Chapter 56: The Japanese Advance

Chapter 56: The Japanese Advance

Wu Ze, who was currently on Li Yunlong’s mind, had already returned to the defense zone of the New First Regiment.

To be precise, it was the defense zone of the New First Regiment that had been occupied by the enemy.

However, this occupied defense zone was not heavily guarded by the enemy.

This was because the main forces of Jiang Deshui and Noichi Fujimura were fully engaged in dealing with the main forces of both the New First Regiment and the Independent Regiment.

Relying on his familiarity with the terrain, Sun Desheng led Wu Ze to the main battlefield without the slightest difficulty.

Wu Ze raised his binoculars and observed the situation on the battlefield.

The New First Regiment and the Independent Regiment occupied advantageous terrain. The smoke of battle still lingered, but the fighting had temporarily ceased.

Judging from the bodies on the battlefield, the New First Regiment and the Independent Regiment still held the upper hand for the time being.

The puppet troops and the Japanese forces appeared to be readjusting their deployments.

From the look of it, the Japanese soldiers themselves were about to take direct command of the upcoming assault.

"Wu Ze, what do we do? There are Japanese and traitors between us and the regiment commander. How are we supposed to get across?" Sun Desheng asked Wu Ze.

"What's the rush? We just need to find a place to hide. Once the regiment commander routs the Japanese and the traitors, we'll go see him," Wu Ze said casually.

Although through the binoculars, the deployment of the Japanese company looked somewhat formidable,

Li Yunlong had been able to withstand the offensive of over three thousand men from the Sakata Regiment during the Battle of Cangyun Ridge.

Fending off the attack of these remaining two thousand odd enemies now would be a piece of cake.

"Hmm." Sun Desheng had once doubted and worried that Li Yunlong’s New First Regiment would be no match for the three thousand-plus Japanese and traitors.

But looking at the scene on the battlefield now, he realized that the New First Regiment was not as weak as he had imagined; they might even emerge victorious from this battle.

Noichi Fujimura quickly organized the Japanese soldiers and delivered a speech: "Brave warriors, we once routed an entire regular Chinese army regiment on the frontal battlefield. Now, what we face is a mob of the Eighth Route Army—a team composed of farmers whose government doesn't even issue basic winter clothing, and who worry the moment winter arrives. Such a force is simply not worthy of being the opponent of our Imperial Army. But now, these clowns are recklessly provoking the majesty of the Imperial Army. Therefore, we must let these clowns know what kind of end awaits those who provoke the majesty of the Imperial Army!"

"Wipe them out!"

"Long live the Imperial Army!"

...

The Japanese soldiers all shouted in unison, their morale soaring.

Jiang Deshui and his puppet regiment commander looked at this scene, exchanging glances without their previous confidence.

In the past, whenever the Imperial Army took the field, their expressions would relax completely.

Because the combat effectiveness of the Imperial Army soldiers was formidable; positions that their puppet troops could not capture, the Imperial Army could.

Key points that their puppet troops could not take, the Imperial Army could.

Strongholds that their puppet troops could not seize, the Imperial Army could.

In the eyes of the puppet troops, the Imperial Army soldiers were capable of anything.

Yet now, they harbored no such thoughts.

Because the so-called peasant Eighth Route Army they faced was quite different from the enemies they had encountered before.

They were adept at guerrilla warfare, and now proficient in positional warfare as well. They also possessed ample weaponry and ammunition and occupied favorable terrain.

No matter how strong the combat effectiveness of the Imperial Army soldiers was, there was only one company of them, which was hardly enough manpower.

If they had an entire battalion, perhaps they could give it a try.

Of course, lacking confidence in the Japanese company in their hearts, Jiang Deshui and the others did not dare to voice it casually.

With a major battle imminent, speaking such words would shake military morale and cost them their heads.

Psychologically, Jiang Deshui and the others naturally hoped that the Imperial Army forces could work a miracle as they had in the past.

Because if the Imperial Army failed to take the position, it would bring no benefit to their puppet troops either.

If things went wrong, they would be forcibly sent in as cannon fodder to buy time for the Imperial Army's retreat.

"Jiang Deshui, tell your troops to keep up and not fall behind." After boosting morale and preparing the Japanese company for the assault, Fujimura instructed Jiang Deshui, "Once the Imperial Army tears a gap in the Eighth Route Army's defense line, you must immediately seize the opportunity to expand the victory. If you bungle the military situation, you'll be dead for sure."

"Yes, yes, yes. Don't worry, Your Honor, I will personally lead the troops right behind you and will never drag down the Imperial Army," Jiang Deshui nodded repeatedly.

"Yoshi," Fujimura nodded and immediately led the troops forward in person.

"Open fire!" Fujimura ordered artillery cover.

Boom!

Boom!

Boom!

...

Six artillery pieces roared instantly, targeting locations where enemy firepower had just been detected, such as heavy machine gun nests, mortar positions, and the Italian cannon emplacement.

The six cannons blew the earth and dust around those firepower points into the sky, and Fujimura immediately advanced with his Japanese soldiers.

The combat proficiency of the Japanese soldiers was indeed undeniable. Their grenade launcher crews and mortar crews fired shells in advance to launch precise strikes against the firepower points that the artillery had missed.

The Japanese machine gunners operated their machine guns to suppress the firepower of the Eighth Route Army's positions, covering the charging troops.

The charging Japanese soldiers, gripping their Arisaka rifles, fired and aimed as they advanced.

The individual combat proficiency of the Japanese soldiers was very high, and almost every soldier possessed extremely accurate marksmanship.

Although the number of Japanese soldiers was small, their quality was very high.

During their charge, casualties for both the New First Regiment and the Independent Regiment began to rise.

Many of the new recruits in the New First Regiment were dumbfounded by the precise marksmanship of the Japanese soldiers.

Most of these recruits were engaging Japanese soldiers in real combat for the first time, and the individual combat capability displayed by the Japanese truly shocked them:

"My god, these little Jap bastards' shooting is way too accurate."

"Show an inch and you get hit."

...

"Dammit, a good thing I shifted all our firepower positions in advance," Li Yunlong cursed as he watched the scene, then shouted, "Hit them hard! The first round of strikes must wipe out all the enemy's grenade launchers, mortars, and machine gun nests. Don't give the Japanese a chance to retaliate!"

"Fire, fire, open fire!" Kong Jie roared as well.

Boom!

Boom!

Boom!

...

The mortars and grenade launchers of the New First Regiment and the Independent Regiment immediately roared from their new positions.

Shells rained down on the locations of the grenade launchers, mortars, and machine guns within the charging Japanese ranks.

Fujimura was right; regarding the use of grenade launchers and mortars, the Eighth Route Army soldiers were indeed not yet fully proficient, and their accuracy varied.

Even so, half of the Japanese mortars and grenade launchers were knocked out.

Simultaneously, the light and heavy machine guns of the New First Regiment and the Independent Regiment roared to life.

Dense bullets carrying immense kinetic energy tore through the bodies of the remaining grenade and mortar crews.

Boom!

Wang Chengzhu personally operated the Italian cannon, and the shell fired from the barrel exploded with pinpoint accuracy right beside Noichi Fujimura.

Waving his command saber and attempting to lead his troops to smash through the New First Regiment, Fujimura never even got to display his ambition before an Italian artillery shell sent him straight up to the heavens.

"Haha, Zhuzi, looks like I owe you another half catty of sweet potato liquor," Li Yunlong laughed heartily.