Chapter 1285 Participating in an Unfamiliar Military Parade
When the formation of the PHL-191 370mm long-range multiple rocket launcher appeared, even seasoned generals from various theater commands couldn't help but gasp in surprise.
The massive 8x8 heavy-duty off-road chassis carries two huge modular launch boxes, each containing four robust 370mm rockets.
Although it was in a marching state, the menacing launch container and the "War God" system logo on the vehicle body revealed the terrifying power of its coverage firepower.
In response, the commentator proudly announced: "The PHL-191 long-range rocket launcher boasts a long range, high accuracy, and powerful firepower, making it a formidable weapon for our military to conduct long-range fire coverage and precision strikes!"
Various self-propelled artillery, assault guns, anti-aircraft guns, engineering repair vehicles, logistics support vehicles... the steel torrent rolls forward, seemingly endless.
Every piece of equipment was brand new and gleaming, or bore the marks of actual combat in appropriate places, showing that this was not just a simple military parade, but a real military force that had just undergone the test of fire and maintained an extremely high state of combat readiness!
On the reviewing stand, the astonishment on the faces of the leaders of the various war zones became increasingly apparent.
Although they had been to the Central Plains Theater before and seen the enemy's troops, those were mostly fleeting glimpses or during non-combat situations.
Today, these pieces of equipment, in such a neat and imposing formation, "rolled" into view to the accompaniment of rousing music. The advanced nature of the equipment and the terrifying industrial capacity and logistical support capabilities it represents were immediately apparent, with an impact far exceeding expectations.
What made them even more uneasy was the sense of disconnect between the uniforms and individual equipment of the infantry formations and the tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, and rocket launchers before them...
Almost none of them were the "traditional" or "mainstream" models of Zhou Bang's army that they were familiar with before the apocalypse!
Whether it's the 99A, 04A, Hongqi-19, or PHL-191, although the technical lineage can be seen, the specific model, details, and even the painting style all exude a feeling of "both familiar and unfamiliar," as if they come from a parallel world that is slightly different from what they know.
This intense sense of unfamiliarity gave them the illusion, amidst their shock, that they were participating in a military parade of another unfamiliar and powerful country.
Just as this complex emotion reached its peak, the drumbeats of the live music became heavier and slower, like the heartbeat of a giant beast.
The grand finale has arrived.
The first thing that catches the eye is the enormous, breathtakingly large multi-axle special transport chassis.
It was like a moving steel mountain, slowly rolling over the road, and even the earth seemed to groan under its weight.
As it drove completely out of the dust, the viewing area fell into a deathly silence, which was then followed by an uncontrollable uproar filled with astonishment and bewilderment!
The robust launch tube, covered in camouflage canvas yet still revealing its astonishing length and diameter, was firmly fixed to a specially designed erector, like a sleeping anchor.
The entire vehicle exudes an ultimate, soul-chilling power, a power born purely for destruction!
The commentator's voice, filled with unparalleled solemnity and pride, even trembling slightly, clearly proclaimed its name through the loudspeakers that resounded throughout the stadium:
"Now passing by is—the Dongfeng-41 intercontinental ballistic missile launcher formation!"
"An intercontinental ballistic missile?!"
These words were like a thunderclap, exploding in the minds of everyone who heard them!
For most ordinary citizens, they may not understand the specific parameters, but they certainly understand the meaning behind the term "intercontinental ballistic missile"—
A nation's most advanced strategic deterrent force, the ultimate weapon capable of traversing continents and destroying everything, is a deeply ingrained understanding!
"My God... this is... the legendary missile?"
"It's so big... how far can it be shot?"
"Our war zone has this?! How come I didn't know about it?!"
"How do you know? You know you should be sitting up there!"
……
Incredulous gasps echoed softly from every corner of the viewing area.
People craned their necks, opened their mouths wide, and stared with wide eyes, trying to imprint this unimaginably magnificent scene deep into their minds.
Chen Shitou felt a wave of dizziness. He gripped the back of the seat in front of him tightly and watched the steel behemoth slowly drive by. The last trace of unrealistic "comparison" he once had vanished completely.
This is beyond the scope of human power; it is a national treasure! It is the trump card for the survival of civilization!
Unlike the shock and pride of the general public, the leaders from the three major war zones of the East, West and South on the reviewing stand had changed their expressions from astonishment to undisguised horror and confusion!
Dongfeng-41?
They had never heard of this name before!
Before the end of the world, Zhou Bang's most advanced land-based intercontinental ballistic missiles were the Shenjian-30, Shenjian-6B, and the rumored Shenjian-30B (A).
Dongfeng-41? This model doesn't exist in their memories or intelligence! It's like it appeared out of thin air!
And it's not just the Dongfeng-41!
Looking back at the entire parade, from individual soldier equipment to main battle tanks, from air defense systems to long-range rocket artillery, and now to the intercontinental ballistic missile as the grand finale…
Almost all the equipment on display differed significantly from the Zhou army's equipment sequence as they knew it before the apocalypse. They were either unknown models or "modified" versions with performance far exceeding their knowledge!
The impact of this comprehensive and systematic "unknown" and "transcendence" is far more alarming than seeing one or two advanced weapons.
This means that the Central Plains Theater Command possesses an independent and potentially more advanced military technology tree and equipment system!
Considering their near-miraculous rise to power in the apocalypse, their powerful organizational capabilities, and their industrial recovery abilities...
A chilling thought inevitably surfaced in their minds: the true foundation and origins of the Central Plains War Zone, the regime led by Gu Chengyuan, were probably far more complex and mysterious than they had imagined.
They were not attending a simple victory celebration parade, but witnessing firsthand an unknown and powerful force, officially revealing just the tip of its iceberg to the world!
The Dongfeng-41 intercontinental ballistic missile launcher, its massive body slowly rolling past the reviewing stand, the heavy thud of its tracks blending seamlessly with the majestic final movement of the "March of the Steel Torrent," as if proclaiming to this land and to all witnesses:
A new, immeasurably powerful defender of order has emerged.
Gu Chengyuan sat upright in the main seat, his gaze calmly following the steel behemoth carrying ultimate deterrence as it drove away, a faint smile playing on his lips.
That's exactly the effect he wanted—not just to show off his muscles, but also to instill awe and leave a mystery.
In this post-apocalyptic wasteland, strength is the cornerstone of survival, while a touch of mystery and the unknown can often become the most effective source of deterrence and cohesion.
