During the next journey, we were harassed several times by cavalry battalions with mortars.
The Japanese didn't care, they just kept their heads on their way.
After all, the walking speed of cattle and sheep cannot compare with the speed of the Japanese's rapid march.
The Japanese could cover seven kilometers in an hour while marching in a hurry, but they could only cover four or five kilometers while driving cattle and sheep.
After walking for a distance of about ten kilometers, they saw that the cattle and sheep had not stepped on the mines. The Japanese thought that the Eighth Route Engineers had escaped long ago.
So the Japanese drove the cattle, sheep and people aside and resumed their hasty march, only to step on a landmine after walking only one kilometer.
These are anti-infantry S mines with bouncing betty and are very powerful. A large area will be blown up as soon as the enemy steps on them.
The furious Japanese soldiers put the common people, cattle and sheep in front to explore the way.
What surprised the Japs was that once the cattle, sheep and common people set out on the road, they could not step on the mines. Now the Japs no longer dared to march unscrupulously.
Sun Desheng took a look and found that with the Japs' marching speed, they would probably pass Moshi Ao by nightfall, but they would not reach Liao County.
Li Yunlong gave him a very clear task. He should not let the Japanese go too fast or too slow. He should control the Japanese's speed so that he could reach the vicinity of the millstone concave area when it was dark.
Sun Desheng decided to ambush the Japanese once.
At that moment, Sun Desheng called Cao Jiang and several cavalry company commanders to him.
"According to the enemy's marching speed, they will reach us in about half an hour."
"Except for the first time, the Japanese did not send troops to pursue us during the subsequent mortar attacks. They just moved forward."
"According to the current marching speed of the Japanese, we may not be able to complete the mission."
First company commander Cao Jiang asked: "What should we do?"
Second Company Commander: "If we don't fight like crazy, we can at least hold off the Japanese for more than an hour, and then the mission will definitely be completed."
As soon as he finished speaking, the second company commander received a blow from Sun Desheng on the head.
"Second company commander, the regimental commander usually teaches you not to fight stupidly or to fight to the death, but you didn't fucking listen at all."
"Batalion Commander, what do you think we should do?" the second company commander asked in a muffled voice.
Sun Desheng's eyes were stern: "If the enemy ambush doesn't work once, do it twice; if it doesn't work twice, do it three times."
"The advantage of our cavalry is that they are highly maneuverable. They can move away in just one stroke, and the Japanese cannot catch up even if they want to."
"The Japs have about 100 cavalry. If the Japs cavalry dare to chase them, we will eat them."
"I observed it when I came here. There is a slope about 3 kilometers ahead, which is suitable for an ambush."
"Set off!"
Several cavalry company commanders shouted: "Yes!"
In less than 10 minutes, the cavalry battalion arrived at the slope Sun Desheng mentioned.
The slope is two to three meters higher than the road and about 130 meters away from the road. This slope is not very long, only about 300 meters.
More importantly, there are suitable evacuation routes here.
After the general's horses were tied up, Sun Desheng led his cavalry battalion to ambush on the slope.
The engineer platoon, equipped with military horses and accompanying the cavalry battalion, hurriedly dug holes and buried mines in front of the slope.
This time the mines were not buried on the road, but between the road and the slope. Once the gunshots were fired, the Japanese would definitely attack and they would step on the mines.
After laying the mines and camouflaging them, everyone lay down behind the slope and held their breath, waiting for the Japanese to arrive.
About an hour later, the Japanese finally arrived.
The Japanese scouts escorted the common people, who drove their sheep slowly down the road.
Behind the Japanese scouts followed a Japanese three-wheeler and a Japanese truck. Both the three-wheeler and the truck were equipped with a crooked light machine gun.
The main force of the Japanese was 300 meters away from the sheep, led by more than 100 Japanese cavalry, followed by a large group of light infantry, including armored vehicles, tanks and trucks.
Equipped with heavy firepower such as mountain artillery, infantry artillery, mortars and heavy machine guns.
This is an elite infantry regiment. Although its combat effectiveness is not as good as that of the infantry regiment of the Japanese permanent division, this regiment can easily defeat a division of the Chinese army.
In Zhongtiao Mountain, Chiang Kai-shek's 200,000-strong Central Army was suppressed and defeated by three Japanese divisions with less than 60,000 soldiers.
Sun Desheng let the Japs scouts and civilians go, and waited until the Japs main force entered the ambush position.
"Fire!"
Seeing this situation, Sun Desheng made a prompt decision and ordered an attack.
Six mortars fired first, making a muffled sound.
Boom boom boom…
Explosions kept rising on the road, and the marching Japanese were knocked upside down by the explosions.
The gunfire crackled like popping beans. Although the cavalry battalion was not equipped with Maxims, it was equipped with Czech light machine guns.
More than twenty light machine guns sprayed out long tongues of flame, and machine gun bullets rained down on the Japanese.
Moreover, all the soldiers in the cavalry battalion were equipped with semi-automatic rifles, and the individual firepower was several times stronger than before.
The 38 rifle has a rate of fire of 10-15 rounds per minute during combat, while the Garand rifle has a rate of fire of 30-40 rounds per minute.
The bazooka soldiers carry bazookas and look for enemy tanks, armored vehicles or enemy trucks to shoot at. If they can't find them, they fire rockets at places where there are more enemy soldiers.
At this moment, the cavalry battalion fired far more firepower than an infantry regiment.
The huge power and explosion made the Japanese think they were being attacked by a 105 howitzer.
Da da da…
A dense rain of bullets, coupled with attacks from mortars and bazooka rockets, caused heavy casualties to the Japanese on the road within the ambush range.
