The next day.
After daybreak, the specific situation in Xiaohuanggou, the mountain road to the east, the small mountain pass to the north, and the dirt road to the south is as follows.
Node Pass has been occupied by Eighth Route Army troops.
At various nodes, soldiers relied on the terrain to build various concrete fortifications, including concrete bunker fortifications, concrete semi-underground machine gun fortifications, and foxholes built with concrete.
In terms of the construction of these concrete fortifications, in addition to the concrete built by the soldiers last night, there are also finished concrete blocks in sacks transported from Niukou Village that have already reached their final strength.
Captain Kong's explanation before leaving was: "We were too hasty in building concrete. Even if we light a fire to heat it, these concrete blocks will at most solidify, and the strength may not be increased. During the construction, we have to Use it with the sacks of concrete blocks we brought."
"The built bunkers and the fronts of various concrete fortifications are all piled up with finished concrete blocks, and then poured and reinforced. The top of the bunker is especially important. Reinforced concrete materials must be used to at least ensure that the enemy's grenade shells will not hit it. In case of any collapse..."
"In addition, we used concrete to build various fortifications in order to fully utilize our firepower advantage and avoid Japanese artillery fire."
"In this way, with the bunker fortifications as bunkers and the heavy machine gun fortifications in charge of five people, they can even block a small team of Japanese soldiers."
"The spare troops were used to defend the mountains and forests on both sides of the fortifications to ensure that the Japanese army could not detour and attack the back and sides of the fortifications."
At present, around the West Village, at four major nodes, including the small mountain pass to the north and the mountain road to the east, various concrete fortifications are built condescendingly based on the terrain.
In the front direction of the concrete fortification, the shooting range was cleared for nearly 300 meters, while on the left and right wings of the fortification, mountains and forests were used as defense.
It's like a person opens his arms, blocks this node, and tells the devil so blatantly:
I won't let you go here!
In the mountains and forests on the left and right wings, the soldiers' defense methods are also ready...
…
After the sky brightened, the Japanese scouts finally detected information about various nodes, and the news reached the headquarters of the Fourth Independent Mixed Brigade.
"Sir, the Eighth Route Army has built a large number of fortifications at passes such as the small mountain pass to the north, the mountain road to the east, Xiaohuanggou, and the dirt road to the south."
Japanese Chief of Staff Hideo Nakajima said: "Your Excellency, Brigade Commander, it seems that these Eighth Route Army troops want to rely on fortifications to block these nodes and completely surround our troops in the West Village area."
"I originally thought that these Eighth Route Army would use their strength to surround our headquarters. Now it seems that these Eighth Route Army are mostly trying to block our attack with the help of fortifications because of insufficient strength."
Yamaguchi Shubian nodded, and then asked doubtfully: "Nakajima-kun, if the Eighth Route Army closed the nodes around our unit in order to encircle and annihilate our unit, isn't this intention too obvious?"
Hideo Nakajima agreed: "Your Excellency, the brigade commander, is right. This is quite strange."
"Even if the Eighth Route Army blocks these nodes, the fortifications at these nodes cannot be moved. Within the encirclement of this node, we still have a large area of activity. If the Eighth Route Army does not continue to advance, how can we encircle and annihilate our unit?"
"So, it seems that this independent regiment of the Eighth Route Army is not preparing to encircle and annihilate our unit."
Yamaguchi said with a sneer beside the tree: "If it is not an encirclement and annihilation, then the intention is obvious. They want to trap our troops in this area."
"But Tubal Road is thinking too well. How can the mere defenses at various nodes stop the attack of the Japanese Empire?"
"Order, let Pingchuan Brigade immediately send troops to attack Xiaohuanggou all the way and destroy the Eighth Route Army's defenses in one fell swoop."
"Hi!"
…
"Reporting to the commander, news came from the Shijing Regiment Headquarters that the Eighth Route Army blocked the evacuation nodes along the Zhangjiazhuang Road last night and built defensive fortifications."
When the news came, both Yamaguchi and Nakajima were stunned.
"What exactly does this Eighth Route Army Independent Regiment want to do? It's just a small regiment. Does he really think he has such a big appetite? Not only our fourth mixed brigade, but also the Ishii Regiment?"
After Yamaguchi cursed, he turned his final attention to the Pingchuan brigade's attack on Xiaohuanggou all the way.
The truth will be revealed after the battle.
Xiaohuanggou.
As an important node along the West Village Road, the Eighth Route Army troops stationed here include soldiers from a company led by Huang Jiafu, commander of the 16th Company of the Independent Regiment, plus soldiers No. 100 from the county brigade, with a total strength of about 250 people.
