In the face of the pitch-black position in front of them, those riflemen with single-shot rifles in their hands could hardly play any role, and could only shoot blindly and lose half of their heavy firepower, and the firepower density in front of the first battalion position was reduced by half every year, and countless firepower gaps appeared in front of the little devil at this time.

And the little devil who wanted to take a stimulant before the position seems to have discovered this. Between the not-so-dense nets of fire of the warriors, they shuttled back and forth. In less than a few minutes, the shouts of the army approached less than 50 meters in front of the position.

"Machine guns, heavy machine guns, shoot immediately" Hearing the little devil's shouting of killing getting closer and closer, the battalion commander shouted anxiously. However, as far as the eye can see, there is a position hundreds of meters long. Next to dozens of light and heavy machine guns, almost all lay the corpses of several soldiers. The few machine gunners remained, firing intermittently as they shifted their machine gun positions. And such an intermittent firepower density does not pose any threat to the charging little devils at all.

". Little devil, I'll fight with you" Seeing this, the first battalion commander's eyes turned red and he threw down the shell gun in his hand. Removed the body of the Heavy from a heavy machine gun next to him, crouched down in the position of the machine gun shooter, and began to shoot

"Ahh However, the limited density of firepower could not effectively block the almost frenzied attack of the Japanese army.

"Battalion commander, the little devil is rushing up. We didn't have flares, and the fighters simply couldn't aim. But the little devils, who are able to shoot at the fire of our machine guns. Now we have to find a way, otherwise, the position will be broken through by the little devil immediately" The instructor carried his shell gun and ran to the side of the battalion commander who was shooting frantically, and said anxiously.

"That's right, flares no, it's artillery, quick, how did I forget about our artillery. Quickly, immediately ask the artillery regiment for artillery support, ask the artillery to saturate the distance in front of our position from 50 meters to 100 meters, and quickly "because of the reminder of the flare in the mouth of the instructor. The commander of the first battalion suddenly reacted, thinking that he still had artillery fire to support. He commanded loudly to the instructor behind him.

"Yes, battalion commander, I will immediately request artillery support" Listening to the battalion commander's words, the instructor also reacted, replied loudly, and crawled towards the forward position command post.

In less than a minute, just as the little devil was about to rush to the throwing distance of the grenade. In the heat of the battlefield, the sound of mortars, familiar to the fighters, was finally heard.

"Comrades, our artillery support is coming. All of them are aimed at me and fire, how many little devils come, how many we kill, fight" I heard the whistling of shells. The battalion commander knew right away that his artillery support was coming. While continuing to pull the trigger in his hand, he shouted an order to the warrior beside him.

"Boom, boom, boom" A dense explosion exploded not far in front of the position. The position, which had just been pitch black, was immediately illuminated by the light of the shell explosion and fire. At the same time, the little devils who could only hear the roaring sound just now were staggered in the dense explosion.

"Comrades, all aim for me to fight" Seeing the dense little devils in front of the position, they finally appeared in front of the fighters. The commander of the battalion commanded loudly, and at the same time, turning the muzzle of the gun, swept the dense bullets into the densest place of the army. And the remaining light and heavy machine guns also found their aiming targets in the interval of the shell explosion. The dense rain of bullets began to shoot at the most intensive attack cluster of the Yue army.

"The artillery fire of the Eighth Route Army of Ah Baga has begun to counterattack, quickly, lie down, hide" Seeing the figure of his attacking troops, under the reflection of the fire produced by the explosion of the shells, they all appeared in the field of vision of the Eighth Route Army on the position. Wing Captain Yamada Daisa, who was supervising the battle at the end, was surprised for a while and ordered loudly.

However, no matter how fast he reacted, he couldn't move faster than the speed of a bullet. At the moment when he gave the order, the dense bullets had already swept towards the place where the army had the most. More importantly, as the first round of shells exploded, the resulting flames slowly extinguished. The second round of shells from the artillery regiment flew over again.

As a result of the first round of artillery bombardment, the attacking troops of the Yue Army have been unreservedly displayed in the eyes of the artillery staff of the Eighth Route Army. Therefore, in this shelling, Chen Guangrong once again added two mortar companies of artillery, a total of 48 mortars, 48 shells, with a huge whistling sound, as if they had eyes, flew towards the position of the army, setting off patches of blood rain.

The rain of shells and bullets immediately pressed the little devils of an attacking brigade completely less than 50 meters in front of the position, unable to move. And the intensive artillery fire of the Eighth Route Army, but among these little devils lying on the ground, they continued to explode, causing them huge damage

A few minutes passed, and the commander of the army, Captain Yamada, who was also lying on the ground. Seeing his own soldiers, constantly being torn to shreds in the sound of explosions, finally began to fear. Because in his eyes, it was in the attack that was just under a few minutes. One of its own reinforced brigades, under the combined fire of the Eighth Route Army and heavy machine guns, had already lost at least more than one squadron of troops.

