Sheryl called his Corps Commander directly, requesting permission to launch an attack on Yonghe City to test the enemy's firepower. At that moment, Sheryl's massive force was marching along the road. The wheeled vehicles sped along the asphalt, while the tanks and armored vehicles advanced in parallel across the adjacent terrain, divided into several distinct marching columns.
The 1st Corps boasted exceptional armored equipment. Every infantryman rode in an armored vehicle. Even their artillery pieces were towed by armored personnel carriers, whereas other units typically used standard trucks. The artillery crews also traveled in armored vehicles instead of trucks.
This unit held an incredibly high status within the Mara Empire. Their commander, Kelly, was an Imperial Prince of Mara, destined to become the future supreme commander of the Royal Imperial Guard. Currently, an older prince held supreme command over the Guard, which comprised the 1st through the 10th Corps, totaling over 600,000 troops.
"Mm. We are still about a two-hour drive from your position. Do not attack immediately, but you may begin preparations. In exactly one hour, at 9:00 PM, your forces may launch the assault. Ensure you maintain proper echelons.
"Our opponent is cunning. They have already ambushed several corps. Do not advance recklessly; fight steadily and methodically!" Kelly instructed after a moment's thought.
"Yes, sir! We will launch the attack on Yonghe City at exactly 9:00 PM!" Sheryl replied, elated that the Corps Commander had agreed.
"Remember, strike hard, but do not necessarily push into the city itself. Our goal is to determine the size of their force and map out their firepower deployments. Do not enter the city lightly; they might be waiting in ambush. We are a mechanized force, suited for field battles, not urban combat!" Kelly warned.
"Understood. I will not enter Yonghe City; I will engage the Eastern Spirit forces from the outskirts!" Sheryl promised.
"Good. Initiate the attack. Even if they dare to counterattack, our main force will arrive soon. They cannot wipe out your unit that quickly!" Kelly nodded and hung up the phone.
Kelly sat alone, contemplating their adversary. He had very little information on them; he didn't even know which specific unit they were facing.
All he knew was that this force had annihilated the Mara Empire's 43rd Corps yesterday and the Limaguo 11th Corps today. Such combat prowess demanded his utmost attention.
He knew this enemy was not to be trifled with. If it weren't for the vital equipment in Late City, his 1st Corps would never have been deployed here.
The thought irritated Kelly. His forces excelled at breaching defensive lines established by the Eastern Spirit Empire, but they were genuinely unsuited for urban warfare. Urban combat was a grueling grind that could completely exhaust an army—losing a few men every day, day after day, was the most unbearable kind of attrition.
Unless one held an absolute advantage, capturing a city quickly was nearly impossible. And since the Eastern Spirit Empire lacked natural geographic defenses, their cities had become their primary strongholds against the Allied invasion.
"Corps Commander, why delay their attack by an hour? What difference does it make if they attack now?" a staff officer behind him asked.
"It makes no major difference, of course. Our opponent wouldn't bother wiping out such a small vanguard force; they have their sights set on our main body. We've deployed reconnaissance units to the surrounding areas and found no trace of Eastern Spirit forces.
"That's what confuses me. Our opponent definitely knows we are coming. Since they have troops stationed in Yonghe City, they must be aware. Why haven't they chosen to ambush us this time?
"Or perhaps they have chosen Yonghe City as the ambush site. This is something we must consider. Therefore, waiting is the better option. If they have chosen Yonghe City, we must carefully plan our approach. Simply pushing forward won't work. If our forces scatter, it will only give the Eastern Spirit troops more opportunities.
"We still don't even know who our opponent is, how many troops they have, or what their force composition looks like. According to previous intelligence, they have tanks, armored vehicles, artillery, and air cavalry—everything except an air force. If they had an air force...
"If I didn't already know Jiang Kai had fled, I would suspect the force defending Late City was an entire combat zone command. However, it seems their numbers aren't actually that large.
"During their attack on the Limaguo 11th Corps today, they only deployed about a battalion's worth of infantry. This suggests they possess heavy equipment, but their actual troop count is relatively low.
"But then again, who knows if the forces they've revealed are their entire hand, or just a fraction of it?" Kelly mused aloud.
