Comrade, your ingredients are too complicated.

With the arrival of the cold front, the garrison of the advance troops of the Suiyuan Military Region has been completely trapped in an ice and snow cage.

The heavy snow almost collapsed the triangular tent reinforced with logs. Even the outermost barbed wire fence of the position was covered with a layer of solid ice.

In this raging, extreme weather, Battalion Commander Liu of the light tank battalion, trudging through knee-deep snow and braving the biting wind, was inspecting the deployment of his soldiers.

His green military overcoat quickly frosted over, and his leather boots sank into the soft snow with every step, making a crunching sound.

Before long, Battalion Commander Liu arrived at the second layer of the position: a circular defensive perimeter consisting of 56 BT-7 light tanks.

These light tanks were half-buried in carefully dug snow trenches and covered with white canvas, leaving only the turrets and main guns exposed. From a distance, they looked like steel fortresses rising from the snowfield.

Seeing his superior arrive at the front line, the company commander quickly stepped forward to report:

"Reporting to the battalion commander, our company has completed the defensive deployment according to the plan. Currently, all BT-7s are configured in a zigzag pattern, with each vehicle spaced 30 meters apart to form a crossfire fan."

"In addition, the comrades also set up minefields, barbed wire and other fortifications on the outermost perimeter, and established field communications with friendly forces of the 55th Division."

"If those little devils dare to show their faces, I guarantee they won't leave alive! Please give your instructions!"

Classic, another classic.

A classic formation, showcasing its brilliance once again.

The defensive system built by the 3rd Regiment of the 55th Division and the light tank battalion was, to put it simply, composed of four nested ring-shaped positions.

Outer layer obstacles, middle layer firepower, mobile preparation, core support—each link harbors hidden dangers.

When the Japanese cavalry regiment launched the Banzai charge, they were first met with a death barrier consisting of barbed wire, anti-cavalry trenches, oil-splashed ice surfaces, and landmines.

If the Japanese wanted to launch an attack, they had to clear the obstacles first.

But what difference is there between cavalrymen who have lost their charging speed and sitting ducks? Their ultimate fate can only be to be mowed down by the soldiers.

If the enemy manages to break through the first layer, what awaits them is a composite defensive line composed of infantry and light tanks, a death corridor made of steel and flesh.

In this corridor, whether it was a 45mm tank gun, a vehicle-mounted machine gun, or a light or heavy machine gun, the route of the Japanese cavalry regiment's charge could be cut into a slaughterhouse.

As for the third layer, it would naturally consist of mobile firepower composed of dozens of half-track armored vehicles.

These highly mobile units, equipped with dual-purpose heavy machine guns and anti-aircraft guns, and capable of operating freely even in extreme weather, are enough to riddle any enemy cavalry attempting to outflank them.

The innermost layer was the artillery positions and command center, where Battalion Commander Liu and Regiment Commander Yan concentrated all the artillery pieces.

Faced with such an ironclad formation armed to the teeth, let alone a cavalry regiment, even the 1st and 2nd Tank Divisions together would have a hard time breaking through.

With the support of the air force, this regiment and battalion could even hold out against one or two Japanese divisions until the end of time.

Upon hearing this, Battalion Commander Liu nodded in satisfaction. He first tapped the armor of the BT-7 light tank beside him, then asked in a serious tone:

"What are the troops' fuel and ammunition reserves like?"

"Although we suffered heavy losses in the Dushikou battle, we still have enough supplies for the troops to operate for 48 hours." The company commander surveyed the position. "Our company's engines are started every hour and a half to ensure we are ready to fight at any time!"

Just as the two were talking, a BT-7 in the distance began to adjust its position, its tracks leaving deep marks on the snow, but these were quickly covered by the blizzard.

Following the sound of the engine, Battalion Commander Liu raised his binoculars and looked in the direction the Japanese might be attacking.

But on the vast snowfield, only howling wind and snow swirled wildly between heaven and earth, swallowing up all traces.

"Oh dear, this weather is perfect for a Japanese surprise attack. Tell the comrades not to let their guard down; battle could break out at any moment!"

"I asked the cooks to prepare ginger soup and meat soup, which will be delivered soon so that the soldiers can take turns having a bowl to warm themselves up."

"I'm heading back now. Stay in touch!"

······
Half an hour later, the blizzard was still howling across the snowfield, leaving only a chaotic white expanse between heaven and earth.

