For the Japanese army, the most terrible thing is a protracted war, because the longer it drags on, the greater the logistical difficulties, and the more suffering the troops will endure, so the vast majority of generals advocate a quick battle and a quick victory, and immediately force the river to cross.

However, in consideration of the extreme shortage of military supplies, it will take a few more days to wait for the rear to send supplies, at least to meet the minimum needs of the troops, especially the dozen or so heavy mortars imported from France. He knew very well that the light artillery at hand of the Japanese army was not enough to destroy the Chinese position, so even if he killed the Yalu River, he was afraid that it would not be tenable. His decision was supported by Nozu Michikan and others, because he had fought hard with the Guards before, and Nozu spoke highly of the combat effectiveness of the Chinese army.

In this way, until January 23, when Yamaguchi Aritomo decided that the time was ripe, he ordered the First Army to go to the direction of Andong and pretend to cross the river to launch a feint attack in order to attract the attention of the enemy. At the same time, the Second Army went to Shuikou Town and served as the main attack to force the Yalu River, in order to capture the Anping River estuary on the opposite bank in one fell swoop. He himself led the Third Army to be stationed in Uiju as a reserve.

And in Jiulian City, which is across the river, Liu Jintang is also thinking hard about defensive strategies.

Geographically, there are several places where the Yalu River can be crossed, and the easiest point is the Anping estuary, but this does not mean that the Japanese army will inevitably force the crossing from the Anping estuary. Because the Japanese like to take speculative adventures, it cannot be ruled out that they choose the most difficult point instead.

But Liu Jintang didn't want to hold these ferries at all, he felt that if he divided his troops to garrison various places, he would disperse his forces, and it was very likely that they would be broken by the Japanese army.

He felt that the most Haode defense method was to kill and injure the enemy in large numbers, even if all the ferries were heavily defended and the Japanese army could not cross the river, then the main force of the Japanese army was not damaged.

After careful consideration, Liu Jintang decided not to station heavy troops at various ferry ports, but only divided Su Yuanchun's brigade into two, commanded by Su Yuanchun and Wu Zhaoyou respectively, and stationed at Andong and Anping estuary, which played more of a reconnaissance and early warning role. Two of the four main divisions were placed in Jiuliancheng and two in Hushan, and once the Japanese army crossed the Yalu River, its material supply would be more difficult, which would be more conducive to the counteroffensive of the Guards.

On the morning of January 24, the Japanese First Army began to carry out artillery bombardment, and the shells flew whizzing across the Yalu River and smashed straight into the city of Andong, which was blown up to the point of black smoke. Su Yuanchun did not show weakness, and also ordered the artillery to fire back, the two sides came and went, ping pong, so lively.

At the same time, the Japanese Second Army began a strong offensive in the town of Mizuguchi to the east. First of all, a small force was sent to probe, and Takahashi Shiken Nakasa, with a squadron, waded into the water to attack the Anping estuary on the opposite bank. At a distance of less than 300 meters from the shore, the sound of popping beans suddenly sounded on the opposite bank, and a dense rain of bullets flew in, attacking the Japanese army head-on.

Takahashi Shiken didn't even snort, he fell straight down, hundreds of Japanese soldiers were killed and wounded, the remnants fled back in a hurry, and those wounded soldiers fell into the cold and biting water, frozen to death almost instantly.

Then the Japanese began to strike with firepower, because the Second Army was the main attacking force, equipped with almost all the heavy artillery, especially the dozen or so 305mm caliber mortars, which were protected by the Japanese Navy after a fierce battle in the South China Sea, and played a role at this time.

The mortar let out a thunderous roar, and huge projectiles exploded over the positions on the opposite bank, causing many casualties among the Guards. Even if they were not hit by shrapnel, the loud explosion was enough to tear their eardrums, and many soldiers immediately bled from their ear holes, became deaf, and some were even stunned by the sound waves on the spot.

After bombarding it with heavy artillery for about half an hour, the Japanese saw that many fortifications had been blown up at the mouth of the Anping River, and Prince Akihito Komatsumiya immediately ordered a general attack by the 3rd Division.

On this shallow shoal of the Yalu River, thousands of Japanese soldiers shouted and waded over, and the entire attack formation was like a boiling ocean, and even the sound of shouting was extremely stiff in the bitter cold of winter.

The Japanese soldiers were soaked with river water from the thighs down, and as soon as they landed on land, the cold wind blew and they were immediately frozen into two popsicles, and with the violent running, the ice chips kept falling down.

Wu Zhaoyou, the general of the Guards, saw that the enemy army was large and most of the fortifications were seriously damaged, so he had to order a retreat, and by noon, the mouth of the Anping River had been completely occupied by the Japanese army, and the Japanese Second Army continued to cross the river here, surging northward like a tide.

