Zhu Tian: Beginning to Cross the Changjin Lake

Under the command of Isamu Yokoyama, the Japanese 116th Division and the 68th Division, which had surrounded Hengyang, immediately launched an attack on the city of Hengyang.

The 68th Brigade of the 58th Division, under the command of its brigade commander, Major General Sadamasa Ota, was responsible for attacking the main position in the south of the city.

At a frontline position, Major General Sadamasa Ota held up a telescope and carefully observed the situation on the opposite side. At the front of the 10th Army's defensive position, there were two protruding small hills, called Tingbing Hill and Gaoling.

These two heights are defended by garrisons and are in prominent locations, but they are just two inconspicuous hills.

If the Japanese wanted to attack the main position in the south of the city, they had to take these two small hills.

Ota Sadamasa observed the situation carefully and did not take these two insignificant hills seriously at all.

A Japanese officer nearby said, "General, the division commander has issued the order to attack."

"If we want to defeat the enemy in front of us, we must capture the two high grounds at the forefront of the enemy army."

"Yoshi~!"

Ota Sadamasa didn't take these two small pieces of land seriously at all, and said casually: "Then let's take these two positions first."

"Concentrate your artillery fire and bombard the enemy's frontline positions."

"Although these two small positions are inconspicuous, they must be bombarded with the heaviest artillery fire."

"Because this is our first time to launch an attack, we must strive for a complete victory, even if it means using a sledgehammer to defeat a nut, we must win beautifully."

"Secondly, such a powerful firepower attack will also intimidate our enemies and shock them, thus crushing their will to resist."

"Once the enemy loses their will to resist, it will be easy for us to capture the entire Hengyang."

The Japanese officer next to him said respectfully: "Your Excellency the General is absolutely right."

"Our offensive forces are ready, and our artillery units are all aimed at the enemy positions."

Ota Sadamasa raised his wrist, glanced at his watch, and said, "Let's get started."

"Hayi~!"

The order was quickly passed down, and soon the sound of rumbling artillery fire was heard from the Japanese artillery positions.

"Chirp chirp chirp~!"

With a sharp whistling sound, the artillery shells quickly cut through the sky and flew straight towards the high ridge position where the troops were stationed in the distance.

"Boom~! Boom~!"

Violent explosions continued to sound, and gunfire and smoke gradually enveloped the two hillsides.

At this time, the attacking Japanese also moved to the front line and prepared for the attack.

After a fierce artillery bombardment, the Japanese immediately launched a fierce attack.

The Japanese soldiers from the two squadrons attacked the positions of Gaoling and Tingbingshan respectively.

However, at this moment, the defenders on the two positions were already on high alert, waiting to deal a heavy blow to the attacking Japanese.

And this moment was also the beginning of the Japanese nightmare.

In order to stop the Japanese attack, the defenders also made sufficient preparations.

Commander Fang had anticipated that the south and west of the city would become the main directions of the Japanese attack.

Therefore, tens of thousands of civilian workers were mobilized in advance to build fortifications here.

Since this is a low hilly area, there are a lot of small hills like Tingbing Mountain and Gaoling.

However, under normal circumstances, such a small hill is not enough to stop the Japanese's massive attack.

So Commander Fang put a lot of effort into building the defensive position.

First, all the hills facing the direction of the Japanese attack were cut into 90° cliffs to make it impossible for the Japanese to climb. At the same time, grenade throwing trenches and sturdy bunkers were built on the top of the cliffs.

After the cliff was cut, Fang Xianjue built an outer moat in front of the cliff.

The outer trench was fronted by a fence made of thick logs, behind which were barbed wire and a minefield, and the bottom of the trench was covered with barbs. The outer trench, the cliffs, and the fortifications on the cliffs formed the complete "Fang Xianjue Trench".

The famous Fang Xianqie Trench became the nightmare of the Japanese invaders during the entire Battle of Hengyang.

The Japanese's tactics were still the same as always. After the artillery preparation was over, a large number of Japanese launched a group charge.

According to Ota Sadamasa's plan, they should have been able to easily capture these two small positions.

However, the outcome of the matter was far beyond his expectations.

After the two squadrons of Japanese soldiers rushed forward, they were first blocked by a minefield.

As violent explosions continued to sound, the attacking Japanese soldiers were repeatedly tripped by mines and blown up.

However, the density of the mines was not too high, and the Japanese soldiers tried to disperse as much as possible. Relying on their experience, they continued to attack forward cautiously.

