Anti-Japanese War: I have unlimited assistance

2: p.m., Japanese nd Brigade Headquarters.

The Eighth Route Army retreated again after completing its third attack.

The Japanese 44th Flying Squadron arrived again to engage in ground-to-air combat with the Eighth Route Army. The 2nd Brigade took advantage of this opportunity to quickly count the casualties.

"Reporting to the brigade commander, more than half of my brigade has been killed or wounded."

Chief of Staff Lieutenant Colonel Saburo Ogawa reported to Abe Nobuhide.

"How many casualties are there?"

Abe Norihide asked with a grim expression.

"About 2900 people."

Lieutenant Colonel Saburo Ogawa looked grim.

"Nani!"

Upon hearing the casualty data, Abe Nobuhide's face became even gloomier.

The 2nd Brigade was just a mixed brigade with five infantry battalions under its command.

每个大队的兵力大约810人，马40匹，11年式轻机枪28挺，92式重机枪8挺，89式重掷弹筒32架，92式步兵炮2门。

还有一个旅团炮兵大队，马370匹，94式山炮（2个中队）12门，改造38式野炮（1个中队）队6门，九四式速射炮6门（1个中队）。

There is also a communications team and an engineering team with a total of more than 350 people.

The total strength of the 2nd Brigade is more than 5000 people.

In just half a day, three infantry battalions were almost completely destroyed, with a total casualties of nearly 3000.

The only troops still able to fight are the 1st Infantry Battalion and the 5th Infantry Battalion. Moreover, these two infantry battalions have been bombarded by the Eighth Route Army's artillery and are not at full strength.

Although the artillery battalion’s structure is relatively complete, what’s the use?

The six Type 6 rapid-fire guns were unable to break through the defense of the Eighth Route Army heavy tanks and were completely lost in the first round of fighting.

There are more than a dozen Type 38 mountain guns and Type field guns in total.

Not only were there few artillery shells left, but once they fired, they would be suppressed by the Eighth Route Army's 152mm heavy artillery.

Abe Nobuhide has always been arrogant and never takes the Eighth Route Army seriously.

However, after this battle, Abe Nobuhide felt that the firepower of the locust army was seriously insufficient.

When Abe Nobuhide took over as commander of the 1938nd Independent Mixed Brigade in October 10, his military rank was major general.

According to convention, he was promoted to lieutenant general a year later on October 1939, 10, and soon he would be promoted to positions that required the qualifications of a lieutenant general, such as serving as division commander.

Sure enough, he received a transfer order not long ago, but not as a division commander.

He received an imperial decree from the Japanese army, and was honored to be appointed as an aide-de-camp to the army. The aide-de-camp was responsible for conveying and reporting military intelligence to the emperor, which was considered a good job.

This position is not open to anyone who wants it.

The aide-de-camp is served by lieutenant generals or major generals of the army and navy, while the chief aide-de-camp is served by generals or lieutenant generals of the army and navy.

Many generals who served as aide-de-camp and chief aide-de-camp were able to continue to be promoted.

However, at this time, Sugiyama Gen's combat plan in northwestern Shanxi had already begun, and the troops of the 2nd Brigade had been assembled.

Abe Nobuhide also wanted to win a battle and take office in glory, destroy the Eighth Route Army, and give Li Yunlong's head as a gift to Tianhuang when he took office.

but……

The more full of ideas, the more cruel the reality. Less than two days after entering the battlefield and less than a day after fighting, the 2nd Brigade was severely beaten and more than half of the troops were killed or wounded.

It's a disgrace to Abe Norihide.

At this moment, the air-to-ground battle between the 44th Flying Squadron and the Eighth Route Army ended. Abe Nobuhide quickly raised his telescope and looked at the sky, and found that there were only less than 10 planes left.

"Reporting to the brigade commander, the 21st Flying Regiment has sent a message in code: the 44th Flying Squadron just wiped out an th Route Army tank regiment, but they suffered over half their own casualties and urgently need to rest and regroup. They cannot provide air support in the short term."

Sure enough, not long after, news came from the 21st Flying Regiment.

Upon hearing the news, the Japanese staff officers immediately shouted "Get on board" and some even cried for joy.

Abe Nobuhide's face still looked ugly.

Although more than half of the 44th Flight Squadron suffered casualties, during these three air support operations, the 44th Flight Squadron destroyed two artillery regiments and one tank regiment of the Eighth Route Army. This record can be called dazzling.

If this was Abe Nobuhide's record, it would be enough for him to brag about for two and a half years.

But unfortunately, this is Takeda Isamu's record.

Taking a deep breath, Abe Norihide suppressed the envy in his heart and said, "Next, the Eighth Route Army should be unable to attack..."

The Eighth Route Army lost three heavy artillery regiments and one tank regiment.

