This time, Yamashita didn't want to delay the Japanese army for such a small group of eight roads, and obviously planned to solve the problem at once. When they came up, they directly threw themselves into an infantry squadron, opened the skirmish line and divided it into three waves, and adopted alternate jump attack tactics. Under the cover of all artillery fire and three heavy machine guns, an all-out attack was launched on the hill where Li Ziyuan was fortified.

These proud soldiers have invested a lot of money this time, and they don't know what it means to save shells. Swarms of shells fell on Li Ziyuan's head like a flock of crows. The dense artillery shells blew up the hastily built positions of the blocking troops on the hill.

In the face of the Japanese army that came up, Li Ziyuan ordered this time not to shoot from a distance of 50 meters, and to use the tactic of greeting first after entering a distance of 50 meters. However, although Li Ziyuan did not increase the defensive strength of the first line this time, the firepower prepared for the Japanese army was strengthened to a certain extent.

In addition to the two light machine guns that had been reinforced by frontal defensive fire, one of the two heavy machine guns that had been hidden until now was brought up. After the cover of a rain fissure, plus two light machine guns and an infantry squad that also carried a large number of *, moved to and concealed on the flanks. When the Japanese army launched a charge, he would stop the Japanese army from coming to him at once.

Thinking that they had figured out the strength and firepower deployment of the Eighth Route Army on the mountain, this time the Japanese army adopted the tactic of abandoning both flanks and rushing straight to the core position on the mountainside. But just when the first wave of the Japanese army's stragglers had entered a distance of 50 meters, and its flanks had been fully exposed, Li Ziyuan's readjusted firepower was all fired.

This time, the Japanese advance was greeted not only by *, but by crossfire consisting of rifle machine guns and *rain. Several light machine guns that formed a crossfire in the front, with the cooperation of throwing them in pieces, knocked down the Japanese troops who were about to accelerate within 50 meters and rushed into the eight-way position on the hill in one go.

And at this moment, at a flank less than a hundred meters away from the Japanese army, the heavy machine gun that suddenly opened fire also knocked down the Japanese troops who were charging the second echelon from the flank of the Japanese army. Li Ziyuan chose a very clever position for this heavy machine gun, that is, it could suppress the flank of the Japanese army, but the firepower of several heavy machine guns of the Japanese army under the mountain could not hit it at all.

The distance between the two armies made the Japanese infantry artillery under the mountain helpless. With one shot, you may be able to destroy this heavy machine gun, but you will also have to bear the price of your own casualties. And this price is exactly what the Japanese army cannot bear. So this heavy machine gun can be unscrupulous, tilting fire towards the charging Japanese troops.

As long as it is not destroyed by the Japanese infantry, it can be suppressed by the Japanese fire from other aspects without any scruples. And at such a close distance, it suddenly opened fire, and this heavy machine gun caused casualties to the Japanese troops who were charging and had little defense against the flank, and the casualties can be imagined.

Several grenadiers who were setting up grenadiers and preparing to deal with the eight-way light machine gun, as well as several light machine gunners, were also killed at the first moment when the heavy machine guns opened fire, with the cooperation of several sharpshooters specially selected by Li Ziyuan. The Japanese army, which was preparing to charge, was caught in a fire ambush circle and suffered heavy casualties.

Wait for the sudden appearance of heavy machine gun fire, to suppress the dead Japanese army. Finally, I was hit by the heavy machine gun to replace the ammunition platoon, and I was ready to take advantage of this gap to rush over and shoot out this hateful heavy machine gun. Unexpectedly, the two light machine guns next to the heavy machine guns suddenly opened fire again, and the * rain who split his head and covered his face greeted him.

Even though the Japanese moved quickly, they fell down as soon as the light machine guns were fired, and only five or six soldiers were knocked down. But the Japanese army also lost the opportunity to shoot out the heavy machine gun. By the time the light machine gun had changed its magazine, the heavy machine gun had re-fired.

The machine gun fire deployed by Li Ziyuan on the flanks was quite closely coordinated. There was almost no interruption in firepower, plus a large number of infantry squads carried*. From the flanks with frontal fire, a squadron thrown by the Japanese army suffered heavy casualties, and even could not stand on the hill.

Relying on the large amount of ammunition captured from Ikeda's troops, Li Ziyuan made full use of his firepower. On the basis of reducing its own casualties as much as possible, it relied on firepower and terrain to kill and inflict as much damage as possible on the attacking Japanese army. When there is enough ammunition, Li Ziyuan will never do the practice of fighting hard with the lives of soldiers.

The embarrassed Japanese troops, who were hit by fire from both sides, could only helplessly retreat to the starting position this time. And behind them, more than half of the squadron was left with corpses and wounded. And the Japanese commander at the foot of the mountain, after seeing the battle process on the mountain, was so that his jaw almost fell.

The layers of corpses on the mountain, as well as the painful sound of the dead and wounded for a while, made the Japanese soldier Shao Zuo under the mountain really a little surprised. In his mind, one of his formed squadrons could crush the strength of a regiment of the Chinese army. But the current situation on the battlefield made him a little unbelievable.

Although the first round of attacks ended in failure, the Japanese commander did not give Li Ziyuan any respite, and immediately launched a second round of attacks under the cover of artillery fire. This time, the Japanese army invested its forces and adopted all-out offensive tactics. Almost at the same time, a fierce assault was launched on Li Ziyuan's frontal and flank positions.

