Counterfeit Hero

"Fatty, go get the backdoor code for their electronic interference," the little kid shouted.

Fatty froze for a moment and immediately shouted back, "Master Fatty has always done earth-shattering, ghost-crying, and god-howling big things, and you bother me with this kind of minor stuff? Without SkyNet, I can still wipe them out! Shut your mouth, and if you come up with another lousy idea, I'll beat you to death!"

"Coward." Seeing Fatty a bit agitated, the little kid muttered under his breath and closed his mouth, knowing that this righteous Fatty spoke boldly, but when it came to matters of life and death, safety always came first.

"Damn, it's the fourth designation!" As another squad of Mechas passed by, the post-shouting Fatty instinctively shrank his neck and shivered involuntarily, "Is the rear position organized? If the group of four armored divisions breaks through, we're screwed."

"It's almost done." The little kid pulled up the SkyNet image, pointing to the rear map and said, "Almost all armored forces have concentrated here, with three temporary positions, all blasted out with high-explosive rounds."

Tian Xingjian's heart calmed slightly, for this was not a commando squad operation nor a behind-the-enemy-lines raid by a couple of groups, but the command of six divisions to defend against the cyclical attacks of nearly twenty enemy divisions. For the time he's rolled on the battlefield, this was his first genuine commanding a battle.

Fatty hated such battles. If he were the chief commander of the Southeast Expeditionary Army, there would be no such battle. If he were a platoon leader, a battalion commander, he could lead his team to perform an invincible whimsical maneuver, jumping around Long Line Ridge!

However, he was precisely shouldering the responsibility of guarding the rear for the eastward offensive, holding the lives of all officers and men of four infantry divisions and two armored divisions! The days when he could run freely outside New Rome were gone forever.

In this kind of battle, where conditions were dead set, no one could do anything. Especially when the enemy didn't split, solid in their approach, aside from defense, using any alternative tactics would bring disastrous consequences.

The entire Long Line Ridge was battered by artillery, with smoke lingering and scattered intertwining forces and positions all around. Reinhardt's target was clear: before advancing north to Prisk, he would concentrate his forces to eliminate the Long Line Ridge defenders behind him.

No commander would allow four fully mechanized infantry divisions and two armored divisions behind his back! Not mentioning the threat these divisions pose to logistics pathways, merely overseeing them would require twice the enemy's forces. Then when the battle line extends to Prisk and turns east, how much force will be left to face ten elite armor divisions and nearly twenty mechanized infantry divisions?

Fatty knew, on the surface, it seemed he could take his forces and jump out to maneuver with Reinhardt in a broader region. But in reality, it was simply impossible, at least under the current circumstances.

Firstly, besides relying on roads, the four infantry divisions essentially lacked sufficient mobility. Leaving trenches, abandoning support from Prisk's missile base, and departing from mutual support with Tanville's Northern Battle Zone not only exposed the above places to the enemy but also put themselves at risk of being pursued and exterminated.

Countless simulations showed, once the Reinhardt Group came out in full force and forced the Freedom Front and the Nineteen Division out of Long Line Ridge, they would establish local blocking positions and split troops to directly pounce on Jiacuo! Moreover, Fatty understood that behind Reinhardt, there was an even stronger force that had yet to appear!

The Desic Empire, on this planet, still had at least three armored divisions with troops, including the old rival Hunter Corps! As the Western Alliance's reserve, their absence was more terrifying than their presence! Fatty didn't know when this deadly snake would deliver a strike.

It might be at the most critical moment of positional defense, or perhaps while jumping out of Long Line Ridge, or maybe when Fiscella finally took action, who knows? Besides, would the fleet stationed at Biekelan by Desic be so honest? Would they allow the Southeast Expeditionary Army's Space Carrier to wildly bombard outside Mezrich?

"Three days, if Douglas says it needs three days, it means Reinhardt should only have less than five days of combat time. Once they exceed the time limit, even if they reach Jiacuo, they'll lose the opportunity for a frontal and rear flank attack, possibly even being eaten by Feiyang Armored Division and Independent Army. What exactly is the Western Alliance planning?"

