While Okamura Neiji and Yamada Otsuzo continued to request tactical guidance, Itagaki Seishiro mobilized troops for the Changchun operation. His move aroused strong dissatisfaction among the generals of the Kwantung Army and the North China Front. The Kwantung Army and the North China Front The thinking of the Japanese generals of the front army is also very reasonable. If the front line cannot be held, then what will happen if Changchun is taken, because once a breakthrough is made by the Chinese army, Changchun alone will not be able to hold it.
As Tojo Hideki's most trusted subordinate, Itagaki Seishiro could have ignored these criticisms. However, because both Okamura Neji and Yamada Otsuzo directly sent messages to the base camp to question his behavior, Tojo Hideki also suffered considerable pressure. , so much so that three consecutive telegrams were sent to him, asking him to resolve the battle the day after tomorrow at the latest: "...This matter has attracted the attention of His Majesty the Emperor. If Changchun cannot be captured as soon as possible, then I will not be able to withstand the pressure from the base camp. I can only agree with their decision. By then, Itagaki-kun is likely to be transferred back to the base camp. I hope you will cherish the opportunity..."
Itagaki Seishiro has already been transferred back once, and he knows that if he is transferred back this time, he will only be in reserve service, which will also mean the complete end of his military career and even political career. This is naturally what he wants to avoid, so , when the war situation was unable to make progress, he not only visited the front line in person, but also began to issue death orders to his subordinates.
At this moment, standing in front of a colonel whose face seemed burnt by smoke, he shouted coldly: "At one o'clock, if you still can't see your military flag on the tower, then you will commit suicide and apologize, and join the local reinforcements." No need for waste.”
"Hai." The muscles on Colonel's cheeks pulsed and he bowed his head in response.
After he retreated, many junior generals standing behind Itagaki had expressions of death on their faces. So far, the battle to attack Changchun has been going on intermittently for nearly half a year. However, in the past six months, Apart from adding some fertilizers from foreign countries to the Chinese land near Changchun, they got almost nothing else.
On the castle tower, Tachibana Satoma saw the scene of Itagaki Seishiro reprimanding the colonel through the telescope, "It's Itagaki Seishiro, but it's a pity that there are no artillery in the city, otherwise," Tachibana thought like this, and put down the telescope with regret.
"It seems that the Japanese army is about to launch a fierce attack again." Beside him, a major said softly.
"Motohashi-kun, why are you scared?"
"Afraid, Your Excellency, you are so contemptuous of others. I have forgotten what fear is since I was spanked by Commander Zhang last time."
The Japanese are so strange. For example, when the current Saburo Motohashi was a second lieutenant in the local reinforcements, he not only hated the Chinese but also had great disdain for them. But now, he will be beaten up by Zhang Xuyun because of himself. He was so complacent about his butt, as if Zhang Xuyun's spanking gave him great face, but he forgot that when he was spanked in front of thousands of people, he had thought of committing suicide.
"Okay, this is the hundredth time you've mentioned spanking. Yes, being spanked by Commander Zhang is indeed something to be proud of, but if we can't stop the Japanese attack next, it's not a spanking. Already."
"Sir, don't worry. As long as our Benqiao Brigade is here, the Japanese army can't charge forward. We are the flag troops who have been awarded the flag by Commander Zhang himself."
The Japanese army's attack is still the same old routine, with artillery preparations first, and then a collective charge of infantry. The continuous attack of the Japanese local reinforcements is not without achievements. For example, gravel and bricks have been used, and several mud barriers have been formed to directly pass through. Towards the slope of the city wall, with the help of the slope, it seems that the difficulty of the attack will be much reduced. However, is this really the case?
The life-and-death battle has caused both warring parties to grow up rapidly. They will use various newly learned or newly understood tactics to deal with the enemy, completely forgetting that just half a year ago, they were still life-or-death opponents, and they The price paid for growth is a battle loss rate of more than 30% in each battle.
When the gunfire sounded, Tachibana hid in an anti-gun pit prepared by his subordinates. The continuous fighting had made this section of the city wall riddled with holes. Therefore, as long as it was a "fake Japanese" who had experienced more than three battles, ”, we can all use local materials to build a bombproof hole in the fastest time.
At this time, Saburo Motohashi had already appeared at the forefront, hiding behind a city wall brick, looking through the smoke at the dense crowd that suddenly appeared five hundred meters away. He made a gesture and shouted: "Matsumura, are you ready? .”
Matsumura was a squadron leader under him, named squadron leader. In fact, he had less than a hundred people under his command. "Hai." Matsumura answered loudly.
"Pay attention to my orders."
"Hai."
Compared with the Chinese paratroopers, the combat methods of the fake devils are actually very weak. Of course, because their opponents are almost complete Japanese farmers, so in terms of tactical methods, they are stronger than their opponents. For example, now, they can learn from the past and launch an attack. The Japanese army had begun to pay attention to spreading out their formation when approaching the city wall, but unfortunately, what Tachibana prepared for them was not a sniper tactic, but a concentrated fire from a grenade.
Limited by insufficient supplies, how to hold on for longer in Changchun was the biggest problem that Ding Yi and his staff had to face. Therefore, the grenade launchers that had been abandoned by the Chinese army reappeared, and in order to make up for the shortage of grenades However, smart Chinese paratroopers modified the handle of the grenade so that it can replace the propulsion part of the grenade, thereby providing thrust for the grenade.
"Flying grenade", yes, this is the special equipment only used in the Battle of Changchun, and it was this special equipment that caused great damage to the Japanese army.
Prior to this, the Japanese army had been attacked by concentrated fire from "flying grenades". However, because the defenders only used less than thirty grenade tubes at that time, it did not arouse too much vigilance from the Japanese army.
This time, Tachibana prepared ninety-seven grenades for the Japanese army, and Hashimoto's squadron had exactly one grenade for each person.
Hashimoto's squadron was ready to launch. Under the city wall, the attacking Japanese troops were becoming more cautious as the distance decreased.
"Three hundred meters, two hundred meters, one hundred and fifty meters, charge." As such a voice shouted, the Japanese soldiers who were bending forward suddenly accelerated their running speed and rushed towards the city wall quickly along the slope. .
At this time, Tachibana gave the launch order.
"Bang bang bang." The dull sound of artillery sounded, and the next moment, sharp blasts of air pierced the air. Then, dozens of clouds of smoke exploded in the Japanese charging formation. In the "rumbling" explosion, Many Japanese soldiers were thrown to the ground, and their miserable howls immediately became the main theme of the battlefield.