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

At Shimenkou, after two days of continuous attacks, the Japanese finally made progress and captured the first line of defense, but at a great cost.

With nearly a thousand dead and more than three hundred wounded, the 58th Regiment has suffered 30% casualties.

Regimental Commander Kurahashi Kimito had long since lost the energy to curse; he simply launched the attack mechanically, his face as black as charcoal.

Senior Staff Officer Major Chiba said in a deep voice:

"Commander, we have figured it out. The garrison at Shimenkou is the 646th Regiment of the 323rd Division, and the high ground to the flank and rear is an artillery position."

Previously, the 65th Regiment launched a surprise attack on the Chinese artillery positions, but was ambushed near Yangjialing and lost a battalion. The defending troops should have been no less than a regiment.

The 323rd Division was the most elite infantry division in China. Its commander, Lieutenant General Qiu Qingquan, a graduate of the second class of the Whampoa Military Academy, was a seasoned veteran and a formidable commander. The division had a total strength of 8 to 1 men and was equipped with a large number of artillery pieces.

Canglin Gongren stubbornly insisted:

"It's just a division. A single regiment of the Imperial Army could easily wipe it out. Since the start of the war, the combat strength ratio between the two sides has been at least 5 to 1!"

Colonel Kurahashi was not wrong. This is under normal circumstances. If it were a defensive situation, it would be a different story. The Nationalist Army is good at defense.

Major Chiba did not blindly agree, but instead argued his case logically:

"Commander, our opponent is the Tiger Legion! Their combat strength is another matter. It is said that their combat strength in the field is no weaker than that of the Imperial Army's first-class divisions. Even the Itagaki Division did not have an advantage."

"You idiot, Chiba-kun, you're boosting the morale of others while diminishing your own!"

Since we can't take the position during the day, let's try again at night, sneak up quietly, and finish it off with bayonets.

Major Chiba added:

"We must have sufficient troops to achieve a decisive victory in one battle!"

"Alright, let's do it this way! Give everyone an extra rice ball, and the whole squadron will attack."

Tell the warriors, this is the moment of truth; the time has come to serve His Majesty!

Colonel Kurahayashi made up his mind, his gaze hardening. He refused to believe he couldn't take down the small stone doorway.

The 323rd Division headquarters had just received a report of victory from the 3rd Cavalry Battalion, and the atmosphere was unusually relaxed.

Division Commander Qiu Fengzi smiled and said to Zhao Yunwen:

"The cavalry fought brilliantly this time, winning several battles in quick succession. They not only destroyed the Japanese supply train but also annihilated a Japanese cavalry battalion, killing nearly a thousand enemy soldiers!"

Chief of Staff Ma Weilan then chimed in:

"The spoils were even greater, including more than four hundred warhorses, and it is said that there were also a large number of poison gas bombs that could be used to deal with the Japanese."

Zhao Yunwen's heart skipped a beat. He didn't care about the Geneva Convention. If the Japanese could use it, the Tiger Army could too.

"Brothers, the harassment of the enemy's rear by the 3rd Cavalry Battalion has been very effective. In the past two days, there have been significantly fewer shells landing on the Fujinshan position, and the strangulation of the supply line is beginning to show results."

Reply to them: When operating behind enemy lines, avoid rash advances; strike unexpectedly and catch them off guard. While eliminating the enemy, preserve your own forces. Do not act unless you are confident of victory.

The main position at Fujinshan was fiercely contested by the 36th and 88th Divisions of the 71st Army, who suffered heavy casualties. The Japanese were unable to achieve a breakthrough on the southern front, and it was necessary to prevent them from resorting to desperate measures and making a last-ditch effort at Shimenkou on the northern front.

Qiu the Madman nodded in agreement:

"The commander is right. The Shimenkou salient is a weak point, and the Japanese can definitely see it. They've done plenty of desperate gambles. I'll go and remind the 646th Regiment right now, and at the same time, I'll have the 650th Regiment ready to reinforce at any time."

On the sand table, the troop deployments of both sides were almost completely exposed. Zhao Yunwen snorted coldly:

"A mere regiment dares to cause trouble. We can't just defend blindly; a proper counterattack is also necessary."

Only by inflicting heavy losses on the 58th Regiment can the Japanese be forced to reinforce their troops.

"Get the cavalry regiment and mountain artillery battalion ready as well. If the Japanese go too far, we'll fight them to the bitter end and launch a direct counterattack!"

Qiu the Madman danced with excitement:

"Commander, we should have fought back long ago! Being beaten so badly by a regiment is incredibly frustrating for the brothers!"

At two o'clock in the morning, it was pitch black, and the 646th Regiment's position was quiet, as if everyone had fallen asleep.

Major Honda's gaze toward the stone gate was filled with malice, like a cobra lurking in the shadows, ready to pounce and bite at any moment.

The time for the attack had come, and the defenders seemed to be on low alert, which presented them with a golden opportunity.

