Rise From Eight Hundred

Gu Teng Changying's strategy is simple, but extremely practical.

Use infantry to make tentative attacks, constantly draw out the Chinese position firepower points, and then use artillery groups to bombard the Chinese defense area.

The four infantry guns and three 57mm tank guns deployed less than 1,000 meters from the front line of the infantry may only be considered as desserts before the meal, and the 12 75mm mountain guns placed in the valley behind the main force of the infantry are the main course.

Even though the No. 1 and No. 2 high grounds have learned to hide after two consecutive rounds of artillery bombardment by the Japanese army, and the heavy machine gun firepower points will never be used easily unless it is absolutely necessary, the offensive of the Japanese infantry under the cover of their own light and heavy machine guns looks very fierce, and the Japanese troops closest to the front-line trenches have already arrived within 50 meters.

Even though the two chief officers Zhao Daqiang and Cai Yongguan knew it was dangerous, they had to use heavy machine gun firepower to suppress the Japanese infantry.

When the Japanese army retreated like a tide, the previously exposed light and heavy machine gun fire points had to be quickly moved, otherwise, what awaited them would be a round of artillery fire.

Sure enough, in less than 2 minutes, the Japanese artillery fire came overwhelmingly, and the heavy machine gun fortifications that the two companies of soldiers had worked hard to build with sandbags were blown into ruins.

If this continues, it won’t take long. Even if the heavy machine guns are not destroyed, there will be no fortifications to hide. Almost all of them will be exposed to the threat of Japanese grenade launchers. There is no need for infantry guns or mountain guns. Only the Japanese grenade launchers more than 300 meters away can blow them up in battle.

The Japanese army completely took advantage of the artillery fire and eroded the advantages of the original fortifications on the defense line of the Four-Line Regiment.

It’s like a person eating a crab, peeling off the hard shell of the crab with pliers bit by bit, until you see the tender and plump crab paste, you will be happy to taste it.

Perhaps it was not just the fortifications that were destroyed. In the overwhelming artillery fire, the trenches that had been dug with great effort were blown down in more than a dozen places. More than a dozen soldiers died on the two high grounds, and more than 20 were injured.

The number of Japanese corpses left in front of the battle would never exceed 30.

In less than half an hour of offensive and defensive battles, the casualties of both sides were not much different.

This was probably the first time that the Four-Line Regiment had fallen into such a dilemma since dealing with the Japanese army.

"Company commander, what should we do? The little devils are very cunning. I see that they are constantly inducing us to fire machine guns, and then use cannons to blow them up! If they continue to fight like this, it won't take too long before even our trenches will be blown flat by them." The platoon leader of the fifth company was a squad leader of the original 524th Regiment. Through the performance of the Japanese army, he still reacted and asked Cai Yongguan anxiously.

"What should we do? Cold! I don't believe that the damn can blow up my trenches with just a cannon." Cai Yongguan is a brave player. When he is stubborn, he doesn't care about so many things. "Tell the brothers, the Japanese want to blow up our trenches with artillery, so we will dig deeper for them.

When the Japanese come up, each platoon will use one squad to do combat alert, and all the others will continue to dig trenches for me. When the Japanese 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 and not so determined, the three infantry squads could basically stop them, and the other six infantry squads put their guns aside, bent over and dug trenches desperately, and then put the excavated soil into cloth bags, which turned into sandbags and piled them on the edge of the trenches.

When the Japanese artillery fire came again, most of the sandbags were blown away, but on the battlefield that was opened again, most of the officers and soldiers of the fifth company picked up the single-soldier engineer shovel again, and the trench, which was only 80 centimeters deep, was actually deepening little by little.

In principle, unless the shells fell into the trench, it would be a hard life, otherwise the deeper the trench, the more it could resist artillery.

The other company commanders looked through the telescope and saw that Cai Yongguan's trick worked!

So, the five high grounds took the opportunity to engage in earthwork operations in the vigorous battle to dig trenches.

For nearly half an hour, such a strange scene appeared on the battlefield where the Four-line Regiment faced the 31st Infantry Brigade.

One side attacked, the other side defended!

But the attackers were not working hard, and the defenders were not doing their best. Instead, most of their strength was put on digging.

The sound of digging even drowned out the sound of machine guns and rifles. It was like playing house, if there was no blood on the battlefield.

Those who knew thought that the brigade commander, Major General Gu Teng Changying, was using powerful heavy firepower to try to slowly break the hard shell of the Chinese, making the most thorough preparations to severely injure the Chinese; those who didn't know thought that he had some prejudice against the 14th Division, and watched them die with this almost lazy tactic.

In fact, even if Major General Gu Teng Changying attacked with the toughest means at the beginning, 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 were testing each other's depth and digging trenches deeper, the 771st Regiment of the 683rd Brigade had gradually evolved from occupying high ground and continuously attacking the Japanese troops in the encirclement to interspersing and dividing the encirclement, dividing the resisting Japanese troops into more than a dozen groups, and their living space was getting smaller and smaller.

