In the deliberately chosen complicated terrain, the ZTZ100 main battle tank took the lead. Its fiction-like appearance, impressive size and destructive momentum made it a worthy contender for the king of tanks!
The ZTZ100 picked up speed and increased its lead. During the last biathlon, the Russian T90 Main Battle Tank had become champions with a record of seventy-five minutes and thirty seconds while China came in third with a record of ninety minutes and thirty seconds. However, the Japanese Type 10 Tank wasn’t involved that year. If the Type 10 Tank had participated, China wouldn’t even have stood a chance at a podium finish. Before the current biathlon had begun, people had forecasted that the champion this year would be either Japan or Russia while India would secure the third place. China was not forecasted to obtain any rank. Though, in the present few minutes time, the expected top three countries were unceremoniously left behind ZTZ100 by a distance of one kilometre. The shocking turn of events felt like a slap to everyone in attendance!
The ZTZ100 was invincible, leaving no chance for the other participants.
Unfortunately, the general of the Chinese tank corps was busy offending everyone else.
“Hahaha…” Huang He howled. He had an arm on his waist while he pointing at the zooming ZTZ100 with a finger. His tone was something akin to mockery. “Can you see that! Look at it! This is China’s tank! Remember, this is a new generation main battle tank made entirely by a Chinese company, the Thunder Horse Organization! Those who had accused us of using Ukrainian technology, I’d like to ask you something. Could the Ukrainian army even hope to achieve something like this?” He paused and uttered the next words in a louder volume. “Forget about Asia, even America and Germany can’t produce a tank like this!”
America and Germany were both prominent existences in the military industry, even Russia had found it difficult to get close to their level. In the case of tanks, the American M1A3 was referred to as the future king of land warfare, the Leopard 2 Tank too had received countless acknowledgements. The tanks made by Japan, India and Russia were nothing compared to the American and German tanks. But now, a Chinese general had the audacity to comment on their incompetence in the face of Japanese, Indian and Russian high-profile officials and military figures.
Though Huang He had barked out his insults in Chinese, his words were speedily translated into different languages for the ears of the other officials and soldiers. It didn’t take long for someone to stand up and argue.
“General Huang, your ZTZ100 main battle tank has only shown its ability to run fast. That certainly isn’t a good measure to determine it as the world’s most advanced tank. Don’t even try to compare yourselves to the Americans and Germans. We all know that their tanks are the best and there’s practical proof to support the statement. What acknowledgements have your ZTZ100 gotten? It hasn’t even been employed in real battle yet,” jeered a Japanese soldier.
Without missing a beat, his words were translated for Huang He’s ears. Huang He responded, “Didn’t you all mention that a tank that runs slow is nothing but a pile of metal junk and an easy target? You’re obviously playing double standards.”
The Japanese soldier was rendered speechless. The Chinese general had used the words of his men against him.
The Indian officials had nothing to say. Fearfully, their tank drivers would need to use their binoculars to even catch where the ZTZ100 was ahead.
Hattori Mei approached Huang He, lips curled into a charming smile. “General Huang, I only saw Xia Lei enter the ZTZ100. Is he driving it alone?”
Huang He studied her cautiously. “Why do you want to know?”
Hattori Mei replied courteously, “Please do not misunderstand me, General Huang. I’m just curious if Xia Lei is driving the ZTZ100 solo. We’re good friends and I’m very proud of him.”
“You’re just trying to gauge ZTZ100’s levels of automation, aren’t you?” Huang He huffed a laugh. “But we’ve got nothing to hide. ZTZ100’s automation level is up to ninety per cent. Driving this tank solo in battle is well within reason.”
Huang He’s words were once again translated.
Everyone seated on the observation platform gaped.
What could an automation level of ninety per cent suggest? It indicated that the existence of the ZTZ100 main battle tank was akin to that of a military robot! If this was real, the Japanese, India, Russian and even America’s most advanced M1A3 would pale in comparison!
After a short moment of silence, a Russian official spoke up. “General Huang, I’ve got to admit that the ZTZ100’s automation levels and speed are highly impressive. However, such an impressive tank should show the same performance in its firepower. How is the ZTZ100 like in this aspect?”
“Hehehe…” Huang He grinned. “The ZTZ100 uses the 150-mm smoothbore, which is currently the largest calibre tank gun. The range is much longer than M1A3. As for its accuracy, there’s no need to question the accuracy of all guns produced by Thunder Horse Organization.”
Thunder Horse Organization had the best intelligent lathe in the world. It was the epitome of precision.
“Haha.” The Russian official who asked laughed dryly. “I hope the ZTZ100 will be able to show something great in the second phase of the competition.”
Huang He decided to ignore him.
No one here was willing to embrace the possibility of a stronger China. The Chinese nation had ruled Asia for thousands of years but faced its downfall in the late Qing dynasty. What followed after was plenty of suppression and bullying. Now that they have accumulated enough momentum to take off, China shall once again be the king of Asia!
