Anti-Japanese War: My equipment is infinitely refreshed

At this time, outside the city of Rome, the German 26th Armored Division was on full alert, and the torrent of steel was flashing a cold light in the sun.

Tanks were lined up in an orderly manner, their guns pointed directly at the city of Rome. The friction between their tracks and the ground made a dull sound, as if it was the prelude to an impending war.

The soldiers were dressed in black uniforms, with stern expressions and determined eyes revealing their confidence and fearlessness in the upcoming battle.

Major General Ohlendorf was standing next to a command tank. He was tall and strong, with broad shoulders supporting his straight military uniform. He had neat short hair and sharp and deep eyes.

He raised his head slightly, his eyes passed over the troops in front of him and fell on the magnificent city of Rome in the distance. He couldn't help but said lightly: "It is indeed a magnificent city." His voice was low and magnetic, with the calmness of a veteran in the battlefield.

"Commander, you don't want to rob, do you?" The chief of staff next to him asked in surprise, with a look of doubt on his face.

The chief of staff was of relatively thin build and wore a pair of gold-rimmed glasses, which formed a sharp contrast with the burly figure of Orlendorff.

His eyes revealed his curiosity about his teacher's thoughts. After all, Rome is a city with a profound history and culture. Looting such a city would have immeasurable consequences.

Orlendorf's face darkened instantly, and his already ferocious expression became even more gloomy, as if covered with a layer of frost.

With his brows furrowed and his eyes wide open, he stared at the chief of staff and said, "Do I look like a robber?"

His voice rose a few notches, with obvious displeasure.

"Very similar!" The officers around nodded one after another. Although they were in awe of the division commander, they couldn't help but tell the truth when facing Orlendorf's extremely intimidating appearance.

Orlendorf had a broad face, a pair of bright eyes under thick eyebrows, and firm lips under a high nose bridge. However, his facial lines were tough, and coupled with the cold temperament honed from years of fighting on the battlefield, he did look like a rampant bandit.

"Okay, stop talking nonsense. Send a telegram to His Excellency the Marshal and tell him that our troops have surrounded the city of Rome on three sides." Orlendorf interrupted unhappily. He waved his hand as if to drive away these irrelevant jokes.

He was well aware of the severity of the situation at the moment and that every minute and every second was crucial. He had to report military intelligence to the marshal as soon as possible and wait for further instructions.

"Yes!" A communications soldier quickly ran to the communications equipment and skillfully operated the telegraph machine. His fingers moved rapidly on the keys, transmitting Orlendorff's instructions to distant places in the form of radio waves.

At the rear, an armored command vehicle was parked quietly in a hidden location.

This command vehicle has a sturdy appearance and is covered with various communication antennas and observation equipment, making it look like a mobile combat fortress.

Inside the car, various instruments flashed indicator lights and made slight buzzing sounds.

The communications staff officer hurried in with a telegram. He walked quickly and looked nervous and focused.

"The 26th Armored Division has surrounded the city of Rome and is awaiting your orders." The communications staff officer said loudly. He stood straight and saluted with a standard military salute, his eyes revealing respect for his superiors.

Marshal Catherine sat in the main seat in the command vehicle. After hearing the report from the communications staff, he nodded slightly, but his eyes never left the map in front of him.

"Don't rush to attack. Send a telegram to the enemy in the city. If you don't want to be killed, surrender immediately. We will take over the defense of Rome and even the entire country. Anyone who resists will be killed without mercy." Catherine said in a bad tone. His voice was low and cold, as if it was a judgment from hell. His eyes revealed an unquestionable majesty, as if he had already taken control of the entire battle situation.

"Yes, Your Excellency Marshal." The communications staff saluted again and answered loudly, then turned and walked away quickly to convey the marshal's order.

"Remember to send it to all citizens." Catherine added, frowning slightly, with a thoughtful look in his eyes. He knew the importance of psychological warfare, and by putting pressure on the citizens, he could undermine the enemy's will to resist from within.

"Understood." The communications staff officer responded respectfully and his figure quickly disappeared outside the car.

After the communications officer left, Catherine continued to stare at the map, lost in thought.

On the map, the outline of Rome is clearly visible, and various marks densely mark the city's strategic points.

His fingers slid lightly across the map, his mind constantly thinking over various battle plans.