At this time, the bunkers on the position began to open fire, and dense gunfire could be heard from time to time. The machine gunners in the bunkers were also experienced, and they fired beautiful bursts of bullets one after another, and the Japanese soldiers were constantly shot and killed.

The attacking Japanese squadron leader hid in a safe place and shouted loudly: "Provide fire cover, infantry continue to attack."

Under the order of the Japanese squadron leader, the Japanese machine guns and grenade launchers immediately aimed at the defenders' positions on the mountain and opened fire fiercely.

Dense bullets and grenades continued to fly towards the positions on the mountain.

However, the brothers guarding the positions were all hiding in trenches or bunkers, and the enemy's firepower could hardly cause any casualties to them.

The machine guns in the bunker continued to shoot and kill the Japanese soldiers who were rushing over.

The Japanese squadron leader received a death order that in the first attack, he must capture these two inconspicuous hills.

So even though they suffered some casualties at the beginning, these Japanese soldiers did not give up and continued to attack under the order of the Japanese squadron leader.

However, for the Japs, the nightmare had just begun.

The Japanese soldiers who had managed to cross the minefield with great difficulty encountered a large number of obstacles ahead of them, and their attack was hampered. The firepower of the defenders on the mountain became increasingly fierce, and the enemy, whose speed was hindered, suffered heavy losses.

Ota Sadamasa held up a telescope to observe the situation on the battlefield, and angrily yelled, "Damn it! These enemies are so cunning."

"Order the attacking forces to withdraw."

"Hayi~!"

The losses were so great that Ota Sadamasa felt that continuing the fight would not be worth it.

So he ordered the troops to withdraw.

Several Japanese soldiers gathered together to discuss countermeasures. Ota Sadamasa said angrily: "We can't let these two small hills stop our attack."

A Japanese lieutenant colonel said: "I have carefully investigated and found that the enemy's fortifications are quite tricky."

"They set up minefields and obstacle areas in front of their positions, which greatly slowed down the locust army's attack speed."

"There are bunkers on the mountain, and the firepower on these two high grounds can also cover each other, forming crossfire, making it difficult for the locust army to attack their positions."

Ota Sadamasa said coldly: "Cunning enemy, do they think they can stop our attack like this?" "It's just wishful thinking."

"Notify the artillery unit immediately, concentrate all artillery fire, and launch intensive bombardment on the front line of the enemy's position."

"Completely destroy the enemy's minefields and obstacle areas to clear the obstacles for the Locust Army warriors to attack."

"Notify the artillery unit. It doesn't matter even if it wastes a little more ammunition."

"Hayi~!"

A Japanese officer responded respectfully and turned to convey the order.

At this time, another Japanese lieutenant colonel said: "General, according to my observation, the enemy is very cunning. They have cut the mountains into 90-degree cliffs."

"Even if our soldiers rushed up, it would be difficult for them to climb up the mountain."

Ota Sadamasa said coldly: "This is not a brilliant strategy. Do you think this can stop our attack?"

"I can only say that they are too naive. Didn't they prepare a large number of ladders for the siege? Now they are put to use ahead of time."

"I have observed it just now. Those ladders are enough to climb up the opposite hillside."

"Hmph! With these cunning enemies, there's no way we can stop the locust army's attack."

"Hai~! Your Excellency the General is wise."

At this moment, Ota Sadamasa had not yet experienced the power of Fang Xianqie's trench. He thought that such defensive fortifications were nothing special and did not take it too seriously.

Under the command of this old Japanese soldier, the young Japanese soldiers once again concentrated their fierce artillery fire and bombarded the defenders' frontline positions.

The fierce artillery fire almost plowed through the front positions of the two hills.

One mine after another in the minefield was detonated. Even if some mines were not detonated, the Japanese soldiers only needed to move forward along the craters created by the explosions to basically avoid the mines and ensure their safety.

The fences and barbed wire in the obstacle area were blown to pieces by enemy artillery fire and basically lost their function.

After this round of bombing, a large number of Japanese soldiers rushed over again with great momentum.

This time, the Japanese passed through the minefield and obstacle area relatively smoothly, but under the firepower of the defending bunkers, the attacking Japanese still paid a certain price in casualties.

The Japanese bombarded the mountain fiercely but were unable to completely destroy the bunkers on the mountain.