Chatters and discussions ensued about on the observation platform.
“Since when was China able to make a tank like that? How is it possible?”
“Xia Lei. Xia Lei’s Thunder Horse Organization. That kid and his military factory shouldn’t exist on this planet!”
“I can’t picture this. A tank like this would complete the Chinese military. How else are the other Asian countries going to challenge them for land warfare?!”
“Now that they’ve made it and brought it here for the biathlon, they’re certainly going to switch their tanks soon. Who wouldn’t want such an amazing tank?”
“What is the Thunder Horse Organization trying to achieve? They made the XL2500 sniper rifle, gust assault rifle and the Hell-bound One Soldier Cannon. Those are all admittedly excellent weapons. They took the leap and created the Sweeper infantry fighting vehicle and now the ZTZ100 main battle tank. At this rate, anyone who fights China is basically courting death.”
“If the Americans find out about the ZTZ100, they’d definitely devise something against China. They’d try to suppress China’s funds and military affairs. But Thunder Horse is pulling the gap further with their rapid development. The moment America loses its control over China’s military affairs, the world’s power balance would see a great change.”
Discussions of that sort appeared among different groups of officials.
Huang He’s heart soared with pride.
While the crowd busied themselves with debates, Hattori Mei had snuck to an isolated corner out of sight. There, she made a call. “It’s me, Beryl… Madam Folsom, the situation is bad. My initial deduction tells me that the ZTZ100’s overall performance has surpassed the M1A3. The gap isn’t small, the gap is… terrifyingly huge…”
On the terrain, the ZTZ100 main battle tank continued to make wonders. The man could no longer make out the tanks behind him, the only visible was the aerial helicopter filming the competition. Without its opponents, the king of tanks seemed awfully lonely at the top.
Forty minutes later, the ZTZ100 completed the entirety of the course and entered the waiting zone for the second phase.
The previous champion, the Russian T90, had used seventy-five minutes and thirteen seconds while the ZTZ100 had only used an astonishing forty minutes and one second. That odd second was even a slight delay caused by Xia Lei’s urge to scratch his itch.
Doot… Doot… Doot…
As he waited for the other tanks, the satellite phone rang.
Xia Lei answered it. “It’s me. Speak.”
“Boss, I found her.” Sa’im’s voice rang through.
Xia Lei’s pulse hitched. “How is she?”
“She’s…” Sa’im paused. “She’s terrifying.”
Initially, Xia Lei was worried about Zhu Xuanyue but Sa’im’s comments had reassured him. “Do not go near her. I repeat, do not try to approach her. If she notices you and threatens your safety, mention my name.”
“How the fuck would I be able to get close to her?” Sa’im laughed bitterly. “I’m calling you to bring you some bad news. I lost her. The man I sent to tail her was found sleeping by the road. When I found him, he remembered nothing. He couldn’t even remember who he was. It was horrifying.”
Xia Lei instructed, “There’s no need to follow her anymore. Come back.”
“But…”
“It’s decided. I don’t want you getting hurt.” Xia Lei was firm with his decision.
“Alright, I’ll tell you more when I get back.” Sa’im hung up.
Zhu Xuanyue’s face began to take form in Xia Lei’s brain. She was smiling at him, innocence pouring out of the curl of her lips but in a split second, she turned into a man-eating demon.
It took another half an hour for the other tanks to complete the course. Their arrival soon signalled the start of the second phase. The new king of the tanks was already losing its patience at the latter half of the competition.
The judges and spectators too had moved to the venue of the second phase.
The second phase was a battle simulation.
While the contestants busied themselves with preparation tasks like maintenance and refill, Xia Lei climbed out of the hatch leisurely and stretched his waist. His gaze abruptly landed on the side of a Type 10 tank. There was a Caucasian face amongst the Japanese ones. Curiously, he wondered, “Had the Japanese Self-Defence troop started to recruit Caucasian soldiers? Or is this guy an American tank operator stationed in Japan?”
Huang He came towards him. The older man’s voice reached him before his form. “Haha. Comrade Xia Lei, excellent job!”
Xia Lei averted his gaze. The man beamed and replied, “General Huang, you should really consider making bulk orders. I’ll gladly produce tanks for you!”
Huang He narrowed his eyes. “What kind of bullshit are you yapping about? If the authorities aren’t going to make their orders, I’m going to fight them!”
Xia Lei chortled. Frankly, after getting rid of Yu Shanhe, he essentially had no obstacles left in the country.
Huang He uttered, “Comrade Xia Lei, the second phase allows the involvement of multiple tanks but I decided to not have the Type 99 involved here. This is a great platform for you to showcase your ZTZ100. Mess them up real well, show them what you’re capable of!”
“Hehe, of course!” Xia Lei beamed.
“You still don’t need any assistance?”
“Nope, I can handle this myself.” Xia Lei reassured.
On the observation platform, Hattori Mei stared at Xia Lei’s form intently with an imperceptible smile on her lips.