Bright Sword: I am an undercover agent in the puppet army

Shinozuka Yoshio said: "This time is different from that time. You must know that the fighting spirit of the Eighth Route Army is far beyond the reach of the Central Army of China and the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army.

In order to achieve their goals, the Eighth Route Army would do anything, even death or the annihilation of an entire unit.

Their weapons and equipment may be far inferior to those of the Central Army and the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army, let alone our Japanese locust army, but their fighting will is enough to rival that of the locust army.

Just imagine, if the blocking force was replaced by the Central Army or the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army, would they still be able to stop the 3rd Infantry Regiment of the Locust Army? "

Hideyoshi Kusunokichi was speechless for a moment.

He had always looked down upon the Eighth Route Army and had never taken them seriously, because not only were their equipment backward, but they couldn't even provide every soldier with a set of uniforms. Every time the Japanese army raided, the Eighth Route Army would always scatter and hide in the mountains, and they never dared to engage in a head-on confrontation with the Japanese army.

This made Hideyoshi Kusuyama, who was already arrogant and full of superiority, look down on the Eighth Route Army even more.

But now, the Eighth Route Army suddenly appeared and took down two or three hundred small strongholds of the Japanese army on various railway lines overnight with an unmatched posture.

Then, more than a dozen large strongholds were captured overnight, especially the large strongholds in the Yangquan to Niangziguan section of the Zhengtai Railway, all of which fell.

Even the county seat of Yangquan was lost, and all the Japanese and puppet troops guarding Yangquan were annihilated.

Being together like this was something that had never happened before, something that we couldn't even imagine.

Shinozuka Yoshio added: "Kusuyama-kun, our Great Japanese Locust Army is used to being invincible and superior. If we continue like this, we will suffer a great loss.

What happened in the past two days is the best example.”

"Hi Yi!"

Kusunokichi Hideyoshi bowed his head heavily.

Shinozuka Yoshio then said to Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the head of the communications section, "Toyotomi-kun, if you delay, something bad will happen. Go and give the order quickly."

"Hi Yi!"

Toyotomi Hideyoshi bowed respectfully, then turned and left to convey the order.

Yoshio Shinozuka looked at Toyotomi Hideyoshi's departing back, his face full of worry, no longer as arrogant and domineering as before.

A few minutes later.

Toyotomi Hideyoshi suddenly turned back in a hurry, walked up to Shinozuka Yoshio and bowed respectfully to report: "Your Excellency the Commander, something bad has happened. When the Kameda Regiment received the order from the headquarters and planned to turn back to Shouyang, it was intercepted by a large number of Chinese Eighth Route Army troops.

At present, a steady stream of Eighth Route Army troops were surrounding them from all directions, and the Kameda Regiment was forced to switch to offensive.

Special request for tactical guidance!"

Chief of Staff Kusunokichi's face suddenly became extremely ugly: "It's over, Commander, you really got it right.

At present, the only unit that can be mobilized is the Richuan Brigade in Yangquan County. Should we transfer it there?"

Shinozuka Yoshio seemed to have already prepared for the worst. He said dejectedly, "No need. The Eighth Route Army is obviously well prepared. Since they have decided to besiege Kameda's regiment, they must have made various plans.

When we attacked Yangquan early this morning, we were able to divide our forces to stop Kameda's regiment.

Then tonight, troops will definitely be dispatched to block the Richuan Battalion.

The Richuan Battalion lacked heavy firepower weapons, and did not have a tank or even an armored vehicle. In the city, they might be able to defend the city.

However, if they abandoned the city fortifications and went out to reinforce, they would be in danger of being wiped out if they were besieged by the Eighth Route Army.

Tell Kameda-kun that reinforcements are on the way. If you can't break through, you must hold on until dawn!"

Kusunoshi Hideyoshi said: "But, apart from the Hikawa Battalion, where can we get reinforcements to reinforce the Kameda Regiment?"

Shinozuka Yoshio: “Saying that there are reinforcements is just to give Kameda’s regiment a glimmer of hope and boost their fighting spirit.

If they can hold out until daybreak, they can then launch their air force and the crisis will be resolved.”

"Looking at the plum blossoms can quench thirst!" Kusunokichi Hideyoshi had studied Chinese history and was considered half an expert on China. He knew the story of quenching thirst by looking at the plum blossoms, so he flattered him at the perfect time.

……

20 kilometers west of Yangquan County.

The dusty Nobuo Kameda was commanding his subordinates to block the attack of the Eighth Route Army, while looking for a suitable location to repair fortifications in order to buy time to wait for reinforcements.

At this time.

A Japanese signalman came running over with a personal radio on his back and reported to Kameda Nobuo: "Report! Sir, Commander Yoshio Shinozuka called back and said that reinforcements are on the way. Let us hold on to the dangerous position and make sure to hold on until dawn!"

