A high-explosive grenade hit near the entrance of the tunnel. The violent explosion splashed a large amount of sand and gravel, and instantly buried the small tunnel entrance. Fortunately, the machine gun team deployed there had already withdrawn into the tunnel, but even so, It also took the soldiers a long time to dig out the tunnel entrance.
"His grandma's, this is a 105mm heavy artillery, either Type 99 or Type 91. The little devil is really spending a lot of money. He has been fighting us for three days, and he can still explode like this." Li Yunlong wiped it. He wiped the dirt off his head and said bitterly, "This guy was lying at the entrance of the tunnel just now to observe the situation of the Japanese. If he hadn't moved quickly, he would have been buried by now."
"Lao Li, what do you think you are worried about? If you combine the strength of the Third Brigade independently, you will definitely not be able to take down Laojun Mountain. I guess you are just showing off." Wang Yue curled his lips at the side and said the same. Patting the dirt on his body, well, it was actually Li Yunlong and Wang Yue who were watching the excitement just now.
"The little devils thought they were just walking their dogs. They let the Imperial Army out to attack more than a dozen times every day. They really thought they could use up all our ammunition." Li Yunlong threw the soil-covered towel to the guard. Said disdainfully.
"The Japanese can't help it. Haven't you noticed that the Japanese have used eight-kilogram and fifteen-kilogram aerial bombs these days? In fact, they don't have much capital. Let me tell you, Lao Li, you still Urging the troops to open the underground palace as soon as possible so that we can evacuate, it is too wasteful to waste time like this, which is too disrespectful to the imperial army." Wang Yue said in a joking tone.
"I think so too, but the tunnel is too badly damaged. We can only dig and reinforce it at the same time. The key is that we don't know how long it is. Brother Wang, are you sure there are things belonging to your ancestors hidden in the underground palace?" Li Yunlong was suspicious of Wang Yue's words, but he had to believe it. If you said Wang Yue was lying, how could this guy know that Laojun Temple was made of red sandalwood? How could he know that hundreds of pieces of it had been damaged? The tunnel of the underground palace?
But when he was at the Huting stronghold, Li Yunlong clearly felt that this was the first time Wang Yue heard the name Laojun Mountain! It's all weird.
"Let's do it. At this rate, I estimate that I can get through the underground palace tonight. Lao Li, I can tell you that the premise for me to provide support to our Eighth Route Army is that I must be the first to enter the underground palace. You must restrain the soldiers here. Otherwise, I won't be able to explain it to my elders at home." Wang Yue said seriously. He could use the system to scan it, so he would naturally know the specific conditions of the excavation, but it was difficult to explain it clearly.
"Come on, don't watch the fun anymore. I'll go down and replace Kong Er." After saying that, Li Yunlong took off his military uniform, revealing his scarred upper body. It's not that he is heroic or has any hobbies, it's just that there is too much space in the corridor. It's hot, and people with poor health can't really do this job. Just like this, a horizontal tunnel needs to be dug every 100 meters to ensure ventilation, otherwise it can really suffocate people to death.
Let’s talk about the little devils on the other side. At the beginning, when the independent third brigade came, they really pretended to take Laojun Mountain in one fell swoop. You must know that Lieutenant General Yoshizawa Tadao was defeated by the Eighth Route Army and Jinsui Army. After harassing them all the way, they have almost become a joke to the imperial army. They are holding back their anger and have nowhere to vent their anger!
The Japanese's first wave of attacks focused on hundreds of large and small artillery pieces and launched a half-hour bombardment on the surface positions of Laojun Mountain. The precious Army Air Force also gathered more than 40 bombers and more than 30 fighter jets to cooperate. They also used chemical weapons such as mustard gas and phosgene, which were really powerful enough to shake the earth and destroy the heaven and earth.
However, it was of no use. Facing Laojun Mountain, which had been transformed into a tunnel and a fortress, the Japanese's indiscriminate bombing did achieve great results, killing and wounding hundreds of Eighth Route Army soldiers, but it was not enough to defeat the Eighth Route Army. The defense collapsed, which was clearly reflected in the subsequent attack.
Facing the attack of a Japanese brigade, a brigade of the Imperial Association Army, and a total of 5,000 people, thousands of troops suddenly appeared on the already devastated Laojun Mountain main position, with a huge number of light machine guns, heavy machine guns, and mortars. The intensity of firepower far exceeded that of the Japanese army. A large area of the attacking Japanese and puppet troops were wiped out at once. Faced with the unprecedented intensity of firepower, even the Japanese who were following the Imperial Alliance Army to supervise the battle were a little shaken.
During this period, the Japanese artillery firepower also tried to suppress it, but the accuracy of the artillery equipment of the Japanese artillery was limited, and it was difficult to directly hit the fire bunkers of the Eighth Route Army. Those bunkers of the Eighth Route Army were reinforced with logs and rammed earth. As long as they were not directly hit by large-caliber heavy artillery, Hit, normal attacks are useless at all, and the tried and tested grenade can deal with the Eighth Route Army's bunker? It's of no use at all.
