Three consecutive shells exploded on the machine gun position. With a huge explosion, the entire machine gun position was completely covered in dust and thick smoke.
When the smoke cleared, the Type 11 machine gun and the three soldiers that had been pouring out flames just now were gone.
"pretty!"
Not far away, Nong Tiancai clearly saw through the telescope the machine gun parts that had been lifted into the sky and the broken limbs of the Japanese machine gunner. He waved his arms in excitement.
Without the cover of the machine guns, under the repeated bombardment of three mortars, the Japanese 38 cover alone could not withstand the attack of the third company, and the Japanese resistance soon collapsed.
"Attack... drive the little devils up the mountain!" Nong Tiancai shouted loudly, the MP40 submachine gun in his hand kept tilting the flames forward.
Under his leadership, the Third Company went completely crazy, driving the remaining Japanese troops back step by step, almost like herding sheep.
"Quick... put your things away and follow."
When the infantry rushes forward, the mortar, which is the companion of the infantry, naturally has to follow suit.
The benefits of the 60 mortar were also reflected at this time.
The weight of 19 kilograms is nothing to a three-person artillery team. After disassembling the barrel and chassis, two people can walk with it and the remaining one person is responsible for carrying the ammunition. It can be used as an infantryman.
Wherever they hit, they followed.
"Good... great..."
At the bottom of the mountain, Gao Hongming was overjoyed when he saw his troops attacking the top of the mountain. The first battalion was so impressive that it not only defeated the attack of a Japanese brigade, but also drove the enemy back to the mountain.
If they can take advantage of the situation and occupy Qixia Pass, then the game will be considered alive. After occupying Qixia Pass, the militia will be in a strong position to advance, attack, retreat and defend. The Japanese's wishful thinking of encircling and annihilating them will become a joke.
Thinking of this, he immediately picked up the phone and connected to Wu Chengfeng, "Old Wu, this opportunity is not to be missed before it comes again. You immediately put the entire battalion up, and you must occupy Qixia Pass as quickly as possible and fight for the whole group."
There is a way."
Wu Chengfeng said anxiously: "Regiment, but the Japs have two other brigades coming from nearby. I estimate that they will arrive in about ten minutes at most. If the whole battalion is pressed up, the Japs reinforcements will be able to reach each battalion once they arrive."
It’s like making dumplings.”
"You don't have to worry about the Japanese reinforcements. I will let the artillery battalion cover you. Now you immediately order the charge. The time difference is what we are fighting now. We must be quick!"
"clear!"
Wu Chengfeng gritted his teeth and connected the communication between the other two company commanders. "I am Wu Chengfeng. I order...the whole battalion to launch an attack immediately...must seize Qixia Pass quickly."
"L……"
Soon, the passionate charge horn sounded at the foot of the mountain, and countless soldiers in iron-gray military uniforms swarmed towards Qixialing...
Pingan County Provisional Brigade Headquarters
"Your Excellency, Brigade Commander, it's not good!"
A staff officer hurriedly ran into the headquarters. Kasahara Koizumi, who was sitting on a chair with a command knife, opened his eyes and cursed fiercely: "Baga... why are you panicking!"
"Hi!"
The staff officer quickly stood at attention and said anxiously: "Your Excellency, the brigade commander, Lieutenant Commander Tsuchiya Kenji, the chief of staff of the third regiment, came to report that their regiment commander, Colonel Hashimoto Shinsuke... he... he is broken to pieces for His Majesty the Emperor!"
"Nani?"
Kasahara Koizumi stood up suddenly, his eyes suddenly widened.
"How can this be."
He immediately became furious, "Hashimoto Shinsuke has an entire regiment. Unless all the Chinese have wings, how could they possibly attack Qixia Pass?"
The staff officer said bitterly: "Your Excellency, brigade commander, Kenji Tsuchiya said that the Chinese did not attack the headquarters, but attacked Qixia Pass with heavy artillery. The entire Qixia Pass was bombarded to the ground by them, and the headquarters naturally also
…Nature no longer exists.”
"Idiot... trash... actually... the Chinese took over the headquarters again. Are they all pigs?" Kasahara Koizumi felt like he couldn't breathe, and his body began to shake.
Fortunately, the staff officer saw the red face of his brigade commander, so he quickly supported him, made him sit down, and brought him tea.
After taking two sips of tea, Kasahara Koizumi's complexion improved, but he still felt a little upset.
Is the Third Wing an evil spirit? Or is the Liantai County Militia the natural nemesis of the Third Wing? How come two consecutive captains of the Wing died at the hands of the Liantai County Militia, and both in a vicious manner?
.
You must know that unlike the battle with Cangyunling, which could be said to be caught off guard, this time the Third Regiment was calculated deliberately and unintentionally, and together with the Fourth Regiment, they carried out a sneak attack on the Liantai County militia in an ambush manner.
With three times the force and a sneak attack, both Kasahara Koizumi and Shinozuka Yoshio, who was stationed too far away, thought that Gao Hongming and his militia were definitely doomed this time, but the result was beyond everyone's expectations.
The regiment headquarters was destroyed by heavy artillery and the regiment leader was killed. How similar is this outcome to the battle at Cangyunling!
But he also knew that now was not the time to be sad. Kasahara Koizumi asked again: "How is the situation of the Third Wing now?"
"Now Lieutenant Colonel Tsuchiya Kenji has ordered the remaining two brigades of the Third Regiment to move closer to Qixia Pass. They will hold Qixia Pass first and then make plans."
"Well……"
Kasahara Koizumi's face improved a little, "This is a mature and prudent approach. Kenji Tsuchiya is not too stupid."
After thinking for a while, he still felt a little uneasy: "No...since the Chinese have heavy artillery, they can't hold on for long just by holding on.
You immediately send a report to the Fourth Regiment and ask them to increase their attack intensity. They must capture the two highlands on the west side within an hour. They must defeat Gao Hongming's rearguard before the Chinese attack Qixia Pass. This is the only way.
Only then can we save the situation!"
"Hi!"
The staff officer took the order and left.
After the staff left, Kasahara Koizumi was still a little restless. Today's battle situation was so unexpected.
First of all, he really couldn't understand why there was such a thing as heavy artillery when it was just a local militia group that was only well-equipped.
According to statistics from the Imperial Intelligence Department, there were only more than 400 artillery pieces in the entire China before the war, of which there were only 88 heavy artillery pieces with a caliber of 105 mm or above. Coupled with the battle losses over the years and no replacement, it is estimated that there are now 30 artillery pieces in a row.
Can't even get it together.
And these remaining heavy artillery are also regarded as treasures by the national army, and under normal circumstances they will not be dispatched at all.
This is why Kasahara Koizumi can't figure it out. How did a local militia group acquire heavy artillery? It also used artillery fire to cover the imperial army. This is simply ridiculous.
Kasahara Koizumi shuddered when he thought about the consequences if this battle failed and the cold eyes of Commander Yoshio Shinozuka.
"No...I have to do something."
Just as Kasahara Koizumi reached for the phone on the table, a staff officer rushed in again.
"Your Excellency, Brigade Commander, it's bad... Qixia Pass has been lost..."