Far away on the road, in an armored car.
"Your Excellency Da Zuo, the vanguard troops were attacked by the enemy with very strong firepower. Judging from the firepower, the enemy's strength is estimated to be no less than a regiment."
A combat staff officer reported to the commander Takeji who was sitting in an armored vehicle.
"A group?"
"How dare one regiment attack our 225th Regiment?"
Zhenmu Wuzhi narrowed his eyes slightly, and for a moment he couldn't figure out the purpose of the Eighth Route Army. Maybe this was a conspiracy?
But then I thought about it, in the face of absolute strength, any conspiracy and trickery are in vain.
"Order the First Brigade to counterattack and destroy this enemy!"
"The scouts spread out their reconnaissance on both sides to see if there are any enemies around!"
The words were filled with killing intent.
"Hi!"
The combat staff turned around and ordered the flag soldiers to give orders.
The Japs also reacted very quickly. A burst of rapid grenades landed on the cavalry battalion's position, and the Japs' machine gunners set up light and heavy machine guns to shoot at the cavalry battalion's position.
Further away, the Japanese began to build mortar and mountain artillery positions.
Two Little Douding Japanese tanks are driving this way.
"Are the devils anxious?"
Sun Desheng suddenly smiled.
This is the result he wants.
"retreat!"
Sun Desheng was not willing to fight at all and loudly issued a retreat order.
After hearing the order, the cavalry turned around with weapons in hand and quickly withdrew from the ambush position in an orderly manner.
After running to the horse post at 100 meters, untie the reins and get on the horse, then apply oil on the soles of your feet and stretch them out.
Not long after the cavalry battalion left, Japanese grenades, mortar shells and mountain artillery shells fell in groups and began to sweep across the cavalry battalion's position.
There was no movement from the ambushed Eighth Route Army.
"Artillery fire has destroyed the enemy's position. The first tank detachment and the second infantry squadron are attacking from the front, and the first infantry squadron is attacking from the left."
Koizumi Tazawa, the captain of the First Battalion, ordered expressionlessly.
He only sent two squadrons of troops to attack at a time. After all, with the combat effectiveness of the Eighth Route Army, even one regiment of the opponent was vulnerable to two tanks and two squadrons of warriors.
The Japanese dispersed in a skirmish line, followed the tanks with rifles in hand, and rushed towards the abandoned position of the cavalry battalion.
There was no attack. The Japanese attacked very quickly, almost running forward.
Boom boom boom…
A few unlucky Japs in the front stepped on a landmine. The Japs were instantly blown up in large pieces, and they all fell to the ground in fright.
Seeing that there was no movement, the Japanese got up from the ground and continued running forward.
Boom boom boom…
Another unlucky Japs stepped on a landmine, and a large piece of the Japs was blown up.
The third time they stepped on the mines, the Japanese squadron that attacked from the front paid dozens of casualties, and the left-wing offensive force was slow to reach the cavalry battalion position.
But at this time, there were not even half a person on the cavalry battalion position, only bomb craters and gunpowder smoke were left everywhere.
The Japanese squadron leader picked up the telescope and saw horse manure 100 meters away and dust mist a few hundred meters away, and his face turned pale immediately.
"Baga...press the road!"
…
Zhenmu Wuji Daizuo stood next to the armored vehicle and observed the battlefield situation.
He was surrounded by a group of adjutants, staff officers and guards.
Koizumi Tazawa trotted up to Zhenme Wuji, and suddenly said: "Report to the left, the one who attacked us is an Eighth Route Cavalry, with a strength of about one cavalry battalion."
"A cavalry battalion?"
"What are the casualties?"
Zhenmu Wuji asked with a slight frown.
"The casualties were no less than 200!" Koizumi Tazawa reported.
"Nani, there are more than 200 casualties?"
Zhenmu Wuji's face suddenly became a little ugly.
He hadn't paid much attention to being harassed all the time, but this time he was attacked with more than 200 casualties, which made him feel very aggrieved.
The Imperial Japanese Army's elite regiment could easily defeat a division of the China Army on the frontal battlefield, but here it lost a squadron without even touching the hair of the Eighth Route Army.
Are you angry? I am very angry, but there is nothing I can do.
"Report to the left, the scouts reported that no enemies were found on our two wings."
The combat staff reported to the Zhenmuwu Zhihui.
Zhenmu Wuji couldn't help but twitch the corner of his mouth when he heard this. At this moment, he suddenly had an impulse in his heart and wanted to find a face to slap.
The palm of his hand shook twice, and Zhenmu Wuji finally endured it. The most important thing now was to rush for time, not to slap his subordinates.
"Where are we now?" Takeji Jinmu asked.
"Da Zuo, there are still fifteen kilometers ahead to reach Heshun County," the combat staff said.
"The bodies of the wounded and killed soldiers will be handed over to the Heshun County Gendarmerie later."
"Xiaoquan-kun, please go and handle this matter."
"Hai!" Koizumi Tazawa nodded.
By the time the Japanese finished cleaning up the battlefield and continued on the road with the dead bodies and wounded soldiers, half an hour had passed.
When passing by Heshun County, the Japs handed over the corpses and wounded soldiers to the Japanese defenders of Heshun County and continued marching forward without stopping.
Not long after passing Heshun County, the 225th Regiment was suddenly attacked by a new regiment cavalry battalion, causing more than 100 casualties.
This made Zhenmu Wuji miss the days when the Central Army besieged Zhongtiao Mountain in recent years.
The Central China Army is much easier to deal with than the Eighth Route Army.