Fukushima Yasumasa, a staff officer of the Fourth Division, burst into tears of excitement: "Long live the emperor, this is the land of China, this is the land of China, and it is finally time for this day." ”

Major General Hasegawa Yoshimichi, the commander of the division, also cried with joy: "Fujiyoshiro, Konishi, Kato, you can see the sun and moon today!" ”

Fujiyoshiro is the original name of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, he sent Konishi Yukinaga, Kato Kiyomasa and others to invade Korea, and Zuihou was not able to set foot on Chinese territory as he wished.

Major General Katsura Taro even sacrificed to heaven and earth: "Today, after a gap of 300 years, the dream of the ancient heroes of Japan has finally come true, and the descendants of the Yamato nation have embarked on the glorious road of conquering China!" ”

When dusk came, the main force of the Japanese Second Army had all crossed the Yalu River, although it was only a river away, but it was already northeast China, and the desire to conquer filled the mind, so that the blood of the officers and soldiers boiled and the morale was high, and for the time being, forgetting the biting cold wind, Prince Akihito Komatsumiya took advantage of the situation and ordered: launch an attack on Tiger Mountain overnight!

Hushan is the most important strategic highland on the north bank of the Yalu River, and it is the barrier of Jiulian City. The Guards built a strong defensive position on Tiger Mountain, and at the front of the defensive position was a breastwork wall more than three meters high, nearly three kilometers long, stretching from the top of Tiger Mountain to the chestnut orchard behind the mountain. The breastwork is built against the slope of the mountain, and can be used to strike at the invading enemy from a high vantage point.

Behind the breastwork is a large area of dense fortifications, including more than 40 large and small forts, more than 20 forts, all of which are built with huge strips of stone, each of which is three or four meters high and more than one meter thick, extremely solid and hard, and it is difficult for Japanese artillery shells to penetrate. In addition, there are more than 50 bunkers, and various fortifications are staggered. A large number of underpass trenches were also dug and dug up, which were densely packed and intertwined, linking the entire defensive position into one.

It was Ma Yukun's Sixth Guards Division that defended Hushan, while Wu Changqing's Fourth Guards Division guarded the chestnut orchard in Houshan and covered the back road of Hushan. The task of the two armies is no longer to consume or delay anything, but to hold their positions to the death!

Defending the breastwork in front was a brigade commanded by Dong Fuxiang in the Sixth Division. Dong Fuxiang is a native of Guyuan, Gansu Province, once in Ningxia back to the rebellion, led the Han people to practice to protect the Yellow Emperor's Mausoleum, known for his patriotism, loyalty and bravery, this time he was completely self-recommended by Mao Sui to guard Hushan, and made a military order: people are in the position!

At this moment, seeing the Japanese army rushing violently, he shouted on the chest wall to encourage his subordinates: "Today's battle is very important, the survival of Hushan, Sirael and others, we must work together to resist the enemy." ”

The soldiers also shouted: "I am willing to die for the country and protect Tiger Mountain!" ”

With the alarm of the sentry, a large number of Japanese infantry on the hillside quickly rushed up, and Dong Fuxiang ordered the whole army to keep the fire silent and give the enemy a sudden blow.

This tactic is a common tactic in defensive warfare, waiting for the enemy to get closer and then firing together, often the closer the distance, the better, both precise and sudden. The Chinese army also used it many times in the Sino-French War, but at that time, the quality of officers and soldiers was not high, and the orders were not strict, and it was difficult to enforce orders and prohibitions.

But the current Guards are different, they are truly uniform, pointing wherever they fight. At the sound of the order, everyone held their breath, pressed the trigger with their hands, and the atmosphere did not dare to come out, and the entire position was silent, not even a cough.

The enemy was approaching the breastwork, five hundred meters, four hundred meters, three hundred meters, two hundred meters, but there was only the sound of the howling wind on the mountain, as if it had been empty since eternity.

Dong Fuxiang observed through the hole in the wall, and soon, the figure of the Japanese army appeared on the hillside, looking like a group of ugly black beetles in the night. He silently estimated the distance, and he could distinguish the human form at night, which meant that the distance would not exceed 100 meters. He wanted to shoot, but after a second thought, he decided to wait a little longer and let the nerves of the demons be tested a little more. They may think that the Chinese have run out and that there is no one on the top of the mountain.

Thinking of this, he couldn't help but feel a sense of heroism in the palm of his hand. What makes him even more proud is that although the enemy's footsteps have been faintly heard, the soldiers on the position are still silent, this calm, this calm, this is the real strength, not how advanced weapons, not how rich materials, not how bloody bravery.

Dong Fuxiang is extremely proud: This kind of silence is the true essence of the Guards, and sometimes being able to remain silent is strength!