Chapter 894: There’s glory even in death
The general of the expeditionary army had been planning for today’s battle for a long time. A lot of people thought the barbarians did not know anything about the Central Plains, but those people were unaware that the intelligent Experimental had already helped them map out what it knew of the north and told them about the situation in the Central Plains.
So when the expeditionary army started fighting on two fronts at the beginning of the war, they gave the Central Plains people the impression that they were arrogant enough to actually start a total war by attacking two organizations at the same time.
But right from the beginning, the attack on the w.a.n.g Consortium’s front lines was just a ruse. They intended to take out the Pyro Company first.
After the destruction of the Pyro Company, the barbarians would gain control of their existing developments and technology. There would be no need for a ma.s.sacre like the one at Stronghold 176 to happen again, and the barbarians would rule over the Pyro Company’s subjects as n.o.bility.
When the time came to fight the w.a.n.g Consortium again afterwards, not only would they have the advantage of being more physically fit, but they would also possess the Pyro Company’s advanced weapons.
Therefore, defeating the Pyro Company was an extremely important part of the expeditionary army’s battle plans. They could not afford to mess up.
But at the beginning, the general of the expeditionary army was more inclined to take out the w.a.n.g Consortium first. However, the Experimental somehow managed to persuade him to finalize this battle plan in the end.
As for what the Experimental was after, no one really knew.
The expeditionary army was already charging. If the Pyro Company had set up a defensive line early and stopped them with their firepower, the expeditionary army would definitely suffer heavy casualties even if they won.
But the problem was that the brown bears had turned extremely violent due to the loss of their cubs. It felt like they did not care about their lives as they attacked the Pyro Company troops with everything they had.
Although the Pyro Company managed to kill most of the brown bears by using their firearms and explosives, their defensive formation had fallen into disarray.
Hence, when the expeditionary army arrived, the Pyro Company could only engage in close combat with the barbarians since their guns were no longer useful. After all, the expeditionary army and the Pyro Company were already jumbled together, so it was difficult for the soldiers to ensure that they would not shoot their own comrades.
The camouflage uniforms the Pyro Company wore were khaki in color while the barbarians were draped in gray animal hides. There were so many troops in khaki and gray that this sight stretched all the way to the horizon.
When the two sides collided, it was as though two completely different waves had crashed into each other.
When a Pyro Company soldier ran out of ammunition, he drew his saber from his belt and fought a barbarian. However, the barbarian was much stronger than him. After the barbarian dodged the long saber, he grabbed him by the neck with one hand and used him as a s.h.i.+eld.
The Pyro Company soldier’s face reddened from suffocation. But even as he was dying, he was still trying his best to slash the barbarian.
When the barbarian saw he was still struggling, he swung an axe at his head.
This fight was a microcosm of the war going on, but the person involved might be a husband, father, or son whose family was waiting to be reunited with him back at home. However, he would no longer be returning home.
As the Pyro Company had been fighting this battle for several hours already, they were nearly out of the ammunition they carried with them. A large amount of their ammunition had already been expended on the old barbarians at the beginning of the battle.
Even though the Pyro Company’s soldiers were facing this predicament, they would continue fighting the barbarians to the bitter end as long as they did not receive the order to retreat.
A much taller and muscular barbarian suddenly rushed out of the crowd. As he moved, he sent Pyro Company soldiers flying off to the sides.
However, those soldiers struggled back to their feet and picked up their dead comrades’ sabers once more before limping into a charge at the barbarians.
After that, they died of exhaustion.
Before dying, a soldier recalled the time he first joined the military. Every Pyro Company soldier had to place their hand over the flame logo on their chests and take the oath: “From today onwards, I am an honorable soldier of the Pyro Company. I will fight for the survival of mankind and fight so that humanity may get to see a new dawn.
“From today onwards, I am willing to relinquish my name so that I may protect the Central Plains.”
Indeed, everyone had joined the Pyro Company for the sake of protecting the Central Plains. Everyone was here to lay down their lives for their grand ideals with no regrets.
More and more Pyro Company soldiers were getting killed, but the expeditionary army’s general realized they were seemingly unable to defeat the Pyro Company troops fully. If it were a typical military unit that had suffered so many casualties, the soldiers would have started routing.
Once the Pyro Company engaged in close combat with the barbarians, the expeditionary army’s victory was almost certain. But why didn’t the Central Plains people retreat? Did they think they could defeat the expeditionary army?
At this moment, a staff officer said anxiously to P5031 in the command vehicle, “Sir, why don’t we pull back? Please give the order to retreat. Our soldiers can’t hold out for much longer. It’ll be too late if we don’t leave now!”
But P5031 sat in the command vehicle and started laughing bitterly. “Leave? Where would we go? I never thought I would get carried away by my own interests one day. Fortunately, these barbarians have knocked some sense into me.”
In the command vehicle, the staff officers and P5031’s adjutant were all stunned on the spot. They did not know why P5031 would suddenly say that.
Amid the silence, P5031 jumped to his feet and adjusted his uniform. It was as though he had figured out something, and that got him excited again.
P5031 said to one of the staff officers, “Put me through to the entire division.”
“Roger.” The staff officer pressed the red b.u.t.ton on the control panel.
P5031 said on the radio, “Brothers, I’m sorry. It was because of my wrong decision that we ended up in this predicament.
“I would really like to order the infantry brigade to stay behind and provide cover while the rest of the troops retreat together. This way, I might still be able to survive. But I can’t say that because I know you all will be humiliated to death by the pursuit. The barbarians have come prepared. They will not let us leave.
“So, can every one of you still remember the oath you took? Today, you and I will fight for the survival of mankind. 6th Division hereby pledges to hold off the enemy for half an hour so the other division will have enough time to retreat.
“This way, even though our 6th Division will perish, the other divisions will still have a chance to escape!
“When they retreat back to the Great Wall, they will definitely find another chance to avenge us.
“I would like to thank everyone for their trust over the years. Comrades, let’s fight to the death together. There’s glory even in death.
“Today, I’m willing to relinquish my life and be put to rest here. After today, I’ll be out here in this wilderness keeping watch over the Central Plains with the rest of you.”
With that, P5031 turned off the radio and drew his saber before stepping out of the command vehicle.
His spirits lifted as he said with a smile to his adjutant next to him, “I’m sorry. Please inform the other divisions to withdraw quickly. Our 6th Division will buy them some time to retreat.”
After that, he raised his saber and charged towards the expeditionary army.
After staring dumbly at P5031 for a few seconds, his adjutant quickly contacted all the other divisions. After that, he and the staff officers drew their sabers as well.
Everyone knew the battle had descended into chaos by this point, so issuing any further commands to the troops would be pointless. All they could do now was to give their all and fade away like a brilliant supernova. They needed to inspire the soldiers so they could muster up strength in desperate times like these.
A veteran watched P5031 charge into the enemy. The words his division commander had just said kept resonating in his ears. He then joked, “d.a.m.n, maybe it’s not so bad to die here. Charge!”
“Let’s go then! Let’s buy some time for our comrades at the back to retreat!”
“Charge!”