Chapter 804: The Brigade Commander Wants to Turn the Defeat into a Victory
"Boom boom boom..."
Three thunderous explosions broke the squadron leader's dream.
He could feel the powerful shock wave from the explosion through the windshield.
Seeing the thick smoke billowing into the sky in front of the convoy, the squadron leader was stunned. Before he could react from the shock, gunshots rang in his ears.
There are heavy machine guns, light machine guns, and rifles, very densely packed.
"Enemy attack, counterattack..."
The squadron leader was lucky. The moment he lowered his head and jumped out of the co-pilot, a string of heavy machine gun bullets flew right past his scalp, and finally drilled several bloody holes in the driver's body.
As soon as he fell to the ground, the scream of artillery shells streaking across the sky rang out.
The squadron leader quickly hugged his head and rolled onto his side into the ditch next to the highway.
"Boom...boom...boom..."
There was an explosion, and although he was not directly hit by the shell, the powerful shock wave still made him dizzy and his ears buzzed.
As soon as he regained some consciousness, he cried out: "Baga, the enemy attacking us is equipped with heavy mortars. Only heavy artillery shells can have such great explosive power."
"Rumble..."
Before he finished speaking, the same explosion sounded again, and this time there was no scream before the explosion.
Many Japanese soldiers were killed and injured because they were not prepared and looked around with their heads raised.
"It's a thunder cannon. The enemy is also equipped with thunder cannons, at least five of them."
As soon as the explosion stopped, the squadron leader stuck his head out of the ditch to see the surrounding situation clearly.
At this point, the last bit of confidence was gone.
Several huge craters were scattered on the road, and at least ten bodies fell next to each crater.
Several cars were blown over on the side of the road, and some cars were set alight by gunfire and burned into a raging fire.
Above the head, the flying bullets were like meteors, intertwining with each other to form an airtight bullet net, which the squadron leader could see clearly.
Soldiers were constantly being beaten to death nearby, screaming and turning into corpses.
More soldiers were killed without even saying a word.
"It's over!"
These two words popped into the squadron leader's mind involuntarily.
The firepower gap between the enemy and ours was too great, and the powerful artillery fire severely damaged oneself instantly, giving oneself no chance to fight back.
If there was another round of artillery fire like this, the Eighth Route Army ambushing us would be able to kill all our reinforced squadrons without attacking.
"Woooooooo..."
At this time, the scream of artillery shells that the squadron leader least wanted to face sounded again.
His already pale face suddenly turned even paler.
At the headquarters of the Japanese independent mixed brigade, Nakata Yamaro was waiting for news in the war room as last time.
In the last operation, the imperial army killed more than 1,300 main garrison regiments and guerrillas.
This time, I specifically strengthened the strength of the Imperial Alliance Army, intending to eliminate more guerrillas.
As expected, in tonight's battle, the troops will be able to kill at least the main force of the 1,500 garrison regiment and the guerrillas.
However, the two of them waited until three o'clock in the morning, but no news came back.
This is so abnormal.
Judging from the time when each mobile unit launched its attack, the outcome of the battle should have been known an hour ago.
In the last operation, the headquarters received good news one hour ago.
Now another hour has passed, and no news has come back from the front line.
Time is of the essence on the battlefield, and the commanders of each defense zone will definitely not hold back on the news.
Then there is only one situation left. Tonight's battle is far more complicated than last time, otherwise there would be no winner or loser until now.
In fact, several battles had already ended on the real battlefield, but the Japanese army was defeated too quickly and did not have time to send a farewell telegram.
After the battle, the victorious garrison did not retreat and disappear, but continued to fight against other Japanese mobile units.
It wasn't until four o'clock in the morning that the headquarters telegraph machine turned on and the long-lost beep sounded.
The communications staff officer was standing behind the operator.
He knew that the brigade commander was in a hurry now, so the operator wrote a string of numeric codes and translated a word.
The operator put down his earphones and finished translating.
Without waiting for the operator to speak, he grabbed the message and ran to the war room next to him.
"General, there's an urgent call from the first defense zone. Our mobile unit is in trouble."
"Two mobile units in their defense area lost contact, and one mobile unit was heavily attacked by the garrison and was in danger."
"Nani?"
This result was something Nakata Yamaro did not expect.
Although I expected that the situation tonight would be worse than last time, I never expected that the imperial army would fail and be miserable.
I received the telegram and confirmed it twice before I believed it was true.
Then he glared with a pair of red eyes and roared.
"Bageya Road, who can tell me what is going on?"
Seeing that his subordinates did not respond and all lowered their heads without saying a word, Nakata Yamaro directly turned his attention to the chief of staff.
"Call back to the first defense zone immediately: I'll give them half an hour to find out what happened on the front line?"
"There is no way that two mobile troops and nearly five hundred imperial troops will disappear inexplicably."
