Yes, what Liu Tuanzuo wants to kill this time is a Japanese army that far exceeds the Yuanyoshi Honggang Special Attack Team. It is the 28th Cavalry Regiment directly under the 20th Division.
A total of 452 people.
As the first vanguard unit of the 20th Division to rush to the Niangziguan Theater for pre-war reconnaissance, although they knew that they were entering the defense area of tens of thousands of Chinese troops, they still separated themselves from the infantry regiment and artillery units that followed.
Fifteen miles away, the 28th Cavalry Regiment, which was conducting a lone reconnaissance all the way, was definitely arrogant, but it also definitely had its own arrogance.
Although the cavalry regiment directly under the Japanese division is a regiment, it is different from the infantry regiment, which often has thousands of people, and it is also different from the independent cavalry regiment. It is organized into 4 cavalry squadrons and 1 machine gun squadron.
It has 452 personnel, more than 500 horses, and is equipped with 6 heavy machine guns, 24 light machine guns and 24 grenade launchers.
Although there are not as many personnel as an infantry brigade, in terms of firepower, it can match at least half of the infantry brigade. It is even more than a regiment of the ordinary national army. You must know that local warlord troops like the Sichuan Army would not have the help of Liu Lang
, a company only has one light machine gun, the whole regiment only has two or three heavy machine guns, and artillery, those are things that can only be dreamed of.
To put it bluntly, a division like the Japanese army is directly under the cavalry regiment. Except for the rifles carried by each person, which is a 38-type lance, which is different from the 38-type cavalry of the infantry, and an extra saber, the rest is actually the same as that of the infantry.
It's no different.
The role of the cavalry regiment is to use its superior mobility to serve as both a reconnaissance unit and a mobile support combat unit. When they dismount, their combat effectiveness is no different from that of infantry.
And such a highly mobile unit with infantry combat capabilities, even though it only has half an infantry brigade with less than 500 troops, its strength is not inferior to that of a Chinese brigade. In the Pingjin battle, the 20th
The 28th Cavalry Regiment of the Division also had a brilliant record of defeating more than 2,000 Chinese regiments head-on, with only a dozen casualties.
The missing soldiers were quickly replenished by the reserve cavalry of the reserve division. The 28th Cavalry Regiment entering the Niangziguan theater was at full strength and was not afraid of the Chinese troops stationed along the Taihang Mountains that they saw along the way.
Road. On the contrary, they still can't get it.
In fact, the idea of the 28th Cavalry Regiment was correct. Although they saw a large group of Japanese cavalry passing by several miles away in a distance, and even arrogantly approaching for reconnaissance, the Chinese generals on the defense line
I could only resist the urge to drag the troops out of the defense line to teach these arrogant little devils a lesson.
They are now on the defensive side, relying on the geographical location of the mountains for defense. If they leave their position and run to take the Japanese cavalry's retreat, and are blocked by the Japanese infantry who follow up, they will not only lose their heads, but may also lead to the entire
The defense line was breached.
This is the tragedy of the Chinese army and the tragedy of the whole of China. A mere four hundred Japanese invaders can run rampant in front of tens of thousands of troops.
But, there was no way. They had no artillery and could not stop the Japanese invaders who had aircraft and artillery in the field. The only thing they could rely on was the mountains on their own land.
The 28th Cavalry Regiment, which was conducting investigations all the way to the main position at Niangzi Pass, telegraphed the investigation information to the division headquarters. It arrived at the Jiuguan position behind Niangzi Pass at about 4 p.m., the time Liu Lang estimated.
almost.
According to common sense, their combat mission has been completed and they can return to Jingxing County, which serves as the forward base for the 20th Division to attack Niangziguan, for repairs and wait for new combat missions.
However, when they were investigating the Chinese garrison position, they accidentally discovered the bodies of 15 compatriots hanging from big trees.
The 12 corpses were hung by ropes by their necks, hanging on the trees like dried salted fish and swaying gently in the mountain breeze. Whether they were sergeants or second lieutenants, they all looked the same after they died in battle, looking pale.
And the pale, dead fish eyes that were stiff and almost squeezed out of their eye sockets by the rope seemed to tell their unwillingness.
There were also three corpses that had been blown into several pieces by shelling, so they were packed in sacks. The bloody sacks were covered with flies and gave off a disgusting smell unique to organs.
"Baga! The Chinese are all dead!" Lieutenant Colonel Okazaki Shoichi, the captain of the 28th Cavalry Regiment, pulled out his command sword and angrily slashed a small tree as thick as an arm in half.
Of course Okazaki Shoichi didn't recognize the fifteen people hanging, but he knew who they were. They must be the special attack team led by Hiroshi Minamoto who had sneaked into the Chinese defense zone a few days ago. He came this time with his division as well.
Another combat mission specially assigned by the regiment commander.
Looking for traces of the special attack team, especially Hong Kong Minamoto, we must find him and bring him back.
Okazaki Shoichi was disdainful of the so-called special attack team formed by the division and composed of martial arts masters on the island. "No matter how good your martial arts skills are, you can knock them down with one shot." On the battlefield, it doesn't matter how hard you jump.
High, how fast the knife comes out. If you want to kill people, you rely on firepower. If the six heavy machine guns of his 28th Cavalry Regiment were fully fired, as many people as there were in the special attack team could be killed.
