As thousands of Japanese infantry and artillerymen looked up, two Japanese planes were hit by a hail of anti-aircraft machine gun bullets and smoke erupted.
A Japanese plane was even more unlucky. It was hit by a Sulotong machine gun, and it lost control and plunged into a hillside, bursting into flames.
The other three Japanese planes following behind were furious and tried their best to pull up, but it was obviously too late.
The effective range of anti-aircraft machine guns against the air is 800 meters. It takes at least 5 seconds for a propeller-driven fighter jet to raise its altitude from 600 meters to 800 meters. This is enough for 12 anti-aircraft machine guns to fire hundreds of bullets.
In particular, the last Japanese-style 20mm twin machine gun hidden in the 2nd artillery company also fired.
It was a machine gun captured from the Japanese army, but the storage capacity of the artillery shells was not large, so Cheng Tieshou strictly ordered the machine gun squad not to fire unless absolutely necessary.
In addition to the Sulotun machine cannon, there are two twin-mounted machine guns, plus an Oerlikon single-barreled machine gun. The muffled sound of the three machine guns "dong dong dong" played a song of death on the entire battlefield.
Note.
The fuselage of a Type 96 fighter plane was already full of bullet holes, but the caliber of the 7.92mm heavy machine gun bullets was too small and did not cause too fatal damage, so it still struggled to climb to an altitude of 900 meters.
Seeing the bright bombs that were still igniting in the mountains and forests below getting further and further away, the Japanese Army Air Force pilot breathed a sigh of relief.
"Koizumi-kun, be careful!" Captain Sasaki's warning sounded on the radio.
"Boom!" A blast resounded through the radio receivers of the entire fleet.
It was a shell fired by a Japanese 20mm machine gun, which exploded less than 3 meters above the side of the fighter plane that was climbing wildly.
The entire windshield was shattered by shrapnel and air waves. The Japanese Army Aviation Second Lieutenant was caught off guard and his face was instantly covered with blood. It was not clear whether he was hit by glass fragments or shrapnel.
The almost fainting Japanese pilot could no longer effectively control the fighter plane. The Japanese troops in the sky and on the ground just watched helplessly as the Japanese plane, which had almost escaped, plunged into the ground like a cannonball.
The terrible thing is that as the large artillery shell got closer and closer to the ground, the Japanese troops on the ground discovered in horror that it seemed that this big bomb was coming to blow them up.
This big guy plummeted from an altitude of nearly a thousand meters. Not to mention the huge kinetic energy, the aviation kerosene in the fuel tank caught fire and exploded, and the power was no less than a 100-pound aerial bomb.
The Japanese troops on the ground panicked and fled for cover.
Hiding requires hard work, and whether you die or not really depends on luck.
As the Japanese plane hit the ground hard, a ball of fire burst into the sky, and at least five or six Japanese infantrymen were swallowed up by the flames and flying debris.
He jumped down from a high altitude and planned to show off the 6 Japanese planes that he could fly away with, but in the end, only two of them managed to escape successfully.
As for the two planes emitting thick smoke, even though they are still running away desperately, in their current state, if they can escape back to the airport two to three hundred kilometers away, even Amaterasu himself would not dare to do so here.
Talk about this nonsense.
What's more, Captain Sasaki, the Lone Star of the Sky Evil, is so poisonous, do you think he got it for nothing?
Facts have proved that, let alone two or three hundred kilometers, the two Japanese planes lasted less than 30 kilometers in total before they were finished.
Two Japanese pilots had to choose to parachute to survive.
However, the location of their parachute jump was really poorly chosen. Not only was it located in an area controlled by the 921st Division, it was also a mountain with an extremely harsh geographical environment.
The 108th Division, which received a request for rescue from the Army Aviation Group, did not dare to send people into the mountains for search and rescue. Originally, they would not dare to go into such big mountains without an infantry group or above. But now seeing how active the Chinese are, there are two infantrymen.
If the Chinese army dares to seize food from a tiger's mouth when a regiment is guarding others, then it is not allowed to organize an infantry regiment!
The key point is that the 108th Division has lost more than 4,000 people in front of it. At this moment, there is an infantry regiment working hard to save the pig teammates. How many infantry regiments are there to be consumed?
"Our division will do our best!" Xiong Yuan promised simply and neatly.
But in fact, an infantry squadron was sent to wander around the edge of the mountain and then escaped.