At this time, a large number of Japanese soldiers rushed to the outer trench, which was a wide and deep trench at the foot of the mountain.

The Japanese soldiers set up the prepared ladders and jumped down without hesitation.

At this time, some Japanese soldiers couldn't help but scream. It turned out that at the bottom of the trench, the defenders had also placed some iron nails, bamboo sticks and other sharp objects, covered with a layer of something to block them. The Japanese soldiers jumped down without any preparation, and were stabbed one by one and screamed.

At this time, grenades flew down from the mountain, emitting black smoke and fell into the outer trench.

"Boom~! Boom~!"

Violent explosions continued to sound, and the Japanese soldiers who entered the outer trench were immediately blown to the ground, with many of them killed or injured.

"Bagaya Deer~!"

The Japanese officer in charge yelled angrily, "Cover fire. Concentrate all firepower immediately to suppress the enemy's firepower on the mountain."

"The attacking forces continue to attack!"

"Hayi~!"

Under the command of the Japanese officer, more Japanese soldiers rushed forward carrying ladders.

But as soon as they got close, grenades emitting black smoke would immediately fly out from the grenade-throwing trench on the mountain.

Violent explosions continued to sound, and the Japanese soldiers who rushed up were immediately blown to the ground, with many killed and wounded.

Soon the outer trench was covered with the corpses of the Japanese devils.

Ota Sadamasa, who was watching the battle from a distance, saw this scene and was so angry that he cursed: "Bagayalu, these hateful enemies are so cunning."

A Japanese lieutenant colonel nearby said: "These enemy troops are just using grenades to kill the attacking Locust Army warriors."

"It is difficult for the locust army to rush forward, and it is also difficult to effectively kill the enemies hiding in the trenches."

"They were in a high position and could easily throw grenades into the Locust Army, but the Locust Army could not throw grenades into their trenches."

"Even a grenade launcher cannot accurately hit the enemy hiding in the trenches."

Ota Sadamasa gnashed his teeth and cursed, "Bagayashi, I don't believe I can't deal with these bastards."

"Immediately mobilize more intense firepower and bombard these two positions hard."

"Also, contact the Army Aviation Department immediately and have them send aircraft to assist in the battle."

"I just don't believe that these hateful enemies can hold out for long in the face of absolute firepower."

"Hayi~!"

The Japanese lieutenant replied respectfully: "Your Excellency the General is wise."

In order to reduce losses, Ota Sadamasa ordered his troops to withdraw again.

However, the two group charges had already caused heavy casualties to the Japanese.

On these two inconspicuous hills, the Japanese had left behind more than two hundred corpses, but these corpses were still not enough to fill Fang Xianqie's trenches at the two positions.

Under the command of Ota Sadamasa, the Japanese once again used heavy artillery fire to bombard the defenders' frontline positions.

At the same time, Ota Sadamasa also successfully dispatched more than a dozen Japanese planes. After arriving at the battlefield, these Japanese planes immediately bombed the two small hills in turn.

Violent explosions continued to sound, and the two heights were once again engulfed in gunfire and smoke.

Although the Japanese's repeated and indiscriminate bombing caused certain casualties to the defenders, it was not enough to completely destroy the defenders' fortifications on the mountain.

So when the bombing ended, a large number of Japanese soldiers took the opportunity to rush onto the battlefield, but they were once again met with stubborn resistance from the defenders.

The Japanese were also forced into a corner and continued to attack forward in a rage. They set up ladders on the cliffs and climbed up desperately one by one.

Hand grenades kept falling and violent explosions continued to ring out. The Japanese soldiers were blown to the ground in large numbers. The outer trench was filled with the bodies of the Japanese soldiers and a large number of destroyed ladders.

However, the Japanese soldiers continued to climb up desperately, stepping on the corpses of their companions.

Even if some Japanese soldiers managed to climb up the mountain, they would be shot to pieces by the defenders who were on high alert as soon as they got there, or stabbed in the chest or even beheaded.

These Japanese soldiers couldn't attack at all and could only die one after another in this deep and wide trench.

The trenches were filled with corpses and blood flowed like a river, it was a horrific sight.

That afternoon, Li Guotao hurriedly crossed the city and headed towards the military headquarters.

The entire city was filled with the shrill sound of air defense sirens, and the sound of fighter planes could be heard faintly in the air.

As Li Guotao walked, he looked up at the fighter planes circling in the sky, and he couldn't help feeling a little confused. (End of this chapter)