Anti-Japanese War: I have unlimited assistance

Chapter 298 Mr. Yamamoto, I suspect you are an undercover agent sent by the Eighth Route Army!

The method of adding chili powder to mortar shells was invented by Zhao Zhangcheng, the artillery god of the Eighth Route Army.

During the second phase of the Hundred Regiments Campaign, the 385th Brigade prepared to capture the Guantou stronghold according to the deployment of the column commander.

But the enemy fortifications were strong and were not destroyed.

The shells were fired accurately, but it was difficult to destroy the enemy.

Zhao Paoshen pondered over it and finally came up with this idea.

He started modifying the weapons overnight.

They poured out some of the explosives from the mortar shells, crushed chili peppers into powder, put them in, and then installed the fuse.

After several hours of hard work, 20 unique pepper shells were made.

During the battle, pepper shells flew towards the enemy positions and exploded around the enemy bunkers.

Strong and pungent smells rushed into the enemy fort, making it unbearable for the enemy.

The enemy fled the fort in a hurry.

Our attacking force seized the favorable opportunity and quickly launched a charge, annihilating the exposed enemy in one fell swoop and occupying the Guantou stronghold.

Li Yunlong didn't know anything about artillery, so naturally he wouldn't have invented this pepper bomb.

But this kind of tactics is included in the "World War II Tactics Collection" given by Boss Lin.

Based on the principle of trying it out to avoid loss or being fooled, Li Yunlong ordered the artillery battalion to prepare some pepper shells.

The chili peppers are extremely spicy. They are dried and then fried, made into powder and packed in shells.

The Japanese were so jealous that they almost lost their combat effectiveness on the spot, thinking that the Eighth Route Army had used poison gas bombs.

"He has to be the regimental commander. He has many tricks in war."

Zuo Ye and the soldiers around the instructor were full of admiration.

Zuo Ye was also full of admiration, his expression solemn: "Pass my order, the infantry push forward and provide fire support to the bazooka team."

Signalman: “Yes!”

The six 6mm mortars from the artillery battalion fired a barrage of shells.

Shell after shell landed near the Japanese concrete bunkers and gun towers, quickly depriving the Japanese of their combat effectiveness.

The mortars of the third battalion fired conventional grenades to bombard the Japanese who ran out of the bunkers and artillery towers.

The bazooka aimed at the Japanese concrete bunkers and artillery towers and opened fire.

The infantry set up light and heavy machine guns and rifles at a distance and opened fire to provide cover.

Each unit had a clear division of labor and worked in perfect harmony under Zuo Ye's command, launching an unstoppable offensive.

The entire battle took only about 25 minutes and was completely over.

"This speed is fast enough!"

Zuo Ye's mouth curled up, and then his expression became serious:
"Pass on my order, quickly clean up the battlefield and rescue the wounded!"

The soldiers began to clean up the battlefield and the medical staff began to rescue the wounded.

Although the Japanese weapons and equipment were not as good as those in the hands of the soldiers.

But no matter how small a mosquito is, it is still meat. We must quickly pick up weapons and equipment before the Japanese reinforcements arrive.

If the Japanese were all in bunkers and artillery towers, they would be destroyed by bazookas.

There was no way to capture any weapons or equipment, as both the weapons and the enemy were destroyed by the rockets.

But once the enemy was smoked by the pepper bomb and came out with their weapons, it was natural that some equipment could be seized.

The instructor glanced at his watch and said something elegant: "It seems that the military situation is ever-changing, and the shape of water is ever-changing. As long as we use our brains, we can find a good way to achieve victory by surprise."

About ten minutes later, a scout came to report: "Battalion Commander, Instructor, the Japanese reinforcements are coming."

Zuo Ye climbed to a commanding height and looked through a telescope at the road heading towards Shouyang County.

Sure enough, I saw a Japanese convoy heading towards us on the road a few kilometers away, filled with the roar of small trucks and bright lights.

The distances between the Japanese's small trucks were very long, dozens of meters, and dozens of small trucks formed a long line of several kilometers on the road.

