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

Chunhepu, the blocking position of the 646th Regiment, was suddenly attacked.

The commander of the 20th Infantry Regiment shouted coldly:

"What's going on?"

The senior staff officer quickly replied:

"We are being ambushed by the Chinese ahead. The Jiangkou Brigade is clearing the obstacles. Please wait patiently."

"You bastard! You're like a persistent ghost. If you urge Eguchi-kun to intensify his offensive, your patience, Division Commander, is running out."

Colonel Nambu Shokichi's patience had long since worn thin. The harassment was endless, wasting not only time but also personnel and supplies, and also severely damaging the morale of the troops.

Neither Nanbu Xiangji nor the senior staff officer took Chunhepu's resistance seriously, thinking that, as before, they could easily defeat the defenders.

Major Eguchi did the same. After his attack was thwarted, he moved an infantry artillery squad up and sent a company to outflank the right flank, repeating his previous tactic.

Regiment Commander Sui Youlan of the 646th Regiment sneered:

"It seems we gave the Japanese too much face. They really thought they could outmaneuver us by sending out a few troops."

Chief of Staff Yue, is the Third Battalion, tasked with ambush on the flank, in position?

Chief of Staff Le Bo quickly replied:

"We're in position, just waiting for the Japanese to cross the river."

"Very good. Although Chunhepu has no steep terrain to stop it, the river to the north is right in the way of the Japanese flanking maneuver, making it unsuitable for large-scale military operations."

Once the Japanese outflanking forces are destroyed, they'll have to obediently return to the front lines, and concentrating their forces to hold off the Japanese for a day or two shouldn't be a problem.

Chunhepu is the junction of hilly and plain terrain, with a river blocking the winding road, which the Lord is able to defend.

The 646th Regiment used its reconnaissance company to slow down the Japanese advance, while its main force built several earth and wood fortifications on the high ground south of the highway. At the same time, it ambushed a battalion north of the highway and southwest of the river.

After Major Eguchi dispatched a flanking force, he continued the frontal assault on Tangjialing, deploying two infantry companies, a machine gun company, and an infantry artillery platoon for cover, with overwhelming momentum.

Tangjialing is only a little over 100 meters above sea level and about 300 meters wide in front. It was mainly defended by the Second Battalion, with the artillery company providing support. The First Battalion was responsible for guarding the southern line and was also used as a reserve force.

The Japanese soldiers surged toward the Second Battalion's position in large numbers, their skirmish lines spread out wide, filling the entire eastern hillside.

As they advanced to the hillside, dozens of tongues of fire suddenly erupted from the defending positions, causing havoc among the Japanese soldiers. Jiangkou's brigade was utterly defeated.

The Japanese heavy machine guns intensified their firepower, relentlessly strafing the Second Battalion's positions, while the artillery also opened fire in quick succession.

The soldiers of the Second Battalion began to suffer casualties, but they could not break through their defenses, and the two sides were locked in a stalemate.

"Boom boom boom..."

After a long silence, the artillery company suddenly opened fire, and the first volley of shells covered the artillery of the Jiangkou Battalion, destroying one infantry gun and two mortars.

Major Eguchi was so pained that he spat out a loud cry:

"The Chinese are firing heavily! Quickly disperse and move the heavy machine guns!"

Major Eguchi was experienced in combat and had a strong sense of crisis. He guessed the defenders' intentions, but unfortunately, he was a few steps too late.

Several shells, as if guided by eyes, landed in the machine gun squadron's position, billowing smoke, destroying guns, and killing men.

Major Eguchi's eyes widened in anger, a sense of powerlessness rising within him. He roared at his adjutant:

"Immediately request tactical guidance from the regimental headquarters to blow up the Chinese artillery!!!"

On the northern route, the Wangyue Squadron moved in very quickly, and a small river lay in front of them.

Speed ​​is of the essence in war. Captain Mochizuki ordered the Japanese soldiers to wade across the river. This scene was captured by the binoculars of Battalion Commander Lü Zeng, who had been waiting for the Japanese soldiers for a long time.

Deputy Battalion Commander Lin Feng asked, puzzled:

"Battalion Commander, why not attack while the enemy is crossing the river? That would make it much easier to repel the Japanese."

Lu Zeng sneered:

"If it's just about stopping the Japanese, attacking them while they're crossing the river would be the easiest way. What I want is to annihilate them, to cut off the dirty hands the Japanese are reaching out to."

Lin Feng said no more. Because the river was not deep and it was the dry season, the current was not fast, and the Japanese soldiers crossed the river very quickly. In less than half an hour, they had all crossed the river.

The whole process was very easy, without any attacks. Captain Mochizuki was in a great mood, and the weight that had been hanging over his heart was finally lifted.

His biggest worry was being attacked while crossing the river, but now he is completely relieved. Once he crosses the river, he can launch a flanking attack on the Tangjialing position.

Captain Mochizuki waved his large, white-gloved hand:

"Warriors, charge!"

Almost simultaneously, Battalion Commander Lü Zeng gave the order to open fire, and the light and heavy machine guns that had been lying in ambush opened fire on the Japanese, instantly igniting the battlefield.

The Japanese soldiers were suddenly struck down, and rows of them were swept to the ground. Captain Mochizuki was also stunned by the blows and cried out in terror:

"Baka yarou, there's an ambush!"

"Quickly, retaliate!"

