Anti-Japanese War: I have unlimited assistance

Chapter 442 Unexpected attack speed!

Heyuan County.

Lieutenant General Iseki Masataka, commander of the 14th Division of the Japanese Army, was awakened by a rapid knock on the door.

He got up with a gloomy face and opened the bedroom door. When he saw the serious-looking Chief of Staff Ishihara Shozo, his face immediately darkened.

"Your Excellency, Division Commander!"

Ishihara Shozo lowered his head, then reported in a deep voice:

"The captain of the 59th Battalion of the 5th Infantry Regiment and Major Sano Ichi called. The main force of the New st Regiment of the Eighth Route Army just launched a surprise attack on the Locust Army's Laofenling position. The Eighth Route Army has dispatched heavy artillery and tanks!"

He spoke very quickly, and although Jingguan Changlong had already anticipated this, his expression was still solemn.

Even though the 14th Division was a Type A division, he had fought against the Eighth Route Army in northwestern Shanxi and knew that the Eighth Route Army had strong firepower.

"Go to the war room immediately and have Major General Guan Yu come see me immediately!"

After saying this, Iseki Masataka didn't bother to put on his clothes or take his sword, and quickly went to the war room with Ishihara Shozo.

The Japanese staff were of very high quality. In the middle of the 14th Division's operations room, a combat sand table representing Heyuan and Ping'an County was restored almost one-to-one.

"General."

Seeing Jingguan Changlong appear, the two busy Japanese staff officers hurriedly bowed to him.

Jingguan Changlong waved his hand, indicating that there was no need to be polite, and then he looked at the sand table. He saw a number of small tanks appearing on the Laofenling position on the sand table, indicating that the Eighth Route Army was using tanks to attack the Laofenling position.

"What's the current situation at Old Grave Ridge?"

Jingguan Changlong asked in a deep voice.

One of the staff officers replied, "After the enemy bombarded Laofenling, they launched a tank attack. The locust troops currently stationed at Laofenling have already come out of the tunnels and are engaged in a fierce battle with the enemy!"

"Major Sanoichi, who is stationed at Laofenling, just called and requested artillery support!"

In the direction of Heyuan County, the 20th Field Artillery Regiment is stationed. The regiment is equipped with 36 75mm field guns and has powerful firepower.

At this moment, Major General Guan Yuzong, commander of the 14th Infantry Brigade of the 25th Division, walked in quickly.

The 14th Division was composed of the 25th Brigade and the 28th Brigade. Each brigade had two infantry regiments, as well as cavalry, artillery, engineering, and logistics regiments, for a total of eight regiments. At its peak, the total strength was people.

However, due to the consumption on the Chinese battlefield, the Type A Division's soldiers were already difficult to replenish. In addition, the Japanese headquarters did not attach importance to the 14th Division, and the 14th Division now had only more than people.

Currently, the 25th Brigade, the Cavalry Regiment, the Artillery Regiment and the Quartermaster Regiment are stationed in Heyuan County.

The 28th Brigade and the Engineer Regiment were stationed in Anhua County.

"Immediately order the 20th Field Artillery Regiment to move to the second line of defense and provide artillery support to the Locust Army at Laofenling."

Jingguan Changlong gave the order coldly.

He was somewhat dissatisfied that Major General Guan Yuzong arrived at the operations room later than him.

Fearing that the Japanese troops at Laofenling would be unable to withstand the Eighth Route Army's attack, Ishihara Shozo said, "Your Excellency, it will take the 20th Field Artillery Regiment about an hour to move from its base to the second line of defense, establish positions, and fire artillery... Should we order the 5th Infantry Battalion to move to the third line of defense?"

"Baka!" Major General Guan Yusou, his temper flaring, yelled, "You actually want to give up the third line of defense?"

"Major General Guan Yu, the Eighth Route Army has deployed heavy artillery and tanks!" With Iseki Masataka's support, Ishihara Shozo retorted fearlessly, "The 5th Infantry Battalion can't stop the Eighth Route Army's sudden attack!"

Guan Yuzang snorted coldly and looked at Jingguan Changlong: "Your Excellency, Division Commander, I have confidence in the combat effectiveness of my 5th Infantry Battalion. Combined with the tunnel fortifications built at Laofenling, the 5th Infantry Battalion will definitely be able to hold its position for an hour. If we have the support of the field artillery regiment, we will definitely deal a heavy blow to the Eighth Route Army!"

Because the Eighth Route Army in the Jinzhong Plain has always used underground tactics.

Therefore, the Japanese also called the tunnel tactics used by the New 1st Regiment "underground tactics."

However, the tunnels built by the Japanese could not be compared with those built by the New 1st Regiment.

Even the 4th Mixed Brigade and the Guards Mixed Brigade, which had come into contact with the Eighth Route Army's tunnels, had been wiped out by the Eighth Route Army.

