Chapter 2 Cross Currents (Thirteen Middle Schools)

"Well fried."" Come on. Come on."" Knock the little devil back to his hometown." Immediately, there was a deafening cheer. The officers and men of the 93rd Regiment who did not enter the battlefield. Pulling his throat. Shouts to the artillery company for its performance. It's so enjoyable. It's so relieving. In the last darkness before dawn. The cannonballs exploded and burst into flames. Ten times more gorgeous than the peony in late spring. The little devil worked hard all night to build the fortifications in the sea of peony flowers. Collapse like snow. Disintegrate. Paragraph after paragraph. Ashes.

Standing on a lookout post. Fang Guoqiang's hand. It also slowly began to tremble with the cheers around it. Since the pen has been thrown from Rong. In almost all the battles in which he has participated. The scene he went through. They were all in the middle of the world, and they were pressed and blown up by the Japanese artillery. From unexpected. The little devil actually has a day when he can't be bombed by the light. Look where the shell fell. Around a range of more than ten meters. All swept by shrapnel. Fortifications made of earth and timber are in the face of this storm of steel. It's like a rag doll in a garbage heap. was set off. Trample. Relentlessly torn apart. Then they landed around the crater. Every piece of shard is riddled with holes.

Plough. It is indeed a plough that is like a fake. Only standing on the positions of the artillery . In order to feel that this word is used appropriately. And he used to squat in the trench, covering his ears with his hands, waiting for the Hou devil's shelling to stop. You can't experience the same magnificence. Four mountain cannons were fired in turn. A shell just exploded. Another shell has landed right next to the edge of the former's shock wave. And then the third shot. Fourth shot. And then there's a new round. Gorgeous flowers of death are lined up. From left to right. At a rate of one flower every three seconds. Bloom in turn. Everywhere you go. Only the big black pits are left. There is a fire at the bottom. Ugly and scary. It's like the devil's open jaw.

Fang Guoqiang didn't know if there were any devils alive behind the crater. But he believes. After being ploughed by shells meter by meter. Facing yourself, this position will be as thin as a tofu skin. If Zhang Songling took the opportunity to rush up with the cavalry at this moment........ The heart thumped. Then it started to beat violently. With trembling hands, he removed the telescope from the sea of death flowers that had exploded with the shells. Quickly look for the cavalry. However. What shocked him was immense. At the edge of the grove from before. The guerrilla fighters and their horses stood still like a rock. There was no attempt to grasp the fighter at all.

What the hell is the little fat guy doing. Did he want to wait for the devils to come to their senses? Show your bravery again? Moment. Fang Guoqiang almost jumped up. Roaring at the cavalry in the binoculars." How did it work. You guys. Don't you even know the most basic infantry coordination? Come on. Hurry up. Rushing in the footsteps of the cannonballs. Catch the imp off guard."

No one hears his call. In fact. On the artillery positions of the ninety-third regiment . Fang Guoqiang, who has always known self-discipline. They will never let out a roar that discredits the image of their own team. He just screamed anxiously in his heart. Anxious as a flame. Hold on tightly to the telescope at the same time. The joints of the fingers are whitish because they are too forced. Turn green. Slowly losing consciousness. It becomes as stiff and icy as a frozen radish.

For those who are anxiously waiting. every second. It's as long as a century. At this moment. In the second line of trenches in the ring position at the top of the hill. Kodama was also holding a high-powered military telescope tightly. The ten fingers were so pale that they were not half bloody. The telescope's field of view was completely blocked by the smoke and dust from the shells. He couldn't see anything outside the first trench. But. But he firmly believed. Just outside the first trench. There is a dagger. Always ready to poke over and pierce yourself in the throat.

And what he needs to do at the end of his life is. Pick up the hammer. Smash this dagger completely. Yesterday was a day of fierce fighting. He believed in the losses of the Ninety-third Regiment . Far more serious than your own side. Meantime. He is also firmly convinced. This dagger is hidden behind the barrage. It will be the one that the squadron can initiate. Strongest. And the final blow. If you can smash this dagger successfully. No doubt. The ensuing battle went into garbage time. The Kuomintang-Communist coalition that lost its blade. will no longer be able to launch a decent attack. And on his side. As long as you can make up your mind to hold on to the end. Definitely hold out until reinforcements arrive on the battlefield. Then give the enemy a combination of inside and out. Flowering in the center.

"Don't be nervous. Check weapons and bullets. Always ready to enter the position .."

"Don't be nervous. Victory belonged to the Great Japanese Empire. His Majesty the Emperor is watching you."

Not far from Kodama Sueji's side. Several devil squad leaders with bandages on their bodies. Running back and forth non-stop. Boost morale. How to prepare for shelling. It's common sense that little devils must master when they train recruits. And the double trench defense in depth tactics. Nor is it the patent of the best people. In the case of neither superiority in forces nor firepower. The little devils don't care to save themselves by any means. This includes learning from your opponent's tactics and experience.

