Anti-Japanese War: I have unlimited assistance

Chapter 413 What kind of shell is this?
Taiyuan.

inner city.

Japanese First Army Headquarters.

"General."

Yamamoto Ikki walked over quickly and handed a telegram to Shinozuka Yoshio with a serious expression:

"This is a telegram just sent by Major Generals Sakurada Takeshi and Tsuda. They plan to use themselves as bait at Jiangjunling and lure out the New 1st Regiment with a central explosion tactic."

Before the telegraph operator sent the entire message, Takeshi Sakurada changed the signature of the telegram and added Tsuda Mitake's name.

In this way, if he is held responsible for the act of overthrowing his superiors, Tsuda Mitake will bear the responsibility together with him.

If they were defeated and died in battle, both he and Tsuda Mitake would gain the reputation of being loyal to the emperor and dying for the empire.

"Nani?"

Shinozuka Yoshio was suddenly startled and stood up abruptly with a gloomy expression:
"How dare Sakurada Takeshi and Tsuda Mitake make decisions on their own?"

In fact, the reason why he had not replied to Takeshi Sakurada and Mitake Tsuda was because Yoshio Shinozuka was considering whether to let them retreat to Heyuan County, lure the New 1st Regiment of the Eighth Route Army to attack Heyuan County, and then order the other two groups to attack the northwestern Shanxi troops and surround Heyuan County.

Come and make the center bloom.

Now the 4th Brigade and the Guards Mixed Brigade have a total of three to four thousand people, as well as the firepower of most of the artillery regiment, and more than a thousand soldiers of the Locust Association. Four to five thousand people can defend a county town. It should be no problem for them to hold out for two or three days, right?
However, before the order was issued, he received telegrams from Takeshi Sakurada and Mitake Tsuda.

Taking a few deep breaths, Yoshio Shinozuka forced himself to calm down. He had not expected things to reach this point before the war. Even Yamamoto Ikki did not make an emergency plan in this regard.

Even if he sent a telegram to Sakurada Takeshi and Tsuda Mitake to move to Heyuan County, they would definitely not obey the order.

Using the weak to defeat the strong is an old tradition of the Japanese army.

Shinozuka Yoshio asked with a gloomy expression, "Yamamoto-kun, what do you think?"

"General..."

Yamamoto had not anticipated this situation. After taking two deep breaths, he said in a deep voice:

"The only solution now is to abandon the original battle plan and emergency plan and order the other two attacking forces to attack in the direction of Jiangjunling."

"As long as the 4th Brigade and the Guards Mixed Brigade can hold on to Jiangjunling for two days."

"The other two locust armies and the locust alliance will arrive soon and defeat the Eighth Route Army's New 1st Regiment in one fell swoop."

"From the map, Jiangjunling is easy to defend but difficult to attack. Li Yunlong has built many concrete fortifications here. Major Generals Tsuda and Sakurada must have seen this and were quite confident in their ability to hold back the main force of the New 1st Regiment."

The straight-line distance from Shaohukou and Majiapo to Jiangjunling is basically more than 40 kilometers.

But
If we take a detour, we have to walk at least 90 kilometers. According to the marching speed of the Japanese puppet army, it will take about two days of rapid march.

Shinozuka Yoshio nodded, then his face darkened. "This is the only solution for now. Immediately send a telegram to Lieutenant Generals Muden and Iseki. Leave some small forces to continue the attack and contain the enemy at Shahukou and Majiapo. The main force will immediately turn towards Jiangjunling. Also, order Major Generals Sakurada and Tsuda to hold Jiangjunling for two days at all costs."

Yamamoto Ikki quickly drafted three telegrams, gave them to Yoshio Shinozuka for signature, and quickly walked to the communications room in the rear.

For an order of this level, Yamamoto was only a colonel, and it had to be signed by Yoshio Shinozuka himself before it could be issued.

……

at the same time.

Northern Shanxi.

The fierce fighting is in full swing on the Datong battlefield.

Neither the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army nor the Japanese military police had experience in street fighting.

If the elite veterans of the New 358st Regiment were here and saw the th Regiment fighting the Japanese, they would definitely comment that it was just a fight between two weaklings.

