Gunshots were heard in Ruichang City from far to near, and the brothers who were responsible for sorting out the Japanese soldiers along the streets were clearing away the Japanese soldiers everywhere in an orderly manner.
The Japanese troops stationed in the city were not many, and they had to be dispersed and stationed at important locations, which further weakened the Japanese troops.
Yang Ling had no worries at all about Blacksmith and Shunzi leading people to eliminate the remaining Japanese soldiers everywhere. After all, they were experienced grassroots commanders who knew how to protect themselves and eliminate the enemy.
Gunshots were fired everywhere in the city, occasionally mixed with the trembling explosions of grenades and grenade shells. The gunshots continued to extend in the north and south directions, and the clearing mission was proceeding smoothly.
Compared with the sometimes sparse and sometimes intensive firefights in various parts of the city, the vicinity of the Xu family compound where the Japanese ammunition warehouse is located has become eerily quiet.
Several machine gun teams that had seized the commanding heights on the roof suppressed the Japanese soldiers in the yard from above. As long as they dared to show their heads on the wall, they would be fired with bullets.
The machine gun team's condescending and indiscriminate beating made the Japanese soldiers huddle in the courtyard and no longer dared to show their heads on the courtyard wall. However, the Japanese soldiers also had high tactical literacy.
Although the machine gun suppressed them, they could not climb up the courtyard wall and shoot outside, but soon many shooting holes were drilled out of the courtyard wall, and a Type 92 heavy machine gun was set up behind the smashed windows.
In a very short period of time, the Japs turned the Xu family compound into a strong fortress. Once Yang Ling and his brothers tried to attack forward, they would be faced with a hail of bullets.
There were only about thirty Japs in the courtyard. They originally had about a small team and a half, all of whom were temporarily assembled to suppress the mutiny in the security camp.
However, after a fierce battle, only about 30 of a small group of Japanese soldiers remained, and they retreated to the Xu Family Courtyard, where a large amount of supplies and ammunition were stored, and waited for reinforcements.
The Japanese relied on the shooting holes on the courtyard wall to form an insurmountable fire network. Yang Ling and others gave up the frontal attack, and the brothers went around looking for firewood and gasoline to prepare for the fire attack.
The Japanese soldiers in the yard also took advantage of this gap to carry ammunition in a hurry, and urgently built fortifications in the front and back yards, preparing to defend to the death.
Although Zhuqi Heigu was attacked by Yang Ling and others and now retreated into the yard where supplies were stored with his remaining men, he had already stabilized his position.
Takeki Kurotani believes that as long as he holds on, infantry units from all over the city will come to reinforce the situation after learning about the situation. Even if they cannot repel the Chinese army outside, with so much supplies and ammunition, they can still do it by holding on for reinforcements.
of.
In the dim ear room in the backyard, the radio was constantly making a ticking sound, and two Japanese communication soldiers were nervously communicating with the 6th Brigade on the Minshan front battlefield.
A large number of Chinese troops with unknown numbers suddenly appeared in Ruichang and attacked. The squadron leader Zhuqi Heitani who stayed behind had lost control of Ruichang City and had to urgently call for help.
Takeki Kurotani knew in his heart that this was not only an advanced base where a large number of weapons and ammunition were stored, but also the only way for the 6th Brigade's logistics and supply transportation, and the brigade commander would not ignore it.
A few hours ago, he had received an order, and the ammunition consignment transporting to the front line was attacked. The front line ammunition was running out, so he urgently organized people to rush to transport ammunition supplies to Minshan.
However, he was preparing to send the security battalion and the left-behind squadron to transport ammunition to the front line. However, there was a mutiny in the security battalion first, and then a sudden attack by the Chinese army, which immediately caused Zhuqi Heitani to be in chaos.
"Has the telegram for help been sent out?" Zhuqi Kurotani had been nervously guarding the radio station. He saw the signal soldier stop and asked hurriedly.
"Squadron leader, the telegram for help has been sent out." The signal soldier replied respectfully.
After hearing this, Takeqi Kurotani's tense face finally relaxed a little. As long as the leader of the forward brigade receives the telegram, he will definitely not sit idly by and wait for help. Then they only need to stand firm and wait for help.
"As soon as I get a call back, report it immediately."
"Hi Yi!" The signal soldier bowed heavily.
After Zhuqi Heitani left the dim penthouse, he walked to the front yard to inspect the defense situation.