There are not many garrison troops. Fortunately, the terrain of Xiaohuanggou is unique, especially the node chosen by Huang Jiafu, which is easy to defend and difficult to attack.
The Japanese army wanted to break through here, but due to the limitations of the terrain, they could not fully deploy their troops. They could only increase their troops one squadron by one, using the refueling tactic.
In this regard, Huang Jiafu was very confident:
"Our independent regiment is only fighting a war of wealth now, and with the construction of concrete fortifications, we will kill as many of their lousy Japanese as they come."
"The battalion commander said that the regiment commander asked us to hold the node this time not only to block the little Japs, but also to use the firepower advantage to consume as much of the Japs' vitality as possible. When the Japs' reinforcements are knocked out, this will be done by us. The Japanese in the encirclement will be eaten by him sooner or later."
Around 7am.
The scout soldier responsible for guarding the perimeter of the node returned and reported to Huang Jiafu: "Report to the company commander that a Japanese army is advancing in our direction."
"You're good to come, I'm waiting for you!" Huang Jiafu stared blankly, "How many Japanese people are here?"
The scout soldier replied: "About a squadron of Japs."
Huang Jiafu nodded and mocked: "It seems that the little devil's attack is tentative."
"Continue to investigate and report the Japanese advance at any time."
"yes!"
After the scout soldiers turned and left, Huang Jiafu called over several of his platoon leaders, as well as Liu Zhenghua, the captain of the county brigade.
"Lao Liu, how are the comrades in the county brigade preparing?"
Liu Zhenghua nodded and said, "Don't worry, Company Commander Huang, everything is ready."
"Okay!" Huang Jiafu clenched his fists and said to several platoon leaders: "Tell the comrades to enter the battle preparation state immediately. The battle that everyone has been waiting for is here."
"Yes -" several platoon leaders responded in unison.
…
Seven eighteen.
The Japanese First Army Independent Fourth Mixed Brigade, the Third Squadron under the First Infantry Brigade's Hirakawa Brigade, under the leadership of squadron leader Tsuda Ichiro, arrived in the Xiaohuanggou area.
Ichiro Tsuda was ordered as a vanguard force to try to attack the Eighth Route Army's defensive position in Xiaohuanggou to test the strength of the Eighth Route Army.
The task assigned to Ichiro Tsuda by Captain Hirakawa is:
It is necessary to find out which unit of the Eighth Route Army is defending Xiaohuanggou, what its combat effectiveness is, what its firepower configuration is, and what its troop strength is.
As he advanced along the way, Tsuda Ichiro acted very cautiously. He knew that he was likely to face the troops of the Independent Regiment of the Eighth Route Army.
The reputation of the independent regiment can now be regarded as a flag in the Fourth Independent Mixed Brigade of the Japanese First Army, a flag of the Eighth Route Army.
Since the beginning of this big sweep, and after the continuous setbacks in Xicun and Zhangjiazhuang, all the Japanese officers and soldiers of the Fourth Mixed Brigade of the Japanese Army have hated the Independent Regiment with gnashing of teeth.
At the same time, the independent group is regarded as the most difficult opponent.
There are rumors in the army that before this big sweep was launched, the commander of the First Army, General Yoshio Shinozuka, once said this:
"Even if we join three regiments, we must destroy the independent group!"
For this reason, the Independent Regiment of the Eighth Route Army soon became the various departments of the First Army, competing for the targets they wanted to eliminate.
The Fourth Independent Mixed Brigade is naturally no exception.
As they continued to advance, Ichiro Tsuda led his team and quickly arrived near the open shooting boundary of Xiaohuanggou.
Tsuda Ichiro climbed onto a slope somewhere and looked through the binoculars.
Ahead of Xiaohuanggou, nearly 300 meters of open space was cleared by the Eighth Route Army troops.
Looking further into the distance, I saw blockhouses and fortifications.
Ichiro Tsuda took a closer look and couldn't help but feel a sinking feeling in his heart. Judging from the outer wall of the fortification built by the Eighth Route Army opposite, it seemed to be a concrete building.
This is not good. Normally, when the Japanese Empire is dealing with Tubal Road with backward equipment and scarce ammunition, the brick and stone gun towers make these Tubal Roads helpless. The concrete structure of the building is even more solid. Even if the infantry artillery comes, don't even think about blasting it away easily. .
These Tubal roads are so powerful that so many concrete fortifications were built in the Xiaohuanggou area overnight.
Ichiro Tsuda also knew a thing or two about the properties of concrete. He now only hoped that the concrete buildings built by the Eighth Route Army had not been built for a long time and their strength had not yet improved. If an attack was launched as soon as possible, it might not be impossible to smash these fortifications.