"The Japs have learned their lesson." Zuo Ye originally wanted to ambush another wave of Japs, but after seeing this situation, he gave up the plan.

"Are the mortars ready?" Zuo Ye asked. Even if the ambush failed, they could still launch a long-range artillery attack.

"It's ready. The mortar positions are all on the top of the hill, with a good shooting view." The instructor replied.

"Aim at the Japanese reinforcement convoy and fire. Destroy as many as you can." Zuo Yesen smiled coldly.

"Yes!"

On the top of the hill, three artillery positions have been deployed, and the muzzles of 14 mortars are pointing at the location where the Japanese convoy is approaching.

The shooting skills of the assistant gunners of each mortar were relatively poor, and finally the experienced and elite main gunners took control.

After two test firings, the platoon leaders of each artillery company gave orders loudly in a cold and stern tone.

"1.4 kilometers away, target the Japanese convoy, thirty rapid fire rounds."

According to Boss Lin's supplement, the Jinzhong Eighth Route Army has sufficient mortar shells, with a reserve of more than 5 mortar shells of various calibers.

The mountain artillery and howitzer ammunition reserves are also about 1 rounds.

For an artilleryman, especially an artilleryman of the Eighth Route Army, as long as he has a gun in his hand and enough ammunition in the warehouse, he will be happy.

The cannon is a good cannon, and the shells are also good shells.

Recently, the Eighth Route Army artillerymen in Jinzhong have been doubly happy.

Li Yunlong was three times happy, and the artillerymen were double happy.

As soon as he finished speaking, the gunner put the shell in his hand into the barrel.

"Boom, boom, boom..."

As the muzzle fireworks burst into life, there was a series of rapid muffled sounds, and fourteen shells whistled into the distance, drawing arcs in the night sky with a faint, terrifying, sharp whistling sound.

"Boom boom boom..."

A series of exploding fireballs rose between the Japanese convoy.

The Japanese's headlights exposed their position.

The Japs also knew this and quickly turned off the lights of the Douding truck.

But it didn't work.

The Eighth Route Army artillery fired flares of far superior quality to those of the Japanese, illuminating the Japanese convoy as bright as day.

The Japanese had to quickly jump off the truck and find cover to hide.

But the Eighth Route Army was firing rapidly, covering the enemy with artillery fire, and slowly advancing a barrage of bullets along the road towards the rear convoy.

One after another, the Japanese trucks were blown up, and the Japanese soldiers were blown to pieces with their limbs broken off.

This group of Japanese reacted very quickly, without much panic, and responded quickly.

The Japanese artillery set up infantry guns and mortars and prepared to counter-suppress.

However, after the Eighth Route Army artillery fired 30 rounds of artillery shells, they quickly collected their artillery and retreated.

The whole process was neat and smooth, just like a thousand times of tempering.

By the time the Japanese infantry guns and mortars were set up and began test firing, the Eighth Route Army artillery had already left their artillery positions.

Not long after, rumbling sounds rose from the Eighth Route Army artillery positions.

"Listen, Battalion Commander." The instructor raised his lips and said, "The Japanese are even firing cannons to send us off."

The soldiers around also laughed. The Japanese were really polite. "Haha." Zuo Ye laughed loudly, "Retreat!"

When we arrived at the highway, thirty large trucks were already waiting there.

The wounded Eighth Route Army soldiers had already been taken away by large trucks.

Zuo Ye and the soldiers jumped onto a large truck and drove towards the base with the spoils.

Twenty minutes later, the Japanese soldiers cautiously reached the Bianjiazhuang stronghold.

The Eighth Route Army had already escaped.

All that was left were the corpses of Japanese soldiers and puppet troops scattered all over the ground, as well as the ruins of concrete bunkers and artillery towers.

"Boom boom boom..."

A fireball rose up as an explosion occurred. A Japanese soldier stepped on a chain mine. The Japanese soldier who stepped on the mine was blown into several sections, and more than twenty Japanese soldiers around him fell in a pool of blood.

"idiot."

