The Japanese headquarters that entered the Zhongtiao Mountain defense line from the gap between the 5th and 4th Army Group Army's defense lines belonged to the 40th Regiment of the 8th Brigade of the 10th Division.
Yes, this Japanese army is the famous 10th Division that became one of China's rare losers in the bloody battle at Taierzhuang.
In the Battle of Taierzhuang, the 33rd Infantry Brigade under his command was almost made a big dumpling, which became a lingering shame in the history of Japanese army warfare.
But this does not mean that the 10th Division is not strong enough. With the transfer of its division commander Isoya and the arrival of the successor division commander Shinozuka Kazuo, the 10th Division will be the only division in the next Battle of Central China.
With the force of the regiment, the regiment broke through the Luoshan Defense Line defended by 60,000 Chinese troops and went straight to Xinyang. It regained the trust of the Japanese Army Base Camp and was placed under the command of the North China Front after the Battle of Central China.
In this battle of Zhongtiao Mountain, the main force of the 10th Division rested in the Pingjin area, and only one infantry regiment arrived at the front line.
Itagaki Shiro, who was a good friend of Shinozuka Kazuo, did not send this elite infantry unit to the front line.
Instead, he kept it in his hand as a reserve force. Even if there was a possibility that the Four Lines Regiment on Wangwu Mountain might threaten his rear, he did not use what he considered to be an elite force. He did not use this card until he found a gap in the Chinese army's defense line.
He was beaten out.
The two infantry brigades that entered the Chinese defense line were also the leaders of the 40th Infantry Regiment of the 10th Division. One had a record of defeating five times the enemy's force in the Battle of Yuwangshan in the Battle of Xuzhou, and the other had a record of defeating five times the enemy's force in the Battle of Luoshan.
It broke through the enemy's defense line to a depth of 10 kilometers and forced its army group to retreat overnight, eventually causing the entire Luoshan defense line to collapse.
The two major captains both have the Golden Eagle Medal, which was created in 1890. This is a medal among Japan's wide variety of medals that is only awarded to soldiers with military merit. Even generals and royal soldiers without military merit cannot obtain it.
From this point of view, it is really not good luck to meet Second Lieutenant Long, who is like an opponent of the Ace Infantry Brigade.
But even when the Japanese army stole homes, it didn't matter whether the opponent was strong or weak.
What's important is whether this elite Japanese infantry brigade has any equipment that can directly pose a huge threat to his firepower point.
This one really doesn't exist.
The gap between the two army group defense lines is actually only more than 1,000 meters, and there are ravines and crisscrosses in it, which is not suitable for the army to move forward. The two infantry brigades affiliated with the 40th Infantry Regiment are not gods, and they rely solely on manpower to carry the two doors.
The infantry artillery weighing more than 200 kilograms is already their limit.
Top-secret intelligence from the Imperial Intelligence Department shows that there is a Chinese infantry army headquarters in Munan Town on the edge of the Yellow River, and it is the headquarters of the 38th Army, the most powerful Chinese infantry army in the central Zhongtiao Mountain Theater.
How could two infantry brigades not want to eliminate this serious enemy of the military in one fell swoop?
But not all Chinese people are theatergoers. No matter how great the pressure on the front line is, if they see their own military commander being attacked, is there any reason not to come to the rescue?
So, the two infantry brigade captains joined forces, one went to "steal", and the other was responsible for blocking the Chinese troops who came to rescue.
A military headquarters, security forces and civilian personnel can only have a few hundred people at most, and they don't have any heavy weapons. An infantry brigade is more than enough to kill them. If everything goes well, the battle can be resolved in less than a morning, and maybe they can turn it over.
Chinese troops who dared to come to the rescue.
Therefore, the 2nd Infantry Brigade under the 40th Infantry Regiment led an infantry artillery squad to set up defenses on the only way for the Chinese to pass. The 1st Infantry Brigade led its own 3 infantry squadrons and half a squadron of 6 heavy machine guns.
