The end of the military era

In the bridge of the full main gun battleship of the Demon Claw Eagle, Pegg ordered Onusa, the captain of the Demon Claw Eagle: "Send a telegram to each battleship.

Under the condition of maintaining a certain safe distance, the ships immediately used their main guns to bombard the port of Xiangshi City, clearing the way for the No.14 Army's landing operations as much as possible. "

The Demon Claw Eagle belongs to the Fire Pigeon class full main gun battleship of the Silver Wolf Imperial Navy. It is the latest full main gun battleship in the active service of the Silver Wolf Imperial Navy. It has a full load displacement of 27500 tons and a maximum speed of 20 knots. 5 times caliber 45mm main gun.

This time, the Second Fleet of the Royal Navy of the Silver Wolf Empire transferred to the Expeditionary Force 6 all-main-gun battleships, all of which were of the Fire Pigeon class, and Pegg used the Magic Claw Eagle as his flagship.

At this time, in a transport ship with a full load displacement of tens of thousands of tons, Prato, the deputy commander of the No.14 Army of the Silver Wolf Empire Royal Army, was a little puzzled and asked Commander Bullitt: "Why didn't we choose the third place before?" Landing place of the Marine Division?

In that case, it should be possible to reduce a lot of losses during the landing process. "

Bullitt said with a relaxed expression: "I very much hope that the human army on Xiangshi Island can stick to this port.

In this way, during the landing process of our No.14 Army, we can use the navy's large-caliber naval guns to kill and injure the vital forces of the human army in large numbers, and relieve the pressure on our No.14 Army's capture of the entire island. "

"It turned out that the commander had such a plan.

So do we need to seize this port overnight? "

Bullitt stretched his waist, "Let the soldiers rest for another night, and start to land on the beach tomorrow morning."

When the 12 all-main gun battleships and 13 all-steel battleships of the Silver Wolf Imperial Navy began to bombard Xiangshi Hong Kong and Xiangshi City at a distance of more than 1 meters with their main guns.

The No.20 Second Independent Brigade of the Fengwu Army stationed on Xiangshi Island, the Second Infantry Brigade of the Garrison Division, the Xiangshi Garrison Brigade, and the 10,000+ civilians on Xiangshi Island have all withdrawn to the central area of ​​Xiangshi Island.

After Ma Tiezhu, the brigade commander of the No.20 Second Independent Brigade, put down the binoculars, he said to Wang Biao, the brigade commander of the Second Infantry Brigade of the Garrison Division, with some emotion: "Biaozi, thanks to us giving up sticking to Xiangshi Port, otherwise we will continue to be bombarded like this. No matter how many troops are deployed, it will not be able to withstand it.”

Although the two forts in Xiangshi Harbor had been destroyed by the large-caliber naval guns of the Third Fleet of the Silver Wolf Empire Navy before, the all-steel battleships Weijia and Weiyi stranded in the port shoal, and the large armored cruiser Tonghai , Jiehai, light cruisers Feiting, and Feijie still have a large number of naval guns that can be used.

If they stick to Xiangshi Hong Kong, their 3 brigades can get fire support from 6 stranded warships.

Of course, the premise is that these six stranded warships can withstand the fierce bombardment of the many battleships of the Silver Wolf Empire Navy.

Wang Biao said in a deep voice: "Since the opponent's battleship bombarded Xiangshi Port so fiercely, then the No.14 Army of the Silver Wolf Empire may directly choose to land in Xiangshi Port.

It seems that we have to focus our defense on the direction of Hong Kong. "

Then Wang Biao said to Ma Tiezhu and Li Shengjun, commander of the Xiangshi Garrison Brigade: "Tie Zhu, Junzi, the next battle to defend Xiangshi Island will definitely be very difficult.

But no matter how great the sacrifice is, our three brigades must be firmly nailed to Xiangshi Island.

Only if our side can hold on for a long time, can the coastal defense fleet make some changes in the opponent's supply line. "

Li Shengjun said with a serious expression: "After our previous propaganda, the officers and soldiers should have a deep understanding of this.

However, the proportion of recruits in our three brigades is very high, so we must once again emphasize battlefield discipline to the officers below, and we must not soften our hearts at critical times! "

Ma Tiezhu nodded and said: "I agree! Anyone who evacuates the position without receiving the retreat order will be shot on the spot!"

Chapter 1 Seventeen

Accompanied by continuous explosions in the direction of Xiangshi Port, Xie Dong led two guards to the company's position.