"Baga quickly, retreat, retreat quickly" saw that his soldiers were already in a state of passive beating. Although he knew that after he retreated, he would definitely attract insults and punishments from the division commander. However, in order to be able to reserve more combatable troops for the division commander and the breakthrough of the division. Wing Commander Yamada Osa resolutely gave the order to retreat against the chief of staff next to him.

"Quick, machine gun cover, retreat. Baga, the artillery fire of the Eighth Route Army is too fierce, retreat quickly" In the end, these little devils who had lost their fighting spirit by the fighters, in the process of retreating, finally withdrew from the range of the soldiers' machine guns after losing a squad of troops again.

"Stop shooting, the little devils have withdrawn, they all stop shooting. Instructor, immediately count the casualties of the troops and transport all the bodies of the wounded and soldiers. The companies immediately replenished their ammunition quickly, "I saw the little devil under the double blow of his machine gun and artillery fire." The corpses that had been left on the ground quietly retreated, and the commander of the first battalion immediately ordered the troops to stop firing and begin to rest.

"Battalion commander, the casualties of the troops have been counted" Soon, the instructor came to the front of the first battalion commander with his head down.

"How about it, the casualties of the troops are not big" Seeing the instructor with his head down, the battalion commander seemed to notice a little wrong, and said anxiously.

"Battalion commander, the casualty data of each company has just been counted. Almost all of the machine gunners in the battalion were killed, and in the last few minutes of the battle, those machine gunners were all on top of the infantry with the machine guns. In the battle just now, the battalion lost a total of 146 fighters, half of whom were machine gunners. In addition, 23 people were seriously wounded, more than 80 people were slightly wounded, and the battalion lost one-third of its strength. The instructor said with his head down.

"Well, it's all my fault. If I had thought of the artillery behind us earlier and asked for artillery support, the casualty numbers would not have been so great. Instructor, after the war, I must want to review the whole battalion, these are the losses caused by my command mistakes" After listening to the instructor's report, the battalion commander also lowered his head and fell into deep thought.

At this time, the temporary headquarters of the little devils surrounded by the Reading Division, the Yamada Wing, who had just served as the commander of the attack. He was lowering his head, enduring the burning pain on his face, and scolding His Excellency the division commander.

"Hi, Your Excellency, Division Commander. However, the artillery fire of the Eighth Route Army was so fierce that the soldiers were completely exposed to the enemy's artillery fire and machine guns, and could only be beaten passively, without any chance of counterattacking at all. Captain Yamada bowed his head and argued.

"Bageyalu, Yamada-kun, because of you, our Fifth Division has lost the best opportunity to break through. Our fifth division will be buried in your hands, Baga "thought of his carefully designed sneak attack plan, and was buried by the Yamada wing captain in front of him, and the division commander Itagaki Seishiro couldn't help but be furious again.

"Hi, Your Excellency, Division Commander. I beg to take my reinforced brigade again and attack the positions of the Eighth Route Army. If I can't break through the position of the Eighth Route Army, I will personally apologize to His Majesty the Emperor," Wing Commander Yamada replied loudly with his feet together.

"Yo Xi, this is the outstanding Imperial Army officer of our Great Empire. Yamada-kun, what about the casualties of your troops in your first attack just now? After listening to Captain Yamada's assurance, the division commander Seishiro Itagaki was in a much better mood and asked calmly.

"Hi, Division Commander. In the attack just now, my reinforced brigade lost a total of 395 people, and the elite imperial troops of the two squadrons fell forever in front of the position of the Eighth Route Army. Co-captain Yamada replied with his head dripping

"Baga's cunning Eighth Route Army. The sneak attack just now has been declared a failure, and the Eighth Route Army has already taken some precautions. Therefore, in this offensive, we must change our operational plan and not concentrate a little more on the offensive. We must disperse the artillery fire of the Eighth Route Army as much as possible and reduce the damage caused to us by their artillery fire. Strive to break through the positions of the Eighth Route Army in one fell swoop and break out of the encirclement. The division commander ordered to the three wing commanders in front of him.

"Hey, Your Excellency the Division Commander, please give the Battle Order," the three Wing Commanders replied at the same time.

"Yo Xi, I hope that all you will work together to break through the defensive position of the Eighth Route Army in one fell swoop this time and break out of the encirclement." The division commander nodded, encouraging the three wing commanders in front of him.

"Hi, Your Excellency, Division Commander. Committed to breaking through the ambush position of the Eighth Route Army" "Yo Xi, now order" The division commander Itagaki Seishiro nodded with satisfaction. And when he heard the two words of order, the three wing commanders stood on their heels at the same time and stood in front of Seishiro Itagaki in front of him, waiting for the order of the division commander.

"Captain Yamada was ordered to take the remaining troops and continue to launch a general attack on the current position of the Eighth Route Army. Wing Captain Kuri led his troops to launch a feint attack on the Eighth Route Army on the right flank of Haseguchi, attracting artillery fire and troops from the Eighth Route Army. Captain Oba led his troops to launch a feint attack on the position of the Eighth Route Army on the left flank of Haseguchi. I will order the division to guard the squadron and launch a feint attack on the rear of Haseguchi," the division commander Seishiro Itagaki ordered loudly.

