Rise From Eight Hundred

To put it bluntly, by dusk, the battlefield was completely beyond the Japanese expectations!

Not only was the Chinese defense in the mountains becoming more and more resolute, but the shadows of Chinese soldiers in gray-blue uniforms continued to appear around the Japanese army.

This led to the fact that Major Kuroda Saburo, the commander of the 2nd Infantry Battalion of the 63rd Infantry Regiment, did not dare to easily throw all the main forces to break through the Chinese simple defense line. At least one infantry company and a heavy machine gun squad were used to defend their flanks and rear wings.

And the Security Army Infantry Battalion with a strength of up to 600 people, out of natural distrust of the Chinese combat effectiveness, Kuroda Saburo did not dare to let them guard the rear of his army.

If the main force of the Japanese army could not break through the defense line, it would be the turn of Matsukita Yuki's unit located in the center of the encirclement!

The old abacus joined the first two infantry squads to arrive, and the three-door 60-force concentrated fire on them, directly confusing Matsukita Yuki who was hiding in the mountain nest.

The Chinese, who were not many in number, actually had artillery, and small-caliber mortars were extremely rare on the battlefield. This was simply too much for me.

If Songbei Yuki had a regular trench, the iron-blooded army captain who had experienced the Battle of Xuzhou and the Battle of Central China would not be afraid.

But Songbei Yuki's troops had nothing now. At most, they used the single-soldier engineer shovel they carried with them to dig a simple personal shelter. That thing could block bullets, but blocking artillery shells? That was just too much to think about.

The two 70mm infantry guns that fired back crazily became the primary target of the Chinese. The smoke from the guns was too obvious when they fired, and several soldiers pushed the heavy guns too slowly. Under the crazy rain of shells from the Chinese, the two infantry guns were blown up one after another, and the artillerymen were killed and wounded.

It was not that Matsukita Yuki had no intention to change the status quo. He immediately used the strength of two infantry squads to attack the mountain with the most intense artillery fire on the right wing, and ordered the unlucky guys trapped in the minefield to be responsible for containment at all costs. That means that whether you step on the mine or not, you damned things have to come to me, otherwise everyone will be killed by the Chinese sooner or later.

In addition, he ordered the Mizutani Squadron at the forefront to send two squads to kill in the direction of Panzhai Village.

Matsukita Yuki had enough battlefield experience. Hearing the rumbling of gunfire a thousand meters away, he knew that the Chinese must have sent a lot of reinforcements. It would take time for the main force to attack, but there was not much time left for him and his subordinates.

His way out was not in this mountain, but in the empty mountain village.

As long as he was allowed to enter the mountain village, he would definitely be able to hold on until the reinforcements arrived.

Then, Matsukita Yuki realized that the Chinese had hidden their strength again.

This time, the Chinese actually endured until his soldiers arrived 60 meters from the front of the position before opening fire crazily.

A Japanese sergeant stood up bravely and was about to lead the 30 or so soldiers at the forefront to charge. It would only take them 5 seconds to reach the distance of throwing grenades.

But a machine gun about 60 meters above the Chinese position suddenly opened fire.

The continuous shooting sound of "Puff, puff, puff!" was like a cloth tearing machine. Matsukita Yuki, who was watching the battle with a telescope more than 300 meters away, was terrified.

It was definitely a new type of machine gun he had never seen on the battlefield. Almost in an instant, two or three people fell down.

But obviously, the soldiers on the battlefield did not realize what kind of enemy they were in front of them. They were still struggling forward, but the machine guns kept roaring.

In the words of the army sergeant who was the main shooter of the machine gun in the 3rd squad: "At that moment, I felt that the belt was smoking!"

It must be smoking!

The MG42, with a maximum firing rate of 1,500 rounds per minute, fired more than 140 bullets in 6 seconds.

Because the firing rate was too fast, the MG42 only mowed down 12 Japanese soldiers on the spot, but each Japanese soldier was hit by five or six bullets, and as many as ten bullets.

In almost an instant, people were shot into sieves.

The key is that in addition to machine guns, there are submachine guns!

The 4 MP38s also emptied their 32-round magazines in a few seconds, and poured out nearly 300 bullets in a few seconds to completely kill the Japanese firepower. The 3rd squad was not satisfied. Several riflemen who felt that their firepower was insufficient and threw away their rifles swung more than a dozen grenades in one breath.

The Japanese soldiers who stood up and charged, let alone rushing to the 30-meter range of the Chinese position, the bravest Japanese sergeant was knocked down by the machine gun like mowing grass before he even ran two meters.

Of the 30 or so Japanese infantrymen, no more than 10 would survive in the end.

