Warhammer: The Time Traveler

Chapter 194 Lai Xuan's Scheme (Seventh Update)

"The technological gap is an objective reality, but that doesn't mean we're helpless. Today's failure stems from our underestimation of the tactical changes brought about by shield technology and our flawed strategy of splitting our forces for a breakthrough, which made us vulnerable to being picked off one by one." Gao Shan quickly adjusted his mindset and re-analyzed the problem from the perspective of a professional military advisor. "The shield is not invincible. It requires energy to maintain and has an overload limit. The energy burning of the 'Amaterasu' array is theoretically effective, but we failed to protect it properly."

The kinetic energy penetration of the 'Takemikazuchi' can also pose a threat. What we lack is not weapons, but the right tactics to unleash their effectiveness and sufficient pressure!

He brought up a 3D projection of the abandoned town's defense perimeter and quickly swiped his finger across it: "The enemy's core advantage lies in their regional energy shields and individual shield technology."

However, their forces are limited. The total combat strength of the Mann Squad, the Ghost Hounds, the Lazarus mercenaries, plus a small number of unknown units, cannot be compared with our entire 'White Whale' battle group.

They can win a few local battles through sophisticated tactics and technological superiority, but they cannot withstand an endless, all-out war of attrition.

Shintaro Takayama's eyes sharpened, revealing a do-or-die determination: "I propose that we abandon all tricky tactics and return to the most primitive and reliable law of war: quality and quantity."

We will concentrate all our landed armored forces—including main battle tanks, armored personnel carriers, and self-propelled artillery—and mix them with the remaining powered armored forces to form an iron torrent.

At the same time, order the air force to take off again and launch a continuous, uninterrupted air raid on the abandoned town's shield, regardless of the cost, even if it only depletes its energy!

He looked at Arasaka Yorinobu and said firmly, "We will launch wave after wave of strong attacks from the front. We will not pursue tactical ingenuity, but only absolute firepower density and impact intensity."

We'll use our armor and the lives of our soldiers to deplete the enemy's shield energy and test their defensive limits! Even if it means piling up corpses, we'll carve a bloody path to the center of the ruined town!

"This is the most rudimentary method, but it's also the most effective one at present," Takayama concluded. "In the face of absolute power, any technological advantage can be crushed. What we, Arasaka, have in abundance is resources and determination."

Arasaka Yorinobu listened quietly, his cold expression unchanged, but a barely perceptible glint flashed in the depths of his eyes.

Takayama's proposal is in line with Arasaka's usual domineering style, and it is indeed the most likely way to break the deadlock in the short term.

This massive war of attrition suited him perfectly—the more bloodshed and the greater the chaos, the better conditions he could create for his true plan.

He remained silent for a moment, as if weighing the pros and cons.

Finally, he spoke slowly, his voice still cold, but his imposing aura had softened slightly: "Since Uncle Gaoshan is so insistent and determined... then let's do as you say. I hope this time, you won't disappoint me again."

He paused, then added, "I will be on the bridge, witnessing firsthand how Arasaka's steel torrent will crush that obstructive barrier and all the enemies within it."

After saying that, Lai Xuan stopped looking at Gao Shan and the others in the command center, turned around and walked to the porthole again, casting his gaze on the land shrouded in shields in the distance.

His silhouette appeared somewhat lonely, yet it exuded an unsettling stillness.

With Yoriyuki's tacit approval, Shintaro Takayama immediately turned around and resumed his decisive and efficient commander demeanor.

"Pass on my orders!" His voice echoed in the bridge, carrying an unquestionable authority. "All landed units, including the Third and Fourth Armored Battalions, the Seventh Mobile Infantry Regiment, and all remaining 'Onimusha' power armor units, immediately assemble at the pre-designated attack positions!"

They were reorganized into three heavy assault groups, under my direct command!

"Order the air force to immediately load up and take off all available attack aircraft! Employ wave-like attack tactics and bombard the target shield continuously for 24 hours a day! I want the sound of explosions over the ruined town to never cease!"

"Logistics, ensure the supply of ammunition and energy to the front! I need to see a never-ending transport line from the coast to the front!"

Commands were issued rapidly, and the entire Arasaka war machine began to operate with unprecedented efficiency.

Along the coast, tank engines roared, their exhaust pipes spewing thick smoke; the heavy footsteps of power armor echoed again, mingling with the sound of tracks grinding against the ground; in the sky, carrier-based aircraft roared overhead, their wings laden with deadly ammunition.

A tense atmosphere permeated the entire landing area. Amidst the commotion and preparations for battle, Arasaka Yoriyuki quietly left the bridge and returned to his private rest area.

After confirming that no one was watching him, he activated the highest level of anti-detection and shielding device in the room.

He walked up to a ukiyo-e print depicting Mount Fuji and pressed his finger on an inconspicuous indentation on the edge of the frame.

A small opening silently slid open on the side of the picture frame, revealing an encrypted communication terminal.

Lai Xuan quickly entered a long password, and the terminal screen lit up, displaying a blurry human figure without any distinguishing features.

“The situation has changed, but the overall situation is still under control.” Lai Xuan said in a low voice into the microphone, his voice calm and even, a stark contrast to his previous rage on the bridge: “Gaoshan has decided to launch a frontal assault, which will result in enough bloodshed and create enough attention.”

The figure on the other end of the screen swayed slightly, as if nodding.

"Execute according to the second plan." Lai Xuan continued to issue the order, lowering his voice even further. "The objective remains the same, and the timing... is when the main battle is at its most intense, and everyone's attention is drawn to it."

Ensure the operation is absolutely secretive; if necessary, utilize 'that channel'.

"Understood." A processed, neither-male-nor-female, synthesized electronic voice came from the other end of the communication, brief and affirmative.

“Remember, what I want is the ‘key,’ the complete one.” A profound light flashed in Lai Xuan’s eyes. “Only by obtaining it can we truly pry open this corrupt world.”

During the operation, no matter what happens, do not reveal your connection to me.

"Command confirmed, for a new dawn," the electronic voice replied.

"To bury the dawn of the old world." Lai Xuan repeated in a low voice, then cut off the communication.

He deleted all records, restored the terminal to its original state, and quietly closed the picture frame, as if nothing had happened.

He walked to the window, looking down at the steel torrent gathering at the port, his face expressionless.

A direct assault on the mountain is destined to be a bloody war of attrition, attracting the attention of Arasaka, military technology, and all onlookers.

This was exactly the perfect smokescreen he needed. Under the cover of chaos and bloodshed, his trusted confidants would carry out the real mission—a goal that would determine whether his fifty years of forbearance would finally be achieved.

He didn't care how many people died on the main battlefield, nor did he care whether Arasaka would be severely weakened in this war.

He even hoped for that outcome.

Only through sufficient destruction can enough space be cleared for the birth of a new world.

"Let them collide and destroy as they please..." Lai Xuan murmured to himself, "When you are both exhausted and weakened, that will be the time for me to reap the rewards."

Outside the window, Arasaka's war machine had completed its initial assembly. The massive armored formations resembled steel behemoths poised to unleash their power, their cannons all pointing towards the abandoned town.

The roar of the air force's engines sounded like rolling thunderclouds, foreshadowing the approaching storm.

(End of this chapter)