Moreover, the Eighth Route Army will also use a similar small-caliber mortar to focus on the enemy's technical arms. Once the enemy's machine gun or grenade enters within 500 meters of the front of the position, a large number of artillery shells will hit them. At that time, a heavy machine gun would attract more than a dozen shells. God knows where the Eighth Route Army got so many mortars. You must know that even the Imperial Japanese Army did not have such luxury. Regarding this, Brigadier Chen I can only snicker, because a certain guy has promised to provide the Eighth Route Army with about one million rounds of 45mm mortar shells as long as the underground palace is opened.
In this way, the first attack on the independent mixed third brigade lost more than 90 Japanese and more than 2,000 Imperial Army troops. The morale of the troops was suddenly knocked down. Lieutenant General Yoshizawa Tadao also stopped attacking the Eighth Route Army. Feeling of contempt, he called Lieutenant Colonel Hirata Ichiro, who had been ignored by him before, to analyze the situation on Laojun Mountain.
It was only at this time that Lieutenant General Yoshizawa Tadao realized that he had encountered a really hard nut to crack this time. More than 5,000 well-equipped Eighth Route regular troops were huddled in the Yongbei fortification group in Laojun Mountain, and the Eighth Route Army was also gathered around them. With the support of 10,000 to 20,000 troops, this is definitely a battle-level operation, and his brigade is a sharp blade in the hands of the imperial army, a sharp blade that can annihilate the main force of the Eighth Route Army.
Therefore, at the strong request of Yoshizawa Tadao, Lieutenant General Shinozuka Yoshio also dispatched another mobile force in his hand to form the fourth independent mixed brigade. The artillery brigade and the third regiment of the independent mixed fourth brigade were directly The reinforcements were given to the Jize Brigade, while other troops were strengthened on the transportation line from Heyuan to Taiyuan to fully ensure the supply of materials on the front line. This is why the Jize Brigade still had enough ammunition after three days of fighting.
On the other hand, Lieutenant General Yoshizawa Tadao also built his own security area with Heyuan County as the core, and tried his best to eliminate the threatening Eighth Route Army troops in the areas around Laojun Mountain. For example, Ding Weixin's regiment, which was besieging Ping'an County, was attacked by the Japanese. A brigade and a squadron of tanks rushed back to the mountains. For a while, the war-torn situation around Heyuan County was greatly alleviated.
At the same time, Lieutenant General Yoshizawa Tadao also sent out a division of the Imperial Association Army and began to raid the surrounding countryside. More than 20,000 young and middle-aged people were arrested overnight, and then the Japanese drove these civilians and started Digging in the direction of Laojun Mountain, does it feel familiar? Yes, it is geotechnical excavation, but the Japanese did it on a larger scale and more carefully. In one fell swoop, hundreds of tunnels were opened opposite Laojun Mountain. The people were ordered to cut down trees, cover the trenches with logs, and then compact them with clay.
Faced with this situation, Brigadier Chen had no choice but to order the 772nd Regiment and a desperate regiment to launch a counterattack, rescuing more than 5,000 civilians at the cost of nearly 1,000 casualties, but this happened to be a hit. Yoshizawa Tadao's plan was to force the Eighth Route Army to take the initiative, so that he could consume the opponent bit by bit in the field.
Just when Tadao Yoshizawa wanted to repeat his old tricks, the heavy artillery unit of the Eighth Route Army, which had been holding back, opened fire. 14 122mm guns and 16 75mm guns formed a large artillery group, which suddenly overthrew the Japanese configuration. Passing the front Type 92 infantry artillery position, it destroyed the infantry artillery group that Yoshizawa Tadao had finally collected at one time. In addition, the Japanese field artillery that had not moved their positions also suffered considerable losses. Both the 75mm gun and the 105mm gun There is a loss.
Faced with this situation, Lieutenant General Yoshizawa Tadao had to order the troops to retreat until they were beyond the heavy artillery fire of the Eighth Route Army. He only placed a few detachments next to the fortification group built by Ichiro Hirata for close reconnaissance. Although in this case he should choose to engage in an artillery battle with the Eighth Route Army, the firepower of the Eighth Route Army was too brutal. They used more than a dozen 122mm heavy artillery at the beginning. The only four Type 99 105mm cannons in his hand were He has no advantage at all, and he can't afford to lose. You must know that the Japanese brigade level is rarely equipped with artillery with a caliber of 75 mm or above. Even these four Type 99 105 mm cannons were equipped to him through personal connections. of.
The only consolation is that because the Imperial Army still had aviation forces, the Eighth Route Army's artillery bombardment did not last long. Otherwise, it is estimated that Lieutenant General Yoshizawa Tadao would not even be able to completely withdraw the troops. There is no way. Who doesn't have the advantage in terms of firepower or military strength?
As for continuing to drive the common people away from the tunnel, let's forget it. Even if it's ten kilometers long, the imperial army won't dare use it. Wouldn't that be the same as letting the Eighth Route Army use machine guns to guard the entrance of the tunnel to roll call for the imperial army?
