Songhu: Never Give Up

Chapter 149 Headquarters Building Meat Grinder (Today's 3 chapters 1 words)

"Mr. Shuikou, you have fought against the Chinese many times, and the captain has also said that you will be in charge of the overall command. Tell me how we should fight?"

The second battalion commander, Major Kosuke Yonetani, asked casually, the Japanese did better in this regard than the National Army. As long as the two battalion commanders were designated to be responsible by their superiors, the other one would unconditionally execute the order.

Major Mizuguchi was humble at first and then said:
"Mi Gujun, I have to admit that Yue Qianli is a very good commander, especially good at fighting defensive battles, and the 527th Regiment is the real elite of China. They cannot be treated like ordinary Chinese troops."

Major Yonetani nodded in agreement and motioned for Major Mizuguchi to continue.

"The headquarters building was built very solidly by the Navy. The garrison has sufficient manpower, ammunition, and food. They have a large number of light and heavy machine guns, grenades, and several mortars. The Imperial Army has already opened several gaps with infantry artillery."

As soon as Mizuguchi finished speaking, Major Yonetani took over and said:

"It is not an easy task to attack a heavily fortified fortress. Now the division commander has only given us three days. There is no other way but to attack.
Let's discuss how to attack!"

Lieutenant Colonel Mizuguchi agreed, and the two Japanese soldiers put their heads together and began to discuss new offensive tactics;
Time was running out and they could not wait for the engineering regiment to dig tunnels, so they launched the attack after agreeing on the tactics.

It was still the same old routine. Dozens of sharpshooters were selected from the two battalions to cooperate with heavy firepower to suppress the defenders. The infantry formed multiple waves to continuously attack several gaps, trying to open a gap first, and then use the point to lead the whole.

This set of tactics was also the best tactic they could think of in a short period of time. Tunnel digging and siege warfare both required time, and what they lacked most now was time, so they could only fill it with human lives.

The two battalions together had about 1800 people, 300 of whom were left to suppress the enemy from a distance, and the remaining 1500 formed five attack waves, 5 people each;
There was no exploratory attack. They fought desperately from the beginning. The first wave of 300 people was commanded by Captain Ishino, who had the most experience and was also very tough.

300 of the 100 people attacked the main gate, because this gap was the largest, and the remaining 200 people pretended to attack the other gates, and a shit-yellow mass surged up;
Seeing that the Japanese began to fight desperately, Yue Qianli could no longer watch leisurely, and took command personally. The infantry company's light and heavy firepower were fully opened, and they madly fired at the surging Japanese. The Japanese's heavy firepower was also fully invested in the battle. The battle became fierce from the beginning.

The Japanese army's five attack waves were each 5 meters apart. After one was broken up, another one would immediately take its place, giving people a feeling of continuous and endless oppression.

The organization of the infantry company of the artillery battalion is a freak. There are only 2 people in the artillery battalion with a total of 500 people to operate the artillery. The remaining 1500 people are all infantry companies and replacement companies. Only the squads and platoons have fixed numbers.

There are 13 people in a squad, 80 people in a platoon, 10 platoons in total, and 6 platoons of a supplementary company with a total of 500 people, which can only be commanded in a place like the headquarters building.

There were 1 platoons on the first floor and in the tunnel, plus 3 platoons of reinforcements, a total of 3 platoons, and the rest were all on the second floor.

The defense of the first floor was different from that of the second floor. They set up two barricades from the sandbags 40 meters away from the gate;

The gap was filled with ruins and Japanese corpses, so even if the Japanese rushed in, their speed would not be fast and they would just run into the muzzles of the barricades.

The tunnel was located behind the second barricade to hide soldiers, and the second barricade was located at the other end of the indoor playground. Even if the first barricade was breached, the second barricade could still hold out.

The second floor not only has a 1-man infantry company, but also the 527th Regiment Headquarters, the Artillery Battalion Headquarters, the Mortar Company, the Rocket Artillery Company, etc. These people can also be deployed at critical moments;
In the ruins on the third floor, 24 gasoline barrels of the Feilei Cannon Company have been set up in the ruins. They are all disposable. One cannon is equipped with 3 explosive packs and 3 soldiers, just waiting to attack the enemy.

There are also two mortars and dozens of sharpshooters. When needed, reinforcements can be provided from the second floor and they can be withdrawn when the Japanese attack. This is the commanding point of the entire building.