Heavy machine gunned down Benmonan Town.
Why there are only 3 infantry squadrons and half a heavy machine gun squadron is because the commander of the infantry group at the time, Lieutenant Colonel Sekosuke, was cunning and suspicious. In order to prevent the Chinese 5th Group Army on the other side from also sending reinforcements, he specially kept a hand in his own hands.
An infantry squadron was left behind on the left side of the march direction to provide support.
This is equivalent to the fact that inside the Chinese defense zone, the Japanese troops that penetrated deeply formed a small triangular formation. A complete infantry brigade with two infantry cannons formed a point to resist the reinforcements sent by the 4th Group Army. Three
An infantry squadron with 6 heavy machine guns and a total of more than 700 people formed an attack point, intending to massacre Monan Town. In addition, there were more than 300 Japanese troops guarding against the 5th Group Army that might attack from the other side.
It looks very scientific and has enough destructive power, especially for the Chinese defense line, which is already shaky on the front line.
Just for these two Japanese elite infantry brigades, even in peacetime, China would have to send at least an infantry brigade of more than 5,000 people to deal with it. At this time, who dares to dispatch an infantry brigade or even an infantry regiment?
At first glance, it seems that the monkey has entered the belly of Princess Iron Fan and said, "No matter how painful I beat you, there is nothing you can do to me."
Although this deep penetration tactic was only superficial in Tang Dao's eyes, it did hit the weak spot of the Chinese defense line at this time, and the weakness of insufficient reserves in the hands of the two Chinese group armies was infinitely magnified.
The infantry regiment that was originally supposed to guard the flank of the defense line immediately marched towards Munan Town under a telegram from the 4th Army Headquarters. Under the obstruction of a Japanese infantry brigade, it was certain that it would not be able to reach Munan Town in a short time.
Even the major general and brigade commander of the 46th Independent Brigade of the 38th Army was impatient and personally brought one of his own guard companies and two baggage companies for reinforcements, but it probably wouldn't have much effect.
The safety of Munan Town actually depends on an infantry platoon-level unit of only 53 people, and its top commander is only a new second lieutenant who has been in the army for less than four months.
And this new second lieutenant also 'lived up to expectations' and showed his true qualities as a recruit. Not only did he only deploy one guard squad on the most important frontal position, but he was also far away from the command post, and instead led two signal corpsmen armed only with small pistols.
Hiding in a small natural bunker, he acted as a machine gunner.
Now, you can just be a platoon leader and a machine gun shooter, with the rank of sergeant and staff sergeant.
At least this was what the three sergeant squad leaders, Luo Wanjian, Gu Mancang, and Wang Dashui, thought before the war started.
At that time, none of them expected that this second lieutenant platoon leader, who looked unreliable, would actually lead the three of them and less than 50 Chinese soldiers to launch the most brilliant defense in the entire Zhongtiao Mountain battle.
war.
No, it should be said that the entire Chinese battlefield is glorious enough.
Because, it was 53VS720. The Japanese army was overwhelming with a strength of 14 to 1. In terms of heavy equipment, there were 6 heavy machine guns that completely suppressed the two Chinese ones.
The Japanese who had just defeated a Chinese guard company thought the same way. After briefly observing the Chinese blocking position, Lieutenant Colonel Sekosuke quickly issued an attack order.
An infantry squadron was on the left wing to contain the attack, and two infantry squadrons were attacking frontally, with 6 heavy machine guns, 18 light machine guns and 18 grenade fire providing cover.
It's not a particularly impressive lineup, but for the 53 Chinese soldiers on the battlefield, it's like Mount Tai, unstoppable.
Sekosuke didn't even bother to conduct any fire test, and directly sent an infantry team as the front team and an infantry team as the rear team to start the attack along the hillside that was never more than 100 meters wide.
