Chapter 119: A Main Combat Division Couldn't Even Cross a Small River?

He insisted on having the Japanese infantry cross the river, even when faced with what seemed an insurmountable obstacle.

The Japanese forces were vastly outnumbered in light and heavy machine guns and mortars compared to the 19th Division, making the battle excruciatingly difficult.

They threw themselves into suppressing the 19th Division’s firepower, striving to protect their infantry as they attempted the crossing.

Yet, no matter how fiercely they attacked, they could not break through the dense network of fire laid down by the Chengyun Army.

General Koyama witnessed all of this firsthand on the front lines. His expression shifted from resolute to grave, his eyes reflecting deep worry and reluctant frustration.

“Charge with me, warriors of the Dynasty!”

“Offer your lives to His Majesty Tianhuang!”

Mindless shouts echoed across the battlefield. The Japanese soldiers quickened their assault amid the rousing slogans.

Their eyes burned with the flame of battle, fully indoctrinated, fearless even under the 19th Division’s concentrated gunfire and artillery.

They charged forward, flags held high, faces smeared with blood and sweat, undaunted by death.

But the brutal reality of war soon revealed itself.

Under the fierce fire of the 19th Division, the Japanese tactic of massed charges only sped up their own slaughter.

The soldiers of the 19th Division, highly professional, concentrated all their firepower to launch a fierce counterattack on the Japanese.

The battlefield was filled with the screams of the fallen; one after another, Japanese soldiers collapsed, their bodies drifting slowly downstream. The riverbanks quickly became a dam of flesh and blood, the water turning crimson. This sight pierced General Koyama’s heart deeply.

Seeing the attack falter, his face darkened, eyes filled with shock and disappointment.

He had expected that with the Japanese army’s excellent military training and indomitable courage, breaking through the 19th Division’s line would be easy. The reality was far more daunting.

His face was etched with thought, the fire in his eyes seeking any possible breakthrough.

“Brigade Commander, the Chengyun Army’s firepower is too strong. We cannot suppress it. What should we do next?”

The infantry regiment commander, drenched in blood, reported solemnly to Major General Yamada.

Amid the tense battle, Yamada’s face was especially grim. A flicker of helplessness and determination crossed his gaze. After a deep breath, he replied helplessly, “Don’t ask such foolish questions. Relay the order to continue the attack!”

His voice was calm but carried an unyielding resolve.

“Deploy all reserves. I don’t believe their ammunition supply is infinite!”

He firmly believed that through relentless assault, there was always a glimmer of hope for a breakthrough.

“Inform the frontline commanders to break through the Chengyun Army’s defenses at all costs. If our artillery units are completely wiped out, the Chengyun Army will unleash unilateral firepower on us, making our situation even more dire!”

As the Ninth Brigade threw everything into the attack, General Koyama learned of the frontline conditions. His expression worsened, brow furrowing, facial muscles taut with exhaustion.

He could not help but ask in a low voice, “How did these damned New Dynasty soldiers acquire so much funding for weapons?”

His tone was a mixture of confusion and anger: “Equipped with such a number of automatic weapons and artillery—if they defeat us, it will be a dishonorable victory, utterly contrary to the spirit of Bushido.”

His heart was filled with frustration and defeat. Watching his soldiers fall one by one, a flash of pain and struggle crossed General Koyama’s eyes.

In his deep gaze, one could see his profound reflection on the current situation.

He had always taken pride in his army’s unparalleled combat capability and excellent physical conditioning.

Yet, facing the Seventh Front Army led by Jiang Bailin, which compensated for its shortcomings with superior equipment and overwhelming artillery, he felt an unprecedented challenge.

In certain battlefield conditions, they could even suppress the Japanese unilaterally—a reality difficult for General Koyama to accept.

Typically, as one of Yashu’s strong dynasties, the Japanese army’s equipment should not be inferior to any opponent.

However, fully aware of the severe resource scarcity and economic difficulties that constrained Japanese military spending, General Koyama was filled with a sense of defeat.

He understood that despite recognizing the importance of automatic weapons, due to various limitations, the Japanese still failed to equip themselves adequately with such arms by the war’s end. This left him feeling powerless and anxious.

“Division Commander, what should we do now? Should we consider having the 21st Brigade advance early?” Colonel Ninomiya, chief of staff of the Fifth Division, inquired.

“If we don’t change our attack direction promptly, this operation may end in complete failure.”

Faced with Colonel Ninomiya’s suggestion, General Koyama’s expression grew complicated.

He knew the importance of this attack, but also the immense challenges facing the 21st Brigade.

“Can the 21st Brigade alone break through the enemy’s defenses?”

His voice was low and heavy with deep concern. “Don’t forget the enemy has strong forces deployed on the southern bank of the Sha River—at least 18,000 soldiers!”

After a moment’s internal struggle, a bitter expression crossed General Koyama’s face as he finally made his decision.

“Send a telegram immediately to headquarters. Let them make a decision based on the current situation.”

His voice was firm, though tinged with helplessness and gravity.

Colonel Ninomiya sighed slightly, his eyes filled with complex emotion: “Yes, Division Commander. I’ll send the telegram right away.”

Meanwhile, in the Japanese General Headquarters, General Ando Ze read the telegram, his face growing extremely dark. His brows knitted tightly, eyes flashing with anger and dissatisfaction.

He tore the telegram in two with force, expressing his profound disappointment in the Fifth Division’s performance.

“What on earth is wrong with the Fifth Infantry Division?”

His voice was icy, each word burning with fury.

“A main division, fighting for so long, yet unable to cross a mere small river!”

His words brimmed with confusion and indignation, emotions like a raging fire consuming his patience.

“Has the negative impact of the last infantry brigade’s total annihilation still not faded?”

He continued to question, each query striking like a heavy hammer upon everyone present.

“It is a disgrace to the dynasty’s army!”

Ando’s anger nearly froze the air. Within his heart was not only rage but also deep worry over the potential derailment of future strategic plans.

The decision to move General Headquarters from Gaoli to Guanchengyun was carefully considered, intended to make the location a pivotal point for the main assault on Chengyun.

Yet, confronted with the Fifth Division’s series of setbacks, he was overcome by a sense of absurdity.