"Da da da……"

The angry commander of the 77st Infantry Battalion of the 1th Regiment, holding a Type light machine gun, fired in the direction where the Eighth Route Army left.

Attacking the Japanese blockade stronghold tonight were not only the New 1st Regiment, but also Kong Jie's Independent Regiment and Ding Wei's New 3rd Regiment.

The three regiments simultaneously launched an attack on the Japanese blockade strongholds, breaking the Japanese's cage plan for the Jinzhong base.

Li Yunlong sent a large truck to deliver two trucks of 82mm caliber pepper bombs to Ding Wei and Kong Jie.

This pepper bomb performed very well, saving the Independent Regiment and the New Third Regiment from the loss of many soldiers.

……

Early the next morning, the news reached the First Army Headquarters.

Yoshio Shinozuka's face turned ugly.

Last night, more than a thousand Locust Army soldiers and three majors were killed.

Although most of these officers and soldiers were from the 4th Brigade, not the 20th Division.

But it also made Yoshio Shinozuka feel a pang of pain, because these officers and soldiers were the elite of the empire.

Afterwards, Yoshio Shinozuka immediately asked the communications staff to call Mutaguchi Ren'ya and Yamamoto Ikki to discuss a response plan.

“It’s both expected and unexpected.”

After listening to Shinozuka Yoshio's words, Yamamoto Ikki had a cold expression on his face, without the slightest bit of surprise:

"Last time, the Eighth Route Cavalry destroyed the Miaoling stronghold within an hour."

"This time, the Eighth Route Army destroyed three large strongholds, Bianjiazhuang, Yingfanggou, and Yangjiagou. This was expected long ago."

"But what I didn't expect was that the Bianjiazhuang stronghold, reinforced by the 77th Regiment, was also destroyed by the Eighth Route Army."

Yamamoto Ikki was very unhappy about the last time Kenkichi Hirata reported on him.

Although Yamamoto doesn't like to be competitive, he is not a good person. He will retaliate against anyone who provokes him.

"Within half an hour, the reinforcements of the 77th Regiment of Shouyang County will be able to reach the Bianjiazhuang stronghold and repel the attacking Eighth Route Army." Mutaguchi Ren'ya pretended to be puzzled and rarely formed a united front with Yamamoto.

The 39th Brigade failed to fulfill its reinforcement mission and was charged with dereliction of duty, which was enough to make Hirata suffer.

"After receiving the call for assistance, the 77st and 1rd Infantry Battalions of the 3th Regiment rushed to reinforce and arrived at the Bianjiazhuang stronghold within half an hour. However, the stronghold had already been destroyed by the Eighth Route Army. The convoy was also bombarded by the Eighth Route Army, destroying more than ten trucks and causing dozens of casualties."

Yoshio Shinozuka pushed his glasses up, his face gloomy.

Last night we lost both the wife and the army.

Receiving this bad news early in the morning made Yoshio Shinozuka feel terrible.

"It seems that the combat effectiveness of the Eighth Route Army has increased again."

A sharp light flashed in Yamamoto Ikki's eyes.

Mutaguchi Ren'ya, who was standing by, narrowed his eyes and his expression gradually became solemn.

More than half a month ago, the Eighth Route Army destroyed the Miaoling stronghold in one hour.

Only half a month had passed, and the Eighth Route Army destroyed the Bianjiazhuang stronghold in less than half an hour.

You know, the defense of the Bianjiazhuang stronghold has been strengthened.

It was also equipped with artillery firepower and a large number of anti-aircraft ammunition to deal with the Eighth Route Army's night attacks.

It would be difficult to destroy the Bianjiazhuang stronghold within half an hour even for a Type A division infantry regiment equipped with howitzers.

Unless heavy artillery with a caliber of 150mm or above is used to aim directly at bunkers and gun towers.

"Commander," Mutaguchi Ren'ya said grimly, "The blockade of the Eighth Route Army in Jinzhong has been broken. Our Beitongpu Railway and Zhengtai Railway will be in big trouble!"

Shinozuka Yoshio nodded worriedly.

