Chapter 141: The True Battle of Life and Death!

He continued with firm resolve, his gaze sweeping across everyone present as he declared, "No matter what challenges we face, we must ensure that our retreat routes remain completely unobstructed."

In his tone, there was both unwavering determination and an unquestionable command, "This way, whether we are attacking or defending, we will not be utterly crushed by the enemy."

Looking expectantly at his subordinates, he said, "Gentlemen, we must give it our all. Is that understood?"

"Understood, General, sir!" The subordinates' response was uniform and resolute. Lieutenant General Naminami and Lieutenant General Koinami saluted Antonze without the slightest hesitation, their facial expressions filled with trust and respect.

At that very moment, a staff officer rushed in hurriedly, an expression of urgency on his face as he reported:

"General, sir, an emergency has occurred!" His voice was hurried, his eyes fixed anxiously on Antonze, as if bearing terrible news.

"The 19th Division from Anshan has broken through our frontline positions and launched a full-scale counterattack!"

The content of his report was like a heavy bombshell, utterly shocking. "Despite the brave resistance of our soldiers, under the fierce artillery support of the enemy, the pressure on the front line is immense!"

His speaking pace quickened, as though he wished to convey all the information as fast as possible. "If we do not reinforce immediately, our defensive line could be breached at any moment!"

Hearing this sudden turn of events, Antonze's face instantly turned pale, his eyes widening in an expression of disbelief.

"How could such a situation possibly happen? Weren't they suffering heavy losses?"

His voice carried a tremor, betraying the panic within his heart.

"Under these circumstances, how could they possibly organize a large-scale offensive?"

He had originally decided to dispatch several thousand elite troops southward to secure the rear, never expecting to suddenly face the fierce assault of the 19th Division. This filled him not only with shock, but also with an unknown dread.

When Antonze realized that the offensive of the 19th Division coincided precisely with the adjustment of their own operational strategy, an incredulous look appeared on his face, his eyes flashing with a mixture of anger and helplessness.

"This is clearly part of their long-term plan!" he ground his teeth in anger, his tone laden with blame and astonishment.

"They chose this exact moment to launch their attack, undoubtedly intending to drive us to our deaths!" His hands clenched tightly into fists, his body leaning slightly forward, brimming with extreme dissatisfaction and tension.

At this time, a flash of shock and unease also crossed the face of the 5th Division Commander, Lieutenant General Koinami—an emotion extremely rare on his usually calm visage.

He took a deep breath, attempting to steady his emotions. "I truly never expected the 19th Division to be so reckless."

At this critical juncture, Lieutenant General Koinami and Lieutenant General Naminami turned simultaneously toward Lieutenant General Antonze, their eyes carrying a look of expectation and a plea for help. Their faces were written with confusion and tension, clearly seeking a way out.

Facing the gazes of the two men, Antonze's anger and helplessness intertwined. Although he tried to maintain his composure, the struggle within was clearly visible from his tightly furrowed brow and compressed lips.

His voice trembled slightly: "In that case, we have no way to break through to the south anymore."

At this moment, facing the expectations of Lieutenant General Naminami and Lieutenant General Koinami, Antonze felt unprecedented pressure.

Although he realized that these two generals might not be entirely on his side, he still had to make a decision.

"We must redeploy our defensive lines to withstand the offensive of the Chengyun army."

"Otherwise, our frontline troops will likely be unable to fend off the enemy's attack."

Antonze's facial expression was tense, a flicker of panic darting through his eyes. His voice was low, heavy with the reluctance to acknowledge the harsh reality.

"If we do not immediately send reinforcements to the front line, we will soon be surrounded by the enemy."

Though the words came from his own mouth, he was clearly unwilling to face such a truth.

Under the fierce assault of the 19th Division and its two attached mixed brigades, he knew all too well that his troops faced a massive risk of total annihilation, a realization that made him exceptionally anxious.

Pulling his thoughts back, Antonze wore a look of resolute determination: "Since that is the case, we shall mount a full defense right here."

His gaze was steadfast. Despite being filled with inner worry, he did his utmost to project confidence.

"Deploy all available military forces to the front line, hold the position firmly, and wait for reinforcements."

Upon hearing this plan, Lieutenant General Naminami's complexion turned exceptionally pale, his eyes revealing doubt and unease: "But our 2nd Division is essentially a reserve force."

His voice carried a sense of helplessness and despair. "At this critical juncture, who else can we possibly count on for assistance?"

Faced with Lieutenant General Naminami's skepticism, Antonze's gaze grew even firmer, his voice brimming with conviction: "Reinforcements will certainly arrive; the homeland will not simply sit back and watch two elite divisions face total annihilation."

A flicker of hope crossed his expression. Despite confronting immense challenges, he firmly believed in the possibility of victory.

"If such a scenario truly unfolds, not only will we be unable to shirk our blame, but even the Minister of the Army and the Chief of the General Staff will be held accountable."

His eyes gleamed with anticipation for the future. "Therefore, I believe the homeland will dispatch massive reinforcements."

"As long as we hold out until the reinforcements arrive, we still have a chance to turn the tide."

Antonze announced in a powerful tone, "We are now facing a true battle of life and death!"

At this moment, although his face displayed unprecedented resolve, his eyes could not entirely conceal a deep anxiety regarding the unknown future.

Faced with the terrifying consequences of defeat, Antonze's face turned pale, and a trace of fear flashed in his eyes.

"We will forever bear the stigma, nailed permanently to the pillar of shame with no hope of redemption." His voice trembled slightly; clearly, such an outcome was utterly unacceptable to him.

As the 19th Division and its subordinate artillery brigade opened fire with full force, sparing no expense in their expenditure of shells, a look of grim determination appeared on Antonze's face.

They hoped to completely crush the enemy by these means, a resolve clearly visible in his gaze.

Amidst the violent bombardment, the Japanese devils suffered massive casualties. When reports arrived that the Japanese devils were finding it increasingly difficult to organize effective resistance against the fierce assault of the 19th Division, a satisfied smile flashed across Li Jian's face, his eyes burning with the fire of battle.

The tactics adopted by the four infantry regiments and two mixed brigades of the 29th Division were clearly designed to completely annihilate the Japanese devils.

The success of this strategy redoubled Li Jian's confidence, his gaze firm and filled with a premonition of victory.

When the counterattack went into full swing and word came that an infantry regiment of the 63rd Division had joined the fray, boosting combat effectiveness, the corners of Li Jian's mouth curled up slightly, displaying a hint of pride.

He ordered the 63rd Division to rapidly deploy to the front line, with Meng Fan leading the 213th Regiment to immediately charge into battle. Such decisive command showcased his boldness and courage as a general.

The deteriorating situation of the Japanese devils on the battlefield rendered the frantic command of their senior officers and their desperate attempts to hold their ground utterly futile.

Upon hearing the battle reports, a complex expression appeared on Li Jian's face—a mixture of anticipation for the impending victory and a touch of sympathy for the enemy.

Yet he knew that for the sake of victory, this was a price that had to be paid.

The reports indicated that an infantry regiment of the 63rd Division had arrived at the battlefield and plunged into fierce combat, with other units soon to follow. This news brought a look of relief to the faces of both Li Jian and Chief of Staff Wang Xiao.

They knew that having achieved an absolute superiority in total troop strength, victory was now merely a matter of time.