North America 1849, from Gold Rush to Warlord

Chapter 214 City of Hell!

"Prepare... to fire...!"

At the order of Company Commander Xu Lin, three more mortar shells slid into the breech.

“Bang, bang, bang…!”

“Swish, swish, swish…!”

"Boom, boom, boom...!"

This time, three mortar shells struck the barricades erected by the New Grenada Army with perfect accuracy.

"Ah...ah...ah...!"

With the roar of mortar shells, several New Grenada soldiers were thrown high into the air.

Amid screams, more New Grenada soldiers were either killed or wounded.

Behind the long barricades, chaos erupted instantly.

"Continue...fire...!"

Xu Lin gave another order, and the three mortars were reloaded.

“Bang, bang, bang…!”

“Swish, swish, swish…!”

"Boom, boom, boom...!"

"Ah, ah, ah, ah...!"

"My eyes...!"

"My head...!"

“My intestines…!”

"Help! Help me!!"

……

After several rounds of shelling, the New Grenada Army behind the barricades was in complete chaos.

"Brothers, follow me, charge!!"

"Charge!!"

Company Commander Xu Lin took the lead, leading more than a hundred brothers from the First Company out of the street corner and towards the towering barricades.

"Bang bang bang...!"

Suddenly, gunshots rang out on the street.

"Brothers, kill them...!"

"Fire! Fire now! Stop them...!"

At the same time, many dark gun barrels protruded from the windows of the houses on both sides of the street, aiming at the soldiers of the First Company who were charging up from both sides of the street.

"Bang bang bang...!"

Soldiers from the First Company kept falling to the ground, wounded and bleeding.

"Follow me, don't stop... charge forward...!"

They covered a distance of over a hundred yards in the blink of an eye.

"Throw a grenade...!"

"Whoosh whoosh whoosh...!"

Almost instantly, twenty or thirty grenades were thrown behind the barricades.

"Boom boom boom boom...!"

After the series of grenade explosions, it was almost impossible for anyone to survive behind the barricades.

Company Commander Xu Lin had just finished off the enemy behind the barricade and was about to climb over when, with a whoosh, another bullet whizzed past his helmet.

But in an instant, he saw clearly that behind this barricade, on July 4th Street, there were at least two more barricades of the same kind...!
"Are these dogs born in the Year of the Tortoise? They're utterly shameless...!"

Xu Lin crouched down under the barricade, turned his head to look at the gun barrels in the houses on both sides, and made a decision in an instant.

At this moment, enemies were everywhere in front and to the left and right, and sniper shots were constantly taking the lives of the brothers of the First Company.

"Brothers, grab your grenades and bayonets, and clear out the houses one by one!"

"Platoon leader, you lead your men to clear out the enemy on the left."

"No problem, Company Commander!"

"Second Platoon Leader, you lead your men to clear out the enemy on the right flank."

"Roger that, Company Commander!"

"Third Platoon Leader, take your men to gather our wounded and carry them away for treatment...!"

"Yes, platoon leader!"

"The rest of you, follow me and get out of here first. Protect the mortar!"

"Let our mortars blow up the second barricade too...!"

"clear……!"

……

"Boom... Boom... Boom...!"

In the blink of an eye, one after another, the sound of grenades exploding rang out from the houses on both sides of July 4th Street.

Regardless of whether there were people or not inside the houses, the soldiers of the First Company would first clear a path with grenades, and then rush in and start a chaotic massacre.

"Ah...ah...ah...!"

"Don't shoot...we surrender...bang...ah...!"

……

A little over fifteen minutes later, the first and second rows of workers finally finished cleaning up this section of the street.

At this time, the mortars were also ready.

“Bang, bang, bang…!”

“Swish, swish, swish…!”

"Boom, boom, boom...!"

……

After several rounds of shelling, chaos erupted behind the second barricade on Fourth of July Street.

"Machine gun, give it to me...!"

Xu Lin once again led his soldiers back to the front of the first barricade.

