Chapter 160: Three Days Later, Annihilate Two Class-A Divisions!

After listening to the frontline report, General Higashisawa’s facial expression grew increasingly grim.

His expression flickered through several rapid changes before he slammed his fist heavily onto the table, his face a mask of fury and despair. He roared, "I don't care what methods you use, you must hold the line!" His voice was laced with uncompromising resolve.

"Otherwise, we are all doomed!"

"Execute orders immediately!" As the liaison officer hurried out of the tactical room, General Higashisawa slumped back into his chair. His face was as pale as paper, and a flash of desperation crossed his eyes.

"Gentlemen, we are in an extremely unfavorable situation."

He muttered under his breath, his voice tinged with reluctance and astonishment, "I never imagined the enemy would actually dare to try and annihilate us in one stroke!"

He paused, his sharp gaze sweeping across the room, his tone filled with anger and helplessness: "Where on earth did they get so many heavy artillery pieces!?"

Suddenly, as if recalling something, he gritted his teeth and said, "Damn those Welders, I won't let you off even as a ghost!"

His voice dripped with profound hatred. "If not for this damned external support, the ones trapped here should be the higher-ups of the Nineteenth Division, not us!"

Generals Minamizono and Koyano beside him remained expressionless, their eyes carrying a hint of sarcasm. They showed utter apathy toward General Higashisawa's violent rage and despair, deeply aware that such anger was useless against the current situation.

This was directly tied to General Higashisawa's previous reckless orders for the two divisions to launch fierce assaults in Anshan.

Had the frontline elite infantry of the two divisions not suffered excessive casualties in those earlier battles, leaving them entirely incapable of organizing effective resistance against the Nineteenth Division's counteroffensive now, the situation might have been different.

Not to mention mustering the strength to break through the encirclement.

Watching General Higashisawa vent his futile rage before them, Generals Minamizono and Koyano knew in their hearts that nothing could be salvaged.

Lieutenant General Minamizono finally lost his patience, impatiently waving a hand to brush away the floating dust. His voice was heavy and slow: "Is this truly the hour of our destruction?"

Amidst the tense strategic meeting, Lieutenant General Minamizono attempted to break the silence, speaking calmly to General Azuma Higashisawa: "Instead of endlessly complaining here, General, sir,"

His voice grew firm, "We should rather consider how to deal with this crisis!" He had thought these words would inspire General Azuma Higashisawa to pull himself together.

However, General Azuma Higashisawa’s expression only grew more exhausted and cynical. He retorted coldly, "Solve the crisis? Then why don't you instruct us on how we are supposed to face this current emergency?"

His tone was heavy with sarcasm. "If you wish me to describe our end, I can paint it for you quite clearly!"

His expression was cold, his eyes seemingly concealing disappointment and anger.

Lieutenant General Koyano, standing nearby, chose to ignore Azuma Higashisawa's provocation. His expression remained unshakeable, his shoulders tense and filled with absolute determination.

He stated, "I believe our only option now is to hold our ground and await reinforcements."

His voice was resolute and clear. "Otherwise, we can only prepare to give our lives in loyal service to His Majesty the Emperor!" His countenance revealed a dauntless resolve.

Lieutenant General Minamizono nodded in agreement with Koyano's assessment, his voice heavy and powerful: "Major General Koyano, do not be so pessimistic!" He scanned the tactical room to ensure everyone felt his resolve.

"The power of the Dynasty is immense, and it is fully capable of dispatching massive forces to the Chengyun region."

His brow furrowed into a serious expression. "Though the civilian officials may harbor some resentment toward the army, this concerns the life and death of tens of thousands of Dynasty soldiers and numerous senior officers. Under such circumstances, they should not lightly abandon their reason; they will surely set aside their prejudices temporarily and launch a rescue."

They were well aware that the civilian faction led by Kazutada had always opposed expanding the war, but this time, the military operation in the Jiangbai region had suffered a severe setback, with two elite divisions trapped in the enemy's encirclement.

Though Kazutada disliked the army, he would not sit idly by and watch these two elite divisions be wiped out.

Lieutenant General Minamizono's eyes deepened. "If this news leaks back to the court, the enraged military faction will inevitably overthrow that incompetent civilian administration, and that would be a catastrophic outcome."

His voice conveyed a sense of helplessness and warning. "For calculated civilian officials, they will never allow such a self-destructive situation to occur."

Inside the tactical room, the atmosphere was tense and oppressive. Lieutenant General Koyano's expression softened slightly as he calmly said, "You are right. Although Chengyun Zhou has fallen, the strength of the Dynasty Marine Corps, supported by heavy artillery and warships, can fully protect the army in making a smooth landing at Fengshun Port." A glimmer of hope flickered in his eyes. "In this way, reinforcements will arrive within three days."

They had already held out in the encirclement for two days.

From their resolute expressions, it was clear they believed that by holding on for just one more day, reinforcements would arrive.

Just as Minamizono and Koyano waited with burning hope for reinforcements, Azuma suddenly burst into frantic laughter, shattering the silence of the tactical room.

As Azuma's laughter grew increasingly unhinged, Lieutenant General Minamizono could finally bear it no longer. He slammed the table in fury, his face contorted as he demanded, "General, sir, what has gotten into you? Has your sanity regressed to that of a child?"

Facing Minamizono's sarcasm, Azuma responded with a cold sneer, his voice filled with mockery and detachment: "I am laughing at how oblivious you all are in the face of death!"

His gaze turned gloomy. Having finished these words, he slammed a telegram heavily onto the table.

The telegram revealed a shocking piece of news: the Dynasty's Third Naval Fleet had suffered devastating losses and was returning home for repairs.

Although this news had been heavily suppressed by both the army and navy, Lieutenant General Azuma had received this shocking intelligence last night due to his extensive connections within the navy.

After reading the contents of the telegram in detail, Lieutenant General Minamizono's face instantly turned pale. Fear and disappointment flashed in his eyes, and his lips trembled uncontrollably, exposing his inner panic and despair.

The atmosphere in the tactical room grew even more stifling, permeated by a heavy and pessimistic mood.

Lieutenant General Minamizono's voice was choked with emotion: "What... what are we to do?"

His question echoed through the tactical room, and every face was written with unease and anxiety.

At this critical juncture, the atmosphere within the Army Minister's official residence had reached an extreme state of tension.

An officer hurried inside, reporting with a grave expression: "Mr. Minister, the situation is critical! The Chengyun army's offensive is unusually fierce, and our Second and Fifth Divisions have suffered heavy casualties!"

He added, "According to Azuma's assessment, they can hold out for at most two days!"

His voice trembled slightly: "In three days, these two elite Class-A combat divisions may face total annihilation!"

Hearing this, the Army Minister's expression turned grim, his brow furrowing deeply. After a moment of silent contemplation, he nodded slowly, his voice dropping to a low register: "Their current predicament is indeed dire!"

He continued, "Clearly, the rapid-assault strategy adopted by Azuma has completely failed.

He severely underestimated the combat power of the enemy's Jiangbai Seventh Field Army, resulting in catastrophic losses for us in the Anshan theater."

He paused, a flicker of anxiety flashing in his eyes. "At present, we lack even the strength to break out. Without reinforcements, those two divisions will likely be completely wiped out."