It all depends on fate!
Xiong Yuan was really smart this time.
It's not that he didn't organize a large army to march into the mountains to reduce losses. In fact, the 921st Division was all elite this time, and there were still more than 10,000 troops left. However, because most of these troops were new soldiers, their equipment was inferior and their combat effectiveness was low.
However, if Xiong Yuan really bites the bullet and organizes an infantry regiment to go into the mountains, the 921st Division will basically stay away from them temporarily and wait for the main force to return before dealing with them.
The reason why Xiong Yuan is so clever is that he did not do useless work because there was no ball to use.
A pilot was directly poked in the buttocks by a branch when he fell. He was poked like that and wailed for nearly a night before dying. The real cause of death should be pain and cold. It was not until the Chinese army discovered him half a month later that the Japanese pilot had already died.
It's almost turning into a lump of bacon.
The fate of Santen Komu, who did not believe in evil, was also not good. He landed safely, but unfortunately, he happened to fall into the hunting ground of wolves.
The wolves in the Taihang Mountains are a type of green wolf. They are large and ferocious. What's more terrible is that they rely on groups and are at the top of the food chain in the Taihang Mountains. Even tigers, bears, and wild boars have to retreat when they see them.
Equipped only with a small Nanbu Fourteen pistol, Santen Komaki emptied the magazine he carried and killed eight wild wolves. He did not repel the wolves. Instead, he aroused the ferocity of the wolves. In the end, they were killed in succession.
Not a few bones were left.
Captain Sasaki returned home "smoothly" with 8 fighter planes this time, but the senior officials of the Japanese North China Front army and aviation who were waiting at the airport felt inexplicably relieved.
Although this feeling is shameful, it really is so real.
After all, this is the largest number of fighter planes that Captain Sasaki has returned since his expedition.
Sasaki: I could have brought back a lot of them.
But do you think this is the climax of the Four Elements Group's participation in this feast that day?
Then your situation is too small.
Compared to a Japanese infantry regiment on the ground, the few small planes without bombs in the sky were no more important than a few small sparrows.
"Asshole! Order the artillery brigade to fire! Find their air defense positions, damn the Chinese!" Gu Teng Changjiang was furious. "Also, the artillery squadron of the regiment, fire together!"
"Your Excellency, Brigade Commander" The Lieutenant Colonel, Chief of Staff, and Colonel Colonel standing at the headquarters looked at each other, but no one dared to stop the furious Gudo from getting hard.
This is an extremely rare irrational move by Major General Kudo. Not to mention that the Chinese air defense positions are all installed behind high ground, in the blind spot of the mountain artillery range. If 100 shells pass by, only 10 or so shells will miss the target.
It is the blessing of Amaterasu.
In addition, the four field guns of the artillery squadron affiliated to the wing headquarters were the trump card that this man planned to hide from the beginning. He would never use them unless absolutely necessary, even if he had to destroy the Chinese concealed hiding place of two anti-tank guns.
Fortifications, His Excellency the Major General did not order the use of these four field guns, which are extremely capable of breaking through fortifications.
According to him, the commander of the Si Xing Regiment was cunning and wise. At least one Army Major General and two Army Colonels had died under his hands. Their mistake was that they exposed their trump card too early and were killed by the Chinese
The army colonel seized the loophole and destroyed it in one fell swoop.
Therefore, this time he must not repeat the mistakes of many colleagues who have gone to Amaterasu to report. He must hold the four 75mm field guns with powerful destructive power in his hands until the Chinese reveal their trump card.
But now, doesn't it go against his previous decision?
"It will be at least two and a half hours before the Army Aviation flies to the battlefield again. At that time, do you think the 14th Division's baggage regiment will still exist?" Gu Teng's face was cold.
"I just figured out one thing. Why did the Chinese not completely kill the hundreds of people in the 14th Division's baggage wing for so long? That must be because their remnants were used as a shield to prevent the Army Aviation fleet from being used.
Dare to drop heavy aerial bombs along the highway.
And those idiots may have suffered losses from Chinese anti-aircraft weapons in the previous battle in Jindong, but they kept dropping bombs at an altitude of more than a thousand meters. It was simply a waste of the empire's property.
What's even more ridiculous is that they didn't encounter anti-aircraft artillery strikes there, which caused them to lose their vigilance, but here they took the initiative to lower the altitude, and ended up in a dead end.