The flag of the Japanese 27th Cavalry Regiment fluttered in the blizzard, its surface already covered with icicles.

Regimental Commander Colonel Kazuki Kamijou tightened the reins, causing his horse to wince in pain as its anti-slip hooves dug deep ruts into the ground. He squinted, his eyes fixed on the outline of the Eighth Route Army's position through the swirling snow.

There, the shadows of machine gun emplacements loomed in and out of sight, and icicles hanging from the barbed wire swayed in the wind, even reflecting a chilling light.

"Damn it, that damned Tamai Yukibei! I shouldn't have trusted that reckless brute who only thinks about charging! If he hadn't acted on his own initiative and alerted the enemy, the Eighth Route Army wouldn't have retreated into Tiewangbali!"

"Is he really not a mole in the Navy, a scoundrel who's more trouble than he's worth?"

After several hours of arduous travel, the Japanese cavalry regiment, at the cost of more than fifty warhorses and over thirty soldiers, finally arrived at their designated positions before Leng Feng could completely blockade the battlefield.

Just as Kamijou Ichiki was congratulating himself on seizing the initiative, a sudden piece of bad news sent him back to hell.

The subordinates' solo actions exposed the entire regiment's location. The old Japanese commander's meticulously planned surprise attack was aborted before it even began.

Seeing his regimental commander's face turn from pale to black, and he looked as if he was about to be overcome with rage, Chief of Staff Major Takahashi quickly spurred his horse forward half a step and lowered his voice:

"Kamijo-kun, the current battlefield situation is unfavorable to us. The Eighth Route Army is holding firm in its defensive positions, and a direct attack at this time will only increase casualties. It would be better to retreat to the Datanzhen area and wait for them to leave their established positions before launching a surprise attack."

As Sun Tzu's Art of War says, "Wait at ease for the enemy to tire themselves out."

Upon hearing this, Kamijou Ichiki abruptly turned his head, his bloodshot eyes piercing the chief of staff like knives.

Is it that he doesn't want to leave? The problem is that he can't leave at all.

"Retreat?" Kazuki Kamijou's lips twitched, and the binoculars in his hand creaked as he gripped them tightly. "Takahashi-kun, open your eyes and look!"

The old Japanese soldier suddenly smashed his binoculars on the snow, his tone full of anger and helplessness.

"On the way here, we've already lost over fifty warhorses and more than thirty soldiers. Now, turning towards Datanzhen? I'm afraid the regiment will suffer a 30% loss before we even see the Eighth Route Army!"

With this thought in mind, Kamijou Ichiki seemed to have made up his mind. He drew his katana, and his roar even pierced through the wind and snow.

"Gentlemen, the time has come to serve His Majesty the Heavenly Locust!"

"Heavy Black Card, Banzai!" As soon as the words were spoken, hundreds of warhorses reared up at the same time, their iron hooves kicking up a cloud of snow.

The moment the charge began, all the cavalrymen simultaneously lowered their bodies, their sabers pointing diagonally forward. There, the Eighth Route Army's circular position lay dormant like a giant beast behind the snow curtain.

The first wave of attacks quickly tore a black rift in the snowfield.

Although the sound of horses' hooves was drowned out by the wind, the veterans on the Suiyuan Military Region's positions could already feel the earth trembling. Icicles on the barbed wire began to fall in a rustling sound, and empty cans made a crisp clinking sound in the snow.

"They're here! The Japanese devils are here!"

"Everyone! Prepare for battle!"

Before the words were finished, a series of muffled thuds suddenly erupted in the blizzard—the deathly roar of horses' hooves stepping on anti-personnel mines.

The Japanese cavalryman at the forefront had his horse pierced through the belly by hundreds of steel balls, and fragments of its internal organs mixed with blood mist were splashed on the snow. The melting snow water instantly vaporized into white mist.

If the horse is gone, the person certainly cannot survive alone.

The Japanese cavalryman's right leg was blown to pieces from the knee down, and three toes on his left leg were cut off by flying saddle fragments. He fell into the bloody mud like a rag doll.

Even more fortunate were the cavalrymen who were flung off by their maddened warhorses.

They fell to the ground in a flustered manner, and before they could get up, they heard a crisp metallic click from under their feet.

In an instant, the entire minefield erupted like a volcano. Clusters of black and red fireballs shot up one after another, hurling people into the air. Steel balls and shrapnel intertwined in the air, creating a death storm that tore apart all living things within its kill zone.

