Even if I'm a useless bum at Whampoa Military Academy, I'll be invincible in the War of Re

The artillery positions of the 11th Infantry Regiment were hit by fire, losing three 75mm howitzers, causing Colonel Nagano to wail in pain.

"Baka yarou! How come the Chinese have so many cannons?!"

"Where are the division's heavy artillery units? Where are the Empire's air warriors?!"

The entire 5th Division was bewildered. The air warriors who used to arrive at a moment's notice never showed up, and heavy artillery support had also decreased significantly.

The 5th Field Artillery Regiment was practically invisible. Even when they provided fire support, it was only so-so. They would fire for a dozen rounds and then stop. What good could it do?

Senior staff officer Major Ogasawara, who had previously served in the military, had heard some rumors but hesitated to speak, which displeased Colonel Nagano.

"Ogasawara-kun, just say what you have to say. Dragging your feet doesn't make you a warrior of the Empire!"

Major Ogasawara then whispered:

"China has a mysterious air force, which is said to be supported by Westerners. Its fighter jets are very advanced. The Imperial Air Warriors have been ambushed one after another and suffered heavy losses."

The 16th Division's mountain artillery regiment was ambushed and suffered more than half its losses. Headquarters, fearing another ambush, cautiously deployed the Air Force.

"Baka yarou, is this caution? It's fear, a bunch of cowards!"

Colonel Nagano really dares to say anything, and Major Ogasawara dares not respond, as it would be detrimental to his career if word got out.

Colonel Nagano was just talking; he couldn't make decisions about the higher-ups, so he could only ask the division headquarters for help. He believed that Seishiro Itagaki would definitely have a solution.

The 11th Infantry Regiment suspended its attack, and the news was quickly relayed to the 648th Regiment headquarters.

Colonel Yao Zhiqing was no longer the junior battalion commander he once was. When he was defending Baoshan, he didn't even have a decent cannon. Back then, he and his few hundred men dared to stand up to the 7th Infantry Regiment.

They're so strong now that they can't bend over; the 12 artillery pieces in their direct artillery company alone can hold their own against the 11th Infantry Regiment.

His two battalions stationed in the eastern part of the city effectively blocked the 11th Infantry Regiment, and he also had a reserve battalion in hand, allowing him to fight with great ease.

Chief of Staff Lieutenant Colonel Guo Zhenxing said in a deep voice:

"The Japanese are calling in artillery support!"

Yao Zhiqing said confidently:

"It's no big deal. The brothers are hiding in the tunnels under the buildings, so even if the upper buildings are razed to the ground, they won't be hurt."

The military was prepared; even if the entire city was bombed to ruins, they would fight the Japanese to the bitter end!

With the strongholds along the Jialu River and Jinshui River, the 324th Division had transformed the urban area into a fortress, and all the civilians had been evacuated to the mountainous areas west of the Pinghan Railway, allowing them to fight with greater freedom.

The 648th Regiment was originally the 2nd Regiment of the Guerrilla Column, Zhao Yunwen's direct subordinate. It had experienced the Kunshan Street Battle and the Nanjing Street Battle, and had rich combat experience. It was not afraid of the 5th Division.

No sooner had Yao Zhiqing finished speaking than a volley of shells rained down into the city, and Guo Zhenxing's expression changed drastically:

"At least thirty artillery pieces; this is the 5th Field Artillery Regiment!"

Yao Zhiqing remained calm and composed, and said in a low voice:

"Don't panic. Send the military affairs staff to keep a close watch on the Japanese artillery group and get the coordinate parameters as soon as possible. They won't be arrogant for long."

Guo Zhenxing nodded heavily. The Tiger Army also had artillery units in the city, deployed on the Shibalipu Heights, which was the highest point in the city and strong enough to suppress the Japanese artillery positions.

At the position of the Second Company of the isolated battalion, shells rained down from the sky. The remaining houses were exposed to the artillery fire and were hit by several shells from time to time, and were blown into ruins.

Most of the soldiers of the Second Company hid in the tunnels, enduring the Japanese artillery fire without any power to fight back. They could only silently bear it.

Yang Guai was already used to such grand occasions. With a cigarette dangling from his lips, he worked tirelessly until his wife was three months pregnant, about to become the first little life born amidst the gunfire of the Tiger Legion.

When the news reached the military headquarters, Zhao Yunwen took it very seriously. He ordered people to take good care of the pregnant woman and rewarded her with fifty silver dollars.

Yang Guai now has a bright future. The Tiger Legion is expanding rapidly, and as long as he earns more military merits, he has a good chance of being promoted to battalion commander or regimental commander in the future.

The company's communications officer came over to try and get on his good side:

"Company Commander, I heard your wife is pregnant with a big, healthy boy. You're going to be a dad soon, how about a cigarette?"

