The temporary headquarters of the Japanese independent mixed fourth brigade in Nishimura, the brigade commander Yamaguchi Shubian, has been suffering like an ant on a hot pot for the past two days.
Every node in the West Village was defended by the Independent Regiment of the Eighth Route Army with the help of increasingly solid concrete fortifications, making them impregnable.
As for his fourth mixed brigade, due to the repeated reinforcements to Yangquan, the strength of the troops was empty. At this moment, the number of troops left in the West Village was only one brigade.
Yamaguchi's initial thought was to continue to contain the Independent Regiment for a while, and then evacuate calmly when the big sweep was over.
What I didn't expect was that this independent group was so bold, and in turn directly besieged his fourth mixed brigade, and even came to encircle the enemy for reinforcements.
In the past two days, Yamaguchi launched many attacks towards the nodes where the surrounding independent regiments were defending.
There were daytime attacks and nighttime sneak attacks.
Yamaguchi even requested aviation support from the Taiyuan First Army Headquarters. .
Shinozuka Yoshio directly ordered to dispatch twenty aircraft to reinforce the direction of Nishimura and Zhangjiazhuang several times.
In an attempt to blow up the concrete fortifications built by the Eighth Route Army at various nodes.
But all ended in failure.
The bombs dropped by the Japanese from airplanes destroyed many concrete fortifications.
But on the Independent Regiment's side, every time a Japanese bomber arrived and was still far away, the scouts would sound the siren, and the soldiers would quickly leave the concrete fortifications and rely on the surrounding woods as cover.
At the same time, the machine gun was tied to the tree trunk and strafed the Japanese planes that bombed the concrete fortifications at low altitudes.
This time Kong Jie arranged to use it to deal with possible Japanese planes, and the machine guns used were not the conventional Czech style or crooked ones.
But it was the Japanese mg15 aviation light machine gun seized from the wreckage of several Japanese planes that had been shot down not long ago.
After repairs at the armory, six mg15 aviation machine guns that could be put into combat were finally rescued.
This is a machine gun that Japan purchased independently from the German army, which was still an ally, with production technology and drawings, and then produced it independently.
In terms of power, range, accuracy and other performance, it comprehensively exceeds the conventional light and heavy machine guns used by the Japanese army on the battlefield against China.
Specially designed to attack medium and long range targets.
From a certain perspective, there is nothing wrong with using it as an elevated anti-aircraft machine gun.
For this reason, the Japanese destroyed three aircraft.
In the subsequent bombings, the Japanese pilots were so frightened that they no longer dared to bomb at low altitudes, and the accuracy of their attacks on concrete fortifications also dropped a lot.
As soon as the Japanese bombing ends, the soldiers will quickly return from the mountains and forests to the concrete fortifications to defend.
After all, the Japanese failed to take advantage of this gap to break the defense at the node.
As a result, the remaining strength of his fourth mixed brigade has become less and less, and now it is less than the strength of a brigade. There are more and more wounded soldiers, and the medicine reserves are gradually stretched.
What Yamaguchi fears is that if this continues, the independent regiment may even completely exhaust his fourth brigade.
Yamaguchi's only hope now is that reinforcements from surrounding mopping up troops can break the deadlock in which Nishimura and his fourth brigade are besieged.
It was under such a situation that the sound of fighting in the intersection area of the northwest hill road and the flank of Nishimura reached the Japanese Fourth Brigade and the ears of the Japanese brigade commander Yamaguchi Shubei.
"It's strange. Apart from us, there shouldn't be other troops fighting with the Eighth Route Army. Could it be that reinforcements have arrived?"
Thinking of this, Yamaguchi's face became more hopeful.
Chief of Staff Nakajima quickly returned with the news and reported: "Your Excellency, Brigade Commander, we have found out clearly. It turns out that the team led by Yan Sanfu of the Eighth Mixed Brigade of the Royal Association Army is fighting with the Eighth Route Army in the West Village."
"Only his 8th Mixed Brigade, no other imperial troops were seen?" Yamaguchi asked suspiciously.
Nakajima nodded and said: "Your Excellency, Brigade Commander, I also feel a little puzzled. The combat effectiveness of the Imperial Alliance Army has always been mediocre, especially if they are allowed to fight the Eighth Route Army alone. It is even more impossible. The Eighth Route Army is now The mixed brigade actually has the courage to take the initiative to fight with the independent group?"
