Zhu Tian: Beginning to Cross the Changjin Lake

Li Guotao said with a determined look: "No matter what, we must try to hold on for another ten days or half a month."

"Everyone should try to kill ten more Japanese devils, and at least."

"Even if we really fight to the death, we can't let the Japanese have an easy time. We have to make sure their corpses cover the entire Tianma Mountain."

Li Guotao knew that they had no way to retreat now, and had no other choice but to grit their teeth and hold on.

Moreover, Li Guotao was also very confident, thinking that with his current strength, there would be no problem in persisting until the 47th day.

As long as he waits until 47 days, everything will be over. By then, he can quickly defeat the Japanese who are besieging Hengyang and completely smash their plan to open up the mainland transportation lines.

After everything was ready, Li Guotao personally led his brothers to the Tianma Mountain position again while the Japanese temporarily stopped their attack.

After learning about the specific situation on the Tianma Mountain position, Li Guotao immediately began to make arrangements.

Li Guotao held up a telescope and observed the situation in the distance.

"How long have the Japs stopped attacking?"

A soldier nearby replied, "It seems like it's been two hours, but the Japanese soldiers don't seem to be idle either. Some are reinforcing their fortifications, some are continuing to build ladders, and a large amount of supplies are being transported in."

"And the Japanese are also mobilizing their forces, apparently preparing to launch a new round of attacks."

Li Guotao nodded slightly and said, "In that case, they will soon launch a new offensive."

"The Japanese stopped attacking this time just to adjust their deployment, not to give up."

"In this case, we must speed up and prepare for battle as soon as possible."

"Notify the brothers to transport the weapons, ammunition and various supplies as soon as possible."

"And we must be careful to avoid being bombarded by the Japanese."

"Yes!"

At this time, Yang Jihe came over and said, "I have inquired, and the enemy on the other side is still the Gaoye Regiment."

"Hmph~!"

Li Guotao snorted coldly and said, "It's still an old rival!"

"We've been fighting for so long, I thought they changed players?"

Yang Jihe said: "Although the Gaoye League has suffered heavy losses during this period, they have been replenishing their troops."

Li Guotao said: "But the reinforcements are definitely not as good as those old devils."

"After fighting for so long, the veterans of the Gaoye League have been almost exhausted, and their combat effectiveness is naturally declining."

"This way, it will be easier to deal with these little devils."

Yang Jihe nodded and said, "That's true."

Li Guotao went on to say: "I think these little devils only have these two tricks. It will depend on who can outlast the other."

"We must hold our ground and reduce casualties as much as possible, but we must also do everything we can to inflict greater casualties on the Japanese."

"After fighting for so long, the Japanese have also consumed a lot of manpower. If they continue to fight like this, they will be exhausted sooner or later."

"When our reinforcements arrive, it will be easier to enter Hengyang."

"As long as we hold on until reinforcements arrive, victory will be ours."

……

At the same time, in the headquarters of the Takano Regiment.

Jiro Kono was holding the microphone, his head lowered respectfully, while Iwanaga Wang's scolding continued to come from the microphone.

The battle at the front was not going well, and the old Japanese soldier Iwanaga Wang completely lost his patience and scolded Takano Jiro.

Although Jiro Takano felt a little aggrieved, he didn't know what to say. It was his fault for losing the battle. He had been fighting for so long but had not been able to take Tianma Mountain. There had been no progress at all. He had lost so many troops in vain. He was too embarrassed to refute.

However, it was not only Takano Jiro who lost the battle. The other troops did not fight well either. Of course, these guys were the only exceptions and got scolded.

Even the captain of the corps under Yan Yongwang was slapped twice.

Compared to being slapped in the face, being scolded doesn't seem so difficult to accept, so Jiro Kono could only endure it silently.

When Iwanaga Wang was tired of scolding, Takano Jiro said carefully: "General, calm down. We are preparing to launch a new round of attack."

"Although we don't have a better way to quickly take over Tianma Mountain, we will continue to launch attacks. Judging from this trend, the enemy should not be able to hold out for much longer."

