Starting at 9 a.m. on February 28, the 14th Army of the Silver Wolf Empire continued to attack the defense line of the Zhou Army from the east and west directions of Xiangshi Island.

However, under the stubborn resistance of the three brigades of the Zhou Army, the Fourteenth Army of the Silver Wolf Empire attacked for three days in a row, paying a very heavy price, but still did not take the forward positions of the Zhou Army in any direction.

In the middle of the night on 30 February, Bullitt, commander of the 14th Army, gathered all the officers above the regimental level under his command.

Even officers at or above the regimental level of the Fourth Division and the Second Heavy Artillery Regiment, which were responsible for attacking the positions of the Zhou Army's Western Front, rushed to the temporary headquarters by boat overnight.

"Shame! This is a shame that the Fourteenth Army of the Royal Army of the Silver Wolf Empire has never had!

For three days, the Fourteenth Army did not even move forward, you tell me, why? Bullitt squirted angrily at more than a hundred officers above the regimental level.

I can't complain that Bullitt is so emotional.

By the time it got dark on the 30th, the 14th Army's casualties on the two fronts had reached 15,000, of which more than 12,000 had been killed.

You must know that an infantry division of the 14th Army is only 18,000 people, and the casualties of 15,000 are almost equivalent to scrapping an infantry division, but it has not even taken the enemy's forward positions.

According to the results of the reconnaissance of the 14th Army, the human army should have arranged three lines of defense on the eastern and western fronts, and what the 14th Army had been attacking before was only the first line of defense of the human army in two directions.

Such a result is unacceptable to Bullitt, you must know that the human army that has always been looked down upon by Bullitt against the 14th Army.

In the face of Commander Bullitt's wild spray, more than 100 officers above the regimental level of the 14th Army all lowered their heads, and none of them dared to speak out.

At this time, Prato, the deputy commander of the 14th Army, coughed lightly, and then said slowly: "This battle is like this, the commander and I have no way to explain to the War Department, and everyone should not complain that the commander is annoyed."

I gathered everyone here tonight to sum up the previous lessons and study a more reasonable plan for the next attack. ”

Deputy Commander Prato's words calmed Bullitt's mood a little, and then Bullitt directly began to roll out names, "Igna, the losses of the first division are second only to the fourth division, you can talk about it first!" ”

Since the 4th Division of the 14th Army was solely responsible for the offensive on the Western Front, the losses were greater than the other 3 infantry divisions of the 14th Army.

Hearing the commander directly call his name, Igna, the commander of the First Division, pondered for a moment, and then spoke: "Commander, it is no exaggeration to say that the comprehensive combat effectiveness of this human army we encountered on Xiangshi Island is not inferior to the Fourteenth Army of our Silver Wolf Empire's Royal Army.

The rifles, machine guns, and artillery of this human army are even superior in performance to the weapons and equipment of our Fourteenth Army.

This makes us have to suffer a lot of casualties every time we charge.

I think that in the next offensive, the most important thing is to strengthen the suppression of our artillery. ”

Although the three brigades of the Zhou Army stationed on Xiangshi Island were not equipped with large-caliber artillery, they brought considerable losses to the artillery units of the 14th Army by virtue of the ultra-high rate of fire of the French Type 1897 Type 75 field guns and the maximum firing range of 8,550 meters.

At present, the number of artillery that the 14th Army can use is less than half of what it was before the war, and even the two heavy artillery regiments have lost quite a few large-caliber howitzers.

Even in the face of the 160-mm howitzers equipped with the two heavy artillery regiments of the 14th Army, the French Type 1897 field guns of the 75th Army did not suffer in range.

Of course, during the artillery battle with the artillery units of the 14th Army, the 75-mm field guns of the three brigades of the Zhou Army also suffered heavy losses.

As soon as Igna, the commander of the First Division, finished speaking, Coles, the commander of the Fourth Division, continued: "Commander, this human army guarding Xiangshi Island has a very tenacious will to fight.

In the previous attack, the attacking troops of our 4th Division rushed to the opponent's position on several occasions and engaged in hand-to-hand combat with those human soldiers.

However, the human soldiers were so crazy that they would even pull grenades and die with the soldiers of the Empire.

As a result, we were driven out of our positions in several white-knuckle battles.

I also think that the suppression of artillery should be strengthened, but it is just a blind onslaught, maybe the fourth division will not be able to take the forward positions of the human army on the Western Front. ”

After listening to the speeches of the two division commanders, Bullitt asked the deputy commander Prato in a deep voice: "What do you think?" ”

Deputy Commander Prato sighed and said: "Commander, now we can't care about any face, we must report to the War Department the difficulties encountered by our 14th Army.

The naval base on Pusha Island should have a lot of artillery stored in it, and I hope that the War Department can coordinate with the Admiralty to replenish some artillery for our 14th Army from Pusha Island.

In addition, I felt that I could ask the War Department to transfer the 3rd Marine Division to Xiangshi Island.