"Interesting, continue to send scouts to investigate the specific situation."
"Hi!"
Nakajima responded, and then said with some hesitation: "Your Excellency, Brigade Commander, this Yan Sanfu rarely fights bravely. Do you think we can help them?"
Yamaguchi shook his head and said: "The situation is unclear now. Our opponents are very cunning. Maybe this is another trap by Kong Jie. Let the Chinese fight the Chinese!"
"Hi!"
Soon after, the news came back. When Chief of Staff Nakajima returned to the headquarters, his face was full of joy, "Your Excellency, Brigade Commander, news came from the forward observation post that the Eighth Mixed Brigade actually knocked down the fortifications in the middle of the village."
"How is this possible?" Yamaguchi felt a little unbelievable. "This independent regiment's defensive deployment in the village is very good. Every step is a trap, and there are crises everywhere. Since the big sweep, we have tried to attack the West Village more than ten times, and we have always failed. After being repulsed, how could the 8th Mixed Brigade easily capture the fortifications now?"
Nakajima said: "According to the report from the forward observation post, it seems that the 8th Mixed Brigade discovered a small mountain road that goes straight into the West Village and caught the Eighth Route in the village by surprise."
"Oh! So, this Yan Sanfu is really quite capable."
Just as he was talking, a communications soldier came to report: "Sir, the communications soldiers of the 8th Mixed Brigade of the Imperial Association Army have arrived and said they have something important to report to the brigade commander."
"Let him in quickly." Yamaguchi said.
"Hi!"
After the communication troops sent by Yan Sanfu arrived, they clasped their heels together, saluted the mountain pass and Zhongdao, and then said respectfully: "Report to Taijun, our department has discovered a small mountain road running from the northwest to the West Village. Brigadier He led us to penetrate in and sneak attack the eighth road in the village.
The fortifications set up by the Eighth Route Army in the village have now been laid down.
The brigade commander asked me to bring a message to Taijun. Our troops would hold our position, cover the Taijuns of the 4th Brigade, and quickly break through the encirclement from the northwest to the small mountain road. "
After hearing the news suddenly, Nakajima and Yamaguchi looked at each other with joy on their faces.
If things are really like what the signal soldier said, this may be the best opportunity for the Fourth Brigade to break out.
For the nodes where the Independent Regiment of the Eighth Route Army is stationed around West Village, it has become very difficult to break through under the fierce firepower and solid defense of the Independent Regiment.
Yamaguchi has been worrying about how to break out, but now he has hope.
Out of caution, Nakajima asked one more question, "Are you sure you have repelled the Eighth Route Army?"
"The report to Taijun is absolutely unmistakable. The brigade commander led us to suddenly rush out of the small mountain road. The Eighth Route Army did not expect that we were caught off guard.
So far, we have killed more than one company of the main force of the Eighth Route Army.
The troops deployed by the Eighth Route Army were not many, and they were defeated and retreated by us. "
Perhaps it's the same thing. The communications soldiers of the 8th Composite Brigade talk big words without blushing.
"But the brigade commander asked me to tell the Taijun, please hurry up, otherwise the Eighth Route Army from the rear will definitely come with reinforcements."
The situation was urgent and there was no room for Yamaguchi and Nakajima to think too much. Being trapped here was equally dangerous. Now that there was a chance to break out, the two old Japanese did not hesitate.
Yamaguchi ordered: "Okay, you go back and tell Brigadier Yan and ask him to continue to guard the fortifications. I will lead the team to move."
"Hi!" the communications soldier responded, turned and left.
After the communications troops left, Yamaguchi continued to give the order: "Nakajima-kun, immediately give the order to Hirakawa's brigade, asking Hirakawa to send an infantry squadron first to cover the wounded and evacuate from the northwest mountain road where the 8th Mixed Brigade is advancing."
"The main force of our department is following up and preparing to break out from the West Village."
"Hi!" Nakajima responded.
As if victory was already certain, after giving the order, Yamaguchi looked in the direction of Zhangjiazhuang and sighed: "Ishii-kun, I'm sorry, I can only break out first and then find a way to rescue you."
Time moved forward rapidly, and a full five minutes had passed since Kongjie gave the order to the howitzer's mountain artillery battery.
