The battle between the 74th Army and the Japanese 6th Brigade in the Minshan area has lasted for six days and nights, and the surrounding mountains have been reduced to bare, scorched earth.
Both sides are the main force with strong strength. No one is willing to admit defeat. They fight for every inch of ground and refuse to give up an inch. They fight repeatedly to compete for every mountain and every position.
Corpses were strewn across the fields, and blood was floating in the oars. Both the 74th Army and Maruyama Masao's 6th Brigade suffered heavy casualties. It can be said that the camp was full of wounded soldiers, gritting their teeth and holding on.
Maruyama Masao's 6th Brigade relied on sophisticated weapons and well-trained soldiers, while the 74th Army relied on the life-fighting efforts of the brothers. Although on the surface it looked evenly matched, in fact the 74th Army was somewhat overwhelmed.
Very exciting.
"Master, the casualties among the brothers are too great. Can you please withdraw and let the brothers take a breather?"
Brigadier Li Tianxia of the 153rd Brigade, whose helmet was covered with craters and bullet marks, ducked into the forward command post of the 51st Division. He saw the division commander Wang Yaowu observing the battlefield with a telescope, and grabbed a jar and put it in his throat.
He poured water and started talking.
Their 153rd Brigade has launched five group charges of more than one regiment against the Japanese positions in front of them from morning to now. However, the Japanese positions have not moved, and they have suffered heavy losses.
Division Commander Wang Yaowu kept holding his telescope and had a clear view of the battlefield. Although he looked calm, he was more anxious than anyone else.
"Part of the 106th Infantry Division has left the Nanxun line and is heading towards Minshan. We must defeat the Japanese in front of us before Japanese reinforcements arrive, otherwise we will be in a bitter battle."
When Brigadier Li Tianxia heard that the 106th Division, which was struggling to move on the Nanxun line, was approaching, he was so angry that he cursed: "What the hell do the defenders of Jinguanqiao do? Why don't they contain the 106th Division?"
If the 106th Division also sends reinforcements to the Minshan battlefield, then their 74th Army will face a division and a brigade, and I am afraid that their 74th Army's old base will be involved.
"You should go back immediately to supervise the battle in person and tell the brothers, regardless of the casualties, we must capture the Japs in Minshan today!"
Division Commander Wang Yaowu looked at the disgraced Brigadier Li Tianxia and said in an unquestionable tone: "I will give you a guard platoon to supervise the team. Anyone who dares to retreat will be killed without mercy!"
The battle lasted for several days and nights. Wang Yaowu was also furious, but he knew even more clearly that the little Japanese could no longer hold on. As long as they continued to attack fiercely, the final victory would be theirs.
When brigade commander Li Tianxia heard that Wang Yaowu had said this, she also knew that it would be a fantasy to withdraw and take a breather, so she grabbed the helmet and put it on her head again.
"Master, there is no need to supervise the battle team. I only have one last request, can you let the artillery regiment provide fire support? I will take the brothers to come in person!" Brigadier Li Tianxia was also ready to fight for his life.
"Okay, I will give you all the remaining thirty rounds of artillery shells. You must capture it today!"
"Yes!" Li Tianxia raised her hand to salute a military salute, and got back into the thick black smoke without looking back.
Wang Yaowu raised his telescope again to observe the battlefield. He saw that the troops of the 151st Brigade retreated in a panic under the fierce Japanese firepower. He was so angry that his face turned livid.
"Call Brigadier Zhou and ask them what bad fight they fought. If it doesn't work, just tell me early and I'll replace him!" Wang Yaowu couldn't keep calm.
The staff officer grabbed the phone and quickly dialed the 151st Brigade forward command post. Amidst the rumbling explosions, the brigade commander Zhou Zhidao also heard intermittently.
Although he couldn't hear clearly, he knew that the division commander was getting impatient, and he was probably going to be the brigade commander for the rest of his life.
After hanging up the phone, brigade commander Zhou Zhidao was so angry that he threw his belt heavily on the ammunition box and ordered: "Organize the brave team again and attack in ten minutes. I don't believe I can't chew it off!"
"Yes!" the tattered messenger responded, climbed into the trench, and disappeared in the billowing smoke in the blink of an eye.
"Report!"
"speak!"
"Captain Zhang and the others are here."
As soon as the guard soldiers finished speaking, Zhang Handuo, the commander of the 301st Regiment, and Yang Ling, the deputy commander of the 301st Regiment, jointly walked into the brigade command post.
When Zhou Zhidao saw them arriving, his depressed face finally relaxed. These two men under his command could be said to be strong men who could attack and defend, and he appreciated them very much.
"You came just in time. The 302nd Regiment's attack has been pushed back again. How are your troops resting? Can they go into battle immediately?"
Zhang Handuo and Yang Ling looked at each other and smiled bitterly. They fought bloody battle on the high ground last night and suffered heavy casualties. How could they recover in such a short time?
But they also knew very well that all the troops were suffering heavy casualties. Faced with Zhou Zhidao's question, Zhang Handuo replied: "Brigade, yes, it is possible, but..."
Zhou Zhidao was stunned by these ambiguous words, and then said: "Don't beat around the bush for me. If you can, you can, if you can't, you can't. Just give me a pleasant word, and don't make me confused."
"Brigade, we can devote two battalions and six hundred brothers to participate in the battle!" Zhang Handuo stood up and said, knowing that there was no room for maneuver.
The 301st Regiment originally had three battalions with more than 2,000 brothers, but after fighting for several days and nights, it was almost exhausted. Dozens of officers at all levels were killed and they were already disabled.
"Two battalions?" Zhou Zhidao was stunned: "Is there another battalion?"
Yang Ling stood up and explained: "Brigade, I am going to lead a battalion of brothers to find another way to fight the Japanese."
Zhou Zhidao knew that Yang Ling would not target without aim, so he asked them to sit down and said, "Tell me specifically, how do you want to fight?"
At first, Yang Ling was worried that Zhou Zhidao would not agree, so he roped in Zhang Handuo to help him. But he didn't know that Zhou Zhidao was like a drowning man now. He would not let go of any way to break through the enemy's position.
.
Yang Ling sat down and told Zhou Zhidao all his thoughts, and then anxiously waited for him to make a decision.
After Zhou Zhidao listened, he paced back and forth in the tent with his hands behind his back, thinking, but he soon stopped.
"I agree with your plan. I will give you two battalions. You can lead the team yourself. You can only succeed, not fail." Zhou Zhidao said solemnly.
Yang Ling's face also showed joy: "Don't worry, sir, you will be successful if you don't succeed!"
"Okay, go down and get ready."
After Zhang Handuo and Yang Ling said goodbye to Zhou Zhidao, they hurried back to the regiment to prepare.
When the 74th Army was fighting an extremely difficult battle, at the temporary brigade headquarters of the Minshan 6th Brigade, the brigade commander Masao Maruyama's expression was no longer as calm as before.
The Chinese army's continuous attacks have made them a little tired. Almost all the peripheral positions have been eaten away by the Chinese army. Now the only ones holding firm are a few lines of defense in the main position of Minshan.
If these lines of defense were breached, then their 6th Brigade might really be defeated in the Minshan area. This was not what he wanted to see.
"Why did the gunfire stop?"
Through the telescope, the frowning brigade commander Masao Maruyama saw that the Chinese army had begun to attack again, but the mountain artillery and infantry artillery on the other side did not fire, so he turned to ask about the situation.
"Your Majesty General, we have run out of artillery shells." A combat staff officer from the brigade and regiment headquarters replied with a grimace.