Bright Sword: From Northwest Shanxi to Shangganling

Chapter 251: The Eighth Route Army Guerrillas? Their combat effectiveness is not worth mentioning

"Captain, something's happening!"

"The reconnaissance team discovered that reinforcements from the Eighth Route Army have arrived, numbering approximately 4!"

After receiving the news, Takahashi Ryosuke immediately ran over to report.

This number far exceeded their previous estimate of 2 people.

"4 people? Don't panic. I believe they must be the guerrillas of the Eighth Route Army." Ishihara Takuhito said affirmatively.

The garrisons in various places did not report any of the Eighth Route Army entering Zhongyun Mountain.

Then this Eighth Route Army could only be the Eighth Route Army from Zhongyun Mountain itself.

As we all know, the guerrillas' combat effectiveness is far inferior to that of the main force.

Therefore, Ishihara Takuhito was not very worried at this time.

"Captain, I heard that the guerrillas in the Zhongyunshan area are more powerful than those in other places." Takahashi Ryosuke said with some concern.

"Mr. Takahashi, you worry too much. Guerrillas are just guerrillas. No matter how strong their combat capability is, they can't have much impact on us." Ishihara Takuhito waved his hand.

The 108th Regiment had fought against the guerrillas many times before.

In Ishihara Takuhito's impression, the Eighth Route Guerrillas didn't even have enough rifles and could only ambush the Locust Army secretly.

A squad of locust soldiers can chase them everywhere.

"Captain, I think we should be more vigilant."

"Although the guerrillas' field combat capabilities are very weak, they have no problem providing support to the regular troops."

With the main force of the New Second Regiment leading the way, the guerrillas did not need to launch a frontal attack.

In this way, their firepower disadvantage will not be so obvious.

"I know this." Ishihara Takuhito nodded.

"But this has no impact on our defensive operations. Our real opponent is still the main force of the New Second Regiment."

If the guerrillas want to fish in troubled waters, they have to wait until the waters become muddy.

Before the 108th Regiment's defense line was breached, the Eighth Route Guerrillas could only watch the show.

Once the position of the 108th Regiment was breached, the situation would not be optimistic regardless of whether the Eighth Route Army guerrillas participated in the battle or not.

"Takahashi-kun, order the troops to strengthen the defense. I think the battle is about to begin."

"Also, send a message to the Second Infantry Battalion, asking them to seize the opportunity to attack Sharp Ear Mountain."

Ishihara Takuhito gave the order while looking at the hill in the distance.

"Hai!"

At 4 o'clock, the mortars of the New Second Regiment launched the first attack.

"Boom!" "Boom!".
Most of the shells fell on the Japanese vanguard battalion in front of Jianer Mountain.

The large Japanese force in the Zhongping Village area only suffered partial firepower attacks.

After the shelling began, all the troops of the New Second Regiment began to launch an attack according to the established plan.

Watching the continuous explosion of artillery shells on the battlefield.

Takuhito Ishihara in the underground command post immediately determined that this was at most the amount of ammunition launched by six mortars.

Moreover, according to reports from the front line, there were only about a thousand Eighth Route Army troops who were approaching to participate in the attack.

It is simply wishful thinking to want to defeat the 108th Regiment with such firepower.

When the Eighth Route Infantry attacked, the 108th Regiment was able to counterattack.

However, before he could relax, Takahashi Ryosuke ran over.

"Captain, the Second Infantry Battalion is under attack from the Eighth Route Army and may not be able to hold out."

"What?" Ishihara Takuhito's face changed drastically.

"Most of the Eighth Route Army troops that came this time should be guerrillas. How come the Second Infantry Battalion collapsed so quickly?"

Originally, he wanted the Second Infantry Battalion to capture Jianer Mountain, but now they were about to be killed by the Eighth Route Army before they even made a move.

"Captain, the combat effectiveness of the Eighth Route Army guerrillas in the Zhongyunshan area is probably far greater than that of guerrillas in other places."

"Damn it. This is a bit difficult now." said Takuhito Ishihara.

Now, an Eighth Route Army of more than a thousand people has appeared near Zhongping Village.

If the 108th Regiment leaves the high ground, support the nd Infantry Battalion.

The Eighth Route Army will certainly take the opportunity to seize Zhongping Village and Xiaofuling.

At that time, the 108th Regiment will be in a dilemma.

And there is a high possibility that they will be trapped in the canyon like the 2nd Infantry Battalion.

By then, the 108th Regiment will lose its terrain advantage.

"Takahashi-kun, send a message to the Second Infantry Battalion, tell them to hold out until night, and then break out at night!"

"Order the mountain artillery team to get ready and provide fire support to the Second Infantry Battalion when necessary!" ordered Takuhito Ishihara.

This is the only thing Takuhito Ishihara can do now.

He couldn't put other troops in danger for the sake of the 2nd Infantry Battalion.

Fortunately, it won’t be long before dark, and the 2nd Infantry Battalion should be able to hold on.

"Ha!"
After receiving the order, Naohito Asano sat down on the ground in a bit of collapse.

"Captain, Captain, you really overestimate me and the Second Infantry Battalion."

Asano Naohito sighed.

The 2nd Infantry Battalion cannot do this "should".

If he could hold out until night and break out, he wouldn't be so anxious to ask for support.

According to the current offensive of the Eighth Route Army, if the Second Infantry Battalion can hold out for an hour, let alone until night, it will be considered the elite among the elite.

"Captain, the Eighth Route Army has deployed its attack formation!" the Japanese soldier next to him shouted.

"I understand." Asano Naohito stood up.

"Pass the order, everyone prepare for the assault!"

The position of the 2nd Infantry Battalion is really bad.

Now it can be said that there is no defense at all, and the Eighth Route Army can attack at will from all directions.

