Resistance against Japan: Starting with the local militia

Chapter 211 Artillery Positions

Colonel Kobayashi, who was preparing for the attack, was unaware of the militia's actions on the front lines. He was boosting the morale of his soldiers and organizing his troops for the next wave of attack.

The ferocity of this battle far exceeded his expectations. Since it entered the Chinese battlefield, it had never fought such a brutal battle. In close-quarters combat alone, the two sides clashed several times.

The resilience of this Chinese army exceeded Colonel Kobayashi's expectations. Several times, Colonel Kobayashi had led his troops to capture the position, but it was eventually recaptured by this Chinese army.

Colonel Kobayashi originally led over 700 Imperial soldiers, but now only about 200 remain capable of fighting. In just a few hours, his side has lost nearly 500 soldiers. Although Colonel Kobayashi knows that the enemy has also suffered heavy casualties.

This is a test of resilience between the two sides, to see who can stand the longest.

Another unit, commanded by Colonel Kurosawa, also suffered heavy losses. Colonel Kobayashi had a premonition that even if they broke through the current defenses, their remaining forces would be unable to continue the attack on Wolong Mountain.

The shadow of defeat loomed over Colonel Kobayashi. Just as Colonel Kobayashi was pondering this, his company commander ran over and said...

"Report, Colonel, the troops have been reorganized and are ready to continue the offensive." The company commander's tone was resolute.

"Attack immediately after the artillery fire ends."

Colonel Kobayashi cleared his mind of the chaotic thoughts and immediately issued the order to continue the attack. Today, he had received a death order from the regimental commander: he must break through this enemy defensive line.

"Hay."

After receiving the order, the company commander retreated to the rear to prepare for the upcoming attack.

As soon as the artillery fire ceased, Kobayashi immediately issued orders.

"attack!"

The Japanese soldiers charged forward again.

To Colonel Kobayashi's surprise, the position was completely empty, and he successfully captured the enemy's third line of defense.

Colonel Kobayashi, holding up his binoculars, watched the retreating Chinese troops and immediately understood that the enemy was withdrawing voluntarily, handing over the position to them.

"Oh no, we have to retreat."

Colonel Ozawa suddenly realized something and immediately organized his troops to withdraw from the position. Just as Colonel Kobayashi was about to retreat, the sound of dense artillery fire rang out again from the position.

It was the artillery fire of this Chinese army!

When Colonel Kobayashi withdrew from the position, his troops had only a little over 100 men left. On the other side, Colonel Kurosawa's remaining troops were in no better shape, with fewer than 200 men left.

Meanwhile, the battle in Tangjia Town had also intensified. Under the command of Matsukawa Maki and Ikeda Maken, they launched repeated attacks on Tangjia Town.

This time, Matsukawa Maki changed tactics, adopting a steady and methodical approach, clearing out houses one by one. Later, Ikeda directed the engineers to begin blasting the tunnels, increasing the speed of excavation.

Once the tunnel was blown up, Matsukawa Maki ordered the poison gas unit to start throwing poison gas bombs into the tunnel, and then immediately sealed the tunnel entrance, attempting to poison the Chinese troops inside with poison gas.

"Damn it, Battalion Commander, those Japanese devils have no sportsmanship. They've started using poison gas." Shen Lei cursed.

"We just received a report from the regimental headquarters warning us to be wary of the Japanese using poison gas against us. I didn't expect the Japanese to actually use poison gas against us."

"Battalion Commander, it seems we've pushed the Japanese to the limit."

"It's good to push them to the edge, it's good to push them to the edge, the Japanese will inevitably make mistakes when they are in a hurry."

"Deputy Battalion Commander Shen, have all the gas masks for the company been distributed?"

"Battalion Commander, the gas masks have been distributed, one for each man in the company."

"Shen Lei, take your company and head to the gas depot immediately. Block the gas out of the tunnel for me."

"Yes, Battalion Commander." I'll go right away.

"Staff Officer Yao."

"arrive."

"Notification: Second Company, Third Company, and Reserve Company, attack the Japanese artillery positions. Most of the Japanese forces are concentrated in Tangjia Town. Their artillery positions must be poorly defended. Tell them to find a way to take them down!"

"The remaining defending troops should try to use the remaining tunnel entrances to launch an attack on the Japanese. We must keep the Japanese on the position."

"Yes."

Upon receiving the mission, Staff Officer Yao immediately began making arrangements.

"Company commander, company commander, orders from battalion headquarters."

"read."

"Company commander, the battalion headquarters has ordered us to launch an attack on the Japanese artillery positions when the opportunity arises, and to try to seize them."

"Damn it, it's finally our turn to move! These past two days, the other companies have been fighting the Japanese to the death, and I've been so bored," the second company commander exclaimed.

"Communicator, please bring over the company commander of the third company and the company commander of the reserve team temporarily formed from the wounded. We have something to discuss."

"Yes."

A short while later, the third company commander and the reserve company commander walked over together.

"Company commanders, have you both received orders from battalion headquarters?" the second company commander asked.

"Received. Orders to attack the Japanese artillery positions."

"I invited you two here today to discuss how to attack the Japanese artillery positions."

"Based on the reconnaissance by my company, the Japanese artillery positions are divided into three parts." The second company commander said as he drew a map on the ground.

"Moreover, the three artillery positions are not close to each other. So my idea is that each of our three companies should take one as the combat target and launch an attack on each target at the same time, how about that?" the second company commander continued.

“We have no problem,” the other two company commanders nodded in agreement.

"Of these three Japanese artillery positions, the left and right flanks are more heavily defended, while the middle artillery position is less so. So the 3rd Company and I are responsible for the left and right flanks, while the reserve company is responsible for the middle artillery position," the 2nd Company Commander continued.

"I'm in charge of attacking the left flank," the battalion commander said.

"I have no opinion."

The reserve company commander nodded in agreement. Although the reserve company had a larger number of soldiers, most of them had some minor injuries, so its actual combat effectiveness was not as good as the other two companies.

The reserve company commander readily accepted the combat assignment as the second company commander.

"To ensure the secrecy of this operation, everyone go around to the back of the Japanese soldiers and sneak past from behind. Under no circumstances should the Japanese soldiers discover us."

"Yes, we understand."

"Alright, everyone move out on your own now. We'll launch the attack simultaneously in half an hour. Now let's check our watches," the second company commander said.

"The time is fine."

"Okay, let's get started."

After checking their reports, the three company commanders split up and went their separate ways to infiltrate their designated targets.

"Battalion Commander, the Second Company, the Third Company, and the Reserve Company are in position. They will begin their operation in 10 minutes," Yao Xing said.

"Once they attack the Japanese artillery positions, the Japanese will inevitably have to come back to reinforce them. So, you need to inform Deputy Battalion Commander Shen that you must drag the Japanese back to the positions and prevent them from reinforcing."

"Yes, battalion commander."

10 minute later.

"Time's up, everyone attack!" The second company commander immediately ordered the attack once the agreed time had arrived.

"Charge!" The second company commander ordered his troops to begin firing at the enemy's artillery positions.

At this moment, the two Japanese squads responsible for defending the artillery positions were completely unprepared for the enemy's attack.

The Japanese soldiers only realized what was happening after the Second Company had almost broken into the Japanese position.

"Baka yarou! Enemy attack! Sound the alarm!" The Japanese squad leader hurriedly issued the order.