Munitions Empire

It's just that the order of the attacks is slightly different, and the intensity is completely different.

The Dwarves never anticipated the use of precision-guided munitions in the aerial bombardment. So many precision-guided bombs rendered the Dwarves' strong defensive fortifications useless. The combination of bunker-busting shells with precision strikes had a truly shocking effect.

The Dwarves also didn't expect the landing troops to come ashore at night. The Tang Army, heavily equipped with night vision devices, possessed an unprecedentedly strong night combat capability, catching the Dwarves off guard and causing them to lose a large amount of ground.

The deployment of paratroopers was delayed just enough to avoid the time the Dwarf Armored Corps was focusing on them. These armored units, originally intended to be used against the paratroopers, were redeployed to participate in counterattacks near the coastline before the paratroopers arrived.

Moss was thoroughly disoriented. The sky was almost about to brighten, and once it did, Tang Country's attacks seemed only poised to grow fiercer.

He was worried that more Tang Empire Soldiers would inevitably come ashore. Once Tang Army's forces exceeded 20,000, Moss estimated he would be incapable of easily driving them back into the sea.

There was some good news, though. The Tang Army fleet deployed at the southernmost point for coastal bombardment was severely damaged by torpedo boat tactics. Returning speedboats brought back the news, reporting they had hit at least one Cruiser and saw a Battleship burning.

During the daytime, speedboat tactics were evidently not feasible. The Tang Army's aircraft would increase in number, and continuing to use speedboat attacks would lead to skyrocketing losses.

Furthermore, the navy liaison officer analyzed the situation and shared his insights with Moss: the success of the ambush largely relied on the Tang Army's fleet being relatively old.

Based on the intelligence sent back by the speedboats, the Tang Army had fewer heavy-caliber rapid-fire guns specifically designed to counter speedboats, while the remaining warships had artillery with slow rates of fire and poor accuracy, posing no significant threat to them.

This indicates that the heavily damaged Tang Army fleet is likely composed of older fleets whose mission was merely ground attacks, not naval engagements. The success of the ambush was due simply to this fleet being positioned too close to the coastline, slightly overextending themselves.

With this analysis, Moss calmed down and stopped placing all hope on speedboat ambush tactics, understanding that, to the navy's professional Commanders, using speedboats for daytime ambushes on the Tang Army carrier fleet equaled suicide.

And they were correct, as the Tang Army had already intensified patrols over nearby waters. Several Armed Helicopters responsible for nighttime operations had already taken off, focusing on strengthening the defenses south of the fleet.

With the involvement of Armed Helicopters, the ambush using speedboats by the Dwarves that succeeded more than two hours ago would no longer be possible.

Nonetheless, achievements are achievements, and the fleet of Dwarf speedboats pushing back the Tang Country's fire support fleet from the south naturally meant weakening Tang Army's southern fire support.

Thus, Moss shifted his attention to the position adjacent to Position No. 5, Position No. 4: Previously, this position was frequently shelled by the Tang Army, incurring substantial losses but not fatal ones.

The key is that now this forward position is secure! The Dwarves can launch an aggressive attack on Tang Army's flank from here.

Previously, two battalions, roughly over 1,000 troops, gathered here and launched an assault on Tang Army's flank, only to be repelled. Now, having received reinforcements, they regrouped with 1,500 troops and launched another attack.

One flare after another rose into the sky, and for the Dwarves, the darkness before dawn was nearly their last chance.

Along trenches already blasted by artillery, these brave Dwarf soldiers, bayonets in hand, shouted "Ura" as they stepped forward, walking over their companions' bodies.

Directly ahead of them, Tang Army machine gunners, with steady preparations, replaced ammunition belts and, using the illumination from distant flares, aimed at these slow-moving targets without hesitation and pulled the trigger.

A dense barrage of bullets rained down on the advancing Dwarf soldiers, one falling after another, blood splattering on the surrounding's faces and bodies. Before they could react, their own bodies were pierced by the flying bullets.

In the distance, Dwarf soldiers began to lie prone while Dwarves also started throwing smoke grenades, attempting to cover their attacking troops.

But Tang Army's shooters were highly experienced. Using the lob technique, they directly propelled gun grenades to the areas where smoke was rising. Because their firepower was sufficiently strong, they could implement attacks so wantonly, resulting in a sudden wave of fatalities amidst the advancing Dwarf soldiers in the smoke, terrifying the survivors who dared not rise up and advance.

Suddenly, a shadow blocked out a star in the pitch-black sky. Amidst the chaotic battlefield, filled with gunfire and explosions, nobody noticed something approaching.

In the next moment, that dark figure suddenly shot a series of dazzling lights; these were rockets storming towards where the flares rose.

A Tang Army Armed Helicopter with night combat capabilities approached the battlefield, ordered to suppress the counterattacking Dwarves.

A series of rockets directly impacted the Dwarf-covered positions, and instantly, there were flames everywhere, the sound of explosions eclipsing all cries, driving the Dwarf troops away like a receding tide.

Even if they could endure the losses, the shock of the scene was sufficient to break anyone. The terrifying image of densely exploding rockets completely shattered the Dwarves' courage.

No matter how the supervising Dwarf Officer shouted, he couldn't gather the Troops to continue the attack. After a mere half-hour of assault, only over 900 of the attacking force of 1,500 managed to retreat.

Minutes later, Moss received the news that the counterattack had failed once again. For him, any loss was acceptable; what he cared about was time.

No matter from what direction, time was becoming increasingly unfavorable for him. After dawn, the Tang Army would accelerate its actions, making the Dwarves more passive.

Now, Moss seemed to have only one method left to win this battle: hold off the Tang Army until their maritime supply line collapsed!

Unfortunately, this tactic is quite passive, and Moss doesn't know whether his side or the Tang Army will collapse first.

He regretted not having any means to change things now; when the Tang Army's paratroopers joined the battlefield, the Dwarf Troops practically lost mobility, and Ice Cold Empire's only tactic was to rely on the defensive line to hold, something they intended pre-war.

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Two updates today