After Lei Dasheng and Du Aiguo's combat deployment arrangements were completed, according to Kong Jie's instructions, the battle between the Fourth and Fifth Battalions along the West Village Road began.
When the battle started, the Japanese troops were walking all the way to Zhangjiazhuang and were still more than three kilometers away from Zhangjiazhuang.
The reason is that the Japanese army is actually closer from Yangquan County to Xicun than from Yangquan to Zhangjiazhuang. In addition, the fourth battalion commander Lei Dasheng led half a battalion to meet them in advance, so the fighting time of the two sides was greatly advanced.
The battle is about forty minutes ahead of schedule along the way to Zhangjiazhuang.
Half of the battalion led by Lei Dasheng set up an ambush on a section of the mountain road from Yangquan to Xicun.
According to Lei Dasheng's battle plan, he led more than 200 soldiers to detour deeper from both sides of the mountain forest. After completely surrounding the Japanese advance scouts on both sides, he divided the team into two parts, and one part was used to deal with the Japanese. Reconnaissance troops, destroy the Japanese reconnaissance troops.
The other part continued to detour in the direction of the Japanese and puppet troops who were followed by the Japanese scouts and launched a surprise attack.
Gunfire suddenly rang out.
Dozens of soldiers responsible for killing the Japanese scouts took advantage of the mountains and forests to hide in advance. It was not until the Japanese scouts stepped into the ambush circle that they suddenly opened fire.
The Japs' scouts had mediocre firepower, and the ambush Eighth Route Army soldiers had an absolute advantage in strength. In one round of concentrated fire, a dozen Japs were wiped out on the spot.
The leading scouts encountered a surprise attack, and the Japanese and puppet troops on the mountain road immediately became vigilant.
However, the four battalions of soldiers divided into two groups, led by the battalion commander Lei Dasheng, took action almost at the same time as the team left behind to deal with the Japanese scouts.
While the Japanese scouts were being killed, Lei Dasheng led the soldiers to launch a sneak attack with firepower on the Japanese and puppet troops on the mountain road.
It is mainly a sneak attack with rifle firepower, and is equipped with a certain number of grenade launchers for bombardment.
The target points of the attack were partly placed on the 500 Japanese troops in the front row, and some were placed on the 2,000 puppet troops in the back row.
Suddenly, the gap between the reactions of the two sides was quite obvious when the Japanese and puppet troops were attacked.
The 500 Japanese troops walking in front were suddenly attacked. Although they were not panicked, they immediately launched an orderly counterattack.
The 2,000 puppet troops in the rear, after being hit by artillery fire, hurriedly looked for bunkers. The counterattack was not a bit slower than the Japanese troops in the front row.
The Japanese began to counterattack, mainly with grenade bombardment.
This is their best way to counterattack the Eighth Route Army soldiers on the lower mountain roads who are in the mountains and forests on both sides and use the trees as cover to shoot from a high position.
The counterattack was effective immediately, and there were some casualties on the independent regiment's side.
As for the Fourth Battalion Commander Lei Dasheng, he knows his mission very well.
This was not the time for him to start a decisive battle with the Japanese army.
After a successful sneak attack on the Japanese army, killing more than 20 Japanese scouts, and another sneak attack on the Japanese and puppet troops, Lei Dasheng immediately ordered a retreat.
In addition, during the attack, Lei Dasheng specially instructed the soldiers to disperse and ambush, so in the face of the enemy's grenade bombardment and counterattack, the casualties of the soldiers were controlled within expectations.
After a brief three-minute confrontation between the two sides.
The Japanese army defeated the reconnaissance team, and seven or eight more grenades were cleared by the Eighth Route Army's grenade fire in the mountains and forests.
This is the grenade group configuration of the independent regiment created by the independent regiment based on its experience in grenade combat with the Japanese army.
One observer, equipped with a captured Japanese ranging telescope.
One gunner is responsible for the specific operation and firing of the gun.
A loader is responsible for loading shells to the gunner in a timely manner.
This kind of group cooperation exerts good power in battle.
When the grenade team was at a certain location in the forest, the observer quickly locked the specific location of the Japanese grenade through the ranging telescope, determined the direction of the target point, and measured the approximate distance through the ranging telescope.
After the gunner obtained the coordinates of the target point, he immediately cooperated with the loader to clear the enemy's grenade fire point at a fixed point.
And just as the gunner and loader cooperated to knock out the Japanese grenade, the observer would continue to observe the next target point.
This kind of cooperation is very efficient, and it is faster than the gunner operating the gun while observing the target.