"If that's the case, wouldn't it be better to wait until our main force arrives before attacking?" the staff officer pressed.
"That's not necessary. We need to know exactly how many troops are in Yonghe City. If their numbers are small, we will wipe them out between tonight and tomorrow morning, then continue our advance. High Command wants us to occupy Late City quickly!" Kelly shook his head.
"True, we can't afford to waste too much time," the staff officer agreed, nodding.
Meanwhile, in Yonghe City, Sheryl was ecstatic after receiving permission to attack. He immediately ordered his troops to fan out and deploy.
However, he ordered them to do so without lights, maneuvering in complete darkness. They simply deployed and waited. Once the hour passed, they would launch their assault.
Inside Yonghe City, the Eastern Spirit officers and soldiers were also staring intently ahead.
They all knew that fighting during the dry season could only be done at night; the daytime heat was too unbearable. Therefore, while some soldiers kept watch, many others simply collapsed behind their defensive positions and slept.
The officers didn't reprimand them. Resting now was crucial; once the fighting started, no one knew when they would get another chance to sleep.
"Hey, Li Nan. Hao-ge said the Allied forces would attack tonight, but looking across the river, I don't see any movement. Are they really going to attack tonight?" Wu Xunqi asked Tank Regiment Commander Li Nan, standing beside him.
"I don't know. If Hao-ge says they will, then they definitely will!" Li Nan replied steadfastly.
"Report! Division Commander Bai and his troops have arrived. They are currently deploying throughout various sectors of the city. Division Commander Bai is heading this way right now!" a communications soldier ran up to report.
"Oh? Division Commander Bai is here? That's excellent news. With his tank forces, there's no way we'll suffer too badly," Liu Yichuan said, clearly relieved.
"Let's go greet him. Since he's here, he is the highest-ranking officer; we must follow his orders!" Wu Xunqi declared.
The three acting commanders headed out of the command center. They hadn't gone far when they saw a command vehicle approaching.
They stopped, and the vehicle pulled up in front of them. Bai Ye stepped out.
"Greetings, Division Commander Bai!" the three said, though they did not salute.
"Mm. Let's head to your command center. It's not safe to talk out here!" Bai Ye nodded.
"Yes, sir. Right this way, Division Commander Bai!" Liu Yichuan stepped aside, gesturing for Bai Ye to lead the way.
"Before I came, the Commander told me that I am not to actively intervene in your command. I only take orders directly from him. I fight when Hao-ge tells me to fight.
"You three are in command here. You need to work hard. Whether you can drop the 'acting' from your titles depends entirely on your performance!" Bai Ye told them as he walked ahead.
"Ah? We're commanding? What about you? Aren't you going to command?" Li Nan asked, staring at Bai Ye in shock.
"What is there for me to command? The 1st Corps acts tough, calling themselves the Royal Imperial Guard, but if Hao-ge really wanted to destroy them, do you think he'd let them march here so arrogantly?
"Hao-ge set up this battlefield specifically to train you officers. If I command, or if Hao-ge commands, how are you supposed to learn anything?" Bai Ye smiled as they entered the command center.
"That makes sense. Hao-ge did tell us to take command!" Wu Xunqi realized with a smile.
"Mm. I came to tell you that my troops are stationed in every corner of the city. If the enemy tries to flank us from another direction, my tanks can stall them for a while.
"But the main battle will still rely on your infantry. That means wherever fighting breaks out in the city, your troops must engage. My forces are simply here to ensure the city isn't completely overrun!
"Furthermore, two more infantry divisions are arriving tomorrow night. This means you won't have many opportunities to command independently. Every division will rotate through this battlefield. Hao-ge is turning the Mara Empire's 1st Corps into a whetstone to sharpen our army!
"Whether you emerge as sharp blades or broken steel depends on what kind of material you are!" Bai Ye declared, looking at the three men.
"Please rest assured, Division Commander Bai, and please assure the Commander. We will definitely cherish this opportunity and lead our troops well. We all hope Hao-ge will eventually lead us to fight our way back home!" Liu Yichuan stood at attention and promised earnestly.
(End of Chapter)