The expeditionary force began to dominate Southeast Asia by recruiting defeated soldiers

"Searching - Found, 11 o'clock direction, behind a protruding rock on the hillside."

"Clear".

"boom--!"

A crisp gunshot rang out.

The NTB44 precision rifle, equipped with 7.62x51mm full-power ammunition, accurately hit targets at a distance of 500 meters.

The machine gunner behind the rock was shot in the head, and the machine gun stopped firing.

"Well done!" Xin Lebang roared in the channel, seizing the fleeting opportunity. "All armored vehicles, cover them with fire, and push them back into the cracks in the rocks."

"Thump thump thump thump thump—!"

The M2HB heavy machine guns on the turrets of several M8 armored vehicles roared.

The 12.7mm warhead tore through the air and swept towards the side of the hillside like a splash of water.

The shrub, as thick as a bowl, snapped in two, and the rocks were smashed into pieces, sending dust flying high into the air.

Any figure attempting to raise their head or move would immediately be met with crossfire from at least two heavy machine guns.

The ambushers were completely pinned down behind their cover and were virtually unable to mount an effective counterattack.

"Assault team, vehicles one and two provide cover, team members in vehicles five and six dismount and counter-attack from the low-lying area on the right, driving them out of their firing positions."

The Longteng team members moved with clean and efficient tactics, advancing in groups of three, taking turns providing cover.

The ambushers clearly did not expect to encounter such a professional counterattack.

The royal guard also set aside about thirty of its bravest members, who, like the Dragon Guard members, followed in groups of three or five, shouting as they went.

Their tactical maneuvers were clumsy, and their charging formation was somewhat dense, but their fierce spirit made up for it considerably.

Although the gunfire was chaotic, it created a considerable density of fire, further suppressing the ambush attackers.

As the Dragon Team members drew ever closer, their marksmanship terrifyingly accurate, and then looked at the dark mass of Persian soldiers charging towards them with a roar, one of the ambushers, in despair, pulled out a heavy RPG-43 anti-tank grenade.

He pulled out the safety pin, and the spring-loaded grip popped open.

However, he would need to get within 20 or 30 meters to have any hope of penetrating the armored vehicle.

He had barely sprinted less than ten meters while crouching low.

"Da da da!" A short burst of three shots.

A member of the Dragon Assault Team's folding submachine gun spat fire.

Several bursts of blood erupted from the attacker's chest as he fell silently to the ground. The activated anti-tank grenade slipped from his grasp, rolled away, and exploded on the spot with a "boom," shattering his own body and extinguishing the last hope of his nearby comrades.

-----

Inside a secluded observation post in a mountain ravine, the leader of the attackers, a burly man with a scar on his face, was holding binoculars with a slightly trembling hand.

Behind the rock next to him, a man dressed in local clothing but whose Eastern European features were still clearly visible, was crouching, his face also ashen.

"Damn it! This...this isn't right!" The scarred leader exclaimed incredulously. "The intelligence said those royal guards are all pampered soldiers. They're useless cowards who can only show off in the city."

Those Southeast Asians…aren’t they just mercenaries who only care about money? How…how are they so powerful?!

Through the telescope, he saw a one-sided suppression.

His most capable machine gunners were instantly wiped out by bullets that seemed to come from nowhere.

Those seemingly imposing wheeled armored vehicles had terrifyingly powerful heavy machine gun fire, so much so that his men couldn't even lift their heads.

The car body was so thick that a rifle bullet would just leave a white dot. Even the princess's car, which looked like just a sedan, was still standing firm despite its windows being almost shattered.

What's even more terrifying are those people from Southeast Asia.

Their tactical maneuvers were frighteningly precise, and their weapons didn't even need to be cocked, far superior to the secondhand Mosin-Nagants they were carrying.

The Persian guards, who should have collapsed at the first touch, were now roaring and charging forward.

Although the formation was a mess, the momentum was incredible...

"Their training...equipment..." The Russian advisor put down his binoculars, "completely exceeded expectations."

Those were not ordinary mercenaries or the security company he claimed to be from.

Their reaction speed, shooting accuracy, vehicle protection, and firepower configuration... are at least at the level of the most elite field troops in Southeast Asia.

We seriously misjudged the situation.

"The anti-tank grenades you gave us were useless. Bashar died as soon as he charged out. Those things have too short a range!"

The scarred leader looked at the smoke rising from the distant battlefield, belonging to his fierce men, feeling both heartache and fear.

"Withdraw." The Russian advisor squeezed out the order decisively through gritted teeth, even though it made him feel ashamed. "Immediately disperse and retreat, proceed into the mountains according to the backup plan. Continuing to fight will only result in the annihilation of the entire army."

"it is good"

The remaining attackers on the hillside, already terrified, were relieved to hear the news and abandoned their heavy weapons, which were inconvenient to carry. Using the terrain as cover, they scrambled and crawled away into the dense forest behind them.

The Dragon Assault Team and the Persian Guard successfully occupied the hillside, finding only a few corpses that could not be dragged away and abandoned weapons.

"Cease the pursuit! Clear the battlefield and assess the casualties!" Xin Lebang's voice rang out.

The pursuit in the mountains was too risky; his primary task was to ensure the princess's absolute safety.

Dozens of attackers' bodies and several weapons were left on the hillside.

The princess sat in the carriage, looking at Xin Lebang who was walking quickly towards her, her gaze sweeping over his face, which was covered in dust and a trace of gunpowder.

"Advisor Xin, thank you and your team. And thank you to our brave Persian lads."

“You have proven that whether it is friends from Southeast Asia or guards from Persia, they are all trustworthy in critical moments.”

Xin Lebang stood at attention: "Your Highness's safety is our greatest success. Three of our men sustained minor injuries, while seven of your guards were injured, one of whom was seriously injured but has been treated urgently. None of them are in life-threatening condition."

On the other side, Yuan Pan was already leading two people to quickly and professionally inspect the battlefield.

He wore gloves and examined the captured weapons expressionlessly.

"Mosin-Nagant 1891/30 rifle, Izhevsk Arms Factory, produced in 43."

"DP-28 light machine gun, Tula Armory."

"RPG-43 anti-tank grenades, all Russian weapons. These guys are too lazy to even grind off the inscriptions on the weapons. They're really sloppy."

All the surface evidence clearly points to that large neighboring country to the north.

Upon learning this, Xin Lebang nodded, said nothing more, and simply gave the order:

"Collect key evidence, and bury the bodies on the spot. Reorganize the convoy, and gather the wounded in the vehicles at the back. After a short rest, we will continue our journey."

-----

Meanwhile, on the other side of the ocean in the United States, Chen Zhenchuan arrived at the World Bank headquarters.

Winters in DC are cold, but the World Bank headquarters is warm.

The polished marble floor reflected the hurried figures of people.

Chen Zhenchuan stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window of the conference room on the twelfth floor, overlooking the gradually awakening city.

Behind him, several young assistants from the Treasury and the central bank were making a final check on the documents; the soft rustling of pages and whispers were the last calibrations before the battle.

"Manager, Director Crawford has arrived," the secretary whispered.