"Yes!"

The soldier who reported the situation rushed to Leng Xiu's side and squatted down and said, "The political commissar took a jeep from Ping'an County and quickly rushed to the mountain pass north of the first line of heaven. ”。

"Got it!"

Leng Xiu nodded, and then said to the platoon leader who was in charge of defending the position of the mountain pass south of the first line of heaven: "A platoon is strictly guarded here, if the devil attacks, just resist it." ”。

"Understood, company commander!"

The platoon leader nodded and said in a condensed voice.

"Let's go!"

Leng Xiu then went down to the top of the mountain with the soldiers who reported the situation, and headed towards the mountain pass in the north of the first line of heaven.

A few minutes later, Leng Xiu was at the mountain pass north of the first line of heaven, and met Zhao Gang who rushed to the mountain pass north of the first line of heaven!

"Commissar, why are you here?"

Seeing that Zhao Gang suddenly rushed to the first-line sky, Leng Xiu, who stayed on the first-line sky, still felt a little surprised!

"Haha, why can't I come?"

Zhao Gang had already gotten out of the jeep he was sitting in and said with a smile: "The battle in the direction of Liujiazhen has roughly ended, and the 15th Brigade of the Devil has gone south. ”。

"I continue to sit in Ping'an County, it's not interesting, it's better to come to the front line to have a look!"

When Leng Xiu heard this, he said a little helplessly: "Political commissar, does the regiment commander know the situation here when you come down to the front line?" ”。

"Of course, I've already sent a report to the regiment commander!"

Zhao Gang said with a smile: "By the way, the fourth battalion still has about half an hour to go, and it will rush to the first line." ”。

"How is the situation of your first battalion and four companies now?"

Leng Xiu invited Zhao Gang to enter the defense headquarters of the first line of heaven, and introduced to Zhao Gang: "The defense of the first line of heaven is very solid, and at present, the two Japanese brigades that have bypassed the north of Qingzhou City have been killed to the mountain pass south of the first line of heaven. ”。

"We are defending the mountain pass south of the first line of heaven with four companies and a platoon of more than 100 people, equipped with ten Type 92 heavy machine guns, twenty light machine guns, and there are also condescending artillery positions on both sides of the pass."

After a pause, Leng Xiu introduced, "And the two Japanese brigades that went north to kill, the troops that attacked the mountain passes south of the first line of heaven at one time are probably only about one squadron. ”

"But under my firepower, I can only kill myself, political commissar."

When Zhao Gang heard this, he couldn't help but nod and said, "Hmm! ”。

"What's going on now?"

Leng Xiu asked people to put a map of the sky on the table, and then pointed and said, "Political commissar, just when I received the news of your arrival, these two Japanese brigades have already started their operations. ”。

"The men and horses behind the devil's army are moving in a roundabout way to both sides!"

As soon as Zhao Gang heard this, he condensed and said, "It seems that the situation of the mountain pass south of the first line of heaven has been observed by the devil commander in the north. ”。

"The devil is not stupid, and if he attacks our defensive position in the mountain pass south of the first line of heaven, he will inevitably be extremely vulnerable to the powerful firepower of our defenders, and he will suffer heavy casualties. Little devil, this is another way to engage in a roundabout sneak attack! ”

Just as Leng Xiu spoke, the sound of gunfire from the direction of the mountain pass south of the first line of heaven immediately attracted the attention of the two of them.

"Boom, boom!!"

"Da Da Da!"

"Bang Bang Bang !!"

The sound of gunfire was very intense, and Leng Xiu immediately picked up the battlefield phone on the table, and directly asked for a platoon stationed in the position of the mountain pass south of the first line of heaven.

"Hey, hey, hey? I know, according to the plan, you will hit me hard, regardless of whether the devils attack or harass, just hold the mountain pass position according to the plan. ”

Leng Xiu listened to the phone, and then ordered to the platoon commander of the fourth company on the other end of the phone.

"Yes, Company Commander."

A platoon of the fourth company of the first battalion on the other end of the phone said loudly.

After Leng Xiu finished speaking, he hung up the phone, and then said to Zhao Gang: "Political commissar, the little devil launched an attack on the four companies and one platoon of my first battalion in the mountain pass position south of the first line of heaven. ”。

"But it's all small forces to attack, but the continuous attack is very strong, a bit like a strong attack, but it's not like a strong attack!"

When Zhao Gang heard this, he smiled and said, "This is an attack to harass and cover!" ”。

"It seems that the devil commander who commanded these two Japanese brigades is not a fool, and he can only become a target for the fire of our defenders by attacking head-on."

Leng Xiu nodded, and then said: "Political commissar, on the first line of the sky and two wings, we deployed the second platoon and the third platoon of my first battalion and four companies to defend the flanks. ”。

"Fortunately, the east and west wings of the first line of heaven are both lofty mountains and mountains, and we only need to hold a few places that must pass through the mountain passes north of the first line of heaven, and there will be no problem."

