Wu Xinmin came up quickly and shook hands with Lin Cunzhong warmly. "Old Lin, thank you for buying us time to deploy our defenses. It's not easy."

"Haha. Deputy Commander Wu is so polite." Lin Cunzhong asked anxiously, "How is it? The fortifications have been dug."

"A total of three lines of defense have been set up based on the original traffic ditch. The mortar positions are there." Wu Xinmin pointed and introduced to Lin Cunzhong: "Two mountain cannons are placed there. Many earth pits for launching thunderbolts have been dug. They were spread out so that they could move flexibly. One in the east and one in the west. The enemy couldn't find the target even if they tried to counterattack with artillery fire. I placed one and a half battalions on the frontal position. The rest of the men and horses were divided on the two wings, preparing for side attacks to reduce the main force. The position is under pressure. Now that the chief of staff is here, I feel more confident. You can give me some pointers."

"You have arranged so thoughtfully and meticulously. How dare I try to fiddle with everything." Lin Cunzhong said with a smile: "Add the troops I brought to the army. This is a tough battle. Then send a report to the commander and ask them to come up quickly. .”

"The enemy is already quite exhausted. As long as it gets dark, they will have to stop attacking. We can gradually shrink and turn our defense into an attack." Wu Xinmin nodded.

"The security forces are nothing to worry about. The main thing is the more than 400 Japs. We need to deal with them seriously." Lin Cunzhong said thoughtfully: "The flank attack must be well organized to allow the Japs to disperse their forces and contain their all-out attack."

……………

On the road, the Japanese and puppet troops continued to search and advance. Every one of them was covered with smoke and dust, and looked tired. The security forces were even more miserable. They were trapped and embarrassed, staggering, carrying heavy equipment, wearing bulky spiked boots, and being exposed to the scorching sun. Surrounded by Huang Chen and others, long-distance marches and battles were simply physical torture for the Japanese and puppet troops. As the puppet troops were in poor physical condition, soldiers with heatstroke fell down one after another and were abandoned. In the ditch beside the road, dissatisfaction and boredom grew among the puppet troops. It was only because of the despotic power and ferocity of the Japanese that they continued on their way numbly.

Ishibashi Takamori's mood was not as relaxed as that of his subordinates. Seeing that the strength of the troops was constantly weakening, he felt very irritable. Naturally, he could see the fatigue of the soldiers. He also wanted the troops to take a rest and reorganize. But time was tight. If he couldn't Before dark, rendezvous with the security forces at the Dragon King Temple and sleep in the open air. Wait until the enemy surges up like a tide. Wait until the enemy is fully prepared. It will be a devastating disaster. There should be no mercy for the soldiers. They are just serving as commanders. It exists as a tool of will. He repeatedly ordered himself in his heart: stay calm, strengthen your confidence, and defeat the enemy in front of you.

Suddenly there was a noise from behind. Shiqiao turned around and saw that two Japanese soldiers had also fallen to the ground due to heatstroke. White foam was spraying from their mouths, their faces were pale, and their hands and feet were convulsing. Several health soldiers were giving first aid.

As soon as he walked in, a sour smell of vomit rushed into his nostrils. He suddenly felt dizzy and his stomach was violently churning. He almost vomited. He supported himself and did not cover his nose with a handkerchief. He even bent down to take a look. He looked at the patient and waved his hands to be lifted down. When he straightened up, his whole body couldn't help but trembled slightly. The Japanese all stood still. Their faces were tired, their expressions were frightened, and their eyes were sluggish and muddy, as if they were worried about this bad luck. will happen to you.

Ishibashi Takamori thought for a moment and ordered the troops to slow down and take the opportunity to recover their physical strength. It was not possible to stop and rest. Once they fell, they would not be able to get up again for a while. He felt that due to the intense heat and the endless harassment of the enemy, The troops' vigor and fighting spirit were declining sharply during the attack, and his forceful driving without regard for the lives of his subordinates had made the soldiers tired and disgusted. After all, soldiers are also human beings and have the ability to think. He just closes his eyes to prevent them from thinking. That is self-deception. With such a depressed mood and dragging such a tired body, what will be the result of a head-on collision with the enemy in front? It is indeed a matter worthy of serious consideration.

………………

The midsummer sun tilted towards the west. Only the occasional tree left a trace of precious shade on the burned-out land.

Yu Biao was wearing a military uniform, riding on a horse, and standing by the roadside. He looked majestically at the advancing masses of armed people passing by. Sweat had soaked his clothes, but he remained motionless, maintaining a strong posture and deep composure. face. In fact, he had long wanted to run into the nearby village and take a pleasant bath next to the reopened water well. However, the dull thunderous sound of artillery coming from the north made him feel solemn and nervous. The war was over. It’s begun.

"Go to the back and take a look. Why hasn't this guy Gao Ding come up yet?" Yu Biao turned to the messenger next to him and said, "We are still counting on him to open the gap."

"Yes. I'll hurry up right away." The ordering soldier saluted and rode away in the dust.

"Only by encircling all sides can the enemy be fortified on all sides. We cannot concentrate our forces to attack the blocking line. Our biggest enemy is the hundreds of Japanese and security forces. Without the support of the Japanese, we would have been doomed a long time ago." Yu Biao narrowed his eyes. He cast his eyes into the distance and seemed to have seen the fierce fighting there.

"...Decisive battle. Decisive battle. The decisive battle that I have been waiting for since the beginning of the sweep has finally begun. Judging from the intensity of firepower and the combat quality of the soldiers, these more than a thousand troops are indeed the main force of the Second Route Army. They are waiting for work. They rely on the built The fortifications are blocking the road of our army..." Ishibashi Takamori dictated the telegram to the staff in a tired voice. "It is now four o'clock in the afternoon. Our army is launching a fierce attack. We will strive to defeat the current enemy before dark."

In the distance, shouts of killing were accompanied by artillery fire and gunshots. Body parts, soil, and blood flew into the air. Under the supervision of the equally tired Japanese soldiers, the exhausted security forces launched an attack on the Second Route Army's position under the cover of artillery fire. .

However, the enemy still encountered a truly difficult opponent. In front of the position, the defenders here were like a boulder and a nail. Their several charges almost without exception received heavy setbacks. Especially when they used the advance The mines fired from the dug earth pits rolled over and landed in front of the position from time to time. Around the huge crater lay the remains of limbs and corpses that had been shocked to death. Unconsciously, the front of the position was quickly filled with bloody corpses. This was a huge psychological shock to the security forces. Mountain artillery and mortars violently bombarded the Japanese behind when the enemy charged, causing them huge damage.
Chapter completed!