The firing range ahead simulates the barbed wire, trenches, and Gatling gun defense system most commonly found on the 'Zhao Si Line,' which the enemy spent over a decade building. Mr. President, watch how this live-fire exercise tears it apart."

MacArthur drew his pistol, pointed it at the sky, and pulled the trigger without hesitation!
boom! boom! boom!
Three crisp blasts of the signal gun pierced the steel with a deafening roar!

The massive steel cluster that was "warming up" in place just a second ago instantly went into a berserk state!
Waaaaah—Clang! Clang! Clang!
More than two hundred exhaust pipes simultaneously spewed out even thicker white steam! The roar of the steam engines was instantly pushed to its peak! The ground beneath their feet trembled violently! As if receiving a unified charge order, all the MK.1 steam tanks spun wildly, kicking up dirt and gravel, propelling their twelve-ton steel bodies in a massive charge towards the simulated position!
They did not charge in a scattered manner, but advanced in a dense formation full of power and discipline! Moreover, they were accompanied by a large number of "steam infantry" armed with the latest Springfield M1880 repeating rifles!
With the deafening roar of the steam engine, a huge, almost perfect "wedge-shaped arrow"—or a "spearhead" made of steel—quickly took shape, rushing toward its target at speeds exceeding 8 miles per hour with an overwhelming momentum that could crush everything in its path!
boom! boom! boom! boom!
Almost simultaneously with the tank formation's charge, 75mm light field guns deployed on the flanks and rear launched a fierce barrage! This was a simulated cover fire! Whistling shells slammed into the open ground in front of the simulated position, exploding into symbolic plumes of smoke.

The simulated positions ahead reacted instantly! In front of several symbolic subway wire mesh defense lines, pre-set "defensive firing points" spewed out several "machine gun tongues" (imitating incendiary materials) in an attempt to stop this steel torrent!
But this is completely useless!

Boom boom boom... Bang bang bang...

The vanguard of the MK.1 group, the tanks at the sharpest tip of the "wedge arrow," charged forward first! They didn't slow down at all! The massive vehicles roared as they slammed into the symbolic barbed wire stakes! Crack! Thud! The wooden obstacles were easily crushed and toppled like straw! The heavy tracks mercilessly rolled over them! Next came the second, slightly wider, simulated anti-tank ditch—steam tanks had already appeared in the last American Civil War, and the Western Union naturally knew how to deal with them.

However, the current MK.1 tank is completely different from the steam tank that was born in the last civil war!

The MK.1 uses a high-pressure flash oil-fired boiler and a twin-cylinder single-acting steam engine, which were developed by engineers from the Eastern United States over ten years, and has a horsepower of up to 100!
Just when some onlookers thought these "clumsy" tanks would be forced to detour or stop, an even more shocking scene unfolded!

With remarkable synchronization, the tanks at the forefront of the wedge formation suddenly sank their hulls! The front of their tracks slammed hard against the edge of the earthen wall opposite the trench! A deafening roar of steel scraping against rock and earth followed! Accompanied by the near-explosive hiss of their steam engines at full power, these twelve-ton vehicles, relying on their powerful engines and the friction provided by their wide tracks, managed to climb the steep slope opposite the trench! They weren't stuck! They successfully crossed this obstacle, which standard infantry considered almost insurmountable by tanks!
As the leading tank of the wedge formation ruthlessly and effectively crossed the trenches and crushed the obstacles, coming to a steady stop at the enemy's front line, the massive following tanks immediately used it as a landmark, one after another relentlessly advancing along the newly cleared "safe passage," thundering and roaring with unstoppable force! Like a torrent of steel bursting its banks! The entire process was chillingly smooth! In just a few minutes, despite the enemy's simulated "artillery fire" and symbolic "machine gun fire," the entire massive steel wedge formation, with almost ruthless efficiency, "chiseled through" the three carefully laid obstacle courses at the enemy's front line! Tearing a huge, shattered gash in the battlefield!

Throughout this process, the "steam infantry" closely followed the tanks, providing them with the most timely "close-quarters" protection—it was impossible for the infantry and tanks to become separated!

"Steam infantry battalion! Follow up!" MacArthur roared at the communications officer.