"Keep charging! There's no turning back now! Banzai!"

The second wave of cavalry, following the path paved by their comrades, continued their charge.

However, many warhorses suddenly lost their grip on the ice surface, which was covered with diesel fuel, and the anti-slip hooves lost their grip instantly.

The entire regiment was overturned as if by an invisible hand, the warhorses collided in a heap as they slid, and the cracking of bones broke one after another.

But no Japanese soldiers cried out in pain; the surviving soldiers struggled to their feet. Filled with doubt, they charged straight at the barbed wire with their swords drawn.

As for what the doubts are?
That, of course, is to find out what the unknown solidified substance on the ice is.

The soldiers of the impoverished imperialist regime never understood, even in death, that precious fuel could be used as part of defensive fortifications.

······
Meanwhile, on the other side of the battlefield.

"Illumination flares! Fire illumination flares now!"

"Fire! Fire! There are Japanese soldiers everywhere in front of us, fire all your bullets!"

"Headquarters! The enemy cavalry has launched a mass charge. Position 2815 needs artillery support!"

Amid the roars of the frontline soldiers, scorching bullets tore through the snow, 7.5, 7.92, and 13.2 mm bullets ripping human bodies and horses to shreds.

Just as a Japanese sergeant cut through the barbed wire, his entire head was hit squarely in the bullseye by a BT-7 45mm high-explosive shell.

Some tank crews with exceptionally high luck even managed to pierce through five closely packed warhorses with a single shell.

Inside the fourth defensive position, an artillery observer from the 3rd Regiment of the 55th Division was yelling into the telephone receiver: "Azimuth 173, delayed fuse! Fire!"

With the whistling of cannonballs, an entire squad of cavalrymen, along with the snow, were thrown into the sky.

I must say, the 75mm howitzer produced by the Awakening Tiger system is truly a pure steroid-fueled artillery piece. If you put her in "Battle of Longtan," her effect in supporting infantry would be no less than that of the M56 105mm howitzer.

······
After being bombarded by gunfire for several minutes, the battle flag of the 27th Cavalry Regiment was torn to shreds by shrapnel.

The remaining eighty-odd cavalrymen, less than 20% of their full strength, still charged desperately towards the second line of defense of the Suiyuan Military Region, stepping over the corpses of their comrades and warhorses.

The faces of these Japanese soldiers were covered in frost and scabs, and their frostbitten skin was exposed beneath their tattered uniforms.

The regimental commander at the very front even lost his saber and, using only a broken lance as a crutch, still limped forward.

"Suppressive fire! Quickly!"

An Eighth Route Army ammunition handler held a gun in his right hand and supported a swaying ammunition belt in his left. The muzzle flashed in the wind and snow as he fired in rapid bursts.

However, since he was only temporarily taking over the duties of the machine gunner and assistant machine gunner, and the Japanese cavalry had already used smoke grenades to cover their charge, his shooting effect was not very good, and he was always a beat too slow.

"The scale is set too low! Adjust the scale to 500!"

Watching the ammunition handler clumsily adjust the sights, the platoon leader, who had rushed over from the trench, sighed. He stepped forward, took the heavy machine gun, adjusted the sights, and began firing short bursts at the enemy.

He soon discovered that burst fire was not very effective against cavalry.

If precise shooting doesn't work, then just spray and pray!

Under Hotchkiss's suppression, two Japanese soldiers were knocked to the ground.

One of the horses struggled to its feet and continued galloping, while the rider was dragged on the ground, half of his body covered by snow.

Just then, a deafening roar of engines suddenly erupted from behind the position, instantly drowning out all the gunfire on the battlefield. The noise was like ten tractors starting up simultaneously, causing the snow on the top of the bunker to slide off in a flurry.

The soldiers who were lying prone in front of the firing port all turned their heads to look around.

Ten SDKFZ251 trucks were seen violently smashing through the ruins, their wide tracks producing a sickening metallic scraping sound as they rolled over the frozen ground.

Inside its armored cargo bed, the triple-mounted 25mm anti-aircraft guns gleamed with a blinding cold light. The three gun barrels swayed slightly up and down with the movement of the vehicle, resembling a ferocious beast locking onto its prey.

A German chassis paired with a French cannon—this combination is absurd and hilarious.

But on today's battlefield, this is the ultimate in calmness and ultimate enjoyment!

"Fire!" (End of Chapter)