The judgment of the battle and the squadron leader seemed to be exactly the same.
The gunfire lasted only ten minutes and then stopped. Except for a few grenade explosions, not a single light machine gun participated in the battle.
If there is a main force of the Eighth Route Army in the village, the three machine guns equipped by the third team will definitely participate in the battle.
Not participating in the war now means that Lizhuang only has some guerrillas with weak combat effectiveness and does not have the main force of the Eighth Route Army.
With this in mind, the squadron leader was very sure that the third team had eliminated the guerrillas in the village and was arresting unarmed people at this moment.
He kept his eyes fixed on the entrance of the village, waiting for them to drive a large number of people out of the village.
A minute passed, and there was no movement at the entrance of the village.
Five minutes have passed, but there is still no movement at the entrance of the village...
At this time, the baggage team had arrived more than a hundred meters away from the village entrance. The squadron leader looked at the village entrance with eyes wide open, but he couldn't wait for the third team to come out.
A bad premonition quickly came to mind, and a deeply worried expression appeared on his face.
With so many people under his command, the first forward team suffered more than half casualties. If the third team also suffered an accident, it would be equivalent to direct casualties of more than half of the entire escort unit, and the number of soldiers who could still fight was less than 50% of the number before departure.
If something unexpected happens during the next march, it will definitely be a disaster for the baggage train...
The squadron leader did not dare to continue thinking and ordered with a worried look: "The investigation team will enter the village immediately to investigate and find out what happened inside? Why doesn't the third team come out? I want to see people dead and corpses."
A dozen Japanese soldiers hurriedly ran into the village. After two minutes, gunshots began to be heard from the village, and then the village became quiet.
The dozen or so scouts seemed to have disappeared, never coming out after entering.
"Sir, this village is too evil!" the second lieutenant of the second team said with a worried look on his face.
"The imperial army cannot get out after entering. There must be a large number of Eighth Route Army troops hidden inside, waiting for us to fight our way in and surrender ourselves to the trap."
Faced with the facts, the squadron leader had to believe that something had happened to the third team.
He stared at the village entrance with a pair of red eyes, clenched his fists, gritted his teeth and cursed: "No matter how many Eighth Route Army troops are hidden inside, I will pay with blood and avenge the warriors who died in the battle just now."
"Immediately contact the aircraft escorting us in the sky. I will raze this village to the ground."
The village is very big, and it is certainly impossible for a plane to blow up the entire village.
After six clouds of thick black smoke rose in the village, the bombing ended.
The second lieutenant thought that the next attack would be an advantage, so he immediately called for a fight: "Captain, I am humble enough to lead people in now, and maybe I can capture a few prisoners."
"As long as they are Chinese, they can serve as our hostages, open the way for us, and force the Eighth Route Army to give up the use of landmines."
"Okay!" The squadron leader was also full of confidence in the bombing just now and nodded in agreement.
Six bombs fell from the sky. Although the guard company prepared for air defense in advance and dispersed the troops as much as possible, more than half of them were still injured.
Even so, the troops were still stronger than an infantry squad of the Japanese, and their firepower was more than twice theirs.
As soon as more than fifty Japanese soldiers entered the village, gunfire rang out.
This time there was not only the sound of rifle machine gun fire, but also the sound of heavy machine gun fire. It was very dense and gave the Japanese a powerful blow.
"Send counterattack signals to the guards. There are not many Japs left on the road. The troops will go out directly and attack the baggage train." Near the battlefield, Zhao Wen ordered, staring at Li Zhuang where the smoke was billowing.
"Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu..."
A few seconds later, a red flare exploded into the air.
The gunfire in the village became even louder, and there were even two explosions.
"Order the baggage company to disperse in squad units and attack the Japanese baggage team as fast as possible." Zhao Wen continued to order while staring at the battlefield.
"The firepower company is on standby. Wherever there are more Japs gathered, fire artillery to cover the attack of the baggage company."
The battlefield was changing so fast that the squadron leader was dizzy, and his ears were filled with the sound of gunfire and the bad news reported by his subordinates.
"Captain, the Eighth Route Army's firepower in the village is too fierce, and it is also equipped with mortars. The third team is no match and is retreating while fighting." A commander Cao rushed over and reported.
"Da da da……"
Suddenly there was a burst of gunfire from behind the baggage train, and the squadron leader quickly raised his binoculars.
A platoon of Eighth Route Army troops appeared out of nowhere, carrying rifles and light machine guns. They formed a skirmish line and approached the train, attacking and shooting at the same time.
A dozen heavy troops hid behind the carts to fight back.
The counterattack firepower was obviously not at the same level. Gunshots were fired one after another, but very few Eighth Route Army soldiers were killed.
Just when he was hesitating whether to send troops for reinforcements, a leader of the baggage team, Cao, rushed over and reported anxiously.
"Captain, the Eighth Route Army is also coming from the middle of the baggage train!"
"Captain, the Eighth Route Army in the village has come out and is heading towards us. The second team has suffered more than half of its casualties and cannot stop them at all." The second lieutenant of the first team next to him shouted, with fear on his face.
"The Eighth Route Army is also coming to the east of us." A sergeant not far away shouted.
"Boom, boom, boom..." Three mortar shells fell from the sky and hit the forward team assembly area.
Black smoke rose and fire splashed. At least five soldiers were blown away in the explosion, and their lives were uncertain.
The squadron leader panicked, the situation deteriorated too quickly.
The most critical problem is that he has no soldiers.
The second team had too much time to take care of itself. The first team suffered more than half of its casualties. Now it was targeted by artillery. It was surrounded by a heavy machine gun team and a mortar team, so its field combat capabilities were very poor.
As for the baggage train, they were scattered in the baggage train that stretched for one kilometer. They had no time to assemble and had to fight independently.
The squadron leader racked his brains and came up with what he thought was the safest way, and ordered at the top of his lungs.
"The heavy machine gun squad reinforces the heavy troops in the middle part of the heavy equipment team and resolutely repels the Eighth Route Army."
"The artillerymen immediately set up artillery to counterattack the Eighth Route Army's artillery, covering the first and second teams as they approach me."
"Contact the aviation force to attack the Eighth Route Army attacking behind the baggage train and kill them."
The entire battle was calculated by Zhao Wen, and no matter how hard the Japanese army struggled, it was all in vain.
As for the aircraft that the squadron leader has high hopes for, it is also part of Zhao Wen's calculations.
After a total of six bombs were thrown into Lizhuang, the aircraft did not have any other killing weapons except aviation machine guns.
Zhao Wenmen knew that aircraft machine guns could cause a lot of damage to dense crowds, so the order he gave to the supply company specifically emphasized that the troops should be dispersed when attacking, in order to reduce the threat of aircraft aircraft machine guns to the attacking troops.
As long as the troops avoid one or two strafing rounds from the aircraft and rush onto the road to fight with the Japanese, the aircraft will be useless.
By that time, the independent battalion will be able to lock in the battle situation in advance and completely capture the baggage train.
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