In fact, Zhang Dabiao mistakenly blamed the Japanese. The Japanese layout in the steel plant was not as static as he imagined.
The commander in charge of the steel plant is a left-center man named Yonoyo Asada. He only has an elementary school education, but he has rich practical experience. He is a veteran from World War I to the present.
(Note: During World War II, the Japanese had completed 100% of compulsory primary school education, and more than 90% of the officers had received secondary education or above or studied in professional non-commissioned officers’ schools. It is difficult for officers like Asada Yondii who only have a primary school diploma to be promoted in the army.
)
Asada Nakazuo was transferred to the steel plant just a month ago.
Asada thought that this might be because his superiors believed that the defense of the steel plant was no longer important, so they sent him, an uncultured commander, to garrison it.
Asada's guess was correct. It was not that the steel plant was unimportant, but that the Japanese had decided that even the ground troops had launched an attack on the Eighth Route Army. Then the steel plant was no longer the front line but became the second line, so its defense was not important.
But Asada's character is such that he will be treated with extreme caution at any time on the battlefield.
As soon as he arrived at the steel plant, he frowned when he saw his "predecessor" talking about the so-called "strengthening of defense" of the steel plant.
"This is simply suicide!" Asada pointed to the thickened walls and said: "Don't you know that the Eighth Route Army already has artillery, especially a lot of spray bombs? These walls and gun towers are targets for spray bombs! You are doing this
, it’s just a waste of time and energy!”
The staff officer replied: "Your Excellency Zhongzuo, but what Ichikawa Daizuo means is that our army has air superiority, plus our army has artillery superiority, so... don't worry too much about the equipment of the Eighth Route Army!"
Ichikawa Daizuo was the former commander stationed at the steel plant.
It makes sense for him to think so.
Because there is never perfect defense on the battlefield, if you take into account the enemy's artillery and spray bombs, then no matter how strong the defense is, it will be vulnerable.
but……
Several artillery regiments of the Imperial Army are located behind the steel plant. The steel plant can receive fire reinforcements from these artillery units at any time, so why bother worrying about enemy artillery and spray bombs? Not to mention that the Empire still has air superiority!
At that time, the empire's fighter planes and artillery will suppress the enemy's heavy equipment, and these walls and gun towers will be used to deal with the enemy's charging infantry.
Although this idea makes some sense, it is too idealistic.
Because the battlefield is changing rapidly, the support units around the steel plant will also change due to the development of the battle situation. For example, fighter planes cannot provide effective support at night, and artillery is mobilized.
Yudai Asada, who has rich combat experience, will not wait for this to happen before making preparations.
Therefore, he looked around the steel plant worriedly and said: "No matter what, I don't want to wait to die here!"
The staff officer hurriedly responded "Yes", then stepped forward and bent down and asked: "Um, Your Excellency Zhongzuo, do you mean to strengthen the defense by adding a trench outside the wall? I'm afraid there will be difficulties, the weather is too cold.
, it is very difficult to build trenches..."
"No, no!" Asada shook his hand and replied: "If you add a trench outside, you will soon be discovered by the enemy. Moreover, the Eighth Route Army is good at harassment. Stationing outside means a lot of trouble!"
This is why the Japanese always like to build walls.
If there is no wall around it, such as trenches dug outside, the Japanese will be exposed in the wilderness.
When the guerrillas here and there are fighting each other, how should the Japanese respond?
Searching all over the mountains and plains?
I'm afraid that if they don't find a few, they will suffer more serious casualties in this snow.
It is much safer once surrounded by a wall. It is difficult for the guerrillas to harm the Imperial soldiers behind the wall with cold fire and artillery. The Imperial soldiers do not need to go out of the city to hunt, so they live in peace with each other.
Asada looked inside the steel plant and found that the buildings of the steel plant were very suitable for defense.
Perhaps to prevent fires, some of the buildings in the steel plant are brick buildings and some are earth buildings, and only a few buildings are built with kimura.
Asada pointed to the buildings and said: "We should build another line of defense inside the wall, thirty to fifty meters away from the wall, do you understand?"
The staff officer nodded immediately and responded "I understand."
Building the second line of defense inside the wall does have many advantages. For example, it is difficult for the enemy to detect this line of defense from the outside, so there is no defense when attacking.
The other is that if a gap is opened in the wall and enemies pour in through this gap... the role of the second line of defense is immeasurable. Bullets can pour out into the gap in pieces, killing and injuring the enemy.
The staff immediately followed Asada Nakazuo's idea and converted a circle of buildings near the wall into a defense line. In some locations where there were no buildings, trenches were dug directly or bunkers were stacked with sandbags. Then, every few dozen meters or there was a firepower
Arrange a machine gun at the rear of the blind spot to increase firepower.
It should be said that the arrangement of Asada Nakazuo is still very good.
If the Eighth Route Army continues to attack with the same equipment as before, that is, the Springfield rifle, it may be able to break through the wall but suffer heavy losses on the second line of defense.
Because at that time the wall became an obstacle, and the Eighth Route Army's offensive force was abruptly divided into two sections, the inner and outer sections, making it difficult to communicate with each other.
but……
After the Eighth Route Army was equipped with AK47, the situation was completely different.
The Eighth Route Army attacked at just the right time. It was already dark when the battle started...perhaps because the snow reflected sunlight. As soon as it got dark, visibility was very high, which was very conducive to the Eighth Route Army taking advantage of the Ak47's firepower.
Zhang Dabiao felt that something was not right as soon as his troops rushed into the gap.
As soon as a squad of soldiers approached the gap, they were crushed by the fierce Japanese firepower and fell to the ground unable to raise their heads.
It stands to reason that if the Japanese were defending the front line of the wall and the Eighth Route Army was unprepared for the attack, the Japanese should not have such strong firepower to fill the gap.
Unless...the Japanese have already prepared another line of defense inside the wall.
Zhang Dabiao understood it after thinking about it, and then immediately ordered: "Don't rush in and occupy the wall! Grenade..."
The soldiers in the first battalion were all veterans selected from the independent regiment. Although Zhang Dabiao's order was unclear, the soldiers understood it.
In fact, it was the company commanders of each company who understood.
Then the company commander orders the platoon leader, and the platoon leader orders the squad leader...
In just a few seconds, everyone from top to bottom understood what Zhang Dabiao meant and prepared the grenade.
Then, after a whistle, the grenades flew to the other end of the wall in rows... This was to clear out the Japs defending the wall. If the Japs threw grenades behind the wall, it would cause great damage to the Eighth Route Army.
threaten.
With a "boom" explosion, the soldiers came out in groups of two on ladders along the wall and set up AK47s on the wall...