Under the hazy sky, gunpowder smoke filled the air, and a large number of Japanese soldiers were receding like the tide. The Chinese officers and soldiers, covered in gunpowder smoke and bloodstains, did not even have the energy to cheer. After exhausting their energy, they fell limply on the pile of corpses one by one, breathing heavily.
When Pi Xuanyou, the leader of the 54th Regiment, saw the Japanese retreating, his heart dropped. He finally repelled another Japanese attack. He could not even remember how many times this was the Japanese attack.
Already.
"Signal Corps! Signal Corps!"
Although the Japs retreated temporarily, the regiment leader Pi Xuanyou did not dare to be careless in the slightest. He knew that the Japs would come back soon.
"Call the division headquarters, we need reinforcements and ammunition!"
Although he had promised in front of his division commander Luo Wenyuan just last night that he would defend his position and not take a step back.
But now that the battle has started, his troops are almost exhausted, and he is no longer sure that he can hold his position.
Now less than 40% of their entire regiment can fight. If the Japanese attack again on a large scale, they will be completely destroyed, so they have to bite the bullet and ask for help.
"Team leader, the phone line was blown up by Japanese artillery shells." Soon, the communications platoon leader, covered in scars, trotted over to report.
"Send someone to make emergency repairs. What do you, the communications platoon leader, do for a living?" After hearing the communications platoon leader's words, Pi Xuanyou, who was in a bad mood, opened his mouth to curse.
"Team leader, our communication platoon is here, I'm the only one left..."
"Well."
After hearing this, looking at the injured and tired communications platoon leader, Pi Xuanyou, the group leader who was originally angry, also vented his anger.
"Take two brothers to the division headquarters and report the situation of our regiment. Go and come back quickly." Emergency repairs on the phone line failed to be repaired for a while, so he had to have someone go directly to the division headquarters to report.
"yes!"
After the communications platoon leader stood up and saluted, he hurriedly turned around, nodded at two people, and went straight to the division headquarters.
"Stop pretending to be dead and seize the time to repair the trenches!"
After seeing the communications platoon leader and two other soldiers disappear from sight, he turned around and shouted loudly at the officers and soldiers lying on the ground breathing heavily.
Although the officers and soldiers covered in blood were exhausted, they also knew that the next Japanese attack would arrive at any time, so they worked hard to repair the trenches that had been blown to pieces. After all, it would be nice to have a hiding place.
"Medicine, send all the wounded down!"
The Japanese retreated, but the regiment leader Pi Xuanyou had no time to rest. He was busy rescuing the wounded and rearranging positions to prepare for the next Japanese attack.
Soon, the three battalion commanders located on the Tumenya and Yaqueling positions rushed over to await new orders.
"The position of the 53rd Regiment at Jewel Mountain has been occupied by the Japs. They have withdrawn into the city. Our flanks have been exposed to the Japs. The first battalion has been nailed by me. We cannot let the Japs break out from the flanks."
"Don't worry, members of the regiment. We are here in the trenches, and we will ensure that as many enemy soldiers come as they come, they will die!" Peng Jisheng, the commander of the first battalion, assured him, patting his chest.
"Well, I can trust you to do your job."
"Tangong Mountain is also lost. The second battalion is responsible for guarding the direction of Tan Gong Mountain. We cannot let the Japanese soldiers come over one by one!"
"yes!"
"I lead the regiment directly under the guard platoon and the third battalion to be responsible for the front. We are not allowed to retreat even one step before the division headquarters gives an order to retreat. Do you understand me?"
"clear!"
The three battalion commanders all knew that it was time to fight, without any ambiguity.
Although they repelled several attacks by the Japs, their neighboring 53rd Regiment had lost its position and had to retreat into the city to fight.
The loss of Tan Gong Mountain made them even more vulnerable to enemies from both sides. If their positions were not located in Tumenya and Yaque Ridge, which had a dangerous terrain, they might not have been able to defend it.
