Although the 151st Brigade troops led by Brigadier Zhou Zhidao could not attack the main position of Minshan where the Japanese troops were heavily stationed, after a night of fierce fighting, all the Japanese soldiers in the surrounding mountains were cleared.
The troops were exhausted to the extreme from the continuous fierce battles. Facing the fierce attack of the main force of the Japanese Sixth Brigade, they had to rely on the mountains to build positions to await reinforcements.
After two hours of emergency repair work on the Jinlonggan Ridge where Yang Ling and the others were holding, three main trenches with a depth of 1.7 meters had been formed, and the construction of communication trenches and foxholes had also been completed.
The brothers had been fighting continuously for a day and a night. After constructing the trenches, they lay down in the damp trenches and fell asleep. Soon they were snoring loudly.
Yang Ling wandered around the various positions uneasily, looking at the brothers who were sleeping soundly with their guns in their hands, and ordered the cooking team to cook quickly, not wanting the brothers to fight hungry.
The cruelty of war not only causes huge casualties and eliminates countless fresh lives, but also once a war is fought, it usually lasts for several days and nights. The dark battlefield will not leave you time to eat and sleep.
Often the huge mental pressure and exhaustion can cause a new recruit Danzi to have a nervous breakdown and lose his combat effectiveness. Fortunately, Yang Ling and his regiment are mostly veterans who have narrowly escaped death and know how to seize the time to rest in order to cope with the upcoming brutal battle.
Yang Ling walked through the trench and turned a corner to see the deputy battalion elder sitting on the ammunition box and smoking a cigarette. His body was wrapped in tattered military uniforms and looked exhausted.
"Old company commander, your hand?"
Yang Ling sat down along the ammunition box next to Lao Yanqiang, took out a cigarette from his arms, looked at Lao Yanqiang's bloody arm and asked.
The old smoker took two puffs of his cigarette, squinted his eyes and said proudly: "Last night I almost capsized in the sewer and was killed by the Japanese. But I am lucky and all the blood belongs to the Japanese. I'm fine."
Lao Yanqiang said it easily, but Yang Ling could imagine the brutal fight that his brothers in the commando team went through last night.
Lao Yanqiang picked up the steel helmet placed next to him. The helmet was covered with crater marks. A pointed bullet shattered the inlaid blue sky and white sun badge and was deeply embedded in the helmet.
Yang Ling was shocked to see the bullet deeply embedded in the helmet. If it had penetrated even further, he might have lost another old brother.
Yang Ling suddenly felt that it was a bit reckless for him to agree to Lao Smoking's joining the commando team. If he really sacrificed his life, he would probably feel guilty for the rest of his life.
Perhaps in order to make himself feel better, Yang Ling said: "The regiment has reported your achievements to the brigade headquarters. When the battle is over and rewards are given, the brothers in the commando team will be the first to take the lead."
Hearing what Lao Yanqiang said, Yang Ling nodded in agreement.
Millions of Chinese troops are risking their lives to fight on the battlefield, throwing their lives and blood, without enough food and clothing. Is it for the sake of promotion and wealth?
The little military pay given by the army is only enough for the brothers to buy a meal and drink. They fight as soldiers for this country and to support the backbone of the nation.
"I heard that the main force of the Japanese has already attacked. There will definitely be a fierce battle later. If there are any difficulties in the camp, you can tell them now. If I can solve them, I will help solve them."
Yang Ling is now the deputy commander of the 301st Regiment. Although he is also the commander of the third battalion, he is in his command position most of the time and cannot charge into battle, so everything in the battalion is left to Lao Smoking.
"Vice-General, since you have said this, I will speak frankly." Lao Yanqian put down his pipe and his face became serious.
"Regimental deputy, you also know that our third battalion fought all day yesterday, and last night was the main attack. Now each company has lost more than half. If we don't replenish our troops, I'm afraid it will be very difficult to fight later."
Yang Ling was also very clear about the problem Lao Yanqiang mentioned, but he was also helpless. The regiment had reported to the brigade headquarters more than once to replace the lost soldiers.
But the answer I got was only one sentence, that is, if you don't have the important people, you have to hold on to your position even if you are exhausted.
Seeing Yang Ling's expression of embarrassment, Lao Yanqiang also sighed. He asked with the attitude of giving it a try. Looking at Yang Ling's face, he knew that there was no hope of recruiting more troops.
He stepped back and said: "Regimental deputy, if there is no one available, can you replenish some ammunition for our battalion? The average number of bullets in the brothers' hands now is less than ten rounds, and there are not many grenades. I'm afraid I won't be able to hold on."
"
Yang Ling thought for a while and said: "This can be solved a little bit. You will send someone to the regiment headquarters later to get guns and ammunition. More than 2,000 Japanese bullets were seized last night, which is enough for you to last for a while."
Although the Japs' rifles and bullets were not the same as those used by the brothers, they were still better than nothing, and the old smoker's complexion finally calmed down.
"After eating, let the brothers go into the tunnel. The trench is not safe." After Yang Ling ordered, he turned and returned to the regiment headquarters.
As soon as Yang Ling returned to the regiment headquarters, Zhang Handuo said solemnly: "Japanese reinforcements have arrived."
Yang Ling did not expect the Japanese reinforcements to arrive so quickly. He quickly walked to the observation port and held up a telescope to watch. In the direction of Minshan, a large number of Japanese troops were coming continuously from the direction of Ruichang.
"Ding ring ring..." At this moment, the phone that had just been set up rang rapidly.
The leader of the regiment, Zhang Handuo, turned around and grabbed the phone: "I am Zhang Handuo, the leader of the 301st Regiment."
"Travel seat...yes! We promise to defend the position...yes, we will die with the position to survive or die!"
After Zhang Handuo hung up the phone, he took a deep breath, gathered his energy and waved to his staff.
"Call each battalion and tell them that the Japanese attack is about to begin, and they must defend their position!"
"Yes!" The staff officer hurriedly turned around and started calling each battalion, and the atmosphere suddenly became tense.
The Japanese reinforcements arriving at the Minshan battlefield were the main force of the 6th Brigade led by Maruyama Masao, with elite soldiers and well-equipped equipment.
Captain Masao Maruyama, who had a cold look on his face, briefly listened to the report of the first two captains, Lieutenant Colonel Morishige and Lieutenant Colonel Ono Ichiro, and his stern eyes made the two defeated captains shudder.
"Mori Shige-kun, Ono-kun, given you two more hours, can you clear out the remnants of the China Army in the surrounding mountains?"
Although Masao Maruyama, the leader of the 6th Brigade, said it lightly, his tone was not one that could not be refused.
The two captains looked at each other, knowing that this was the chance for the brigade commander to atone for their sins. They bowed their heads in unison and said: "Don't worry, General, we will go all out!"