Warlords: Rising from the Northwest Border and Sweeping Across the Powers

Chapter 1187 Blocking Vision

Rocket launcher position on the Heijiang front line.

After a fierce salvo of high-explosive rockets, Division Commander Otto stood on the command platform, staring at the enemy positions on the opposite bank with a sharp gaze. Although the enemy's defense line had been destroyed, he knew that the next action was equally crucial.

"Attention everyone," Otto gave new orders via the radio, "Replace the smoke bombs and prepare to fire five salvos to obscure the enemy's vision."

The commander of the rocket artillery battalion immediately received the order and quickly conveyed it to each rocket artillery group: "Attention all units, immediately replace the large smoke bombs and prepare to launch."

At the position, the artillerymen acted quickly. They unloaded high-explosive rockets skillfully and loaded large smoke bombs into the launch tubes. These smoke bombs were specially designed to quickly release a large amount of thick smoke after exploding in the air, forming an impenetrable smoke screen.

"The smoke bombs have been loaded," an artilleryman reported, "and all the rockets are ready."

"The firing angle has been adjusted," another artilleryman added, "the target has been locked, waiting for the firing order."

Otto looked around the position and confirmed that all preparations were complete. He took a deep breath and raised the signal flag in his hand: "Fire!"

Following the order, 180 Nebelwerfer rocket launchers once again spewed out blazing flames, and a huge roar resounded throughout the entire position. 1080 large smoke bombs streaked across the sky, dragging long tails of flames, and rushed straight to the enemy positions on the opposite bank.

At the Russian defense line in Blagoveshchensk, the soldiers had not yet recovered from the high-explosive rockets when they were shocked again by the sudden volley of smoke bombs. The smoke bombs exploded in the air one after another, releasing a large amount of thick smoke that quickly spread across the entire battlefield.

"Hurry! We can't see anything!" a Russian soldier shouted in horror, "The smoke is too thick!"

Thick smoke blocked out the sunlight, and the entire battlefield was instantly plunged into darkness. Soldiers lost their way in the smoke, unable to distinguish the enemy's position, and the commander's orders were difficult to convey in this chaos.

"Hold the position," Colonel Konovalov shouted in the command post, but his voice was soon drowned out by the explosion of smoke bombs. The command post's communication equipment failed in the thick smoke, and the command system of the entire defense line was paralyzed.

On the other side of the Heijiang River, Otto observed all this through a telescope. He saw the enemy's position become blurred under the cover of smoke, and he couldn't help feeling proud and relieved.

"Keep up the smoke screen," Otto ordered, "to ensure the enemy cannot rebuild their defenses."

After the fierce volley of Nebelwerfer rockets, the entire battlefield was shrouded in thick smoke. Division Commander Otto stood on the command platform, his eyes firmly fixed on the enemy positions on the opposite bank. He knew that this volley of smoke bombs was not only to attack the enemy, but also to prepare for the next crossing of the river.

"Division Commander," Deputy Division Commander Delan walked up to Otto, frowning slightly, "The wind on the river is very strong, I'm afraid this smoke screen won't last long."

Otto smiled and pointed at the rocket launcher that was still firing: "Derran, we have prepared enough smoke bombs to last for three hours."

Delan nodded thoughtfully: "Three hours is enough for us to complete the river crossing."

"That's right," Otto nodded. "The purpose of the smoke screen is to block the enemy's vision and prevent them from accurately judging our actions."

On the other side of the Russian defense line, the thick smoke screen caused great confusion and panic among the soldiers. The vision was completely obscured, and it was difficult to distinguish between the enemy and ourselves. The commander's orders were difficult to convey in this chaos. Colonel Konovalov and Major General Smirnov tried to reorganize the troops, but the communication system failed in the thick smoke, and the command system of the entire defense line was paralyzed.

"We must hold our position," Konovalov shouted from the command post, but his voice was quickly drowned out by the explosions of smoke bombs.

