It's better to conquer them than to command the steel torrent

Chapter 100｜Antonov is not a coward

Lieutenant Colonel Antonov was on pins and needles. He certainly didn't want to watch his men being annihilated.

Unfortunately, the main force at Vitesse Airport tried to rescue the area three times, but each time they were defeated by the dual firepower of Bofors anti-aircraft guns and Skoda cavalry guns.

The Ivan Ross airborne troops, trapped in the low-lying areas, were at the end of their rope, with everyone injured and very little ammunition.

The captain had been killed long ago, and now the entire team is commanded by only a slightly injured lieutenant.

They had tried to break out half an hour ago, but were blown back by a rain of mortar shells as soon as they started.

The lieutenant found another magazine from a corpse and asked the female warrant officer in the next foxhole, "Warrant Officer Igoreva, it looks like our luck is not good. Are you afraid?"

The latter had two fingers on his right hand cut off by shrapnel, so he could only hold the gun with his left hand.

"Of course I'm not afraid. Well, to be honest, a little." Her voice was hoarse.

The lieutenant smiled, but the others couldn't laugh at all in this situation.

At this moment, a red flare shot into the sky a thousand meters away.

Everyone knew that the final moment was approaching.

All the light machine guns were damaged and there was little ammunition left, so the Russian paratroopers could not organize effective resistance.

The Royal Guards came under only sporadic defensive fire and posed little threat.

"Are you ready, soldiers? Send the invaders to hell! Attach your bayonets!"

"Up, up, up!"

"Glory to Magyar!"

"Long live!"

Under the cover of tanks, more than 200 Royal Guard infantrymen shouted and launched a bayonet charge!

The setting sun stretched their shadows very long, and their bayonets reflected the bright red glow.

There was a flash of swords and sabers.

In the temporary command post at the rear, Shang Ke put down the signal gun that was still emitting smoke and breathed a sigh of relief.

He hadn't had much rest in the past two days, and today he fought fiercely from early morning to dusk.

It was fine just now, but now that the tension in his heart has loosened, he feels exhausted.

The dark red sun set and the sky darkened.

After a whole day of fighting, the battle west of Vitesse Airport finally came to an end.

After taking a breath, Shang Ke took an off-road vehicle to the place where the smoke of gunpowder was still lingering.

The dense bomb craters have devastated this place to the point of being unsightly. Every few steps you take, you can step on broken limbs. The air is filled with the smell of gunpowder and a strong smell of blood.

Looking around, corpses of all kinds were everywhere. Aside from a few seriously wounded soldiers and medical personnel, the three Ivan Ross airborne infantry companies had fought to the bitter end.

Besides the painful sobs of the wounded soldiers, sad cries echoed in the wilderness.

The soldiers were cleaning the battlefield and transporting the wounded. It was also the first time for the Royal Guard to go into battle. They lacked practical experience and exposed many problems.

The tuition fee was high, and the Royal Guards paid a bloody price of dozens of casualties in their attempt to tackle this tough problem.

Captain Eugene excitedly reported to Shangke: "Incredible victory! We actually defeated the enemy's elite!"

The latter didn't say much. He saw two people carrying a stretcher with a person covered with white cloth.

He walked over and gently pulled back a corner of the white cloth, revealing a pretty face. There weren't many female soldiers assigned to the Royal Guard, and Shang Ke could call out every one of them by name.

The person in front of me is Pap Marian, 19 years old, the daughter of a railway worker, a second-class soldier. She is usually a very introverted girl, not talkative, and likes cornflowers.

"Mr. Counselor, Marian is very brave. She always points out targets for the tanks very quickly. Previously, the enemy hiding in the foxhole shot her in the back." A corporal rushed to explain.

The fatal wound was a penetrating wound to the chest. The bullet penetrated the steel plate of the bulletproof vest. Judging from the size of the wound, it was probably caused by two rifle bullets.

The blood was still flowing, seeping through the stretcher and dripping onto the ground softened by the artillery fire.

Shang Ke, feeling mixed emotions, couldn't help but sigh, pulled the red-stained white cloth over to cover his face, and then raised his hand to salute.

Is this war?

Big words and bravery cannot make a person invulnerable, and artillery coverage and air support cannot easily bring victory.

This was only the beginning, and the battle for the city had not yet begun. Once a seesaw battle broke out, the blood-thirsty two sides would only become more brutal.

Shang Ke suddenly thought of the news - the female sniper nicknamed "The Witch of Barcelona" was burned alive after being captured.

Is it finally women's turn to feel the cruelty of war? A blessing or a curse? He couldn't help but wonder.

Major General Reinhard once said that real war mostly brings endless nightmares to participants, and only a very few lucky ones can enjoy the glory of being admired by thousands of people.

If he were to ask himself honestly, Shang Ke thought that he was not a person who longed for fame and honor. A small achievement - becoming a general to satisfy his desire - was all he wanted in his career.

Rather than making great achievements, he actually wanted to return to China and take a leisurely job, where he could give advice and do some theoretical research, and have plenty of time to have fun in his spare time.

But now... maybe we should find a way to end the war as soon as possible? This thought sprouted from deep within his heart.

Shang Ke glanced at the bodies of the Imperial Russian paratroopers who died in the trenches. He knew that these professional soldiers had been deeply influenced by chauvinistic narratives since childhood, had sincere loyalty to their motherland, received rigorous training, and were willing to take risks and sacrifice for the interests of their motherland.

I admire you, but it's a pity...

"The enemy's hero is my enemy." Shang Ke muttered to himself in Chinese and then spoke in Hungarian.

"Sir, your proverb is correct. It's true. The invaders' fate is to become bones on this land!" Captain Eugene said bitterly, then added regretfully, "Your country is very powerful and has never suffered such an invasion. It's difficult for you to understand our current situation..."

Before he could finish his words, he saw Shang Ke half-raise his hand, and the nearby guards also cast their eyes over to him.

"You're wrong, Captain. I completely understand how you feel." Shang Ke smiled helplessly, then changed the subject and said in an imperative tone, "Continue to clean up the battlefield! Hurry! The enemy may attack again at night!"

The battle on this side ended, but it was still going on on the other side.

The Hungarian army has surrounded Vitesse Airport with three layers of defense inside and outside.

However, due to the lack of barreled artillery, the Hungarian army's firepower advantage was not obvious, so Major General Garder was not in a hurry to order a strong attack.

The Hungarian General Staff was naturally shocked by the sudden situation in Budapest and hurriedly dispatched the nearest strategic reserve to provide reinforcements.

After all, paratroopers are light infantry units. When the real Hungarian field troops arrive, the Ivan Rus airborne troops trapped at the airport will only end up destroyed.

"You must be a hundred times more vigilant tonight. This is the enemy's only chance. The probability of them launching a night attack is over ninety percent."

Shang Ke led the royal guards to withdraw from the battle and moved to the eastern part of the city to redeploy defenses.

After studying the deployment according to local conditions for two hours, he was about to get up and leave.

"Where are you going?" Captain Eugene asked puzzledly.

"Let's go to the palace for dinner! I haven't had my cake from this morning yet!"

(End of this chapter)