The Japanese soldiers fired wildly and haphazardly, without any strategy or coordination, and were quickly and completely suppressed.

The machine gunner had barely fired two bursts when a mortar shell struck, sending him and his gun flying.

The artillery company of the Third Battalion was relentlessly attacking the Japanese, with no regard for their safety. The weapons of the Mochizuki Company were out of range, and they were completely overwhelmed by the enemy's superior firepower.

Captain Mochizuki's face turned as black as charcoal. He was very clear about his own situation: ambushes ahead, a river behind, suppressed firepower, and more than half of his men had been killed or wounded.

They had no way out and no reinforcements. Captain Mochizuki had only two choices: either lie on the riverbank and struggle to survive, only to be wiped out in the end.

Captain Mochizuki chose the second option. Despair drove him mad, and he roared with bloodshot eyes:

"Warriors, the time has come to serve His Majesty! Thrust, thrust!"

The remaining Japanese soldiers scrambled to their feet and launched a suicidal charge, rifles in hand.

"Itaiya!"

"His Majesty the Emperor Itaya!"

The Japanese soldiers all went berserk, charging forward recklessly, completely ignoring their fallen comrades.

The brothers of the Third Battalion were all veteran soldiers with iron will. Their hearts were unmoved, and they simply fired mechanically until there were no more Japanese soldiers standing in front of them.

The battlefield fell silent, but the smoke of battle still lingered. The riverbank was littered with Japanese soldiers, some still struggling in agony.

The soldiers of the Third Battalion crawled out of the natural trenches and, led by their officers, charged towards the Japanese soldiers, finishing them off and cleaning up the battlefield.

This battle was easier than Lü Zeng had expected; it was a victory achieved with the ease of cutting melons and vegetables, a one-sided massacre.

Having dealt with the Japanese troops who were trying to outmaneuver them, the main battlefield could focus on fighting the enemy until they could no longer hold them off.

The soldiers of the Third Battalion cleared the battlefield quickly and efficiently, turning all the wounded into corpses. Deputy Battalion Commander Lin Feng, after receiving the data, reported to Lü Zeng:

"Battalion Commander, none of the Japanese soldiers who made the detour escaped. We killed 167 of them, captured 9 light machine guns, 6 grenade launchers, 113 rifles and pistols, 12 mules and horses, and some ammunition and supplies."

Our casualties were only 27, mostly wounded, with 11 killed.

This exchange ratio made Lü Zeng beam with joy; a complete victory. He immediately gave the order:

"Take care of the wounded brothers. The rest of you, switch to defense and build earthworks to prevent the Japanese from sending more men."

At Tangjialing, the Japanese offensive had just been repelled when Chief of Staff Le Bo reported to Sui Youlan with a beaming smile:

"Commander, the Third Battalion reports that they have finished their work and annihilated the outflanking enemy."

After reading the telegram, Sui Youlan praised it highly:

"Very good, the Third Battalion did a great job this time, cutting off the Japanese's outstretched claws and relieving the main force of the threat on the flank."

Le Bo then chimed in:

"With them blocking the northern front, we can fight freely on the front lines, unless the main force of the 16th Division is fully committed to the battle."

"Chief of Staff Yue, how long until the main Japanese force arrives at the battlefield?"

Le Bo put away his smile and said seriously:

"It will take at most half a day; we can get there before dark."

After considering it in his mind for a moment, Sui Youlan said:

"The main force of the 16th Division has arrived, but it will take time to prepare for the attack. I plan to hold out until nightfall tomorrow. What do you think?"

After pondering for a moment, Le Bo said:

"I have no objection. Although the 16th Division is powerful, if they want to take Tangjialing, they will be severely injured, if not killed."

The 646th Regiment quickly reached a consensus. After retreating for dozens of miles, they decided to hold out one last time and delay the Japanese as long as possible.

Before the Japanese troops received news of the annihilation of the Mochizuki Company, Major Eguchi organized a new attack, this time using only a little over a hundred men, clearly not at full strength.

The Second Battalion calmly responded to the attack, easily holding back the Japanese troops in front of their lines. Although the battle looked lively, it was actually all bark and no bite.

Major Eguchi waited for the Mochizuki Company to complete their flanking maneuver. His face was extremely grim, and he forced a smile as he asked, barely suppressing his anger:

"Hasn't that bastard Mochizuki arrived yet? Judging by the time, it should have started already. What's he dawdling about?!"

The adjutant didn't know either; the Wangyue Squadron didn't have a radio and could only wait.

"Baka yarou, we can't wait any longer, let's intensify the offensive! Tangjialing, this little place, absolutely cannot become a stumbling block for the Imperial Army."

Attack! Attack across the board! All three companies, push forward!

The adjutant quickly tried to dissuade him, saying:

"Eguchi-kun, isn't this too risky? Shouldn't we wait a bit longer?"

"We can't wait any longer. The regimental commander's patience is limited. We can still defeat the Chinese even without a flanking force."

Seeing that Major Eguchi was determined, the adjutant did not insist any further, said "Hai" and left to adjust the deployment.

Not long after, the Japanese launched their general offensive, sending all three companies up the line. The two remaining artillery pieces also began firing, albeit with much greater caution.

Seeing that the Japanese had gone to great lengths, Battalion Commander Gu Lei was not afraid at all; instead, he excitedly roared:

"The Japanese devils are coming to deliver our heads! Beat them to a pulp!"