"Get lost, you're not even fully grown yet, what are you doing learning to smoke?"

Despite his cursing, Yang Guai still tossed Maodou a Daqianmen cigarette, a rare treat only officers could afford.

Maodou was so happy that his eyes narrowed into slits. He proudly waved it at the others, then brought it to his nose to sniff before lighting it.

Then, mimicking the sheep's leg and the monkey's haste, he took a deep breath, choking so badly that snot and tears streamed down his face, making everyone burst into laughter.

The company cook joked:

"I told you a long time ago, don't smoke before your pubic hair is fully grown, but you wouldn't listen. Now you've embarrassed yourself!"

Maodou has always been competitive. Although he is only fifteen years old, he dislikes being called too young. He forced himself to speak despite his discomfort:

"I just wasn't paying attention. It's just a cigarette. I'll smoke another one and show you!"

After Maodou finished speaking, he took another deep drag, but still choked and looked quite disheveled. Yang Guai shook his head and ignored him, considering it a waste of a cigarette.

Maodou was from Sichuan Province. He was assigned to the Second Company during the Battle of Pengcheng. Yang Guai saw that he was too young, so he kept him in the company headquarters as a communications officer.

This kid is quite clever and became the company's source of joy.

The company consisted of eight men who shared a single artillery shelter, hidden beneath an old house.

This old house clearly belongs to a wealthy family. It has blue bricks and tiles, and is two stories high. When the tunnel was being dug, a tunnel was discovered, which was where the owner stored grain.

Seeing that the house was sturdy, Yang Guai set up his company headquarters there, so that he could go up to the second floor to command the troops before the Japanese opened fire.

The shelling lasted for half an hour. The old house was hit by a shell, which blew off part of the second-floor wall, but it did not affect its use.

As the artillery fire extended, Yang Guai's previously half-closed eyes suddenly flashed with a sharp light, and he roared:

"The Japanese are coming up!"

Yang Guai was the first to rush out of the bunker, climbed the stairs to the second floor, and then used binoculars to observe the enemy situation through the window.

Hundreds of meters away, the Japanese soldiers of the Tsuchiya Company launched a massive attack, and flames were already spitting out from the two bunkers. They survived the shelling.

Behind the infantry, the Japanese had only one remaining Type 92 heavy machine gun, which was spitting fire and bullets were flying everywhere.

Yang Guai shouted coldly:

"Edamame, signal the artillery to take down those bastards!"

Yang Guai then accurately reported the coordinates of the machine gun position, and Mao Dou used a signal flag behind the house to send Yang Guai's order to the artillery.

The artillery platoon observer received the order, and soon after, three mortar shells flew in a triangular formation toward the Japanese troops, accurately hitting their targets.

Yang Guai shouted excitedly:

"Great, you hit it!"

"Keep fighting the Japanese infantry!"

Maodou continuously transmitted Yangguai's instructions, serving as a strategic high ground in the surrounding area, which was of great importance.

The skirmish line of the Tsuchiya Company was still advancing slowly, with shells falling in rows, and Japanese soldiers being felled one after another, with mangled corpses everywhere.

Captain Tsuchiya's hands, which were holding the binoculars, trembled uncontrollably. The once infallible mass charge had become a death throes, sending his men to their deaths.

Bushido doesn't seem to work anymore!

"You idiots, a bunch of useless trash!"

Captain Tsuchiya's eyes were practically spitting fire; he was now in a bind and could only hope for a miracle.

The defenders' bunkers continued to spew fire, forming a crossfire from the left and right, holding the Japanese troops firmly at bay.

The offensive of the Tsuchiya Company was once again thwarted, casualties surged, and the damage inflicted on the defenders was negligible.

The executive officer couldn't help but advise again:

"Tsuchiya-kun, the Chinese bunkers are too much of a threat. Let the warriors retreat!"

"Once it gets dark and the Chinese visibility is reduced, we can send out suicide squads to sneak up and blow them up."

This time, Captain Tsuchiya listened to advice. In less than half a day, Tsuchiya's squadron suffered nearly half its casualties and achieved very few victories. A change had to be made.

Night combat is a good option.

Summoned by bugle calls, the Japanese soldiers retreated in a panic, leaving behind thirty or forty corpses or seriously wounded.

The Second Company did not pursue the enemy, nor did they risk finishing off the Japanese soldiers. They left the wounded to struggle in agony on the ground until they bled to death.

The Japanese soldiers initially tried to seize the wounded, but after being intercepted by snipers, they gave up completely. No one would be foolish enough to risk their own lives.

Gunfire continued on the main street, while the right flank fell into an eerie silence. The Tsuchiya Company did not attack, and the Second Company remained on high alert, refusing to engage.

Time passed slowly, and before we knew it, the sun was setting, and the city, which had been bustling with activity all day, returned to tranquility.