In the suburbs of Furnace Fortress, a shell landed next to a trench already bombarded beyond recognition, shaking the dwarven soldiers hiding inside and covering them in dust. Many were even buried by the dirt kicked up by the shell.
The Tang Army’s attack had been ongoing for three days, and during this ti, the outermost defensive lines of Furnace Fortress had been breached.
What made the Tang Army sowhat regretful was that the dwarven soldiers who recently joined the battle seed to have long stopped chanting the classic slogan Tang Mo had left them.
Indeed, the dwarven soldiers no longer shouted aningless words like "Ura," they had abandoned the tradition Tang Mo instilled in them and changed their habit of shouting "Ura" during counterattacks.
This had a certain relation to the dwarves’ counterattack tactics: nowadays, most dwarven soldiers daring to counterattack were crazed from taking Black Crow; it wasn’t strange that they weren’t shouting slogans.
Inside the Imperial Palace, Binghan the First paced anxiously; it seed he had been walking in circles recently, and his irritable state even made the ministers in the court extrely nervous.
"Why? Why can’t you hold them off? Each day, ten thousand casualties, and you haven’t been able to stop the Tang Army! Not even once! Useless!" Binghan the First furiously scolded his incompetent subordinates.
Marshal Balov, whom he held in high regard, along with another marshal, Xie Ke, were both unable to halt the southward advance of the Tang Army.
Furnace Fortress was now truly a frontline city; its northern suburbs had beco a battlefield, with the Tang Army attempting to seize control of several villages, the closest of which was rely 15 kiloters from Furnace Fortress.
Yes, the ongoing battle was happening less than 16 kiloters from Furnace Fortress. If this village were captured by the Tang Army, 155mm caliber howitzers might then be able to launch shells into the city of Furnace Fortress.
"Your Majesty, please calm down! The Tang Army assembled a massive force to attack us, and the frontline soldiers have already done their best," the Pri Minister explained with his head bowed. He had to do this because comforting Binghan the First was also part of his duty.
"The Laines Empire has agreed to our request, reinforcing us with 200 aircraft, 400 various machines, and 600 workers..." a minister responsible for communications quickly shared a piece of good news.
Seeing His Majesty The Emperor’s expression improve, another minister stepped forward to add, "Suthers has also agreed to provide us with 100 machines, allowing us to regain so pre-war productivity."
Despite many bad news, the two ministers reporting chose only the good news to share.
Indeed, their efforts were not in vain, as Poplar The First nodded with satisfaction and praised, "At last, two good pieces of news..."
This was indeed the best news he had heard recently; most of the remaining ti, he only heard about warships being sunk and troops being defeated.
Seeing His Majesty The Emperor’s delight, another minister jumped in with complints: "Your Majesty, there’s another piece of good news... Dorne’s troops have crossed the border and reached our southern region."
If the previous two reinforcent materials were rely uplifting, the real combat troops coming from faraway Dorne were undoubtedly the force Binghan the First most hoped to receive.
Hearing this news, Binghan the First clenched his fist and struck his palm, exclaiming excitedly, "Good! Have them head north imdiately and strive to reach the designated position before the battle begins."
"With reinforcents, sufficient ammunition, and weaponry, I can afford to wait here!" Binghan the First said firmly to his subordinates with his fists clenched.
He did not care about casualties or losses; he only hoped to hold Furnace Fortress, and for this, he even proactively abandoned the plan of fleeing.
Many ministers advised him to abandon Furnace Fortress and retreat south to a safe area to continue commanding the remaining troops, but Binghan the First was unwilling to leave his Furnace Fortress, unwilling to abandon this sacred place admired by all dwarves.
Even though the Tang Army’s tanks were less than 40 kiloters from his location, he still did not leave. He was so determined that many ministers even thought Binghan the First was prepared to defend Furnace Fortress to the last mont.
To ensure he did not go mad in the underground air raid shelter, Binghan the First would even go out every evening to take a walk, circling his air raid shelter a few tis to relax.
Even so, he had no intention of leaving the city to head south, and when soone suggested he leave Furnace Fortress, he angrily had them imprisoned.
"Yes, Your Majesty, as long as we hold Furnace Fortress, the situation will develop in our favor!" The Pri Minister stood firmly with his Emperor.
Soon, Dorne’s reinforcents would arrive, and the Elf’s support would also reach them. Then, they could use Furnace Fortress to deliver a fatal blow to the arrogant Tang Army!
Urban warfare would be their trump card for victory!
During their attacks, the situation was like field battles, with the Allied Forces having no city to rely on. But defensive battles are different; the city will beco the Allied Forces’ greatest reliance.
Even Eternal Winter City, after being surrounded, held out for a long ti, proving that the Tang Army couldn’t fully exert its power in urban warfare. Therefore, in the battle for Furnace Fortress, the Allied Forces hold the advantage!
Whether comforting themselves or genuinely believing in this strategy, both Binghan the First and his ministers thought the outco of this battle was not yet determined.
Even as they held these etings, many civilians on the outskirts of the city could already hear the distant, indistinct sounds of artillery. Even though Tang Army planes had beco a constant presence in the skies over Furnace Fortress, often circling and reluctant to leave.
Despite the Tang Army exerting constant pressure from both wings to compress the dwarven defenses, forcing the dwarves to yield the eastern and western sides of Furnace Fortress... Binghan the First and his people still believed they could hold on here, awaiting a shift in the situation.
Though it was unclear where their confidence ca from, they certainly believed it.
Whether comforting themselves or genuinely believing in this plan, both Binghan the First and his ministers thought the outco of this battle was not yet determined.
Even as they held these etings, many civilians on the outskirts of the city could already hear the distant, indistinct sounds of artillery. Even though Tang Army planes had beco a constant presence in the skies over Furnace Fortress, often circling and reluctant to leave.
Despite the Tang Army exerting constant pressure from both wings to compress the dwarven defenses, forcing the dwarves to yield the eastern and western sides of Furnace Fortress... Binghan the First and his people still believed they could hold on here, awaiting a shift in the situation.
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