On the Chenjiazhuang battlefield, Lieutenant General Sakuragi was holding a telescope to observe the surrounding terrain.
The three planes circled around Chenjiazhuang, waiting for the ground command to issue an attack order.
Two heavy artillery brigades, two field artillery brigades, two mountain artillery squadrons, and more than ten infantry guns were divided into several artillery groups to set up artillery around them.
The remaining twenty or so tanks of the mopping up force gathered at the front of the team.
The tank took the lead, followed by the armored vehicle, with the black muzzle of the gun pointed directly at Chenjiazhuang, all ready to go.
"Division commander..." the chief of staff strode to Lieutenant General Sakuragi and reported.
"The aviation reconnaissance report shows that Chenjiazhuang is surrounded by three lines of defense. Each line of defense is more than two hundred meters apart. A large number of light and heavy machine gun positions and artillery positions are deployed on the defense line. The defense is very tight."
"But they didn't find a single Eighth Route Army soldier on the surface."
"There are no signs of Eighth Route Army activity in Chenjiazhuang Village."
"Within thirty kilometers around Chenjiazhuang, apart from some stragglers and local guerrillas, no main force of the organized Eighth Route Army was found."
"In a short period of time, the defenders of Chenjiazhuang will not receive any support."
Lieutenant General Sakuragi analyzed with a serious face: "The Eighth Route Army defending Chenjiazhuang must be hiding in the tunnels."
"There is no main force of the Eighth Route Army within thirty kilometers, which means we must take Chenjiazhuang within five hours."
"Time is tight, act now."
"Artillery and aviation will immediately launch an attack on the outer positions of Chenjiazhuang."
"Destroy all tunnel entrances and exits on the ground position."
"Let the aviation force send three more planes to join the battle."
"Chariot unit, Fifth Infantry Group, prepare for attack immediately."
"The assault will begin in half an hour, and the artillery fire will not stop until the attacking troops successfully capture the outer defense line of Chenjiazhuang."
"Rumble... woo woo... boom..."
The explosion of artillery shells, the scream across the sky, the huge roar caused by the dive of the plane...
Like a passionate symphony, it soon sounded on the battlefield.
Soon the outer defense line of Chenjiazhuang was covered by artillery fire. Black smoke was billowing everywhere, filled with gunpowder smoke, and orange-red fireballs rising into the sky...
Lieutenant General Sakuragi kept looking ahead with his telescope, hoping to see some clues.
This is the ultimate road for the Eighth Route Army in Yizhong to enter and leave the mountains. It is impossible for the opponent not to know the importance of Chenjiazhuang.
I have a very strong premonition: the next attack will definitely be very tragic.
Only by knowing yourself and the enemy can you fight without danger.
If I could find some clues in the artillery preparations and then judge the Eighth Route Army's defensive methods, I would definitely be able to minimize the losses of the offensive troops in the storm.
But no matter how hard he opened his eyes, what he saw was a perfectly normal scene of shelling.
Ten minutes later, I had to put down the telescope with a look of helplessness.
The defenders didn't take action, and he had no chance to attack them, so he could only continue to wait.
"Start the attack..." The long-awaited attack moment finally arrived, Lieutenant General Sakuragi gave a serious order.
He raised his telescope again and looked at the battlefield, waiting for his opponent to make a move.
Shunzui issued another order: "There must be aircraft cruising over the battlefield and launching attacks from the sky at any time to provide fire cover for the attacking troops..."
"The Fifth and Sixth Infantry Brigades are on standby, ready to go to the battlefield to reinforce the Fourth Infantry Brigade."
"The artillery continues to fire to attack the Eighth Route Army who may enter the surface positions at any time."
"The offensive troops must follow the artillery fire and launch attacks. Don't worry about accidental damage. The closer to the impact point, the better. The Eighth Route Army will not be given any time to prepare."
"Rumble..." The remaining half of the tanks and armored vehicles of the tank force immediately roared and rushed towards the battlefield.
More than a thousand Japanese infantry followed behind them, like waves set off by a strong wind, heading towards Chenjiazhuang with an unstoppable force.
"Rumble..."
At this time, the artillery shells fired by the Japanese artillery on the outer defense line not only did not decrease, but became denser and denser because of the increase in mortar shells.
In the violent explosion, the battlefield was filled with flying shell fragments.
If you don't pay attention, you will be blown into a sieve.
…………
In the former enemy headquarters of the Eighth Route Army in Yinzhong, Huang Yu was holding a telescope to observe every move of the Japanese.
Seeing that their attacking troops were rushing forward and the artillery fire directed at the blocking position still didn't stop, I couldn't help but sigh.
"The devils are quite capable."
"In order to seize our blocking position, we actually let the artillery bombard the attacking troops without fear of hurting our own people."
Chief of Staff Liu Sen analyzed: "Japanese gunners are very skilled, their shooting accuracy is high, and there are very few accidental injuries."
"If we can really capture the blocking position through this offensive method, any Japanese officer will do it."
Huang Yu nodded: "Yes..."
"Securing one of our lines of defense at the cost of accidentally injuring dozens of people, how can this deal be considered a good deal?"
"But the little devil's style of play is not omnipotent."
"Accidentally injuring dozens or hundreds of people, that old devil Oni Sakuragi doesn't have to feel heartbroken."
"But if two or three thousand people are accidentally injured, no matter how big-hearted the Japanese officer is, he will not be able to bear this loss."
"Contact the first battalion commander immediately, do not enter the position first, and temporarily abandon the first line of defense on the outside."
"When the Japs attack the second line of defense, they will then enter the surface position, recapture the first line of defense, and give the Kwantung Army a trick to close the door and beat the dog."