Since this human army on Xiangshi Island can be called a hard bone, it can't let our 14th Army gnaw alone, and the 3rd Marine Division should also help our 14th Army share some of it. ”

Bullitt nodded, "Prato, as you wish, immediately send a telegram to the War Department." ”

Then Bullitt said in a deep voice to more than a hundred officers above the regimental level: "The offensive cannot be stopped until it is replenished with artillery, and continuous pressure must be put on this human army."

However, in terms of the strength of the attack, you are in charge of it, and you must minimize casualties as much as possible. ”

In a small forest in the central area of Xiangshi Island, Xie Dong lit a cigarette and handed it to Liu Erga, "Erga, there is a war, there are no immortals, don't be too sad." ”

Liu Erga took the cigarette, took a hard puff, and coughed a few times involuntarily, "I don't know what's good about this thing, it's expensive and not hungry, and I choke my throat." ”

"If you don't give it back to me, I'll have half a box of stock left now."

When Liu Erga heard this, he hurriedly took another sip, "Ahem, I don't know if I can leave Xiangshi Island alive, I also have to taste this new thing." ”

Xie Dong also lit a cigarette for himself, and after taking a deep breath, he said with some emotion: "Yes! I don't know if we still have a chance to leave Xiangshi Island alive.

If Lao Tzu can return to Ganyang City alive, he must go to Wanhualou for a few days! ”

"Battalion commander, don't forget to take me with you, you promised."

"A must! So let's survive! ”

Liu Erga then said with some sadness: "I didn't expect that this battle would be so miserable.

Our first company, plus the three companies that supported later, and two companies from other battalions, only about 50 were left alive in the end.

Counting the wounded who were evacuated earlier, more than 500 people in the four companies survived.

We were left with 17 people alive, including me, and 8 of them were seriously wounded. ”

After speaking, Liu Erga took another puff of cigarette, but this time Liu Erga was not choked by the smoke.

Xie Dong's face also showed a sad look, "After all, we are facing a group army of the Silver Wolf Empire this time, and sacrifice is inevitable."

It is a matter of pride that the casualty ratio of our battalion exceeded 80 percent, but there was not a single deserter, and the brothers were all good. ”

Liu Erga's eyes were already red at this time, "The brothers are indeed good."

Yesterday morning, a group of wolf soldiers rushed to the position, the brothers fought bayonets but could not fight those wolf soldiers, many brothers took grenades, and threw themselves on the wolf soldiers, and the remaining wolf soldiers fled from the position in fright.

My guard also rushed up with a few grenades strapped, that stupid boy was just eighteen years old, he was hardworking, and he had gone to school, but unfortunately he was gone. ”

Xie Dong patted Liu Erga on the shoulder, "Erga, don't think about it."

After all, the brothers died on the battlefield of resisting the invasion of the Silver Wolf Empire, and they deserved to die! ”

"By the way, what's wrong with the black baby?"

Song Heiwa, the commander of the guard platoon, was seriously injured by a shell in the fierce battle and was carried off the position.

"Heiwa is very seriously injured and is still in a coma.

However, the doctor said that he could save his life, and his arms and legs were not missing, which was a blessing. ”

When Liu Erga heard that Song Heiwa was still alive, he finally showed a little smile on his face, "Battalion commander, I have agreed with Heiwa."

When I return to Ganyang City and go to Wanhualou to be chic, I will be counted as a black baby! ”

"No problem, when you return to Ganyang City, Lao Tzu will take you two soil buns to see the world well!"

Then Xie Dong's voice changed, "Erga, the regiment has temporarily merged our third and fourth battalions into a reinforced battalion, and the battalion commander and deputy battalion commander of the fourth battalion, as well as several company-level officers, have all sacrificed, so I am the battalion commander of this reinforced battalion."

I am going to let you temporarily serve as the deputy battalion commander and the commander of the second company, and I will also serve as the commander of the first company, and the platoon commander named Sun Tieniu under you will serve as the commander of the third company.

We must set up this reinforced battalion as soon as possible, and with the current tragic level of offensive and defensive warfare, our reinforced battalion may soon need to be on top again. ”

Liu Erga knew that the deputy battalion commander of their third battalion and other company-level officers had also died, and now in addition to the battalion commander Xie Dong in the third battalion, the company-level officers were left with him Liu Erga.

"Okay, I'll listen to the battalion commander.

Battalion commander, how many of them are left in the fourth battalion to fight? ”

"There are still 57 left in the fourth battalion, and there are 66 left in our third battalion, and the regiment will allocate 500 recruits to the reinforced battalion tomorrow."

The joint headquarters of the three brigades of the Zhou Jiajun was set up in a cave in a mountain col in the central area of Xiangshi Island.

At about 10 o'clock on the evening of the 30th, Ma Tiezhu, the commander of the 22nd Independent Brigade, said: "It seems that tonight, the enemy should not attack again. ”

Wang Biao, commander of the Second Infantry Brigade of the garrison division, yawned and said: "Then we can't be careless, let the troops in the first line of positions on the eastern and western fronts still strengthen their vigilance tonight to guard against the enemy's sneak attack." ”

At this time, Li Shengjun, the commander of the Xiangshi Garrison Brigade, said to Wang Biao: "Biaozi, you can sleep for a while."

