There were a large number of casualties every minute, including those from the Third Battalion and the Japanese and puppet troops.
Artillery shells were flying back and forth over the battlefield, trying to kill the opponent's artillery and then support the infantry.
If an artillery piece was destroyed, the gunner who served it would surely be dead or wounded and fall aside.
The attacking troops retreated after charging for 20 minutes. At least 400 corpses fell in front of the blocking position, including Japanese soldiers and puppet soldiers.
The trenches were also filled with corpses and wounded.
None of the soldiers in the third battalion who could move were idle. Some were transporting the bodies of their comrades, and some were assisting health workers in rescuing the wounded...
Tan Weiqi stood at the commanding heights with a very serious expression.
If I remember correctly, at least two hundred corpses have been transported back to the position.
Looking inside the trenches, there are still many corpses and seriously injured people that have not been transported out.
Calculating this, the three battalions in the previous battle suffered at least 300 casualties.
During the battle, the Third Battalion used its small and powerful artillery to hold back three times the number of Japanese artillery, but the strength advantage was still with the Japanese.
The Japanese army is famous for its arrogance. Under normal circumstances, they are not afraid of one against three, let alone when there are more of them.
Therefore, even without artillery support, the attacking troops were confident of taking Chentouling.
When attacking, they rushed forward with a desperate attitude, as if victory had already been stepped on by their feet.
At the end of the fight, the enemy and we even threw two rounds of grenades and grenades at each other.
The Third Battalion was covered by trenches, so unless the grenade hit it right in, the threat was very small.
The Japanese and puppet offensive troops were different. They were completely exposed to the ground, and grenades rained down from the sky. It could definitely be said to explode a large area.
If the Japanese army insists on not retreating, these grenade rain alone will kill them all.
Unless their artillery participated in the battle in time, they would use artillery shells to cause a large number of casualties to the third battalion during the exchange of fire.
But at that time, their artillery was being dragged by the artillery of the third battalion, and they were unable to separate themselves. They would definitely not be able to participate in the battle in a short time.
In order to avoid greater casualties and leave more troops to fight the main force of the garrison, the chief of staff decisively issued a retreat order.
The instructor hurriedly came over, his expression even more solemn than Tan Weiqi's: "Batalion Commander, I have calculated the battle damage just now, it is very large."
"All two mountain guns were destroyed, two 120 mortars were lost and one was left, and six 81 mortars were lost and four were left!"
"In order to protect those artillery pieces and hold on to the artillery battle longer, the gunners' losses exceeded 80%."
"259 infantrymen were killed, 38 were seriously injured, the remaining half were slightly injured, and less than 100 were left intact."
"Four of the six heavy machine guns were lost, 18 light machine guns were lost, and 10 are left."
"Although the Japanese offensive troops suffered heavy losses, the artillery and heavy machine gun troops suffered very little losses, leaving at least 70% of their equipment and combat effectiveness."
"If the Japanese army launches another round of attacks, we will definitely not be able to defend it."
This is also what Tan Weiqi is most worried about.
Staring at the instructor, he affirmed: "It is certain to continue attacking."
"The enemy's target is the bait prepared for them by the regiment leader. They will definitely try their best to break through our blocking position."
"Order the soldiers to prepare for the worst."
"As long as there is one person alive in the whole camp, the Japanese cannot be allowed to pass through Chentouling."
"Instructor, take away all the extra paperwork, messengers, guards, and cooks from the battalion headquarters, and bring up the new recruit company and the baggage company, and use them all to replenish the front-line combat troops and ensure their combat effectiveness."
The instructor nodded and replied with a farewell expression: "Don't worry, battalion commander, I will personally go to the battlefield to take command soon."
"The main company is divided into a platoon, with the company commander serving as the platoon leader, and the main force forming a squad, with the platoon leader serving as the squad leader."
"No one can abandon their position without orders."
Tan Weiqi nodded, perhaps to ease the increasingly depressing atmosphere in the headquarters, and hesitated to comfort him: "Instructor, you don't have to worry too much."
"The regiment commander will definitely not watch our entire third battalion be destroyed."
"The troops of the Huaiyuan Independent Regiment and the Laishui Independent Regiment are right behind us. Once they are in place, we will not only turn the corner, but we will also launch a counterattack against the Japanese and eat them."
"So our third battalion still has hope."
As soon as he finished speaking, the telegraph operator suddenly ran over and reported happily: "Battal Commander, Instructor, good news."
"The troops of the Huaiyuan Independent Regiment and the Laishui Independent Regiment are all in place, and the regiment leaders are also here..."
After saying that Cao Cao was about to arrive, Tan Weiqi waited for less than five minutes before Li Hao appeared.
Unfortunately, as soon as the regiment commander climbed to the commanding heights, before he could take a breath, a new round of Japanese attacks began.
Mortars, infantry artillery, and mountain artillery fired shells at the blocking position with all their might.
Japanese offensive position: Two infantry squadrons and one puppet battalion are using the same offensive method just now, taking advantage of the artillery fire to slowly approach the blocking position.
Tan Weiqi's heart suddenly rose to his throat.
The third battalion only had six guns left, and no matter how hard it tried, it could not hold back so many Japanese artillery pieces.
The next battle will definitely be more brutal than before. The Japanese artillery will definitely free up their hands and use infantry and artillery to coordinate a large number of killing and blocking troops to reduce the combat pressure on the attacking troops.
Veterans are afraid of machine guns, and recruits are afraid of artillery.
I had just added a large number of new soldiers to the blocking position. From the beginning, they faced such fierce artillery fire. They might be blown up and collapse.
Tan Weiqi quickly reported his concerns to Li Hao so that he could be prepared.
Li Hao snorted coldly: "Don't worry, Battalion Commander Tan, I won't give the Japanese infantry and artillery a chance to coordinate."
After saying that, he ordered the three unfamiliar faces next to him who were carrying a radio: "Send a telegram to your battalion commander."
"First kill the Japanese artillery units, then extend the firepower to bomb the infantry. Each gun fires twenty shells. After the attack, move away and continue to lurk on standby."
The operator with the radio on his back squatted next to him and started sending a telegram.
The other two people held telescopes to observe the battlefield, taking notes as they watched.
Li Hao ignored them and continued to order: "Zhou Liang, you immediately send a telegram to the troops of the Huaiyuan Independent Regiment and Laishui Independent Regiment."
"Our shelling began and continued to approach the battlefield."
"After the shelling, the whole army attacked and fought decisively with the Japanese and puppet troops."
"The third battalion also came up, fought out from the blocking position, and counterattacked the Japanese and puppet attacking troops from a high position."
Li Hao received the news when the Japanese and puppet troops left the city. It has been exactly four hours now, enough time for the heavy artillery battalion to move to the vicinity of the battlefield.
In an open space four kilometers away from the battlefield, sixteen heavy artillery pieces were already set up on their emplacements, with their black muzzles pointing straight into the sky.
There were more than a dozen gunners busy next to each heavy artillery piece. Some were putting fuses on the shells, while others were waiting on the artillery. The firing crews were adjusted according to the latest data provided by the observers. They were busy and orderly.
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