"Immediately send troops to reinforce the mobile units that are under attack, and we must rescue them."
"Also, contact other defense areas and let them contact the mobile units in their respective defense areas."
"I have a very bad feeling. If the garrison really hatches some conspiracy tonight, our losses will definitely be more than two mobile units."
Nakata Yamaro's judgment is too scary.
If it is true, the Imperial Army's losses tonight will definitely be unprecedented, and may even affect the subsequent independent mixed brigade's big plan to sweep the garrison base.
The chief of staff was frightened, and it took him a long time to realize what he was doing next to the sand table.
Then he rushed to the telecommunications room next to him.
In less than half an hour, the front line responded with a telegram.
After receiving the telegram and just glancing at it, the chief of staff's face darkened, and the last glimmer of hope was gone. Finally, he took a breath and reported.
"General, call back from the first defense zone."
"The third mobile unit was not rescued and contact was lost ten years ago."
"After investigation, it has been confirmed that the main force of the Eighth Route Army operating in their defense area tonight has at least one main battalion of 800 people."
"They used a company as bait to attract us to kill them. The main force set up pocket formations along the path we must pass, waited and waited, and then wiped out all our reinforcements."
"The two mobile units that lost contact at the beginning were destroyed by them before they had time to send a rescue telegram."
"idiot!"
Nakata Yamaro was angry.
This is the outcome he least wants to face, and now it has all come true.
Three mobile troops were lost in one defense area, and the other two defense areas must have also suffered losses. If each defense area lost so many imperial troops, then the imperial army in this occupied area would be gone.
Either watch the Eighth Route Army turn this occupied area into their base area, or order independent mixed brigades to join the battle, stabilize their rear area first, and then attack the garrison base area.
The first option definitely won't work.
If you lose cities, territory, and troops as soon as you take up the post of brigade commander, not only will your prestige in the army suffer a huge blow, but your superiors will also look down on you, and you may even be asked to pack up and get out.
Although the second choice will affect the subsequent big plan to sweep the garrison base, as long as the independent mixed brigade participates in the battle and the battle is not over, the battle itself will not be defeated.
Regardless of superiors or subordinates, no one can gossip about themselves until the final results are announced.
Moreover, Nakata Yamaro believed in the combat effectiveness of the independent mixed brigade. As long as they participated in the battle, he would definitely be able to turn defeat into victory.
Thinking of this, Nakata Yamaro's face looked much better, and his anger began to slowly dissipate.
At this time, the communications staff hurriedly broke in and interrupted his thoughts.
"Sir, urgent call from the Second Defense Zone: Three mobile units under their command were attacked by the Eighth Route Army and the entire army was destroyed."
"The two mobile units retreated in time and were not surrounded by the Eighth Route Army. They have now returned to their strongholds."
"The Eighth Route Army operating in their defense area has at least one reinforced battalion, not a company."
As soon as the communications staff officer left, another communications staff officer rushed in: "Sir, there is an urgent call from the third defense zone."
"Two mobile units in their defense area were attacked and the entire army was destroyed."
"A mobile unit suffered heavy losses and suffered heavy losses."
"The last mobile unit successfully returned to its base. After investigation, it was determined that the Eighth Route Army operating in their defense area had at least one reinforced battalion."
Two consecutive pieces of bad news came, and Nakata Yamaro was surprised not to get angry, but to be surprisingly calm.
He had predicted this result just now, but it was only confirmed now.
He replied solemnly: "So many troops were moved under our noses without anyone noticing. This garrison is really powerful."
The chief of staff also looked shocked: "They are so cunning. They concentrated so many troops to attack our dispersed mobile troops, and they launched a sudden attack from the preliminary engine room. It is difficult for us to not be defeated."
At this time, Nakata Yamaro's eyes clearly shone with two rays of light, and he stared at the sand table and answered.
"War is fair to everyone."
"In this battle, the garrison caught us by surprise and killed eight of our mobile troops in one night, but for us, this may not be an opportunity."
"Three reinforced battalions have gone deep into the imperial army's occupied areas to fight. The garrison's courage is extraordinary."
"You know, these troops account for half of the garrison's strength. Aren't they worried that we will make dumplings for all these troops and eat them in one bite?"
The chief of staff immediately heard something behind the brigade commander's words, and his mind was racing, trying to follow his train of thought.
Soon, his frown relaxed, he stared at Nakata Yamaro and asked: "General, do you plan to let the independent mixed brigade join the battle and eat these Eighth Route Army?"
Nakata Yamaro affirmed: "The enemy has already got into our stomachs, there is no reason not to eat."
"Then what should we do if we attack the garrison base?" the chief of staff asked immediately.
This is the battle plan formulated by Nakata Yamaro since he took office, and it has been stated in advance. No matter what happens, this plan cannot be changed.