At the start of the attack, the plunderers in Sanchi Town were already a little stunned.
Even Terrell, when he bravely ascended a high platform to observe the battle, was somewhat dazed.
It was unquestionable that the heavy artillery fired first. Around the edges of Sanchi Town, and then at the buildings, followed by the plunderers who had dug trenches, were too scared to stick their heads out under the bombardment. If it weren't for the leaders exerting pressure, nobody would have dared to run, and it's possible that this artillery barrage alone could have totally shattered the outer defenses.
The plunderers hiding in fortifications, bunkers, and trenches actually suffered relatively few casualties. If they weren't hit directly by a shell, or too close to the blast to be killed or injured by the shock wave, the deadly and terrifying shrapnel couldn't penetrate their cover to cause harm.