Both sides basically had no tactics and no experience in street fighting. They just fought head-on when they met and shot at each other with guns.

If it weren't for the new mountain artillery company 2 of the new 358st regiment, it would have been extremely difficult for the th regiment to capture all four walls of Datong.

The puppet troops either surrendered, pretended to be dead, or fled for their lives.

The Japanese gendarmerie headquarters had been destroyed, and the remaining approximately 150 Japanese soldiers and a small number of puppet troops gathered at Datong Middle School to put up a last-ditch resistance. After the Japanese occupied Datong, they converted Datong Middle School into an ammunition and grain depot.

The Japanese built some concrete bunkers around the area, which were easy to defend but difficult to attack.

Chu Yunfei did not dare to let the mountain artillery company of the New 1st Regiment fire at this place, because there were thousands of tons of combat supplies stored in this warehouse. Once the artillery shells detonated the ammunition depot, not only would all the Japanese and puppet troops be destroyed, but even the attacking Shanxi-Suiyuan Army and the surrounding civilians would be destroyed.

“Go up!”

"Fuck me!"

The second battalion commander held a Mauser pistol and roared at his soldiers to attack.

"Kill!"

Amidst the smoke, a platoon of soldiers launched a charge towards the Japanese bunker. There were loud gunshots and explosions. One by one, the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army soldiers fell in a pool of blood. The last two soldiers holding explosives were also killed.

"damn it!"

Seeing this scene, the second battalion commander was so angry that he started cursing.

On the city wall, Fang Ligong put down his binoculars and said, "Commander, it's been two whole hours, and our 358th Regiment has lost two companies, and we still haven't been able to take this bunker."

Chu Yunfei said, "This is a concrete fortification. Ever since the day it appeared, it has become synonymous with permanent fortifications. How can it be so easy to break through a concrete fortification?"

"Commander, we have to think of a solution." Sun Ming, heartbroken for his fallen brothers, said to Chu Yunfei, "Our regiment has suffered heavy casualties if we fight like this."

Just now, a staff officer suggested that the engineers dig tunnels to the bottom of the Japanese bunkers and artillery towers, and use explosives to blow up the Japanese concrete fortifications from below.

This is indeed a solution.

But it takes too long, and the Japanese reinforcements are rushing here.

"Adjutant Sun, order the troops to halt the attack and immediately summon Captain Chen of the New 1st Regiment."

Chu Yunfei turned to Sun Ming and said, his tone putting a little emphasis on the word "please".

"Yes!"

Sun Ming turned around and left quickly.

"Commander, I'm afraid the Eighth Route Army's 75mm mountain guns are powerless against these concrete fortifications."

Fang Ligong said, "According to the puppet soldiers we captured, these concrete fortifications were built under the personal supervision of Colonel Sadao Chida, commander of the 26th Regiment of the 11th Division of the Japanese Army. Before joining the army, he studied civil engineering and was a construction engineer. These fortifications he built were all built to the standards of the permanent fortifications of the Maginot Line. I guess even a 105mm howitzer using armor-piercing shells couldn't penetrate them!"

Chu Yunfei said, "Last year, the Japanese army built several concrete fortifications in Jinzhong. Their defensive capabilities were not much worse than the Maginot Line, but they were all captured and destroyed by the New 1st Regiment in a few days. When it comes to attacking bunkers and artillery towers, no one is more experienced than the New 1st Regiment of the Eighth Route Army. Maybe they really have a way."

Not long after, Sun Ming invited Chen Xiushan to Chu Yunfei. Behind Chen Xiushan were several artillerymen from the New 1st Regiment carrying boxes of ammunition.

Chu Yunfei went straight to the point and humbly asked Chen Xiushan for advice on how to attack the Japanese bunkers and artillery towers.

After taking a look at the Japanese bunkers and artillery towers on the city wall, combined with Sun Ming's introduction to the battle situation, Chen Xiushan suddenly felt confident.

"Have the soldiers from the first platoon bring the gas masks over."

Chen Xiushan gave orders to the communications soldier beside him.

"Yes!"

The signalman turned and left.

Chu Yunfei asked, "How is it, Captain Chen, are you sure?"

