At 7:30 p.m., the landing operation order was issued, and Hu Biao, commander of the 1st Division, issued an attack order. In order to avoid the threat of the American fortress artillery on the shore, the landing ship stopped advancing 16 kilometers from the shore, because this distance was the range limit of the enemy's fortress artillery. In order to avoid losses, the landing force was switched to rubber felling. For the expedition to the United States, the rubber felling was always equipped with a small diesel engine, which was intended to speed up the impact of the rubber raft. The raft carried 12 people and a combat squad of soldiers. A light machine gun and a light mortar were erected on the rubber boat.

In order to ensure smooth command, the command headquarters has set up three-level communication liaison between the forward command headquarters and the former enemy command headquarters, so that the command headquarters can keep abreast of the operational situation at the forward front. Two red flares rose in the night sky, and Hu Biao ordered the 1st Regiment of the 1st Brigade to launch the first batch of attacks, which would be divided into three waves. At the sound of an order, about 2,000 officers and men of the four battalions of the 1st Regiment drove rubber rafts to the dock area. The width of the dock area is about three kilometers, and there are 8 fortress batteries on the south side, which can pose a lethal threat to warships, but are not very effective at striking rubber boats.

When the artillery of the American fortress launched a bombardment, a huge column of water rose on the surface of the sea, which looked intimidating on the surface but was not very efficient. After all, the rubber boat is equipped with a diesel engine, and the maneuverability and speed are excellent. It cannot be said that the enemy fortress battery could not play a role, although the hit rate was not high, and the waves of its explosion overturned the rubber boat from time to time. The officers and men of the 1st have been in battle formations for a long time, and they have very rich experience in landing operations, especially in landing operations. After the rubber boat was overturned, the soldiers calmly turned the rubber boat over again and continued to rush forward, and soon the rubber boat passed through the artillery blockade of the enemy fortress.

on a landing ship. The division commander Hu Biao shouted loudly: "Immediately report to the military headquarters that our 1st Regiment has crossed the artillery blockade area of the enemy fortress and successfully advanced to the shore." Request instructions from the military department. Army Commander Zhuang Lei was in a good mood when he received Hu Biao's report and said: "Immediately send a report to the headquarters that our attacking troops have successfully crossed the artillery blockade area of the enemy's fortress. Hu Biao was ordered, and an hour later, the 2nd attack echelon set off. "The battle went as expected, and it seemed to go very well, but what happened next was unexpected, and the attack instantly fell into passivity.

The 1st regiment smoothly entered the area of 5 km from the shore. A beach-grabbing landing is about to be staged. In the U.S. defensive command in the dock area, Commander Shaq held a telescope and looked forward. "Report to the general, the enemy's rubber boats are fast. Access to the 5 km zone. Shaq was expressionless, not uttering. The enemy enters within 3 km! Shaq put down the binoculars and said, "Fire the flares and order the artillery to shoot!" Suddenly, the heavy artillery group of the American army began to roar, and the dense shells flew to the sea.

The attacking troops were moving at full speed in rubber boats, when suddenly signal flares were fired from the forward positions of the American troops. The docklands are brightly lit. Then came the sound of thunderous shelling, and the shrill sound of countless shells falling from the sky. Immediately, the attacking troops were caught in enemy artillery fire, and the sea was reddened by violent explosions. Many rubber boats were directly hit, and even people with rubber boats were thrown directly into the sky, and the attacking troops fell into a catastrophe. Seeing this, Hu Biao was in a hurry, and immediately ordered the retreat signal flare, and then ordered the rescue ship to carry out the rescue.

Zhuang Lei heard the bad situation on the transport ship and realized that the attack failed. On the one hand, he ordered Hu Biao to withdraw the offensive forces to the maximum extent possible to rescue the wounded. One hurried to report to the command. Inside the U.S. military headquarters in the dock area, Shaq looked at the dense artillery fire. A long-lost smile spread on his face and said: "With such intensive artillery fire, the enemy's damage is very serious, I am sure that the enemy's attack has failed, and I will immediately report the results to the command." Suddenly, the suppressed emotions exploded, and the headquarters cheered and the generals congratulated.

At midnight, the assault came to a complete halt and the shocking scene of the rumbling of artillery disappeared. Army Commander Zhuang Lei boarded the flagship and walked into the command cabin and said angrily: "My 1st Regiment lost half of its men and horses before it even arrived on land, and the reconnaissance planes are fucking jealous, doesn't it mean that there are no artillery positions for the US army?" The American army had not only artillery, but also heavy artillery of a division, about 150 guns forming an artillery blockade. If we do not eradicate the heavy artillery threat of the American army, our troops will not be able to attack again! ”

Facing Zhuang Lei's roar, Nie Fengwu said bitterly: "Commander Zhuang, the responsibility for the attack is not yours, nor is it me, the responsibility for the attack. Beforehand we thought about the threat of infantry artillery of the American army, but not the threat of heavy artillery. Obviously, in such a short period of time, the US military has a very complete organization of defensive operations. The artillery positions of the American army were well camouflaged, and aerial reconnaissance could not detect them at all. In addition, the US army has formed a large-scale heavy artillery artillery unit, which we did not expect. The responsibility for the failure of the first attack is mine, and I will ask the headquarters for punishment. ”

Nie Fengwu continued: "The offensive has suffered such losses, and the morale of the US troops has been greatly boosted, and the confidence in the defense has been enhanced. Time is precious to us, and if we don't take San Francisco as soon as possible and build a solid bridgehead, we won't be able to gain a foothold in the United States. The defeat of the offensive fully shows that the brutal battle has just begun, and perhaps the vicious battle is still to come. Everyone spoke freely and came up with a new combat plan as soon as possible. Dai Hui said: "The support warships cannot enter the sea area of the dock area and form artillery support, so they cannot strike at the US artillery." ”

