The strategy for growing ancient vines is simple but extremely practical.
Use infantry to conduct exploratory attacks, continuously draw out the firepower points of the Chinese position, and then use artillery groups to bombard the Chinese defensive area.
The four infantry guns and three 57mm tank guns deployed less than 1,000 meters away from the infantry front line may only be regarded as desserts before the meal. The 12 75mm mountain guns placed in the mountains behind the main infantry force are the main course.
Even on Highlands No. 1 and No. 2, they have learned to hide after two consecutive rounds of shelling by the Japanese army. The heavy machine gun firepower will never be used easily unless it is absolutely necessary. However, the offensive of the Japanese infantry under the cover of their own light and heavy machine guns looks very fierce, and it is the closest.
The Japanese troops in the front line trenches have already arrived within 50 meters.
Even though the two chief officers, Zhao Daqiang and Cai Yongguan, knew it was very dangerous, they still had to use heavy machine gun firepower to suppress the Japanese infantry.
When the Japanese troops retreated like a tide, the previously exposed light and heavy machine gun firepower points had to be quickly transferred, otherwise, what awaited them would be a round of artillery fire to clear the ground.
Sure enough, in less than 2 minutes, the Japanese artillery fire came overwhelmingly, blowing the heavy machine gun fortifications that the soldiers of the two companies had worked hard to build with sandbags into rubble.
If this continues, it won't take long before even if the heavy machine guns are not destroyed and there are no fortifications to hide them, they will be almost exposed to the threat of Japanese grenade launchers. There will be no infantry artillery or mountain artillery, just Japanese grenades more than 300 meters away.
Canister, can be blown up in battle.
The Japanese army completely took advantage of artillery fire and gradually eroded the advantages of the original fortifications on the defense line of the Fourth Army.
Just like when a person eats a crab, he uses pliers to peel off the hard shell of the crab little by little. Only when he sees the tender and plump crab paste will he be happy to taste it.
Perhaps it was not just the fortifications that were damaged. Under the overwhelming artillery fire, more than a dozen trenches dug with great effort were destroyed. As many as a dozen soldiers died in the two highlands, and more than 20 people were injured.
The number of Japanese corpses left in front of the formation would never exceed 30.
In less than half an hour of offensive and defensive battle, the battle losses of both sides were almost the same.
This is probably the first time that the Four Troops have been in such a dilemma since they dealt with the Japanese army.
"Company commander, what should we do? The Japs are very thieves. I think they just keep tempting us to fire machine guns, and then use cannons to blow up! If we continue like this, it won't take too long, and even our trenches will be flattened by them.
." The first platoon leader of the fifth company was a former squad leader of the 524th regiment. Through the performance of the Japanese army, he still reacted and asked Cai Yongguan anxiously.
"What should I do? Cold! I don't believe it. You can blow up my trenches with just a cannon." Cai Yongguan is a brave player. He has such a strong spirit, but he can still care so much. "Tell him.
Brothers, if the Japanese want to use cannons to blow up our trenches, then I will help them dig deeper.
When the Japs come up, one squad from each platoon will be on combat alert, and everyone else will continue to dig trenches for me. When the Japs retreat, I will retreat."
Destruction is of course easier than construction, but Cai Yongguan's iron-headed move is not without effect.
The Japanese army continued to attack, but because they were all tentative, they were not so resolute. The three infantry squads were basically able to block them, but the other six infantry squads put their guns aside and bent over to dig trenches.
, then put the excavated soil into cloth bags, turn them into sandbags and pile them on the edge of the trench.
When the Japanese artillery fire came again, most of the sandbags were blown away. However, on the reopened battlefield, most of the officers and soldiers of the fifth company once again picked up individual engineer shovels, and the trench that was originally only 80 centimeters was gradually deepened.
In principle, unless the artillery shell happens to fall into the trench, life will be miserable. Otherwise, the deeper the trench, the better the defense against artillery.
The other company officers took a look through the telescope and saw that Cai Yongguan was doing this well!
As a result, the five highlands took the opportunity to join in the earthwork work of digging trenches during the vigorous battle.
For nearly half an hour, such a strange scene appeared on the battlefield where the Fourth Infantry Regiment faced off against the 31st Infantry Brigade.
One side attacks, the other defends!