The vanguard soldiers had previously exchanged fire with the Chinese blocking position blocking their army's advance. The Chinese's strength would never exceed a hundred people. He invested two infantry squads and all heavy firepower at one time for cover. That was already very impressive.
These are Chinese people.
As the Japanese infantrymen cautiously advanced, the Chinese relied on rocks, shrubs, and simple trenches. Except for the dust splashed by various Japanese machine guns, there was no reaction.
"Yo Xi! Order the Gutian team to speed up, but don't be too impatient. Once they are 100 meters away from the Chinese position, they will crawl forward. The heavy machine gun squadron will give them enough fire cover to kill the Chinese who dare to show their heads." Just stood there.
Sekosuke, who was 500 meters away, nodded with satisfaction.
Of course he knew what the Chinese wanted to do, but he just wanted to save ammunition and wait for the imperial infantry to get close and shoot! What a pity, the poor Chinese would have such ferocious fire cover from the imperial infantry?
The 6 heavy machine guns stationed 500 meters away and the 18 light machine guns stationed 300 meters away can form an airtight firepower net. Any Chinese who dares to lean out of the bunker will be hit by this cold firepower net.
kill.
They have no chance at all.
That is what he did when he led his troops to break through the Luoshan defense line, which was heavily guarded by the Chinese. Through the pressure of the advancing infantry, he forced the Chinese to expose their heavy firepower to suppress it, and then used grenades and infantry artillery to destroy it.
.
The Chinese, who had lost their heavy firepower, could only rely on infantry bolt-fire rifles to fight back, but what was the use of this?
Especially when he assembled the two 92 infantry guns and all the heavy machine guns in the brigade to provide fire coverage, the Chinese infantry could only be forced to hide in the trenches, watching helplessly as their own infantry approached more than 30 meters in front of their position and began to fire in large numbers
Throw a grenade
Finally, under the sharp bayonets of the imperial officers and soldiers, the Chinese broke up and fled like frightened sheep.
But how can sheep escape the fangs of wolves?
The Japanese Army Lieutenant Colonel was in such a good mood that he even felt that it was a bit monotonous to look at the backs of his imperial officers and soldiers advancing on the hillside with his telescope, so he put down his telescope and looked up into the distance.
"Your Excellency, Captain, the map shows that this place is only 1,200 meters away from Munan Town, where the Chinese 38th Army headquarters is stationed. If everything goes well, we can have a hot lunch in this town."
The Japanese captain heard this and spread the map in front of his superior who was in a good mood.
"I'm afraid that will be difficult!" Sekosuke shook his head and pointed to a place on the map: "After we found and killed the Chinese general who had a bounty of 300,000 yen from the front army headquarters, we ordered the Ogawa Squadron to come.
Meet my team, we are going here."
"Your Excellency, captain, the captain of the unit must be careful before leaving. Although the Chinese are weak in combat, their military power cannot be underestimated, and we must not be surrounded by them." The Japanese army captain looked at what his immediate superior was pointing at.
area, shocked.
That was the Zhangjiadian area, an area where Nakamura Masao personally led three infantry regiments to attack violently. The Chinese had nearly three infantry divisions there.
"The captain is in the rear, how can we, the frontline troops, know the battle situation?" A sneer flashed across the corner of Sekosuke's lips. "We have been ordered to attack the enemy's 38th Army headquarters. So far, there is only one Chinese infantry regiment in front of us.
Come to support, it means that the Chinese troops are already stretched thin and there is no reserve force at all.
And our attack on the rear of their defense line with more than a thousand imperial officers and soldiers is very likely to be the straw that breaks the camel's back.
By then, the glory of the Battle of Rashan will be repeated for our 1st Infantry Battalion. Maeda-kun, don’t you want such glory?
Besides, Maeda-kun, I am very optimistic about you commanding the 1st Infantry Battalion."
The Japanese army captain instantly realized what his immediate superior meant.
