Sure enough, the Eighth Route Army also arranged defensive fortifications on the back side of the turn.
The Japanese army, which attempted to forcibly break through the turning point of the mountain, launched three consecutive attacks, but was repelled by the third platoon and the militia soldiers with powerful firepower and the terrain advantages of the turning point.
Seeing this scene, Ishii Haraichi frowned slightly. It seemed that it was not easy to break through the Eighth Route Army's defense in front of him.
"Reporting to your Excellency, Captain, there is a large number of Eighth Route Army troops on the back side of the turn. According to preliminary estimates, there are five to six hundred people. Their firepower is very fierce, and our attacking troops suffered heavy casualties."
The Japanese squadron leader who retreated reported to Ishiihara Yihui.
As for why the Japanese squadron leader made such a misjudgment?
It turned out that according to the instructions of the first company commander, militia soldiers wearing Eighth Route Army uniforms were spread out on the back side of the mountain curve. They also used the mountain forest on the back side and the surrounding rock mass as cover. At first glance, they could visually form a large The impact was as if there were people everywhere.
The Japs looked at them in a hurry when they were hit by fire, and the estimated number of people would be larger.
And this sentence "five to six hundred people" really made Ishii Haraichi and the Japanese chief of staff hesitate.
"Your Excellency, Captain, the situation reported from the West Village is that the main force of the Eighth Route Army Independent Regiment is undoubtedly located in the West Village. There are currently five to six hundred people in the Eighth Route Army. Is this the main combat force arranged by the Eighth Route Army along the way to Zhangjiazhuang?"
In the opinion of the Japanese Chief of Staff, the possibility is very high.
In Nishimura, due to the interruption of communication, the Ishii regiment did not know the specific situation, let alone what kind of firepower the Japanese troops in Nishimura encountered.
In the communication, Nishimura's troops only stated that the Eighth Route Army ambushed by Nishimura had very strong firepower and was definitely the main force.
As for how powerful this firepower is, there is no standard.
The current Eighth Route Army team of five to six hundred people, according to the situation from the front combat troops, the enemy has five heavy machine guns, plus more than 20 light machine guns. This kind of firepower configuration is indeed not weak.
It is absolutely rare in the Eighth Route Army camp with backward equipment and scarce ammunition.
…
Ishii Haraichi, who was deep in thought, picked up the telescope and continued to explore the battle on the top of the slope.
The more than two hundred imperial warriors he was so proud of were repelled by the Eighth Route Army's counterattack in the top of the slope area.
Then, Ishii Haraichi originally thought that the rear grenade firepower of the squadron attacking the top of the slope could bring the game back.
However, he was shocked to find that the grenade fire point at the rear of the attacking squadron was quickly cleared by the Eighth Route Army's artillery fire on the top of the slope.
These Eighth Route Army troops also seemed to be using grenades.
The shells that were smashed down were significantly more powerful than the Type 89 grenade shells.
This scene completely dispelled Ishiihara's last hesitation.
"Notify the artillery squadron to immediately cover the top of the slope area with firepower!"
The Japanese Chief of Staff was startled, "Your Excellency, Wing Commander, our leading attacking troops were entangled by the counter-charging Eighth Route Army and have not withdrawn yet!"
Ishii Haraichi's face was cold, and his voice was calm without any emotion, "When they retreated, these Eighth Route Army troops hid behind the reverse slope again, executing the order!"
"Hi!"
Boom——
Based on the artillery fire intensity of the Ishii Regiment Artillery Squadron, there are four 75mm mountain guns, four 37mm rapid-fire guns, plus six Type 92 infantry guns.
In terms of the intensity of artillery fire alone, the artillery squadron of the Ishii Regiment is enough to crush the two artillery companies of the independent regiment.
Coupled with their abundant logistical supplies, it is not a pain at all to use artillery shells.
A round of artillery fire covered the area on the top of the slope and was directly submerged in a sea of fire.
The Japanese who were repulsed by the Eighth Route Army's counterattack and retreated in a hurry were stunned. The first company commander and others who launched the countercharge were also stunned.
"Company commander, the Japanese have used large-caliber artillery!"
The fifth squad leader in charge of the observation post said hoarsely.
As far as the commander of the first company could see, the surrounding soldiers were injured in large numbers. In the previous first defense and the counterattack just now, the casualties among the soldiers in the first company were actually not large, but in this moment of shelling, The casualties of the entire first and second platoons have exceeded one-third.
The first company commander who was under artillery fire was lucky to survive. His ears were just buzzing and he seemed to be unable to hear anything. He didn't care whether other soldiers could hear or not. He looked at the surrounding situation. With his eyes cracked, he roared loudly and retreated, while constantly waving to the soldiers, asking them to retreat towards the reverse slope.
