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

The Schneider Mountain Artillery Battalion roared as they launched a long-range attack on the Japanese artillery positions from 8000 meters away. In just a few rounds, they inflicted heavy casualties on the Japanese artillery, destroying more than ten artillery pieces of various types.

The Japanese artillerymen hastily launched a counterattack, judging that the Tiger Army's artillery positions were located on Longshan Mountain behind Luoshan City, which was the highest point in the surrounding area.

After calculations, the Japanese artillery officers discovered that most of their artillery had too short a range, and only the latest Type 9 105mm howitzer could barely reach them, and there were only nine of these heavy artillery pieces left.

The shells landed on the bare summit of Longshan Mountain, having no effect whatsoever, since the artillery positions were not located there at all; the shells were a complete waste.

The artillery battle lasted for half an hour and ended with heavy losses for the Japanese artillery. The 324th Division's Rengang position was thoroughly bombarded, but the bombardment was indiscriminate and had little effect.

After the artillery barrage was completed, the Japanese infantry launched an attack, and the 9th Regiment of the 16th Division, which was part of the reinforcements, also crossed the river, which stretched for several kilometers.

The artillery groups of the 647th and 651st Regiments bombarded the Japanese troops relentlessly. The 24 artillery pieces were divided into multiple positions and continuously provided firepower, causing heavy casualties to the Japanese troops crossing the river.

After crossing the river, the 9th Infantry Regiment, according to its assigned task, attacked simultaneously from the left and right flanks with the 20th Infantry Regiment, continuously assaulting the forward positions at Rengang.

On the left flank, at the 647th Regiment's position, the Japanese skirmishers had advanced to the foot of the hill, a massive force of over a thousand men, divided into several waves.

On the front lines halfway up the mountain, light and heavy firepower were in full swing. Thousands of machine guns from the Second and Third Battalions fired at the Japanese soldiers. Bullets swept through like a storm, knocking the Japanese soldiers to the ground one by one.

At the same time, the Japanese were also unleashing a hail of bullets with their light and heavy firepower, and the defending troops also suffered considerable casualties, though far fewer than the Japanese.

The battle intensified, and the Japanese, hoping to seize the position in one fell swoop, unleashed their full power. The 324th Division countered head-on, fighting fiercely until the heavens and earth seemed to change color.

On the second battalion's defensive line, Battalion Commander Li Musheng stared intently at the Japanese soldiers. He was a veteran of many battles, having served as a battalion commander during the Battle of Dachang. He had witnessed all sorts of large-scale battles, so the intensity of his post was only average.

Deputy Battalion Commander Yuan Shaoxian leaned over and said:

"Battalion Commander, what's wrong with the Japanese? They're attacking relentlessly right from the start, bombarding us with shells like they're free. We've suffered heavy casualties."

Li Musheng remained calm and said indifferently:

"There are always deaths in war, and the Japanese suffer even more casualties. If they are determined to fight to the death, we will fight them to the very end."

"Instruct the artillery company to keep a close watch on the Japanese artillery, protect the machine guns, and withstand this offensive. The rest will be easier."

Yuan Shaoxian accepted the order and left, while Li Musheng continued to observe the battle. The 133rd Regiment's offensive looked fierce, but the 647th Regiment fought very easily, and the defensive line was as solid as a rock.

On the east bank of the river, at the artillery position of the 133rd Regiment, seven cannons were divided into three echelons, continuously firing shells. Busy figures were everywhere, and the ground was piled with all kinds of shells.

This was the last remaining asset of the 133rd Regiment Artillery Battalion: four 75mm howitzers, three Type 92 infantry guns, and mortars were reassigned to the battalion as support firepower.

The fighting at the front was intense, so they had no choice but to keep firing, and the commander was constantly issuing various orders.

Just as the fighting was in full swing, a volley of shells flew in from the flank and front, covering the No. 2 artillery position and instantly destroying two howitzers. The artillerymen were also killed or wounded. The battalion commander was furious and roared:

"Baka yarou! The Chinese artillery group at the ten o'clock position—fire!"

The Japanese artillerymen hurriedly adjusted their firing angles. A volley of shells flew overhead, and although they missed, they were still quite frightened.

By the time the Japanese recovered and fired their shells at the 647th Regiment's artillery position, it was already deserted.

Both sides were engaged in a battle of wits and courage, especially the artillery, which frequently missed its targets.

Two reconnaissance planes painted with the Rising Sun flag swaggered in, clearly there to scout the location of the defending troops' artillery.

The pilot kept the altitude very low and the cruising speed very slow. The assistant was taking pictures of the battlefield with a high-precision camera and kept urging the pilot to descend, completely disregarding the defending troops.

To protect Dajiang City, the Nationalist government deployed all of its air force's resources, and the Soviet Volunteer Air Force also participated directly in the war. However, these aircraft were all deployed on the southern front, and the northern front received no support, which is why the Japanese troops went on a rampage to the coast.

Just as they flew over Luoshan City, the spotter on the second aircraft finally spotted the Schneider mountain artillery battalion's position, and overjoyed, shouted excitedly:

"Look! At two o'clock, on the high ground behind Longshan Mountain, is the Chinese artillery position!"

Major Kawasaki, the driver, was also very happy. He had finally found the position of the defending mountain artillery battalion. He decided to approach and scout, so that he could see it more clearly.