Although the Japanese invaders were coming in full force, Yue Qianli did not order the use of the flying thunder cannon. They could still hold out against more than 1 Japanese invaders, and there were still 2 Japanese invaders, so they could not expose all their belongings.

The first wave of the Japanese attack was quickly repelled, leaving behind corpses and wounded soldiers. Then came the second and third waves, and the defenders' machine guns went into overdrive.

The Japanese machine guns, infantry guns, machine guns, and sharpshooters were all pouring bullets onto the second floor. The casualties of the infantry company were also rising sharply. Fortunately, the wounded were able to be rescued.

The regiment's supply team and medical company are both on the second floor. The supply team can help carry the wounded, and the medical company will provide battlefield first aid.

In order to suppress the Japanese's heavy firepower, Yue Qianli sent up another four mortars. With the long-range suppression of six mortars, the Japanese's heavy firepower suffered heavy losses, and the suppression on the second floor gradually weakened.

Since the defenders were fighting inside the fortress, their casualties were far lower than those of the Japanese. After the Japanese's fourth wave of attack was repelled, Yue Qianli deliberately showed weakness and pretended to be unwilling to let the Japanese break into the building through the three gaps near the main entrance.

Seeing the fifth wave finally pouring into the building, Major Mizuguchi excitedly waved his fist, and Major Yonetani was equally ecstatic and shouted:
"With the Emperor's blessing, we have finally broken in. Let's quickly organize other personnel to follow and take down the headquarters building in one fell swoop!

Yue Qianli must be caught alive, I will skin him alive!"

The remnants of the previous waves were organized into two more waves, ready to follow up;

In their opinion, as long as they broke into the building, the defenders would be finished, and the commander of the regiment still had a third battalion that was gathering strength.

Second Lieutenant Hiromi Toyama crawled into the building from the pile of dead bodies. Due to the difference in light between inside and outside, they did not notice the barricade forty meters away, nor the black machine gun mounted on it.
More and more Japs poured in, and before they could get out of the poor light, the machine guns and rifles mounted on the barricades opened fire on them fiercely, easily knocking them to the ground. It was no different from a massacre.

Second Lieutenant Toyama was stunned, and just stood there taking several bullets, and he never figured it out until his death;
The fifth wave of Japanese soldiers were in bad luck. They finally broke into the building through three gaps, but ran into gunshots inside the building.

The Japanese soldiers behind him didn't know what was happening, and rushed in by inertia until they were knocked to the ground...

"Bagayalu, what kind of work is this?"

Lieutenant Colonel Migu, who had threatened to skin Yue Qianli alive before, was completely confused. It was true that the ideal was as perfect as the reality. He felt wronged and his nose was sore, and he blurted out a Chinese curse:
"This is such a bully!"

Lieutenant Colonel Mizuguchi also realized that there must be defenders on the first floor. This was understandable. The Chinese could not just defend the second floor and not the first. He shouted:
"Mi Gujun, cheer up and push all your troops forward. If we are pushed back by the Chinese, all our efforts will be wasted!"

Major Yonetani seemed to have grasped the last straw and came to his senses in an instant, nodding his head repeatedly:
"That's right. Now we have to fight for our lives. Yue Qianli is struggling to death. I will lead the team to reinforce him. I want to skin Yue Qianli alive with my own hands!"

Driven by Major Yonetani, the previously dispersed devils rushed forward one after another;

The main entrance was blocked by corpses, so they rushed in through other gaps, but were blocked without exception. There was a barricade waiting for them on the other side of each gap. Machine guns and rifles were stationed behind the barricades and fired at them. It was truly a one-man-blockade situation, with ten thousand men unable to break through.

A small squad or two large squads can block a passage that is only a few meters to more than ten meters wide, and a machine gun can kill them so that they can't move.

Soon, the corpses of the Japanese soldiers blocked six or seven passages. The sight of the piled-up bodies was soothing.

The Japanese finally couldn't bear the huge casualties and fled back like a tide. At this time, many figures appeared in the windows on the second floor. They threw grenades into the group of Japanese, and the Japanese corpses were scattered all over the ground. At this time, Shuikou reacted and cursed:
"Baka, I was fooled by Yue Qianli!"

