I Have A Martial Dao World

For a long time, the Divine Land had always regarded Izumo as a tiny, bullet-sized nation.

In fact, when looked at in the context of the whole world, it was by no means small. Its land area was comparable to that of one of those Western powerhouses, roughly equivalent to two or three of Divine Land's coastal provinces.

Under the god-like governance of Xu Fu, the Thunder Tribulation Heavenly Monarch, the country achieved a leapfrog development. After full industrialization, it thrived economically by plundering resources from abroad.

Its capital—Cherry Capital, was definitely one of the most bustling cities in the world. Skyscrapers dotted the horizon. The luxury of the upper class goes without saying, and even the ordinary folk lived quite well.

The streets were filled with all kinds of food and service stores, with taxis honking impatiently everywhere. Commoners had spare time to play chess, watch kabuki, and even go to the movies.

However, all of this came to an abrupt collapse starting from last year.

The god-like Emperor actually lost to the strongest of the Yi Dynasty, perishing on Tsushima Island!

When the news reached the homeland, countless citizens couldn't believe it. After repeatedly confirming its truth, there was a national outpouring of grief and cries, soon followed by clamors for revenge!

Unexpectedly, the Yi Dynasty launched a direct assault, their armies invaded the homeland, unstoppable as a broken bamboo!

The national strength was severely depleted, and the good days for the people of Izumo were over almost instantly.

First, taxis slowly disappeared from the streets, and soon enough, even the oil and fish needed to make tempura were hard to come by.

After that, things only worsened. Since last December, Izumo implemented a "mandatory rationing system". All resources were distributed centrally, including clothes, rice, even matches!

Despite these measures, there was still an acute shortage of supplies, with a visible famine brewing.

Alongside a series of bad news was the continuous loss of territory. Now even the capital could faintly hear the "boom" of cannon fire.

The only good news was that two "Ninja Masters" had successfully ambushed a Great Grandmaster of the Yi Dynasty, inflicting serious damage on him.

The newspapers and radio broadcasts were full of hype about this victory, but before the people of Izumo could celebrate for long, three Transformative Form Demon Kings came to the enemy's aid!

In this era, a powerhouse capable of supersonic flight was akin to a bug-like existence!

Their wings covered the skies, and their diving attacks tore apart numerous samurai and ninjas.

It was then that the Izumo government began to conscript all males over the age of 14 into the military. The elderly, women, and children all had to undergo military training.

