The People's Army's artillery lasted for almost 30 minutes, and more than 10,000 shells were poured into the Russian position. The positions on the east and north of the Russian army were almost completely cleaned up by the shells.

Although the Russian army also dug trenches in positions, the depth of the Russian trenches was only about 2 meters, and they did not dig anti-aircraft holes on the side walls, so the defense of artillery was very limited. This was not that Russian soldiers were lazy, but that the army of various countries generally lacked their understanding of trenches in this era. They did not recognize the defensive role of trenches, and simply regarded trenches as ordinary bunkers. In addition, the artillery of the People's Army was mostly large and medium-caliber, and the power of artillery was far from comparable to small and medium-caliber artillery. Because the depth of the Russian trenches was insufficient, the impact force formed by a 280 mm shell could cause different degrees of damage to Russian soldiers within a radius of more than 20 meters in the landing point of the shell.

As a result, the People's Army's artillery bombardment caused major casualties to the Russian army in the position. After the artillery bombardment, the Russian army's casualties were nearly 30%, and the defense of the position was destroyed by about 40%. Then the People's Army launched a ground attack on the Russian army's positions.

Although the remaining Russian troops in the position were still fighting with the remaining positions, the People's Army's offense did not rely on people to pile up, but to give full play to the advantages of the People's Army's firepower, because the People's Army's mortars, grenade launchers, general machine guns and other weapons can all attack with the synchronous infantry, so they can easily advance to a position 300-500 meters close to the Russian position to provide firepower suppression support to the attacking infantry.

The firepower composed of general machine guns, mortars and grenade launchers is still quite powerful, unless the Russian army uses artillery to suppress it. However, most of the Russian artillery positions were damaged by the People's Army's artillery bombardment just now, and the remaining artillery has also been busy and hidden. Now they can only rely on soldiers arranged in the positions to fight against the People's Army's firepower with rifles. Of course, the Russian army also has some Maxim machine guns, which can provide strong fire support to the Russian army, but First, the number of Maxim machine guns is too small, and the entire army is only a dozen, which is not enough; second, once the People's Army discovers the firepower point of the Maxim machine gun, it will concentrate several mortars and conduct continuous and intensive artillery, which will soon be able to knock out the firepower point of the Maxim machine gun. Therefore, the firepower of the Russian position cannot compete with the firepower of the People's Army. After the firepower point of the Maxim machine gun is gradually destroyed, it is immediately completely suppressed by the firepower of the People's Army.

The People's Army also took advantage of the situation to launch the final assault, first breaking through the Xingwangtun position that invaded the Russian army and launched a hand-to-hand combat with the Russian army guarding the position. Immediately afterwards, Xingshengtun and Xinglongnant were also successively penetrated by the People's Army. At this time, the war mode also changed from mutual firepower to a position that mainly targeted hand-to-hand combat.

Of course, the Russian soldiers knew that now that the war was at a critical moment. If they could no longer withstand the attack of the People's Army and were completely driven out of the position by the People's Army, then this battle would be a sure loss. Moreover, the Russian army could not compete with the People's Army in firepower, but hand-to-hand combat has always been the best way of combat. Russian soldiers also have full confidence in their hand-to-hand combat capabilities, so they naturally have their courage to double. Therefore, everyone is brave at this time, and they fight to the death.

However, the People's Army was not to be outdone. They had already attacked the Russian army's positions. Of course, there was no reason to retreat. Moreover, after the previous battle, the People's Army's hand-to-hand combat capabilities were greatly improved. There were also *, Type 96 pistols, which could play a big role in hand-to-hand combat, so they were also very motivated and were indistinguishable from the Russian army for a while.

It can be said that at the beginning of hand-to-hand combat, the soldiers on both sides showed a very brave and tenacious fighting spirit, and were fighting fiercely on every inch of the position. Some positions would change hands several times repeatedly; many soldiers wrestled together, rolled back and forth on the ground, and they were not only bayonets, but also stones, wooden sticks, punching and kicking, head-to-toe biting, etc. Anyway, as long as the weapons and methods were used, they would be used; the soldiers in front fell down, and someone would immediately take over the back; and the bodies of the soldiers who died on both sides had been intertwined in the position, blood stained the earth red, and were absorbed by soil, sand and gravel. However, the alive soldiers still did not stop and continued to fight desperately.