"I called you here to discuss countermeasures. The Eighth Route Army in Jinzhong has now completely broken the blockade, which will inevitably pose a serious threat to the Zhengtai Railway and the Beitongpu Railway."

"Yamamoto-kun, Mutaguchi-kun, do you have any countermeasures?"

In addition to threatening the Zhengtai Railway and the Beitongpu Railway, the Eighth Route Army also threatened

It is also very close to Taiyuan and poses a certain threat to the Taiyuan First Army Headquarters.

For example, the last time the Eighth Route Army bombarded Taiyuan Airport, it caused great losses to the First Army.

If the Eighth Route Army of Jinzhong launches artillery attacks near Taiyuan from time to time in the future, that would be very bad.

It is no exaggeration to say that the Eighth Route Army in Jinzhong became a thorn in the side of the Japanese First Army.

Mutaguchi Ren'ya thought for a moment and said in a deep voice, "Commander, I do have a solution."

"Oh?" Shinozuka Yoshio's expression changed. "What can Mutaguchi-kun do?"

Although the First Army was already preparing for an underground attack on the Jinzhong base.

However, before the battle begins, a large amount of preparation must be made for the mobilization of intelligence, supplies, and troops.

During this period, the strength demonstrated by the Jinzhong Eighth Route Army was enough to turn the Beitongpu Road and Zhengtai Road upside down.

At that time, the mobilization of supplies and troops will also be greatly affected.

"Since the concrete fortifications can't block the Eighth Route Army in Jinzhong," Mutaguchi Ren'ya said, "then mobilize the main force of the First Army from southern Shanxi and deploy three divisions around the Eighth Route Army in Jinzhong. This will definitely block the Eighth Route Army in Jinzhong."

Shinozuka Yoshio shook his head and immediately denied it: "If the main force of the First Army is transferred from southern Shanxi, the Central Army in Zhongtiao Mountain, the Jinsui Army in Luliang, western Shanxi, and the Eighth Route Army in southwestern Shanxi will definitely counterattack."

Yamamoto Ikki looked at Mutaguchi Renya as if he was looking at an idiot.

How stupid must one be to come up with this idea?

Mutaguchi Ren was also somewhat stung by this gaze. He glared back fiercely and asked coldly, "Yamamoto-kun seems to have something to say?"

Yamamoto Ikki turned to Shinozuka Yoshio and asked, "General, have you heard of the Maginot Line?"

"The Maginot Line?" Shinozuka Yoshio nodded. "I've heard of it. It's a line of defense built by France on its northeastern border to prevent a German invasion. It seems to be still under construction."

After a pause, Shinozuka Yoshio continued, "Mr. Yamamoto, do you mean to build a Maginot Line around the Eighth Route Army's Jinzhong base?"

"Hi," Yamamoto Ikki said, his head bowed. "When I was at the Munich Military Academy in Germany, I once followed a German special forces unit to the Maginot Line for a simulated decapitation operation. I saw firsthand the French bunkers on the Maginot Line. Their roofs and walls were a whopping 3.5 meters thick. Constructed of reinforced concrete, these bunkers were incredibly strong, and even the largest artillery pieces were incredibly difficult to penetrate. They could withstand two direct hits from 420mm mortar shells."

Yoshio Shinozuka's eyes lit up. If such a powerful bunker was really built, the Eighth Route Army would definitely not be able to break through it.

As soon as Yamamoto Ikki finished speaking, a mocking voice rang out: "Yamamoto-kun, do you know how much cement and steel materials are needed to build a bunker like this? Moreover, to completely blockade the Eighth Route Army in Jinzhong, at least more than 200 such bunkers and artillery towers are needed."

"Besides, our country's resources are scarce. The locust army is about to attack the Eighth Route Army in Jinzhong and destroy them. Wouldn't it be a huge waste to consume so much strategic materials to build reinforced concrete bunkers and artillery towers?"

"Yamamoto-kun, I suspect you are an undercover agent sent by the Eighth Route Army!"

Mutaguchi Renya gave Yamamoto a stupid look with a strong sense of sarcasm.

(End of this chapter)