But his disdain for the special attack team does not mean that he dares to underestimate Minamoto Yoshihiro Steel. As a middle-class nobleman in Kyoto, he knows the influence of the Minamoto family in Japanese politics and the imperial army. It is definitely second only to the imperial family.
Ba.
A second son has already died. If he loses his eldest son again, Okazaki Shoichi also knows that the division commander, Lieutenant General Kawagishi Bunzaburo, is filled with helplessness. If one mistake is made, the career of this Lieutenant General will come to an end.
Already.
Now, seeing the corpses of fifteen members of the special attack team here, Okazaki Shoichi already knew that the special attack team must have been discovered by the Chinese. The only thing that made him feel relieved was that among the corpses of the fifteen people, there was no trace of origin.
of Yihong Steel.
However, what Okazaki Shoichi couldn't bear was that the Chinese were so bold as to hang the corpses of the Imperial Army here. This was undoubtedly a provocation to the Empire and the 28th Cavalry Regiment.
"Collect the bodies of the warriors, Major Asada, and order the entire army to dismount. The 4th Squadron is responsible for keeping an eye on the regiment's horses. The 1st, 2nd, 3rd Squadron and the Machine Gun Squadron will follow me to the Chinese positions." Looking at the positions erected in the distance.
At the Chinese position on the top of the hill, which was composed of city walls and sandbags, Okazaki suppressed his anger and gave a cold order.
"Your Excellency Okazaki, please think twice. Our army's mission is to detect the deployment of the Chinese troops, and there is no military order to attack the Chinese positions." A Japanese officer wearing a major's collar badge next to Okazaki hurriedly advised.
As the deputy of the 28th Cavalry Regiment, Asada Unzan has always been known for his caution. He is more like an outlier in the arrogant 28th Cavalry Regiment, so he is not liked by the commander of the 28th Cavalry Regiment. From his direct address
This can be seen from the fact that Asada Unzan is called "Kun" without politeness due to his official position.
Therefore, when the wing deputy next to him once again said that he had different opinions from his own, Okazaki Shoichi finally couldn't suppress his anger. His eyes became fierce and he sneered: "Major Asada, don't use military orders to pressure me.
Your Excellency the Division Commander's military order is to deal with the enemy on your own if you encounter the enemy. Now, tell me, when the bodies of fifteen imperial warriors are hung in front of our 28th Regiment by the Chinese, does it count as a crime?
Did I violate military orders by attacking these audacious and reckless Chinese people? Also, has Major Asada forgotten how ridiculous it was four years ago that the Chinese Chengde garrison fled before the 128 cavalry from our empire arrived at the city gate?
?Could it be that the 452 imperial warriors of our 28th Cavalry Regiment are worse than them? Or is it that you, Major Asada, are afraid of facing the Chinese guns? If this is the case, in the name of the captain of the 28th Cavalry Regiment, I
, you are allowed to go back with a small team of troops to report the current battle situation to the division commander."
"Hey, I don't dare. I will resolutely carry out the orders of your Excellency the commander." Asada Yunshan faced the questions from the commander who was more and more heart-wrenching even though he didn't get angry. He could only obediently put his feet together and listen to his instructions.
.
He is well aware of the willful temper of his regiment captain. If he is angered, although Lieutenant Colonel Okazaki Shoichi cannot do anything to him here, it is not impossible to suppress him in every possible way or even drive him out of the 28th Cavalry Regiment.
.
As for Asada Yunshan, who was born in a minor aristocracy and relied on his outstanding performance in the military academy and the recognition of a certain big shot to climb to this position, this was definitely not something he could accept. Kicked out of this aristocratic circle, he
It won't be easy to get in again.
Although he still felt that it was inappropriate for Okazaki Shoichi to start attacking the Chinese positions now, Asada Yunshan could only choose to accept it. He was just a presence similar to the adjutant of the alliance. He could make suggestions, but he made decisions.
Only the captain.
Okazaki, who had been squirting at his deputy for a long time, finally gave in when he saw the deputy who graduated from the Imperial Army University. The anger he had accumulated for a long time finally subsided a lot. He nodded and tried to make his tone calmer: "Very much.
Okay, Major Asada, I will also consider your proposal. I will be responsible for commanding the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Squadrons to cooperate with the machine gun squadron in the forward operations. You will lead the 4th Squadron to respond three miles behind the position. If there is no victory within an hour, I will
Lead the regiment's camera back and wait for the slow-moving infantry to come."
"Hi!" Asada Yunshan held his sword and bowed his head respectfully to accept the order.
But I was sighing secretly in my heart. Okazaki Shoichi's words were very nice. He said that he would retreat after an hour of trying to attack without any results.
But judging from the order to leave only one cavalry squadron as a reserve, his intention was to use all his main force to capture the Chinese position within this hour.
But are those Chinese people who dared to hang the bodies of imperial warriors on trees to demonstrate to them really that easy to deal with?
The mountain wind suddenly blew by, and a Japanese soldier's body that had not yet been removed swayed slightly in the wind. A pair of pale dead fish eyes looked at Asada Yunshan, who raised his head in confusion.
A layer of white hairy sweat suddenly broke out on Asada Yunshan's back.