However, he did not attack with all his strength, nor did he defend with all his strength. Instead, he put most of his strength into digging.
The sound of digging even overshadowed the sound of machine gun and rifle shooting, and it would have been like playing house, if it weren't for the fact that there was still blood on the battlefield.
Those who know, think that Brigade Commander Major General Fudo Nagaguchi is using powerful and heavy firepower to try to slowly break the hard shell of the Chinese people, making the best preparations for severely injuring the Chinese people; those who don’t know, think that this
If you have any prejudice against the 14th Division, just watch them die with this almost lazy tactic.
In fact, even if Major General Fudo Nagago used the strongest means to attack, it would not be of much use to Major Moriki and others in the encirclement.
Because, at the stage where the two armies in Laoyashan are trying each other's depth and digging deeper trenches, the 683rd Brigade and the 771st Regiment have gradually evolved from occupying the high ground and continuously attacking the Japanese troops in the encirclement, to interspersed and divided encirclement.
It was to divide the resisting Japanese troops into more than a dozen groups, and their living space became smaller and smaller.
This is why Brigadier Cheng accepted the lesson from the 511th Division's Battle of Pingguan and was not in a hurry to launch a full-scale charge. This resulted in many backbones of the army being sacrificed in the process of charge and hand-to-hand combat.
The 683rd Brigade, which had sufficient ammunition, actually used a simple version of Gudo Changke's trick. They continued to use bullets on the periphery to kill the stubborn Japanese troops until they were weak enough.
If the rocks where the Japanese troops are hiding are hard enough, today's 683 Brigade will not rely on blasters to rush in and use explosive packs and cluster grenades to blast them. Instead, they will call in infantry artillery and blast them.
In addition to the loss of more than 100 soldiers in the initial ambush battle, Major Moriki lost more than 600 soldiers in this grinding battle.
At this time, it was no longer a question of whether the initiative on the battlefield was in the hands of the 683 Brigade, but a matter of how much cost Brigadier Cheng could bear to annihilate these Japanese troops. Major Moriki and his team were already doomed.
Therefore, as early as 20 minutes ago, Major Moriki had already sent a message to his division headquarters that the entire army would be shattered.
Doi Yuan, who was directing the battle on the front line, was almost mad. In a battle of this level, he could afford to lose 400 heavy troops and two infantry squadrons, and he could not care less about 181 vehicles. If those things were gone, he would look for front troops.
The headquarters wanted it, but he couldn't bear the risk of not arriving on time for nearly a month's worth of luggage.
How important is this baggage? Even ancient Chinese military books say that before the army moves, food and grass go first. At that time, people still carried knives and swords. After grinding them on a stone, they could go to the battlefield. At least there were no bullets or cannonballs.
Let alone combat in the era of thermal weapons.
It’s just ammunition. After all, the ammunition transported in this wave is not much. The 14th Division has already made a plan and has sufficient reserves, but people have to eat!
Not to mention that in order to boost morale, the Japanese Army Ministry made extremely detailed requirements for the supply of individual Japanese soldiers entering the Chinese battlefield.
Compared with the Chinese army's standard of half a pound of rice and two taels of cabbage and potatoes for an individual soldier a day, the Japanese infantry's food standard is luxurious.
According to the "Revision of the Detailed Rules for Wartime Supply of Military Personnel" promulgated by Japan in November 1937, the basic daily ration for army soldiers includes: 660 grams of polished rice, 210 grams of refined wheat, 210 grams of fresh meat (or 150 grams of canned meat), and 600 grams of vegetables.
grams (or 120 grams of dried vegetables), 60 grams of pickled vegetables, 20 grams of soy sauce, 75 grams of miso (condiment), 5 grams of salt, 20 grams of sugar, 3 grams of tea, 400 grams of sake,
120 grams of sweets and 20 cigarettes.
A single soldier needs so many types and quantities. It is conceivable that the needs of the more than 20,000 Japanese troops are huge. There are not more than 100 cars that can transport them?
Do you think that after Tufeiyuan found out about this bad news, did he feel like he had a headache?
The furious Madoka Doi directly forwarded the farewell message from Major Moriki, the deputy commander of his baggage regiment, to the Japanese North China Front Army Headquarters. This was a clear expression of dissatisfaction with a certain general commander of his front army headquarters.