In the last Battle of Luoshan, Sekosuke was promoted to Army Lieutenant Colonel based on his military exploits, but he was still not satisfied. He had already set his sights on the position where he was now the commander of the regiment. In this battle, he only had the merit of killing a Chinese general.
Apparently it's not enough.
But if he assists Masao Nakamura in defeating the defense line of the Chinese 4th Army, that will be enough.
And if Sekosuke becomes the captain of the regiment, then he, the second-ranking figure in the infantry brigade, has the hope of being promoted to Army Major.
"Hi! I understand! I must obey your military orders, Captain, and kill all the Chinese I meet." The Japanese Army Captain nodded heavily and stood at attention.
"Yes! Maeda-kun, let's work hard together! The empire's military fortune will be prosperous!" Sekousuke nodded with satisfaction.
At this moment, they heard the shrill sound of the hand-cranked siren ahead. The two Japanese officers no longer thought about the future, but both picked up their telescopes and looked at the battlefield.
That was the Japanese infantry squadron leader on the front line giving the order to throw grenades, and within a few seconds, the charge would begin.
"Boom, boom, boom!" Dozens of clouds of gunpowder smoke rose one after another from the position hidden by the bushes.
All Japanese machine guns cease fire!
Although they were shooting from the flanks, when the infantry was about to straighten up and start charging, these scattered firepower points must cease fire to avoid accidentally injuring their own people. This is military doctrine.
"Hit me!" Wang Dashui roared in a completely hoarse voice.
Along with the sound of the shell gun in his hand, the submachine guns and rifles on the position began to fire.
The Japanese infantrymen who had just braced themselves and raised their rifles in preparation for a charge were caught off guard, and six or seven of them fell to the ground in a row.
Behind the telescope, Sekosuke's eyes did not change at all.
He never imagined that the Chinese would completely retreat without any resistance. There is a Chinese saying that goes, "The rabbit bites when it is anxious." This was the last desperate resistance of the rabbit.
If an anxious rabbit bites it, it will produce some blood at most, but he can roast the rabbit meat, braise it in braised meat, or do whatever he wants with the rabbit.
This is the confidence that strength gives the Japanese Army Lieutenant Colonel.
This is the hunting ground for imperial warriors.
The same goes for the whole of China!
"Onboard!" the Japanese infantry roared.
Along with the roar, not only the more than 50 Japanese soldiers at the forefront of the Chinese position strode forward like brave cheetahs, but the infantry team located 200 meters behind also picked up their guns and began to run wildly.
This is a wave-style attack inspired by the Imperial Military God Nogi Nogi. It is like a wave of the sea that continuously invests troops to attack the opponent's defense line. If one wave fails, the second wave will be used, and if the second wave fails, the third wave will be used.
There is always a limit to human will. Under such continuous attacks, people with weak will simply cannot sustain it for too long.
For example, now, the third infantry team has entered the area less than 350 meters away from the Chinese position and is preparing to launch the third wave.
This was enough. Sekosuke simply did not believe that the small group of Chinese in front of him could withstand three waves of charges.
Of course, in the first round of attacks, he used his toughest offensive tactics. This was because the lack of firepower of the Chinese gave the army lieutenant the confidence.
But obviously, there are many things that are not based on his imagination.
Reality gave him a cruel blow!
"Da da da!" The crisp sound of the heavy machine gun echoed throughout the audience.
It was from an inconspicuous corner of the left-wing battlefield.
Luo Wanjian gritted his teeth and grabbed the last heavy machine gun in his security company, temporarily acting as a heavy machine gun shooter.
Because the guard company was equipped with this heavy machine gun, all four heavy machine gunners were killed on the high ground.
When his captain and company commander ordered him to take away the last 19 brothers, he was asked to take away the Maxim heavy machine gun that had been scarred by the Japanese grenade bombardment.
It is a rare treasure in the entire 12th Division. Many infantry battalions only have 4 of them. People can die, but such important equipment cannot be lost.