He was well aware of the importance of Rome. Once it was occupied, it would have a significant impact on the entire war situation. It would not only undermine Italy's will to resist, but also lay a solid foundation for the further advancement of the German army on the European battlefield.

After careful consideration, Catherine believed that the fastest way to achieve the goal was to fully utilize the mobility and powerful firepower of the armored forces, allowing them to quickly capture strategic locations, control key nodes in the city, and disrupt the enemy's defensive deployment.

Then the infantry would enter the battlefield to clean up the remaining enemy forces and consolidate the occupied areas. With the current combat effectiveness of the Italian army and the chaotic command system, it was simply unable to stop the powerful attack of the German army.

"Where are the 157th and 158th Infantry Divisions?" Catherine asked with a frown, a hint of anxiety in her eyes.

He knew that the timely arrival of the infantry division was crucial to consolidating the results of the battle. Only when the infantry division was in place quickly could he ensure that the situation could be quickly stabilized after the occupation of Rome and the enemy's counterattack could be prevented.

"It's about 50 kilometers behind us and we'll probably reach Rome at night." The operations staff officer replied immediately. He stood next to the map and pointed to the location mark of the infantry division on the map.

The operations staff officer was of medium build, thin face, and a shrewd look in his eyes.

He always paid close attention to the movements of various troops and was well aware of the battlefield situation.

"Well, tell them to speed up." Catherine gave the order, her tone unquestionable.

He hoped that the infantry division could overcome all difficulties, rush to the battlefield as soon as possible, and form close coordination with the armored forces.

"Yes!" the operations staff responded, then picked up the communication equipment and conveyed Catherine's order to the infantry division.

At the same time, there was a scene of panic in Rome.

When the news came that the German army was approaching the city, all the senior officials were frightened and panicked.

Inside the government building, officials were running around in a hurry, and documents were scattered all over the floor.

Some people didn't even have time to tidy up their clothes before they hurriedly ran towards the palace.

"It's bad, it's bad, Your Majesty, the German army and their armored divisions have appeared outside the city." A minister crawled to the palace and said in horror.

He was running out of breath, his face was covered with sweat, and his hair was messy. There was a sense of despair and helplessness in his voice, as if the end of the world was approaching. The other nobles also ran in and reported the intelligence they had received to Eli III. Some of them had trembling voices, some were incoherent, and everyone's face was full of fear and worry.

They were well aware of the strength and brutality of the German army. Once the city was captured, Italy would face a huge disaster, and their wealth, status and even lives would be seriously threatened.

Upon hearing that he was surrounded on three sides, Eli III's face turned pale.

He sat on the throne, his body trembling slightly, and a hint of despair in his eyes.

He was wearing a gorgeous royal robe and a crown inlaid with gems, but at this moment, these could not bring him any sense of security. He did not expect the German army to be so fast. In just one day, the German army arrived in Rome like a god. He could not help but sigh: "The armored forces are so terrifying!"

"Your Majesty, the current situation is very dangerous. Why don't we withdraw to other cities immediately and reorganize our troops after the situation stabilizes. I believe that with the help of the allied forces, we will definitely be able to retake the capital." Ciano stood up and said.

Ciano was tall and handsome, but at this moment his face was full of anxiety and fear.

He was originally the son-in-law of Prime Minister Mussolini, and was once Mussolini's most trusted confidant.

However, as the war continued to fail, Italy was defeated on the battlefield. The successive defeats made him lose confidence in Mussolini. For his own interests and future, he took the lead in opposing Mussolini.

As a result, just as he stood on the side of Elie III, Catherine's army arrived at Rome. This sudden change made him dizzy. He knew that his situation was very dangerous. Once Mussolini was rescued, he would be the first to suffer as a traitor.

Therefore, he now only wanted to leave Rome as soon as possible and stay away from this place of trouble.

"The city has been surrounded. How do we retreat? Moreover, you took the lead in overthrowing your father-in-law. Do you think he will let you go?" Elai III said meaningfully, with a hint of disdain and ridicule in his eyes.

He sat on the throne, looking down at Ciano as if he was examining a clown.

Hearing this, Ziano's face turned even paler, his body trembled slightly, and he couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat.

