The 3rd Division of the Independent Column stationed in Zhuozi was also prepared for a hard battle in the face of the Japanese army's finally dispatched infantry to attack head-on. According to the instructions of the column command, they were required to hold the forward positions for at least two days.

In the face of the Japanese infantry brigade and regiment that were heavily attacking, the officers and men of the three regiments guarding the forefront of Zhuozi were ready to fight to the death. A telegram came from the division headquarters that this time they would withstand a coordinated attack by the infantry of the 12th Division.

Regarding anti-tank tactics, the company commanders of the three regiments have taken relevant command courses. In order to ensure the safety of the blocking position, the three regiments also dug a number of anti-tank trenches at the front of the position.

Beginning with the order of Seitaro Yamamura, the commander of the 12th Division of the Japanese Army, the 12th Infantry Brigade, which was the main attacker, quickly arrived in front of the 3rd Regiment, which had established a blocking position in the Hachisumu area, under the cover of cavalry and tank units.

Knowing that the attacking Japanese army had tens of thousands of troops, the commander of the third regiment looked at several battalion commanders and said with some coldness: "The little devil really looks up to us, and sent tens of thousands of troops over in one breath." It's a tough battle! ”

The chief of staff of the third regiment looked at the map and nodded in the same way: "Regiment commander, it seems that this time the little devil is planning to break through our blocking position head-on." In the next battle, I'm afraid we still need the cavalry division to cooperate with us.

At least when we resist the attack from the front, we need them to ensure that the passage behind us is not lost. According to the habitual urine of the little devils, they will definitely use tank troops on the front and cavalry on the flanks to carry out surprise attacks.

Once they are outflanked, our three groups are estimated to be really dumplings by them. At present, in addition to the main force of the regiment, there are also various guerrilla squads. Their combat effectiveness is a little worrisome! ”

Looking at the big arrow marked on the map, the third regiment commander quickly said: "This matter, I will send a telegram to the division commander later, and ask the first division to help defend it." As for the guerrilla squads, this time they can only take on the task of responding to the side.

In this way, all the mines that were used in the previous two days were handed over to the guerrilla squads to help lay them. Since the little devils are coming for us, let them taste the power of our mines. Anyway, we'll just hold on for two days.

From the formation of our third division to the present, the real bitter battle has not been fought. At present, our weapons and equipment are much better than they were during the Red Army. No matter how difficult this battle is, we must withstand the attack of the little devils for two days.

Don't be afraid to wipe out the troops, I believe that this time, even if we lose a little more, the commander will understand. What we have to do is to frustrate the little devil's offensive edge and let him know how powerful our independent column is.

Tell the fighters that there are not many such opportunities. Being able to compete with the Kwantung Army, which was the first to fight the little devils, is also the glory of our three regiments. The three regiments from me to the bottom, everyone must be ready to sacrifice. You have to bite with your teeth, and you have to drag the little devil for two days. ”

'Yes, Captain! ’

As the commander of the main force, when he went to the division headquarters for a meeting a few years ago, he somewhat knew that the column was playing a big game of chess. And the three of them are a pawn in this big game of chess. Whether they fought well or not in this battle is still very crucial.

While the Third Regiment was making the final pre-war deployment, Hitomi Shuzo, the commander of the 12th Infantry Brigade who arrived in the Hachisumu area, looked at the information collected by the scouts and also frowned slightly.

Said directly: "According to your reconnaissance, has the Chinese army deployed at least one brigade of troops here?" ”

'Yes, according to our observations during this time, there are at least nearly 10,000 troops stationed here, and they have built a number of permanent fortifications. It's just that their troop deployment is relatively scattered. ’

Listening to the intelligence officer's report, he shook his head and said, "This commander of the branch is still very powerful." If my guess is correct, his command must be in this central location. This point will be the most difficult point for us to break.

If they attack other places, they can be reinforced in the shortest possible time. It seems that this time, we really have to be here and fight with the Chinese army. Order your wings to get ready for battle! ”

'Yes! ’

Even if he knew that there were nearly 10,000 troops of the Eighth Route Army in front of him to block the attack, for Renjian Xiusan, he was the advance force of the division. The task of their division is to recover Zhuozi in the shortest possible time and ensure the advance of the main force of the division.

This time there was a mountain artillery wing, a cavalry wing, and a tank squadron. If he can't get it, it is estimated that he will not be able to explain it to Seitaro Yamamura. After all, he is the main attacking force!

Considering the attack on Suiyuan, there was the cooperation of the army aviation troops. Before the attack, he did not forget to ask the aviation unit to bomb the forward positions of the three regiments. If you can save a little trouble, why bother with human lives!

The officers and men of the 3rd Regiment stationed at the forward position watched the planes appearing in the sky in front of them and soon heard a shrill whistle. Except for the officers and men at the observation post, the rest of the officers and men quickly entered the air defense trenches to take refuge.

