Sword of Light: Humanoid Self-Propelled Artillery

Of course, in addition to installing barbed wire and minefields on the south bank of the Imjin River, the most important part of the defense line of the South Chao Kingdom was that various anti-personnel mines were also installed on the frozen surface of the Imjin River.

However, the shelling only targeted landmines and barbed wire along the riverbank, not landmines on the river surface.

There's no way around it. Although the river surface is now frozen with ice several tens of centimeters thick, ordinary anti-personnel mines simply can't penetrate the ice layer unless they're anti-tank mines.

However, it's a different story if you're using artillery shells to clear mines. Heavy artillery with a caliber of 100 or more can easily blast through layers of armored vehicles tens of centimeters thick on the river surface.

Once the ice layer is shattered, the subsequent 116 Lions will be unable to charge.

Therefore, after the shelling, only the mine-clearing engineers could clear the mines, as the minefields on the river had already been marked.

So the mine-clearing soldiers began clearing mines with the captured American mine detectors and hooks.

That's right, it's using a hook to detonate landmines. Because there's no time to disarm the mines, the only option is to use a hook to actively detonate them.

Doing this is extremely dangerous. Even if the hook is several meters long, doing it carelessly could still blow you up.

However, the most crucial factor was the machine gun fire from the Nanchao soldiers on the south bank of the Imjin River. Although the mine-clearing speed was fast, the closer they got, the greater the casualties among the mine-clearing soldiers.

In response, Wang Gensheng took out his M2 machine gun and began firing. Meanwhile, the Lion Commander of the 116 Lions, seeing that the mines had been cleared, ordered an attack. There was no way to waste any more time clearing mines, as US reinforcements would arrive soon.

If the Nanchao Kingdom's riverside defenses cannot be broken before US reinforcements arrive, the consequences might be that the US army will chase and attack them.

Wang Gensheng, naturally unwilling to see the reinforcements suffer heavy casualties, took the lead and charged forward with a machine gun.

However, this time Wang Gensheng's machine gun muzzle was not pointed at the Nanchao soldiers, but at the anti-personnel mines on the river. Under Wang Gensheng's mental perception, none of the mines buried in the snow on the river could escape his detection.

As Wang Gensheng opened fire, one anti-personnel mine after another was blown up by the 12.7mm bullets from his M2 heavy machine gun.

Of course, as Wang Gensheng led the charge, Duan Peng and Wei Dayong, both wearing bulletproof heavy armor, followed on either side of him. However, they did not have Wang Gensheng's mental detection abilities.

So he aimed his heavy machine gun at Jiang Dui'an's firing point to cover Wang Gensheng.

However, the hundred-meter-long river only took a dozen seconds to rush across, and then the marines, armed with submachine guns, cleared out the Nanchao Guo soldiers in the trenches. If they encountered a fortified bunker, they would simply throw a grenade in.

After Wang Gensheng charged onto the Nan Chao Kingdom's position, he also began to reap the rewards. It wasn't that Wang Gensheng wanted to kill, but rather that his cheat ability required the lives of his enemies. Therefore, only on the battlefield could Wang Gensheng reasonably reap the lives of his enemies to enhance his physical abilities.

Of course, Wang Gensheng did not forget his purpose, so after breaking through the Nanchao Kingdom's defensive line, he immediately took out his skis, equipped them, and began to rush towards the Nanchao army's First Lion Command. As for the First Lion who followed, he cleared the Nanchao Kingdom's soldiers along the trenches of the defensive line to further widen the gap, allowing more reinforcements to rush through.

The Lion Command of the Southern Chao Army was not far from the front line, only three kilometers away. With the help of skis, they arrived in three minutes, followed by a barrage of heavy machine gun fire from Wang Gensheng.

The wooden command post could not withstand the penetration of 12.7mm bullets. After dozens of bullets, the command post of the main force of the Southern Tide Army, the Lion, was destroyed.

Without orders or suppression from their superiors, the soldiers of Nanchao Kingdom all chose to flee back.

Just as Wang Gensheng launched his artillery barrage, Li Qiwei, who was in the command center of the U.S. Eighth Army, dozens of kilometers away, had already received a distress call.

Upon seeing this distress call, Li Qiwei immediately gave the order:
"Order the air force to provide immediate support. The South Tsho army at the Imjin River must hold their ground with all their might. The support troops will arrive in just two hours!"

However, just after Li Qiwei issued the order to send the US Army's 25th Lions to provide support, the intelligence staff immediately reported that the defense line at the Imjin River had been breached.

In response, Li Qiwei comforted the intelligence officer, saying:

"Don't panic, the battle has only just begun!"

However, the intelligence officer hurriedly replied:
"This is an urgent telegram just sent from the front. After the aid-to-Korea army launched a fierce artillery barrage, their infantry broke through the Imjin River defenses in just ten minutes. Then, the aid-to-Chaozhou army launched a major offensive through this breach. The Namchao army is in disarray. Should reinforcements still be sent?"

Upon hearing the detailed report from the intelligence officer, Li Qiwei was immediately at a loss, and then said speechlessly:

"Why are you going there to die? Order all units to hold their positions and remain vigilant. I will personally go to the front lines. From now on, no matter what the situation is like at the front, report to me every ten minutes and get vehicles ready to depart immediately!"

Just as Li Qiwei received news that the Imjin River defense line had been breached in ten minutes, the command of the reinforcements from Chaozhou also received news of the victory in breaking through the Imjin River defense line in ten minutes.

The frontline commander was naturally very pleased, but the intelligence staff was less optimistic, saying:
"Commander, our army has now broken through the center of the Imjin River defense line and has no problem pursuing the South Chao National Army. However, if we continue to penetrate deep and attack fiercely, we will soon run into the US army head-on. Do we have the logistical support capabilities?"

Upon hearing the intelligence officer's concerns, the frontline commander looked at the logistics officer and said:
"We have to thank our logistics chief for allowing our supplies to hold for another three days. The first line of defense held by the Southern Chao Army has collapsed. The front line in Khan City is under heavy pressure, and on the eastern front, the flanks of the American and British armies have been exposed. Now we have to see what choice Li Qiwei will make. If he chooses not to retreat, he will face the result of being surrounded and cut off by our army. As for the outcome, it will be the same as the first two battles – only disaster!"

Regarding the optimism of the frontline commanders, the intelligence staff said:
"Commander, our forces are currently insufficient. Even if we surround the American troops, we can't seem to make any progress! If Li Qiwei chooses to defend Khan City to the death, then we will suffer heavy losses when we launch an attack!"

Regarding the intelligence staff's concerns, the frontline commander stated:
"When two armies meet, the brave will prevail. I bet this Li Qiwei is new here and wouldn't dare risk the entire American army's resources against me. Besides, even if he doesn't retreat, I don't necessarily have to attack Khan City to the death! If I can't take Khan City, I won't! Our mission is to cross the 38th parallel, and if things go wrong, I can retreat at any time!" (End of Chapter)