"Don't worry, Commander Chu," Chen Xiushan said confidently, pointing to the ammunition box on the ground. "No problem. This is our New 82st Regiment's homemade secret weapon. With it, we can definitely take down the enemy's concrete bunker. But I need to borrow your regiment's mm mortar."

"No problem!" Chu Yunfei nodded and immediately looked at Fang Ligong and said, "Chief of Staff, have the artillery bring the 82mm mortars here immediately." "Yes." Fang Ligong turned and went to give the order. After giving the order, he walked over again and said, "Captain Chen, I'm sorry to ask, is this secret weapon you made yourself a poison gas bomb?"

Chu Yunfei also looked at Chen Xiushan. If Chen Xiushan used poison gas bombs, he would have to think carefully about it.

It’s not a big deal if the Japanese and puppet soldiers are poisoned, but if the civilians in the city are also poisoned, that would be a big problem.

But it's not a big problem. We just need to evacuate the people in the city out of the city. The poisonous gas produced by the explosion will dissipate on its own over time.

Chen Xiushan said righteously, "Of course it wasn't a poison gas bomb. Using poison gas is something only animals would do. If our Eighth Route Army used poison gas, wouldn't that be the same as animals?"

Chu Yunfei suddenly felt embarrassed and felt offended.

Fang Ligong was even more surprised: "If it's not a poison gas bomb, then what is it?"

"It's just an ordinary 82mm shell." Chen Xiushan asked a soldier to open the shell box. There were 5 82mm shells in each shell box. The soldier carrying the ammunition box began to install the impact fuse, which will explode immediately after contacting the target.

Fang Ligong went forward to check it out, then returned to Chu Yunfei and said, "Commander, it seems to be an ordinary 82mm shell. Even a 105mm howitzer can't blow through the concrete fortifications. Will this thing work?"

Fang Ligong looked unconvinced.

Chu Yunfei said: "Let's try our best to save the dying horse."

Not long after, Liang Guoping, the artillery battalion commander of the 358th Regiment, brought a dozen artillerymen and brought four 82mm mortars. The artillerymen of the two regiments together set up the mortars on the south city wall, pointing the muzzles at the Japanese concrete fortifications.

The artillerymen of the 358th Regiment and the New st Regiment each operated two cannons. The artillerymen of both sides looked at each other unconvincedly, obviously competing secretly to see which side could shoot more accurately.

"Commander, the brothers of the first company of the first battalion have put on the Eighth Route Army's gas masks and are ready for the attack." Qian Bojun ran to report to Chu Yunfei.

For this attack, Chu Yunfei sent out the spearhead company of the 358th Regiment, which had rested for several hours. The company was composed of elite soldiers and equipped with dozens of Thompson submachine guns, which provided satisfactory firepower at close range.

"Okay!" Chu Yunfei looked at his watch. "After the bombardment is over, the first company of the first battalion will immediately attack the enemy."

"Yes!"

Qian Bojun turned and walked towards the first battalion and gave the order to prepare for the attack.

"Prepare for bombardment!"

Chu Yunfei raised his right hand. He also wanted to see whether the Eighth Route Army's artillery was stronger or the 358th Regiment's artillery was better.

The artillerymen on both sides held the shells in their hands and placed them at the muzzles, waiting for Chu Yunfei's order.

"Commander..."

At this moment, the communications staff hurriedly handed over a telegram:
"The war zone headquarters sent a telegram ordering our 358th Regiment to immediately cease its attack on Datong and return to Dagushan."

Chu Yunfei and Fang Ligong turned their heads abruptly and looked at the communications officer with an expression of disbelief.

WTF?

The battle to attack Datong is just a matter of time, and you want me to stop the attack immediately and retreat to the base?

Even Fang Ligong, who was monitoring Chu Yunfei on the orders of Old Yan, twitched his lips.

If we retreat at this time, how can we explain to Li Yunlong?

How to explain to the brothers of the 358th Regiment who died in action?

How to explain this to the surviving brothers of the 358th Regiment?

In order to capture Datong, the 358th Regiment had suffered about a thousand casualties, including more than 400 deaths.

Commander Yan, are you treating the war of resistance and the lives of the soldiers as a joke?
Chu Yunfei, who had always respected Commander Yan, showed dissatisfaction on his face.