Now their position has become a protruding part of the entire Yichang peripheral defense line, and it is bound to become a thorn in the enemy's side. Therefore, the regiment leader Pi Xuanyou also knows that the real fierce battle is still behind.
While the officers and soldiers of the 54th Regiment of the 18th Division guarding the Yaque Ridge and Tumenya lines were busy preparing for the next wave of Japanese attacks, a group of well-equipped Japanese soldiers arrived at the command post of the 26th Brigade.
.
This group of well-equipped Japanese soldiers is none other than the Wolf Squadron under the command of Major Makino Kanichi of the Japanese Army's Continental Advance Team.
After they arrived in Yichang by boat, they did not immediately go into battle. Instead, they rested in a nearby village and were on standby because they had been fighting in the previous stage and were very tired.
Major General Nara, commander of the Japanese 26th Brigade, originally wanted to rely on his own strength to destroy the defense lines of Yichang's outer defenders, and then seize the opportunity to invade Yichang before the 3rd and 39th Divisions.
Unfortunately, fate is not as good as fate. Facing the stubborn resistance of the Chinese defenders, their troops suffered heavy losses and failed to break through Yichang's outer defense line.
Now the leading troops of the 3rd Division have arrived to the north of Yichang and are exchanging fire with the troops of the Chinese 199th Division.
This undoubtedly put the commander of the 26th Brigade, Major General Nara, under great pressure. If the 3rd Division was the first to attack the city, he would not be able to give an explanation to their division commander.
Fortunately, I heard that the powerful Wolf Squadron was nearby, so I immediately invited the Wolf Squadron to help them attack Tumenya and Yaqueling.
The Wolf Squadron is not affiliated with the 11th Army. They are following various units of the 11th Army this time just for actual combat experience.
Now that there is an opportunity to go to the battlefield, Makino Kanichi will naturally not refuse, and the victory in the previous stage has rewarded them, and they are eager to obtain more honors.
"Makino-san, this Chongqing Army is different from the previous Chongqing Army. They are well-equipped and resist extremely tenaciously. My two infantry regiments took turns to attack, but they failed to capture their position."
Although Major General Nara, commander of the 26th Brigade, knew that their opponent was the Chinese 18th Army, an elite unit of the Central Army, he still underestimated the combat effectiveness of the defenders and suffered a big loss.
As one of the attack armies directly under the Central Military Commission, the 18th Army's equipment is more than one level better than that of ordinary troops, and its soldiers are also excellent.
Moreover, the predecessor of the 18th Army, the 11th Division, fought on the Luodian battlefield in the Songhu battle, but the Japanese were beaten with blood, and Luodian was also known as the flesh and blood mill.
Faced with such a force that had emerged from the flames of war, even though the Japanese 26th Brigade belonged to the Class A Division, without the cooperation of the aviation and heavy artillery units, it was still unclear who would win.
Makino Kanichi couldn't help showing contempt when he saw that the brigade commander, Major General Nara, spoke so powerfully of the defenders.
However, Major General Nara is the commander, and as a major he still maintains enough humility: "Don't worry, General, our Wolf Squadron will definitely disappoint you!"
"Then please leave it to Makino-san." Seeing Makino Kanichi's confidence, Major General Nara also felt a little relieved.
"Makino-san, I've prepared a meal for you. After dinner, you can follow the troops to attack. What do you think?" Major General Nara said.
"General, come back for dinner after we take down the Chongqing Army's position."
Makino Kanichi rejected Major General Nara's proposal. He couldn't wait to go to the battlefield.
"That's fine, I wish you success."
When Major General Nara saw the sharp-edged Makino Kanichi, a hint of imperceptible dissatisfaction flashed in his eyes, and he quickly covered it up with a smile. After all, they now need the help of the Wolf Squadron.
"Hi!"
Makino Kanichi stood up and saluted Major General Nara, the commander of the 26th Brigade, and then strode out of the command post.