"It's the seventh round." A devil captain with the medal "Chrysanthemum and Star" on his chest leaned into Kodamama's last ear. Whisper a reminder." So far, the enemy has fired twenty-eight shells. The offensive will begin soon." (Note 1)

"Hmm." Kodama glanced at the other party for the last time. Nodding approvingly. The opponent under the mountain is the 93rd Regiment of the 31st Division of the National Revolutionary Army. It is equipped with a 76-mm Type 09 mountain gun supported by the Soviets. As far as he understands. Chinese side. At the moment there is no way to copy the ammunition of this mountain gun on its own. And the Ninety-third Regiment was within a radius of five hundred miles in the vicinity. There is also no fixed point of supply for military supplies.

In other words. Ninety-third regiment shells. Completely dependent on mules and horses to carry the army forward. The number will be very limited. Similar high-intensity shelling. It's impossible to hold on for too long.

Really. Just when he and "Chrysanthemum and Star" looked at each other and smiled. The shelling stopped abruptly. My ears became quiet in an instant. It's so quiet that you can hear the morning breeze howling." All stand up. Prepare to ......." A little devil in the squadron leader's uniform immediately raised his command knife. Orders to the restless soldiers under his command. After the end of the shelling, the official offensive began. Follow standard infantry artillery coordination tactics. At this moment, the squadron has taken advantage of the cover of artillery fire. Infiltrated somewhere within a hundred meters of the position. They must be topped up in time. Crush the insidious plot of the other side to launch a surprise attack.

However, they didn't wait for the devil soldiers to respond." Chrysanthemums and Stars" have already rushed past in an arrow step. Blocked the entrance to the first trench." Kobayashi-kun. And slowly.". While looking fearfully into the eyes of squadron leader Kodama Sueji and squad leader Miji Kobayashi. He explained aloud. Beware of the second shelling. Those Chinese on the opposite side are cunning . They ......."

"Knock.. Whoosh.."" Boom.. Whoosh.."" Boom.. Whoosh.." No more languages are needed. A few of the little devils are very familiar with the sound of cannonballs. The strongest annotation of his actions is made. It is a Type 97 infantry curved gun. The most common Type 97 infantry curved gun in the Great Japanese Army. Lightweight and flexible. There are almost no shooting dead spots. Best for attacking targets in the trenches at close range.

"Boom."" Boom."" Boom."" Boom." The monotonous explosion sounded again. Although it is nowhere near as large as before. but the face turned pale with shock. Kodama gave a grateful look at "Chrysanthemum and Star" for the last time. Step forward quickly. Gently pat him on the shoulder." Murata Jun. Attaboy. A high-achieving student of the Army University. Your alma mater will be proud of you."

Captain Murata, who graduated from the Lu Artillery Section, immediately blushed. Keep your head down. Respond modestly." Be. It is cultivated by the chief. Properly cultivated. I. I don't dare ......."

"Keep up the good work. After going back. I would consider recommending you to the General Staff of the Kwantung Army." Kodama slapped the other party on the shoulder again for the last time. Make a promise. Forthwith. Turn your gaze back to the first trench. The explosive power of the Type 97 shell is far less than that of the Soviet-made Type 09 mountain cannon. Through the gap between the smoke and the earth. He could already see a little bit of what was going on on the battlefield. To the southeast one hundred and ten meters from the first trench. A mass of figures was quietly moving forward. Although they are well hidden. The action is also slight. But under the magnification of a high-powered military telescope . Still nowhere to hide.

It's the people of the Ninety-Three Regiment. There are still a lot of dirt roads behind him. More than one hundred and fifty people in total. Tell from the clothing. The Eighth Route accounted for about one-fifth of the total offensive force. Kodama cracked her mouth for the last time. Showing shiny teeth. Is the two armies attacking together? The losses of the Ninety-Third Regiment were really so huge. Not even the forces to launch a strong attack can be drawn up... But. Tubalu is quite willing to spend money this time. There were several Taisho 11 light machine guns in the team. comparatively. The soldiers of the Ninety-third Regiment went into battle lightly. The hand is full of Soviet-made water beads. Not even a spinning plate for Deg Galev .

"It could be a suspicious soldier." Captain Murata, who had just received Kodama's last commendation, once again showed the qualities of a high-achieving student. Lying on Kodama's last ear. Whisper a reminder." The mortar crew followed them right behind . The bombardment area has been concentrated in the easterly section of the trench directly ahead. The destination of this gang. Also in the same location....."

"Hmm." No need for him to remind you. Kodama also felt that the situation was not quite right. Judging by yesterday's encounter. The total strength of the Ninety-third Regiment should be around fifteen hundred. No matter how big the loss is. It's not so bad that you can't organize a single assault. Besides, the movement of that force was too procrastinating. There is no such thing as a failure to succeed.

"There's another one over there."

"There's one over there."

Several other devil squad leaders. They also pointed at suspicious targets on the battlefield. There is more than one position in the squadron. And they're all moving forward in pretense. It's obviously bullying Kodama Squadron's weak troops. Trying to create the illusion of a split breakout. Forcing them to disperse their already very tight forces.

