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

At the gorge, the Japanese artillery bombardment resumed, this time with greater precision. Most of the shells landed on the front lines of Yanjiashan, and the Japanese artillery fire was no longer indiscriminate.

The soldiers of the 93rd Brigade of the 31st Division huddled in the anti-artillery bunker, letting the Japanese invaders run rampant. They gripped their rifles tightly with both hands, their eyes sharp and ready to strike back at any moment.

Sergeant Cao Dongsheng was wiping his broadsword, which was covered with mottled rust and had several cuts on its long blade. These were all left from when he was fighting Japanese soldiers in Taierzhuang.

Due to a shortage of guns and ammunition, the Northwest Army could only supplement its firepower with cold weapons. These broadswords were crudely made, but Cao Dongsheng still loved them and would take them out to wipe them from time to time.

New recruit Tie Dan reached out to touch it, but was slapped away and said impatiently:

"Get lost, you greenhorn, you're still a raw recruit, what are you doing spouting nonsense? This knife of mine has been blessed by the Wong Tai Sin, don't touch it if you're just a nobody."

Tie Dan wasn't annoyed; instead, he said with a face full of envy:

"So it was blessed by a sage. No wonder killing Japanese devils is as easy as cutting melons and vegetables. Let me touch it and get some of the sage's aura."

Now Cao Dongsheng couldn't refuse anymore. People like to hear nice things, and you can't hit a smiling face, so he handed him the knife without hesitation.

Tie Dan took it and examined it from head to toe, as if he had found a treasure. He weighed it in his hand; it was rather heavy, but he still swung it around a few times before Cao Dongsheng snatched it back, coldly shouting:

"You little rascal, you have no sense of proportion! It's so small inside, what if you hurt someone?"

"boom!"

A shell exploded a few meters to the left rear, the shockwave making everyone's chest ache. If it weren't for this shell shelter, the fifth squad probably wouldn't have many men left.

The fifth squad's anti-artillery hole was dug on one side of the longitudinal communication trench and covered with several layers of pine wood to provide cushioning.

The cave is supported by wooden stakes and is not very spacious, only enough to hide a dozen or so people.

Tie Dan was so shocked that his face turned pale and his chest churned. He lost all interest in playing around and only then did he remember the cruelty of the battlefield.

Cao Dongsheng patted him on the shoulder, his eyes resolute.

Cao Dongsheng's slap seemed to have some kind of magic, gradually calming Tie Dan's terrified heart and significantly easing his trembling.

The shells continued to fall in rows. Tie Dan's anxious heart gradually calmed down. Although the others were also afraid, they all gritted their teeth silently, waiting to fight the Japanese to the death.

After an unknown amount of time, the explosions stopped. It was as if the entire scene inside the bunker had been put on pause; everyone stood there, their eyes glazed over.

Cao Dongsheng was the first to react, and a thunderous voice rang in everyone's ears:

"What the hell are you all standing there for? The Japanese are coming! Come with me and let's fuck them!"

After Cao Dongsheng finished speaking, he rushed out. The veterans, who had been jolted awake, shouted and rushed out of the cave, spontaneously opening fire on the Japanese soldiers.

Gunfire erupted on the position, and the Japanese soldiers, following the artillery positions, had already advanced to the front lines. The two sides engaged in close combat, and the battle quickly escalated to a fever pitch.

Seeing the Japanese soldiers had already attacked, the major, battalion commander, drew his dagger from his back and roared:

"Brothers, charge! Kill the Japanese devils!"

The battalion commander, brandishing his broadsword, led the charge, followed by the others, who charged into the enemy ranks like tigers descending a mountain.

The battalion commander's broadsword came down with great force, and the Japanese lieutenant tried to block it with his own sword, but a cold glint flashed before his eyes.

His consciousness stopped instantly, blood seeped from his neck, and his head fell to the ground, rolling dozens of centimeters away.

"What a sharp knife!"

Another Japanese soldier, who was preparing to ambush the major, was stunned by what he saw. The rifle with the bayonet in his hand suddenly felt heavy, and he was so frightened that he forgot to draw his bayonet.

The major swept his broadsword across, but all that could be seen was a blur. The blade sliced ​​through his belly, and all the colorful internal organs burst out.

Unfortunately, Tie Dan saw it and immediately vomited all over the place; the scene was terrifying.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, the Japanese private first class launched a sneak attack, his bayonet plunging into Tie Dan's body like a venomous snake, a ferocious smile on his face.

Tie Dan's strength was rapidly depleting, and his consciousness gradually blurred. The jujube trees in his hometown had already turned red, and his white-haired mother was waving at him.

"Tiedan, come home with your mother!"

Tie Dan reached out to grab his mother, but the bayonet was pulled from his body. Tie Dan's last bit of strength was drained, and he fell heavily to the ground.

"Iron Egg!"

"You son of a bitch, I'll kill you!"

Cao Dongsheng swung his broadsword with great force. The Japanese soldier raised his gun to parry, but the broadsword, along with the gun, was cleaved in two, and a large gash was chipped off the blade.

Tie Dan fell, and Dong Sheng had no time to grieve; another Japanese soldier pounced on him...

The battle on the battlefield turned into a complete mess. They chased and killed each other, using guns, knives, and even their teeth. They would stop at nothing to kill the other side.