"Set up all the machine guns for me...!"

"Suppress the second barricade with machine guns, and the enemies in the houses on both sides...!"

……

As soon as Xu Lin finished speaking, the sound of machine guns firing like popping beans rang out on the street.

"Da da da da, da da da, da da da da...!"

Under the relentless fire of several HM51 water-cooled heavy machine guns, neither the enemy behind the second barricade nor those hiding in the houses on either side could raise their heads.

Anyone who dares to show their face will be riddled with bullets in an instant!
Even if they hide inside the houses and dare not show their faces, the enemies inside these wooden houses will still be turned into a pile of minced meat by the powerful firepower and penetrating power of the HM51 heavy machine gun.

“Bang, bang, bang…!”

“Swish, swish, swish…!”

"Boom, boom, boom...!"

With the continuous mortar fire, the enemy behind the second barricade quickly collapsed and retreated in disarray to the third barricade.

"First row, second row, clear out each house one by one...!"

"Understood, my company commander...!"

……

Almost the same scenario played out repeatedly throughout Panama City, in every street, alley, and even in every house.

In the preceding month or so, the officers and soldiers of the 1st and 2nd National Guard Brigades not only trained in tropical warfare and jungle warfare, but also conducted necessary urban warfare drills.

Nowadays, when faced with this kind of battle for every street, every alley, and even every house, we can be more targeted and at least not panic.

……

At this time, Shi Dakai also personally led the headquarters of the Second Brigade to land in the port area of ​​Panama.

After capturing the fortified San Jose Cathedral, Shi Dakai immediately established his brigade headquarters there.

"How are we progressing? Where are the various units positioned? What is the casualty situation...?"

No sooner had the brigade headquarters been established than Shi Dakai couldn't wait to inquire about the battle situation.

"Report, Brigade Commander...!"

A staff officer quickly reported the battle situation: "Our First Battalion has now captured most of the western section of July 4th Avenue and is advancing towards the Kulundu River Bridge, but is encountering extremely fierce resistance…!"

"Our Second Battalion has captured the northern section of Central Avenue and is rapidly advancing towards the southern section...!"

"Our Third Battalion is fighting for the northern section of Spanish Street, and the battle is quite fierce...!"

"Currently, preliminary statistics indicate that casualties across all units are around five hundred people...!"

"In such a short time, you've caused around 500 casualties to my Second Brigade?" Shi Dakai raised an eyebrow: "We can't fight like this! Otherwise, we'll suffer even greater casualties!"

"Was the battle on the main street on July 4th the most intense?" Shi Dakai asked after a moment's thought. "Yes...!"

After a moment's thought, Shi Dakai ordered, "Order our First Battalion to temporarily withdraw!"

"Let our naval guns and brigade artillery battalions begin shelling July 4th Street...!"

"Since they are the most resistant, let's flatten them with artillery fire...!"

"Yes, sir!!"

……

A moment later, Xu Lin, who had received orders from the brigade headquarters, was quite unwilling and led about a hundred officers and soldiers to retreat from July 4th Street.

"Company commander, we've lost dozens of our brothers, and we finally managed to capture this street. Are we just going to hand it over to the enemy like this...?"

"Shut up!" Xu Lin shouted as he led his men in retreat. "The higher-ups have their own plans. We just follow orders. Why all this nonsense...?"

Even though he was equally unwilling, Xu Lin, as the company commander, had to obey military orders.

“Swish, swish, swish, swish…!”

Just as they retreated to the corner of Fourth of July Street, they heard the whistling sound of swarms of shells coming from above.

Xu Lin and nearly a hundred officers and soldiers quickly looked up!
All that could be seen were countless shells, leaving long trails, whistling as they hurtled toward the direction of July 4th Avenue.

"Boom, boom, boom, boom...!"

In an instant, the ground shook violently, and a series of deafening roars came from the direction of July 4th Street!

“This…this is…!”

