North Pass.
After nearly an hour of relentless bombardment, large sections of the city walls had collapsed, and the city gate was breached. Within the trenches, the mangled corpses of soldiers lay everywhere!
War is cruel.
There is no war without casualties.
Even elite units like the First Independent Division comprised soldiers with mortal bodies; they couldn't all be like war gods fighting a hundred foes at once. When shells landed, people were bound to die.
"Damn it!"
Hu Lai, covered in dust and grime, crawled out of the air-raid shelter and strode onto the ruined city gate tower. Before he could even raise his binoculars, he distinctly felt the ground tremble.
"Quite a force!"
Through his binoculars, he saw the main army of the Xiao family, led by Xiao Sihai, comprising over a hundred thousand infantry, advancing rapidly towards North Pass under the cover of mechanical units.
"Division Commander, give the order!"
"Division Commander, my brigade volunteers to be the vanguard."
"Division Commander, I volunteer to lead the charge."
One by one, officers rushed forward, saluting Hu Lai smartly from behind him. These mercenary leaders were willing to die on the battlefield for their country and their people.
"Don't rush!"
Hu Lai's expression was stern, and he roared, "They've used up their initial offensive. Now it's our turn. Order the artillery regiments and rocket regiments to bombard them relentlessly. Fire all ammunition in one concentrated volley."
"Yes!"
"Order the attack helicopter squadrons to strike them with all their might. Notify the air force base that the bombers can take off. Damn it, if we can't match them in manpower, I'll drown them in money."
"Yes!"
The officers shouted in unison.
Yes.
Hu Lai wasn't bragging.
The Lone Wolf Legion was a top-tier international private military force. While they might not match the sheer numbers of a major national army in a regional conflict, their immense wealth came into play.
War is fought with money.
Whoever has more money, is stronger.
In the northern frontier, besides their ground forces, the Lone Wolf Legion also operated three large military airfields. They wouldn't typically be activated, but once deployed, they were truly willing to burn through cash.
The enemy was drawing closer.
The situation at North Pass was extremely tense.
The passes in the other three directions had also encountered attacks of varying degrees. Although not the main battlefield, reinforcements could not be spared for North Pass.
Therefore, before Dragon City's reinforcements arrived, Hu Lai's sixty thousand men couldn't hold out through mere defense. The best approach was a head-on confrontation, using heavy firepower to strike the enemy at any cost.
"Faster, faster."
"Set up all the machine guns."
"Build defensive fortifications."
"Prepare for battle."
Soldiers swarmed the city walls and the areas outside. Every officer was shouting orders, every soldier was busy, and even the logistics troops had assembled and were standing by, ready to be deployed into the fray.
Ten kilometers away…
Within the rapidly advancing formation of the Xiao family army, surrounded by layers of guards, Xiao Sihai sat in his command vehicle and spoke into his phone, "Commander-in-Chief, rest assured, we must capture North Pass in this battle."
"Fourth Brother."
Xiao Bahuang on the other end paused and said gravely, "You must understand, only by taking North Pass do we have a foundation to stand on. Otherwise, the Sunset Country could abandon us at any moment."
"I understand!"
"Wishing you victory in this battle."
"We will win!"
After the brothers finished their call, Xiao Sihai immediately ordered, "Relay my command: the armored corps must advance faster. Damn it, before the enemy reinforcements arrive, we must break into the city."
"Yes!"
The messenger immediately relayed the order.
Another battlefield…
After the main forces of Dragon City had departed, the regimental commanders of the Eighth and Ninth Regiments, along with all their soldiers, took position behind a hillside and engaged in fierce combat with the raiding Wú Kingdom forces.
At this moment.
With their absolute numerical advantage, the Wú Kingdom soldiers were no longer resorting to stealth attacks. To disrupt the main force, they had to eliminate these two regiments; otherwise, pursuing them would become difficult.
*Thump-thump-thump!*
*Thump-thump-thump…*
To the rhythm of the Wú Kingdom's unique war drums, twenty thousand Wú Kingdom infantry charged up the hillside. They were small in stature but incredibly fast, many running on the balls of their feet.
On the hillside.
The two regiments tasked with blocking the enemy opened fire.
"Spray them with machine-gun fire!"
"Brothers, fix bayonets!"
"Await orders, advance only, retreat is forbidden!"
"Fight to the last man!"
After the officers' shouts, the squad leaders also roared. In truth, every soldier knew that with their limited numbers, defeating twenty thousand Wú Kingdom soldiers was practically impossible.