On the other side of the Heijiang River, Otto observed all this through a telescope. He saw the enemy's position become blurred under the cover of smoke, and he couldn't help feeling proud and relieved.

"Keep up the smoke screen," Otto ordered, "to ensure the enemy cannot rebuild their defenses."

At the Nebelwerfer position, the soldiers quickly loaded new smoke bombs and prepared for the next round of volleys. The entire position was operating in a tense and orderly rhythm, and the power of the Nebelwerfer was fully demonstrated at this moment.

"Commander," Delan said, looking at the rising smoke, "the success of this operation depends on whether our smoke screen can last long enough."

"Don't worry," Otto said confidently, "We have calculated the wind speed and the spread of the smoke. As long as we maintain fire suppression, the enemy will not be able to see our movements clearly."

After the thick smoke screen successfully blocked the enemy's vision, Division Commander Otto knew that the time to cross the river was ripe.

"Attention everyone," Otto ordered via the radio, "Begin the crossing!"

As the order was issued, the entire front line became active instantly. The troops that had been waiting for the crossing quickly took action. Under the leadership of the commander, the soldiers gathered in an orderly manner on the riverside. Armored vehicles and infantry fighting vehicles advanced rapidly along the predetermined route under the cover of thick smoke.

"Hurry, keep in formation," a company commander shouted, "The smoke screen can buy us time, but we have to act quickly."

On the river bank, the engineering troops were already ready. They quickly unfolded the pontoon bridge components and skillfully spliced ​​them together to form a lifeline to the other side. Under the guidance of the engineers, the soldiers quickly crossed the pontoon bridge and launched an attack on the enemy positions on the other side.

"The pontoon bridge has been built," the engineer commander reported via radio, "the troops can start crossing the river."

On the command platform, Otto observed the progress of the crossing through a telescope. He saw the soldiers crossing the pontoon bridge quickly and orderly under the cover of thick smoke, and he couldn't help feeling proud and gratified.

"Keep in formation," Otto warned via radio, "once you reach the other side, launch an attack immediately to destroy the enemy's remaining defenses."

During the river crossing, armored vehicles and infantry fighting vehicles moved forward steadily on the pontoon bridge, and the soldiers followed closely behind, with weapons in their hands ready for possible battles at any time.

"We will succeed," a young soldier said to his comrades, "We must not retreat in order to win."

"Yes," the comrade nodded firmly, "We will let the enemy know that China's army is invincible."

Blagoveshchensk, Tsarist Russian command post.

Under the thick smoke, Colonel Konovalov and Major General Smirnov stood in the command post, analyzing the current situation with a serious look. Although their vision was obscured, they felt in their hearts that the enemy was probably preparing to cross the river.

"This smoke screen came too suddenly," Konovalov said, frowning. "They must be covering some kind of operation."

"Yes," Smirnov nodded, "I suspect they are preparing to cross the river. We must take action immediately and not let them succeed easily."

The two quickly started a discussion in front of the map, trying to find a solution.

"First, we need to disperse the smoke," Konovalov suggested. "We can use fans and blasting to restore vision as quickly as possible."

"That's a good idea," Smirnov agreed. "I'll order the engineering corps to take action immediately and use wind direction and blasting to disperse the smokescreen."

At the same time, Konovalov began to organize his troops to prepare for a possible crossing of the river: "Order all troops to enter the first level of combat readiness and be ready to meet the enemy at any time."

"Yes, Colonel," the messenger quickly passed on the order.

At various positions on the defense line, the Russian soldiers moved quickly. Under the orders of their commanders, they entered combat positions, adjusted their firepower, and prepared to meet possible enemy attacks.

"Keep alert," a company commander shouted, "the enemy may attack under cover of smoke."

The engineering corps was also busy, setting up large fans to blow away the smoke with the wind, and deploying small explosive devices around the positions to try to disperse the smoke with the shock wave of the explosion.

"The wind is favorable," a sapper reported, "and we can clear most of the smoke in ten minutes."

"Very good," Smirnov nodded, "As soon as the vision is restored, report the enemy's movements immediately."