For an honorable death, to perish together without surrender, to fight with all might!

~~~~~~~~~~~

Despite the harsh policies of rationing and nationwide conscription, the people of Izumo still did not collapse. Many were still fantasizing about the empire's former glory, hoping to return to the good life of the past.

Today, the 14-year-old Dong Shilang received the "Warrior Recruitment Order" and was about to head to the battlefield.

His mother helped him adjust the slightly oversized military uniform and handed him a dagger, saying gently,

"This is a deployment that money can't buy. Go happily, and if you're unfortunate enough to be captured, you must commit seppuku."

"Yes, please rest assured, I will not disgrace the family's name!"

Dong Shilang, his face resolute, not even his facial hair fully grown in, accepted his mother's dagger. In his view, dying for one's country was a beautiful thing.

Seeing the "neighborhood association" leader promptly deliver the rationed rice strengthened his resolve to enlist. As the eldest son in the family, he had to take on the responsibility!

And so, Dong Shilang became a second-class soldier in the army.

The first thing he did after enlisting was to join a group of similarly "conscripted civilian soldiers" in digging trenches and setting up defenses.

Now, on the essential road to Cherry Capital, Dong Shilang dug a "cavalry trap" one meter deep and half a meter in diameter with a shovel to hinder the footsteps of the Yi Dynasty's mecha.

Such pits had to be dug in dense numbers to be effective, but after digging just one, Dong Shilang's arms were so tired they had become numb.

It wasn't just him; his entire squad was gasping for air. The young were too young, the old too old. Even those who had experience in hard labor were now too weakened by constant hunger to exert much strength.

Exhausted, many started to complain:

"The Yi Dynasty Army is about to come, can we really hold them back?"

"The rich have fled to the Menes Federation for refuge, leaving us here to die!"

"It would be better to go to the occupied area, get a 'Good Citizen Certificate', and live as a servant rather than die miserably!"

However, there were also those who cursed at them, "Idiots, as citizens of the Izumo Empire, how can you say such things!"

"The Menes Federation will definitely not stand by idly. They will soon send troops!"

...

Just as everyone was getting more and more engaged in their conversation, their direct superior—Sergeant Nagahama—came over.

This officer was filthy from head to toe, emitting a nauseating stench, and his cold gaze was frightening.

The chatter in the room immediately fell silent; even those who were exhausted bit their teeth and continued working.

Without a word, Sergeant Nagahama drew his pistol and blew a new recruit's head off!

Blood and brain matter splattered all over Dong Shilang, who froze on the spot, apparently in shock.

The deceased was also about 15 years old, seemingly close in age to the other.

Sergeant Nagahama screamed, "If anyone dares to slack off again, I'll kill you all!"

After speaking, he picked up the body of the young man and left straight away.

A few old-timers who had kept working even while skiving off whispered, "That boy will probably be made into sukiyaki."

Upon hearing this, the faces of those around turned deathly white! Were they short on supplies... to the point of resorting to cannibalism?!

Dong Shilang only snapped back to reality at this moment, hastily wiping the filth from his face, a sticky mess of red and white.

However, just then, he suddenly stopped his movements because the ground was trembling slightly!

"It's the Yi Dynasty coming for us!"

The vibrations were clearly caused by the resonance of Mecha and Battle Armor as they moved. In an instant, the scene turned into complete chaos as people scrambled in different directions like headless flies.

Amidst the thunderous sounds of gunfire, terrifying silhouettes of Mecha soon appeared in view.

Not to be outdone, the Izumo side dispatched many tanks to meet the challenge.

The tanks were strangely shaped, with tall bodies and two turrets—one on the upper right side of the hull and the other mounted near the right front.

This was the "M3 Grant tank" supported by the Menes Federation.

In the end, the major powers could not sit idly by. At this moment, Mecha and tanks met in battle in Kanagawa Prefecture!

An "M3 Grant tank" targeted a Mecha from the Yi Dynasty at the forefront, both turrets firing simultaneously. Amid the roaring sounds, 75MM and 37MM caliber cannonballs were fired!

But the Mecha seized the moment when the tank fired and suddenly shifted to the side! The two cannonballs, following trajectories that cut through the air, flew futilely past its flank.

Seeing this, the tank commander twisted his expression and screamed, "It's a Spirit Refinement expert! Reverse the tank..."

Alas, it was too late, as the Mecha's Gatling Gun opened fire ferociously!

In the piercing noise reminiscent of a saw cutting through a wall, the depleted uranium penetrator rounds from Blue Star easily shredded the tank's 50mm frontal armor, turning it into a honeycomb before it exploded violently.

...

This Mecha destroyed three enemy tanks in quick succession, achieving a rich battle harvest, but its ammunition was also depleted.

He fell back a step and crouched down, calling out in a familiar voice, "Load ammunition!"

Two equally familiar voices responded from behind, "Coming, coming~"

The one piloting the Mecha was Zhu Beneng, 'Big Brother Zhu' of the "Baihe Gully Trio."

His two younger brothers, dressed in "Mortal Auxiliary Army" uniforms, rushed over with ammunition boxes and expertly reloaded, simultaneously using long-handled brushes to clean the Fire God Cannon barrels.

"Big Brother, are you thirsty? Do you want some water?"

"No need! Stay alert, I'm going back into the fight!"

Zhu Beneng resumed his assault, piloting the Mecha.

At the same time, there were many similar scenes happening elsewhere.

Some with a lower Spirit Refining Stage found that their Mecha had been hit by too many cannonballs and were damaged, and the pilots were furiously cursing loudly.

Cherry Capital was a world-class bustling city, and simply being granted a county in its territory came with endless benefits!

If one could achieve great merit, it would be enough to enable an entire family to make a class leap!

At this moment, every member of the Yi Dynasty side threw themselves into the battle with all their might, vying with each other in fierce, frenzied combat!