Of course, this has something to do with the Taierzhuang defeat a few days ago. Everyone knows that General Indoor Shroud is about to step down. Dofei Yuan, who has worked in the imperial intelligence department for a long time, is actually a threat in disguise. If you Indoor Shroud
If you can't respond effectively, don't blame me for turning against you and adding salt to your wounds.
When the investigators from the army headquarters arrive, I will speak out about your various command errors.
After all, the rumors released by the Army Headquarters at this time are still based on the fact that the indoor shroud has no merit but hard work. After resigning as the commander of the North China Front, he will serve as a senior member of the Army Headquarters and go to Europe to negotiate with the Germans and launch a campaign for the Empire.
Battlefield China to gain more support.
I don’t ask the Germans to sell themselves many weapons. I just ask the Germans not to buy weapons to China. German-made weapons on the Chinese battlefield are the ones that cause the greatest damage to the Imperial Army.
If Doi Yuan, who has great influence in the intelligence department, stepped on him, he might not even be able to get this job and retire on the spot.
Indoor Shroud is perhaps the most tragic general in the history of the Japanese Army. Not only was he secretly tricked by his own chief of staff, but even his division commander dared to use this to threaten him.
But he knew that he couldn't blame others for this. If he were in his position in Doiyuen, knowing that his division of more than 20,000 people would be short of various supplies for at least half a month, he would still be angry at his commander, especially
He is a commander who is about to leave his post.
It's also because the Chinese are so crazy that they dared to attack the convoy even though they were heavily guarded by two infantry regiments.
The extremely aggrieved Indoor Shroud directed his anger at the two division commanders of the 108th and 109th divisions, and ordered them to telegraph their subordinates to attack with all their strength. Even if they could not save the people, they could not let the Chinese rush away or destroy all the baggage.
The last call was made to the Army Aviation Headquarters in Baoding, Shimen, asking why their bomber formation had not arrived on the battlefield to provide help to friendly forces.
Perhaps, generals at the division commander level may not pay too much attention to the commander-in-chief who has lost power now, but this does not mean that the army aviation, which is only at the brigade level, can ignore the anger of the shroud in the room.
There is nothing that can be done about the lieutenant general-level general, but it is still possible to issue a military order before resigning and remove a major general and several colonel-level officers from their posts.
However, the Japanese North China Front Army and Aviation also had their own difficulties. The Battle of Xuzhou did not end with the defeat of Taierzhuang. The Japanese North China Front Army suffered 20,000 casualties in the battle, but the two major front armies, the North China Front Army and the East China Front Army, invested more than 20,000 people.
An army of 10,000 people is still fighting fiercely against a Chinese army of 600,000 people.
Does this require the support of the Army Aviation? It must, because 70% of the Army Aviation's fighter planes are supporting the battlefield over there.
On the Jin Province side, the front army also invested more than 100,000 troops including the 5th Division, 16th Division, 20th Division, 108th Division, and 109th Division. They faced the Chinese Shanxi-Sui Army and the Central Army.
, the 22nd Army, the 80th Army and more than 400,000 troops, do you want to support them? Same thing.
Why, when the plane is made of paper, you can bring bombs into the sky by shouting at the nose of the plane? The Japanese Army Airlines also racked their brains to get enough 6 Type 96 attack and Type 96 bombers.
Although the formation of 12 fighter planes does not meet the requirement of His Excellency Indoor Shroud's 2 squadrons of 24 aircraft, it is still enough to deal with a bunch of Tuba.
And the reason why more than two hours have passed since the 14th Division's baggage regiment has not arrived at the battlefield, it also has something to do with one person.
Captain Sasaki, who has been in several battles in a row and flew back to the airport intact despite heavy losses to friendly aircraft, has now been promoted again, from a lieutenant to a captain and deputy squadron leader.
However, it was not that the Army Aviation wanted to promote him, and even he himself did not have this intention, but the Army Aviation, which suffered continuous losses, needed this 'hero'.
Only brilliance can cover up ugliness!
In this way, Second Lieutenant Sasaki inexplicably became the face of the Air Force to hide their shame. It can also be called the 'mascot', the kind that does not go into battle.
Because basically none of those who fought with him came back alive. Who dares to join him?
‘When Sasaki goes on an expedition, not a blade of grass will grow in the Army Aviation Squadron!’ This is the consensus among the Japanese Army Aviation that is not on the table.
