After occupying the first position, the soldiers of the regiment and battalion launched an attack on the second position.
At this time, all the soldiers of the first battalion were nestled in the trenches, and both sides were firing at each other with light and heavy machine guns.
The Japanese Type 89 grenade first blew up a heavy machine gun of the first battalion, and then the first battalion was not to be outdone. 50 mortars quickly destroyed the grenade on the opposite side.
There is a gap of more than 400 meters between the two positions, and there is no bunker in between. Jumping out of the trench will only become a living target.
Moreover, once the soldiers approach the second position, the fire points placed on the fortifications of the outer city of Changzhi can start shooting at the charging soldiers.
As a result, the soldiers had to withstand double firepower, and the difficulty of the attack suddenly doubled.
Although the mountain artillery battery destroyed the enemy's bunker and the effective strength of the Japanese and puppet troops on the extremely lethal position, the Japanese and puppet troops in the city were continuously replenished to the second position.
The battle became intense for a while, with both sides suffering casualties. The seriously wounded members of the first battalion were gradually carried away by a stretcher team composed of puppet troops.
"Battalion Commander, fighting like this is not a problem. If this stalemate continues, our battalion will be exhausted sooner or later. We will call for a wave of artillery support. While the artillery is bombarding, we will rush forward and engage in hand-to-hand combat with the enemy!"
The third company commander of the battalion said.
In Changzhi City, Jiro Ikeda, as the supreme commander, is no longer as calm as before. Not long ago, the Japanese reinforcements from various counties in the south of Changzhi have sent telegrams one after another, stating that a large number of national troops have appeared in the counties where they are located, asking whether they should continue to march toward Changzhi.
reinforce.
Ikeda Jiro was decisive and directly ordered the Japanese and puppet reinforcements in each county to abandon their original defense areas and all move towards Changzhi for reinforcements.
Jiro Ikeda thought very clearly. There were currently 200-300 Japanese troops in each county and more than a thousand puppet troops. Rather than being wasted in the battle with the national army, it was better to do everything possible to protect Changzhi City.
"Your Excellency Colonel, the Thirty-sixth Division and the Thirty-seventh Division sent a joint telegram!" The adjutant hurriedly walked into the combat conference room.
"Read it!" Jiro Ikeda looked at the adjutant's anxious expression and couldn't help but feel a little thump in his heart.
"The telegram stated that when the reinforcements arrived at the Handan-Chang Highway in Shexian County from the hinterland of the Taihang Mountains, they encountered a tenacious blockade by the Eighth Route Army and are currently unable to advance even an inch!" The adjutant briefly stated the contents of the telegram.
"Baga!" After hearing this, Jiro Ikeda slapped the table hard and jumped up to occupy it.
"What are the troop casualties so far?"
"Now our troops are locked in a tug-of-war with the Eighth Route Army. Although they are blocked from the second line of defense, our troops have also suffered many casualties. The defenders at the North City Gate suffered particularly heavy casualties due to lack of artillery support.
The Imperial Army suffered nearly 300 casualties, and the Imperial Alliance Army suffered more than 600 casualties. If the battle continues, there will be a situation where no one can defend the outer city walls and fortifications!" the adjutant replied cautiously.
"Immediately order the deployment of manpower from the inner city to support, and at the same time pass the order, reinforcements from all walks of life are on their way to Changzhi!"
"Hi!" the adjutant said and left.
After Jiro Ikeda mobilized troops from various strongholds around the suburbs of Changzhi in advance, the number of Japanese troops in the city reached about 1,800, and the number of puppet troops was as high as 3,000.
However, Jiro Ikeda forced all troops to defend their positions resolutely. Under the supervision of Japanese soldiers, all puppet troops were forced to defend their positions.
As a result, under the artillery strikes of the independent detachment, all the first positions in the four directions were lost, and most of the Japanese and puppet troops on the positions were annihilated. Now the Japanese troops are continuously being consumed on the second positions, causing casualties.
It was beyond Jiro Ikeda's expectation.
Inside the independent detachment headquarters.
Zhou Weihan has been observing the battle situation ahead: "The Japanese commanders in the city are very cautious, but their tactical command is not very good. They actually resorted to fuel tactics!"
"The main reason is that our independent detachment is different from other troops. The Japanese army thought that they relied on the number of artillery to suppress us. Now the situation is reversed. I guess the Japanese commander may not adapt!" Xing Zhiguo joked.
"Hey, Lao Xing, you see the Japanese army came out of the city for reinforcements again. It's so big. They left the good city walls and fortifications unused and rushed out to die. Is this the spirit of the fucking Bushido?" Zhou Weihan said with a smile.
"Old Xing, inform the attacking troops of the First and Second Regiments not to rush to launch a strong attack on the Japanese army's second position and just consume them with artillery fire. I want to see how long the little devils can hold on!"
Subsequently, the first regiment and the second regiment, who received orders from Zhou Weihan, were no longer in a hurry, and the attacking troops settled on the first position.
While the artillery battalion was conducting artillery strikes, the offensive troops successively strengthened their positions and repaired the artillery holes.
Jing Dagang even took the opportunity to exchange the artillery in the east and north directions, moved the mountain artillery battery to the east, and knocked out three mountain artillery units deployed by the Japanese army in the east of the city in one fell swoop.
At 11 o'clock in the morning, Takeda Ryuhei, the captain of the 1st Battalion of the 238th Regiment, who was standing guard at the North Gate, could no longer bear the continued futile casualties of his soldiers, and directly found Jiro Ikeda.
"Your Majesty Colonel, why hasn't the flight team from Yuncheng Airport arrived in Changzhi yet? According to the normal speed, it should have arrived long ago!" Takeda Ryuhei asked doubtfully.
"Takeda-kun, Yuncheng Airport reported that the plane took off early this morning to assist the main force of the Imperial Army in a sweep. The airport was unable to contact the plane, so it is temporarily unable to provide us with air support. The same is true for Taiyuan and Shimen Airports.
Now we can only defend Changzhi City by ourselves, and we must show the bravery of the Japanese Imperial Army!" Ikeda Jiro said solemnly.
"Hi!" Takeda Ryuhei bowed his head in response, and then continued: "Your Majesty Colonel, the defenders at the North City Gate suffered heavy casualties. With all due respect, although the Imperial Alliance Army is large in number, it is not useful. We should not be limited to our positions.
To determine gains and losses, relying on city fortifications to consume the enemy is the right way!"
Both of them understood the current situation on the battlefield. The Japanese army was already in an unfavorable situation. Without external assistance, Changzhi City would be captured sooner or later.
After Jiro Ikeda heard this, he thought for a while and said: "Takeda-kun, it's time for a last-ditch battle. The outer city must not be captured. Once the outer city is captured, the Eighth Route Army will rush in and engage in street fighting with us. The two sides will fight together, and then forget it."
The aircraft from Yuncheng Airport have arrived, but they are unable to provide air support!"
"I decided to gather all the large forces near the city wall fortifications in the outer city and take turns to resist the Eighth Route Army's attack. What do you think?"
"Hey, I follow the orders of His Excellency Colonel!"
At present, there is no better arrangement, and we can only hope that the city wall fortifications can withstand the Eighth Route Army's offensive.
"Go and command the battle. The expatriates in the inner city have gathered to distribute weapons and equipment. We will provide support if necessary!" Jiro Ikeda finally said.