Chapter 142: Warships Bombard the Fortress!

These words ignited an irrepressible passion among the operational staff officers present.

Their faces were flushed with excitement and anticipation, and their eyes gleamed with a longing for future feats of greatness.

They knew deep down that if their current military operations succeeded, it would not only become a legend, but also elevate them to heroes admired by the entire dynasty, leaving their names etched in history forever.

With the victory of the Seventh Army, they would unquestionably stand at the pinnacle of glory.

For those ambitious young military officers, this was an honor beyond compare.

Upon learning of the battle situation, Chief of Staff Wang Xiao could hardly conceal his surging emotions. A flush of excitement crossed his face, and the corners of his mouth tilted up slightly in a look of incredulous joy.

Barely over thirty years of age, he had the opportunity to command such a decisive battle and could already see the dawn of victory.

Although he had witnessed countless shifting fortunes on the battlefield, his heart pounded violently at this moment.

He took several deep breaths, struggling to calm his racing thoughts, and then anxiously inquired about the latest developments of the Fourth and Fifth Mixed Brigades, paying special attention to whether they could successfully cut off the retreat route of the Japanese devils.

Li Jian replied that the Fourth and Fifth Mixed Brigades were launching fierce attacks, having already thrown the Japanese Fifth Infantry Division into utter chaos.

Hearing this report, Wang Xiao's brow relaxed, a satisfied smile appeared on his face, and a victorious light flashed in his eyes. He believed there was no longer any need to keep the cavalry brigade lingering there, as doing so would undoubtedly be a massive waste of resources.

When Wang Xiao turned around, his eyes were filled with passion and anticipation. As he excitedly elaborated on his plan, he clearly radiated an overwhelming sense of optimism for the future.

He planned to have the cavalry brigade advance southward rapidly to recapture Guanchengyun Prefecture while the enemy was at their weakest.

Given that the Japanese devils could hardly mount any effective resistance there, the strength of the cavalry brigade was more than sufficient to accomplish this mission.

Upon hearing Wang Xiao's strategy, surprise and excitement also surfaced on Li Jian's face, his eyes sparkling with strategic agreement and a craving for victory.

They possessed the full capability to swiftly occupy Guanchengyun Prefecture before the enemy realized what was happening. This would not only significantly elevate their prestige, but might also be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

As for whether this would trigger the risk of an all-out war, that was no longer within their purview to consider.

Once the horn of war sounded, their resolve was crystal clear.

Meng Fan stood in front of Li Jian, his eyes flashing with brilliant excitement, and said enthusiastically, "Division Commander, this is truly a god-given opportunity!"

Unable to hold back his thoughts, he shared his vision as if he could already see the dawn of victory: "As long as we let the cavalry forces take Guanchengyun Prefecture and send a detachment of infantry to garrison it, we will hold this place firmly in our grasp."

He spoke with total anticipation, his eyes brimming with a yearning for triumph.

Listening to Meng Fan's confident remarks, Li Jian fell silent and sank into deep thought.

The expression on his face grew serious, and his brow furrowed as he weighed the pros and cons of the plan.

He knew all too well how vital Guanchengyun Prefecture was, and he also understood that capturing it according to the original plan would likely cost a heavy price.

Yet the current situation seemed to present a rare window of opportunity, shaking his resolve.

After a moment, a resolute expression gradually settled on Li Jian's face, and he finally made his decision, his voice filled with determination:

"Let's first have the cavalry engage the Japanese Fifth Division. Once we have formed a solid encirclement, we will order Chen Feng to lead the cavalry straight for Guanchengyun Prefecture."

His words immediately won the support of everyone present, who all agreed with the plan.

When this order was transmitted to Chen Feng, the commander of the cavalry brigade, he could hardly believe his ears. Having previously assumed he would have little chance to distinguish himself in this battle, he was suddenly assigned such a crucial mission, leaving him both thrilled and astonished.

His eyes burned with determination and anticipation as he immediately set about organizing his troops for a full-scale assault against the Japanese.

Under Chen Feng's leadership, the cavalry charged heroically, catching the Japanese completely off guard.

As the battle progressed, they quickly adjusted their defense lines; although the cavalry's offensive was temporarily checked, the stability of the encirclement was thoroughly secured.

Seeing this state of affairs, a satisfied smile touched the corners of Chen Feng's mouth, and absolute confidence in the impending victory filled his heart.

Without wasting much time resting, Chen Feng plunged straight into work, determination etched across his face and excitement gleaming in his eyes for the task ahead.

He rapidly assembled about eight thousand cavalrymen and immediately issued the order that they must charge toward Guanchengyun Prefecture.

To achieve the element of surprise, Chen Feng personally led two groups of light cavalry, shooting southward like arrows released from a bow.

From his resolute and fearless gaze, one could instantly perceive his boldness.

Considering that the distance from the battlefield to Guanchengyun Prefecture was not particularly far, he calculated mentally that as long as the troops maintained their pace without stopping, they would arrive within a few hours.

This sense of urgency only heightened his confidence in the success of the operation.

Every time the cavalry forces reached a new location, they swiftly secured the telegraph bureau and smashed the telegraph machines—a meticulous touch that truly reflected Chen Feng's thoroughness.

Even though he knew full well that Japanese spies might have detected their movements, he remained exceptionally calm, ensuring that no information leaked out.

Such well-thought-out planning guaranteed a high degree of secrecy during their surprise attack on Guanchengyun Prefecture.

Meanwhile, at the Japanese General Headquarters, General Muto Nobuyoshi wore a gloomy expression, his eyes filled with wrath and anxiety.

The telegraph reports on his desk struck like a heavy hammer, shattering his pride and sense of security. He gripped the telegram so tightly that his fingertips turned white from the excessive pressure.

Judging from the posture of the entire battlefield, a sense of powerlessness and despair washed over him.

This premonition of failure weighed heavily on his mind; while worrying about the consequences, he was desperately pondering how to salvage the situation.

These complex emotions intertwined within Muto Nobuyoshi's heart, and as he faced the looming challenges, he could not help but feel profound anxiety regarding the fate of himself and his subordinates.

Even this seasoned general found it difficult to conceal his dread of an unknown future.

Deep anger and worry surfaced on Muto Nobuyoshi's face; his brow was tightly knitted, and his eyes flickered with unease and fear.

Every time he considered the possibility that the army might lose two elite divisions in succession, coupled with the astronomical military expenditures incurred for this war, his expression grew even darker.

Especially when he thought of the usurious loans borrowed from Western dynasties to prepare for this campaign, his mouth twitched involuntarily. This financial burden and the economic crisis brought by impending defeat inflicted unprecedented pressure upon him.

For those who viewed themselves as the elite of the dynasty, defeat meant not only missing the chance to rise, but potentially plunging into an abyss of no return—a reality they could never accept.