Chapter 482: Counterattack on the Golden Triangle (5)

Shou Wu Jing'er and Luan Caixunuan's argument was quickly interrupted.

At that moment, a harsh whistling sound suddenly came from afar—it was the noise of shells cutting through the air, sharp and rapid, moving from distant to near, growing clearer.

"Whoosh—whoosh—whoosh—"

Shou Wu Jing'er and Luan Caixunuan simultaneously stopped arguing, their faces turning deathly pale in an instant.

Both were battle‑hardened commanders; at a single hearing they knew it was the sound of a massive artillery barrage, and the shells were numerous, flying toward their camp.

"Not good! It's the Japanese Army's artillery! Take cover!" Shou Wu Jing'er reacted fastest, shouting loudly, and turned to run toward the shelter outside the command post.

Luan Caixunuan was also terrified, too shocked to think, and followed Shou Wu Jing'er, sprinting toward the shelter.

But they were still a step too late.

Just as they had just run out of the command post, dozens of shells rained down like raindrops, landing in the middle of the Thai Army's camp.

Immediately afterward, a series of violent explosions rang out.

"Boom—boom—boom—"

The instant the shells struck the ground, fire surged upward, dense smoke rolled, and earth and shattered stones were blown into the sky, spraying in all directions.

The Thai soldiers who were resting hadn't yet understood what was happening.

They were suddenly blown into the sky by the unexpected shells; limbs and debris scattered across the ground, and screams, cries, and explosions intertwined, turning the entire camp in an instant into a living hell.

Some soldiers had their limbs blown off by shells, lying on the ground, moaning in pain, with blood staining the earth red.

Some soldiers were buried under the rubble, only a hand protruding, desperately struggling and shouting for rescue.

Other soldiers, terrified, fled in all directions, only to be hit by subsequent shells and fall dead instantly.

The camp, which had been relatively orderly, was reduced to flat ground within a few minutes of bombardment, leaving broken walls and ruins everywhere—a scene of utter devastation.

At the artillery position on the Luo Ke He, Shi Xiaomao held a telescope, watching the explosion across the river, a faint satisfied smile appearing on his face.

He shouted loudly at the nearby communication soldier, "Well done! Keep the barrage going! Don't stop! Fire all the shells, smash their positions, suppress their fire!"

Around the artillery position, each cannon had at least one hundred and fifty shells beside it.

93rd Division artillery, when have we ever seen such good howitzers?

The Expeditionary Force's few howitzers were allocated to the headquarters; they called it the headquarters, but in reality it was just the Fifth Army.

That barrage just now had our arms swinging in circles; we usually shout that we're tired, but now we're lifting shells, and our energy is abundant.

"Yes! Battalion commander!" the communication soldier immediately relayed the order; all artillery crews sped up their procedures, loading shells, aiming, firing—a series of actions performed smoothly and skillfully.

The roar of the 105 mm howitzers was deafening; forty‑eight howitzers fired in unison, shells raining down like hail, continuously soaring toward the Thai Army's camp. Each shell that struck the ground brought devastation, and each explosion inflicted heavy casualties on the Thai Army.

The bombardment lasted three hours, with a brief pause in the middle because the barrels, continuously firing shells, risked overheating and bursting, so they rested for a while.

Jiang Anguo stood on the high ground of the forward position, holding a telescope, his gaze fixed firmly on the battlefield across the river, his eyes steady and sharp.

He watched the Thai Army fleeing in disarray under the artillery, suffering heavy casualties, a cold sneer curling at the corner of his mouth.

"Commander Lv, the barrage's effect is good; now is the time to launch a general ground assault!"

Lv Guoquan stood beside Jiang Anguo, watching the shocking scene across the river, his heart filled with admiration.

He had originally worried that a proactive strike carried risk, but now it seemed Jiang Anguo's decision was correct.

The Thai Army indeed, as Jiang Anguo said, was low in combat effectiveness, unable to withstand a hit; under the fierce barrage it had fallen into complete chaos.

Lv Guoquan also felt for the first time that war could be this easy; facing not only the Thai Army's four divisions but even a Japanese division, he now dared to go up and wrestle.

