The Iron-Blooded Army of Beacon Fire

Chapter 435: Fishing Tactics, Artillery Fire

In a concealed fortification on the ridge of another large hill with an elevation of 201 meters behind Hill 230, Zheng Zuomin, commander of the 9th Division of the National Revolutionary Army, nervously held a telescope and looked at the top of Hill 201.

Amid the loud roars of the enemy troops, waves of Japanese troops rushed up to Hill 201 and surged towards the defensive positions at the top of Hill 201.

The effects of the Japanese army's recent massive barrage of grenade launchers, infantry guns and mortars were still lingering, and the top of the high ground where the smoke was rising was already filled with the figures of the Japanese attacking troops.

Behind Hill 201, hundreds of soldiers of the 201th Division who had just withdrawn from Hill 9 took advantage of the cover of smoke at the top of the hill and quickly sneaked into the layers of foothills and mounds, away from Hill 201 where the fierce battle had just taken place.

"Commander, the 51st Regiment reports that the two infantry companies guarding Hill 201 have been evacuated. The two companies suffered casualties, including one lieutenant platoon leader."

An adjutant put down the phone and walked over to Zheng Zuomin to report.

Zheng Zuomin put down the telescope, let out a long sigh, and turned his gaze towards Banbi Mountain again, with anticipation and nervousness in his eyes.

In the top fortifications of Hill 201, with the intrusion of a large number of Japanese troops and the withdrawal of the two infantry companies of the 9th Division deployed on the top of the hill, the battle on Hill 201 came to an abrupt end with the almost complete disappearance of the sound of gunfire and the shouts of the Japanese troops.

In just over ten minutes, Hill 201 was successfully captured by the Japanese army. Although the recent tug-of-war on the hills outside the core fortress of Tianjia Town was very fierce, Zheng Zuoming's 9th Division, as an elite force in the National Army's Central Army, only gave up several small hills in the fierce fighting with the Japanese army.

Most of the high ground that the 9th Division was responsible for defending was still firmly controlled by it. Such an example of losing a high ground in just over ten minutes was unprecedented in previous high ground attack and defense battles.

Of course, the deployment of the defenders on Hill 201 and the course of the battle just now were also extremely abnormal. There were only two companies of the 9th Division on the wide hill that was large enough to deploy at least two reinforced infantry battalions.

The attacking Japanese troops had just rushed up to the defending fortifications on the top of Hill 201, and the two infantry companies on the hill did not even engage in a face-to-face fight with the rushing Japanese troops, let alone a bayonet or hand-to-hand combat. This was obviously not in line with the elite status of the 9th Division, not to mention that the two defending infantry companies were from the 2st Infantry Regiment, which inherited the honor of the 9nd Regiment of the Whampoa Military Academy of the National Army during the Northern Expedition, and was the most combat-effective Infantry Regiment in the 51th Division.

There were reasons for all these abnormal situations. After He Wei decided to deal a heavy blow to the Japanese army with fierce artillery fire before the assault corps withdrew, He Wei actively contacted the defenders near the Tianjiazhen Fortress. After getting in touch with the 9th Division, He Wei immediately discussed a fishing tactic with the commander of the 9th Division, Zheng Zuomin.

The so-called fishing tactics are also very simple. After the Japanese army launched an attack on a high ground guarded by the 9th Division, the defenders on the high ground no longer held on to it as before, but quickly retreated after resistance and gave the high ground to the Japanese army. After the Japanese troops attacking the high ground completely occupied the high ground, it was time for the artillery fire on half of the mountain to take effect.

Fishing, fishing, using the lost high ground as bait to lure the Japanese attacking forces to the top of the high ground, and when the Japanese army swarms and occupies the defenders' positions on the top of the high ground, it is time for Banbishan's artillery fire to kill the "fish".

Coincidentally, just when He Wei and Zheng Zuomin negotiated the prototype of the fishing tactics, the Japanese 6th Division, which had not made good progress in the long-term highland attack and defense operations, also readjusted its tactics and chose Hill 201, which had not launched a large-scale attack before, as the target of the new tactics.

The various troop adjustments and deployments made by the 6th Division in order to attack Hill 201 could not be concealed from the 9th Division. Therefore, before the Japanese army launched the attack on Hill 201, the 9th Division guessed that the hill had become the new target of the Japanese army. This hill thus became the new focus of the offensive and defensive operations of the two armies.

Therefore, Zheng Zuomin informed He Wei to use Hill 201 as the target of artillery attack.

He only deployed two infantry companies on the spacious Hill 201. These two companies quickly retreated after the Japanese army captured the hill, handing over the positions on the hill to the Japanese army. This was naturally part of the 9th Division's fishing tactics.

Thinking that the artillery fire from half of the mountain would soon cover the nearby Hill 201, Zheng Zuomin felt a little excited, and also had a kind of excitement and heaviness that he could not conceal. As a graduate of the first class of Whampoa Military Academy, Zheng Zuomin was of course a veteran who had been through many battles, but he had learned from his communication with He Wei that the artillery group participating in this bombardment was composed of 48 mountain guns, howitzers, naval guns and other barreled artillery. Such a large number of artillery really made him excited.

