webnovelfull Chapter 743 Air Raid Dawn Plan
Chapter 743 Air Raid Dawn Plan
At this time, Kashima City was a doomsday scene. The once prosperous streets were now covered with ruins, and the air was filled with the pungent smell of gunpowder and scorched earth. The entire city seemed to be shrouded in a thick layer of haze. The artillery fire of the Third Army of the Northwest Army was like an angry thunder god, constantly bombarding every corner of the island. Every loud noise was accompanied by the collapse of buildings and the raging of flames, gradually engulfing Kashima City in a sea of fire.
Deep underground, in a solid fortification, the commander-in-chief of the Kashima City Garrison, Ryuka Yamamoto, frowned, his face pale but determined. He looked through the observation window of the command room at the flashing lights of artillery fire above, with mixed feelings in his heart. He knew that the situation outside was extremely bad, but as a soldier, he had to hold on to the last moment, for the glory of the empire and for those soldiers who were also fighting.
"Keep holding on!" Yamamoto Ryuka's voice was transmitted firmly and powerfully to every corner through the communicator. Although the soldiers of the Kumamoto Division were exhausted physically and mentally, they still gritted their teeth and insisted on standing at the gap in the city wall with their flesh and blood, building an insurmountable line of defense. They knew that every resistance was a display of loyalty to the empire and a practice of the emperor's will.
At the command post of the Third Army of the Northwest Army outside Kashima City, Army Commander Zong Heng sat at the table, staring at the battle map in front of him with a frown. After a day of high-intensity offensive, he was shocked by the tenacious resistance shown by the Japanese army in Kashima City. He recalled the charge after charge, when the soldiers were always repelled by the seemingly tireless Japanese army.
"Damn it, the little devils in this city are so stubborn!" Zong Heng cursed in a low voice, but his eyes were full of complicated emotions. He knew that such a battle would be a great test for both sides, but the balance of victory would eventually tilt towards the side that was more prepared and determined.
At this moment, a staff officer hurried into the command post and handed over a telegram. "Commander, the order from the headquarters has arrived." There was a hint of urgency in the staff officer's voice.
Zong Heng took the telegram, quickly read it, and then his brows relaxed, with a cold smile on his lips. "Okay, we've been waiting for this moment. Notify the troops to temporarily suspend the siege and let the brothers have a good rest. At dawn, the air force will launch a fatal attack, and then we will charge in and completely take over Kashima City!"
As Zong Heng's order was issued, the entire Third Army Command Post suddenly became busy, but the air was filled with a sense of release after being suppressed. Everyone knew that the dawn of victory had begun to appear, and they only needed to wait patiently and then give the enemy the final blow.
Inside the city, Chief of Staff Ichiro Tanaka hurriedly walked through the winding underground passage and finally stopped in front of Commander Ryuka Yamamoto's office.
He adjusted his breathing and knocked gently on the door, making a low and powerful sound.
"Come in." Yamamoto Ryuka's steady and slightly hoarse voice came from inside the house, revealing the fatigue and perseverance of long-term fighting.
Ichiro Tanaka pushed open the door and walked quickly into the office, only to see Ryuka Yamamoto sitting behind the desk with a solemn expression and a complex look in his eyes.
The lights in the room were dim, barely illuminating the two people's faces, and the air was filled with a depressing and tense atmosphere.
"Report to the commander," Tanaka Ichiro saluted in a loud and powerful voice, "The defensive situation in the city has just taken a major turn. Although our soldiers fought bravely, they have almost reached their physical and psychological limits and are about to collapse. But at this critical moment, the enemy's offensive suddenly stopped. What's even more puzzling is that the long-range artillery bombardment that lasted for a day also inexplicably fell silent."
Upon hearing this, Yamamoto Ryuka frowned slightly, as if he was very surprised by this sudden change. He was silent for a moment, then raised his head, looked at Tanaka Ichiro with a sharp gaze, and asked in a deep voice: "What is the specific situation of the battle damage?"
Upon hearing this, Ichiro Tanaka immediately pulled out a battle report from his pocket and handed it to Ryuka Yamamoto, reporting in detail: "According to the latest statistics, the two infantry regiments of the Kumamoto Division have suffered heavy losses, with a combat loss rate of more than 50%. Many companies have lost almost half of their personnel. The third regiment that just came to reinforce also lost 30% of its troops in less than an hour. If the enemy continues to attack the city so fiercely, I'm afraid we really won't be able to hold out until dawn."
At this point, Ichiro Tanaka couldn't help but sigh, his face full of worry. He looked up at Yamamoto Ryuka, and saw the commander frowning in thought, with doubt and vigilance flashing in his eyes. Obviously, Yamamoto Ryuka was also very puzzled and vigilant about the enemy's sudden stop of the siege when they had an absolute advantage.
"What's the secret behind this?" Yamamoto Ryuka muttered to himself. Although his voice was soft, it revealed his inner doubts and uneasiness. He knew that every action of the enemy would not be without reason. There must be some far-reaching strategic intentions behind it. What he had to do now was to uncover this mystery as soon as possible and make full preparations for the next battle.
In the brightly lit temporary headquarters of the Second Air Division somewhere in southern Kyushu, a tense and solemn atmosphere permeated every corner. Division Commander Rawl, dressed in a neat air force uniform, stood at one end of the long table in the conference room, his eyes firm and sharp, as if he could penetrate the night sky and look directly at the sky above Kashima City where the battle was about to begin.
All around were the commanders of the A and B wings of the 2nd Air Division. They were either standing or sitting, looking focused, their eyes occasionally meeting, waiting together for the final order that was to come. The table was covered with detailed combat maps, tactical deduction charts, and various weather reports, which were the cornerstones of their upcoming mission.
Division Commander Luo Er looked around and finally set his sights on the commander of the First Wing, Air Force Colonel Lan Fang. Colonel Lan Fang was tall and straight, with an extraordinary heroic spirit between his brows. He was recognized as the best in this air force, and he had already made full preparations for the upcoming mission.
"Colonel Lan," said Division Commander Rawl in a steady and powerful voice that penetrated every tiny sound in the conference room. "Operation Dawn is extremely important to us. It is not only a key step in determining the fate of Kashima City, but also a great opportunity to demonstrate the strength of our Second Air Division."
He paused for a moment, his eyes fixed more sternly on Colonel Lan's face, and continued, "I have decided that your A Wing's Goshawk Fighter Squadron will serve as the vanguard. They will tear through the enemy's air defense network like real goshawks, creating favorable conditions for subsequent bombing operations. The Angry Dragon Bomber Squadron will follow closely behind, carrying deadly bombs to carry out precise strikes on the enemy's command center and military facilities in Kashima City, ensuring that every bomb falls where it should."
"Remember, this air raid not only tests our skills, but also our will and determination. I ask you to succeed and not fail! Every plane and every pilot must complete this mission with the highest standards. We must let the enemy know that even in the Fuso sky, we are invincible eagles! Any enemy who hinders us will pay a heavy price!"
Colonel Lan was shocked when he heard this. He stood up and nodded solemnly to Division Commander Roll. He said in a sonorous and powerful voice: "Please rest assured, all the officers and soldiers of our A Wing will live up to everyone's expectations and complete the Dawn Operation with an iron-blooded attitude to bring glory to the Second Air Division!"