But Tadao Yoshizawa didn't want to let these people go like this. After that afternoon, he sent a brigade of Japs with a squadron of Type 94 tanks and drove tens of thousands of people to attack Laojun Mountain. That's right. , this guy just wants to use the common people as human shields to force the Eighth Route Army to submit. In the view of Lieutenant General Yoshizawa Tadao, as long as the soldiers of the Imperial Army are allowed to rush into position, the end of the Eighth Route Army will come.
But before Lieutenant General Yoshizawa Tadao could have a good dream, the Eighth Route Army was dispatched again. The Eighth Route Army dispatched 21 tanks at once, accompanied by a battalion of infantry. They suddenly inserted themselves into the side of the Japanese army and headed towards them. The Japanese army launched an attack, and the common people took advantage of this opportunity and fled in all directions under the organization of the underground party, with few casualties.
The Japs were obviously prepared for the appearance of the Eighth Route Army. Although the appearance of the Eighth Route Army tank troops was unexpected, the well-trained Japs adjusted immediately and launched an attack on the Eighth Route Army with the tank squadron as the core. Hedging, the Japanese fighter jets in the sky also lowered their altitude and began to prepare for an attack. However, the distance between the two armies was very close. Neither the Japanese aviation nor the artillery dared to fire easily for fear of causing accidental damage.
Of course, the Japanese brigade on the ground also felt that they did not need reinforcements. Aviation and artillery would only affect their performance. He wanted to annihilate the elite tank battalion of the Eighth Route Army in one fell swoop in front of the brigade commander and re-establish the confidence of the imperial army. However, the reality was very difficult. Soon the Japanese captain realized how wrong he was.
The Type 94 tanks equipped by the Japanese independent mixed third brigade are all early models. Their weapons only have a Type 91 6.5mm machine gun and not even armor-piercing bullets. It can be said that with a little armor-piercing ability, they can bully the infantry. Although the CV-33 tanks in the hands of the Eighth Route Army are also rubbish, they can be deployed in northern Africa for a long time. They are equipped with tracer armor-piercing bullets, so after only one round, those Type 94 tanks were already lying down before they could start running. Only the Japanese soldiers carrying the 38 caps were left standing there in a daze.
But the Japanese captain still did not hesitate at all. He waved his command sword and commanded the troops to kill. What happened to the imperial army without tanks? When they fought in Songhu, the imperial army's tanks were not good enough, but they could not kill the Chinese army. Damn it, as long as it can stick up, the imperial army will definitely win.
But soon, the Eighth Route Army once again taught the Japs how to behave. I saw that the Eighth Route Army soldiers were armed with a Beretta M1918. The overwhelming rain of bullets swept over them at once, giving the Japs no chance to get close to the tank troops. I just killed an opponent on the front line of the Japanese brigade, and then ran quickly towards a nearby forest without stopping. Just kidding, there are still Japanese planes in the sky. I will continue to fight with you, waiting to be finally killed by your plane. Name call?
Sure enough, the Japanese fighter jets that had been hovering in the sky found an opportunity, pounced down, and started strafing the tanks below. Brigadier Chen, who was watching the battle on the mountain, felt nervous at that time. He knew that no matter which battlefield it was, , tanks are an absolute disadvantage to aircraft, but he soon discovered that his worries seemed to be unnecessary. Compared with the thin top armor of the CV-33, the power of the 7.7mm machine gun on the Japanese fighter jet was even more limited. As long as Even if the distance is extremely close, it can't hurt the tank.
It was not until our tank troops withdrew into the woods that the Japanese aviation forces destroyed two tanks. You must know that there were dozens of fighter jets. If you show such a record to the people in Noodle Country, they will not believe it. , CV-33 hard-to-fight fighter, or without air defense, do you think I am a fool?
It's just that the infantry attached to the tank unit suffered heavy losses in the battle. A main battalion of 600 people suddenly suffered close to 300 casualties, which was equivalent to being disabled. Of course, the situation was even worse for the Japanese brigade. When the Japanese fighter jets focused on our tank unit, the artillery unit took the opportunity to launch an attack and covered the remaining Japanese soldiers with fire. Finally, when the Japanese troops came up, a 700-man With less than a hundred men left in the infantry brigade, the third independent mixed brigade suffered its greatest losses since the war began.
Surprisingly, the Japanese had a back-up plan. It turned out that Lieutenant Commander Hirata Ichiro had arranged for the traitors from the Heyuan County Secret Service to sneak into the ranks of the common people. Later, the common people fled, and these spies followed tens of thousands of common people and were picked up by the Eighth Route Army. In the past, that night, the Japanese launched a brigade-sized night attack. In the process, hundreds of spies took the opportunity to cause chaos and caused considerable losses to our army. One of the spies even blew up a bunch of Hundreds of 122mm high-explosive grenades.
But in the face of the overwhelming superiority of the Eighth Route Army, the Japanese's massive night attack failed in the end. After all, the Japanese's planes could not take off at night. Against the Eighth Route Army, the Japanese had no chance of winning and could only be wasted. Get rid of the spies planted by Ichiro Hirata.