It's just that Ichiro Tsuda's squadron naturally does not have such sharp weapons as infantry cannons.
Ichiro Tsuda thought for a while and ordered the artillery to build a grenade position and prepare to bombard the concrete fortifications of the Eighth Route Army in Xiaohuanggou.
"After the bombardment started, the first and second squads took the lead in attacking with the help of artillery cover, spreading out their troops and guarding against the Eighth Route Army's concentrated fire!"
Ichiro Tsuda could not see through the telescope the reality of the Eighth Route Army lurking in Xiaohuanggou, so he could only make a tentative attack to explore the specific situation.
Boom——
The Japanese grenade shells exploded in the Xiaohuanggou area. In the violent explosion, some shells directly hit the concrete bunker fortifications built by the 16th Company.
These concrete fortifications, which were built at night, only lasted five or six hours. Fortunately, using the fire heating method, they have completely solidified and the strength has increased to about 10% of the final strength. Plus, the inside of the building wall is Finished concrete blocks in sacks that have long since reached strength.
The top of the concrete bunker fortification is made of reinforced concrete structure. If one or two Japanese grenade shells hit it, it will not collapse immediately.
Company Commander Huang had been waiting for the Japs for a long time. He guessed that the Japs would bombard them with grenade launchers, so he made arrangements early in the morning. Ten 50-gun cannons were lined up in a row.
The Japanese's grenade position bombarded the concrete fortifications. After the position was exposed, it was immediately bombarded by the 50 small artillery.
The Sixteenth Company's counterattack came so fast that the Japanese were caught off guard. Artillery shells exploded in the grenade position. The Japanese grenade position was blown to pieces, the grenade was damaged, and more than ten artillerymen were killed.
Two teams, Japs No. 100, have rushed to the open shooting area and are rushing towards the fortifications of the 16th company.
The grenade position behind the Japanese was destroyed by the 50 small artillery. When the charging Japanese infantry lost the cover of the artillery shells, the infantry of the two small groups of the Japanese were already less than 150 meters away from the fortifications of the 16th company.
"beat!"
Company Commander Huang gave the order. He expected that the Japanese would definitely retreat without the cover of the rear artillery, so he issued the combat order before the Japanese recovered.
The next moment, two heavy machine guns built in the Xiaohuanggou bunker fortification fired suddenly from left to right, blocking the entire shooting area with cross fire. In addition, more than a dozen light machine guns opened fire at the same time. After a round of concentrated fire, the charging The Japanese infantry were directly swept away.
At this time, all the bullshit bushido spirit was thrown into the Java Kingdom.
Under the extremely fierce firepower assault of the 16th Company, the little devils all wished they could grow two more legs and hurriedly turned around and retreated, and the entire team collapsed.
On both sides of the Xiaohuanggou woods, soldiers from the county brigade who had been lurking for a long time also began to fire.
Tsuda Ichiro, who was watching the battle from behind, was terrified. The light and heavy machine gun firepower in the concrete bunker fortifications in front was just despairing. Judging from the gunshots coming from the woods on both sides, there must have been five or six hundred people. .........On both sides of Xiaohuanggou, covered by dense woods, comrades from the county brigade were running back and forth in the woods.
After shooting one shot at a location, immediately change positions and shoot again a few meters away. Each person is responsible for at least three to five shooting points.
In this way, a warrior can use the cover of the woods to fire what seems like three to five people while moving back and forth quickly.
Ichiro Tsuda's judgment on the strength of the Sixteenth Company will also be three to five times greater.
Coupled with the powerful artillery fire from the Eighth Route Army opposite, the squadron's grenade position was destroyed as soon as it was deployed.
Ichiro Tsuda was completely shocked and quickly issued an order for strategic transfer.
"Leather boots! They are leather boots! Your Excellency, squadron leader, they are all wearing leather boots. The woods are full of their people. There are too many of them. They must be the main combat force of the independent regiment!"
The two Japanese captains who launched the attack, and the one who survived by luck, said in shock.
Two Japanese squads, with more than a hundred Japanese soldiers, retreated in a hurry, leaving only the last twenty or so people. If they hadn't retreated quickly enough and the previous charge hadn't penetrated too deep, maybe They were all destroyed here.
Tsuda Ichiro, who retreated into the woods, looked at the more than eighty corpses of Imperial soldiers lying in the open shooting zone from a distance.
In a daze, I felt like I was having a nightmare.
At this moment, the nightmare woke up so much that Tsuda Ichiro even lost the courage to stay here.
"Withdraw, first report the specific situation to the captain!"
A somewhat saddened Ichiro Tsuda swallowed his saliva and spoke.
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