Chapter 1121 Waiting for the Japanese Army to Come Over
On top of Laiyuan City, Colonel witnessed with his own eyes the process of the reinforcements being repulsed.
The speed was too fast. Before he could react, the reinforcements were defeated.
Heavy machine guns, anti-aircraft machine guns, and heavy artillery all coordinate so well with each other that they can be described as seamless.
Although these were all done by the opponent, causing heavy casualties to his subordinates, and finally returning in defeat, the colonel still felt a sense of emotion in his heart.
"Sir, the reinforcements have been defeated. I suggest that I send a telegram to Major Nakamura immediately and ask them to find a favorable terrain nearby to stay for one night." The major who had always opposed sending troops reminded.
"After daybreak, in order to avoid being bombed by planes, the Eighth Route Army guarding the mountain pass will definitely retreat on their own, and then they can return to Huilaiyuan under the cover of planes."
The colonel did not answer immediately.
His frown deepened, and finally he shook his head and refused: "The response troops must not be stationed outside the city."
"The garrison has artillery, and also heavy artillery."
"Once the supporting troops stop, they will become a living target for the artillery of the garrison. Even if they are not completely wiped out in one night, they will be blown off a layer of skin and suffer heavy casualties."
"Then what should we do?" The major asked, frowning as he couldn't think of any other way.
"If we let the supporting troops move and keep them in motion, the artillery of the garrison will lose its effectiveness because it cannot lock on to the shooting target. The firepower advantage will be gone, and we can only rely on the infantry to follow us."
"Even if there are casualties in the troops, it won't be too big."
At the Yamaguchi blocking position, the reconnaissance platoon leader gasped and rushed up to report: "Commander, the Japanese and puppet troops retreated, but they did not find favorable terrain to camp, but returned the same way they came."
Zhao Wen thought for a moment and then reacted: "Our opponents are very smart. They know that setting up camp is a living target for artillery, so they return the same way and keep the troops in motion. We cannot attack them with artillery."
"However, the leader has already thought of this result for us."
"Order: Second Company and Third Company will catch up immediately and attack the Japanese and puppet troops one on the left and one on the right."
"Tell the two company commanders to use all the tricks at their disposal, seize the opportunity, kill more Japanese soldiers, and then kill the puppet soldiers."
"Third Company, Thunder Artillery Unit, and Reconnaissance Platoon follow me."
"Although the Japanese and puppet troops have been on the move for unknown reasons, in order to reduce the probability of being attacked by us and reduce casualties, they will definitely take the high road, so we still have the opportunity to ambush them."
On the highway, listening to the gunshots that kept ringing out from both sides of the team, Major Nakamura frowned deeper and deeper.
A lieutenant suddenly chased after him and reported with a heartbroken look on his face: "Sir, the Eighth Route Army's sneak attacks are too frequent. They are elusive and will shoot at us when they find an opportunity. In less than two hours, an infantry squad led by the humble position suffered more than half of its casualties. Search the right wing
The soldiers in the team have almost been replaced."
"Da da da..." A string of heavy machine gun fire suddenly sounded, interrupting the lieutenant's unfinished words.
This time the gunfire lasted longer than before and stopped after three minutes.
As soon as a bad premonition flashed through the major's mind, a second lieutenant rushed over.
After seeing Nakamura, I gasped and reported, very anxious.
"Sir, something happened to the left wing search team."
"An Eighth Route Army force launched an assault on the left-wing search team under the cover of heavy machine guns. All the Imperial Army soldiers in a combat unit were killed, seven or eight Imperial Army soldiers in a platoon were killed, and the rest were all captured and taken away by the Eighth Route Army."
The major's anger suddenly surged up, and he scolded with a stern face: "Bageya Road, are the guns in their hands just decorations? Why don't you fight back and hold them back?"
"There are troops nearby, why don't you reinforce them and kill the Eighth Route Army assault troops."
The second lieutenant quickly explained: "Sir, please calm down. The search team is only equipped with one light machine gun. The Eighth Route Army that attacked them is equipped with two heavy machine guns and four or five light machine guns."
"One heavy machine gun and half of the light machine guns suppressed the attacking search team. One heavy machine gun and the remaining light machine guns suppressed and intercepted the nearby Imperial Army and Imperial Alliance Army, preventing them from reinforcing the battlefield."
"By the time the nearest heavy machine gun unit arrived on the battlefield, the battle was over and the Eighth Route Army retreated with the prisoners."
The Major was about to continue scolding him, but after hearing these words, he swallowed back the words that had already reached his lips.
The responding force was originally equipped with four heavy machine guns. When they assaulted the mountain pass, they were attacked by four mortars. Although they were transferred in time, two of them were still damaged.
At present, the total strength of the supporting troops, escort troops, and baggage troops is still nearly a thousand, and there are only two heavy machine guns. It is definitely not enough to consider one at the expense of the other.
Although the imperial troops under his command are very powerful, they are still made of flesh and blood. Without equivalent heavy weapons to provide fire cover, they can only be beaten passively.
"Sir, our troops are too scattered." The captain next to him analyzed.
"There are insufficient heavy weapons. If the troops are too dispersed, the firepower will also be dispersed, especially the search teams on both wings. The farthest soldier is nearly 300 meters away from the road. There is only a light machine gun to provide fire cover. It is too easy for the Eighth Route Army to take advantage of it.
."
"I suggest that the troops march in groups and not search both sides of the road."
Nakamura asked solemnly: "What is your reason?"
"Now that we have more troops and are guarding the baggage train, even if we give up the search and let the Eighth Route Army hide on both sides of the road to sneak up on us at close range, we still can't shoot the mules and horses of the baggage train transporting ammunition, so I think it is enough to search both sides of the road.
It’s meaningless.” The captain thought for a moment and replied.
"If we don't search, the Eighth Route Army will attack us. If we search, the Eighth Route Army will still attack us."
"If the search is abandoned, not only will the casualties of the troops not increase, but they will also be reduced."
"Because after the troops are concentrated, the firepower is relatively concentrated. In addition, we are not in a hurry. We can stop briefly on the road and use firepower to deter the Eighth Route Army from attacking us, so that they will not dare to attack as unscrupulously as before.
us."
Nakamura's solemn expression slowly relaxed, he looked at the captain and agreed: "You are right."
"Searching, the Eighth Route Army attacks the search team. Their firepower is weak and their troops are scattered. They are just the meat in the mouth of the Eighth Route Army. The losses will definitely be huge."
"If we don't search, we will become a hedgehog covered with thorns. The Eighth Route Army who attacks us will be pricked if they are not careful. After suffering a few losses, they will definitely not dare to attack us as unscrupulously as before."
"Order the search team to withdraw immediately, huddle together and continue marching."
Beside the road two kilometers ahead, dozens of mine cannon gunners were camouflaging the mine cannons.
Zhao Wen stood on a high ground nearby, looking at the end of the road from a distance.
There is no fork in the road from the current position of the Japanese army to here. The Japanese and puppet troops must either return the same way they came from or drill into the pocket formations they have prepared. He can only wait for the specific outcome.
"Battal Commander, the eight flying thunder cannons are well concealed. Even if the little Japanese search team passes by, they won't be able to find them." The fourth company commander came over and reported.
"Have the extra explosives been buried?" Zhao Wen asked.
"There are a total of forty explosive bags, all buried next to the road, one every ten meters. As long as half of the explosive bags are detonated, the Japanese puppet troops and mules and horses on this section of the road will be blown up, and the ammunition will also be destroyed.
Totally destroyed."
Zhao Wen nodded: "Now we just wait for the Japanese and puppet troops to come over."