In the face of the frantic shelling of the siege troops, countless mortar shells and grenades fired by grenades, and the attacking troops sent by the Japanese army to the city tower again, Hu Biao quickly activated the artillery positions constructed in advance to carry out artillery bombardment on the Japanese troops outside the city.

Compared with other bulky infantry guns, mountain guns, and field guns, mortars are undoubtedly lighter. In order to avoid the Japanese artillery counterattack, Hu Biao prepared some shells in advance at each reserve artillery position.

In this way, even if the Japanese army reacted quickly and carried out an artillery counterattack, it would not be able to destroy all the artillery in Hu Biao's hands at one time. As for the more powerful mountain artillery and field artillery, Hu Biao had already asked Liu Guotong to build the corresponding artillery positions.

From the troops stranded in the city, Hu Biao also screened out some artillery and handed them over to the officers of the Third Brigade and the Fifth Regiment. As the most elite unit of the national army, most of the officers of the teaching corps can be promoted to the next level.

Even if it is an ordinary squad leader, it is not a big problem to be a platoon commander if he is delegated to other troops. At least in Hu Biao's view, the surviving officers and soldiers under Liu Guotong can also become the backbone and backbone of this resistance war if they are used well.

With the frantic shelling of the Japanese army outside the city, the tower of the city was also shrouded in the smoke of the shell explosion. The door panel fortifications that collapsed from time to time also brought great psychological pressure to the defenders. In order to avoid increasing casualties and affecting morale, Hu Biao decided to use artillery.

"Brothers, hold on! Soon it will be our artillery turn to counterattack! The injured brother was carried down and sent to the rear hospital for treatment. The brothers who died in battle were also carried down and sent to the rear barracks for proper burial by Liu Tuanfu. ”

"Yes!"

Shuttling through the narrow door panel fortifications, Hu Biao spoke from time to time to boost morale. Most of the soldiers who selected to go to the castle tower this time took the initiative to join. In the temporarily formed squad platoon, Hu Biao will also teach some soldiers from the corps and the guard platoon.

With these backbones and iron-blooded veterans, the team's ability to bear pressure will be greater. In addition, Hu Biao, as a commander, also fought side by side with them. How could these fighters who took the initiative to join the stranded soldiers collapse without a fight?

When Hu Biao found out, during the attack, the little devil began to send additional soldiers to hold explosives bags, crawling forward, with the help of the corpses of Japanese soldiers who had been killed earlier as cover, and constantly approached the doorway area under the main city.

Hu Biao, who saw this scene, immediately said: "Prepare a grenade!" The shelling begins, grenade the little devils who crawl with dogs! ”

As soon as he finished speaking, twelve cannonballs whizzed past the tower, and then landed within a kilometer of the city. The sudden shelling caught the attacking Japanese troops and the little devils who provided artillery cover by surprise.

While the Japanese artillery was dodging the shelling, Hu Biao immediately dodged the plank fortifications, pulled the fuse of a grenade, and after a two-second delay in his hand, threw it on the head of the little devil who was lying on the ground and looking back.

The rest of the soldiers, like Hu Biao, successively drilled through the door board fortifications, and threw the grenades or grenades that had torn off the fuses at the mouths on both sides at the top of the city tower at the fastest speed.

In the face of grenades thrown from the city tower, the little devil Demoman who tried to blow up the hole in the city gate could only lie on the ground with his head in his hands, hoping to avoid the shrenchnel attack caused by the explosion of grenades and grenades.

It's a pity that compared to ordinary soldiers who throw the grenades when they pull the line, for fear that the grenades will explode in their hands, Hu Biao and the soldiers from the guard platoon throw the grenades in a delayed way, so that these grenades form a volley explosion effect.

As a result, it became clear that the Demomen were quickly rolling on the ground. Some unlucky little devils, the explosive bags they held in their hands after being injured by the explosion also quickly rolled aside. Wait for the grenades to hit the ground and explode, and soon ignite the fuses of these explosive packets.

Looking at the smoking explosives bag, the little devil lying nearby quickly retreated with both hands and feet, and said with a frightened face: "The explosive bag is about to explode!" Quick, disperse! ”

There was a "boom", and the explosive bag exploded. The little devils located near the explosion area, some of them were also shocked and vomited blood while lying on the ground. The little devils who provided them with fire cover before are also too busy to take care of themselves at the moment.

Finding that the defenders in the city actually had a formed mortar unit, the commander of the infantry wing who stayed in the rear to supervise the battle, looked at the soldiers shrouded in artillery fire, and quickly said: "Retreat!" Order the troops to retreat! Damn, we've got to call for help! ”

A garrison with artillery and a garrison without artillery are undoubtedly more lethal. If the artillery positions of the defenders in the city are not destroyed, the infantry wing responsible for the attack will also pay heavy casualties.

The little devils, who had previously set up mortars within a range of 700 meters, and the grenadiers, who had formed positions at a distance of 300 meters, quickly withdrew from the area covered by artillery fire under the urgent orders of their respective commanders.

From the first round of shelling, six waves of shells fell down, seventy-two mortar shells, and also caused a large number of casualties to the attacking Japanese troops. Although the road in front of Zhongshan Gate is very wide, there are very few places where you can really hide from artillery fire.