However, in the fierce battle, the People's Army gradually gained the upper hand. First, the artillery fire strike and firefighting at the beginning of the battle caused great casualties to the Russian army. The Russian army was at a disadvantage in terms of numbers, and the gap between the two sides widened one step closer; secondly, although the Russian army's hand-to-hand combat was better than the People's Army, the People's Army had many auxiliary weapons, so this increased one by one, and the People's Army could gain a certain advantage under the same conditions. After all, this was not the era of cold weapons, and it could win simply by relying on individual combat power.

As a result, the Russian army's positions were constantly squeezed and eroded by the People's Army, and it was difficult to regain the lost positions, so they could only gradually retreat; while the People's Army's advancement was not fast, it was very determined. If you occupy a position, you would firmly defend it and never lose it. You would gradually expand your advantages and firmly grasp the course of the battle in your own hands. Moreover, as the People's Army gradually expanded its advantages, the morale of the entire army became higher and higher, and the resistance of the Russian army was gradually weakening.

At this time, in the command center of the Russian army on the southern front, Major General Levistam, the commander of the Russian army, and Major General Eke, the commander of the 71st Division, were like an ant on a hot pan, because from the beginning of the war, the two had almost never received good news. Either the position was lost or the army suffered heavy casualties. Reports of asking for rescue and reinforcements came. Now the two have sent all the reserves on hand, including most of the guards. Now the two divisions have only two companies left with the guard forces.

Suddenly a communications soldier rushed into the command center and said, "Report that the defenders in Xingshengtun position have suffered heavy casualties. Brigade Commander Plessikov asked to rescue and reinforce the troops of a regiment."

Levistam angrily said, "Didn't he just reinforced a regiment an hour ago? Why are you here to reinforce again now?"

Ike also said: "Tell Plasicov that there is no reinforcement here, so he has to find a way to withstand it by himself no matter what."

Before he finished speaking, another communication soldier ran in and said, "Report, the Dongjiagou position is almost unable to withstand it. Please send troops to support the command center."

Ike said furiously: "The Dongjiagou position was basically not bombarded, and the loss was the smallest, so how could it not stand it? This is clearly Nedevsky's ineffective combat. He told Nedevsky that I have no reinforcements here. If he can't defend the position, then live and die with the position."

At this moment, another communication soldier came over panting and said, "Report, Xingwang... Xingwangtun position, lost... lost."

Levistam and Ike were shocked when they heard this. Levistam threw the pencil in his hand to the ground, shouted the name of the commander of Xingwangtun position and cursed: "Waste, Vokanovsky is really a waste, it really disgraces the reputation of the family..."

Before he could finish his words, he saw Major Buchenchev, the guard company commander, hurried into the command center and said, "Grand Commander, Xingwangtun position has been broken through by the People's Army. Now the vanguard of the People's Army is only 6,700 meters away from our command center, and the defense line we have arranged has been exchanged. It is no longer safe here. Please transfer the command center immediately."

Levistam and Ike looked at each other, and both of them understood that the "transfer command" at this time was actually evacuating from the battlefield. However, this evacuation meant completely giving up the war. Is it hard to say that the war really reached an irreversible level? At this moment, two explosions came from outside. It was heard that the explosion site was very close to the command center, no more than 100 meters. Buchenchev was also a little anxious and said, "This is the People's Army's shelling. They have discovered this place and are shelling here. Division Commander, please transfer quickly."

In fact, there was no need to persuade Buchenchev at this time. The two explosions just now had Levistam. Ike saw the danger. Of course, they would not risk staying in the command center. Therefore, Levistam waved his hand and said, "Retreat, retreat quickly." He said, and took the lead and walked out of the command center quickly.

When he came outside, Levistam discovered that he saw soldiers running around everywhere, and the gunshots were very close to the command center, and several shells fell to the surrounding area. It turned out that the Xinglong Nantun position was also broken by the People's Army. Levistam, Eck also knew that the current situation of the battle was irreversible. It was time to evacuate the battlefield. If he did not leave at this time, it would be too late.

So Levistam argued the direction, listened to the sound of guns and cannons, pointed to the southwest, and said, "Retreat from here."

The Russian army's northeastern positions were successively broken through by the People's Army, and the Russian army's command also evacuated from the battlefield. The Russian army in other positions had no intention of continuing to fight and evacuated from the battlefield, eventually leading to a situation of defeat on the whole line. The People's Army took advantage of the situation to pursue, divide and encircle the fleeing Russian army, capture prisoners, seize supplies, and expand their results.

By around 4 pm, the overall situation on the battlefield was basically decided, and only a few places were left with sporadic battles, while most of the soldiers of the People's Army had begun to clean up the battlefield, count the seized materials, contain prisoners, and provide emergency battlefield treatment to the wounded.
Chapter completed!