At this time, Ma Kai stood up and said, "501, 502, I suggest launching an attack during the day?" "Everyone was a little surprised when they heard this, and the goal of launching an attack during the day was too obvious, especially for the beach-grabbing landing." Tell us what you think. "I have a general understanding of the failure of the offensive, the enemy uses heavy artillery fire to blockade the area, the attacking troops cannot cross it at all, and even through the heavy artillery blockade area, they will suffer heavy losses, and they cannot launch a beach-grabbing landing operation. At present, the most threatening thing for the US troops is the heavy artillery blockade area, and if we attack during the day, the artillery positions of the US troops will be exposed. ”

"I understand what Captain Ma meant, if the US military position is exposed, it will create conditions for carrier-based aircraft to strike in the air." Zhuang Lei gave Ma Kai a thumbs up. Ma Kai continued: "In addition, the difficulty of the landing on the Kaolu landing, carrier-based aircraft can assist the landing force to launch an attack. I have made a preliminary study of the defense situation on the west coast of the United States, and the Americans have not built permanent fortifications on a large scale in San Francisco at all, which creates conditions for our air-ground and three-dimensional strikes, and at the same time can also test a new method of warfare? ”

"Well said!" Nie Fengwu was overjoyed when he heard this: "Captain Ma's suggestion is to the point, launching an attack during the day, our carrier-based aircraft can play a role, and ground attack is also our killer weapon, we must let it play the maximum effect, let's study it carefully." A few hours later, a new battle plan was drawn up, and the attack was scheduled for 1 p.m. There were still a few hours before dawn, and Nie Fengwu ordered everyone to hurry up and rest, and start preparing after dawn. Zhuang Lei was about to go to the battleship of the front-line headquarters, and when he was about to board the traffic boat, Ma Kai and Li Tie saw him off on the deck.

"Brother Zhuang, we can't help with the landing operation, we can only make plans, and it depends on you to attack!" Ma Kai held Zhuang Lei's hand and said sincerely. "Captain Ma, as long as the threat of US artillery can be eliminated, you will see the military flag fluttering on the US military position, just wait to hear the good news!" "Brother Zhuang, failure is a common thing, please tell Master Hu, we wish him a smooth landing!" Li Tie waved his fist on the side to help. Zhuang Lei nodded, and the figure quickly disappeared into the traffic boat.

At dawn, Commander Shaq returned to the headquarters, and Han Ruowei personally hugged Shak and said: "General Shaq, although our air force suffered a devastating blow yesterday, the defensive operation last night was very beautiful, which not only dealt a blow to the enemy's arrogance, but also greatly boosted our morale. This is a telegram from Washington, and the president personally praised you! Shaq took the telegram and gave it a brief look: "The enemy is also mortal in the flesh, and there is nothing remarkable. I crushed the enemy's attack, and I was more confident in holding on to San Francisco. ”

"The enemy will definitely retaliate after dawn, beware of enemy aircraft air attacks on artillery positions." Han Ruowei reminded. "My artillery positions are well concealed, and as long as you don't open fire, enemy planes can't detect them at all. It is a blessing that the enemy is good at attacking at night, but at night their fighters cannot rise into the air, and it seems that God is fair. Han Ruowei said: "The enemy is very cunning, and it is possible to launch a feint during the day, which is intended to expose our artillery positions. "I've already thought that I won't let the artillery fire until I have to."

As soon as dawn came, the loudspeakers in San Francisco began to show off, and the U.S. defenders fought tenaciously to crush the enemy's powerful onslaught. In particular, the powerful artillery fire of the US army caused heavy losses to the enemy. The heavy artillery fire in the first half of the night made the people of Chinatown extremely excited, but by midnight any movement disappeared. The same is true of the Lin family, who went from initial excitement to frustration. The members of the Lin family didn't close their eyes almost all night, and the female dependents really couldn't insist on going into the house to sleep after dawn.

At this moment, Lin Zhong and his nephew Chen Zhiqiang's eyes were bloodshot, and they were still sitting in the courtyard, and every move of the imperial army always touched their hearts. They knew in their hearts that the attack of the Imperial army would definitely die, but they didn't want to believe it in their hearts. Suddenly, the loudspeaker outside announced the results of the battle, and the two of them listened nervously. There was no doubt that the attack failed, and Chen Zhiqiang said depressedly: "Uncle, last night's heavy artillery fire by the US army was like thunder, and we were all worried when we heard it, and it seemed that the attack had failed." ”

Lin Zhong said: "It is inevitable that the attack will fail, I believe that the imperial army will definitely be able to land successfully, don't lose confidence." "Uncle, I feel uncomfortable, I'm afraid that the setback of the imperial army will have to pay a great price!" "How can there be immortals in war, if they are all like you, will the imperial army still have the courage to expedition to the United States?" Lin Zhong continued: "You go sleep for a while, maybe when you wake up, the situation will change greatly." "Uncle, nephew is worried about the imperial army, and he can't sleep at all." "Since you can't sleep, take out the chess and let's kill a game!"

It is not difficult to imagine that there are not a few cases in Chinatown like the Lin family, and they are all worried about the defeat of the imperial army. Whites in the city, however, rejoiced, and more flocked to the city hall to join the Self-Defense Forces to defend San Francisco.

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(To be continued......)

PS: The brutality of expeditionary operations began to show.