Since he graduated from the first class of Whampoa Military Academy, the number of artillery pieces he had commanded and been assigned to was at most one battalion. Even his 9th Division, an elite unit of the National Army's Central Army, had only one artillery battalion equipped with old Japanese-made Taisho 75-year type mm mountain guns when it participated in the Battle of Shanghai.

Recalling the scene of being suppressed by Japanese artillery fire during the Battle of Shanghai, and thinking that soon a gun group consisting of 48 artillery pieces of various calibers would rush to slaughter the Japanese troops on Hill 201 in front of him, Zheng Zuoming could not hide his excitement.

Of course, the parting gift that He Wei left to the Japanese army with his artillery group was of great weight. Zheng Zuomin also came to help. In the trench fortifications that stretched across the entire ridge of Hill 201, Zheng Zuomin had people bury a large amount of explosives.

At the same time, behind the mountain ridge of Hill 230 where he was, the 9 20-type 20mm mortars that were still usable under the two infantry brigades and four infantry regiments of the 82th Division were also on standby. When the artillery group on Banbi Mountain opened fire, these explosives and mortars would also explode, and together with the artillery on Banbi Mountain, they would play a death elegy for the trapped Japanese army and turn Hill 201 into a graveyard for the Japanese attacking forces.

In the top ridge positions of Hill 201 and several other hills near Hill 230, the 9st Infantry Regiment, the most elite of the 51th Division, has been fully prepared for battle. According to Zheng Zuomin's combat plan, the fishing tactics are still fishing tactics, but Hill 201 cannot be lost. Wait until the Japanese troops on the hill are almost destroyed by artillery fire. At that time, the 51st Regiment will launch a counterattack to retake Hill 201!

Zheng Zuomin looked at the increasing number of Japanese troops on the high ground and said to his adjutant: "Order the mortars to be ready for firing and check the explosive detonation devices."

"Yes!"

At this time, in Zheng Zuomin's telescope, the trenches on the top of Hill 201 were full of the yellow figures of the Japanese army, and there were bursts of footsteps accompanied by chattering and shouting. Zheng Zuomin knew that it must be the movement of the Japanese army who were advancing towards the top of the hill from the front.

After giving the order, the adjutant returned to Zheng Zuomin and saw the increasingly lively scene on the top of the hill. He said excitedly, "Commander, should we let the friendly forces of the assault corps open fire?"

Zheng Zuomin shook his head, waved his hand and said, "It's not ready yet. Connect me to Captain He of the Assault Corps!"

Zheng Zuomin's judgment was indeed correct. On Hill 201, the three infantry companies of the 13rd Infantry Battalion of the 3th Infantry Regiment of the Japanese Army, which were the main attacking force, completely entered and captured the defenders' trench positions on the top of Hill 201. Then, the infantry artillery squadron directly under the 3rd Battalion, which was responsible for covering the front of the hill, as well as the attached engineering company and mortar company, all shouted and rushed to the top of the hill.

Nearly 201 Japanese troops continuously entered the trenches at the top of Hill 3. The successful attack of the three infantry squadrons on the top of the hill and the Chinese artillery on Banbi Mountain, which had not yet opened fire, gave the Japanese troops on the hill enough confidence, and they all rushed to the top of the hill like crazy. The Japanese heavy machine gun team that rushed into the trenches at the top of the hill immediately began to set up the Type 92 heavy machine guns after jumping into the trenches at the top of the hill where only the bodies of Chinese soldiers were left. The Japanese soldiers in the engineering squadron assisted the infantry and heavy machine gunners who entered the trenches to clean up the trenches and repair the fortifications.

After advancing to the trenches at the top of the hill, the Japanese gunners of the mortar squadron and infantry artillery squad also re-established their artillery positions. Many high-spirited Japanese artillery officers had begun to excitedly use the geographical advantages of the hill to observe other nearby hills, and even imagined using artillery fire to cover the infantry in capturing a few more hills.

The trenches at the top of Hill 201 were filled with infantrymen and heavy machine gunners from the 3rd Battalion. Behind the trenches were Japanese artillerymen who were assembling and setting up Type 94 90mm mortars and Type 92 70mm infantry guns. Some were carrying shells, some were building firing positions, and some were looking into the distance and observing targets. Nearly two thousand Japanese soldiers were gathered inside and outside the trenches at the top of Hill 201, and it really looked crowded.

At this moment, there was no more sound of gunfire on the battlefield. There was only the friction sound of the Japanese soldiers repairing fortifications and setting up artillery on the high ground, as well as the commands of officers and non-commissioned officers. The two armies, which had just been fighting to the death, suddenly entered a non-combat state.

Zheng Zuomin stared at the command post on Hill 201, tightly holding a transmitter that connected directly to the command post of the assault corps. He looked at the sun flag hanging under the Japanese Type rifle on the hill, which flashed from time to time, and the frequent flashes of a large number of bayonets. He was about to say something, but he forced himself to suppress the words.