The 31st Division excelled in close combat, fighting bravely and risking their lives. Their Eight-Blade Breaking Slash was particularly powerful, cutting down Japanese soldiers one by one.

Major Murai was horrified to discover that they had been utterly defeated in their most proficient close-quarters combat. Most of the Japanese soldiers who charged onto the position fell, and the remaining remnants were chased away in disarray, a sight too gruesome to bear.

"Baka yarou, a disgrace to the Empire!"

"Coward, die!"

Colonel Murai cut down two fleeing soldiers in succession, but still could not reverse the defeat. Instead, he was swept away by the fleeing soldiers and headed east.

The defending soldiers chased after them relentlessly, taking down many more of the shorter-legged ones.

"Baka yarou! Fire! Die, all of you!"

Colonel Koji was thoroughly enraged by the performance of the Murai Battalion and issued an order for indiscriminate artillery fire, ruthlessly opening fire on the combat zone, regardless of friend or foe.

The shelling caused considerable casualties on both sides, effectively separating the battle lines and allowing some of the remaining soldiers to be brought back.

The Japanese troops that attempted to flank the enemy were also repelled by the 323rd Division, with only a few dozen escaping back.

The Murai Battalion suffered heavy losses, with most of its four infantry companies killed or wounded, leaving only one able to muster the strength, and many of the wounded were also injured.

With just two attacks, the Murai Battalion was decimated. The senior staff officer reported in a deep voice:

"More than 500 were killed in action, 160 were seriously wounded, two company commanders died, and seven squad leaders perished in battle—"

"Baka yarou! I don't want to hear any more casualty figures, I just want the gorge!"

Colonel Kou's request could not be fulfilled for some time. If the fighting continued like this, it wouldn't be long before he became a lone unit.

The senior staff officer said in a deep voice:

"Commander, we need to change our tactics. These Chinese rabble are so poor they're practically dead. They're not afraid of trading lives for lives, it's not worth it."

"Baka yarou! Imperial warriors never fear death, and they're not afraid of a bunch of beggars when it comes to bayonet fighting."

Colonel Gu Xian hadn't verbally admitted defeat yet, so the senior staff officer had to patiently say:

"How could the noble warriors of the Imperial Army compete with a bunch of beggars? They would use cannons and tactics to defeat them with overwhelming force."

Colonel Gu Xian found this somewhat interesting and, suppressing his anger, said:

"If you have any good ideas, just say them. I don't have time to beat around the bush with you."

How to defeat the enemy? Hurry!

The senior staff officer stopped dawdling and laid out his plan in its entirety, which Colonel Kou Xian listened to with repeated shouts of "Yoshi!"

The garrison at Yanjiashan withdrew to their position, picking up a lot of equipment and supplies abandoned by the Japanese along the way, making a fortune.

The officers of the 93rd Brigade were experienced in combat. Under their command, the soldiers worked hard and cleared the blocked trenches.

The Japanese soldiers seemed to have been hurt and were not in a hurry to launch an attack, and the defending soldiers were happy to have some peace and quiet.

Beneath the calm surface of a lake often simmers with undercurrents; no one knows what nasty tricks the Japanese are plotting.

Qiu Fengzi didn't understand, so he asked Zhao Yunwen for help. The two of them were so bored that they could only grind their teeth.

Zhao Yunwen was equally bewildered, but he could guess some of the Japanese soldiers' intentions, and sneered:

"The Japanese soldiers' tactics are always the same two moves: if they lose in a frontal attack, they will launch a flanking attack; if they can't win during the day, they will come at night; if they can't win with conventional weapons, they will use poison gas, incendiary bombs and other unorthodox methods."

Immediately send a telegram to Commander Shi, warning them to be wary of the Japanese's underhanded tactics.

Qiu Fengzi nodded, signaling Ma Weilan to follow through, and then said:

"Is it possible that the Japanese will change their battle strategy and attack our unit?"

Zhao Yunwen grinned and said:

"Isn't this exactly what you wanted! You've been eager to try it for a while now, haven't you?"

Qiu Fengzi said awkwardly:

"You really can't hide anything from us. The brothers have been itching to join in since they saw the 31st Division enjoying their meal."

"Bear with it. The Japanese won't let you stay idle forever. Right now, both sides are just testing each other. Commander Chi still has a reserve brigade, which is enough to deal with them."

Zhao Yunwen had hidden a cavalry regiment on the southern flank, enough to block the Japanese from taking any detours. Anyone who dared to take a shortcut and launch a sneak attack would be handing over their lives to the cavalry regiment.

The Japanese soldiers' behavior was very unusual; there were no new developments for several hours, which made Chi Fengcheng feel uneasy.

"The Japanese are definitely up to something!"

Chi Fengcheng spoke firmly, and Major General Wang Huayu, the Chief of Staff, continued, "..."

"It's almost dark, and the Japanese haven't launched a new offensive yet. I suspect they're planning a night attack!"

Chief of Staff Qu Shen and Deputy Division Commander Kang Rufa also expressed their agreement, with Colonel Qu Shen further reminding them:

"The Japanese might use poison gas, so remind the brothers to be careful."

Having made up his mind, Chi Fengcheng was no longer anxious and said with a firm gaze:

"Stop guessing. We'll deal with whatever comes our way. Have the 91st Brigade ready to guard the flanks of the county town and provide reinforcements at any time."