At six o'clock in the morning, before the rising sun had dispersed the ancient morning fog, the rumble of cannons tore through the quiet morning.
In Tonggu City, which has not yet been completely destroyed by artillery shells, soldiers of the 200th Division of the Expeditionary Force and the Liantai Militia Corps in khaki and iron-gray uniforms can be seen everywhere.
Smoke billows from the ruins, and from time to time the shouts of soldiers and the voices of Burmese women can be heard.
The brutal street fighting in Tonggu has been going on for more than twenty days, and both the Chinese army and the 56th Division are exhausted.
According to yesterday's latest statistics, the 200 Division, with a standard full strength of just over 10,000, now has less than 3,000 people who can hold a gun. Coupled with the three infantry battalions and an artillery battalion reinforced by the Liantai Militia, the number of the expeditionary force is also less than 3,000.
Just over 6,000 people.
As for the Japanese army, the Fifty-fifth Division was originally much worse off, and now there are no more people who can still hold a gun to form an infantry regiment.
As the saying goes, the tides are turning, one is declining and the other is increasing, and now it is the Chinese people's turn to counterattack.
Outside several houses in the city that were not completely destroyed by shells, several soldiers wearing helmets and armed with guns stood on guard. This was the residence of the Liantai militia group who came for reinforcements.
Some Burmese women who were unwilling to flee their homes would always ogle at the soldiers when they passed by outside their houses.
After more than half a month of brief contact, these Burmese women found that unlike those beast-like Japanese soldiers, these Chinese soldiers had much better military discipline than the Japanese. If they slept with them, they could get food or a small amount of money. In this way, the Chinese soldiers would naturally
Be welcomed by those Burmese women.
Compared with those soldiers wearing khaki military uniforms, those Chinese soldiers wearing gray military uniforms were more generous, giving them more food and money, and even cigarettes, candies, biscuits and other items.
The dilapidated room was filled with a strong smell of alcohol. I didn't know who got a box of liquor last night, so the entire platoon of soldiers spent one night drying up the box of liquor.
Although drinking is strictly prohibited on the battlefield according to military orders, after fighting here for more than half a month, even an iron man needs to relax.
After all, soldiers are not machines. Faced with bleeding, injury, and death, no matter how strong their nerves are, they cannot bear it. If military discipline is used to restrain soldiers at this time, it is likely to lead to bad consequences. Experienced officers know this
clear.
Zou Tieshan, who had just emerged from his sleeping bag, let out a wine burp and looked around the room with sleepy eyes. The Burmese woman from last night was no longer there. There were only a few soldiers wearing carrying gear in the room.
Seeing these soldiers, Zou Tieshan suddenly had a bad feeling.
He touched his pocket, and sure enough, the military pay just issued this month plus the wartime allowance of six yuan left only three yuan.
"Fuck...that bitch took away three oceans from me, damn it!
A superior soldier who had packed his equipment next to him patted the annoyed Zou Tieshan on the shoulder. He gloated and walked out of the house with his lunch box. At the same time, he joked: "I warned you a long time ago that those Burmese women have unclean hands and feet, but you kid
I just don’t have a long memory, so go eat quickly!”
Although most Burmese women in this period had rough and dark skin, and the two parties did not understand each other's language, they knew how to serve men and generally would not refuse their requests. The most important thing was that they were very easy to get started with.
Because of this, even if there are disciplinary regulations, the soldiers are still chasing these women happily, and of course they cannot avoid the temptation of money.
There was a rush of footsteps on the street, and soon Wang Jiyong, commander of the 1st Battalion and 1st Company, strode over with a communications soldier.
Wang Jiyong summoned all the soldiers of the company together and said loudly: "Brothers, Deputy Commander Wu has just issued an order. In half an hour we will cooperate with the brothers of the 200th Division to launch a full-scale counterattack against the Japanese.
The purpose of this counterattack is to resolutely and thoroughly drive the 56th Division out of Tonggu City, or even keep them here, do you understand?"
"Understood!" came the neat answer from the street.
But there are also different voices.
"Company Commander, we have almost more people than the 200 Division in Tonggu City now. Why should we cooperate with them? It should be the other way around, right?"
Wang Jiyong followed the sound and immediately locked his eyes on one person.
"Zou Tieshan, do you have a pig brain?"
Wang Ji had the courage to move and kicked him.
"After all, your kid has gone to private school for two years. Do you know the word overshadowing?
Why...just because this is what people deserve.
Don’t forget, more than 6,000 brothers from the 200th Division fell here, so we have to cooperate with them just because of this, do you understand?”
"I understand, company commander." Zou Tieshan was not really a fool, he was just quick-talking for a while.
"Okay, kid, don't be stunned."
Wang Jiyong glared at him, and then said: "In view of the fact that one of the squad leaders of the second platoon and the third squad was killed and a wealthy businessman, the position of squad leader of the third squad is now yours.
After the proposal of this company commander, Commander Wu agreed that your military rank will be promoted to corporal starting from today. I hope you will continue to work hard in your new position."
Zou Tieshan, who had been scolded by the company commander just now, did not react for a moment and seemed at a loss as he asked hesitantly.
"I...I am the monitor now?"
"nonsense!"
Angry and funny, Wang Jiyong first unbuttoned his shoulders and took off an epaulette with a white border and a V shape from both sides.
Then he took out a box from his pocket and took out two epaulettes that were also white but with patterned edges and put them on him.
From now on, Zou Tieshan is a serious corporal, which also means that he can hold the position of squad leader.
"Crash!"
All the soldiers in the company applauded.
Zou Tieshan also grinned and saluted Wang Jiyong.
Being promoted to corporal not only means that his military rank has been promoted, but it also means that his military salary has been increased from two yuan to three yuan per month. If the wartime allowance is included, he will receive nine yuan per month starting from this month.
Looking at the grinning Zou Tieshan, Wang Jiyong patted him on the shoulder in a funny way: "Okay, stop being silly and prepare quickly... we will launch a general attack in twenty minutes!
You have to remember that you are no longer a top soldier now. As a squad leader, you not only have to lead your brothers to eliminate the Japanese, but you also have to keep them alive as much as possible, do you understand?"
"clear!"
"Okay, let's go...get into the fighting position quickly!"
More than ten minutes later, another whistle sounded in the sky. It was the Second Artillery Battalion that had just arrived a few days ago and was launching an artillery bombardment on the positions occupied by the Japanese army.
The roar of the 105-caliber artillery resounded through Tonggu, accompanied by intensive gunfire. At this time, there was no so-called front and rear in Tonggu, and there was no distinction between enemy area and our area. Anywhere could be attacked.