Zhao Gang looked at the first-line sky topographic map on the table, and said in a condensed voice: "Don't be careless." ”。

"The fourth battalion will rush to the first line of heaven at about half past eight, and the troops here will be very sufficient at the first line of heaven by then!"

After a pause, Zhao Gang continued, "If it is possible, we may be able to kill the two Japanese brigades in the north here in the first line of heaven, it is not impossible. ”

"Political commissar, this relationship is good!"

Leng Xiu said with a grappled palm: "The devils of the two brigades are still very arrogant when they go to the mountain pass south of the first line of heaven. ”。

"Hmm!"

Zhao Gang said with a smile: "Hold on for half an hour, after the fourth battalion arrives, we will be foolproof to hold the first line of heaven." ”。

"Understood, commissar."

Leng Xiu nodded, and then commanded the four companies under his command to defend strictly.

At this time, Kazuo Sugita Kazuo, the wing commander of the 72nd Infantry Wing of the 7th Devil Brigade, looked at the Devil soldiers who had retreated from the battlefield again with a frown, and couldn't help but have a gloomy face.

"Wing Commander, on the periphery of the mountain pass south of the first line of heaven, the terrain is narrow, and our forces cannot be brought into play, so we can only put in a squadron or so to attack in the form of a squad."

Kazuo Minamino, the chief of staff of the wing on the side, put down the binoculars in his hand and said helplessly: "The terrain is limited, and our strength advantage cannot be brought into play at all. ”。

"I've seen it!"

Kazuo Sugita nodded with an extremely helpless expression, and said: "Damn, in such an important place as a line of heaven, why didn't the imperial army stationed in Qingzhou City send troops to guard it." ”。

"Who knows!"

Kazuo Minamino said with a complaint in his heart.

"Wing Commander, the 2nd Brigade has moved to the east and west flanks, and its own roundabout squadrons have begun to move."

Kazuo Minamino said: "But on the east and west sides of the sky, there are lofty mountains. ”。

"It's very difficult to make a detour, and there are already roundabout squadrons that have sent soldiers to report to the command."

Hearing this, Kazuo Sugita waved his hand and said, "Continue to detour, it is best to be able to go around to the mountain pass north of the first line of heaven to carry out a surprise attack." ”。

"Otherwise, our two brigades will gather together and storm the enemy's position in the mountain pass south of the first line of Tian, and we will not be able to take it down even if we are exhausted."

Of course, Kazuo Minamino understood, and said in a condensed voice: "Yes, Wing Commander, I will immediately give an order to the roundabout troops, and be sure to give full play to the bravery of the imperial soldiers and unswervingly make a roundabout raid." ”。

"Order the 1st Brigade to continue to violently attack the enemy positions in the mountain passes south of the first line of heaven with the scale of a squad, and try to consume the ammunition of the defenders!"

Kazuo Sugida could only do this now, and said to Kazuo Minamino with a wave of his hand.

"Understood, Wing Commander."

Kazuo Minamino paused when he heard this, and then immediately walked away to deploy.

Soon, under the orders of Kazuo Sugida, the four Type 92 infantry guns brought by the two Japanese brigades to the north were aimed at the defenders' positions in the mountain pass south of the first line of heaven.

"Boom, boom, boom!!"

Countless shells quickly smashed into the defenders' positions on the mountain pass south of the first line of heaven, blowing up clouds of smoke and sparks.

Then, under the cover of artillery fire, the devils of the 1st Infantry Brigade of the 72nd Infantry Wing, who were in charge of the feint, continued to launch fierce attacks on the defenders with a small squad as the strength of the feint.

However, this is to cover the devils who are roundabout on the flanks.

Therefore, once the devil's attack was strongly blocked by the defenders' fire, they immediately retreated.

Then, the artillery fired, and the devil team continued to attack.

The cycle went on and on until 8:12 p.m.

At this time, according to the order of Kazuo Sugitda, one squadron of devils on each of the two wings of the first line of the sky was quickly met with the second platoon of the defenders of the fourth company of the first battalion of the independent regiment defending the flank, and the third platoon was blocked by several nodes among the lofty mountains and mountains on the east and west flanks of the first line.

For a moment, the roundabout operation failed.

After all, on the east and west sides of the first line of heaven, there are lofty mountains and mountains, and the defenders only need to hold an important point that must be passed in a detour, which is enough to block the devil's roundabout actions.

The level of fierce fighting on the front line is actually not very high, but the fight can be regarded as a coming-and-going.

At this time, Kazuo Sugita was standing on a small hill less than a hundred meters south of the mountain pass south of the first line of heaven, holding a telescope to observe the situation of attacking the enemy defenders in front of him, and sighed from time to time.

"Click!!

With the sound of footsteps coming up from under the hill, Kazuo Sugita looked back and saw that it was the chief of staff of the wing, Kazuo Minamino, who trotted up.

I saw that Kazuo Minamino ran up panting, and then took a breath before reporting: "Wing Commander, the first squadron and the second squadron of the 2nd Brigade that detoured to the first line and the two wings of the sky were all blocked by the enemy, and the detour could not be completed. ”。

"The roundabout troops also suffered heavy casualties, Wing Commander."