This was bound to be a brutal engagement.
It was highly likely they would be annihilated.
But, as soldiers of the Dragon Kingdom, every warrior had long since prepared themselves for death, their resolve firm. From the moment they enlisted, their lives belonged to the country, to the people.
*Pew-pew-pew-pew!*
*Rat-tat-tat-tat-tat…*
Under the intense gunfire, the Wú Kingdom soldiers charging up the hill fell in swathes. Yet, the people of this wicked nation were peculiar; they seemed possessed, showing no fear of death.
Another round of booming war drums.
The Wú Kingdom forces were now within striking distance.
"Out of ammo!"
"I'm out here too."
"Unsheathe bayonets, fix bayonets!"
"Fix bayonets…"
Following a rousing cheer, the soldiers who had run out of ammunition stood up, their bayonets fixed. Many were already wounded, but their expressions were filled with resolute determination.
"All men, fix bayonets!"
The commander of the Eighth Regiment bellowed at the top of his lungs.
"All men, prepare to charge!"
The commander of the Ninth Regiment ran to the very peak of the hill.
The two regular regiments, totaling over five thousand men, minus those killed or seriously wounded, all surged to the mountaintop. Even the cooks from the mess hall came up, brandishing cleavers.
At this moment.
Facing nearly twenty thousand Wú Kingdom enemy forces.
In terms of both firepower and numbers, the two regiments of Dragon City soldiers were at a severe disadvantage. However, their orders were to hold back the enemy for three hours at any cost.
Only one hour had passed.
They could not retreat.
And they would never retreat!
"Soldiers of the Dragon Kingdom, we became soldiers to protect our homes and our country. Now, a bunch of scoundrels are harming our people and occupying our land. What should we do?"
The commander of the Eighth Regiment roared with earth-shattering might.
"Kill!"
The five thousand soldiers roared in unison.
"Children, do not be afraid. Unleash your military spirit, your courage. We must make these little Wú people understand that to bully our Dragon Kingdom, they must pay a bloody price."
The commander of the Ninth Regiment shouted with a hoarse voice.
"Kill, kill, kill!"
The five thousand soldiers responded with imposing might.
"Sound the charge!"
"Follow me…"
The sonorous bugle call echoed throughout the valley. The five thousand soldiers supporting the North Sea from Dragon City, utterly fearless of death, launched their first, and ultimately, their last offensive.
A rolling wave of humanity cascaded down.
Beneath the mist of blood lay heroes.
Singing their military songs, the five thousand men charged like a sharp sword into the heart of the Wú Kingdom enemy forces. They had no bullets left; they would use the Dragon Kingdom's military blades to stop these invaders.
"Kill!"
"You sons of bitches, come on!"
"Help me up, I can still fight."
"…!!!"
One warrior after another was mown down by enemy gunfire, and one hero after another was brutally cut down by enemy swords. They fell on the path of their charge, united by a common mission.
"Lao Gao, pull me up!"
In a shell crater, the commander of the Eighth Regiment, hit by three bullets, yelled towards the Ninth Regiment commander who had passed him.
"Lao Sun, rest for a moment. I'll lead the brothers forward first. Guard Company, continue the charge…"
"Lao Gao, wait a moment."
"What is it, old friend?"
"It is a great honor to fight alongside you."
"Old friend, see you in the next life."
"In the next life, we'll continue fighting side-by-side."
"Alright!"
The two old comrades released their burning hands.
As the commander of the Ninth Regiment, leading the Guard Company, continued to charge into the fray, the commander of the Eighth Regiment sat in the shell crater, surrounded by over a dozen Wú Kingdom soldiers.
"Surrender!"
"Surrender, and your life will be spared."
Two Wú Kingdom officers commanded.
"Surrender? Surrender your mother!"
The commander of the Eighth Regiment suddenly tore open his uniform. A string of grenades hung from his waist. Without hesitation, he pulled the pins and roared, "The Dragon Kingdom will win! Invaders, die!"
*BOOM!*
*BOOM-BOOM…*
A series of violent explosions erupted.
The shell crater ignited in a blazing inferno.
The commander of the Eighth Regiment was buried on the battlefield, but he took over a dozen enemies with him. This heroic act terrified the surrounding enemy soldiers. They couldn't understand why the Dragon Kingdom people were so ferocious.
The charge sounds!
Dying on the battlefield!
This is the belief of every Dragon Kingdom soldier!
Shedding blood!
Protecting home and country!
This is the honor of every Dragon Kingdom soldier!