The artillery shells were fired in groups of two, flying out from three different positions behind the blocking position, screaming and hitting the attacking troops. In the violent explosions, Japanese and puppet troops were constantly killed and injured.
However, the attacking Japanese and puppet troops were too numerous and mighty, and these casualties could not shake their determination to break through Chentouling.
The chief of staff's face was calm, and he obviously didn't take these six mortars seriously.
But he didn't intend to let them attack his subordinates. His face sank and he ordered with murderous intent: "What are you doing standing still? Send a mortar squadron out to counterattack and kill the Eighth Route Army artillery unit."
The artillery staff hesitated and replied: "Sir, please calm down. Although the Eighth Route Army only has six mortars, they are too cunning. They set up artillery formations with two mortars in a group and moved while firing. It is difficult for our artillery to lock and attack."
Destroy them."
The chief of staff was not angry. He looked at his subordinates and cursed: "Are the artillerymen just watching the attacking troops being bombed all the way? What do I want them to do?"
"Tell the two squadron leaders that if you can't kill them, you will still fire. As long as there are artillery shells flying over, they will not attack our attacking troops so unscrupulously."
"Our real target is not the hundreds of Eighth Route Army troops on the mountain, but the main force of the Eighth Route Army behind Chentouling and the equipment they stole."
"Only by breaking through here immediately can we bite them and kill them."
Once the Japanese artillery moves, the pressure on the attacking troops will be reduced.
The assault speed is getting faster and faster, constantly approaching Chentouling.
"Da da da……"
More than twenty heavy machine guns lined up by the Japanese army also joined the battle, and bullets flew towards Chentouling like a rain of bullets.
The heavy machine gun has a long range and the bullets have strong penetrating power. Many soldiers hiding in the trenches were hit by bullets that passed through the parapets and fell in the trench with a groan!
More bullets flew in the air close to the trenches, creating an airtight net of bullets above the heads of the soldiers.
If anyone showed his head at this time, he would definitely be beaten on the spot.
Seeing this scene, Tan Weiqi still looked calm on the surface, but his clenched fists had exposed his inner nervousness.
If the Japanese offensive firepower is not eliminated as soon as possible, the soldiers will not even have a chance to raise their heads. How can they stop the attacking troops?
With a raised brow, he began to give orders: "Fire all the Bayi mortars equipped by the artillery company, fire five rounds rapidly, move to new positions after firing, and then continue firing to harass the Japanese heavy machine gun troops and reduce the defensive pressure on the troops.
"
The Japanese army responded quickly.
As soon as the four August 1st mortars of the artillery company finished firing their shells and left the position, the Japanese counterattack shells fell from the sky.
But they blew up.
A few minutes later, the four mortars moved to the new position fired again.
Facing the rain of shells flying over again, the Japanese heavy machine gun troops finally couldn't resist.
In two consecutive artillery attacks, two heavy machine gun squadrons lost three heavy machine guns.
Although it didn't reach the point of breaking my muscles and bones, I couldn't afford the loss.
The real decisive battle has not yet begun. If they break through any blocking position of the Eighth Route Army and suffer heavy losses, they will have no guns to use when it comes to the decisive battle with the main force of the Eighth Route Army, resulting in the defeat of the troops.
With this idea in mind, the two squadron leaders discussed and decisively ordered the troops to divide their forces and take action.
Set up machine gun positions separately in small teams to alternately cover infantry attacks.
As a result, the Japanese covering firepower directed at Chentouling was reduced by half.
Of course, the Japanese army was not a vegetarian. The remaining mortar squadron immediately counterattacked, trying to kill these four mortars and reduce the pressure on the heavy machine gun unit.
Tan Weiqi knew that the artillery was under great pressure, but if he wanted to defend Chentouling, he had to make sacrifices.
As long as the artillery can hold back the Japanese artillery and heavy machine gun troops with its small power, it will be sure to complete its mission.
The clenched fists slowly relaxed, and while observing the battle situation, he ordered: "The two Japanese mortar squadrons have all participated in the battle, and only the mountain artillery and infantry artillery are left."
"Order the 120 mortars of the artillery company to fire, use the same firing method as the Bayi mortars to attack the Japanese artillery positions, and move while firing to reduce the combat pressure on other artillery units and force out the Japanese mountain artillery and infantry artillery."
The artillery units joined the battle bit by bit. Although there were not many artillery pieces participating in each battle, they put great pressure on the Japanese army.
At first, the two mortar squadrons only had to chase the constantly shifting Eighth Route Army artillery units, and there was no need to worry about their own safety.
Not anymore.
As soon as the three large-caliber mortars were launched, the two squadron leaders realized the crisis.
"Rumble..."
A shell just hit the artillery position. Unlike ordinary mortars, the killing radius of the 120 shell was more than twice theirs.
In addition to shell fragments killing people, powerful shock waves can also kill people.
With a "boom...", the two mortars on the left and right were blown over at the same time. The two closest gunners were blown away. More gunners were blown over like the mortars and fell to the ground unable to get up.
Some people were motionless, while others were lying on the ground squirming and screaming...
"The Eighth Route Army is equipped with large-caliber mortars. Our decisive battle with them has not yet begun. We will definitely need more artillery support later. These mortars cannot suffer too much loss here." The mortar squadron leader held a heavy machine gun in his arms.
The squadron leader shouted with the same idea, his expression tense and anxious.
"Let's disperse and move!" Another mortar squadron leader immediately agreed.
"We fought separately as small teams and continued to suppress the Eighth Route Army artillery."
The Chief of Staff also saw the pressure and concerns of the artillery and heavy machine gun units.
Angry and frustrated.
It is clear that the superiority in firepower and quantity is in its own hands, but in order to reduce losses and leave more heavy weapons to deal with the main force of the Eighth Route Army, it has to worry a lot, so that the artillery cannot fully utilize its strength.
After thinking for a while, he gritted his teeth and ordered: "The two infantry artillery squadrons and the mountain artillery squadron all opened fire to knock out the large-caliber mortars that the Eighth Route Army had just joined in the war. We cannot allow them to attack our mortar positions so unscrupulously."
"If we can destroy them, we can knock out the Eighth Route Army's artillery piece by piece."
It was still daytime, and Tan Weiqi stood at the commanding heights of Chentouling and saw at a glance that the Japanese army was setting up mountain artillery and infantry artillery positions.
This is the last artillery unit of the Japanese army. If they are held back, the threat of artillery fire from the infantry will be gone.
But the artillery company only had two mountain artillery pieces, while the Japanese army had eight mountain artillery pieces plus infantry artillery pieces. Moreover, they were well-trained, and the mountain artillery pieces were not easy to move.
Once the two sides fight, it will be a chicken egg against a stone, and the two mountain cannons will most likely be destroyed.
But if these mountain artillery and infantry artillery are not held back, the three 120-meter mortars will be in danger. If they shell the blocking position during the exchange of fire, the infantry will definitely suffer heavy casualties, and the chance of holding Chentouling is less than 20%.
Holding this place is a fatal order given by the regiment leader and must be fulfilled.
Tan Weiqi hesitated for a long time before making a decision.
"The mountain artillery platoon aimed at the Japanese mountain artillery and infantry artillery positions and fired at them, holding them back at all costs and covering the infantry to defend Chentouling."
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