Chapter 140: The Japanese Fighting with Their Backs to the Wall!

They quickly returned to the command post, their faces solemn, and sent telegrams to their superiors to report the true situation of the battlefield, avoiding any blame for poor leadership.

Inside the headquarters of the Anshan Field Army, Chief of Staff Wang Xiao frowned upon learning the frontline situation, his eyes reflecting deep thought and calculation about the future.

An operations staff officer asked in utter confusion, "What is wrong with those enemy troops? Why have they suddenly stopped attacking?"

"Weren't they always shouting that they wouldn't stop until the very last second?"

His tone carried a hint of surprise as he recalled the sheer ferocity of the enemy's offensive from a few days ago—it had been truly overwhelming and relentless.

He remembered how many of their defense lines had been breached by the enemy; if they hadn't dispatched the pistol squad to clear them out in time, they might have lost even more territory.

Li Jian looked utterly exhausted. After remaining silent for a long while, he slowly said, "The enemy troops are made of flesh and blood, too."

His words carried a deep exhaustion. "After these past few days of hard fighting, many of their best men have sustained injuries. Though they can still fight, recovering from such heavy losses will take quite some time."

Li Jian had not shaved for days, which made him look even sterner. His eyes were bloodshot and heavily fatigued.

He looked through his binoculars toward the enemy lines, appearing somewhat comforted.

"It looks like it will be difficult for them to mount another major offensive anytime soon."

Hearing this, Chief of Staff Wang Xiao's eyes lit up instantly, and he eagerly asked, "Does this mean the time for our counterattack has finally arrived?"

Having been suppressed by the enemy over the past few days, although they had managed to hold on thanks to solid defenses and a web of firepower, their losses were far from negligible. Everyone was burning with anger and eager for an opportunity to properly return the favor.

"But the fighting these past few days has also cost us many brave men."

Li Jian frowned, his voice dropping as his eyes held a profound grief for the fallen soldiers. "Everyone is exhausted and desperately needs a good rest."

Analyzing the situation earnestly, he looked somewhat concerned. "In our current state, launching a counterattack entirely on our own is a gamble, and we might even give the enemy an opening to counter-strike."

Hearing this, Chief of Staff Wang Xiao's gaze turned resolute. "Commander Li, are you saying we should mobilize the Sixty-Third Division from Chengyun to assist?"

"As long as they can arrive quickly, wiping out those enemy forces shouldn't be too difficult."

Li Jian nodded, a resolute look washing over his face as he replied firmly, "Yes, that is the plan."

Li Jian's eyes gleamed as he looked at everyone with absolute determination. "As long as we can crush these two enemy formations..."

"...those enemies will surely be terrified out of their wits and dare not make any reckless moves again."

He had originally thought the chance of turning the tide was slim, but the enemy had delivered themselves right to their doorstep, presenting him and Wang Xiao with a prime opportunity to catch them completely off guard.

"It's settled then!" Chief of Staff Wang Xiao could not hide his excitement, as if he could already see the dawn of victory.

"This time, we must wipe out those two enemy forces completely!"

He immediately instructed the communications officer to send an urgent dispatch to the Sixty-Third Division of the Chengyun forces, signaling the official opening curtain of the Chengyun counteroffensive, while the enemy remained completely in the dark.

Meanwhile, inside the enemy headquarters:

"Gentlemen, we must now set aside our differences and jointly address the crisis before us."

"If the 2nd Division and the 5th Division are completely annihilated, we will become the disgrace of history."

Facing the prospect of a military trial or the tragic end of having to commit ritual suicide to atone for their failure, carrying lifelong shame was certainly no easy task for the three of them.

Therefore, they unanimously prepared to make a desperate, do-or-die stand with a determination to win. After communicating with the higher echelons of the military command, Lieutenant General Nanlou and Lieutenant General Xiaoyuan firmly expressed their agreement.

Resolute and tense expressions lingered on their faces, deeply aware that if this battle were lost again, their military careers would be effectively over, regardless of any backing from above.

For these two lieutenant generals in the prime of their lives, this was a monumental challenge they found difficult to accept.

At this moment, the three of them were like a small boat tossed in a violent storm, struggling together inside a dilapidated, leaky thatched hut.

If they could patch up the damage in time, they might still have a chance to weather this crisis.

Otherwise, once the hut collapsed, there would be no safe haven for their futures—an outcome none of them could accept.

Seeing the two men's unreserved support, Ando Ze felt both comforted and relieved.

Although he tried hard to maintain a calm composure, a hint of gratitude and relief toward the two was unmistakable in his eyes.

Even though he understood that these two generals did not entirely view him as their absolute leader, as the supreme commander of the forces, Ando Ze knew that only by uniting as one could they tide over the current difficulty.

Faced with Lieutenant General Nanlou's inquiry, Ando Ze took a deep breath, trying to mask his inner tension and anxiety beneath a steady voice:

"How many cavalry units can your 2nd Division dispatch to counter the enemy's counter-offensive?"

His gaze fixed intently on Lieutenant General Nanlou, waiting for an answer.

"Do not forget, the enemy has two cavalry regiments, nearly four thousand horsemen, eyeing us like a tiger watching its prey."

Hearing this, Lieutenant General Nanlou furrowed his brows, showing a trace of hesitation and worry, his voice growing somewhat heavy:

"After successive fierce battles, our 2nd Division is battered and bruised, and the total strength of our infantry companies is less than four thousand. As for our second-line troops, though numerous in number, they lack adequate training." His eyes betrayed a sense of helplessness.

After careful consideration, Lieutenant General Nanlou finally made his decision. His tone was firm, yet his expression revealed the resolute determination to face difficulties head-on:

"Our 2nd Division can mobilize two infantry battalions, together with the cavalry forces of the cavalry regiment, though this is our absolute limit."

"Achieving victory, however, remains full of uncertainty." He turned his gaze toward Lieutenant General Xiaoyuan with a glimmer of expectation.

Lieutenant General Xiaoyuan understood immediately, his response brimming with the strength of support and solidarity:

"Our 5th Division's cavalry regiment still maintains strong combat capability, and we can also dispatch two infantry battalions to participate."

Hearing their responses, a satisfied smile appeared on Ando Ze's face, and he nodded in affirmation, his eyes sparkling with confidence in the upcoming battle.

The combination of four infantry battalions and nearly two thousand cavalrymen formed a formidable and awe-inspiring force.

Faced with an enemy known for their tenacity, such strength seemed capable of effortlessly handling any challenge.

Ando Ze's voice was filled with pride and anticipation: "The battlefield situation has shifted in a direction beyond our expectations."