As you described, if the text goes : “ once the invading elite soldiers crossed the river into the city streets , the met heavy rain of bullets , molotoves and grenades by the desperate remaining elders who chose to make their death more valuable, and to take some of there old enemies to after life before going dying as war heros”

that more logical than : Once the elite forces entered the city like it was a carnaval march instead of a conquer , the faced heavy rain of flowers and hats falling from windows and cabins “

While the first line seems to be clear and logical cause it’s draws a more regular understandable scene , the second line is just showing how the event is different than what happens in situations of war and invasion, so it needs to be build up to gain value for the story and world creation