Having learned the lessons of the first attack, this time the Japanese attack significantly strengthened the cover of the flanks. Even ignoring the danger of being bitten by the Eighth Road on the mountain, a heavy machine gun and a 92 infantry gun were directly advanced to the foot of the mountain to provide direct fire cover for the attacking troops.

The shells fired by the Japanese artillery created layers of barrages on Li Ziyuan's blocking position, covering the Japanese infantry to charge forward. As for the position where Li Ziyuan deployed the two machine guns on the flank, it was the direction that the Japanese artillery focused on. Two 92 infantry guns fired more than a dozen shells at that position in one go.

If it weren't for the first time when the Japanese army retreated, Li Ziyuan would have ordered the three machine guns to withdraw. It is estimated that none of these three machine guns will be left for Li Ziyuan. With the performance of the Type 92 infantry gun, as long as you don't have to worry about accidental injury, there is absolutely no problem in hitting this position.

Listening to the explosion of shells falling in the direction of the flank, Li Ziyuan breathed a sigh of relief, fortunately, his judgment was relatively accurate. If he hadn't given the death order, as long as the charging Japanese troops retreated, these machine gun crews would have been withdrawn immediately, and these machine guns would have been finished.

The Japanese army adjusted its offensive tactics, which made Li Ziyuan under increasing pressure. Every time the Japanese attacked, a large amount of artillery fire was invested. Although the Japanese army did not invest in large-caliber artillery, the improvised field fortifications built on the mountain were also extremely limited in the defensive capability of the Japanese army's 41-type mountain artillery and 92 infantry guns.

Under the continuous cover of Japanese artillery fire, it was almost leveled after a few rounds of attacks. All the fighters could only use the craters to resist, and the casualties were getting bigger and bigger. In particular, the 92 infantry cannon that the Japanese army advanced directly to the foot of the mountain brought the greatest threat to the defense troops on the mountain.

As soon as this side fired, the shells from that side immediately hit. Li Ziyuan appointed sharpshooters, who specialized in hitting the grenadiers of the Japanese army. But for this 92 infantry gun, he was basically powerless. The light machine gun is out of reach, and the heavy machine gun target is too obvious. Before two shots were fired, Japanese artillery fire from other directions had already hit.

After several rounds of attacks, Li Ziyuan deployed several light machine guns on the front, although the positions were changed quite frequently, but also lost two under the accurate fire of this 92 infantry gun. Although this loss figure is not large, it also reduces Li Ziyuan's firepower allocation to a certain extent.

When the Japanese attack was repulsed again, and there was only one and a half platoons of troops left on the frontal position, the battalion commander suggested to Li Ziyuan that the reserves should also be pulled up. If we relied on the remaining strength in the front, it would be difficult for the troops to hold out until it was dark to break through, and they would have to be exhausted by Japanese artillery fire.

But Li Ziyuan refused the battalion commander's suggestion without the slightest hesitation. He agreed to bring up only one platoon from the anticline to make up for the casualties of the frontal blocking force. The rest of the troops were still left behind the mountain by him to rest and preserve their strength. Moreover, Li Ziyuan gave up the right flank blocking position, but stubbornly did not mobilize the defensive forces of the left flank position, which seemed to be the safest.

When I saw this battalion commander and instructor, I didn't understand after seeing that I adjusted my deployment. Li Ziyuan said lightly: "Our current method is to drag out the time, and strive to delay until dark to find a chance to break through, not to fight to the death with the Japanese army here." The devil's artillery firepower is so fierce, and now the reserves are mobilized to come up, isn't that sending the devil's artillery to the door yourself? ”

"It's not a good tactic, but it's a good fit. There is one more thing that you must remember. Fight against a fierce but cunning army like the Devils, and never lose sight of the direction that seems safest in the position. Because for blocking operations, there is no one direction in your position that the enemy cannot attack. ”

Speaking of this, Li Ziyuan looked at his words, and after saying this, some battalion commanders who seemed to understand and instructors who were still confused did not say anything. Instead, after looking at his watch, he suddenly said: "If they are still in Hubei, they should be about to arrive at this time." ”

Li Ziyuan's later words were clueless, and the battalion commander and instructor listened inexplicably. However, Li Ziyuan did not give any explanation, but carried the telescope and went to the front line again. And Li Ziyuan's later words, the battalion commander and instructor did not understand, but Li Ziyuan's side of Da Li understood.

When he followed Li Ziyuan to the front-line position, Da Li said: "Regiment commander, is our troops coming?" If that's the case, the battle will be hilarious. But regiment commander, there are so many Japanese puppet troops around us, I'm afraid that even if our own troops come over, it will be difficult to break through the encirclement of the devils. ”

Regarding Da Li's words, Li Ziyuan nodded and said, "Your kid reacted quite quickly, and immediately reacted that our own troops were coming." However, this is already the border area between Hubei and Licheng, and Lao Tzu has been here for such a long time, if they still don't react there, I, the head of the regiment, will be incompetent with this soldier. ”

"I'm not worried about whether they are coming over now, what I'm worried about is Zhang Zijian's guy, don't know how to fight hard for Lao Tzu, and toss up the little capital we have saved up with great difficulty. This kid is a little slippery, but sometimes he is a little rigid. ”