There were only about thirty Japanese soldiers who followed him back into the yard, and half of them were leaning against the wall of the front yard, leaning on the temporary shooting holes.
Once they find that a Chinese soldier wants to rush in this direction, they will immediately pull the trigger and shoot, and the heavy machine gun installed in the window will also fire immediately.
Anyway, right behind them is the ammunition warehouse. There is enough ammunition, so they don't have to worry about running out of ammunition, so the firepower is very fierce.
Several wounded Japanese soldiers lay on the steps moaning in pain. A medical soldier wearing a red cross was urgently helping them treat their wounds and stop the bleeding.
"Your Excellency, General, has sent reinforcements to assist Ruichang. We will be able to launch a counterattack soon. Please keep your spirits up and stick to your respective battle positions to welcome the final victory!"
Takeki Kurotani saw that morale was a little low, so he had to make up some lies to boost morale.
Although he didn't know when the brigade commander's reinforcements would arrive, as a commander, he had to be responsible for his soldiers and give them hope to hold on.
The Chinese army's raid on Ruichang caused heavy losses to the Japanese. Although gunshots were still heard in the city, only about thirty people retreated to the courtyard now.
Looking at the dark Chinese army outside, even though these Japanese soldiers are well-trained, they still can't help but panic and worry. At this moment, seeing the sharp confidence in Zhuqi Heitani's eyes, he immediately felt at ease.
While Yang Ling and the others were actively preparing to conquer the last stronghold of the Japanese in Ruichang City, at the forefront of the war-torn Minshan Mountains, the Japanese chief of staff took a telegram and hurried towards the sleeping brigade leader Masao Maruyama.
Masao Maruyama's 6th Brigade relied on emergency airdrops of ammunition and supplies to stabilize the defense line. At this moment, they only needed to send supplies and ammunition from the rear, and they would be able to launch a fierce attack again.
The two sides fought for several days and nights in Minshan. Although there was a lot of blood, the 6th Brigade was still strong. Maruyama Masao also had blind confidence in his troops, that is, he would be able to defeat the 74th Army.
Now that the troops have stabilized the defense line, Maruyama Masao, who has not slept for more than two days, is currently wrapped in a marching blanket and resting amidst the sound of gunfire. He is too tired.
"General, Ruichang was attacked by a large number of Chinese troops."
Although the chief of staff could not bear to disturb the exhausted brigade commander Masao Maruyama, Ruichang's urgent telegram forced him to wake up Masao Maruyama.
"Nani?" Maruyama Masao was shocked when he was woken up by the chief of staff. He grabbed the telegram and read it at a glance.
"It's impossible. The Chinese troops near Ruichang have been eliminated a long time ago. How could there be a large group of Chinese troops attacking Ruichang?" Masao Maruyama really didn't believe this was true. He took the telegram and asked: "Is it the telegram from Takeki-san?"
mistaken?"
The chief of staff shook his head solemnly: "I have already called to confirm that Zhu Qisang and the others were indeed attacked by a large group of Chinese troops and suffered heavy losses. At this moment, they have retreated to the ammunition warehouse and the situation is precarious."
Maruyama Masao quickly walked to the hanging map, looked at the map that was painted a mess with red and blue lines, and asked in a deep voice: "Have you figured out the number of the China Army that attacked Ruichang?"
"The telegram from Zhuqisang said that the Chinese troops who attacked them were wearing German-style steel helmets and should be the main force of the Chinese."
After hearing the words of the Chief of Staff, Maruyama Masao's heart suddenly sank. On the Chinese battlefield, all troops wearing German-style helmets are the main elite troops of the Central Army directly under the Central Military Commission.
Now that China's elite troops have appeared in Ruichang and cut off their 6th Brigade's retreat route, its strategic intentions are self-evident.
Now their 6th Brigade was fighting with the Chinese 74th Army in Minshan. Moreover, they were running out of ammunition. At this moment, their retreat was blocked. He could not imagine the consequences. It was very likely that the entire army would be annihilated.
"Call back to Zhuqisang and be sure to stick to the ammunition warehouse. Our brigade will quickly return reinforcements."
"Request the aviation force to dispatch reconnaissance aircraft to quickly investigate the enemy's situation near Ruichang, and request the 106th Division troops to quickly move closer to me."
Now Masao Maruyama has no intention of continuing to fight in the Minshan area. He just wants to withdraw to Ruichang as soon as possible, otherwise they may be doomed due to lack of ammunition.
"Pass my order to all units to break away from the battle as soon as possible and prepare to retreat."