Chapter 138: The Impending Mutiny of the Little Japs!

Bound by strict military discipline and a sober realization of the consequences, Nan Lou was forced to suppress his burning fury. His face shifted between pale and ashen before he finally replied slowly:

"General, I understand. I will immediately command the troops to launch the assault." His tone carried a sense of helplessness and heaviness, akin to swallowing a bitter pill.

After deep and agonizing internal deliberation, Nan Lou chose to compromise, unwilling to be burdened with unjust and unearned blame.

His expression revealed profound worry and a trace of sorrow, as he understood that his decision would entail even greater sacrifices.

Seeing Nan Lou ultimately yield, a satisfied smile spread across Antong Ze's face. He nodded, his tone filled with anticipation and resolve as he said:

"Good, I look forward to hearing news of your victory. When that time comes, I will secure the Dynasty Medal for you."

Although his words were encouraging, his gaze betrayed a calculated ruthlessness.

In truth, the Second Division had suffered catastrophic losses after facing the fierce resistance of the Nineteenth Division.

While Antong Ze was well aware of this fact, he knew deep down that achieving victory in the war required men to fight and sacrifice.

Even if it meant alienating the powerful Second Division.

His gaze was resolute, and his expression revealed a grim determination, fully aware that his choice was fraught with risk and sacrifice.

Witnessing Nan Lou depart the command post, the commander of the 14th Infantry Brigade anxiously asked, "Your Excellency, Divisional Commander, what are our next steps?" His face was etched with anticipation and tension.

A troubled look crossed the face of Lieutenant General Nan Lou, accompanied by a flash of pain and a gleam of internal struggle and resolve in his eyes.

After a profound internal battle, he finally spoke in a voice intertwined with sorrow and firmness: "I apologize to you all. Order the troops to launch another attack."

"Under the current circumstances, we have no other choice."

Nan Lou's expression betrayed a profound sense of powerlessness, a flash of despair flickering in his eyes.

"Although Antong Ze's actions are clearly driven by personal ambition," he explained helplessly, his voice tinged with anger and grief.

"Yet, as he stated, if the Dynasty is to move forward, we must achieve victory in this war."

A complex array of emotions flashed across Nan Lou's face, reflecting a deep awareness of his predicament and apprehension for the future.

"Otherwise, once defeated, we, as soldiers of the Dynasty, will not be able to escape responsibility."

With these words, Nan Lou's gaze grew deep and resolute, as if he had prepared himself for any sacrifice.

Hearing the divisional commander's helpless explanation, the commander of the 14th Infantry Brigade felt a crushing weight in his chest. Yet, a resolute gleam shone in his eyes as he nodded in understanding and replied:

"Understood, Your Excellency, Divisional Commander. I will launch the new assault in half an hour." His voice was firm. Despite facing a nearly impossible mission, his face retained the unyielding steadfastness characteristic of a soldier.

Seeing his subordinate's readiness to make the ultimate sacrifice filled Lieutenant General Nan Lou with unbearable anguish.

A flicker of pain crossed his eyes, and his voice was laden with deep apology: "Do not worry, the 29th Infantry Brigade will relieve you and continue the fight."

He attempted to use these words to comfort the brigade commander, but equally, he was comforting himself, trying to alleviate his own crushing sense of guilt.

As the new round of attacks commenced, the four infantry battalions assigned by the 14th Brigade bravely launched a fierce assault against the Nineteenth Division.

However, facing the formidable firepower of the Nineteenth Division, they were utterly incapable of breaching the solid defense lines.

Charging courageously through a hail of bullets, the enemy soldiers confronted dense minefields and intricate webs of barbed wire ahead, their initial determination rapidly shifting into helplessness and despair.

These obstacles loomed like insurmountable natural chasms, leaving them entirely at a loss.

Lacking proper equipment, overcoming such barbed wire was a virtually impossible task.

Consequently, enemy casualties continued to mount steadily.

Following yet another failed assault, the 14th Brigade temporarily lost its combat capability.

Nan Lou immediately ordered the 29th Infantry Brigade to take over the offensive, while the 4th and 23rd Infantry Regiments were also thrown into the fray.

This decision was fraught with heaviness and resignation; his gaze grew even gloomier, painfully aware that countless more soldiers were marching toward their doom.

Even though the 4th Infantry Regiment was renowned for its tenacity within the enemy army, it remained powerless against the enemy's concentrated barrage of firepower.

In a single day alone, the Second Army launched three consecutive waves of assaults, yet failed to breach even the first line of defense of the Nineteenth Division, suffering heavy losses instead.

The lengthy casualty lists filled Nan Lou and the senior leadership of the Second Division with profound grief.

Their expressions were heavy, despair flickering in their eyes. Despite paying an enormous price, their objectives remained unfulfilled, dealing a devastating blow to their morale.

Even so, Antong Ze refused to abandon his offensive plan.

Upon learning of the frontline troops' failure, he first roared in fury—his rage almost palpable—before his gaze turned even more resolute. A forced, desperate smile touched the corners of his mouth as he demanded a large-scale offensive from the troops.

He not only arranged for night raids but also ordered elite units to launch an all-out attack, instructing them to execute a fierce breakthrough maneuver against Anshen from the flanks.

At this juncture, every command he issued was saturated with a desperate craving for victory and the intolerable pressure of failure.

Over the subsequent two days, the enemy launched countless successive offensives, employing diverse tactics including human-wave charges and explosive assaults.

This reckless style of combat managed to pierce the defense lines of the Nineteenth Division of the Chengyun Army for a time.

However, propelled by the powerful counterattacks of Chengyun Army reinforcements, the enemy offensive was ultimately contained.

Even the two mixed brigades held in reserve were drawn into five or six fierce engagements over these two days.

The massive sacrifices barely allowed the Chengyun Army to maintain the stability of its defense lines. By this time, casualties on both sides had soared precipitously. The enemy's Second and Fifth Divisions suffered devastating blows before the rock-solid defenses of the Chengyun Army, sustaining severe losses with casualty rates reaching as high as forty percent, the majority of whom were frontline elite veterans.

Even the logistics troops were frequently forced to join the frontlines, picking up the weapons of fallen comrades to join the fray.

Despite paying such a colossal price, Antong Ze behaved like a gambler who, having lost all his chips, was determined to make one final, all-in throw.

Should he succeed, he would be draped in glory; should he fail, he would become the target of public condemnation, plunging into an abyss from which he could never recover.

The following morning, Lieutenant General Antong Ze stationed himself personally at the frontlines, gripping his command saber. A resolute and fanatical gleam flashed in his eyes as he urged the troops to launch a fierce assault against the Nineteenth Division.

Having witnessed the consecutive sacrifice of four infantry battalions, his expression grew even gloomier, the light in his eyes beginning to curdle with a trace of despair.