When the previous reconquest of Zhuozi, the independent column was ready to deal with the large-scale attack of the Japanese army. Therefore, many anti-aircraft trenches capable of carrying aerial bombs were built on the blocking positions as temporary anti-aircraft shelters in wartime.

Another advantage of such an anti-aircraft trench is that it has weapons and ammunition in reserve, so you don't have to worry about being blown up by shells during shelling. In short, at the junction of each trench, there is an anti-aircraft trench that can accommodate many people.

With the bombers of the little devils, they began to drop bombs on the blocking positions. Listening to the rumbling explosions coming from the position, many soldiers hiding in the air defense trenches also felt that the trenches were also trembling.

Fortunately, after the air raids, their air defense trenches were still strong. It's just that many of the straight trenches built earlier have been blown up by aerial bombs. As the observation post blew the whistle to disarm the alarm, many fighters came out.

Engineer shovels were brought in and repairs were set to repair the previously blown up blocking positions. The Japanese troops of the 12th Brigade Regiment at the front of the position who were preparing to launch an attack also saw a lot of dusty scenes on the forward positions filled with gunsmoke.

The 14th Wing of the Japanese Army, which was in charge of the frontal position, looked at the position in front and said with some surprise: "It seems that the bombing of the air force before did not cause them much loss!" Order the mountain artillery squadron and start shelling! ”

With the order of the commander of the 14th Wing, the Japanese artillery, which had built a mountain artillery position in the rear, quickly shelled the blocking position. Listening to the sound of artillery shelling, the fighters who had just come out could only dodge again.

However, compared to the previous evasion, this time there were many warriors who hid directly in the cat's ear hole built in the trench. Compared with the power of aerial bombs, such shelling still does not need to hide in anti-aircraft trenches.

At the time of the Japanese artillery bombardment, a Japanese infantry brigade had already launched its first attack on the position in a scattered position. As the Japanese artillery fire began to extend back, the commander on the position soon knew that the little devil was going to attack.

'Prepare for battle! The little devil is coming up! ’

The blocking force that escaped two rounds of bomb attacks, although still paid some casualties. But the soldiers on the battlefield knew that if they had not built these fortifications before, the previous aerial bomb attack might have inflicted heavy damage on them.

Many anti-Japanese troops who had dealt with the Japanese army were most afraid of the Japanese army's air raids. For the aerial bombardment carried out by the little devils, the troops on the positions did not have any ability to fight back at all, and many troops were blown up and collapsed in this way.

Looking at the little devil who began to advance on the cat's waist, many soldiers of the Eighth Route Army on the position, except for retaining some vigilant personnel. Many soldiers are still holding shovels to repair the fortifications that had been blown down.

These fortifications and sandbags can save their lives in many cases. For such trench fortifications, every fighter will not slack off. The stronger they are, the safer they will be.

The commander of the ninth battalion, who was in charge of blocking the attack, looked at the attacking Japanese troops at the front of the position, and said with some worry: "There are a lot of little devils!" Look at it like this, the little devils who attacked our positions have at least one infantry wing! ”

'Battalion commander, our ninth battalion is not vegetarian either. What's more, we've been stationed here for so long, aren't we just waiting for this day? If the little devil wants to break through our position, he has to fill it with human lives! ’

Well, order the mortar battery to stay still and wait until the Japanese launch a larger offensive before counterattacking. The little devils have at least one squadron of mountain artillery, and our mortars, as soon as they move, will definitely withstand their counterattack.

By the way, the mountain artillery squadron of the little devil just now, can our mortar company be able to do it? If you can, let the artillery company concentrate the heavy mortars issued by the division headquarters, and wait for the cold to give the little devil a fatal blow. ’

'Yes, battalion commander, I'll ask someone!' ’

When the battalion headquarters began to make preparations for battle, the little devils who began to advance to the blocking position. But when he saw the Eighth Route Army on the position, there was still no shooting action. This made them feel that the Eighth Route Army seemed to be very stable.

Compared with the Huaxia troops they had been in contact with before, someone would shoot them when they reached about 400 meters. But now it seems that the Eighth Route Army on the position deliberately put them closer before fighting!

On the other hand, the soldiers of the Eighth Route Army on the battlefield at this moment said as if they were bitterly happy: "The little devil's legs are short, and he has not entered our minefield after walking for so long." I also want to see the scene of the little devils jumping around in our minefield! ”

'What's the hurry! If they want to come up, they must first clean up the mines we have laid! ’

While the soldiers were chatting, a Japanese infantry at the head of the line, still with a nervous expression, stared at the trench in front of him with sharp eyes. It's just that what surprised him a little was that it was difficult to see the outcropping Eighth Route Army soldiers.

Just as he was staring at the trench in front of him, he found that the soil under his feet had sunk down, and the whole person suddenly trembled and said, "Baga! There are mines! ”

As soon as the words fell, the little devil whose body involuntarily took a step forward instantly felt that the whole person was flying. As the explosion sounded, he knew that he would be severely disabled if he didn't die this time! (To be continued.) )