Yan Yongwang said angrily: "Huh~! I have heard this kind of thing more than once a long time ago."

"We always thought the enemy wouldn't be able to hold out for much longer, but until now, they are still desperately holding on."

"How long can it last? Who can say for sure?"

"Hayi~!"

Takano Jiro responded respectfully: "His Excellency the General has taught us that no matter how long they can hold out, we can only grit our teeth and continue to attack."

"If we delay any further, the situation of the locust army will only get worse."

Yan Yongwang said coldly: "You hit the nail on the head."

"We can't delay any longer, otherwise I wouldn't urge you again and again."

"The higher-ups are very dissatisfied with our performance. Even Commander Yokoyama has been reprimanded countless times."

"If we can't take Hengyang, we're all done for."

"Commander Yokoyama will arrive at the front today. With the battle going on like this, Commander Yokoyama will definitely be angry. We should prepare ourselves to bear his wrath in advance."

Takano Jiro sighed helplessly and said, "I will definitely do my best to continue the attack and try to take over Tianma Mountain as soon as possible."

"No matter how hard it is, we must fight to eliminate as many enemies as possible and deplete their military strength."

Yan Yongwang said angrily: "We must take Tianma Mountain. Don't hold on to any fluke mentality. If we fail to take Tianma Mountain, we will all die to atone for our sins. Do you understand?"

"Hayi~!"

Takano Jiro responded respectfully: "Please rest assured, General, we will do our best."

Yan Yongwang smiled bitterly and said, "Rest assured? How can I be at ease if I can't take Hengyang?"

"If you want me to feel at ease, you should use your brains to figure out how to take Hengyang as soon as possible."

Having said everything that needed to be said, Yan Yongwang hung up the phone angrily.

Hearing the sound of the phone being hung up, Takano Jiro couldn't help but sigh.

The Japanese officers present were so frightened that they were silent and dared not even breathe.

Because they all knew that Jiro Takano had just been scolded, and at this time, who could guarantee that the captain would not vent his anger on them?

However, at this time, Takano Jiro seemed unusually sober and had no intention of transferring his anger to his subordinates. Takano Jiro hung up the phone helplessly and asked, "How are the preparations going?"

A Japanese lieutenant colonel hurriedly said: "Report to the commander, the attacking force is ready."

"吆西!"

Takano Jiro nodded slightly and said, "Then continue the attack!"

"I want to see how long these hateful enemies can hold out."

"Hayi~!"

The Japanese officers present responded in unison.

At this point, Jiro Takano had only one thought in his mind, which was to take over Tianma Mountain at all costs.

Following Jiro Takano's order, the Japanese once again launched a fierce artillery attack on the Tianma Mountain position.

This was the prelude to the Japanese attack, and their strategies and tactics were still as simple and crude as ever.

The shells hit Tianma Mountain one after another like hail, and the violent explosions were continuous.

Li Guotao has taken his brothers to hide in the anti-artillery cave. Faced with the Japanese's fierce bombardment, they have no better solution and can only continue to hold on.

Fortunately, the fortifications on the mountain were strong enough, and there were pits to provide hiding places for the brothers. In this way, although the Japanese artillery fire was fierce, it could not cause too many casualties to them.

After a fierce bombardment, a large number of Japanese soldiers rushed onto the battlefield again.

Ladders were set up in the trenches, and the Japanese soldiers dispersed in twos and threes, preparing to climb up the mountain using the ladders and the gentle slope.

Li Guotao ordered: "Let the brothers enter the defensive position and prepare for battle."

"Don't shoot if you don't see the enemy, and try to save ammunition."

"Yes!"

Following Li Guotao's order, dozens of soldiers entered the blocking positions.

In order to save manpower as much as possible, Li Guotao only sent out dozens of soldiers to guard the positions each time. The rest hid in safe places and took turns to fight to minimize casualties.

A large number of grenades were also delivered to the front line.

When the brothers saw the Japanese soldiers climbing up the mountain, they immediately opened fire.

At the same time, throw grenades towards where the Japanese soldiers are climbing up.