"Hmm." Kodama continued to mutter. Gaze through a telescope. Try to distinguish every bulge on the battlefield. A real lore. It should be hidden behind those suspicious targets. Also highly likely. is one of them. He had to tell it as fast as he could. Then put most of your forces in the right place. Otherwise. Once the other party has the first hand. The consequences will be unimaginable.

One inch. One inch. One inch. The telescope moves slowly. From left to right. and from right to left. The suspicious soldiers in the field of vision continue to push forward. Some have advanced to within 100 meters of the first trench. But. Kodama was still unable to give the order to fight back at the last time. Fingers holding a telescope. Whitish again from nervousness. Sweat. Converge into a stream. Hair dripped down the ends of his sideburns.

Suddenly. Just behind the thorn bushes directly east of his battlefield. He looked at it with a faint chill and flashed. It's a bayonet. The sky is starting to turn white. The contrast between the bayonet and the surrounding environment is becoming more and more obvious. That's almost the closest point to the trench in a straight line. The cunning Ninety-Third Regiment. I almost stabbed him in the throat with a dagger.

"Kobayashi-kun. Take your people into the first line of communication. Due East Location." Put down the binoculars. Kodama quickly made adjustments at the end." Okura-kun. Take your person into the second traffic ditch. It is also located due east. Swift. Yoshino-kun. Ashikaga-kun. The two of you will lead the team in, too. Spread out the alert on the left and right flanks of the Kobayashi squadron. Always ready to support him. Murata Jun. You take the fifth squad to stay with me and stand by. Serve as a reserve."

"Yes." The four devil squad leaders and the "Chrysanthemum and Star" who had just been praised responded in unison. Follow the instructions of your immediate superior. Act fast. No matter how hard the artillery hits. The final battle must be fought by infantry on both sides. And they. It will be the last steel plate that the ** people hope to smash!

"Da-da-da-da. Da da da. Da ........ "On the hillside before dawn. The Blackstone guerrillas began to make a tentative assault with crooked light machine guns. The bullet dragged its scarlet tail . Cut down layers of floating earth on the edge of a trench that had long been crumbling.

No one paid any attention to them. Most of the Japanese troops were under the command of several squadron commanders. The top is located due east of the position. The real Chinese elite hides behind the bushes. Less than 100 meters from the first line of trenches. And in several other places. It's just a suspicious soldier to distract the main forces of the defending side. and so they really pose a threat. It's never too late to do it.

"Boom."" Boom."" Boom." The mountain artillery began again with a second round of coverage. All concentrated due east of the position. A few devil soldiers who had just entered the trenches were caught off guard. Affected by the explosion. In the blink of an eye, it was shattered. Other devil soldiers who have entered the trenches and walked in the traffic trenches. Immediately pounce on the nearest bomb hole. The body is curled up into a clump. Mouth open. Hold your hands tightly over your ears. This is the most basic self-protection action. As long as you don't get unlucky enough to be hit in the head by a cannonball. Basically it can avoid most artillery fire.

Kodama holds a telescope for the last time. Motionless like a stone sculpture. A missed shell explodes at close range. The dirt that was lifted made the military flags around him crackle. Yet he didn't seem to be afraid of death at all. I didn't even glance at where the shells landed.

No matter how crazy the bombing. There is a moment of end. When the cannon fire ends. When the infantry charges. This round of competition between the two sides has only really begun. Before that. Miscellaneous. It's just an appetizer.

Suddenly. His ears moved. The brow quickly wrinkled into a Sichuan character. The situation is not right. After the explosion of shells. There's also a very noisy sound. Very urgent. Like waves crashing on the shore of the reef. It's broken. Like a torrential rain crashing through a cornfield. The telescope's field of view was obscured by the smoke from the shells. He couldn't see what was happening outside the trenches. But with the instincts of a professional soldier . He sensed the danger approaching quickly!

"Cavalry." Half a minute after the sound of the waves crashing on the shore. In the first trench. Finally someone screamed in fear." Cavalry. The earth has pulled the cavalry up the mountain." Immediately after. The shouts came and went. Even the sound of shell explosions could not be concealed. Yoshino, the squad leader who was on a dispersed alert mission slightly north of due east, risked being shattered by a shell. Jump into a traffic trench. Spread his legs and run towards Kodama's last side. Another team member who is also on guard duty is Ashikaga. then bring their own subordinates. Don't even say hello. Run straight along the trenches to the southeast.

"Cavalry .." Kodama also jumped up at the end. Binoculars hung on the chest. Dangling. On the edge of the smoke and dust kicked up by the shells. There are already a few horses galloping by. Just on the back of a yellow horse. A big black man holds a steel knife. Pedal morning glow. It's like a god descending into the world.

Note 1: Chrysanthemums and stars. Medal of Merit at graduation from the Japanese Army University. It is used to identify its elite status. Because it often causes contradictions. After three or six years it was already forbidden to wear it in the army. But there are still many students who don't follow orders. Take the medal to show off.