This wave has completely defeated the Japanese army's spirit!

Matsukita Yuki no longer had any hope of attacking the mountain. All his bets were on getting out of the minefield and heading towards the mountain village.

But the cruel fact was that the Chinese had long expected that the Japanese would use this as a breakthrough point.

The regular troops of the 80th Army, with 6 infantry squads and nearly 100 people, had already moved to the entrance of Panzhai Village in advance!

There were trenches and bunkers that had been dug and were well-developed, and assisted by minefields that the Japanese had no way of judging.

The Japanese spent nearly half an hour on an infantry squad used for the assault, suffered half of the casualties, and retreated in a mess.

Seeing the night gradually falling, Matsukita Yuki could only make the decision to defend on the spot and pin his hopes of survival on the main force outside the mountain again.

To be honest, the combat effectiveness of Japanese veterans in the early days of the war was by no means underestimated, especially for veteran divisions like the 10th Division. Although Songbei Yuki now has less than 100 infantrymen, if the four-line regiment and more than 100 people from the 80th Army were allowed to go down the mountain to annihilate them, the price would certainly not be small.

The safest way is to constantly consume their troops like Lao Suanpan, and then encircle and annihilate them with superior forces.

But if Songbei Yuki is given one night, they may be able to build a complete set of fortifications with the help of complex terrain, which will also be a headache.

In the Guanjiazhai battlefield, the 80th Army mobilized a main brigade, but failed to completely eat up more than 500 Japanese troops, which was a battle that could well reflect the civil engineering operation capabilities of the Japanese army.

Therefore, Wei Donglai, who arrived in Panzhai in person, received the battle situation in the encirclement and immediately mobilized the three 80mm howitzers that had just arrived at the battlefield to concentrate fire on Songbei Yuki's troops in the encirclement.

Five 60mm mortars could not wait to join in. In less than 10 minutes, they threw no less than 300 shells at the area where Songbei Yuki's troops were located.

With this density and intensity of firepower, it was almost as powerful as half an hour of firepower coverage by a Japanese artillery battalion.

How could Songbei Yuki still survive?

The tragic Japanese army captain did not even have time to order a suicide telegram to the regiment headquarters before he was blown away by a 1 kg mortar shell that fell from the sky.

Due to the lack of sufficient cover, more than 80% of the 100 Japanese soldiers were killed or wounded in this round of crazy shelling. The 20 people who lost their command resisted stubbornly for less than 10 minutes before they were killed one by one by the Chinese soldiers who had far more troops than them.

As many as 300 Japanese soldiers were killed on the spot. For the remaining nearly 200 Japanese wounded soldiers, Lao Suanpan did not let the excited militiamen deal with them, but repeatedly ordered them to surrender, and those who did not surrender would be killed.

The 80th Army Group that arrived, including Chuanzi who had cleaned up the battlefield, had also seen the madness of the Japanese wounded soldiers, and understood the old abacus's order very well. Unless they were seriously injured and unconscious, any wounded soldier who was still conscious was a huge potential threat.

Sure enough, many Japanese wounded soldiers had grenades in their hands until they found that the Chinese soldiers were very alert and had no chance to take advantage of them, so they could only detonate the grenades in despair.

The explosions and gunshots continued to occur within 10 minutes after the end of the battle, which also taught a good lesson to the militiamen who followed the regular army to clean up the battlefield.

This is the battlefield where the two nations fought fiercely, and there was nothing else except cruelty and death.

However, there were still many Japanese soldiers who wanted to live and obeyed the order to surrender and stretched out their hands.

In the end, in this valley, there were more than 80 Japanese prisoners tied up by the militia.

After a careful count, the number of Japanese soldiers killed and captured wounded reached 458! It was considered that half an infantry battalion was handed over here.

Chuanzi was excited but also a little sad. He was excited because he won a great victory in the first battle he participated in. Uncle Abacus had promised that all the weapons and ammunition seized this time would belong to them. That was more than 300 rifles. After equipping the comrades who came to support, the remaining ones were enough to equip his infantry company.

In addition, he shot and killed 3 Japanese soldiers. Not counting those killed by mines, his 8th squad of 12 people killed more than 20 Japanese soldiers in total. This record was brilliant.

The sad thing was that this time his 8th squad sacrificed one person, and 4 people were gloriously injured. One of them was shot in the chest. I don’t know if he can survive. It’s like after the battle, his 8th squad was also crippled.

"Hey, brother Chuanzi, you're still looking so bitter after winning the battle. Don't worry about the brother's injury. We have military doctors, nurses and medicine in the 2nd Company. I'll accompany you to send the brother to the company for treatment. I guarantee that he will be alive and kicking again in a while." Potato walked over to comfort Chuanzi, who was squatting beside the wounded soldier.