Fierce fighting broke out again. The Japanese soldiers who climbed up the mountain were no match for the defenders due to the disadvantageous terrain. Although they fought desperately, they were sent to hell one after another.

The Japanese soldiers in the trenches were also killed or wounded by the repeated bombardment of grenades.

Li Guotao gritted his teeth and said, "Damn those little devils, aren't they going to fight us?"

"Then I will fight them to the end and see who can outlast the other."

The battle once again fell into a stalemate. Although the Japanese continued to charge and attack, they were unable to reach the Tianma Mountain position.

At the same time, Yokoyama Isamu also rushed to the Hengyang front.

A large group of high-ranking Japanese generals including Iwanaga Wang personally welcomed the arrival of Yokoyama Isamu.

Yokoyama Yong was also quite dissatisfied with the current situation of the war, and angrily said: "We have been fighting for so long, but we still haven't been able to capture Hengyang."

"Such a good opportunity was wasted by you idiots."

The Japanese officers present were so frightened that they all lowered their heads obediently.

Yan Yongwang said cautiously: "Commander, please calm down. We have really tried our best, but these hateful enemies are too tenacious."

"We have used all means to attack, but each time we were repelled by the enemy's stubborn resistance."

"To be honest, I have never seen such a tenacious enemy in all the battles I have fought for so long."

Yokoyama said angrily, "I don't want to hear these explanations. Commander-in-Chief Hata has repeatedly ordered us to take Hengyang as soon as possible, but our offensive has not made any progress. I have been scolded several times for this."

"If we fail to take Hengyang, I'm afraid even I will have to commit seppuku to apologize."

Yan Yongwang said helplessly: "But the casualties of the troops are really too great. If we continue to fight like this, I'm afraid we can't afford the compensation."

Hengshan Yong said angrily: "Taking Hengyang is a mission that must be completed. I am also very sad about the loss of so many Locust Army warriors, but now is not the time to worry about this."

"No matter what, you must take Hengyang at all costs."

"Hayi~!"

Yan Yongwang responded respectfully: "Commander, please calm down. I will do my best to capture Hengyang as soon as possible."

Yokoyama Yong said seriously: "It's not about striving for it, it's about having to do it. Do you understand, Iwanaga-kun?"

Yan Yongwang responded respectfully: "Hayi, we promise to take Hengyang as soon as possible."

"All troops will continue to intensify their offensive and go all out. No matter how great the cost, we must capture Hengyang."

Yokoyama Yong said helplessly: "Don't blame me for being cruel, I just have no other choice."

"If we fail to capture Hengyang and open up the mainland transportation line, the empire's situation will become even more difficult. This is a major issue related to the entire war situation and cannot be taken lightly."

"Hayi~!"

Yan Yongwang responded respectfully: "We understand. Please forgive me for being blunt. Judging from the current trend, we really don't have a better way to quickly capture Hengyang. We can only continue to launch attacks step by step and strive to achieve new breakthroughs as soon as possible."

Hengshan Yong walked quickly to the front of the sand table, stared at it for a while, and said, "Are all the defenders of Hengyang using this kind of defense system?"

"Hayi~!"

Yan Yongwang responded respectfully: "It's the same defense system. At the beginning, we used poison gas bombs, which were still effective, but later they were equipped with gas masks, and even the special bombs lost their effectiveness."

"We have also tried various methods of attack, but the effect is not obvious, and the enemy is constantly improving its tactics."

"Of course, we have been trying every possible way to break through the enemy's defenses, but judging from the current situation, the effect is not very good."

"These enemies are so cunning."

Yokoyama Yong said helplessly: "That is to say, we have no other choice now. We can only stick to the previous tactics and continue to attack?"

"Hayi~!"

Yan Yongwang replied helplessly: "Commander, calm down. The Locust Army warriors will naturally do their best for the empire."

"How long it will take to capture Hengyang depends on how long the enemy can hold out."

"Judging from the current situation, they are strong-willed and will definitely persevere to the end."

"In this case, we can only fight until they are all wiped out."

"It is difficult for me to give a precise answer on how long it will take to capture Hengyang. I hope the Commander will forgive me." (End of this chapter)