You haven't closed your eyes for three days, and you don't know how long this battle will last, you can't stay up like this, we have to be ready to fight a protracted war. ”

Wang Biao nodded, "I really have to sleep, and now my eyelids are fighting."

By the way, how many recruits have been recruited from among the people of Xiangshi Island? ”

Li Shengjun said: "At present, more than 20,000 recruits have been recruited, and almost all men over the age of 18 and under the age of 45 have been recruited as recruits.

A number of officers and soldiers were also dispatched to begin military training for women, the elderly and teenagers among the civilian population.

When necessary, these women, old people and teenagers will become reinforcements for our three brigades! ”

Ma Tiezhu then said with a smile: "If you look at the current battle situation, with only one Silver Wolf Empire's Fourteenth Group Army, we won't be able to send women, children, and old people to the battlefield. ”

Wang Biao sighed, "There is only one Silver Wolf Empire's Fourteenth Army, I'm not worried.

The combined casualties of our three brigades in the past few days are less than 6,000 people, which should be much less than the attacking Fourteenth Army of the Silver Wolf Empire, and it can be consumed with this Fourteenth Army.

The problem is that the Silver Wolf Empire does not have more than this group army, and Xiangshi Island is the closest port to the mainland of the Silver Wolf Empire, and it takes half a month to take a ship. ”

Ma Tiezhu patted Wang Biao's back, "Biaozi, I see that you can't sleep, you just worry too much."

The soldiers are coming, the water is coming to cover the earth, even if the Silver Wolf Empire sends another group army or several group armies to land on Xiangshi Island?

If you want to eat our three brigades, you have to be prepared to break a mouthful of teeth! ”

Li Shengjun followed and said: "I think you are also thinking too much.

Don't forget, the major general has added a lot of cards to the coastal defense fleet, if the coastal defense fleet can seize the fighters, it can severely damage the naval fleet in the Silver Wolf Empire Expeditionary Force, maybe this 14th Army will have to run away quickly. ”

Late at night on the 30th, Zhou Rui had been reading the battle report sent by Xiangshi Island, and he didn't sleep after midnight.

And when the time was just past zero o'clock, the lottery system gave Zhou Rui a two-star lottery card in March.

After Zhou Rui used this two-star lottery card, he got two more battleships.

British Orion-class battleship with a full load displacement of 25,870 tons and a maximum speed of 21 knots.

It was equipped with 5 twin 45x caliber 343 mm main guns, 16 50x caliber 102 mm secondary guns, and 3 533 mm torpedo tubes.

The broadside armor belt was from 178 mm to 305 mm, the main deck armor was 44 mm to 102 mm, the main turret armor was 279 mm, and the crew was 752 people.

It is obvious that these two British Orion-class battleships are also all-main gun battleships, and their main gun caliber is comparable to the latest Fire Pigeon-class all-main gun battleship of the Silver Wolf Imperial Navy.

If the main force of the coastal defense fleet on Crescent Island can add these two Orion-class all-main gun battleships, then against the expeditionary force of the Silver Wolf Empire, the chances of victory will be greater.

Today, in Jingsheng Port, there are the only two large armored cruisers of the second formation of the coastal defense fleet, the Pinghai and the Anhai, and the light cruiser Feirong of the special task force.

There were also six ironclad battleships of the fourth formation, Zhenjia, Zhenyi, Zhenc, Zhending, Zhenwu and Zhenji.

As well as the ironclad battleships General, Fierce General, and Gold Ingot of the sixth formation, the light cruisers Dawn and Purple Eagle, and the offshore gunboats Golden Dragon and Silver Dragon.

So at this time, there was no shortage of naval officers and sailors on the side of Jingsheng City.

Zhou Rui felt that he could completely extract the two British Orion-class all-main gun battleships, transfer naval officers and men from those warships gathered in Jingsheng Port, and fully equip the personnel of the two British Orion-class all-main gun battleships.

Then let the two British Orion-class all-main gun battleships rush to Crescent Island on their own to join the main forces of the coastal defense fleet.

Moreover, Zhou Rui had already prepared to let the Pinghai, Anhai and Feirong, the three relatively new troops, leave Jingsheng Port.

After all, with the combat power of these warships in Jingsheng Harbor, there was no way to compete with the navy of the Silver Wolf Empire.

Once the expeditionary force of the Silver Wolf Empire attacked Jingsheng City, Zhou Rui could only let all the warships in Jingsheng Harbor rush to the shoals and use them as fixed batteries.

With the performance of the Pinghai, Anhai and Feirong, it is a bit of a waste to act as a fixed battery.

Now that there are two more battleships with full main guns, it is completely possible for five warships to form a temporary fleet and rush to Crescent Island together.

Zhou Rui was thinking about how to quietly extract the two British Orion-class battleships with full main guns, when Hu Yi suddenly walked in and handed a piece of paper to Zhou Rui.

Zhou Rui took the piece of paper and looked at it, and couldn't help sneering and said, "Even some cats and dogs have jumped out."

Just take these few to open the knife, and you can also expand some strategic depth space for Jingsheng City. ”