When major airports such as Baoding and Yuancheng are very busy, Captain Sasaki's daily life is just to sit on the grass, drink wine, stare into the distance for a while, or go to attend military meetings and talk to bosses.
Let me paraphrase our speech to everyone.
Not only Captain Sasaki was satisfied with this living condition, but other Japanese pilots also thought it was very good.
But this peace is about to be shattered again.
Before setting off, the three pilots suffered from collective diarrhea. They were so miserable that they had to put their bedrolls in the toilet.
Is it okay if we have fighter planes but not enough pilots? Shi Zhongjing, the top boss of the Army Aviation Group, spoke and ordered pilots in the base with more than 800 hours of flight experience to take over.
Captain Sasaki, who had already drank less than half a kilo of sake, was unfortunate enough to meet this criterion again, and it was such a coincidence that there were only three of them in total.
It doesn't matter to him. Anyway, he has now understood that he has a strong destiny and is dedicated to defeating his colleagues. If he has military orders, he can just fly.
But the other Japanese pilots didn't agree. Baga's stuff is more poisonous than the Chinese anti-aircraft guns. They are trying to force us all to death!
So, you petitioned me to submit a petition, and it was more than half an hour after the takeoff military order was issued. These guys who were unwilling to die were still arguing with their superiors. It was not until Ishizaka Keiichi got angry that he issued the military order again.
take off.
Therefore, Major Moriki's farewell message was forwarded to the North China Front Army Headquarters, and all 12 fighter planes had just left Baoding.
As the second commander of this fighter formation, Captain Sasaki was flying alone at the front, like a lone goose.
However, this long-tested Japanese Army Aviation Captain did not panic at all. He had been told on several battlefields that as long as he did not die, someone else would die.
It is said that hugging a group is fun for a while, but going to Amaterasu to drink tea with a group is not so wonderful.
"Sasaki-kun, can you tell me how to survive on the battlefield?" Finally, someone couldn't help the fear of being cursed and asked on the radio.
"Don't lower the flight altitude easily!" Sasaki thought for a while and gave what he thought was the most sincere answer.
In all previous battles, it was because some people did not believe in evil and lowered their flying altitude, and were eventually hit by Chinese anti-aircraft guns and anti-aircraft machine guns.
"But we are ordered from above to destroy all Chinese we see!" a pilot asked cautiously.
There was silence on the radio station.
This is a core issue.
Without lowering the altitude, bombing accuracy cannot be guaranteed.
These idiots! Sasaki's lips curled up slightly, full of disdain.
On the Army battlefield, the results can be determined by capturing and counting the corpses of enemy soldiers. In air combat, the results can be determined by the number of enemy troops shot down and injured. With the effectiveness of bombing, is it possible that there are people on the ground who can help you count how many Chinese people were killed?
However, Sasaki would never say these words explicitly. He no longer resists going to war as he did before, because he discovered that as long as his comrades died but he lived, he could be promoted. This is really something that has never been done before.
shortcut.
Huh? Will it be the same this time?
You see, people are very happy when they have no so-called moral bottom line, and Captain Sasaki is like this now.
But there is no doubt that the life-saving method Sasaki said has deeply influenced these eagles of the Japanese Empire who flutter high in the sky.
When an eagle hunts for food, it naturally has to swoop down from a high altitude, but if there is a hunter's shotgun waiting on the ground, it is not unbearable to be hungry.
Over there, Fudo Nagakou, who was hiding in the temporary field headquarters bunker and observing the battlefield with a telescope, still insisted on his battle philosophy: "Don't rush to attack, continue to consume the Chinese!"
And he said the famous saying that made him feel extremely ashamed in the future: "When the imperial eagle arrives, the Chinese will be as desperate as rabbits!"
Tang Dao was also waiting, and said the same thing: "Don't look at the grasshoppers dancing happily, it's because the autumn wind hasn't blown over yet!"
The commanders of both China and Japan are waiting for their own friendly troops, and they both trust them immensely.
I just don’t know whether the Chinese and Japanese soldiers, who have the trust of their friendly forces on their shoulders, can live up to their respective friendly forces.
This only depends on the performance on the battlefield.
Anyway, there are more than two thousand soldiers in gray military uniforms in the mountains, working tirelessly over the mountains and ridges.