"Retreat, retreat quickly——"
The company commander, who could not hear his own voice and roared in silence, did not finally retreat until he summoned all the soldiers to retreat.
"Company commander, quickly, retreat quickly, fifth squad leader, grab the company commander's hand!"
The leader of the retreating platoon yelled.
There was a small gentle slope close to the reverse slope. The fifth squad leader quickly stretched out his hand to pull the first company commander back. The first company commander, who had some tinnitus, seemed to vaguely hear the roar of the row commander. He looked at the slope near Chi Chi. Looking at the fifth squad leader who had already reached out to him, a smile appeared on his lips.
Stay alive, close at hand.
Boom——
The shell hit not far from the first company commander. In the explosion that resounded throughout the world, the first company commander was directly thrown away by the shock wave of the bomb and hit the ground heavily, making no more movement.
"Company Commander——"
Tears burst into the eyes of the fifth squad leader. He looked at the company commander not far away. He ignored the shrapnel wounds on his body and rushed out. He ran towards the body of the first company commander, saying that he would snatch the body of the company commander back at any cost.
Boom boom boom——
Another round of artillery fire devoured the first company commander and the fifth squad leader together.
"Fifth squad leader——"
"Company Commander——"
Tears rolled in the eyes of the soldiers behind the top of the slope.
A soldier beat his head in frustration, "If the company commander hadn't been busy telling us to retreat, he wouldn't have..."
"These bastard little devils started shelling even before they even retreated!"
The leader of the platoon had red eyes, holding back his tears, and ordered in a tearful tone: "Give me your damn tears, there are no cowards in our independent group. Even if we cry, we have to wait until we kill all these devils." Let’s talk about it after we kill them all.”
"Comrades, retreat, our goal has been achieved. After luring the Japanese to Aiya, we will avenge the company commander and the fifth squad leader!"
"Revenge, revenge!"
The soldiers roared angrily and evacuated from the top of the slope area one by one with tears in their eyes. Under the Japanese firepower, they could not even recover the bodies of the company commander and the fifth squad leader.
During the evacuation, the platoon leader called some soldiers and laid some booby traps in the forest on the back of the reverse slope to delay the Japanese pursuit.
After joining the third platoon leader and militia comrades on the back side of the turn, the first platoon leader gave the order to retreat.
The uninformed third platoon leader and militia captain looked puzzled.
"Where's the company commander? Why don't you see the company commander?"
As soon as these words came out, the first platoon commander, the second platoon commander, and the soldiers behind them all burst into silent tears that could not be suppressed, and they swallowed silently one after another.
The corners of the third platoon leader's eyes were soon moistened with tears. He steeled himself and ordered: "Third Platoon obeys my order. Leave squad nine behind and quickly lay some mines. The other personnel will retreat immediately."
…
The sound of shelling lasted for a long time in the area on the top of the slope. Ishii Yuanichi, an old Japanese soldier, was angry because of the heavy casualties caused by the Eighth Route Army in front of him through many charges. The shelling in front of him was a vindictive vent.
Under the continuous bombardment of the Japanese large-caliber artillery, the artillery fire lasted for nearly ten minutes, and almost the entire top of the slope was flattened.
After the artillery fire ended, the Japanese attack began again.
The troops were still divided into two groups, attacking the top of the slope area and the bend of the mountain.
The Japs who had experienced the powerful fighting power of the Eighth Route Army were obviously much more cautious in their attack this time. Some young Japs even had nervousness and uneasiness in the corners of their eyes.
In this way, the fearful Japanese attacking troops approached the top of the slope and the corner little by little, and even tried to bombard the Eighth Route Army positions with grenade fire, but still did not receive any response.
Until the Japanese vanguard took the lead to cross the fortifications on the top of the slope and saw the deserted backside of the turn and the back of the Eighth Route Army that was gradually retreating.
Only then did the Japanese learn that the defending Eighth Route Army had taken the initiative to retreat.
The Japanese soldiers who followed up all breathed a sigh of relief and quickly occupied the positions on the top of the slope and around the bend.
But the only ones left in the position were the mutilated remains of Eighth Route Army soldiers, mixed with the corpses of Japanese soldiers, and not a single living person was seen.
Many of the Japanese soldiers were killed by Japanese artillery fire on the way back.
In addition, there were the remains of two heavy machine guns that were completely blown up.
"Reporting to your Excellency, Captain, the Eighth Route Army has retreated!"
"idiot!"
Ishii Haraichi was furious. Just when he was using all his strength to wipe out this group of Eighth Route Army soldiers, who would have thought that this group of Eighth Route Army soldiers would retreat directly. It was like a punch on cotton. It felt like a punch. feel bad.
"Command the troops to pursue at full speed and don't let this Eighth Route Army get away!"