Although Potato is now a sergeant, he is actually almost two years younger than Chuanzi. Chuanzi admires this young soldier with the special medal of honor of the Four-Line Regiment, and Potato also admires this young brother who can be a squad leader and lead more than a dozen soldiers at such a young age.

So, the two young men of similar age became good friends during the one and a half months of cooperation.

"Thank you very much, brother!" Chuanzi was very grateful.

"Leave the wounded and prisoners to Lao Zhou and others, and all the others, come with me to support the front line!" Lao Suanpan discussed briefly with the other two squad leaders of the Four-Line Regiment and an officer of the 80th Army Group, and made a decision.

Originally, the two armies were planning to form a light infantry company under unified command. The leader of the 80th Army was a second lieutenant platoon leader, and he should be the commander. However, when he heard that Lao Suanpan was the sergeant major of the Four-line Regiment, the second lieutenant immediately handed over the command to Lao Suanpan and asked him to lead the team.

I didn't expect that this person was so familiar with the organization of the Four-line Regiment. After asking, I found out that this person was a squad leader of the 772nd Regiment and had cooperated with the Four-line Regiment for more than one or two times. Naturally, he knew what kind of treatment an old sergeant like Lao Suanpan received in the Four-line Regiment. His salary was equivalent to that of a captain company commander.

Moreover, the 5 infantry squads of the Four-line Regiment here had 5 machine guns and 5 60-mm mortars, and their firepower was unbelievably strong. He had more than 120 people under him, and even though he had just been equipped with 8 captured Type 96 light machine guns, they were actually just auxiliary.

Whoever is the best should be obeyed! Moreover, from the division to the company, the leaders have repeatedly emphasized that the friendly army of the Four-Line Regiment is different from other troops, and the two armies are as close as brothers, so what psychological burden does this second lieutenant have? Just transfer the command.

This is not the time to be humble. Lao Suanpan became the highest commander of this temporary light infantry company as a squad leader.

Naturally, the battle here is over, but there are still rumbling gunfire on the other side of the mountain. Naturally, the company commander who came to support and the enemy have started a fight.

Lao Suanpan didn't know until dusk that the "small battle" they originally fought had turned into a decisive battle between the Chinese and Japanese troops stationed in Guangping County.

Not only Guangping County, but also the regiment headquarters far away in Zishan also sent reinforcements. The Japanese army will certainly not be outdone, and it may be a battle of thousands of people.

Potato hurriedly took a piece of paper and clumsily wrote the word "comrade", and drew a circle behind it as his own signature, and stuffed it to the militia platoon leader in charge, asking him to carry the dying wounded soldier to the headquarters of the 2nd Company of the Four-Line Regiment, and to return to the team with Chuanzi, who was in tears, after fulfilling his promise.

Don't underestimate Potato's note. In the 2nd Company, Potato is an extremely special existence. If he hadn't risked his life to carry Wei Donglai out, there might not be the name of the Steel Company.

On the night when Wei Donglai got married, the whole company invited a total of 5 people, 4 platoon leaders, and a potato!

"Squad leader, where are we going?" Potato, holding a torch, came to the old abacus.

"You kid, you are good at making trouble for the company commander, and doctors and nurses are not gods. I think that brother is in trouble!" The old abacus on the march glanced at the potato who came over and snorted.

"Don't you always say that? Do your best and leave the rest to fate. Chuan Ziguo is not an outsider. The commander has taught him a lesson!" Potato is no longer the potato he used to be. He immediately understood the meaning behind the squad leader's words.

He was just afraid that he would do something bad with good intentions, and that he would not be able to save others and be blamed afterwards.

With the endorsement of Tang Tuanzuo, Lao Suanpan said nothing more, but cast his eyes to a mountain in the distance and said lightly: "Zijing Mountain!"

It is a mountain about 3,000 meters away from Panzhai Village. There are a lot of shrubs of Zijing on the mountain. Every spring and summer, Zijing Mountain is lush with trees and flowers in full bloom. It is a beautiful scenery in this area. It has been known as Zijing Yuxiu since ancient times.

"Tomorrow, the Japanese army will want to outflank our main defense line. This mountain is their only way through. Our Panzhai Guard Company will stop them there!"

Lao Suanpan has not only been active in Panzhai for the past month and a half. He has run around the surrounding mountains twice or three times, and he has a clear understanding of the mountains and rivers within a radius of 20 miles.