When Kazuo Sugida heard this, he frowned and said, "Let the roundabout troops withdraw along the road!" ”。

"The enemy is already on guard!"

"If you continue to take a detour, you can only find yourself dead."

Although Kazuo Minamino was unwilling, he still paused: "Understood, Captain." ”。

"In accordance with the order of the wing commander, the roundabout troops are ordered to withdraw."

Then, Kazuo Minamino waved his hand to a devil staff officer on the side and ordered.

"Yes, Chief of Staff."

In response, the devil's staff officer ran down the hill and sent someone to give the order.

At this time, Kazuo Sugita held a telescope and continued to observe the defenders' positions in the mountain pass south of the first line of heaven, and couldn't help but say to the chief of staff, Kazuo Minamino: "Nanno-kun, a line of heaven, Kazuo should be closed." ”。

"The other side only needs a small number of troops to block the two mountain passes in and out of the north and south of the first line, which is enough to block our way north."

After a pause, Kazuo Sugita said helplessly: "According to the current situation, the roundabout attack has failed. ”。

"Frontal attack, we can't break through the enemy resistance of the first line of the sky after we beat the two brigades, it's difficult to do."

When Kazuo Minamino heard this, he hesitated to transport it back, and suggested stubbornly: "Captain, it seems that it is impossible to capture the first line of heaven, and we will not be able to fulfill General Nakamura's hope." ”。

"If the troops continue to attack the first line of heaven, it will only lose their troops in vain."

When Kazuo Sugita heard this, he understood what Kazuo Minamino meant subconsciously, and said, "What do you mean, withdraw troops? ”。

"Humble means to withdraw troops, but the order to withdraw troops requires an order from the brigade commander or General Nakamura!"

Kazuo Minamino reminded.

Kazuo Sugita actually understood that after the roundabout sneak attack was discovered by the opponent to block the attack, it was impossible to capture the next line.

Even if they storm the mountain pass position south of the first line of heaven and use up the strength of the two brigades, they will not be able to take the first line of heaven.

Then, if you can't go north, you can only withdraw your troops and return to Qingzhou City.

"Send a report to the brigade commander requesting tactical guidance, report in detail to the brigade commander the defense situation of the front-line natural enemy forces that we have seen, and request guidance on the next step of operations."

After thinking about it, Kazuo Sugita said in a condensed voice to Kazuo Minamino.

"Yes, Wing Commander."

Kazuo Minamino nodded helplessly, it was impossible to withdraw troops without authorization, and he could only ask for tactical guidance from his superiors.

A few minutes later, Kazuo Sugida's radio request for tactical guidance was received and translated by the Devil Signal Corps, the headquarters of the 7th Brigade.

Outside the east gate of Qingzhou City, in the temporary brigade headquarters of the 7th Brigade.

"Report to the brigade commander, Sugita Daisa is calling!"

The devil signal soldier in the headquarters of the 7th Brigade walked to Yoshikawa Shojiro and stood up.

Yoshikawa Shojiro and Chief of Staff Kenichi Kusumoto were under the oil lamp, looking at the map on the table.

Hearing this, Yoshikawa Shojiro took the telegram from the communication soldier and read it, and then frowned and handed the telegram in his hand to the chief of staff Kusumoto Kenichi, and said: "The first line of the sky is not easy to fight, and Kazuo Sugida is also out of line." ”。

"Brigade commander, Kazuo Sugita asked for combat guidance, this is a line of heaven!"

Kenichi Kusumoto also frowned and said.

Although I knew the terrain of the first line of heaven, I didn't expect to report from Kazuo Sugita that the strategy of a roundabout sneak attack also failed.

Now the enemy defenders of the first line of heaven must be strictly defended, and it is impossible to break through the first line of sky.

"The first line of heaven can no longer be taken, and it is useless for Sugita Kazuo's troops to continue to be there in the first line of heaven."

Yoshikawa Shojiro didn't look very angry, but said in a condensed voice: "I will personally report the situation to His Excellency the General, and see what His Excellency the General says!" ”。

"Okay, Brigade Commander."

Ken Kusumoto nodded and said.

Subsequently, Yoshikawa Shojiro personally rushed to Nakamura Zhenxiong's military tent headquarters to report on the attack of two Japanese brigades under the command of Kazuo Sugida on the first line of heaven.

In Nakamura Zhenxiong's military tent headquarters, he heard the situation reported by Yoshikawa Shojiro himself.

Nakamura Zhenxiong is also a little helpless, the situation of the first line of heaven is already clear, it is not that Sugita Kazuo is not working hard enough, but the terrain of the first line of sky makes the Japanese army of the two brigades unable to take it even if they are gone.

"Yoshikawa-kun, then send a telegram to Kazuo Sugita to withdraw his troops and return south!"

Nakamura Zhenxiong waved his hand helplessly and said to Yoshikawa Shojiro.

(End of chapter)

Lewen