"Yoshi!" Kameda Nobuo nodded and said, "Tell Commander Shinozuka Yoshio that our troops will hold out until tomorrow morning!"

"Hi Yi!"

The Japanese signalman bowed his head heavily and then began to tinker with the radio to call back.

The corps chief of staff beside him said to Kameda Nobuo with concern: "Captain, do we really have reinforcements? As far as I know, hundreds of strongholds are being attacked at the same time, and the locust army has no troops to mobilize.

The only ones that can be mobilized are the 9th Infantry Regiment of the Locust Army and the 1st Independent Mixed Regiment of the Locust Army.

But these two troops are the last garrison forces in Taiyuan City and cannot be easily mobilized.

Moreover, even if these two troops came to reinforce, the railway was destroyed, and even if the Tubalu did not send troops to block them, they would not be able to reach here before dawn. "

Nobuo Kameda: "Honda-kun, you are right, but you missed a unit."

Chief of Staff: "Which unit?"

Nobuo Kameda: "Locust Army Air Force!"

“……” The chief of staff looked dejected.

It would have been better if Nobuo Kameda hadn't said anything. Once he said it, the last glimmer of hope in his heart was shattered.

No wonder they had to hold out until dawn, it turned out that Commander Yoshio Shinozuka didn't send them any reinforcements at all.

The reason I said this is just to give them a glimmer of hope.

……

the other side.

The Eighth Route Army advanced step by step, gradually compressing the defense line of the Kameda Regiment, and all the flying thunder cannons of each regiment were also mobilized.

Unfortunately, however, the Kameda Regiment was equipped with a number of Type 2500 light mortars and Type infantry guns, both of which had a range of over meters.

This resulted in the Eighth Route Army's Flying Thunder Cannon being unable to advance within the range, which was within 300 meters.

Among them, the Japanese light and heavy machine guns were particularly deadly.

The Kameda Corps retreated to a mound of earth, commanding the vast majority of the area and taking advantage of the strategic location.

This led to the Eighth Route Army launching several consecutive charges, but they were eventually forced to stop due to heavy casualties.

Although Li Yunlong and his men seized a number of Type 97 light mortars and Type 92 infantry guns last night, the quality of the artillery of each regiment was obviously far inferior to that of the Japanese artillery.

They launched several rounds of tentative artillery attacks, but not only did they fail to attack the key targets of the Kameda Regiment, but they also exposed their targets and were countered by the Japanese artillery, resulting in the loss of several artillery pieces.

This made Li Yunlong, Ding Wei and others dare not try it again easily and expose their artillery positions.

Just when Li Yunlong was eager for revenge, the second battalion commander Shen Quan finally arrived with four 4mm howitzers and four 75mm cannons from the armored train.

"Commander!" Led by a signalman, Shen Quan quickly ran to the front-line command post and reported to Li Yunlong while panting and saluting.

Li Yunlong said, "Shen Quan, you are finally here! How is it? Did you bring the artillery?"

Shen Quan: "I brought them all!"

"Okay!" Li Yunlong nodded in satisfaction and said, "Give these artillery pieces to the artillery company and let that bastard Li Sanpao build the artillery positions immediately.

Oh, by the way, remember to build your position outside the range of the Type 92 infantry gun.

Those damn Japanese artillerymen were so skilled. Damn, they could hit almost anything within range, causing us to suffer a lot of losses.

This time, it’s time for us to take revenge!”

Whether it is a 75mm howitzer or a 105mm cannon, the effective range is over 5 kilometers.

This means that the independent regiment's artillery positions can be built completely outside the range of the Type 92 infantry gun. They can hit the Japanese, but the Japanese cannot hit them at all and can only be beaten.

This is the benefit of the equipment gap.

"Yes!"

Second Battalion Commander Shen Quan agreed and quickly turned and left.

About ten minutes later.

The phone at the command center rang rapidly: "Ring, ring, ring, ring, ring, ring, ring, ring."

Li Yunlong quickly picked up the phone, and then Li Sanpao's rough voice came from the other end: "Report! Commander, the artillery position has been built, please give instructions!"

Li Yunlong: "Are there enough shells?"

Li Sanpao: "Captain, you forgot that we also found an armory of the Japanese in Yangquan, which was filled with various ammunition, including 75mm caliber shells and 105mm caliber shells.

The ammunition we have now is enough to support us in fighting 10 more major battles!"

Li Yunlong: "Okay! Then open fire immediately! No need to save shells! I have only one request, and that is to blow up all the exposed firing points of the Japanese... No, blow up the earth slope where the Japanese are!
In short, I will kill all the devils from Kameda's regiment today!"

"Yes!"

Li Sanpao agreed, hung up the phone, and started shouting, "Get ready!"

The main gunner quickly took the shells brought by the ammunition carrier and stuffed them into the gun barrel, then closed the gun door.

