Chapter 159: The Frantic Barrage of Over Five Hundred Cannons!

Wang Xiao knew clearly that for both sides, time was of the essence. If the Japanese managed to hold out until reinforcements arrived, they might reverse the tide of battle and drive straight toward Chengyun City. But if we could eliminate them one by one before their reinforcements arrived, no matter how desperately the Japanese struggled, their tactics would be rendered entirely useless.

In the brief interval between their conversation, another forty 105mm heavy howitzers were urgently dispatched to the front lines and deployed across sixteen artillery positions.

Before the Nineteenth Division launched its full-scale offensive, they planned to use fierce artillery fire to obliterate all enemy fortifications.

Following two consecutive days of intensive bombardment, the Seventh Route Army, spearheaded by the Nineteenth Division, prepared to launch a general assault on the Japanese encirclement.

"Fire!" At the artillery commander's command, dozens of 105mm heavy howitzers fired first.

The artillery roared, and blinding flashes erupted from the muzzles. Shells weighing dozens of kilograms traced perfect arcs through the air, crashing violently onto the Japanese positions. The earth trembled in response to the impact of each explosion.

Shortly after, artillery pieces of various other types joined the fray. The frenzied bombardment of over five hundred cannons turned almost the entire Japanese position into a scorched wasteland.

This dense barrage subjected the Japanese positions to three consecutive rounds of devastating blows. Soldiers in the trenches wailed as numerous trenches were blasted into clouds of dust and debris.

The surviving Japanese soldiers curled up inside their defensive trenches, trembling, their eyes filled with despair. They silently prayed for the protection of the Amaterasu Omikami, hoping the shells would not land on their heads.

When two 105mm shells struck their trench, a muffled explosion rang out, collapsing half of the 2.5-meter-deep trench and burying the Japanese soldiers inside.

The survivors witnessed the gruesome deaths of their comrades around them, the bloody spectacle exerting immense psychological pressure and plunging their situation into deeper despair.

One Japanese soldier, his gaze vacant and voice trembling, muttered under his breath, "Could it really be... have they transferred all of their artillery power here?"

His facial expression was etched with terror and disbelief. "Do they intend to wipe us all out with artillery shells today?"

Looking around anxiously, he continued, "Where is our artillery? Why has there been no counterattack until now?"

Faced with the relentless bombardment, his voice carried utter despair. "If this continuous shelling keeps up, we might all be wiped out!"

Suddenly lifting his head, a glimmer of hope flashed in his eyes. "O Amaterasu Omikami, please manifest your presence! Send down a lightning bolt to annihilate these enemies!"

Amidst such cries, pleas, and angry voices, the artillery bombardment of the Nineteenth Division lasted for three hours.

The fierce artillery fire practically demolished all Japanese fortifications, especially those locations capable of serving as firepoints, which were repeatedly bombarded five times over.

In strict accordance with the pre-battle directives of Chief of Staff Wang Xiao: "Regardless of the methods used, after the bombardment ceases, there must be no structure taller than two meters on the ground; even the trees must be blasted into splinters."

Confirming that all critical Japanese firepoints had been essentially destroyed, the combat troops of the Nineteenth Division surged forward like a tidal wave from all directions, launching a fierce assault on the Japanese encirclement.

As the rumbling of artillery continued unabated, the infantry began their charge.

At this critical juncture, the firing frequency of mortars and grenades increased significantly, providing cover for the advancing infantry.

Amidst the smoke and dust of the battlefield, these infantrymen wore resolute and cold expressions, each looking ready to fight to the bitter end.

The Japanese soldiers' attempts to counterattack were dealt heavy blows under this intense fire support, resulting in massive casualties.

As the soldiers of the Nineteenth Division charged fiercely like hungry wolves, a few Japanese soldiers attempted to raise their heads and use Arisaka rifles to put up resistance.

Yet the moment they attempted to organize a counterattack, they were swept away by dense machine-gun fire. The creation of those fatal zones of fire meant that any Japanese soldier who dared to show his head was nearly instantly cut down.

The Japanese soldiers in the trenches were pale-faced, their eyes reflecting utter despair as they clearly heard the cold declaration of a Nineteenth Division machine-gunner: "My supply of bullets is more than enough! If you bastards dare to show your heads, I'll bury you in lead!"

These words echoed in their ears, weighing their spirits down even further.

Despite being at an obvious disadvantage, the combat will of the Japanese soldiers remained stubbornly resolute.

They desperately sought every possible method of counterattack, attempting to halt the advance of the Nineteenth Division.

Yet under such immense pressure and despair, their resistance grew increasingly futile.

Looking around, the smoke and dust were thick with the acrid stench of gunpowder and blood, and the once-defensible trenches had become traps of death.

When the Nineteenth Division finally captured the frontline positions, the fate of the Japanese was sealed. Their resistance was nothing more than a futile struggle, and the bell of victory tolled for the Nineteenth Division.

Just as the soldiers of the Nineteenth Division, defying all hardships and fully armed, pressed forward valiantly to clear out the remaining Japanese in the trenches, the presence of an underground bunker gradually revealed itself.

This underground command post was situated in a low-lying area, where the Japanese had excavated a wide tunnel, supported by sturdy logs, covered with tarpaulins and weeds, and finally buried under a thick layer of soil.

Such a structure was sturdy enough to withstand a direct hit from 105mm artillery shells.

Inside this concealed command post, the high-ranking commanders of the Second and Fifth Army Divisions—Generals Higashisawa, Nanmuro, and Koyanagi—sat huddled around a crude earthen table.

Their gazes were locked tightly onto the steadily shrinking tactical map, and a heavy silence enveloped the room.

General Higashisawa's uniform was stained with sweat, and the unpleasant odor emanating from his clothes mixed with the stench of battlefield gore, turning the stomach.

This pungent smell perhaps complemented the cruelty of the warfare, and the complexions of all three men were exceptionally pale, their eyes flashing with anxiety and unease.

Suddenly, the heavy atmosphere in the room was shattered as a liaison officer rushed in, his face pale and tinged with panic, reporting to the three generals: "Excellencies! The Nineteenth Division of the Chengyun Army, following the intense bombardment, has now launched a massive assault against us!"

His voice trembled. "They are pressing in like a tidal wave from all directions!"

As his report continued, his gaze grew increasingly panicked. "According to preliminary estimates, they have committed over thirty thousand infantrymen!"

Taking a deep breath, he continued, "Under this overwhelming offensive, our frontline forces have already suffered over fifty percent casualties!"

"Currently, the first line of defense has been breached, and our soldiers are holding out in the second line of trenches."

This information struck the three generals like a heavy hammer. They exchanged worried glances, realizing the situation was far more severe than they had imagined.

Their faces were etched with tension and grim resolve, as they knew they would soon have to make some extremely difficult decisions.