Chapter 481: Counterattack on the Golden Triangle (4)

Commander, all the cannons are in position, the ammunition has been fully replenished, we can launch an artillery strike at any moment!

An artilleryman hurried over to Shi Xiaomao, stopped to report, his tone carrying a hint of urgency.

Shi Xiaomao stood up, patted the cannon, and gazed toward the Thai Army camp on the opposite riverbank.

Shi Xiaomao shouted loudly, "Good! Notify all artillery, be ready, await the commander's orders. Once the order is given, deliver all shells to the Thai devils' positions across the river!"

The scout had already reported the Thai Army coordinates to the artillery behind them.

At the same time, Lv Guoquan had gathered all the artillery of the 93rd Division 273rd Regiment, merged them with the Independent Regiment's artillery battalion, forming a temporary artillery position.

These artillerymen are mostly veterans with abundant bombardment experience; although they are equipped mainly with 75 mm field guns, less powerful than 105 mm howitzers, they can still play a significant role on this plain battlefield.

Seeing Lv Guoquan do so, Jiang Anguo then sent some howitzers to the artillery position behind them.

At present, the howitzers under Shi Xiaomao's command amount to a full 48 pieces of 105 mm German-made howitzers.

This is hardly an artillery battalion; the number of howitzers it possesses almost matches that of an artillery brigade.

Jiang Anguo walked to the artillery position, looked at the neatly lined cannons and the spirited artillerymen, and shouted, "Brothers, the Thai devils are allied with the Little Devils, violating our positions and harming our comrades; today we will make them pay!"

"I don't demand perfect accuracy; the only demand is that you send every damned shell in your hands to the Thai positions opposite, smash their camp, shatter their arrogant flame! Let them know the China Expeditionary Force's artillery is not to be trifled with!"

The objective is simple: to re‑plow the Da Qili plain.

"Yes! Commander!" the artillerymen shouted in unison, their bright voices echoing across the entire position.

They each returned to their stations, skillfully inspecting the cannons, hauling shells, completing all preparations before the bombardment.

The gun barrels were neatly aimed at the opposite riverbank, like countless poised beasts ready to spew deadly fire at any moment.

At this moment, six kilometers from the north bank of the Lock River, the Thai "Myanmar Expeditionary Force" camp lay in ruins.

Not long ago, William led a squadron of P-38 fighter aircraft in a fierce bombing raid on this spot.

The camp was more than half destroyed; many Thai soldiers were killed or wounded in the bombing, and the survivors, still shaken, hid in hastily dug shelters or sat on the ground, their faces full of fear and fatigue.

Inside the temporary command post at the camp's center, the atmosphere was unusually tense.

Lieutenant General Shou Wu Jing'er, dressed in Japanese Army uniform, the golden star on his shoulder board glaring under the dim light, wore a grim face and sharp eyes.

Facing the Thai Expeditionary Force commander Luan Caiyunuan, he roared angrily, his tone full of impatience and fury: "General Caiyunuan, order your troops right now to launch an attack on the China Expeditionary Force! Stop delaying!"

Shou Wu Jing'er is the Japanese Army commander sent to assist the Thai Army, holding the rank of Lieutenant General and serving as Deputy Chief of Staff of the 15th Army.

He has abundant combat experience and a cruel, irritable temperament.

In his view, although the Thai Army numbers are large, their combat effectiveness is low and they lack fighting will; without Japanese backing, they would never dare to attack Da Qili.

Now, after being bombed by P-38 fighter aircraft, the Thai Army is only concerned with recuperating, showing no intention to attack, which greatly displeases Shou Wu Jing'er.

Shou Wu Jing'er knows that commander Iida Shojiro intends to use the Thai to strike the China Expeditionary Force's weak point; if successful, it would be ideal.

Even if it fails, it would still sap the living forces of the China Expeditionary Force.

However, faced with Shou Wu Jing'er's roar, Luan Caiyunuan wore an unmoved expression.

He wore Thai Army uniform, held the rank of General, was slightly plump, and his face bore a hint of laziness and contempt.

Luan Caiyunuan said slowly, "General Shou Wu, please calm down. My troops have just endured an air raid by the China Expeditionary Force, suffering heavy casualties; the soldiers are exhausted. We currently lack the capacity to launch an attack and must first recuperate, replenish ammunition and food, before we can continue fighting."

Both sides have their own hidden calculations.

Luan Caiyunuan is also probing the opposing Expeditionary Force's strength; honestly, both sides are called Expeditionary Forces, but the Thai side calls itself the "Myanmar Expeditionary Force", also known as the Northwest Army.

Luan Piwen Songkan founded the Northwest Army with the purpose of invading Myanmar, acquiring more territory, and consolidating his position.

After seeing the formidable strength of the Huaxia army opposite, Luan Caiyunuan grew apprehensive; an attack would incur too great a loss.

As the Thai commander, Luan Piwen Songkan also does not wish his soldiers to suffer excessive losses.

One must know that a nation's elite units have early serial numbers; this time, to cooperate with the Japanese.

Luan Piwen Songkan dispatched the 2nd Division, 3rd Division, 4th Division, and a cavalry division, all of which are Thailand's elite units.

"Recuperate?" Shou Wu Jing'er sneered, the fire in his eyes intensifying.

"What time is it now? The China Expeditionary Force has already crossed the Lock River, formed a formation on the north bank, ready to attack at any moment, and you still think of recuperating? Baka!"

Shou Wu Jing'er cursed inwardly, wishing he could instantly order the cowardly Thai general to be executed on the spot.

But he also knows that although he is a Japanese Army commander, he lacks authority to directly command the Thai Army; he must rely on Luan Caiyunuan to mobilize Thailand's four divisions.

Within this Thai force, most battalion‑level officers are assisted by Japanese, yet the leadership remains Thai, so even frantic Japanese officers cannot command the unit.

"General Shou Wu, I know the situation is urgent, but my troops truly cannot launch an attack immediately," Luan Caiyunuan said, still unmoved, his tone even bearing a hint of perfunctory.

"We are here to assist the Japanese Army, not to die. If we force an attack, my troops will suffer greater casualties; then we won't capture Da Qili and will be annihilated, which brings no benefit to Thailand."

Both cling to their arguments, quarrelling endlessly.

Shou Wu Jing'er insists on an immediate attack, believing only a proactive strike can catch the China Expeditionary Force off guard and seize Da Qili.

Shou Wu Jing'er does not know that the Expeditionary Force's reinforcement units have already arrived.

Meanwhile, the Expeditionary Force is also preparing to attack the Thai Army, not to defend Da Qili.

Luan Caiyunuan, however, insists on first recuperating, arguing that given the current state of the Thai Army, a forced attack would be a net loss.

The atmosphere in the command post grew increasingly tense, the two's arguments louder, and the surrounding Thai and Japanese staff dared not intervene, standing silently aside with awkward expressions.