### "Boom! Boom! Boom!"
In the eastern Carpathians, over one and a half million soldiers from both the Russian and Austro-Hungarian armies engaged in a fierce struggle along a two-hundred-kilometer front. Both the attacking Russians and the defending Austrians exerted every ounce of strength they possessed.
From the onset of battle, the artillery on both sides erupted into a violent exchange. The Russians aimed to obliterate the Austro-Hungarian defenses and shatter their will to resist. Similarly, the Austrians sought to inflict significant casualties on the Russians, hoping to secure a favorable position in the ensuing defensive engagements.
"Boom! Boom!" The Russian 76.2mm shells rained down upon the Austro-Hungarian lines, reducing their fortifications to rubble and claiming the lives of several soldiers. The remaining Austro-Hungarian troops either huddled in their bomb shelters or crouched in the trenches, clutching their heads in desperation, praying to the heavens that they would escape the deadly rain of Russian artillery.
The morale among the Austrians was notably low. Despite wielding more advanced weaponry than their Russian counterparts, they had suffered defeat in previous encounters, which severely undermined their spirit. Conversely, the Russians, undaunted and relentless, displayed a far greater resolve in battle.
"Oh God! The Russian bombardment is relentless; if we remain here, we will surely be annihilated. Perhaps we should retreat?" a young Austro-Hungarian soldier exclaimed, his eyes wide with fear.
"Fool! Retreat now? Do you wish to be shot by the military police? The orders have already been given: we cannot withdraw without command," an older soldier retorted sharply.
The young soldier's heart sank as he turned to see a squad of military police stationed just over a hundred meters away, their heavy machine gun poised to unleash fire upon any sign of retreat. With no choice but to suppress his urge to flee, he braced himself in the trench.
To prevent any further acts of cowardice, Marshal von Hötzendorf had dispatched numerous military police to the front lines. Their singular mission was to instill fear in any wavering soldiers, ensuring they remained steadfast and did not succumb to panic, which could spell disaster for the entire front.
Under the watchful eyes of the military police, the Austro-Hungarian soldiers grimly pressed on, no longer easily intimidated by the Russian onslaught. If they could conquer their fears and effectively wield their weaponry, they stood a solid chance of holding their ground.
Amidst the ferocious counterattack, the Austro-Hungarian artillery achieved considerable success, inflicting heavy losses on their Russian counterparts.
At the Lesko front, the focal point of the Russian Third Army's assault, half of their forces were concentrated here, seeking to break through. Seizing Lesko would allow them to cross the Carpathians and assault the Hungarian plains.
"General, we are sustaining significant losses; the Austro-Hungarian artillery is incredibly fierce. So far, seven artillery positions have been destroyed, with over a hundred guns lost," reported the artillery commander to General Rusky.
"Damn it! How can this be? The enemy's condition seems markedly different! Their bombardment was never this intense in previous engagements," Rusky replied, furrowing his brow.
"General, should we continue the bombardment? At this rate, we will soon lose all our artillery," the commander cautioned.
After a moment of contemplation, Rusky decided, "Ten more minutes! Let the artillery hold for ten more minutes. After that, the infantry will launch an assault! Let us hope they can break through the enemy's defenses."
"Understood, General!"
Ten minutes later, the Russian artillery withdrew from the fray, the remaining guns retreating into the cover of the woods. The earlier bombardment had left the artillerymen rattled; despite their apparent safety, the artillery duel was brutal, and no one could predict when enemy shells might rain down and obliterate them.
Particularly in this battle, the effectiveness of the Austro-Hungarian artillery had heightened the Russian gunners' anxieties. Fortunately, with the retreat order given, they had survived.
As the Russian artillery exited the battlefield, the infantry immediately launched their assault.
"Charge! Tear through the enemy's lines, annihilate them!"
"Ura! Ura!"
A multitude of Russian soldiers surged from their trenches, charging towards the Austro-Hungarian positions. With cries of fervor, they advanced like a relentless wave, crashing upon the enemy's front.
"Quick! To the positions! The Russians are attacking!"
"Oh God! There are so many of them. Can we withstand their assault?"
Many Austro-Hungarian soldiers, witnessing the overwhelming tide, felt a surge of dread as they took their positions.
"Quick, open fire! Prevent those Russians from breaching our lines! If they break through, we are doomed!" barked the Austro-Hungarian officers, their voices strained with urgency.
In a bid to accommodate the diverse languages spoken by the troops, orders were issued in multiple tongues, presenting a formidable challenge for the commanders. The Austro-Hungarian Empire was a multiethnic state composed of numerous kingdoms and duchies, each with its own language. Thus, commanding such a linguistically diverse force was a daunting test for any officer.
"Fire!"
"Da-da-da! Bang! Bang! Bang!"
At the commander's signal, the Austro-Hungarian forces unleashed a torrent of firepower. Heavy and light machine guns roared to life, while rifles joined the chorus of gunfire.
Instantly, a concentrated barrage enveloped the advancing Russians, and countless soldiers fell, struck down. Yet, undeterred, the Russian troops pressed on, leaping over the bodies of their fallen comrades to continue their relentless advance on the Austro-Hungarian positions.