Luo Wanjian knew that the Japanese's grenades were very ferocious. Almost all four heavy machine gun shooters died from shrapnel from the grenade grenades. The shooter's mortality rate was much higher than that of the infantry hiding in the trenches.
But what can he do? He is the supreme commander of the left-wing position. If he doesn’t do this job, who will?
Of course, the veteran has the wisdom of a veteran. According to the characteristics of the terrain, he built two large rocks half a meter high to block his left and right sides, and used sandbags and soil to block the front and rear. The entire firepower point was less than 5 square meters inside.
This is to reduce the bomb-receiving area. As long as the Japanese cannot throw the grenade just inside his firepower point, if it explodes outside, the stones and sandbags will block the shrapnel for him.
There were bushes all around blocking this heavy firepower point, which would not provide the Japanese army with a clear view.
In addition, Luo Wanjian also hung two steel helmets picked up from dead and wounded soldiers on his chest and back. Although the defensive area was a bit small, he might be able to save his life at some point, right?
This veteran who didn't want to die but could only face death bravely was betting on pure luck.
He is not a newbie on the battlefield, but he is a novice in controlling heavy machine guns.
A bunch of bullets were fired, and most of the bullets were deflected and fell behind the Japanese troops who had begun to charge. Only a few bullets fell into the Japanese skirmisher line.
But this still shocked the Japanese troops in the rear.
The Chinese actually have heavy machine guns?
"Grenade team, find the location of the Chinese firepower point and destroy it!" a Japanese army lieutenant in the rear quickly ordered.
What blocked the first wave of Japanese charges was not Luo Wanjian, an unreliable heavy machine gunner, but the submachine gun on the frontal position.
There is only one security squad on the frontal position, and the 150-meter defense line is very small, but for this security squad with only 15 people, it is already very wide.
On average, there is only one soldier every 10 meters!
And because of time constraints, the simple trenches are not even continuous. Most of the areas are individual bunkers dug according to local conditions. Some individual bunkers are as deep as 10 meters in front and back.
However, the width and depth of this individual soldier's room just avoided the explosion area where the Japanese infantry threw grenades. Except for the blocked view, the 15 soldiers did not suffer any losses.
The firepower advantage of submachine guns and shell guns at close range is fully demonstrated. A magazine with 20 rounds of bullets firing horizontally can often cover a width of 20 meters.
The first wave of Japanese infantry seemed to have hit a hard rock. Before they could run ten meters forward, a dozen more Japanese infantry screamed and fell down.
At this speed, all the Japanese infantry would be killed before they could even reach the defense line.
The remaining 30 or so Japanese soldiers were forced to crawl and shoot at the Chinese soldiers on the ground.
Now, the guard squad who was at the top was not afraid, so he hid behind the rocks and threw grenades down.
For a moment, the forefront of the position was filled with smoke and the sound of gunshots shook the sky.
Long Yan, who was firmly holding the handle of the MG34 machine gun, locked his eyes on the 50 Japanese soldiers who were running wildly less than 180 meters away.
The commander said, 'Good steel should be used on the blade!', Luo Wanjian has helped him attract the attention of the Japanese grenade launcher. If his machine gun with a firing rate of over a thousand rounds per minute cannot be used in the Japanese attack queue,
There was a bloody storm.
Well, I am really sorry for him, the legend of the most talented hunter in Yeyue Village in 200 years.
However, Lieutenant Long, who has a good reputation, did not expect that after this battle, his fame would not only spread in Yeyue Village.
In the entire Zhongtiao Mountain area, a legend of the "Machine Gun War God" will be left behind.
Of course, the occurrence of this miracle is not only due to Second Lieutenant Long's unremitting efforts and possession of the world's first general-purpose machine gun, it is also inseparable from a Japanese Army Lieutenant Colonel who is full of desire for the infantry regiment leader and is completely obsessed with it.