This was also because Brigade Commander Cheng learned the lesson of the 511th Division's Battle of Pingguan, and was not in a hurry to launch a full-scale charge, which led to the sacrifice of many backbones in the army during the charge and hand-to-hand combat.

The 683rd Brigade, which had sufficient ammunition, actually used a simple version of Gu Teng Changying's trick, constantly using bullets to kill the stubborn Japanese troops on the periphery until they were weak enough.

If the rocks where the Japanese troops were hiding were hard enough, the 683rd Brigade would not rely on the demolition workers to rush over and use explosive packs and cluster grenades to blast them, but would call in infantry artillery and aim and fire.

In addition to losing more than 100 soldiers in the initial ambush, the remaining 600 soldiers were lost in this millstone-like battle.

At this time, it was no longer a question of whether the initiative on the battlefield was in the hands of the 683rd Brigade, but it depended on how much the brigade commander Cheng could accept to annihilate this group of Japanese troops. Major Mori and his group were already doomed.

Therefore, as early as 20 minutes ago, Major Mori had sent a telegram to his own division headquarters that the entire army would be annihilated.

Tu Feiyuan, who was commanding the battle at the front, was almost mad. In this level of battle, he could afford to lose 400 baggage soldiers and two infantry squadrons, and he could also ignore 181 vehicles. If that thing was gone, he could ask the front army headquarters for it, but he could not bear the risk of the baggage not arriving on time for nearly a month.

How important is this baggage? Even the ancient Chinese military books said that food and grass should go first before the army moves. At that time, people were still carrying swords and swords. They could go to the battlefield after grinding them on stones. At least they didn’t need bullets or shells, not to mention the battles in the era of hot weapons.

Ammunition is fine. 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 Department made extremely detailed requirements for the supply of Japanese soldiers entering the Chinese battlefield.

Compared with the standard of half a catty of rice and two taels of cabbage and potatoes per day for a single soldier in the Chinese army, the food standard of Japanese infantry can be called luxurious.

According to the "Revision of the Detailed Rules for Military Wartime Supply" promulgated by Japan in November 1937, the basic daily ration of army soldiers includes: 660 grams of polished rice, 210 grams of polished wheat, 210 grams of fresh meat (or 150 grams of canned meat), 600 grams of vegetables (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.

Even a single soldier needs so many categories and quantities, so it is conceivable that the needs of more than 20,000 Japanese troops are huge. Can't they transport them with more than 100 vehicles?

Do you think Tobiyuan will be overwhelmed after knowing this bad news?

The furious Doiyuan directly forwarded the farewell telegram of his deputy commander of the baggage regiment, Major Moriki, to the Japanese North China Front Command, which was a naked expression of his dissatisfaction with a general commander of the front command.

Of course, this was also related to the defeat in Taierzhuang a few days ago. Everyone knew that General Huji was about to step down. Doiyuan, who had worked in the imperial intelligence department for a long time, was actually a disguised threat. If you Huji can't make an effective response, don't blame me for turning against you and rubbing salt on your wounds.

When the investigators from the Army Headquarters arrive, I will speak frankly about your various command mistakes.

After all, the rumor released by the Army Headquarters at this time was still based on Huji's hard work. After leaving the post of commander of the North China Front, he will serve as a senior member of the Army Headquarters to negotiate with the Germans in Europe and win more support for the Empire to launch the Chinese battlefield.

I don't ask how many weapons the Germans can sell to me, I just ask the Germans not to buy weapons for China. The German 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, steps on him, he may not even get this job and retire on the spot.

Indoor Shroud may be the most tragic army general in the history of the Japanese Army. If he was not secretly pitted by his chief of staff, even the division commander under his command dared to use this to threaten him.

But he knew that he could not blame others. If he were in Doi-Yuan's position, knowing that his division of more than 20,000 people would lack various supplies for at least half a month, he would also be angry at his commander, especially a commander who was about to leave.

It's also because the Chinese are too crazy. Under the heavy garrison of two infantry regiments, they dared to attack the convoy.

The extremely frustrated Hushouyi directed his anger at the commanders of the 108th and 109th divisions, ordering them to telegraph their subordinates to attack with all their might. Even if they could not save the people, they could not let the Chinese run away or destroy all the baggage.

The last call was to the Army Aviation Headquarters in Shimen Baoding, asking why their bomber formation had not yet arrived at the battlefield to provide assistance to friendly forces.

Perhaps, the generals at the level of division commanders can now not care too much about the general commander who has lost power, but it does not mean that the Army Aviation at the level of brigade can ignore Hushouyi's anger.

He could not do anything about the lieutenant general, but he could still issue a military order before leaving office to remove a major general and several colonel-level officers from their positions.

However, the Japanese Army Aviation of the North China Front also had its own difficulties. The Battle of Xuzhou was not over with a big defeat in Taierzhuang. The Japanese Army of the North China Front suffered 20,000 casualties, but the two major armies of the North China Front and the East China Front had invested more than 200,000 troops and were still fighting against the 600,000 Chinese troops.

Does the Army Aviation need support? Of course, it must. 70% of the Army Aviation's fighters are supporting the battlefield over there.