This should be the entire heavy artillery and tank force of the Eighth Route Army. Without heavy artillery and tank units, what else can the Eighth Route Army use to attack?
but.

More than an hour later, a sharp whistling sound was heard again in the sky. Abe Nobuhide's face suddenly changed. He quickly raised the telescope to look, only to see that the sky was filled with dense orange-red ballistic missiles.

"Boom boom boom!"

Explosions filled the air and the sky was covered with thunder. The sound of artillery fire could be heard continuously.

"The Eighth Route Army used at least 300 artillery pieces to fire at the frontline positions, including 100 heavy artillery pieces, 100 mortars, and 100 mountain guns."

Artillery Battalion Captain Asano analyzed with a serious expression.

"Nani?"

"Didn't the 44th Squadron destroy three heavy artillery regiments and one tank regiment of the Eighth Route Army?"

"What exactly is going on?"

The communications staff officer asked loudly.

An hour ago, the entire 2nd Brigade was cheering, but now, the entire 2nd Brigade was filled with despair.

The Eighth Route Army actually deployed three hundred cannons!

The entire 2nd Brigade, when fully staffed, had only about 30 cannons. Although there were also more than 160 grenade launchers, could those be called cannons?

The difference in artillery fire is too great.

"The Eighth Route Army should have no tanks left. We can hold our position."

At this time, Abe Nobuhide's face calmed down, although he was very panicked.

But he had to stay calm. After all, more than half of the 2nd Brigade had suffered casualties, and morale was already having some problems. If he, the brigade commander, panicked, the morale of the remaining troops of the entire 2nd Brigade would collapse.

Once the morale of more than 2000 soldiers is completely lost, they will be defeated and easier to kill than 2000 pigs.

Ten minutes later, the Eighth Route Army's artillery bombardment stopped, and a staff officer hurriedly answered a call from the front line and reported to Abe Nobuhide.

"Reporting to the brigade commander, the Eighth Route Army has launched an attack with over twenty tanks and over a thousand infantrymen. Major Asano, commander of the 1st Battalion, requests tactical guidance."

The 1st Infantry Battalion was the most powerful and elite unit of the 2nd Brigade, and was sent by Abe Nobuhide to defend the frontline positions.

However, facing the bombardment of 300 artillery pieces, the 1st Infantry Battalion could not withstand it no matter how strong its combat effectiveness was. What's more, the Eighth Route Army also dispatched more than heavy tanks and infantry!

"Nani?"

"How come the Eighth Route Army still has so many heavy tanks!"

After hearing the report from the communications staff, Abe Norihide could no longer hold back and flew into a rage on the spot.

The slap in the face came too quickly.

He had just said that the Eighth Route Army had no heavy artillery, so the Eighth Route Army mobilized 300 artillery pieces, 100 of which were heavy artillery pieces.

He said that the Eighth Route Army had no heavy tanks, so the Eighth Route Army immediately took out more than 20 heavy tanks and thousands of infantry to attack.

It would have been fine if the Eighth Route Army still had so many artillery pieces, but they also had so many tanks. Even under the heavy bombardment of the 44th Flying Squadron, they were able to organize an attack so quickly. Abe Nobuhide felt that something was wrong!

However, the old devils now have no extra time to think about these things. The most urgent task at the moment is how to repel the Eighth Route Army.

According to the previous battles with the Eighth Route Army, it would take the loss of a squadron to destroy an Eighth Route Army heavy tank.

In this attack, the Eighth Route Army directly dispatched more than 20 heavy tanks. So, they had to lose more than 20 squadrons to destroy these tanks of the Eighth Route Army.

"The Eighth Route Army commander on the other side must have blocked all remaining artillery shells and tanks."

"In that case..."

Taking a deep breath, Abe Norihide's eyes flashed with madness as he issued two orders:

"Order the 5th Infantry Battalion to reinforce the 1st Battalion immediately. The artillery battalion should target the attacking Eighth Route Army tanks and infantry and provide covering fire until all the ammunition is used up."

"As long as we repel this attack by the Eighth Route Army, they will definitely not be able to continue the offensive."

"Once the locust army's logistical supplies arrive, the Tubalu will just have to take the beating."

Abe Nobuhide is determined to go all in. Victory or defeat depends on this one move.

"……Hi!"

The communications officer suddenly lowered his head, turned around and quickly conveyed the order.

As the brigade headquarters issued the order, the infantry of the 5th Battalion in the deep position quickly moved forward to the front line. With the reinforcement of the 5th Infantry Battalion, the firepower of the Japanese on the front line became much stronger.

At the same time, more than ten mountain guns and field guns of the 2nd Brigade opened fire, and shells fell into the attacking formation of the Eighth Route Army.

The air was filled with smoke and the sound of gunfire was deafening! (End of this chapter)