Iseki Masataka looked at Ishihara Shozo with a cold gaze: "Ishihara-kun, go and convey the order immediately!"

"Hayi!"

Ishihara Shozo could only bow his head, turn around and walk quickly towards the phone.

The moment his right hand was about to touch the receiver, the phone rang rapidly. Ishihara's right hand paused slightly, then he grabbed the receiver and put it to his ear: "Moshimoshi, this is the division headquarters!"

"Your Excellency, Chief of Staff!" The other party obviously recognized Ishihara Shozo's voice and spoke in a hurried and anxious tone:
"I am Captain Sanoichi of the 5th Infantry Battalion. The Eighth Route Army has captured the Laofenling position. I request tactical guidance!"

"What?" Ishihara Shozo asked loudly in disbelief, "The Laofenling position was lost?"

He deliberately raised the pitch so that Jingguan Changlong and Guan Yuzang could hear it as well.

As he expected, Jingguan Changlong and Guan Yuzang's faces changed when they heard what he said, and they walked towards him quickly.

And Sanoichi: "Hi!"

"What the hell is going on?" Guan Yusong grabbed the phone and asked angrily, "Why did the position fall so quickly?"

"Your Excellency, Brigade Commander, after the Eighth Route Army's heavy artillery bombarded our artillery positions, infantry and tanks attacked. The Locust Army immediately entered the position. At that moment, the Eighth Route Army used chemical bombs!" Wasanokichi said anxiously, "All the Locust Army that entered the position lost their ability to move. Two infantry squadrons were completely destroyed. The position has been lost!"

Having tasted the sweetness of this delivery, Li Yunlong asked Boss Lin for a large batch of super spicy pepper mortar bombs.

I have to say that this thing is really useful. Even the Japanese soldiers wearing gas masks can't resist the invasion of chili powder and the smell of chili.

Because gas masks are designed to block toxic gases and particles, and chili powder is not a poisonous gas.

Only high-quality gas masks can effectively prevent the irritation of chili powder to the human body. The Japanese's inferior gas masks naturally cannot do that.

"idiot!"

Guan Yuzong held the microphone and looked at Jingguan Changlong:

"Division Commander, should we order the remaining troops of the 5th Infantry Battalion to move to the second line of defense?"

Jingguan Changlong nodded expressionlessly: "Okay!"

Guan Yuzong immediately gave orders. The 5th Infantry Battalion had four infantry companies under its command. Two infantry companies were lost, leaving only two infantry companies.

The two infantry squadrons returned to the second line of defense and strengthened the defense of the second line of defense.

Major General Guan Yusou looked at Jingguan Changlong, his face grim and his tone solemn as he said:

"Your Excellency, the division commander, there are a large number of minefields laid on the road between the third and second lines of defense."

"The Locust Army of the 5th Infantry Battalion should be able to smoothly transition to the second line of defense."

"The problem now is that the Eighth Route Army is using chemical bombs and deploying tanks, and the Locust Army's gas masks are ineffective."

"How are we going to defend the second line?"

"Mr. Ishihara, what do you think?" Iseki Masataka looked at Ishihara Shozo.

The chief of staff provides advice to the division commanders.

Moreover, Ishihara Shozo had just accurately predicted that the 5th Infantry Battalion could not stop the attack of the Eighth Route Army.

Ishihara Shozo immediately bowed his head and said.

"Your Excellency, Division Commander!"

"I'm not an expert on chemical weapons, but as far as I know, the Chinese army didn't have gas masks. During the battle against the locusts, they used towels soaked in water or urine to cover their mouths and noses to block the invasion of poison gas and fight the locusts. As for whether this method is effective... I just said, I'm not an expert in this field."

The advantage of Ishihara's words is that he not only provides advice to the division commander, but he won't be blamed if the method fails.

He's not an expert in this area anyway.

Iseki Masataka looked at Major General Tateyu So and said, "Tateyu-kun, immediately issue this tactic to all units of the 25th Brigade!"

Major General Guan Yuzong lowered his head: "Ha Yi!"

Jingguan Changlong looked at Ishihara Zhang San and said, "Ishihara-kun, order the field artillery regiment to prepare for battle. If the Eighth Route Army dares to attack the second line of defense, use 'special sharp bullets' to greet the Eighth Route Army!"

The so-called "special sharp bullets" refer to poison gas bombs including yellow bullets, and yellow bullets are corrosive poison gas bombs.

After exposure to droplets and aerosols of blister agents, mucous membranes such as the eyes and respiratory organs will be damaged, the skin will turn red and develop blisters and erosion accompanied by severe pain, and in severe cases it can be fatal.

"Hayi!"

Ishihara Shozo suddenly lowered his head and said sternly, "The second line of defense is within the range of the field artillery regiment. With the support of the field artillery regiment, the Eighth Route Army will definitely be unable to return!"

(End of this chapter)