A Japanese squadron of the 4th Mixed Brigade, carrying stretchers and transporting more than a hundred seriously injured people, was already on its way, advancing towards the intersection area of Xicun and the northwest small mountain road.
News of the Japanese advance quickly reached the headquarters of the Eighth Mixed Brigade.
Yan Sanfu, who placed the temporary headquarters on the small mountain road to the northwest, was overjoyed when he heard the news.
He immediately ordered: "Brothers, please guard the fortifications for me. Before Taijun can successfully transfer, we must not let the Eighth Route Army sneak attack."
"You're so smart, don't be idle anymore. Immediately ask the Sixth Regiment Commander to lead the team to meet the Imperial Army troops who came in advance."
"Yes!" Adjutant Wang Dacong responded. Gu Tuan
By the eighth minute.
The Japanese squadron carried more than 100 seriously injured people and rushed to the intersection area of the northwest path and Xichong.
Niukou Village.
At the independent regiment headquarters, the forward scouts passed the news back.
"Reporting to the head of the regiment, a Japanese squadron is approaching the intersection area with Japanese wounded soldiers and has now arrived at the fortification area."
Kong Jie nodded. As he expected, once the Japs knew about the northwest-facing hilly road opened by the Eighth Mixed Brigade of the Puppet Army, the Japs would most likely choose to avoid the node and break out from this direction.
Although the order Kong Jie gave to the mountain artillery company of the howitzer was motivated by anger.
But Commander Kong, who was thoughtful in his work, still took the Japanese army into consideration.
In the subsequent bombardment, Kong Jie wanted to kill the chicken and respect the monkey, severely damage the eighth mixed brigade, and show the puppet troops in the entire Shanxi region what would happen if they dared to mess with the independent group.
While avenging the sacrificed soldiers, Kong Jie didn't mind and severely damaged the Japanese army.
Ten minutes seems to be the most appropriate time now.
Looking in the direction of the West Village intersection, Kong Jie raised his hand and looked at his watch. It was already nine minutes and thirty seconds, and there were still thirty seconds left.
When the second hand clicks on the last small scale.
The howitzer, which meticulously carried out Kong Jie's orders, gave the order to fire, and the gunfire sounded in response.
At this time, the Japanese squadron brought more than 100 wounded soldiers, most of whom had arrived at the intersection area from the northwest hill to Nishimura.
The commander of the Sixth Regiment of the Eighth Mixed Brigade of the puppet army led a group of puppet soldiers to greet him. They all helped carry stretchers and supported the wounded soldiers, and they were very attentive.
On the slope of the fortifications in the Nishimura head area, Yamaguchi and Nakajima held telescopes and looked at the situation in the Nishimura intersection area with smiles on their faces.
"What a blessing, Your Excellency, Brigade Commander, it seems we can transfer out smoothly!"
"Xinxi..."
Yamaguchi nodded, but before he could finish the rest of his words, the sound of artillery exploding at the intersection of Xi Cun and Northwest Xiang Xiaoshan Road brought his words to an abrupt end.
Next, what Nakajima and Yamaguchi saw through the telescope horrified them:
The explosion of the first artillery shell marked the opening. Immediately afterwards, an unknown number of artillery shells landed at the intersection of the West Village and the west-facing hill pass. It was estimated that an area of 200 meters in radius was covered by fire.
In the second half of the West Village, the commander of the independent regiment's mountain artillery company, the howitzer, was directing the artillery soldiers to fire wildly.
Anyway, the regimental commander's order was not to be precise, but to provide full firepower coverage. After determining the approximate area of the gun impact point, the howitzer directly ordered rapid fire.
The Independent Regiment originally had only one artillery company, and the company commander at that time was Wang Chengzhu.
Later, as the number of artillery pieces in the regiment continued to expand and artillery shells gradually became abundant, Kong Jie ordered the expansion of a mountain artillery company. The company commander was the former deputy company commander of the artillery company, Howitzer.
The independent regiment also has two artillery batteries. The artillery and main artillery of these two artillery batteries are of different styles.
The artillery battery led by Wang Chengzhu was mainly composed of captured Type 92 infantry guns and some 82mm and 81mm caliber mortars.
The mountain artillery company led by the howitzer, as its name implies, uses mountain artillery as its main firepower.