"Tell the first battalion commander to be prepared to be attacked from both sides."
"The Japanese offensive force has a full infantry brigade, and more than a dozen tanks and armored vehicles to assist."
"Sakuragi will definitely not watch us make dumplings."
"They will definitely send troops to reinforce the battlefield, take the opportunity to fight us in a melee, eliminate us in the surface fortifications, and prevent us from entering the tunnel again."
"At that time, they faced two to three thousand Kwantung Army troops attacking from both sides, but no matter how great the pressure, they had to hold their position for me."
"It is up to him to decide how to attack him specifically. We will not participate and we will not send reinforcements to him."
"The second battalion defends the second line of defense."
"Defend first and use some hidden fortifications to consume a large number of Japanese troops."
"Wait for the first battalion to cut off the Japanese retreat, and immediately launch a counterattack to end the battle in the shortest possible time and reduce the defensive pressure on the first battalion."
"Once the Kwantung Army in the pocket formation was defeated, the Japanese reinforcements would naturally retreat. The first battalion immediately retreated to the tunnel to avoid the Japanese retaliatory artillery fire."
…………
The Japanese army attacked the position. Lieutenant General Sakuragi looked at it with the corners of his mouth raised.
The reaction of the chief of staff next to him was even more exaggerated, and he said with excitement: "Division commander, it's useful..."
"The offensive troops' assault along with the artillery fire is effective..."
"Before the Eighth Route Army hiding in the tunnel had time to enter the surface position, the attacking troops had already entered their position."
"We have many people, and the Eighth Route Army only has two battalions. Even if they come out of the tunnels to fight hand-to-hand with us and fight with bayonets, we are not afraid. Even if one person changes his life, we can take Chenjiazhuang if we lose another large group."
Lieutenant General Sakuragi had the same idea as the Chief of Staff, and quickly ordered: "Let the offensive troops continue to advance forward."
"Be sure to follow the artillery fire closely, try to shorten the distance between the troops and the impact point, and don't worry about accidental damage."
"Now I can't wait for the Chenjiazhuang garrison to break out of the tunnel and fight hand-to-hand with the attacking troops with bayonets."
"The fifth and sixth brigades will be ready for battle immediately."
"If the Eighth Route Army really intends to engage in street fighting with us, they will join the fight immediately."
"Rely on the superiority of troops to win the battle quickly and capture Chenjiazhuang as soon as possible and build defensive fortifications."
"This is the only way for the Yizhong Eighth Route Army to enter the mountains."
"Once the Eighth Route Army outside the mountain is cornered, it will definitely attack Chenjiazhuang at all costs and open the passage into the mountain."
"The better the fortifications are built, the smaller the troop losses will be. It is best to use the tunnels dug underground by the Eighth Route Army."
"Tit for tooth, let the Eighth Route Army have a taste of the power of tunnel warfare."
…………
"Rumble..."
The armored vehicles that rushed to the front line continued to attack forward.
He easily crossed the trench more than one meter wide and rushed towards the second line blocking position while spitting out black smoke.
The speed was very fast, and he rushed forward seventy or eighty meters in an instant.
The third brigade left two squads to occupy the first-line position, and the remaining more than 800 infantrymen followed closely behind the chariot.
"Boom boom boom..."
The Japanese bombardment continued, and various artillery shells screamed and hit forty or fifty meters in front of the attacking troops.
"Rumble..."
A heavy artillery shell suddenly hit the tank and exploded thirty meters away. The hot air waves quickly spread around, and the three Japanese soldiers were knocked over on the spot.
There was an expression of pain on his face, and he felt like his internal organs were being shattered.
"Stay the wounded while the others continue to attack forward..." The nearest Japanese team leader made a decision as soon as he saw the reaction of the wounded.
The kid next to him was already used to this scene, so he bypassed the three wounded and continued the attack.
"Boom boom boom..."
But at this moment, an accident happened.
The second-line blocking position, which was being covered by artillery fire, suddenly heard several gunshots. Under the cover of the explosion, you couldn't tell if you weren't careful. Two tanks directly in front were hit by artillery shells at the same time.
In the violent explosion, one tank was blown into a fireball, another tank was blown to pieces, and even the turret was blown off.
The little Japanese hiding behind the tanks were not spared either. They were killed and injured, and more than a dozen of them were reduced on the spot.
"Baga, it's mountain artillery. There are Eighth Route Army mountain artillery on the second-line blocking position..." The Japanese squadron leader next to him was the first to react and quickly ordered to the radio operator not far away.
"Immediately send a telegram to the division commander. The Eighth Route Army has deployed mountain artillery on the second line. Two tanks of the chariot unit were blown up. Please ask the artillery and aviation to find them immediately and destroy them."
After saying that, he raised his command knife and asked his men to continue to attack forward.
Although the mountain artillery is powerful, the remaining soldiers and tanks of the attacking force are not vegetarians, and they will not give up the attack just because of this small loss.
"Rumble..."
The artillery shells hitting the second-line blocking position obviously became denser, and an aircraft dived towards it at the same time.
Amidst the huge roar, an aerial bomb suddenly broke away from the fuselage and hit the ground with a scream.
The explosion was like thunder, deafening, and thick smoke mixed with orange-red flames rose into the sky from the impact point, forming a huge mushroom cloud.
This is the coordinated operation of the Kwantung Army's infantry and artillery.
Once the infantry attack is blocked, artillery and aircraft will immediately come in as reinforcements and use the strongest firepower to help the infantry open the attack channel.
The first update is delivered today, please order it all!
(End of chapter)