"Good! Follow Commander Jiang!"

Lv Guoquan immediately nodded, turned to the nearby communication soldier, and loudly issued the order, "Relay my command: the 273 448th Regiment will launch an attack from the left flank, the Reinforced Camp will maneuver from the right to encircle and pin down the enemy forces; Commander Jiang's Independent Regiment will break through from the front, striking straight into the enemy's core position! All units, coordinate your attacks and utterly crush the Thai Army, seizing the opposite bank's position!"

"Yes, Commander!" the communication soldier immediately transmitted the order via radio to all units.

The frontal breakthrough, of course, was entrusted to Jiang Anguo's Independent Regiment.

As the order was issued, on the north bank of the Luo Ke He, a stirring charge horn sounded.

"Didi—da— didi—da—"

The charge horn's sound pierced the artillery roar, resonating across the battlefield, inspiring every warrior's fighting spirit.

"Charge! Kill!"

The Independent Regiment's soldiers were the first to charge, brandishing rifles and submachine guns, like tigers descending a mountain, rushing toward the Luo Ke He.

Each warrior was spirited and morale high, charging while firing at the enemy across the river; bullets fell like raindrops, targeting the fleeing Thai soldiers.

The roar of the MG42 machine gun instantly ripped the battlefield air, bullets pouring down like a downpour; wherever the fire stream swept, the Thai Army's positions instantly turned into a hell.

The 273 448th Regiment's soldiers were also unwilling to lag, launching an attack from the left; they trod the muddy ground, advancing swiftly, evading stray enemy fire, and charging toward the Thai Army's left flank.

The 93rd Division's Reinforced Camp soldiers, meanwhile, maneuvered from the right, quietly crossing the Luo Ke He, looping around to the Thai Army's rear, preparing to cut off the enemy's retreat and form an encirclement.

They all wished they had two extra legs, eager to rush into the enemy camp.

These shells really hit the spot.

Now everyone knows it's time to grab the credit; if you run slow, you might not even get the soup.

At this moment, the Thai Army across the river had already fallen into complete chaos under the fierce bombardment.

The command system was completely paralyzed; soldiers fought on their own, fleeing everywhere, with no resistance at all.

Many Thai soldiers, seeing the Expeditionary Force warriors charge, were terrified, dropping their weapons, raising their hands to surrender, repeatedly shouting, "Surrender! Don't kill me!"

Shou Wu Jing'er hid in the shelter, watching the chaotic scene outside, so angry that his whole body trembled.

He tried to command the nearby Japanese Army soldiers to organize resistance, but the Japanese troops were few in number, and suffered heavy casualties in the bombardment and charge, making effective defense impossible.

"Baka! Useless! All useless!" Shou Wu Jing'er roared, picking up his rifle and firing at the charging Expeditionary Force soldiers, but his shots had no effect amid the dense charging ranks.

Luan Caixunuan, terrified, hid in an abandoned shelter, trembling all over, his face pallid, his eyes full of fear.

He watched his troops retreat step by step under the Expeditionary Force's assault, suffering heavy casualties, his heart filled with remorse.

He regretted having followed the Japanese Army's scheming to attack Da Qili, regretted not heeding Shou Wu Jing'er's order to launch an early attack, and further regretted his own cowardice, for not holding the position and organizing resistance.

At that moment, several Independent Regiment soldiers, having crossed the Luo Ke He, rushed to the shelter's vicinity. They discovered Luan Caixunuan hiding inside, instantly raised their rifles, aimed at him, and shouted loudly, "Come out! Don't move! Drop your weapon, surrender!"

Luan Caoyu heard the shout, was terrified and shivered all over; he slowly lifted his head, looked at the Expeditionary Force soldiers before him, and his eyes were full of fear.

He knew he had reached a dead end; if he surrendered, perhaps he could still save a life, but he also worried that the Expeditionary Force would not let him, the commander of the Thai Expeditionary Force, go.

Luan Caoyu feared even more the reckoning after autumn; if he surrendered, would his family in Manggu be settled by Luan Piwen Songkan?