As soon as Ishiihara gave the order, he had now determined that the group of Eighth Route Army in front of him was the main combat force of the Independent Regiment defending Zhangjiazhuang.
In less than half an hour of fighting, although his Ishii regiment wiped out 780 people from the Eighth Route Army, more than 200 people were killed on the Japanese side, including more than 400 injured.
The Japanese did not take any advantage, and the number of casualties was even greater.
"If the Independent Regiment of the Eighth Route Army is not completely destroyed, it will be difficult to eliminate the hatred in my heart!" Ishiihara gritted his teeth.
The Japanese squadron leader who led the attack suffered heavy casualties in his squadron. He felt bitter but did not dare to say it.
In fact, nearly one-third of his team's casualties were caused by his own artillery fire coverage.
Well, your Excellency, the commander of the regiment, it is all the fault of the Eighth Route Army.
...During the pursuit, Ishii Haraichi looked at the middle section between Nishimura and Zhangjiazhuang again, thinking in his mind that the special agent team should take action now.
…
…
Niukou Village.
Independent regiment headquarters.
Kong Jie, who was in charge of the regiment headquarters, basically had an understanding of the current battle situation through communications from the radio stations in Gexi Village and the Zhangjiazhuang temporary headquarters.
"Captain, the direction of Nishimura has now been stabilized. The Japanese who participated were directly repelled and retreated, occupying a certain slope on the mountain road to defend. As for the puppet troops who followed the battle, some of them were affected by the battle and died, and most of them were directly killed. Surrender."
The monk was all smiles.
Kong Jie said: "The Japs continue to defend the West Village. It seems they are still daydreaming. They are counting on their main force in Zhangjiazhuang to break through Zhangjiazhuang and then encircle our fourth and fifth battalions from the back and side of the West Village."
The monk said: "This little devil is so stupid. Our main force is actually in Zhangjiazhuang!"
"I wonder how the plan to lure enemies in the direction of Zhangjiazhuang is going?"
As Kong Jie was talking, there was another movement in the direction of the radio station. After quickly receiving the communication signal from the Zhangjiazhuang temporary headquarters, the confidential officer stood up and reported to Kong Jiehui:
"Reporting to the head of the regiment, the first company has successfully led the main force of the Japanese army along the Zhangjiazhuang road to the direction of Aiya, but..."
"Just what?" Kong Jie frowned.
"It's just that... during the defensive battle on the top of the slope, the Japanese directly used heavy artillery to bombard them. More than half of the company was injured and killed, and the first company commander unfortunately died!"
The confidential officer's voice still briefly echoed in the room. Kong Jie's heart felt as if something had hit him hard. The pain was severe, but he could only endure it.
"Where are the Japanese casualties?"
"According to the reply from the Zhangjiazhuang temporary headquarters, the Japanese casualties were at least three times that of the first company. In addition, the militia comrades were well protected and there were basically no casualties."
"Okay, got it."
Kong Jie said, looking at the sand table, the low cliff area outside Zhangjiazhuang.
"The first company commander did a good job. He gave the little devil a good beating. The little devil was really hurt. Otherwise, he would not have been easily lured away from Zhangjiazhuang."
"We're waiting for the final battle in the low cliff area."
Kong Jie was talking to himself, but there was no response from the monk beside him. When he looked up, he saw the powerful Monk Wei, crying silently.
"Monk, what are you doing?" Kong Jie scolded.
The monk continued to shed tears, wiped them randomly, and said: "Squad leader, I suddenly heard that the first company commander died, and I couldn't help but want to cry. The first company commander is an old man of our independent regiment, and I just came to our independent regiment." When I was a kid, the first company commander I met was the first company commander. He would always treat me to a drink no matter what!
I have been cheating, saying that I will pay him back the wine I owe him, but I still owe him the wine. Now, I have no chance even if I want to pay him back. "
Kong Jie scolded: "Okay, now is not the time to cry. After killing the Japanese and bringing back the body of the first company commander, I won't stop you from crying as much as you want."
"Yes!" the monk replied, wiping away his tears.
…
The entrance to Niukou Village.
Yamamoto Kazuki finally arrived with the special agent team.
Outside Niukou Village, there are many woods, slopes, rice fields, etc. If Yamamoto's special agent team does not enter the village entrance area and hides outside the village, it will be easy to hide.
There were gunshots coming from the direction of Xicun and Zhangjiazhuang.
Yamamoto knew that the Nishimura and Zhangjiazhuang Routes and the Ishii Regiment had already fought against the Independent Regiment of the Eighth Route Army.
In the direction of the village entrance, several groups of the Eighth Route Army went out one after another, but they could only get out but not in. Yamamoto judged from this that Niukou Village must be in a situation of empty troops now.
This is the perfect time for his special team to take action...
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