And if all this is taken into account by the Chinese commander, it would be really terrible. I think there is almost no need to continue fighting this battle." A trace of fear flashed in Gu Teng's long eyes.
The Army Lieutenant Colonel and Army Colonel looked at each other and finally understood what their immediate boss was thinking. He was not losing his mind, but was too rational.
The 14th Division's baggage regiment was originally the bait he threw out, but he didn't expect that what he would attract was not a fat fish, but a crocodile that could eat people.
So, he wanted to quit.
This round of ferocious bombardment, which did not hesitate to expose all the strength of the artillery fire, was just preparation for the gradual withdrawal of the infantry.
Perhaps, the Imperial Army Air Force fleet that collapsed in front of him completely strengthened his judgment.
Moreover, there were Chinese troops coming from the mountains behind him, which must have made him feel a great threat!
"Hi!" The two assistant officers nodded heavily.
"Boom, boom, boom!" As the military order was issued, the Japanese army's 12 mountain guns, 4 field guns and 6 infantry guns opened fire again.
The three highlands of No. 1, No. 2, and No. 3 were all shrouded in gunpowder smoke. The fierce artillery fire caused the officers and soldiers of the Fourth Line Regiment who had hid in the ditch behind the mountain to curl up and protect their chest, abdomen and other vital parts with their arms.
, to avoid being injured by gravel.
Cheng Tieshou, the commander of the 2nd Artillery Battalion who personally ran to the artillery position, was called away by a phone call from Tang Dao. Tang Dao did not want his future artillery battalion's most important deputy battalion commander to be lost like this.
"The Japanese want to run away!" Tang Dao, who was holding a telescope, saw a 'red lantern' rising 800 meters away, and a sneer appeared at the corner of his mouth. "It's just that when they came up, they bombarded our military positions indiscriminately. Now I want to
Running, is there such a beautiful thing?"
Due to the shortage of field radios, not every group of special forces was equipped with a field radio. For the special forces who were responsible for observing the movements of the Japanese infantry positions nearby, Tang Dao equipped them with three-color Kongming lanterns: red, black, and white.
The rising of a certain color of Kongming Lantern represents a certain movement of the Japanese army. The red color represents signs of retreat of the Japanese army.
"That means this Japanese commander is unusual! Stop fighting so soon? We are still waiting for the 769th Regiment to build up their defense line and compete with him!" Gong Shaoxun's face showed unwillingness.
"A complete infantry regiment, as well as tanks and artillery, it is still difficult for us to eat them. There is no need to fight with them!" Tang Dao shook his head gently. "Wait until all of us change our equipment.
It’s not too late to beat them up. Now! Just collect some interest in advance.”
"Call Pang Hai and ask Pang Hai. The Japs are about to run away. Have his 10 cannons aimed at the Japs' artillery positions? If they haven't done so yet, tell him who I happen to be the deputy of the artillery battalion for.
The battalion commander is worried! That’s fine, let him continue to be his artillery company commander!”
After the call was dialed, Gong Shaoxun conveyed the original words, and Pang Panghai's loud voice came clearly from the microphone: "Please rest assured, two officers, 6 150-weighted guns and 4 75-meter mountain guns have all arrived at the gun positions, and the angles have been calibrated.
Regarding the gun range, sir, please give some comfort to that guy Cheng Tietou when you have time!"
"Oh, you fat man is quite confident. Since you are ready, why are you still waiting for a ball!" Tang Dao took the phone and scolded. "Hit me and smash the Japanese mountain cannon to pieces."
!”
"Yes!" Pang Pang Haixiong hung up the phone proudly.
"Fire!" followed by Peng Dahai's command.
The messenger standing high up waved a small red flag, the artillery squad leader at each artillery position lowered the small flag in his hand, and roars of "fire" were heard one after another in the mountains.
"Whoops!" The sound of sharp mortar shells piercing the sky sounded.
Because the flight speed of mortar shells is much lower than that of mountain artillery, it usually takes nearly 15 seconds to fly to a distance close to 3,000 meters, so the time in the air is naturally longer.
Therefore, the Japanese soldiers in the distant mountains and forests almost all heard the sound of mortar shells flying over their heads. However, at the moment they involuntarily lay down to avoid it, the shells did not fall on their heads as they imagined, but continued.
forward.
Several senior Japanese officers in the field headquarters who were preparing to retreat looked at each other, their faces suddenly becoming extremely ugly.
