You were tasked with guarding the Sihang Warehouse, and you brought out a Tiger tank?

Has the system issued a task?

Lin Feng was both surprised and delighted.

Was it because he had finally reached the front lines and was about to encounter the regular Japanese army?

He originally thought that his system was only responsible for collecting money and distributing equipment to units.

With the task system, at least there's another source of exchange points.

After all, he knew that once he left Qing County, it would be difficult to so easily prey on wealthy people, become bandits, and amass gold coins again.

In war, there will inevitably be casualties, and without enough exchange points, he cannot replenish his losses.

Even if he gains more merit points, he can only upgrade existing units and cannot produce more troops.

After carefully reading the mission instructions, Lin Feng was pleased.

The task only offers rewards and has no penalties, meaning it's not mandatory, which is quite good.

Looking at the mission objective of holding the line for 48 hours, Lin Feng was even more delighted.

I have three system battalions, as well as armored vehicles and heavy artillery. I can take on a Japanese battalion of more than 1000 men. Do we still need to hold our ground?

I will annihilate them all.

"Pass down the order: we're to set up defenses on the spot. Right here in Qibao Town, we'll throw a 'welcome feast' for the Japanese devils!"

-----

According to the information he had read on the Internet before his transmigration, Lin Feng remembered that when the War of Resistance Against Japan had just begun in 1937, a Japanese infantry battalion typically consisted of four infantry companies of about 200 men each, a machine gun company equipped with eight heavy machine guns, and an artillery platoon equipped with Type 92 70mm infantry guns.

Of course, since this battalion has come out to operate independently, in addition to the extra cavalry squads that have already been scouted, it will most likely also add some engineer units and possibly be equipped with a few 37mm anti-tank guns.

Therefore, Lin Feng directly used the radio to order the armored reconnaissance platoon to keep a distance and not to alert the enemy, so as to avoid their armored vehicles being penetrated by the Japanese anti-tank guns.

The Japanese troops' firepower on paper was far inferior to that of their own troops.

But since it was his first time fighting against the regular Japanese army, Lin Feng was a little nervous. His plan was to take advantage of the terrain of Qibao Town to launch a defensive counterattack and wipe out the Japanese troops with as few casualties as possible.

After quickly eating some dry rations, Lin Feng got busy. The Japanese might arrive in 1-2 hours, and time was of the essence.

Lin Feng, along with Zhao Dashan and the guards, went to the ancient temple field hospital to inform them that the Japanese might be coming. He then brought in a corporal from the security brigade as their guide.

This corporal, surnamed Ding, was a local from Shanghai. He was clearly a seasoned veteran and claimed to have been stationed in this town for almost two months.

With these people in tow, Lin Feng began a field reconnaissance of the town's terrain.

The group arrived at the east side of Qibao Town and saw a small river, about five or six meters wide, meandering through it. The water was murky, and only an ancient stone arch bridge connected the two banks.

Lin Feng led his troops across this bridge into the town, and it was also the only way for the Japanese to enter the town afterward.

Standing on the riverbank, Lin Feng looked at the terrain before him, and the final battle to defend the bridge in the classic movie "Saving Private Ryan" instantly came to mind.

Maybe I can make a replica myself?

At this moment, Zhao Dashan ran over with several sappers, holding detonators in his hands, looking excited:

"Commander, I've seen this bridge, it's perfect for bombing. Just put two bags of TNT on the piers, and with a 'boom,' the Japanese will be left only to sigh at the river."

"Blow up the bridge?"

Lin Feng glanced at the stone bridge, then at the not-so-rapid river, and shook his head.

"Dashan, you're still too young and too simple."

Lin Feng uttered a foreign language phrase, which surprised Zhao Yushu, Ding Xiashi, and the others who were following him. "You can speak foreign languages ​​too?"

Pointing at the river, Lin Feng curled his lip: "This river is only a few meters wide and the water isn't deep. It's the dry season now. If you blow up the bridge, the Japanese can easily wade across from any shallow spot, or even build a pontoon bridge in half an hour."

"Then...not blast it?" Zhao Dashan scratched his head.

"Don't blow it up."

A sinister smile appeared on Lin Feng's lips: "Keep it; it's a perfect bait."

"The Japanese are human too. Who would want to wade through water when there's a bridge? The main Japanese force will definitely concentrate its troops to seize the bridge. As long as we hold the bridgehead, the bridge surface will become a natural slaughterhouse."

This is a variation of the classic strategy of besieging a point to attack reinforcements—letting someone kill them on the way.

"However, we can't let them live too comfortably."

Lin Feng changed the subject: "Take your engineering troops and put up three layers of barbed wire on both sides of the bridge. Then bury those S-shaped bounding mines and anti-personnel mines densely on the bridgehead and riverbank. I want the Japanese to pay with their lives for every step they take forward."

"Understood, I'll get right on it. I guarantee the Japanese will be blown to bits." Zhao Dashan saluted, accepted the order, and left.

"Cousin, look at that building!"

Zhao Yushu suddenly pointed to a four-story building in the town and said excitedly, "That place is high up and has a wide view. How about we set up our command post there? We can see far from there!"

Lin Feng followed his finger and saw an antique-style building made of bricks and stones, with flying eaves and brackets. It was indeed impressive and looked like a restaurant or something similar.

"You big jerk!"

Lin Feng tapped Zhao Yushu's helmet on the head in an annoyed tone:

"What you can think of, the Japanese can think of too. That place is so conspicuous. If the Japanese come, they will definitely bombard that place first in the first round of shelling. If they really set up their command post there, we can just wait to be buried alive."

Zhao Yushu covered her head, looking aggrieved: "Then... what should we do?"

"However, that position is indeed a good firing point."

Lin Feng stroked his chin: "Although it can't serve as a command post, it can serve as a gun emplacement."

He turned and ordered, "First Battalion Commander, send two heavy machine gun squads up there, with Lao Gan Ma (a brand of chili sauce) in tow. Set up the guns at the windows on the third and fourth floors, reinforce them with sandbags, and send two sniper teams in as well."

Remember, that building is a thorn in our side. Hold it firmly against the main road into town and that stone bridge. If the Japanese cross the bridge, shoot them dead.

"yes!"

War is cruel. Even knowing that the restaurant might be shelled, how can there be no casualties in war? As long as it can inflict heavy casualties on the Japanese, then this arrangement is worthwhile.

The soldiers immediately sprang into action, carrying heavy machine guns and ammunition boxes, panting as they ran upstairs.

The laborers followed behind, carrying heavy boxes of 12.7mm ammunition belts, running towards the restaurant to stock up on ammunition.

After setting up the positions along the riverbank, Lin Feng used the radio to call the commanders of several armored vehicles in the town.

"Don't park your armored vehicles in fixed positions as bunkers. The Japanese infantry guns, mountain guns, and anti-tank guns pose a great threat to you."

"Remember to use the town's streets and buildings to move around and serve as mobile firing points. Support wherever the enemy is in trouble, and move to a new location after firing a burst. Don't give the Japanese artillery a chance to aim."

Then Lin Feng turned to look at Corporal Ding:

"Corporal Ding, lead the way. Let's quickly explore every alley and every building in this town."

The corporal, following Lin Feng, felt like he was witnessing an incredible spectacle. With armored vehicles and terrifyingly large-caliber heavy machine guns, he immediately regarded Lin Feng as a high-ranking officer from the elite Central Army.

"Yes, yes, sir, this way please." Corporal Ding nodded and bowed hurriedly.