Comparing to the killing field that has unfolded on Tang Dao's side, the blocking force composed of two guard battalions and a fire support company led by Major Scar are not having an easy time either.
They are also working hard.
Digging trenches desperately.
It was about 6 kilometers away from the Japanese 6th Heavy Artillery Brigade. At about 8 o'clock, the few remaining cavalrymen detected that the 36th Infantry Brigade, which was chasing the advance regiment, stopped advancing and set up camp. Major Scar could
Lead the entire army to turn towards the 6th Heavy Artillery Brigade.
Two battalions and one company stopped on the bank of a five-meter-wide river.
This is the best defensive location selected by the entire cavalry battalion after reconnaissance during the day.
Although the five-meter-wide river is only more than one meter deep, it can still hinder the speed of the Japanese infantry charge.
The first line position of the blocking force was just fifty meters away from the creek.
There is almost no shelter in the entire wilderness, except for a pitifully low hill.
There are not many trees on the hillock, which is only ten meters high and only covers an area of 3,000 square meters at most. There are only countless shrubs, but it is the only commanding height in the vicinity.
Major Scar placed his most elite company there, and also placed three of the five machine guns and four heavy machine guns assigned to him on both sides of the hill.
If the Japanese army launches a mad attack on the frontal battlefield, the commanding height of more than ten meters will launch the most ferocious blow to the Japanese infantry. Even, because of this high point, these heavy firepower can also provide fire support to the two flank battlefields.
But obviously, this small hill will become an important area for Japanese artillery bombardment. The attack of thirty artillery pieces owned by an infantry brigade may be concentrated on this hill of less than 5,000 square meters. The outcome will be light.
Just thinking about it makes me cringe.
Therefore, there were more than 1,000 troops, almost 500 of whom were digging trenches on the hills. There was no time to build any anti-gun holes. The only thing they could do was to dig the trenches deeper and deeper.
The time left for them may only be three hours.
Although Tang Dao had left all the individual engineer shovels to them, it was still not enough. Many soldiers even picked up the bayonets they usually carefully protected and stabbed them into the soil without hesitation.
Perhaps, not only the soldiers, but also the medical team who were ordered to stay at the back were put in work. The three female nurses didn't have enough strength to dig, so they helped carry the sandbags.
With enough tools, they even used their beloved nurse uniforms to pick up the soil and carry it to the outside of the gradually forming trenches. Under the crisis of life and death, everyone was forced to exert their maximum potential.
Fortunately, the soil in the south of the Yangtze River is soft and not as hard as the sand and gravel in the north. On the hills, trenches with a depth of two meters have been dug. On the river bank, although not deep, there are also temporary field trenches with a depth of 80 or 90 centimeters.
Taking shape, heavy machine gun fortifications made of sand, gravel and soil filled into sandbags were also formed.
Although we knew that this kind of fortification would become a key bombing area for Japanese infantry artillery and mountain artillery due to its conspicuousness, it was already the limit of the protection that could be given to heavy machine gun firepower points in such a short period of time.
You should know that the medical team located 500 meters behind the main position does not have even the most basic trenches, let alone fortifications.
The location where they will rescue the wounded is a depression. If the Japanese army bombards it with artillery, all the medical staff and wounded will be blown to pieces, and they even have only one infantry squad for protection.
This was never possible in the past. Any commander who made such an arrangement would definitely be scolded like a dog from top to bottom.
But at this moment, no one said anything.
All available troops are on the front line. If they cannot stop the 8,000 Japanese invaders from the 36th Infantry Brigade who are going crazy, they will all be killed!
That is indeed the case.
His Majesty Major General Mitsuru Ushijima is in a very good mood today. This is the happiest day since he led his troops to pursue the Chinese.
Although the Chinese who were right in front of him had not yet been completely wiped out, according to the marching traces left by their opponents, the Chinese who were wandering around in the wasteland and as cunning as foxes were less than five kilometers in front of him, and the distance was already deployed.
The friendly positions are less than three kilometers away.
