In order to save ammunition, Zhu Tianhao did not bother with these Japanese soldiers and just marched along his planned route.
At this time, a very strange scene appeared on the battlefield:
The tanks of the Eighth Route Army marched in the hinterland of the Japanese, but they did not open fire on each other. The tanks even drove too fast and knocked over a carriage transporting ammunition. The Japanese transport soldiers jumped out of the car and cursed.
Seeing this scene, the Eighth Route Army tank soldiers didn't know what to say. If there hadn't been an order, they would have fired a shot at these Japanese in reply...
After bumping into five houses and crossing six streets, he broke in through the gate of a warehouse and exited through the back door, and finally arrived at the designated location: the intersection of Hezi Street.
This is a crossroads, due east of Chifeng Primary School.
The reason why we need to defend this place is because once the enemy passes here, they can go in any direction along the crossroads, and it will be even more difficult to find and take away the enemy headquarters.
"We have arrived at the designated location!" Zhu Tianhao reported to Li Yunlong: "All five tanks have arrived!"
"Okay!" Li Yunlong replied: "Stay where you are and guard the street no matter what!"
"yes!"
Zhu Tianhao responded, but he was a little worried.
In principle, Li Yunlong's command was fine. He used Shermans and infantry from the other two directions to launch a strong attack on the Japanese. Seeing that the Japanese command headquarters could not defend themselves, they had no choice but to escape, but the way back was blocked by T44, so they had no choice but to capture them.
But there is a question: Will the other two attacks go smoothly? If not, will T44 have to guard the crossroads for a long time?
If there is infantry cover, the T44 can defend for a long time without any problem. Just move the infantry to the buildings on both sides, use the windows and buildings as cover to quickly organize a defense, and then the T44 stops in the center of the street, that is, it will kill the gods.
Buddha kills Buddha.
But now, the T44 without infantry cover is easily attacked by the Japs. Once the Japs come to their senses and call in a demolition team, they can use the cover of the building to approach the tanks from blind spots and blow up the T44s one by one.
Thinking of this, Zhu Tianhao opened the hatch cover and leaned out a little, nodded and listened. The sound of "Sherman" cannons came from both directions...Zhu Tianhao was very familiar with tanks. He could tell the enemy from the sound of the cannons from a distance.
.
This is not a good sign, because the sound of "Sherman" cannons means that they are attacking the fortress, and another meaning is that the offensive has been blocked.
This is indeed the case.
Although the commando team composed of "Shermans" was powerful, they had infantry coordination and artillery to clear the way, but they struggled under the stubborn resistance of the Japanese.
Perhaps it was precisely because of their great momentum that they were blocked by the Japanese... The Japanese were aware of the mobilization of the Eighth Route Army troops in advance and made corresponding arrangements.
The Japanese were at home in Chifeng, and they had an advantage in intelligence. As soon as the tracks of the "Sherman" tank sounded, the Japanese intelligence officers hiding in the room would immediately report its location to Muraki Kishimoto.
Therefore, Kishimoto Muraki immediately judged that the Eighth Route Army wanted to launch a surprise attack on Chifeng Elementary School.
It is not difficult to guess that the intersection of the paths of the two tanks of the Eighth Route Army is near Chifeng Primary School.
Kishimoto Muraki felt strange for a while.
"How did they know our headquarters was here?" Muraki Kishimoto asked with a frown.
The staff officer quickly replied: "Your Excellency Colonel, there may be intelligence personnel from the Eighth Route Army among us..."
Kishimoto Muraki shook his head. The headquarters has been here for a few days. If there are intelligence personnel of the Eighth Route Army inside, the Eighth Route Army should not know about it at this time.
Then Kishimoto Muraki turned his attention to the air defense system on the other side that was being nervously tested.
Is it a coincidence that the Eighth Route Army knew the location of the headquarters as soon as the air defense system was turned on?
Could it be...that there is a problem with the air defense system?
When I thought about the erection of Kishimoto Village, I was so frightened that I broke out in a cold sweat.
If there is a problem with the air defense system, it means that your plan is doomed to fail before it even starts!
But Kishimoto Muraki couldn't believe that this was true, and at the same time he didn't want to believe that it was true.
I couldn't believe it because there was no such thing as "positioning" at this time. Muraki Kishimoto couldn't imagine what tricks the Eighth Route Army could do to know its location.
He doesn't want to believe it because the air defense system is his last life-saving straw. If this plan fails, then Kishimoto and his men will probably stay here forever.
Thinking about it, Kishimoto decided to continue this plan.
Because no matter what, you will die, so you might as well give it a try.
What's more, even if the Eighth Route Army manipulated the air defense system to know its location, could they still manipulate the anti-aircraft missiles?
This thing successfully helped the Imperial Air Force gain air supremacy in Jiulian Town!
Thinking of this, Kishimoto Muraki immediately ordered: "Move up the Ohara brigade and be sure to block the Eighth Route Army's attack before the aviation team arrives!"
A Japanese brigade divided into two groups to attack, and they made preparations in advance to lay mines, and the streets were covered with barbed wire... The barbed wire could not only delay the charge of the enemy infantry, but if the tanks ran over it, the wires would get caught in the wheels, causing
It cannot move.
As a result, the two "Sherman" commando attacks did not go smoothly.
Kishimoto Muraki actually knew the location of the T44, but there were only five T44s and there was no infantry cover. In addition, the location was far away from Chifeng Elementary School, so Kishimoto ignored it.
What Kishimoto didn't expect was that it was this team that played a role at the critical moment.
The longer Zhu Tianhao waited, the more he felt something was wrong. He had already seen a small group of Japanese soldiers coming from the far end of the street. Several cars reported to him one after another that they had discovered the enemy.
"Company commander, fire!" a platoon commander shouted on the radio: "We are suitable for attacking from a distance, and we will be passive when the enemy gets close!"
The platoon leader was right. Tanks are indeed suitable for shooting at long distances. According to common sense, when the enemy is still far away, they should fire a few shots to eliminate one wave, and then use machine guns to eliminate another wave when they are close.
But Zhu Tianhao did not give the order.
What he wanted in his mind was not to destroy the enemy but to complete the mission.
Can we hold on to the street at this rate?
Obviously not, even though the five tanks formed a circle at the intersection to cover each other and extended their firepower along the street as much as possible.
However, because of the presence of buildings, the Japanese infantry can still easily approach the tank group.
The tank group may be able to hold on for a while, but not for long.
No, you can't fight like this!
Zhu Tianhao immediately ordered: "Everyone is here, move forward along Hezi Street!"
"Company commander..." a platoon leader asked doubtfully, "our mission..."
"Our mission is to eliminate the Japanese headquarters!" Zhu Tianhao interrupted the platoon leader and firmly ordered: "The target is Chifeng Elementary School, move forward!"