>China 5 "Scorched Earth"<

Guide to China Mission 5: Scorched Earth in Command & Conquer: Generals. Learn how to destroy GLA outposts and their main base with Overlords, Nuke Cannons, and Carpet Bombers.

Alright, let's dive into China Mission 5, "Scorched Earth"! This one takes place in Balykchy, Kyrgyzstan, and it's definitely on the tougher side, but super fun. Your main goals here are to wipe out the GLA outposts scattered around and then take down their main base. You'll also get your hands on some awesome new units like the Overlord Tank and the Nuke Cannon, plus the super handy Carpet Bomber!

When you get into the General's selection screen, make sure to pick out the Nuke Cannon, Artillery Barrage, and Cluster Mines. Your starting base is pretty decent but it's missing a Barracks and a War Factory, so get those built ASAP. You'll also want a Propaganda Centre. Your initial defenses, along with the instant Carpet Bomber support from your Air Field, should handle the weak GLA attacks for now, though watch out for those pesky Rocket Buggies. Your starting combat units are just a couple of Dragon Tanks and Troop Crawlers, so build some Bunkers with Tank Hunters to deal with any incoming armor.

Now, let's talk about your main force. Start churning out some Overlord Tanks and get them upgraded with either Gattling Cannons or Speaker Towers. The Gattling Cannon upgrade is great for dealing with infantry and detecting Demo Traps, especially when paired with your Troop Crawlers. For now, your first target should be the nearest GLA camp located northeast of your base. Once that's cleared, push into the town square and then secure the supply dock. There's another camp north of there you'll want to take out. Grab a Dozer and build a Supply Center in the town square to keep your economy humming.

After that, it's time to move onto the railway tracks. Use your Overlords and Troop Crawlers to scout ahead and clear out any Demo Traps you find before moving in. Assault those nearby camps along the tracks. Keep an eye out for Tech Structures in the southeast corner of the map – capturing those will give you a nice advantage. Once all the scattered camps are dealt with, it's time to gather a strong enough force to assault the main GLA Base. It's heavily defended, but the good news is they won't be able to rebuild their defenses once you start hammering them.

Pro Tip: Always, and I mean ALWAYS, use the Carpet Bomber whenever it's available! It's fantastic for quickly clearing out enemy structures, units, and even those nasty Demo Traps. While aircraft can be useful, they can get expensive fast, so use them wisely. Try to avoid the central-north part of the city; it's a death trap with tons of defenses and garrisoned buildings. For those garrisoned structures, your Dragon Tanks are perfect for flushing them out. Good luck out there!