Suddenly, several strings of flames shot into the air from the high ground behind Xiaoluo Mountain, and the observer screamed in terror:

"Get out of here quickly, there are anti-aircraft guns!"

"Baka yarou, don't scare me! Where did those beggar Chinese get their anti-aircraft guns?!"

"Boom boom boom!"

The shell exploded in the air, shrapnel flying everywhere, hitting the No. 1 reconnaissance plane and instantly detonating it. It crashed into the ground amidst thick smoke, killing both the plane and the crew.

The brothers in the anti-aircraft artillery battalion excitedly pumped their fists; this was the first enemy plane they had shot down, enough to earn them a place in their family tree.

Major Kawasaki discovered another big secret: the defending troops actually had anti-aircraft gun groups, which posed a huge threat to the Japanese bombers.

"Quickly, retreat!"

Having obtained valuable intelligence, Major Kawasaki had no intention of staying any longer. His most important task was to escape the anti-aircraft fire; survival was his top priority.

"Boom boom boom!"

"Boom!"

Rows of anti-aircraft shells chased after Major Kawasaki, who was so frightened that he sped away for his life.

His luck seemed to be good; after dodging several sure-fire traps, his good fortune finally ran out.

A shrapnel hit the left wing, making matters worse for the aircraft, which could only make a shaky escape.

After the plane was damaged, its speed was greatly reduced, and another burst of cannon fire came. Major Kawasaki instinctively chose to parachute out.

Just as his parachute opened, the plane was hit again, this time directly, and instantly destroyed.

The 324th Division immediately dispatched a large number of personnel to surround and capture the two parachuting pilots. This was the second time the Tiger Army had accepted prisoners, the last time being during the Battle of Shanghai.

This order was personally issued by Wang Guohua, who keenly realized that a living pilot was better than a dead one.

The division's guard battalion did not disappoint him; after capturing the suspect, they sent him to the division headquarters. Chief of Staff Liao Yaoxiang excitedly reported:

"Senior, good news! We've caught them, and one of them is a major."

Wang Guohua said with a smile:

"Very good, immediately send someone to the military headquarters. The commander wants to interrogate him personally!"

He then added:

"Keep this news under wraps and don't rush to announce it. Reward the available personnel in the anti-aircraft artillery battalion."

He advised them to continue their efforts and never become complacent.

Liao Yaoxiang accepted the order and left, while Wang Guohua continued to stare at the map and ponder the matter.

On the right flank, at the position of the 651st Regiment, the two sides fought fiercely. The 9th Infantry Regiment continuously charged, but was driven back by the defenders, and the defensive line remained as solid as a rock.

The 651st Regiment was a newly formed Japanese-equipped regiment, and its equipment was not on the same level as that of the 647th Regiment. However, the strength of the Ninth Regiment had also declined significantly, with most of the soldiers being replacements and lacking artillery.

The regimental commander originally intended to pick on the weakest of the groups, but after the battle, he realized that the Japanese-equipped regiments were not easy for them to defeat, and the regimental commander, Xie Chengrui, was determined to compete with the other regiments.

He came from the Training Corps and was originally the colonel and commander of the Second Regiment. In another timeline, he sacrificed himself at Guanghua Gate, but survived because of Zhao Yunwen's butterfly effect.

Due to a shortage of regimental commanders, he served as deputy regimental commander in the 644th Regiment for a period of time, and then became the commander of the 651st Regiment after its formation.

Previously, the 651st Regiment rarely had the opportunity to take on major tasks, but this time they finally got their chance, taking on the 9th Infantry Regiment one-on-one.

Xie Chengrui moved his command post forward to the core position, and at that moment he was looking through his binoculars with great excitement.

The Ninth Regiment is a fresh force. After replenishment and rest, its combat strength has recovered to 70-80%, and they are eager to turn the tide.

Under the strict orders of Regiment Commander Gu Xianjian, two battalions of Japanese soldiers continued to attack the defending troops' lines and had already reached them, with the two sides less than 100 meters apart.

The 1st and 2nd Battalions, which were at the forefront, suffered heavy casualties, but they fought to the death. The 651st Regiment's firepower was not as good as that of other regiments, and the Japanese soldiers slowly charged up to within 50 meters of the trenches.

The battalion commander glared angrily and roared:

"Drop the bomb! Bomb those bastards to death!"

Rows of grenades were thrown down the hillside, and the Japanese soldiers were blown up and their formation was thrown into disarray.

The opportunity was rare, and the battalion commander, holding up his Mauser pistol, shouted:

"Brothers, the Japanese are coming! Follow me and kill them!"

The battalion commander leaped out of the trench, fired several bursts of his Mauser pistol, and took down four or five Japanese soldiers, making a huge profit.

Officers are the courage of soldiers. Once the battalion commander charged out, the others were not to be outdone and charged at the Japanese like an overwhelming tide.

The Japanese soldiers thrust their bayonets at the defenders, and the two sides collided violently, the sounds of bayonets piercing flesh filling the air.

The battlefield was instantly littered with corpses, most of whom were new recruits. This was a brutal test of combat strength; those who remained standing were all expert assassins.

Seeing that the two sides had engaged in bayonet fighting, Colonel Gu Xian gritted his teeth and sent his last two companies as reinforcements. Xie Chengrui, worried that the First and Second Battalions would suffer losses, decided to bring the supplementary battalion as reinforcements, and also raised his arm to call for reinforcements:

"Brothers, follow me and kill all the Japanese devils! Charge!"