After a whole night of actual combat, the soldiers of the artillery company have mastered the use of 75mm caliber howitzers and 105mm caliber cannons even better than the Type light mortar and Type infantry gun.

They might not be able to accurately target the enemy's important firepower points, but at a distance of just 3 kilometers, it would not be a problem for them to hit the slope where the enemy was located.

Moreover, with the destructive power of 75mm caliber howitzers and 105mm caliber cannons, even if they cannot accurately hit the target, it will not be a problem to destroy the enemy target as long as the deviation is not too large.

If you miss one round, try again!
"put!"

As the second order from Company Commander Li Sanpao was issued, the eight main gunners pulled the firing ropes violently.

There was a series of muffled "boom, boom, boom" sounds, and the gun barrel suddenly retracted backwards. Eight high-explosive shells left clouds of smoke at the muzzle and then flew out of the gun barrel together.

“Hurricane Hurricane Hurricane!——”

The high-explosive shells flew in the night sky for a few seconds with a terrifying whistling sound, and almost simultaneously fell on the slope that the independent regiment was attacking.

Immediately afterwards, balls of dazzling flames suddenly rose from the ground accompanied by billowing smoke, followed by earth-shaking explosions that spread.

On the slope.

The Japanese soldiers near the point where the shells landed were blown away on the spot, their bodies dismembered in mid-air, and they died before they hit the ground.

The Japanese soldiers who were a little further away were also shocked by the huge shock wave from the ground and vomited blood. They were either lightly injured or had their internal organs damaged.

Shock!

Nobuo Kameda, who was on another mound, was stunned when he saw this scene.

He said with a sullen face: "Baka! How could the Eighth Route Army have such a powerful artillery?"

The chief of staff next to him said, "According to reliable intelligence, the Tubalu seem to have hijacked the Locust Army's armored train. Could it be that they drove the armored train over here?"

Nobuo Kameda: "Impossible! Although the Locust Air Force did not find the armored train during the day, they did drop bombs and destroyed some tracks and bridges, especially the section west of Yangquan.

Therefore, even if the damned Tubalu hijacked the Locust Army's armored train, they couldn't drive it here!"

At this point, Kameda Nobuo's face changed, and he suddenly remembered something. He changed the subject and cursed again: "Did the Eighth Route Army unload the artillery on the train? Baka! It must be like this! Those idiots on the armored train, it's ok to lose the armored train, but they actually let it fall into the hands of the Eighth Route Army intact.

They are simply sinners of the empire, and their death is not a pity!"

While talking.

Several more balls of red light rose up from the mound a few hundred meters away. Although the sound of the explosion was much smaller this time, the fire caused by the explosion was countless times stronger. The vegetation, shrubs and weeds on the mound were all ignited.

In the light of the fire, you can clearly see many human-shaped fireballs struggling and running on the mound.

As a result, the wind helped the fire, and the fire took advantage of the wind's power, so the fire on the human-shaped fire energy became even more intense.

He had only run a few steps before he fell into the sea of ​​fire.

These human-shaped fireballs were naturally the Japanese soldiers whose uniforms were set on fire. Some of them rolled back and forth on the ground, trying to put out the flames on their bodies.

Unfortunately, it was a sea of ​​fire. It was easy to lie down, but it was not so easy to get up again.

Seeing this scene, Kameda Nobuo's already extremely gloomy face became distorted to the extreme.

The chief of staff beside him was still in shock and said, "Captain, it was a sulfur incendiary bomb. The damn Eighth Route Army used a sulfur incendiary bomb!

The first brigade of locusts is finished! "

Nobuo Kameda was furious and said, "Baka! These damned Eighth Route Army soldiers actually blatantly violated the Geneva Convention and used sulfur incendiary bombs, a weapon that is banned internationally. It's really abominable!"

The chief of staff said weakly, "Captain, these artillery pieces belong to the Locust Army, and the shells also seem to belong to the Locust Army."

"..."

Nobuo Kameda was left speechless. The vicious curse he was about to utter was already at his throat, but he swallowed it back.

It feels so uncomfortable, just like eating a fly.

The Chief of Staff asked again: "Captain, what should we do now?"

"Break through!" Nobuo Kameda said these two words coldly.

The chief of staff was shocked: "Breakout? However, the Chinese Eighth Route Army has several times more troops than the Locust Army, and their weapons and equipment are no worse than the Locust Army.

The most crucial thing is that even as the attacking party, this bunch of damn Eighth Route Army still strictly followed the regulations of the Infantry Drill Manual and built a large number of circular fortifications at the attack positions. Their purpose was obviously to prevent the Locust Army from breaking through and counterattacking.

If the locust army holds the dangerous position, they may be able to hold out for a while.

But if they tried to break out, they would become sitting ducks and would have no chance of breaking through the machine gun blockade of the Chinese Eighth Route Army.

This is just courting death..."

...(End of chapter)