Major Honda had performed poorly before, and in order to redeem himself, he was given the responsibility of personally leading the attack this time. The regimental commander entrusted him with all the combat-ready personnel.

"The fate of our empire rests on this moment! Warriors, follow me and slaughter all the Chinese at the Stone Gate!"

After issuing the order, Major Honda, carrying his sword, crept forward, followed by the other Japanese soldiers, each with a small wooden stick in their mouth to prevent them from making a sound if they fell.

The Japanese troops started from the first line of defense and were only a hundred meters away from the second line of defense. They quickly reached the front of the line.

Just as Major Honda was secretly pleased, several bursts of fire suddenly erupted on the position. Someone had stepped on a landmine, and the Japanese soldiers' whereabouts were now completely exposed.

"Thrust, thud!"

"Tap tap tap tap..."

Major Honda's order and the sound of machine gun fire from the garrison rang out almost simultaneously, followed by flares shooting into the sky, illuminating the night as brightly as day.

The 3rd and 2nd Battalions of the 646th Regiment opened fire with full force, with thousands of machine guns firing a dense hail of bullets, and the Japanese soldiers fell one after another after being hit.

The two sides were too close, only a few dozen meters apart. They could hit the target with their eyes closed, especially with heavy machine guns, which could wipe out a large area in one go.

The Japanese suffered heavy casualties under the defenders' almost terrifying firepower, but they still couldn't stop the Japanese from rushing onto the position.

Battalion Commander Lü Zeng, seeing that the Japanese soldiers had already attacked, roared:

"Brothers, charge with me! Kill the Japanese devils!"

One after another, agile figures leaped out of the trenches and charged towards the Japanese soldiers, firing as they went.

The newly equipped semi-automatic rifles proved incredibly effective; at a distance of twenty or thirty meters, bolt-action rifles could only fire one shot, while Garand rifles could be emptied of their magazines by fast-handed shooters.

Even if eight bullets only eliminate two or three Japanese soldiers, it would be enough to counter the assassination technique.

A gun is fast at seven meters and accurate within seven meters. In a melee, a semi-automatic rifle can suppress half a squad of enemies.

The two sides engaged in brutal close combat and melee. The defenders' rapid-fire weapons proved extremely effective, and the Japanese soldiers' bayonets, which they were so proud of, could not get close to the defenders at all.

Each three-man combat team of the Tiger Legion is equipped with a semi-automatic or fully automatic weapon, which can wipe out three or four Japanese assassination teams at close range in a short time.

Major Honda grew increasingly alarmed as the battle progressed. Just as he was caught in a dilemma, he heard a thunderous roar of artillery fire from behind him, coming from the direction of the regimental headquarters!

"Baka yarou, they're Chinese artillerymen!"

"Boom boom boom..."

Rows of shells fell deep into the Japanese lines, detonating the regimental headquarters and deep positions, where flames roared.

Are the defending troops about to launch a counterattack?

The Japanese soldiers fighting at the front were thrown into disarray, and they were at risk of being killed if they were not careful, causing their morale to waver.

The continuous shelling at the 58th Regiment headquarters threw the Japanese into chaos. Colonel Kurahayashi was very unaccustomed to the Tiger Army's unconventional tactics and cursed loudly:

"You idiot! Those Chinese have no martial ethics, they're truly insane!"

No wonder he broke through the defenses. It was clearly the 58th Regiment that was attacking, and the defending troops should have been scrambling to fight back. They were acting completely out of line.

Major Chiba was also stunned by the attack. Before they could react, they felt the ground shaking.

"Baka yarou, that's a cavalryman!"

"The Chinese cavalry are definitely heading for the command post. Quickly protect the regimental commander and help him retreat."

Major Chiba tried to pull Colonel Renkura Hayashi away, but the latter shouted in frustration:

"The Imperial Army has not yet been defeated; you are trying to frame me!"

"I will serve His Majesty the Emperor faithfully!"

The sounds of horses' hooves and shouts of battle grew closer and closer. Major Chiba could no longer care about anything else and ordered several guards to lift up Colonel Kurahayashi and run away.

After losing several military flags, the Japanese learned their lesson and kept their flags at the division headquarters when the regiments went on separate expeditions.

Without this burden, the Japanese regimental headquarters could run without any pressure.

The changes in the rear at the main battlefield of Shimenkou eventually affected them, causing panic and altering their actions.

Seeing that the time was ripe, the commander of the 646th Regiment decisively gave the order:

"Bugler, blow the charge! All troops, charge!"

The bugler puffed out his cheeks and blew the bugle, greatly boosting the morale of the Tiger Warriors officers and soldiers in the midst of the melee, who shouted in response.

The counterattack by the infantry of the 646th Regiment destroyed the Japanese soldiers' psychological defenses, resulting in a large number of deserters. The news spread rapidly and became uncontrollable.