So far, there are five 75mm mountain guns, three 37mm rapid-fire guns, plus two 82mm and three 75mm mortars.
The number of shells is not small.
Although Yang Chongshan, the commander of the 57th Regiment of the Jinsui Army, would never dare to sell artillery to Kong Jie, he still dared to secretly smuggle some artillery shells.
Especially after the Japanese launched a large-scale raid on the Taihang area.
The fifty-seventh regiment was not far away and was almost affected.
Kong Jie promised Yang Chongshan that as long as the 57th Regiment could provide artillery shells, once the Japanese were swept over, the Independent Regiment would attract all the Japanese firepower.
In addition, how much does each shell cost?
When Yang Chongshan heard about this good thing, what else could he say? He immediately spared no effort to obtain arms from all aspects and sold them to the independent group.
At this moment, under the command of the howitzers, thirteen artillery pieces were directly locked at the intersection of Xicun and Northwest Xiangshan Road, covering the area with full firepower. The shells fell one after another, and the power could be imagined.
This was a rare scene since the Eighth Route Army's Anti-Japanese War.
Yamaguchi and Nakajima, who were watching the battle from behind, were stunned.
The puppet troops of the 8th Mixed Brigade, which were being covered by artillery, and the Japanese who had just arrived at the intersection area were directly stunned by the bombing.
The little devil was filled with great hatred. Before his death, he cursed these puppet soldiers from the bottom of his heart.
If it hadn't been for these troublesome Imperial Army troops, why would they have rushed over to die?
Anger, shock, helplessness and desolation, all kinds of emotions were mixed in the bottom of his heart, so that Yamaguchi, who was shaking all over, clenched his fist and hit his chest hard.
The squadron sent out by the Pingchuan Brigade, as well as more than a hundred imperial wounded soldiers, have been overwhelmed by artillery fire.
The artillery strikes currently being used by the Eighth Route Army were unable to counterattack when the Fourth Mixed Brigade lost its artillery unit.
The angry Yamaguchi issued an order: "Contact the headquarters immediately via radio and request emergency aviation support from the commander!"
"The location is locked at the rear area of Xicun, the target is the artillery unit of the Independent Regiment of the Eighth Route Army."
"Hi!"
…
Yan Sanfu, the brigade commander of the Eighth Mixed Brigade of the puppet army, who witnessed this tragic scene more closely, had a look of horror, despair, and regret on his face at this moment.
Now he finally understood why such a sentence gradually spread among the ranks of the Imperial Alliance Army:
I would rather offend the national army than the Eighth Route Army, and I would rather offend the Eighth Route Army than the independent regiment!
This tiger's butt is really untouchable.
Under the full firepower of the mountain artillery battery of the Independent Regiment, all the fortifications where the puppet troops and Japanese troops were stationed at the intersection of Xicun and Xiangshan Road in the northwest were flooded by artillery fire.
Most of the fifth and sixth regiments of his eighth mixed brigade are stationed in the fortification area.
Out of his cautious character and fear of death, Yan Sanfu placed this temporary headquarters on the northwest mountain road. Otherwise, the situation would have been equally bad at this moment.
Looking at the main forces of the fifth and sixth regiments that were directly swallowed up by the artillery fire.
Yan Sanfu staggered back a few steps, his face suddenly turned pale, "It's over, it's all over!"
In these troubled times, the gun is the last word, and troops are the way to go.
Isn't it because Yan Sanfu was able to mediate between various forces, get both sides of the situation, and reach his current position all the way because he has guns and troops at his disposal?
At present, the troops of his two regiments cannot escape the fate of being severely damaged.
So much so that Yan Sanfu felt despair in his heart.
My intestines are almost turning green.
If I had known that this independent group would be such a tough opponent, I would only come to provoke this independent group after I was full and full!
To use a classic plot: Xie Baoqing, Xie Baoqing, why did you provoke that bastard Li Yunlong?
Yan Sanfu, Yan Sanfu, why did you provoke this tiger of the Independence Group?
Adjutant Wang Dacong reacted quickly and said quickly: "Sergeant, if we wait any longer, our two regiments will be completely destroyed. Please give the order to retreat immediately!"
Hearing this, Yan Sanfu glared at the adjutant and cursed: "Damn it, you are really smart. I will settle the score with you later!"
"Send my order and notify the fifth and sixth regiments to retreat immediately!"
…
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