Moreover, artillery shells kept falling on his head, and there were heavy machine guns of the Eighth Route Army on the nearby high ground, which were constantly suppressing the attack.

It can be said that the Second Battalion was prepared for all the unfavorable situations in the war.

Now, the only thing Asano Naohito can do is to sacrifice himself for Tianhuang.

As the mortars gradually stopped firing, the 1st and 4th battalions and two guerrilla units surrounded the Japanese from all directions.

Originally, the Japanese Second Infantry Battalion was trapped in the canyon.

Now facing siege from all sides, it is even more difficult to cope with it.

"Tell all troops not to rush to attack, and gradually reduce the enemy's space for movement."

Chen Chengxing put down the telescope, turned around and gave the order.

The New Second Regiment now has the initiative on the battlefield, and the slower they move, the less likely they are to make mistakes.

If you are in a hurry, it will be easier for the Japanese to find your flaws and break out from the junction.

"yes!".
After receiving the order, each unit advanced step by step to avoid any loopholes due to different advancement speeds.

Faced with the blockade of the New Second Regiment, the Japanese Second Infantry Battalion struggled frantically like a trapped beast.

But no matter which direction the Japanese tried to break out, they were faced with an iron wall-like blockade.

"Bakayashi." Naohito Asano panted.

He has led his team in five or six assaults, and more than half of the Second Infantry Battalion has suffered casualties, with only more than 200 people left.

But the Eighth Route Army's front did not loosen at all.

He even pretended to be defeated, waiting for the Eighth Route Army to catch up with him so that he could take the opportunity to engage in hand-to-hand combat.

However, the Eighth Route Army showed no signs of being fooled. Instead, they took the opportunity to destroy several firepower positions he had deployed on the periphery.

At this time, the Second Infantry Battalion only had a core position with a diameter of less than 100 meters left.

Watching the Eighth Route Army slowly launching another offensive.

Naohito Asano knew that if the regiment commander did not come to rescue him, the 2nd Infantry Battalion would have no chance.

But will the wing commander come?

I'm afraid that's impossible. If they really wanted rescue, they would have come long ago.

"Everyone! Use up all your bullets! Then destroy the weapons!"

"Gentlemen! For the greater good of our empire! For the Heavenly Locusts!"

"Follow me until you die!"

"Kill the chicken and give it to me!"

Asano Naohito pointed the tip of his knife at the Eighth Route Army in front of him on the left and shouted.

This was the direction in which he was preparing for a desperate assault. The Eighth Route Army soldiers in this direction were not wearing military uniforms and should be guerrillas.

It is a consensus within the Locust Army that the guerrillas' combat effectiveness is lower than that of regular troops.

The Second Infantry Battalion should be able to kill a few more enemies by then, as a way of repaying Tianhuang.

"Da da da" "Da da da".
"Bang!" "Bang!".
The Japs changed their previous slow and steady pace and started shooting wildly.

A few minutes later, Naohito Asano took the lead and rushed out of the position shouting.

Seeing this, the guerrilla fighters didn't waste any time and rushed towards the Japanese with bayonets in hand.

"Comrades! Follow me and kill!"

"Kill~!"
After the two sides collided violently, the Japanese had a slight advantage at the beginning.

But as the follow-up troops caught up, the Japanese began to find it difficult to resist.

Two fists are no match for four hands, let alone more than a dozen hands.

In less than 20 minutes, the Japanese Second Infantry Battalion was completely wiped out.

Naohito Asano was stabbed dozens of times and lay on the ground with lifeless eyes.

He couldn't understand, didn't the guerrillas have low combat effectiveness?

This horse doesn't look that low!

"Captain, the Japanese vanguard has been completely wiped out, and the troops are cleaning up the battlefield."

"Just clean up first, then immediately support the second and third battalions."

"After the war, the guerrillas will organize the people and clean up the battlefield carefully." Chen Chengxing ordered.

According to past experience, whenever the Japanese were defeated in a battle, they would destroy their weapons.

But it was mostly just removing the parts and throwing them around.

After the war, as long as they are carefully cleaned, 70 to 80 percent of the weapons can be repaired.

Reassembling guns is also one of the important tasks of the arsenal.

"yes!".
"Captain, all members of the Second Infantry Battalion have been killed."

Takahashi Ryosuke walked into the temporary command center and reported softly.

"I understand." Ishihara Takuhito said without even turning his head.

As soon as the fighting in the direction of Jianer Mountain stopped, Ishihara Takuhito knew it.

It’s not that his ears are so good, but the number of shells falling on his head has increased significantly.

"What is the current movement of the Eighth Route Army?" asked Takuhito Ishihara.

"According to reports from the front, the Eighth Route Army is advancing this way."

"Get ready for battle." Ishihara Takuhito sighed.

He already felt a little regretful at this time.

I was really blinded by anger.

It should be a family honor that my younger brother died in battle.

How can you go deep into the enemy camp just for revenge?

If I die in battle again, who will support my family?
My younger brother’s youngest son has just been born and his wife is still young. They need me right now!

Takahashi Ryosuke looked at Ishihara Takuhito and didn't say much.

Now the 108th Regiment has been deeply encircled by the Eighth Route Army. It is useless to say anything else. The only way to survive is to find a way to hold out until dawn.

"By the way, Takahashi-kun, have the artillerymen finished marking the area?" Ishihara Takuhito asked.

It is difficult for artillery to achieve targeted strikes at night, and they can only carry out range coverage, which requires preparing firing tables in advance.

"We are ready to fire at any time."

"Yoshi." Ishihara Takuhito nodded.

Although all the members of the Second Infantry Battalion were killed, as long as we can hold the dangerous position, we still have a chance.

(End of this chapter)