The order was swiftly relayed to the steam-powered infantry regiment. Dozens of steam trucks roared to life, carrying shouting infantrymen as they charged through the gaps breached by tanks! Maxim machine guns on the trucks rattled down the remaining targets, while some "steam infantrymen" nimbly leaped from the trailers, surging like a tide into the simulated "enemy" trenches. A few tanks, simulatedly "damaged" and disabled on the assault route, were immediately towed forward by steam trucks carrying portable pneumatic cutters and welding equipment (simulated battlefield repair)! Some soldiers were even seen carrying small explosive charges, simulating the demolition of remaining sturdy bunkers (engineering breaching team)!

The climax of the exercise—the scene of tank groups charging into the enemy's core position—was unforgettable!
Dozens of MK.1 tanks, lined up in tight double rows (simulating urban warfare/fortified breaching formation), surged forward like a moving steel wall, roaring and billowing steam, heading straight for a decoy target simulating a large, semi-buried concrete machine gun bunker! They completely ignored the symbolic jamming fire coming from both sides (simulating crossfire). The Maxim machine guns on the roofs opened fire fiercely to suppress the fire, the short 37mm barrels rapidly rotating and locking on! A series of muffled cannon shots rang out!

boom! boom! boom!
At extremely close range, a simulated 37mm armor-piercing round precisely struck the core of the decoy target (the pre-set detonation point)! Concrete shards flew everywhere! Sandbags were torn apart! Thick plumes of black smoke, representing severe damage, instantly rose from the target! Immediately afterwards, more tanks surged forward, completely flattening it!

Each steam tank was followed by a squad of steam infantry armed with Springfield M1880 repeating rifles.

The entire "breakthrough" process was swift, resolute, and full of power! The steel torrent was unstoppable, supplemented by infantry clearing, engineers breaching obstacles, and artillery support, perfectly showcasing a systematic, steampunk-era mechanized offensive tactical prototype!
President Garfield had lowered his binoculars at some point. His eyes were fixed intently on the roaring, churning steel behemoth amidst the dust and steam, his lips slightly parted, utterly speechless. He could clearly feel the continuous tremors beneath his feet—the pure power of the industrial age! No longer the flesh and blood of soldiers!
Secretary Lincoln's face broke into a long-lost, confident smile.

“Mr. President,” General Sherman’s voice rang in Garfield’s ears, deep and penetrating, like the symphony of artillery he commanded. Pointing to the impenetrable steel mass charging across the training grounds, his tone was like a cold, ironclad declaration: “What you see is our ultimate answer to crushing the enemy’s so-called ‘fortified line’! The offensive spearhead, with this 1st Armored Division at its absolute core, has only one mission—to crush every obstacle in its path! To shatter the ‘Western Zhao Fourth Line’ of barbed wire, trenches, reinforced concrete fortifications, and their proud Gatling guns! We don’t need to sacrifice an entire generation of our young men before the enemy’s barbed wire!”

The old general's gaze swept across the bustling training ground, landing on the distant Rocky Mountains: "When these steel beasts truly embark on their westward expedition, they will be unstoppable! With the power of our American Industrial Revolution, we will tear open the enemy's homeland and crush their will to resist! Push the battle line—push! push! push! all the way to the damned walls of Fort Denver, Colorado! Press the cannons against the head of that damned rebel leader, Hong Tiangui! Reunify America!"

Garfield remained silent, his gaze fixed on the training field. The roar of the steel tracks crushing the earth, the power of the steam boilers howling, the smoke spewing from the cannons, and the overwhelming momentum of the steel torrent sweeping everything were etched deep into his mind like a burning brand.

A moment later, the president took a deep breath. The smell of earth and gasoline gave him an unprecedented sense of peace.

“Brigadier General MacArthur!” Garfield’s voice became unusually calm, yet contained a tremendous energy about to erupt.

"Yes, Mr. President!" Arthur MacArthur immediately straightened his back, his corncob pipe already clutched in his hand.

"First Armored Division, how long will it take to complete the final combat deployment?" Garfield turned his head, his sharp gaze meeting the young armored division commander's eyes. "Down to the day! Even... down to the hour!"

MacArthur met the president's gaze without hesitation. His boots slammed together sharply, making a crisp clinking sound, and the Colt pistol at his waist swayed slightly with the movement. He answered decisively:
"Reporting to the President! The 1st Armored Division has completed all necessary training and logistical checks! Soldiers, tanks, supplies, and operational plans are all ready! As soon as your order to launch the war is given, we will complete all combat loading within 24 hours! All soldiers of the 1st Armored Division and—216 armored vehicles—are on standby! They can be deployed westward at any time! Target—Zhao Si Defense Line!"

(End of this chapter)