The company commanders of the two artillery companies, Wang Chengzhu and the howitzer, highly praised this grenade group combat mode.
The two also conducted additional training for observers and gunners.
An artillery training class was even held in the regiment to train artillery talents for the independent regiment.
If a soldier who goes to study shows considerable talent in artillery, Kong Jie will approve the soldier's conversion from infantry to artillery.
Speaking of which, why should we specialize in studying this grenade combat tactic?
The original words of the group leader Kong Jie are:
"The brilliance of any combat unit lies in their use of effective artillery fire to protect their own infantry."
"In our battles with the Japanese army, why are our casualties always greater than those of the Japs? Why can the Japs' infantry effectively avoid a large part of their casualties even if they charge?"
"Because when the infantry launches a charge, the Japs will always have follow-up artillery fire to cover them. The grenades placed by the Japs at the back can clear the target at any time within the effective shooting range of six to seven hundred meters. We use it to block the attack." The Japanese infantry’s light and heavy machine gun firepower points, as well as mortars, grenade launchers and other firepower points.”
"I think everyone has discovered this after many battles with the Japanese army on the battlefield. As long as the Japanese grenade is knocked out by us first, the Japanese infantry will not be so rampant, and they will even be forced to hide in Don’t dare to charge behind cover.”
"What does this mean? It means that the little devils are also afraid of death. The reason why their infantry is so powerful is because of the subsequent artillery support."
"In addition, when it comes to our fights with the Japanese since the Anti-Japanese War, the ones who have suffered the most are the Japanese grenade launchers. The casualties caused by the Japanese grenade launchers to our troops, according to statistics from the headquarters, account for almost all of our troops' casualties. More than 32%.”
"This means that for every ten soldiers we sacrificed, three to four soldiers were killed by the Japanese grenade bombs."
"Don't look at this kind of light artillery. It is light in weight, has a small caliber, and its craftsmanship is simpler than that of a complex rifle. Its production cost is even less than a quarter of that of a rifle. It is concealed enough, fast and efficient, and its power is even more powerful. Not weak."
"If there are veteran Japanese artillery operators, they can basically hit them accurately. As long as we are within the effective range of their grenades, as soon as the light and heavy machine guns show up, the Japanese artillery shells will hit us in a short time. "
"So, after learning these lessons, our independent regiment must focus on dealing with the Japanese grenade firepower in future battles with the Japanese army."
"Whenever the battle begins, we must be the first to shoot down the Japanese grenades. We must make this fighting style even become the tradition of our independent regiment."
"In addition, the Japanese are very powerful in their grenade tactics. This is what we have to learn from, and treat others in their own way. Now the 50 small artillery we have transformed and produced is better than the Japanese grenade." The further away, the more powerful it is.”
"Let's also give the little devil a taste of the fear of being dominated by rear-mounted gunfire."
…
Back in front of us, in just three minutes of fighting, the Japanese and puppet troops suffered nearly a hundred casualties.
Eight Japanese grenades were also knocked out.
On both sides of the mountains, the Eighth Route Army suddenly launched a surprise attack. The combat effectiveness displayed made the Japanese captain a little frightened.
Fortunately, the Eighth Route Army's attack did not last long. After fighting for a while, it seemed to be defeated by the superior firepower of the imperial troops.
As for the enemies ambushed in the mountains and forests on both sides, the Japanese captain had secretly observed them when the previous battle broke out. They found that they were not many in number, but their firepower configuration was powerful, like the main force of the Eighth Route Army, but he could not be sure.
Simply speaking, this Japanese captain was assigned by Ishiihara to take charge of the Nishimura area. Naturally, he was a general whom Ishiihara could trust.
The Japanese captain knew very well that according to the unit captain's plan, the battle in front of him suddenly broke out. The Eighth Route Army might have been fooled and regarded his group as the main force.
Then, it is very likely that the main combat troops of the Eighth Route Army will be deployed along the West Village Road.
But as soon as the battle just broke out, the subsequent 2,000 puppet troops performed too badly.
Not to mention the Eighth Route Army, even the Japanese captain felt a headache when he looked at the puppet troops that had been thrown into chaos by a simple sneak attack.
It is really difficult for them to let the Imperial Army troops pretend to be Imperial troops.
After analyzing this, the Japanese captain suddenly thought of it.
If the Royal Association Army troops behind him are exposed, doesn't it mean that the Eighth Route Army on both sides has understood that the actual attack on Xicun is the strategy of the commander?
Then the main force arranged by the Eighth Route Army along the way to Xicun will most likely retreat immediately and move quickly towards Zhangjiazhuang.