In Shanxi Province, the front army also deployed more than 100,000 troops including the 5th Division, the 16th Division, the 20th Division, the 108th Division, and the 109th Division. They were facing more than 400,000 troops including the Chinese Jinsui Army, the Central Army, the 22nd Army Group, and the 80th Army Group. Do they need support? Yes.

What? If the plane is made of paper, you can just blow on the nose and take the bomb and fly into the sky? The Japanese Army Aviation racked its brains to get 6 Type 96 attack and Type 96 bomber aircraft.

Although the 12 fighter formations did not meet the 24 aircraft required by Mr. Indoor Shroud, it should be enough to deal with a bunch of local bastards.

The reason why the 14th Division's baggage regiment has not arrived at the battlefield for more than two hours is also related to one person.

Captain Sasaki, who had fought several battles in a row and returned to the airport intact despite heavy losses of 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 had suffered continuous losses, needed this "hero".

Only glory can cover up ugliness!

Lieutenant Sasaki inexplicably became the face of the Army Aviation to cover up shame, and can also be called a "mascot", the kind that does not fight.

Because basically no one who fought with him came back alive, who dared to fight with him?

"Sasaki went to war, and the Army Aviation Squadron was left with nothing!" is the consensus of the Japanese Army Aviation that is not put on the table.

When the major airports such as Baoding and Yuancheng were too busy, Captain Sasaki's daily life was to sit on the grass and drink a little wine, stare into the distance for a while, or go to a military meeting and relay the speeches of the bosses to everyone.

This kind of life was not only satisfactory to Captain Sasaki, but also to other Japanese pilots.

But this peace was about to be broken.

Before departure, the three pilots had diarrhea, which was so bad that they almost put their bedding rolls in the toilet.

What if there were fighter planes but not enough pilots? The biggest boss of the Army Aviation, Ishizaka Keiichi, gave the order and ordered the pilots with more than 800 hours of flying experience in the base to take over.

Captain Sasaki, who had already drunk half a catty of sake, was very unfortunate and met this standard, and it was just a coincidence that there were only three of them in total.

He didn't care. Anyway, he had seen clearly by now that he was tough and could defeat his colleagues. He just flew when there was a military order.

But the other Japanese pilots didn't agree. This guy was more poisonous than the Chinese anti-aircraft guns. He was going to force us all to death!

So, after all the trouble of petitioning and writing letters, the order to take off was issued for more than half an hour, and these guys who were unwilling to die were still arguing with their superiors until Ishizaka Kei got angry and issued another order, and then they took off reluctantly.

Therefore, Major Moriki's farewell telegram was forwarded to the North China Front Command, and the 12 fighter planes had just left Baoding.

Captain Sasaki, as the second commander of this fighter formation, was flying alone at the front, like a lone goose.

However, this experienced Japanese Army Aviation Captain was not panicked at all. Several consecutive battlefields had told him that as long as he didn't die, others would die.

It's so-called grouping up for a while, but it's not so good to go to Amaterasu to drink tea with the group.

"Sasaki-kun, can you tell me how to survive on the battlefield?" Finally, someone couldn't help but ask on the radio because of the fear of being cursed.

"Don't lower the flight altitude easily!" Sasaki pondered for a while and gave what he thought was the most sincere answer.

In all the previous battles, it was because some people didn't believe in evil and lowered the flight altitude, and were eventually hit by Chinese anti-aircraft guns and anti-aircraft machine guns.

"But the higher-ups ordered us to destroy all the Chinese we saw!" a pilot asked cautiously.

There was silence in the radio station.

This is a core issue.

If you don't lower the altitude, you can't guarantee the accuracy of the bombing.

These fools! Sasaki's mouth curled slightly, full of disdain.

The results of the army battlefield can be judged by capturing and counting the enemy's corpses, and the number of enemy soldiers shot down and injured in air combat can be judged. For the bombing effect, is there anyone on the ground to help you count how many Chinese were killed?

However, Sasaki would never say these words clearly. He is no longer as resistant to going to war as before, because he found that as long as his comrades died and he was alive, he could be promoted. This is really a shortcut that has never been seen before.

Hmm? Will it be the same this time?

You see, when people lose their so-called moral bottom line, they are very happy, and Captain Sasaki is like this now.

But there is no doubt that the way to save lives that Sasaki said has deeply influenced these eagles of the Great Japanese Empire flying high in the sky.

Eagles hunt, naturally they have to dive down from high altitudes, but if there are hunters with hunting rifles waiting on the ground, then it is not unbearable to be hungry.

And Gu Teng Changying, who was hiding in the temporary field command bunker and observing the battlefield with a telescope, was still insisting on his own combat 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 something similar: "Don't look at the grasshoppers jumping happily, that's because the autumn wind hasn't blown yet!"

The commanders of both China and Japan are waiting for their own friendly forces, and they all have great trust in them.

I just don’t know whether the Chinese and Japanese soldiers, who are burdened with the trust of their friendly forces, can live up to their respective friendly forces.

This can only be seen from the battlefield performance.

Anyway, in the mountains, there are more than two thousand soldiers in gray uniforms, who are working hard to cross the mountains and ridges.