"Hi, Your Excellency Division Commander"

"Yo Xi, I hope that all of you, whether you are acting as a feint attack or the main attack, must use your most powerful firepower, so that the surrounding Eighth Route Army can't tell where it is the main attack. Let them defend everywhere and better disperse their artillery and forces. Give our main attacking force the best opportunity to attack, and finally break through the ambush position of the Eighth Route Army in one fell swoop. Seishiro Itagaki ordered loudly.

"Hi, Your Excellency Division Commander, break through the ambush position of the Eighth Route Army in one fell swoop," the three wing commanders shouted together.

"Yo Xi, now each of you is back to your troops and ready for battle. Ten minutes later, a general attack was launched on the surrounding positions of the Eighth Route Army," the Itagaki Division finally ordered.

"Hi" the three wing commanders who got the order and immediately returned to their units. With the troops, they came to their own attack position and in the shortest possible time they were ready to attack.

Ten minutes passed quickly, and just when the four attacking forces were all ready for battle, the position of the division commander Itagaki Seishiro finally fired three bright signal flares.

"Bang bang bang" with the explosion of three flares. Immediately, the four directions of Haseguchi sounded earth-shattering shouts and gunshots. Under the cover of various light and heavy machine gun grenadiers, the attacking units of the army rushed out of the starting position and launched a counter-charge against the defensive positions of the Eighth Route Army.

And the supreme commanders of the armies in the four directions can be said to have carried out the orders of the division commanders at this time. Regardless of whether he was the main attacking force or not, he did his best to launch a powerful attack on the position of the Eighth Route Army. In order to be able to put enough pressure on the Eighth Route Army opposite him. The three wing commanders, with almost no hesitation, laid out all the backgrounds of their own reinforcement brigade.

Therefore, in front of the offensive positions in every place. There were nearly 100 light and heavy machine guns and dozens of grenadiers, which continuously sprayed flames on the Eighth Route Army's position a few hundred meters away. The dense rain of bullets and raindrops of grenades immediately crushed the soldiers in the defensive positions to the point where they could not raise their heads.

"Damn, the little devil is going to be desperate, quick, call the artillery regiment, ask for artillery support, hurry" in the face of the dense bullet rain of the little devil. Soon, the voices of their respective commanders sounded in the various defensive positions. And the telephones on the artillery positions were also blown up by the commanders of the various positions at this moment.

"The report regiment commander called from the positions in all four directions asking for artillery support. According to the report, the army launched an attack in four directions at the same time. It seems that the little devil is about to launch the final general attack and start working desperately" The artillery staff officer who answered the phone immediately ran to the same anxiously waiting, said in front of the regiment commander Chen Guangrong.

"What, the four positions are asking for artillery support at the same time, and they have no distinction between the main attack and the feint," listened to the words of the artillery staff officer. Chen Guangrong frowned and asked.

"Regiment commander, no, on the four positions, the firepower of the army is very strong. According to the reports of the regiments, the soldiers on the various positions have been completely unable to raise their heads under the dense firepower of the little devils. The artillery staff officer shook his head and said.

"It seems that the little devil is going to fight hard, order. The four mortar batteries immediately covered the four positions according to the coordinates of the artillery fire set in advance. The forward artillery observers were ordered to immediately correct the coordinates of the artillery at any time according to the specific position of the artillery bombardment, and to shell the machine gun positions and grenadier positions of the army as much as possible, so as to reduce the pressure on the infantry at the front as much as possible. Chen Guangrong ordered loudly.

"Yes, regimental commander" the combat staff officer took the order and left.

"Regiment commander, is it better to let the remaining four mortar companies also participate in the shelling. As for the four artillery batteries to cover, I'm afraid that the infantry at the front will not be able to stop it," the political commissar asked with concern when he saw the departing combat staff officer.

"Commissar, resolutely not to use the remaining four artillery batteries. Now that we are being attacked on all sides, I think that as long as the commander of the division is not a fool, then there must be a main attack and a feint. I don't believe that the army has enough troops to attack from all sides. Therefore, it is of great use to keep these four mortar companies" After listening to the words of the political commissar, the regiment commander Chen Guangrong immediately retorted.

"I hope the infantry at the front can hold on" The political commissar nodded and bowed his head, agreed with Chen Guangrong's words, and said to himself.

"Political commissar, don't worry, the division commander still has reserves in his hands. Besides, the plateau of the 2nd Division is rushing to this side with reinforcements from two regiments. I guess it's almost there now" Chen Guangrong was not too anxious. He raised his binoculars and began to carefully observe the battlefield of Taniguchi, which was under heavy artillery fire a kilometer away.

Although, at this time, the four mortar batteries were constantly shelling the machine gun positions of the Japanese army as much as possible according to the latest coordinates provided by the artillery staff officers at the front. However, four mortar batteries, after all, only 48 mortars. On average, there was only one artillery battery for a total of 12 mortars per position. On the other hand, the little devils in front of the position are indeed scattered with nearly 100 light and heavy machine guns, as well as dozens of grenadiers. 、

(To be continued)