"These are our ship's cannons... they've opened fire again...!"

"Boom, boom, boom, boom...!"

The huge explosions rose and fell, one after another, and the ground beneath their feet trembled violently!

"Luckily we retreated in time, otherwise...!"

Xu Lin and nearly a hundred officers and soldiers were all astonished and terrified!
Shells don't have eyes!
If they insist on not retreating at this point, they too will be reduced to ashes in this overwhelming barrage of artillery fire!
……

This round of shelling lasted for a full fifteen minutes.

Fifteen minutes later, Xu Lin, having received the order to attack, led his First Company onto the streets of July 4th.

But all that was left were ruins!

Countless houses were collapsing and burning, and the wide streets were riddled with huge craters, with wisps of smoke rising from them.

The once impregnable barricades are now dilapidated.

Everywhere were New Grenada soldiers, their bodies mangled, blood everywhere, and gruesome severed limbs...!
“Gurgle…!”

Company Commander Xu Lin swallowed hard.

On his first real trip to the battlefield, he truly witnessed the power of the god of war!

Under such overwhelming and fierce firepower, those who survived were absolutely extremely lucky.

But when Xu Lin began to command the soldiers of the First Company to sweep through every ruin, their luck came to an end.

……

Under Shi Dakai's command, whenever the Second Brigade's offensive was severely hampered, they would immediately choose to retreat, and then allow the naval guns and the brigade's artillery battalion to cover the area of ​​the most intense resistance with firepower.

Soon after, most of Panama City was reduced to ruins by the overwhelming and intense artillery fire.

The artillery fire set countless wooden buildings ablaze, and the entire city of Panama seemed to be burning, turning it into a hellish city that devoured lives.

Most of the city's residents had already been evacuated.

But the 7th Brigade of the New Grenada Republic, which was guarding Panama City, suffered an unprecedented catastrophe with thousands of soldiers.

In just half a day, the 7th Brigade, with more than 5,000 men, suffered huge casualties.

……

Still in the fortified fortress on the San Migliorto Heights outside the city.

The chief of staff of the 3rd Division of the New Grenada Army, accompanied by a staff officer from the 7th Brigade with a bandaged arm, covered in blood and looking disheveled, came to Brigadier General Garcia's side.

"General...!" Colonel Franco, Chief of Staff of the 3rd Division, said urgently, "The 7th Brigade defending the city has suffered heavy casualties and requests to withdraw from Panama City...!"

From Brigadier General Garcia's perspective, Panama City below had been completely reduced to a burning ruin.

Garcia gazed at the burning city below and asked in a deep voice, "What are the losses of the Seventh Brigade?"

"Report, General...!" The 7th Brigade staff officer, his arm in a sling, replied, "The exact number of casualties has not yet been determined...!"

"But according to preliminary statistics, the casualties are at least 2,600 to 2,700! As of now, our brigade has suffered more than half its casualties...!"

"My brigade commander requests that the general approve our brigade's withdrawal from Panama City... Under the enemy's naval gunfire, this city has lost all reason for defense...!"

"Bang...!" Brigadier General Garcia slammed his fist against the solid fortress wall again: "These damned American troops, they have absolutely no fighting spirit...!"

"How could they do something so shameless and cruel as to destroy a city with naval guns?"

"What's the point of them taking Panama City if they do this? It will just be a worthless ruin left behind...!"

At this moment, the chief of staff couldn't help but advise, "General, please allow the 7th Brigade to retreat. They have fulfilled their responsibilities; continuing the defense is pointless..."

Brigadier General Garcia paused for a moment, then slowly nodded: "Let the 7th Brigade withdraw...!"

"Next, it's our Third Division's turn...!"

"General...!" The chief of staff hesitated, unable to finish his sentence.

"Speak your mind!" Brigadier General Garcia shouted sternly.

“General…!” the chief of staff said. “In my opinion, the San Miglito Heights, which our Third Division is defending, are also within the range of enemy naval guns.”