Looking at the little devil who kept retreating, the defenders lying behind the mouth of the city also said excitedly: "It's good!" Little devils of the dog, you also have a chance. That's it, a few more shells to blow up these dogs! ”

With the mortar platoon launching an artillery bombardment, the infantry wing that was ordered to come to receive the presidential palace and control the Zhongshan City Tower had no choice but to retreat. In this case, the commander of the infantry wing had to consider that it was necessary for the division to send artillery to help in the battle.

If this is not possible, only by dispatching tanks or armored vehicles can it be possible to capture the defending forces that have the advantage of the terrain. When the little devil Empress Cang withdrew, Hu Biao and other snipers who were on the city tower also began to hunt freely.

Compared with other soldiers, they looked at the corpses of those little devils under the city gate with great interest and said, "Wow, there are so many corpses of little devils!" Look at this, we have killed at least two or three hundred little devils before. ”

"Not yet! I really didn't expect that the little devil would be so unbeaten, this is just the beginning, why did he retreat? ”

"Don't be careless! The little devil has suffered a loss, and he will definitely take revenge soon! Pay attention to air defense, if the little devils really send planes to help in the war, we can only evacuate. The fortifications built can't stop the bombing of aerial bombs! ”

"Sortie of planes, unlikely! I think the little devils will definitely send tanks or armored vehicles. ”

"The little devil shouldn't dare! We have artillery in our hands, can the devil's tank armored vehicle block our shells? ”

The first round of attacks was completely frustrated, and nearly half of the infantry brigade was killed or wounded, and the Japanese infantry wing, which came happily, never expected that the city gate would be met by the defending troops. Faced with the towering city gate fortifications, the Japanese army could only choose to retreat temporarily.

When the infantry wing sent a report to the division asking for help and informed the situation on the side of Zhongshan Gate, the division commander Ushijima Sadao, who was supervising the battle in the rear, was also surprised and said: "What about it? There are still a large number of defenders in Zhongshanmen? ”

"Yes! The first round of attacks of the 33rd Wing was frustrated, and the defenders stubbornly resisted by relying on the fortifications of the city gate, and the artillery they carried could not destroy the fortifications of the Chinese army. ”

"Yaga! This guy Inoue is so incompetent! Is the tank squadron in place? ”

"It's in place, ready to strike!"

"Send the chariot squadron over and tell that guy in Inoue that if he can't take the Zhongshan Gate again, let him be loyal to His Majesty the Emperor!" This time, the commander entrusted this task to our division and regiment, which is a sign of trust in our division and regiment.

If he can't plant the military flag on the tower of the presidential palace in the city before nightfall, it will be a failure. At present, other divisions and regiments have already attacked Jinling from other directions, and our divisions must not be slower than other divisions, understand? ”

"Hey!"

The infantry wing commander Inoue Keitaro, who was waiting for orders at the front, saw the return call from the division commander, and his expression also looked a little serious. From the telegram, it is not difficult to hear that the division commander's patience with him has reached the limit.

After reading the telegram, Inoue Minetaro quickly said: "Notify the captains of the major teams to come over for a meeting!" ”

"Hey!"

From this telegram, Inoue Ketaro knew exactly what was going on. If he fails to complete the combat goal on time, then waiting for his fate is to be dismissed and punished. Of course, there is also the end of suicide by caesarean section.

Last night's raid battle, although the blame was not entirely on his infantry wing. But if it weren't for the lax vigilance of his wing, which allowed the attackers to take advantage of the loophole, perhaps the defending troops in the city would not have been able to break through successfully.

The division commander Sadao Ushijima has the ability to protect him and has already given him a chance. If he disappoints Sadao Ushijima again, he, the co-captain, will naturally be incompetent. An incompetent wing captain will have no future and a way out in the army!

Fortunately, the division commander gave him a strict order and still sent him a squadron of chariots. With the cooperation of the tank squadron and the capture of the city gate in front of him, it should not be a big problem. What's more, the division also supports several mountain artillery pieces to cooperate with the operation!

In order to let his subordinates know the situation facing the wing, Inoue Minetaro took advantage of the suspension of the offensive to call his team leader to emphasize the importance of this battle to the wing and division. If necessary, they will have to fight the defenders.

On the other hand, Hu Biao, who was staying on the city tower, watched the Japanese army suspend the attack, and immediately ordered everyone to strengthen the fortifications. At the same time, they were also thinking about how the Japanese army would attack next. Most likely, perhaps, it is the deployment of additional artillery units.

As for the possibility of sending planes to help in the war, Hu Biao felt that it should not be large. In this case, Hu Biao quickly called Huang Erzhuan over, and after giving some instructions in his ear, Huang Erzhuan also nodded and said, "Battalion commander, that thing works?" ”

"Don't worry! Better than a machine gun! Get more ammunition and let Liu Tuan send a few soldiers to operate. ”

"Understood! I'll go right away! ”

Huang Erzhuo, who accepted the task and immediately went down to the city tower, quickly drove a car placed in an alley. Not long after returning, the soldiers guarding the tower saw four machine guns lifted from the car.

He personally set it up and adjusted it, and Hu Biao soon heard the roar of the engine in the distance. Looking at the smoke rising from the road in the distance, Hu Biao knew that his prediction was right, and the little devil still sent armored combat vehicles to support the siege!