There are also requirements for setting up large-caliber heavy artillery positions. First, it must be in a place where the land is compacted; second, it must be in a central area where one's own troops are heavily guarded; third, it is best to be near a water source; fourth, it is best not to have tall obstructions around it.
things.
Based on the best range and widest firing range of the artillery, Zhou Wen concluded that the Japanese heavy artillery positions were likely to be set up in this area.
Moreover, the sound of heavy artillery fire is very loud and can be heard clearly from miles away. When the time comes, there will always be a way to lurk at a suitable distance and the exact location can be found.
But Zhou Wen is still thinking about the old problem, that is, how to evacuate safely.
On the way here, Zhou Wen discovered that the blockade set up by the Japanese army along the way was relatively tight. If he wanted to return from the original route after completing the mission, the chance of being discovered was very high.
You must know that the battle against the Japanese heavy artillery will definitely not take place at night. And the Japanese army will not wait until night to search for Chinese artillery observers, so they must start running during the day in order to pass through the height of the Japanese army again.
A defensive blockade is almost impossible.
What Zhou Wen considered was that if he could lurk in a suitable hiding place nearby until nightfall, it would be basically safe and worry-free.
So he kept observing with a telescope, but actually he kept this terrain in his mind.
The area with the thickest morning fog is Shahe, and the area close to Shahe is basically open land. Even if there were some trees and vegetation, they have been cut down by the Japanese. It is very difficult to hide in broad daylight.
And if the observation distance is too far, there may be errors in the distance measured by the artillery scope.
As time goes by, the morning fog gradually dissipates. Although the sky is still gray and there is no sunlight, the Japanese camp by the Shah River in the distance is like a slowly opening curtain, revealing bit by bit.
Zhang Xiaoping was also observing with a telescope at this time, and soon discovered those hazy and busy shit-yellow figures.
I saw that most of them were waving the tools in their hands, as if they were leveling the land, and some were carrying wood and sandbags, and were setting up various circular positions.
Zhang Xiaoping had a look of surprise on his face and turned to look at Zhou Wen.
Zhou Wen nodded slightly towards him, with a smile on his face as well.
Found it, this is probably an artillery position set up by the Japanese army.
Moreover, judging from the fact that the straight-line distance between here and Lengkou is nearly 7 kilometers, it cannot be a 75mm mountain artillery position, but can only be a Japanese heavy artillery position.
What needs to be determined now is whether this is the only heavy artillery position for the Japanese or a reserve position.
In fact, it was not entirely Zhou Wen's own judgment that he could quickly find the Japanese heavy artillery position.
Before departure, the officers of the mercenary regiment had deduced and studied several possible locations on the map, and marked areas 1, 2, 3, and 4 based on feasibility.
You must know that the Yanshan Mountains during this period had verdant mountains, dense vegetation, and uneven topography.
Not to mention anything else, it is not an easy task to drag a several-ton artillery to a suitable place. Even cars cannot pass into the deep mountains and old forests.
The area where Zhou Wen and the others are most likely to come is also the No. 1 area marked on the map.
First of all, in terms of location, Area 1 is exactly a triangle with Lengkou Pass and Xifengkou. In other words, these heavy artillery can not only bombard Lengkou Pass, but Xifengkou is also within their range.
When necessary, just turn the muzzle to bombard Xifengkou at the maximum range.
Secondly, there is a water source here, and the terrain is open, which does not affect the shooting range. It is also close to the highway, making transportation and supplies very convenient.
The most important thing is that in the Japanese army's perception, the Chinese army extremely lacks artillery countermeasures, and it has no aircraft. The Japanese army does not need to consider any threats from the air.
Therefore, the Japanese artillery positions did not need to be painstakingly arranged to camouflage or hide traces. They only had to consider what was most conducive to artillery support and do whatever was convenient for them.
Therefore, Zhou Wen is now more than 70% sure that the Japs' artillery positions will be set up here.
Now just wait patiently.
Judging from the completeness of these trench fortifications, this artillery position has now entered the final stages of construction. With luck, the results may be revealed today.
Moreover, Zhou Wen also had a preliminary plan in mind regarding how to withdraw safely.
He took the map and started marking it. He wanted to discuss it with Zhang Xiaoping while he was free now.
But I heard Zhang Xiaoping say softly: "Senior brother, there are Japs coming, they seem to be coming towards us."
Zhou Wen quickly picked up the telescope to check.
I saw a dozen Japanese soldiers leaving the construction site in the distance and walking towards this side.
Zhou Wen immediately judged that this should be a detachment of Japs. They had no machine guns or grenade launchers, and they had rifles on their backs. They were holding axes, shovels and other tools in their hands. Some of the Japs even carried long saws on their shoulders.
At first glance, you can tell that they are Japanese engineers who came to cut down wood and trees.
But the problem is that the trees here have basically been cut down. If you want to cut down the trees, you have to walk a few miles further into the mountains. Only a few Japanese people go to the mountains to cut down the trees?
Moreover, there are also cars on the Japanese construction site. If you really need to cut down trees, at least it would be more convenient for you to drive a car. How many logs can you carry?
Zhou Wen frowned and thought, then turned to look at his surroundings. Suddenly he saw that on top of the broken wall where he was hiding, a few grasses had grown, but there was a section of residual wood that had been burnt black.
Originally, the wood was used to make beams or pillars.
"No, the little devils are here. They are here to dig up the wood in the village. Let's move quickly."
The dilapidated small village where Zhou Wen and the others were hiding was not big. Judging from the scale, there were at most twenty households in the village back then.
I don't know whether it was due to war or other reasons, but this village has been abandoned for some years. All the houses have collapsed, and there are not even half-man-high walls. There are signs of decay and dilapidation everywhere.
Now that the little devils come here to pick up garbage, you can't find a hiding place and have no choice but to leave the village.
The two quickly packed up their things carefully, and carefully cleaned up the hiding place, covering up their footprints. Then, using these ruins to block the view towards the river, they slowly retreated from the village.
The two junior brothers were bent over and just walked out from the back of the village. Zhou Wen suddenly pressed Zhang Xiaoping's shoulders, and the two fell to the ground.
Of course, Zhang Xiaoping knew his senior brother's perception and knew what was happening. As he lay on the ground, he reached for the pistol holster tied to his thigh.