Sun Ming, the various staff officers, and the artillerymen of the Eighth Route Army and the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army all turned their heads to look at the communications staff officer.

The communications officer's forehead was covered in sweat. This telegram was sent at a really bad time.

Finally, Fang Ligong looked at Chen Xiushan and said, "Captain Chen, are you sure you can destroy the concrete bunkers and the artillery towers?"

"I'm not sure I can destroy the bunkers and the artillery towers." Chen Xiushan shook his head at first, then said confidently, "But I'm sure I can kill the Japanese in the bunkers and the artillery towers."

Taking a deep breath, Fang Ligong said to Chu Yunfei, "Commander, I will state in the battle report submitted to the war zone headquarters that when our 358th Regiment received the telegram, we had already completely wiped out the Japanese and puppet troops in Datong and recaptured Datong."

Chu Yunfei's expression was stern. He suddenly lowered his right hand and said, "Fire!"

The four gunners placed the 82mm shells into the barrel almost simultaneously.

“Boom boom boom!”

Accompanied by the sound of muzzle blasts, four 82mm shells drew arcs in the air and landed on the nearby Japanese concrete bunkers and artillery towers.

"Boom boom boom!"

Along with the sound of explosions, shrapnel and shock waves swept across, and a red smoke spread.

The mortar had low accuracy, so the main gunners immediately readjusted the shooting parameters according to the impact points of their shells.

Fang Ligong and Chu Yunfei had been observing the battle situation. As shells were fired one after another, red smoke spread out instantly. Japs and puppet army machine gunners ran out of the concrete bunkers and gun towers. Some cried and screamed, some coughed violently, and some rolled on the ground with their hands covering their eyes, looking extremely uncomfortable.

"What kind of shell is this..."

This scene stunned Chu Yunfei, Fang Ligong and Sun Ming.

With the firing rate of the 82mm mortar, the four guns quickly used up dozens of secret shells. The Japanese bunkers and gun towers and their surroundings were covered in a -degree no-dead-angle pungent smell.

"Come on!"

"Kill!"

As soon as the artillery fire stopped, the soldiers from the first company of the first battalion of the 358th regiment, wearing gas masks, shouted and rushed forward with their rifles and submachine guns.

Regular gas masks can filter out chili powder and provide some protection, but they cannot filter out all chili powder.

For example, the Japanese gas masks. Even if the Japanese puppet soldiers in the concrete bunkers and artillery towers opposite put on gas masks, they would still be attacked by chili powder.

However, the gas masks produced by Boss Lin also have very good protection against harmful substances such as dust and particulate matter.

The artillerymen of the new regiment have already tested it and found that when they put on Boss Lin’s gas mask, they are almost not choked by the chili powder in the air.

After the Japanese and puppet troops were deprived of their combat effectiveness by the homemade weapons of the New 358st Regiment, the soldiers of the 10st Company of the st Battalion of the th Regiment rushed forward and resolved the battle in less than minutes, eliminating all the Japanese and puppet troops and successfully capturing the ammunition and granary.

"It's chili powder. The Eighth Route Army artillery put chili powder in the shells." As the air flowed, the smell spread, and the smell of chili could be smelled one kilometer away from the impact point. Chu Yunfei and Fang Ligong were choked and sneezed, but they suddenly realized it.

"This thing is actually more powerful than the American 105mm howitzer." Chu Yunfei smiled and praised, "The person who invented it is really a genius. Who invented this thing?"

"It was invented by my team leader." Chen Xiushan, who was standing by, also had a look of admiration on his team leader Li Yunlong.

Before leaving Ping'an County, the regiment commander asked him to bring dozens of 82mm pepper shells with him, which could be used in the battle to attack Datong.

"The captain has even calculated this. He is truly a dragon and a phoenix."

Chen Xiushan was muttering to himself.

"Great!"

Sun Ming nodded, expressing his admiration and praise from the bottom of his heart.

After capturing the Datong grain depot and ammunition depot, Chu Yunfei faced a new problem.

The scouts reported that reinforcements from the Japanese 36th Division were about to arrive, with a strength of about a regiment, as well as tanks and other powerful weapons.

How to transport the seized supplies is a big problem.

　I have something to update today.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)