Whether it is the second lieutenant platoon leader named Cui Yuanjing, Chuanzi, or Tu Dou, they will not know that it is precisely because of Lao Suanpan's decision that their Chinese army has created a not-so-small glory in this battle of the opening battle of Guangping.

Moreover, after the war, the 921st Division of the 80th Army issued a commendation order, and the name of the Panzhai Guard Company resounded throughout Handan City.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Kuroda Saburo heard the thrilling continuous explosions from the mountain, and he was shocked and angry. He knew that the Chinese were attacking the Matsukita Yuki unit, but what could he do even if he knew?

Not to mention that it was getting dark and it was not suitable for fighting. Even in the daytime, he did not dare to guarantee that he could break through the Chinese defense line within 2 hours.

However, he firmly believed that Matsukita Yuki had nearly 500 troops. If the Chinese wanted to eat them, they would have to invest at least 2,000 people. Judging from the current strength of the Chinese and their enemies, it was no less than 2,000 people.

However, in one afternoon, the Chinese were not gods who could turn beans into soldiers, and it was impossible for them to gather so many troops anyway.

"Send a telegram to Captain Matsukita, asking him to defend on the spot. Our troops will launch a full-line attack at 6:30 tomorrow and defeat the enemy within 2 hours!" Kuroda Saburo issued a military order with a cold face.

The reinforcements sent by the other two counties will arrive before 9 o'clock. By then, he will have two infantry battalions available. If the useless security army infantry battalion is added, the infantry alone will reach 2,800 people!

Thinking of the infantry battalion, Major Kuroda Saburo frowned slightly: "Go call Zheng Sang over, I have a mission for him to complete."

In the more than 20 days since he came to Guangping County, this security army major has been extremely respectful to him, the major, and sent money and women. In normal times, Kuroda Saburo would not consider the monk's face but the money, but now, he can't care so much.

"Mr. Kuroda, you called me?" A guy with rat eyes entered the field tent and bowed respectfully to Kuroda Saburo.

Even if this guy is wearing a military uniform, his sneaky temperament is like a brothel turtle!

But don't say that this guy's ancestors started the business of opening a brothel, and that temperament is probably engraved in his bones.

Before the Japanese came, this guy relied on his family's donations to become the company commander of the Guangping County Security Battalion. When the Japanese came, this spineless man took dozens of men and guns and surrendered to the Japanese. He took the initiative to lead the way, killed several wealthy families who stayed indoors in the city, robbed all their property and gave them to the Japanese, and made the sick old man at home angry to death.

This was just right. Zheng Yunqiu even called the Japanese dad directly, and contributed most of his family and the looted property to the Japanese. In the end, he was appointed as the battalion commander of the Guangping County Security Army.

With the support of the Japanese, hundreds of men and hundreds of guns, Zheng Yunqiu was even more arrogant. Before the 80th Army arrived, at least hundreds of civilians and gentry died in his hands.

When it comes to this guy, everyone in Guangping County, from the rich to the poor, hates him.

"Zheng Sang, tomorrow the main force of my regiment will attack the Chinese defense line with all its strength, but the key to breaking the enemy depends on you and the bravery of your men." Kuroda Saburo pointed to a place on the map.

"I will let the Yu Ren Squadron cooperate with you. I don't know if you have any difficulties. If you have any, you can tell me first."

"I" Zheng Yunqiu was stunned, with a bitter look on his face.

He originally planned to come here to play a supporting role, but he never thought that he would have to fight as the main force? As for the cooperation of the Yu Ren Squadron, it is obviously the supervision team, okay?

But if you want him to say that he dares not, he can never say it. He is just a dog, he can eat meat or shit, but the Japanese are wolves, they only eat meat, and bloody meat.

"Yoshi! I admire people like you, Zheng Sang, I will let the artillery squadron support you! Your troops will set off on time at 6 o'clock tomorrow." Seeing that he didn't dare to refuse for a long time, Kuroda Saburo simply didn't give him a chance to show weakness. After he finished speaking, he waved his hand to signal him that he could leave.

"Zheng Sang, if you have military merit this time, I will strongly recommend you to your security army commander, but if you miss the opportunity, you know!" Before Zheng Yunqiu left in a huff, Kuroda Saburo said another sentence lightly.

"Okay, Mr. Kuroda, I understand! I understand!" Zheng Yunqiu bowed his head and left the field tent.

Looking up at the faintly flickering stars, the weakness in the eyes of the second devil major was much less, but there was a hint of ferocity!

A few kilometers away in the mountains, Tu Dou and Chuan Zi were not looking at the stars, but were digging trenches side by side, sweating profusely!

The eyes of the two young soldiers were both determined! ()