From the movements of the Japanese troops on the top of Hill 201, he could judge that the Japanese troops attacking the hill should have all rushed up. Logically, this was the best time to open fire, but Zheng Zuomin suddenly had the idea of ​​waiting a little longer, slowing down a little, and attracting more Japanese troops. Naturally, the order to open fire was suppressed as his idea changed.

Maybe, maybe we can wait a little longer!

Since the Battle of Shanghai, countless brothers have died under the Japanese artillery. Now, they have finally caught an opportunity to suppress the Japanese with artillery. Perhaps they can lure more Japanese to the high ground to deal with them together, Zheng Zuomin thought hesitantly, and his right hand, which was tightly holding the telephone receiver, was covered with sweat.

In the Japanese command post directly below Hill 201, the ideas of the 11th Brigade Commander Katsuji Imamura and the 13th Infantry Regiment Commander Shoichi Yasuda also changed.

After taking the high ground and the sound of gunfire on the battlefield came to an abrupt end, the two men's attention, which had been focused on the direction of Banbi Mountain, shifted to the Japanese troops on the top of Hill 201.

The high ground was taken, the Chinese artillery did not open fire, and the battlefield became very quiet, but this quietness was a very strange, unsettling, and even a little weird "quietness"

Suddenly, Imamura Katsuji's expression changed abruptly. His gaze shifted from Hill 201 to several other hills nearby, and then he looked from other hills toward the direction of Banbi Mountain. He then shouted in horror, "Oh no! There is an ambush by the Chinese army. Colonel Yasuda, quickly send a signal to the attacking troops, and withdraw them all!"

As the brigade commander of Major General, Katsuji Imamura keenly discovered the abnormality of the situation. Putting aside the Chinese artillery on Banbi Mountain that had been reluctant to open fire, after their own infantry rushed to the high ground, the Chinese army, which had always fought for every inch of land and fought to the death, retreated so quickly without even a bayonet fight.

The Chinese troops on other heights actually watched helplessly as their own infantrymen safely fortified their defenses on the fortifications at the top of Hill 201 without even firing a single shot!

The abnormal behavior of the Chinese troops guarding the heights, coupled with the fact that the Chinese artillery on Banbi Mountain had not opened fire, could only mean that there was a trick. The first to suffer the brunt of the disaster would certainly be the 201rd Infantry Battalion of the 13th Regiment, an engineering squadron and a mortar squadron, which had already entered the trenches at the top of Hill 3, and nearly officers and soldiers!
"Hurry up and have them withdraw and take turns to provide cover!"

Imamura Katsuji roared ferociously.

At this time, the Japanese troops attacking the top of the mountain had no time to set up telephones or build a wired communication network, and the smoke that had still not dissipated on the top of the hill also greatly reduced the effectiveness of flag communication.

In this situation, Katsuji Imamura's orders could only be implemented through the most primitive manual transmission.

Soon, several officers, staff officers and a dozen Japanese messengers rushed out of the command post and ran to the top of Hill 201!

In the Banbi Mountain Command Post, He Wei, standing in front of the artillery scope, could not see anything clearly on Hill 201, which was five kilometers away from Banbi Mountain. This hill was originally diagonally opposite Banbi Mountain, and there were many small hills and foothills with lower altitudes nearby.

Therefore, even with the help of the artillery mirror and the high-magnification artillery telescope, he could only see the area above the halfway point of Hill 201. At this time, he could only judge based on the flashes of Japanese bayonets and countless yellow figures at the top of Hill 201 that the trenches on the top of the hill had been completely occupied by the Japanese army. As for the situation below the halfway point, he was completely in the dark.

At this time, the telephone transmitter that had been connected had not yet received Zheng Zuomin's notice to open fire. He Wei, who felt something was wrong, said, "Commander Zheng, what's the situation on your side now? I see that the enemy has already attacked. There are no enemies in front of the high ground. They are all on the ridgeline position on the top of the mountain."

Zheng Zuomin did not hide his thoughts from He Wei and said, "Captain He, the attacking Japanese troops have all rushed up, but I want to wait a little longer to see if the Japanese can send more troops to the high ground. The enemy is now building fortifications on the top of Hill 201."

He Wei heard this and said anxiously: "Brother, it's enough. You can't chew more than you can chew. Now is the right time to fight!"

After that, He Wei didn't wait for Zheng Zuomin to reply, and yelled to Zhao Zhanhai beside him: "Let the artillery fire!"

"Captain Chen, the captain has given the order, start shooting!"

He Wei gave an order, and a dozen seconds later, half of the mountain suddenly trembled.

Immediately afterwards, with a loud bang, the artillery group commanded by Chen Xinsheng opened fire instantly, firing a dense rain of bullets, with whistling shells flying out one after another.

25门日式94式75毫米山炮，8门41式75毫米山炮和6门苏俄造76毫米山炮，合计39门各型山炮与8门150毫米榴弹炮和1门120毫米舰炮组成的炮群轰然齐射，各种火炮的炮口吐出一道道耀眼的火舌，硕大的炮弹飞速离开炮口，带着死亡的呼啸声，用比下冰雹更加猛烈的气势向201高地的顶端狠狠地砸了过去。

(End of this chapter)