There was a hint of fear and regret in his eyes. After hesitating for a while, he slowly said, "Of course not. Let me go." He was not a fool. He knew that his father-in-law would never let him go easily once he regained power. He was just curious about what Eli III was planning and whether there was any countermeasure that could save the current crisis.

"Your Majesty, what should we do now?" Ciano asked hurriedly, his eyes revealing a trace of anxiety and helplessness. He was eager to get a clear instruction from the king to determine his next course of action.

"What else can we do? Of course we must continue to fight." Elai III gritted his teeth and said firmly. He stood up straight, trying to show the dignity and determination of a king. He knew that he could not give up easily at this time. Once surrendered, Italy would face great shame and disaster, and he, as a king, would become a sinner in history.

"But before that, let's send someone to negotiate and delay time. Also, send someone to contact the allied forces and ask them to send troops to support us." Eli III sighed, his eyes revealing a hint of helplessness and expectation.

He hoped to buy some time through negotiations, waiting for support from the Allied forces, and perhaps there would be a glimmer of hope.

"Ciano, are you willing to be the negotiating envoy?" Eli III added, with a hint of expectation in his eyes. He thought that as an important figure in the past, Ciano might have a certain possibility to negotiate with the German army.

"No, no, no, I can't go. I won't survive if I go." Ciano shook his head like a rattle, determined not to go. His eyes were full of fear. He knew the contradiction between himself and the German army. If he went as a negotiator, it would be tantamount to seeking his own death.

The Germans would probably take revenge on him for his betrayal of Mussolini.

"Hmph, coward." Eli III shook his head, feeling a little upset.

He had never expected that Catherine's army would arrive in Rome so quickly, which put him in an extremely passive position. He couldn't help but wonder when the German army had such strong mobility that it could attack long distances and surround Rome in such a short time.

Unfortunately, no one could answer his question because Catherine showed extraordinary determination and action in order to achieve this rapid raid.

He ordered all gas stations along the way to be requisitioned to provide sufficient fuel for the armored forces.

It was precisely because of the support of this fuel that the 26th Armored Division was able to cross the long distance and reach Rome in such a short time. Otherwise, it would be absolutely impossible to reach Rome at such a fast speed relying only on the limited fuel storage.

Inside the armored command vehicle, time passed by every second.

Catherine remained calm and focused throughout the battle. He kept communicating with the troops, learning the latest situation and making final adjustments and improvements to the battle plan. His eyes revealed a firmness and confidence, as if he had seen the dawn of victory.

"Your Excellency Marshal, an envoy has been sent from the city, wanting to negotiate with us." The intelligence officer walked over and said in the armored command vehicle.

The intelligence staff officer is thin and has sharp eyes. He is always able to obtain important intelligence on the battlefield first.

"Negotiation? No negotiation. Tell them to surrender unconditionally. If they don't surrender in ten minutes, we will attack the city immediately." Catherine smiled contemptuously, and her smile was full of disdain for the enemy.

He did not believe that the enemy in the city would surrender easily, but he still gave them ten minutes as a final ultimatum. In his view, the enemy's resistance was futile, and the German army was strong enough to crush everything.

Soon, ten minutes passed, and the city still showed no sign of surrendering. Catherine was not surprised by this, as he had long expected that the enemy would not surrender easily.

Immediately, he ordered without hesitation: "Attack!" With his order, the German armored forces launched a fierce attack on the city of Rome like a group of ferocious steel beasts.

The roar of the tanks was deafening, flames spewed out of the muzzles, and the shells whizzed towards the walls and fortifications of Rome.

In an instant, the sky above Rome was shrouded in fire and smoke, and explosions rang out one after another.

The Italian soldiers in the city seemed panicked under the fierce attack of the German army, and their resistance seemed weak.

The German infantry followed closely behind the armored forces and quickly rushed towards the city gate.

They held weapons, shouted, and rushed forward like a tide.

The Italian soldiers on the city wall fired desperately, but the German army gradually broke through the Italian defense line with powerful fire suppression and close tactical coordination.

In this fierce battle, the streets of Rome were filled with smoke and dust, people were running everywhere, screaming and crying, and buildings collapsed under the attack of artillery fire, with bricks and stones flying.

The entire city of Rome was engulfed in flames, as if it had turned into a living hell. Catherine stood in the armored command vehicle, calmly directing the battle. (End of this chapter)