The company's position is on a small hill, with a longitudinal length of only about 150 meters. At this time, the top of the hill is already full of criss-cross trenches.

In a bomb defense hole in the trench, Xie Dong found the company commander Liu Erga.

"Commander, why are you here?"

Xie Dong said in a deep voice: "The news just came from the regiment that the No.14 Army of the Silver Wolf Empire should land directly from Hongshi Port.

The position of our battalion is located on the first line of defense to the east, facing the direction of Hongshi Hong Kong. "

Liu Erga said nonchalantly: "Battalion Commander, it's not like we haven't fought with the wolf tribe before. As long as the large-caliber shells from their warships don't fall on our position, I'm not afraid of them!"

Xie Dong said: "Our place is more than ten kilometers away from the shore, and the nearest direction is more than ten kilometers. With the shooting accuracy of the current large-caliber naval gun, we should not eat the shells of the large-caliber naval gun.

But I heard that the No.14 Army of the Silver Wolf Empire is equipped with a lot of large-caliber howitzers, so you have to be mentally prepared for this.

In addition, your company has a lot of recruits. Facing a full army of the Silver Wolf Empire, this battle will definitely be very difficult. If there are deserters, you must not be soft-hearted! "

Liu Erga hesitated for a moment, then nodded firmly, "I understand, and I have made it clear to my brothers.

If there are brothers in our company who really run away, don't blame me, Liu Erga, for being a black hand. "

"The position that our battalion is responsible for defending this time is mainly the small hill that you have been defending in a row, and this small hill is also a commanding height, and it is likely to be attacked by the enemy.

The third company will serve as the reserve team for your first company, and there is no order to retreat, so even if there is only one person left in the position, you have to defend this small hill. "

"Yes, battalion commander!"

"This time, the regiment gave our battalion more machine guns, and I will ask the guard platoon to send you two heavy machine guns and four light machine guns in a row.

In addition, two infantry squads will be transferred from the guard platoon to directly strengthen your company. "

In the Zhou family army, the heavy machine gun refers to the German MG34 general-purpose machine gun, and the light machine gun refers to the Czech ZB26 light machine gun.

Hearing this, Liu Erga couldn't help laughing and said, "It's still the battalion commander's grandeur! Our company will never embarrass the battalion commander!"

"We can't lose the face of our Zhou family army!"

"Yes! We will never lose face to Zhou Jiajun!"

Xie Dong thumped Liu Erga's chest with his fist, "Erga, be careful when fighting, don't act stupid.

When I return to Ganyang City, I will invite you to Wanhualou to be cool! "

Liu Erga said with a smile: "Don't worry, Battalion Commander, my life is in danger!

What's more, I have become a company commander. For the military salary of 70 silver coins per month, and the flower wine given by the battalion commander, I have to live well. "

"Remember! Live!"

Just when the 12 all-main-gun battleships and 13 all-steel battleships of the Silver Wolf Imperial Navy began to bombard Xiangshi Hong Kong with their main guns, Zhou Rui smiled wryly and said to Liu Yiqiu, "How did you get here at this time?" Is Jingsheng City here?"

Liu Yiqiu smiled faintly, "Although you haven't married me in eight palanquins yet, since you have already made an engagement, I, Liu Yiqiu, am already the wife of the Zhou family.

I feel that at this time, I should be by your side, so I came here. "

Originally, according to the agreement between Zhou and Liu, Zhou Rui and Liu Yiqiu's wedding would be held the day after tomorrow, February 2, but because of the war with the Silver Wolf Empire, Zhou Rui and Liu Yiqiu's wedding had to be postponed.

The outside world does not know that Zhou Rui has newly equipped the Zhou family's coastal defense fleet with 12 full-armor battleships, 4 battlecruisers and 12 light cruisers, which is equivalent to adding a new card to the Zhou family that can turn the entire battle situation around. hole card.

Therefore, newspapers from all over the Han and Tang Empires basically held a pessimistic view of the Zhou family's expedition against the Silver Wolf Empire this time.

And this pessimistic view has also affected many people, even those around Zhou Rui.

Zhao Yan, a movie star who was accepted by Zhou Rui as a concubine, immediately left Ganyang City in a hurry after learning that the Silver Wolf Empire had sent an expeditionary force to attack the Zhou family, and rushed to Han Tiansheng City, the capital of the Tang Empire.