If the Chinese mortars are not meant to attack the infantry, who are they going to attack? The answer is almost ready to come out.
However, isn’t the range of Chinese small-caliber mortars only more than 2,000 meters?
"Boom, boom, boom!" A dull, dull sound of explosions came from the distance.
Gu Teng's face was gloomy. Just by hearing the explosion, he knew that it could never be caused by an 82-caliber mortar.
"Quickly call the artillery brigade and ask if it has been attacked!" Xiaoyong Sasaki also responded.
Only this time, several senior Japanese military officers did not receive a reply.
Because the call didn't go through at all.
It's not that one round of shelling overturned the Japanese artillery positions spread over nearly 10,000 square meters, but the air wave caused by the 150 mortar's 18-kilogram projectiles had already cut off the phone lines.
For these 12 mountain guns of the Japanese army, the Fourth Army Regiment spent a lot of effort. Just 60 packhorses were prepared to transport mortar shells, and 18 small carts were used to transport 18 kilogram shells.
vehicle.
For 6 guns, a full 180 rounds of artillery shells were prepared, with an average of 30 rounds per gun.
Pang Panghai was more decisive than Tang Dao thought. He directly ordered the six cannons to shoot down all the shells they carried, without leaving a single shot behind.
To use the exact words of Captain Pang Pang, as long as these 12 mountain cannons are killed, if the Japanese continue to fight against the Four Elements Regiment, then he will really respect these Japanese as a man.
Don't underestimate these 180 rounds of artillery shells. The charge of 18 kilograms of projectiles is even more than the 105 howitzer that the Japanese Army is proud of. If one shell hits, everything within a radius of 12 meters of the impact point will be destroyed.
180 rounds were enough to plow the Japanese artillery position of 10,000 square meters back and forth three times, and there were still rich ones, not to mention four 75mm mountain guns to "help the evildoer".
The 700-kilogram body of the 75 Mountain Cannon was like a piece of paper in the face of the violent air waves. Some were blown away seven or eight meters away. Unfortunately, the steel of those within the impact point was also twisted as if it had been ravaged.
Plasticine.
What was even more unfortunate was that the artillery shells happened to land at the artillery shell storage point. The power of dozens of artillery shells exploding at the same time made even the Chinese soldiers who were feigning an attack 400 meters away have the urge to run away at that moment.
Under such fierce gunfire, steel becomes so fragile, let alone the human body.
An artillery brigade, with hundreds of artillerymen, plus two escorting infantry squadrons, with nearly a thousand personnel, could do nothing in front of this sudden artillery fire except lying on the ground shivering, and then being swallowed up by the artillery fire.
Any other options.
"Damn it, the Chinese actually have such large-caliber heavy artillery!" Gu Tengzhang's face turned pale. "Order to leave three infantry squadrons to block the enemy, and the remaining units will retreat in batches under the cover of the chariot squadron. If there are any
The Chinese stopped them and used all their heavy firearms to defeat them."
The heavy blow from 6 150mm mortars made this "smart general" Japanese Army major general no longer care about the loss of the artillery brigade, but began to think about whether he would be surrounded by the Chinese. Without those 12 mountain cannons,
His confidence was already insufficient, and what was even worse was that the Chinese heavy artillery was still hanging above his head.
However, this time he obviously miscalculated again.
Until his brigade headquarters and wing headquarters were evacuated 4 kilometers away, no Chinese soldiers showed up.
It seemed as if the group of Chinese soldiers who came from the mountains were here to scare him.
Thinking about it carefully afterwards, wasn't it just to scare them?
However, it was not just about scaring them away, but scaring them into shrinking their artillery positions so that the opponent's heavy artillery could concentrate their fire.
In that shelling that lasted for more than 20 minutes, 12 mountain guns were blown up and more than 9 were damaged. The artillery and infantry suffered nearly 70% losses. An artillery brigade was basically finished.
Once again, Gu Teng figured it out in hindsight and almost bit his two rows of back molars.
There is nothing more frustrating than this.
In comparison, he may prefer his wife to wear a hat for him, even if he helps others raise children for eighteen years.
He had memorized Tang Dao and the Four Elements Group.
........
PS: Brothers, I'm back. Today is the third day. I finally feel better, but my head is still a little dizzy. I insist on writing 5,000 words. Fengyue tells everyone from personal experience that this stuff is really poisonous and painful.