"The enemy launched an attack with the support of naval gunfire. Although we had the advantage of terrain, it was still difficult for us to gain any advantage."

Brigadier General Garcia raised an eyebrow: "You mean...?"

"What I mean is, why not abandon the San Miglito Heights, withdraw to a point outside the enemy's naval gun range, and then set up a defensive line?"

After witnessing the overwhelming firepower of the enemy's naval guns, Brigadier General Garcia's resolve to hold out had already wavered.

After a moment's hesitation, Brigadier General Garcia gave the order: "Leave the 136th Infantry Regiment to defend the San Miglito Heights."

"Our main force is retreating in an orderly manner... directly to Gamboa, where we will then set up a defensive line."

"As for the 136th Infantry Regiment, give them at least one day and one night to hold out!"

"After a day and a night, I will allow them to retreat when the opportunity arises...!"

"Yes, sir!!"

Upon receiving the order, the chief of staff immediately began to arrange for the orderly withdrawal of the entire army.

Only the 136th Infantry Regiment remained, holding the San Miglitto Heights to cover the retreat of the entire army.

That night, the main force of the Third Division, along with the remnants of the Seventh Brigade and the Sixth Artillery Regiment, began to slowly retreat under the cover of darkness.

The California National Guard, which had just landed, did not rush to launch a new offensive.

After capturing Panama City and the surrounding area, Shi Dakai commanded the Second Brigade to clear out the remaining enemy forces, with the primary task being to establish a secure landing zone.

The 1st National Guard Brigade and the Independent Artillery Regiment subsequently began their orderly landing.

The fighting on the first day gradually subsided after nightfall.

The fires that had spread throughout the city were gradually being extinguished.

As Brigadier General Garcia said, Panama City is now almost entirely in ruins, except for a few sturdy brick buildings.

After the entire California National Guard landed, Feng Zicai, Martinez Sr., and Robert E. Lee, the chief of staff for this battle, also arrived at the command post—San Jose Cathedral.

"What a pity!" Old Martinez said with a sigh. "When I was young, I served in the Spanish Navy and was even stationed in Panama City for a period of time..."

"This was a beautiful city, but what a pity... we've bombed it into ruins!"

Shi Dakai raised an eyebrow: "There's nothing we can do about it!"

"Rather than letting our soldiers pay with their lives, I would rather use artillery fire to end this battle!"

Old Martinez shrugged: "Of course, if I were in charge, I would have done the same. I'm just feeling sorry for this beautiful city!"

Feng Zicai said in a deep voice: "Since it is a war, then we must defeat the enemy by any means necessary!"

"Since we've destroyed this city, we can just build an even more beautiful one in the future!"

After everyone sat down, Feng Zicai asked, "Dakai, how many casualties did we suffer in this battle?"

Shi Dakai replied in a deep voice: "Our casualties are mainly concentrated on the shelling casualties suffered during the landing process on transport ships."

"And during the chaotic offensive in the early stages of the landing."

"With the help of naval guns, the casualties were relatively small."

"According to the statistics, more than 280 people died and more than 450 people were seriously injured... not counting minor injuries!"

"In addition, more than a dozen transport ships suffered varying degrees of damage from the shelling."

"If we include the crew, there are more than a hundred other casualties."

Feng Zicai nodded emphatically: "These casualties are still within our expectations."

Shi Dakai shook his head slightly: "If we had bombarded Panama City with naval guns from the beginning, our casualties would have been much less."

“No!” Robert E. Lee interjected, “Brigadier General Shi, you can’t say that!”

"Indiscriminately bombarding Panama City without knowing the enemy's deployment will not achieve the desired effect."

"After landing, we should conduct necessary probing attacks on the enemy's deployment, and then carry out targeted artillery bombardment to annihilate them. This is the correct approach."

"Hoo...!" Shi Dakai slowly exhaled: "Then, should we launch an attack tonight and take the high ground outside the city?"

(End of this chapter)