The brigade command post was set up in a ravine shaded by trees. The surrounding hillside bushes were filled with soldiers with guns on guard, and the security was tight.
An oil lamp was hung on a branch of a tree. The dim light made the drafty tent dark. Brigadier Zhou Zhidao was sitting next to the ammunition box covered with maps, lowering his head and smoking a cigarette in a depressed mood.
"Have the casualties been counted?"
The sound of gunfire in front stopped, and the mountain wind blew the flames of the oil lamps flying wildly. The tent flickered, reflecting the tired face of brigade commander Zhou Zhidao.
"Brigade, most of the two main battalions of the 30th and 1st Regiment have been destroyed, and there are still more than 500 people left in the 30th and 2nd Regiment..."
Looking at the long list of scarlet casualties, the staff officer's sigh made the atmosphere in the tent even heavier.
Brigadier Zhou Zhidao's facial muscles twitched slightly in the darkness. He ordered in a low voice: "Bury the fallen brothers on the spot. The death notices must be sent back to their homes. The orphans and widows in their homes must be sent to their homes."
I can only count on that small amount of compensation..."
"Let's take care of this humble job." The staff officer responded, raised his hand to salute the military salute, turned around and strode away.
Looking at the staff officer disappearing into the night, Zhou Zhidao turned around and asked, "What's going on with the Japanese reinforcements?"
An intelligence staff officer raised his head and replied: "According to the information provided by the Bureau of Statistics and Investigation, the main force of Maruyama Masao's Sixth Brigade left Ruichang in the evening and could arrive here before dawn."
Their infantry brigade could not even attack the two Japanese brigades. Thinking of a Japanese brigade approaching, Zhou Zhidao felt inexplicably heavy.
Zhou Zhidao continued to ask: "Does Master have any orders?"
"The master told us to capture Minshan. He is coming quickly with the 153rd Brigade and will arrive tomorrow afternoon."
The intelligence staff paused and said, "I heard that the 58th Division is also gathering and preparing to bring reinforcements.
Brigadier Zhou Zhidao murmured to himself: "This battle is getting harder and harder..."
But he also knew in his heart that if they could not capture the Minshan Japs' position as soon as possible, then even if the troops came over, they would not be a match for the Japs without the terrain advantage.
So the top priority now was to seize Minshan from the Japs before the Japs' reinforcements arrived. Thinking of this, he turned his attention to the serious-faced Chief of Staff.
The chief of staff met Zhou Zhidao's gaze and said: "Brigade, the casualties of various ministries are very heavy. What our staff office means is to clear out the Japanese strongholds around Minshan first. Even if Minshan cannot be captured, we can rely on these
Confront the Japanese on the high ground."
"Tell me more specifically." Zhou Zhidao said as he put out the cigarette butt in his hand.
"We are going to use the 301st Regiment to attack Jinlonggan, the 302nd Regiment to attack Yunling, and the brigade guard battalion and the baggage battalion will attack together..."
The chief of staff took off the oil lamp, pointed at the messy map drawn with red and blue lines, and introduced their newly formulated combat plan to the brigade commander Zhou Zhidao.
Brigadier Zhou Zhidao looked at the several Japanese strongholds scattered around Minshan, frowned and asked, "Have you figured out the strength of the Japanese troops stationed above?"
"Commander Hu personally led people to investigate just now. It is estimated that the Japanese who only garrisoned the size of a squadron, although our regiments suffered heavy losses, should be able to capture them."
They had no choice but to formulate this new battle plan. The Japanese troops deployed heavily on the main position of Minshan, and they suffered heavy losses and were unable to capture it.
Now we can only do the next best thing, hoping to capture the surrounding highlands and then rely on these places to stop the Japanese from advancing towards De'an.
Brigadier Zhou Zhidao lowered his head and thought for a moment, then raised his head and agreed to the staff's new plan.
"Order: Each regiment will launch an attack on each target at four o'clock in the morning. Before dawn, the enemy must be cleared and the position must be consolidated."
Brigadier Zhou Zhidao walked to the door of the tent. The mountain breeze mixed with raindrops hit his face, and he felt a chill.
He turned around and added: "Tell all regiment commanders that this battle will affect whether our brigade can gain a firm foothold in Minshan. If there are those who are afraid of fighting and delay the fight, military law will be enforced!"
The staff officer remained silent and quickly wrote down the document, asked Zhou Zhidao to sign it, and quickly distributed it to each regiment.
Yang Ling and the others also received a new combat order from the brigade headquarters. They no longer attacked the main position of Minshan, which was heavily guarded by Japanese troops, but instead launched an attack on the mountainous Golden Dragon Terriers on the flanks.
The heavy rain poured down under the cover of night. The cold wind mixed with rain soaked the brothers in the trenches, and also washed away the strong smell of blood during the day.
In the dripping regimental command post, the officers of the 30th Regiment and above were exhausted, squatting or sitting with their heads hanging down, smoking, and the atmosphere was dull.
"The host asked our group to capture the Golden Dragon Terrier before dawn. There are at least one squadron of Japanese soldiers stationed above. Which one of you is willing to take the lead?" Zhang Handuo looked around and asked.
The first battalion commander Lu Xing, who had blood-soaked gauze wrapped around his head, put out the cigarette butt in his hand and stood up: "Team leader, let us go up to the first battalion. Even if we are all dead, we will take down the golden dragon stalk."
!”
The first battalion suffered a head-on collision at the main Japs position in Minshan. They fought hand-to-hand combat for two hours and were forced down by the Japs. Lu Xing was holding back his breath and was unwilling to give up.
"Lao Lu, there are less than 100 people left in your first battalion. I think forget it and let our second battalion go up this time." Second Battalion Commander Chen Ming also spoke.
Lu Xing seemed to have been stabbed in a sore spot. He raised his neck and shouted excitedly: "What's wrong with the hundred or ten people left? Even if I'm the only one left in our battalion, I'm still the main force! We can also take down the Japanese."
position!"
"Sit down!" Seeing the excited Lu Xing, the group leader Zhang Handuo scolded him.
Lu Xing sat down angrily, Chen Ming also looked embarrassed, and the atmosphere in the tent became cold again.
"Camp Commander Lu, Camp Commander Chen, don't argue with any of you. Our third battalion has been resting for a few hours. This time our third battalion will take the lead."
Yang Ling looked at the two battalion commanders who were not giving in to each other, and took over the task of the attack.
"Deputy Commander Yang, you... How are you going to explain to the brothers when you ask me to go back? Most of the people in our battalion are lying there forever. The brothers who are alive are all looking forward to this battle to avenge the little devil.
!" The second battalion commander immediately shouted in dissatisfaction.
"War is not a child's play. Your battalion has suffered such heavy losses. Can you guarantee that you can take down the Japanese positions in one go?" Yang Ling asked in return.
"Yes! Even if we all fight, we are guaranteed to win the Japanese position!"
"If you all fight, will you be able to fight tomorrow? How will you avenge your fallen brothers in the future?"
Yang Ling's questioning made the second battalion commander, who was not good at speaking, speechless. He wanted to defend himself, but the regiment leader Zhang Handuo spoke up.
"Don't argue about this matter. The third battalion is responsible for the main attack, and the first and second battalions are responsible for following up and eliminating the remaining enemies." Zhang Handuo stopped the argument.