Thinking of this, the Japanese captain immediately ordered: "Pursue quickly and catch this bunch of bastards!"
This Japanese captain is also a ruthless character. He is very confident. Even if he is not the main force of the regiment, even if his 500 soldiers are not the elite of the Ishii regiment.
But the opponent is just the Eighth Route Army. Even if you have 500 troops, you can still hold back the main force of the Eighth Route Army.
I still remember that the Yamazaki Battalion, with only more than 500 troops, dared to go deep alone, trying to use the tactics of blooming in the middle to unite the main forces of the empire and destroy the Eighth Route Army in the Taihang area in one fell swoop. How courageous and proud it was.
This Japanese captain had great admiration for Captain Yamazaki's heroic actions.
Now he was ready to follow the example.
Of course, before launching the attack, the Japanese captain contacted the main forces along the Zhangjiazhuang route through the radio and reported his plans to the captain Ishii Haraichi.
At this time, the Shijing Regiment on the other side had not yet been attacked by the Eighth Route Army.
Ishiihara thought for a while and felt that the captain's analysis was good, so he agreed to the Japanese captain's order to march.
He just instructed: "Be alert at all times if your retreat is cut off by the Eighth Route Army. In addition, if you encounter a fierce attack by the Eighth Route Army's main force, you can hold on to the danger and wait for the main force in Zhangjiazhuang to defeat the Eighth Route Army's blocking forces and then join up with your troops."
In this way, the Japanese captain, who had received Ishiihara's reply, did not hesitate and led his team, plus the Imperial Association Corps, towards Nishimura and continued to attack fiercely.
…
"Took the bait! Battalion Commander, this little devil is really not afraid of death. He got in by himself."
In the forest, the third platoon leader said excitedly.
Lei Dasheng laughed and said: "This naughty little devil probably thinks that our main force is here! It looks like he wants to bite us so that the Japanese troops all the way to Zhangjiazhuang can take the opportunity to attack."
"Then let's do what they want and pull out our main force and let these devils take a good look."
"Finally, I feel relieved. The captain's judgment is indeed accurate. The Japs along the way are just feint attacks. There are only 500 Japs. The ones behind are definitely two Japs. You can see at a glance how overwhelming the combat power is."
"Has the news been passed back?"
The third platoon leader said: "Don't worry, battalion commander, the news has been sent back to the West Village temporary headquarters, and the regiment commander will get the news soon."
"Okay, continue to retreat, and don't run too fast, so that the Japs can't catch up. Later we will go down from the forest and retreat along the mountain road, deliberately walking through the minefield to confuse the Japs."
"Do you all remember the markings of the buried mines? On the right section, a trail of more than one meter is deliberately left as a safe passage. Everyone can pass through the safe passage."
"yes!"
…
Just like this, in the view of the Japanese and puppet troops on the mountain road, the Eighth Route Army in the mountains and forests on both sides continued to retreat. Under the pursuing shelling, they ran onto the mountain road again and fled all the way.
The Japanese captain didn't think much and just continued the pursuit along the mountain road.
In this way, the Japanese and puppet troops were naturally unaware of the fleeing Eighth Route Army passing through the minefield. In addition, there was an Eighth Route Army exploring the road ahead, so the Japanese army entered the minefield smoothly without thinking too much.
What the Japanese did not notice was that when the Eighth Route Army fled to the front, they suddenly formed a line and left the safe passage in the minefield. However, the Japanese and puppet troops who were chasing them seemed a bit messy in their pursuit.
Boom——
The pursuing Japanese troops had no time to stop. Dozens of Japanese soldiers ran directly into the minefield and stepped on the mines. In a series of big explosions, more than 20 Japanese soldiers were killed and more than 30 injured.
The Japanese captain was completely confused. It was okay for Tuba Road to run all the way. Why did he step on a landmine when he reached his own team?
In desperation, the Japanese team leader ordered the engineers to quickly clear the mines.
Lei Dasheng and Du Aiguo ordered that the number of mines laid in the first minefield was relatively small, so after the Japanese engineers cleared the mines, they quickly cleared the minefield, which took less than five minutes.
After successfully clearing the mines, the little Japs learned to be shrewd. The Japs captain ordered the Imperial Army and the Imperial team to switch positions, allowing the Imperial Army to explore the way ahead.
Commonly known as cannon fodder!
Anyway, in the raid just now, these Imperial Alliance troops have been exposed, so there is no use in keeping them. They might as well be used to explore the road.
Under the coercion of the Japanese, the puppet soldiers did not dare to say anything and could only walk at the front of the team in fear...
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