The reason why they slowed down and stopped is probably because they discovered the obstacle ahead, but what's the use of discovering it in this deep dark night?
Whether they are moving forward or backward, there are strong armies that they cannot defeat.
To the left, to the right? To the left is the defense line of the 18th Division. To the right, the criss-crossing terrain will undoubtedly accelerate its demise. Even if it marches through the night, it cannot go very far. This is after it has abandoned all its baggage.
Down.
Do the Chinese have that kind of courage? Absolutely not, otherwise they would not have been willing to flee in the wilderness with baggage and wounded for six days.
Judging from the cunning and tenacity shown by Ushijima Mitsuru to his commander in the past six days, their best choice should be to wait until dawn to fight back desperately!
From a purely military perspective, Ushijima Mitsuru actually admired the Chinese commander whom he had never met or even knew his name. He was definitely the most difficult commander he had ever seen.
Over the past six days, his energy has been haggard, and the dark circles under his eyes have almost spread to his entire face.
But tomorrow, he might be able to see the Chinese soldier who gave him a headache.
Out of admiration, Ushijima Mitsuru decided to chop off his head, use chemicals to remove his skin and flesh, leaving only the white bones, and carve the words "Tough Enemy" on it. It must be a piece of art that makes people feel happy.
For this sudden inspiration that came to his mind, His Excellency the Japanese Army Major General, who ordered the entire army to camp and prepare for the decisive battle tomorrow, drank half a bottle of sake to celebrate.
Of course, before happily planning to fall asleep, Mitsuru Ushijima, who had the experience of being constantly harassed, ordered that two infantry regiments under his command send out 60 patrol teams, and the warning range was expanded to 1,000 meters away from the camp.
At all times, there are patrols of nearly a thousand people outside the 36th Infantry Brigade camp, accounting for one-eighth of the total strength. This also means that the entire infantry brigade will not sleep soundly.
This level of alertness is unprecedented in the military history of the 36th Infantry Brigade.
You must not capsize in the gutter. The closer you are to victory, the more cautious you must be. This is what Ushijima reminded himself when he was happily drinking sake.
But the Japanese army major general’s dream was still disturbed.
At around 11:30, Ushijima, who was hiding in the trench, wrapped in a blanket and sleeping in the same clothes as the other soldiers, was awakened by the screams of "Your Excellency, Brigade Commander, the enemy is attacking!"
"Enemy attack? Where?" The half-asleep Japanese Army Major General suddenly jumped up from the trench and looked around at the dark surroundings with some confusion.
It was quiet. Except for the low hum of autumn insects, he did not hear the terrifying sound of gunfire.
“Your Excellency, Brigade Commander, this is the 6th Heavy Artillery Brigade!” The pale face of the Lieutenant Colonel and Chief of Staff looked like a ghost under the dim light of the lantern.
“The 6th Heavy Artillery Brigade?” Ushijima was stunned.
Almost subconsciously, I want to ask back: Those idiots in the 6th Heavy Artillery Brigade were attacked, what do you care about me?
But then, he froze.
After being stunned for a few seconds, he snatched the message from his lieutenant colonel and chief of staff: "Thousands of enemy troops are attacking the outer positions of our heavy artillery brigade! Please come to help me from the 18th Division and the 36th Infantry Brigade! Sumita Rai
Shiro!"
“This is impossible. The main force of the Chinese has already retreated, and the Chinese who are still resisting are still huddled on their so-called defense line without any reinforcements.
“Thousands of Chinese people, where did they come from?” Ushijima Mitsuru asked in an almost nervous roar.
The pale grimace of the Lieutenant Colonel and Chief of Staff had already told him the answer.
At that moment, the Japanese Army Major General’s little face also turned pale.
The big dark circles under my eyes that had been hanging there for several days seemed to have been covered with a thick layer of powder.
The charming black eyes of a panda look like when they are dusted with white powder, that's what Mitsuru Ushijima looks like at this moment.
The Japanese panda was so angry that it was funny.