"Fatty, look quickly!" The little kid excitedly howled nearby.

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No one dared to report the battlefield noises to Reinhardt, but this didn't mean Reinhardt was unaware.

When he first heard it, Reinhardt merely smiled. Such provocation wasn't even worth mentioning to an excellent Commander. He always distinguished his position, whether a distinguished Admiral or a political coup participant, he never mixed them. And now, his role was a commander, not a Level 9 Mecha Warrior.

Entangling with such sordid trash didn't fit a noble's identity. Although Reinhardt admitted feeling a bit angry hearing those filthy curses, it wasn't worth noticing. He believed that when his forces crushed the enemy's defense line thoroughly like a collapsible object, those who cursed would naturally shut up.

Nonetheless, as time went by, the dual army's offensive on Long Line Ridge in this small hill region didn't progress as imagined. The Mythical Army along with eight full armored divisions and thirteen infantry divisions were completely blocked along Road No.2 resource line. Faced with the close Long Line Ridge, not an inch advanced.

The opponent's defense contracted more tightly, the defense intensity stronger. Under his command, two armored divisions' consecutive group attacks were staunchly repelled. Post-battle reports showed the Leray Armored Division faced by the two assault armored divisions, their combat ability entirely unexpected.

This Leray Armored Division not only defended seamlessly but often carried out large-scale, multi-layer insertions and counterattacks as company units, shattering several of their groups amidst such penetrations, severing them from coordinated assault groups, resulting in heavy losses.

Further infuriating Reinhardt was the vehicle shouting to challenge his [Magic Beast] growing increasingly audacious. Its shouting had escalated beyond meaningless curses; those exaggerated added comments caused rumors to spread amongst the troops.

Reinhardt discovered he had become a mockery!

Such is the power of slander and rumors; no matter the truth, people will continue discussing these things repeatedly in the future. Even if they believe these are rumors, it won't affect their joy in talking about them!

How could the proud Reinhardt endure this?!

He remained calm as water, continued issuing orders methodically, devising combat plans, yet internally he was incredibly outraged! Particularly knowing fully well who was inside that dilapidated [Magic Beast]! That Fatty, continuously challenged his patience's limit. He deceived him, utilized the Mythical Army, directed the Gazalin coup's course, killed Osullivan, annihilated a full Mythical Mecha Group, kidnapped Bonnie, divulged his secrets, every madness-inducing deed he executed!

Although Reinhardt repeatedly warned himself to stay composed, upon receiving that so-called recording, he couldn't anymore! He locked himself in the temporary Combat Department's Command Room and smashed everything available!

That Fatty was trash, a rogue! His actions and deeds, despicable and malicious beyond belief! Reinhardt finally relinquished his noble demeanor and commander's composure. He vowed to return the humiliation this Fatty inflicted upon him tenfold personally!

After smashing things, Reinhardt immediately ordered four armored divisions to be assembled, using the Mythical Army as a reserve for launching a group offensive on Long Line Ridge Defense Line's No.2 resource road's left section B112-B121. Determined to thoroughly break through the Long Line Ridge defense and conduct large-scale insertions and encirclements to annihilate Long Line Ridge defenders.

Intelligence showed in this region, enemy's front-line defense only comprised two under-strength armored divisions and four infantry divisions. Reinhardt didn't believe his force would fail to breach! Four divisions weren't enough, then send four more, continue until complete annihilation of enemies, capture the thousand-slice Fatty, no end until victory!

Upon issuing orders, Reinhardt, along with three Mythical Army regiment leaders and the guard unit, departed from the frontline command ten kilometers from the frontline; he decided to personally oversee until the complete seizure of Long Line Ridge!

Reinhardt didn't use the command vehicle; he drove [Apollo]. Deep in his heart, he even hoped to encounter the challenge from Fatty. If the opportunity arose, he would publicly prove that in Gazalin, he alone was the top Mecha Warrior!

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Seeking monthly ticket ah. (To be continued, for future developments, please visit www.qidian.com, more chapters available, support the author, support genuine reading!)