The Japs' retreat route was like purgatory. They were slaughtered by the defenders, with grenades for those nearby and guns for those far away. They tried to keep as many as possible. The Chinese have always been hospitable. Once you come, don't leave.

Major Mizuguchi even wanted to die, he didn't know how to explain to Hitoshi Hitoshi.

"Migu-kun, please don't pull me. I want to commit seppuku to thank the Emperor."

Mitani silently handed him a short knife. Someone had to take responsibility, and of course it was Major Mizuguchi.

The evil of human nature was fully revealed at this moment. 1500 people launched a charge, but less than half returned. Two battalions were crippled. Mizuguchi looked at Major Yonetani with resentment. Yonetani said coldly:

"Mr. Mizuguchi, if you are afraid of the pain, I can help you. This knife of mine is an heirloom."

Mizuguchi had no choice but to hand Mitani's knife back to him, then drew his own sword and stabbed himself in the abdomen.

At least he had the freedom to die however he wanted. Not wanting to be beheaded, Mi Gu strode closer and chopped off Shuikou's head with a single swing of his knife.
How he died was Shuikou's freedom, and whether to help him or not was Mi Gu's freedom. Now that the words were out, Mi Gu also had to save face!
"Bakayalu——rubbish!"

"Come here, Major Mizuguchi has paid the price for his incompetence, please ask the commander for tactical guidance."

With Mizuguchi taking the responsibility, Major Yonetani felt no guilt at all and became confident again - there is always death in war.
At the 19th Infantry Regiment, Hitoshi Hidezo was furious and yelled:
"Bakayarō, Mitani has lost his conscience. How can this bastard Mizuguchi still be alive when he has already served the Emperor faithfully?"

Senior staff officer Major Hirose kindly reminded him:
"Your Excellency, the commander of the corps, victory and defeat are common in the military, and casualties are inevitable. Since Mr. Shuiguchi has assumed responsibility, this matter should come to an end.

The Tsuruga Regiment can no longer afford to lose a second battalion commander, otherwise who will command the operations?
The First and Second Battalions had suffered more than half casualties, so if the Third Battalion was deployed, it would become a refueling tactic;
The 35th and 36th Regiments have hardly seen any action, and we cannot allow the Tsuruga Regiment to be wiped out. I suggest that we ask the division commander for tactical guidance."

Hitomi Hidezo fell into deep thought. Thanks to Major Hirose's reminder, if the Third Battalion was wiped out, he would be the next one to commit seppuku!

Major Hirose is right. Three regiments came to encircle and suppress the 527th Regiment, and the other two have been watching the fun. Why should they be asked to take on such a tough task?
"Hirose-kun, inform Mitani-kun to switch to defense on the spot and ask the division commander for tactical guidance!"

In the face of seppuku, a little face means nothing. Hitomi Hidezo finally faced the reality. The worst that could happen was a scolding.

Major Hirose also breathed a sigh of relief. The regiment commander finally listened to his advice and at the same time did a big favor to Mitani. He turned around and left with satisfaction. The 19th Regiment was wiped out and his future was over.

The Japanese were shirking responsibility and wrangling, but there was cheering in the headquarters building. Not only had a large number of Japanese been eliminated, but a large amount of equipment and supplies had also been seized.
The weapons, ammunition, and individual rations carried by the Japanese who died in the building became the spoils of the 527th Regiment, especially grenades, the more the better.

Yue Qianli was in an unusually good mood and said loudly:
"Brothers, the Japanese Type 38 rifle is more accurate than the Mauser rifle. Put aside the German equipment and ammunition first and give priority to using captured rifles and bullets.
If you are not used to it, each person should have ten bullets first, and practice on the Japanese outside. Remember, change location after each shot!
Lao Tian was responsible for reporting the victory to the division headquarters, Yaqin was responsible for sending the news report as soon as possible and taking more photos of the Japanese corpses;

When I was writing it, I said that the soldiers had suffered heavy casualties, their ammunition had been used up, and they began to use captured equipment to fight. The Japs had broken into the building many times, and even I had to fight them with bayonets before I could barely drive them out.

I don’t know how long the 527th Regiment can hold out, but we will fight to the bitter end. As long as we are in this position, we will be there!”

Duan Yaqin was shocked at first. There were too many false news in this. She was a reporter, and reporters could not tell lies.

Yue Qianli glared and said:

"What are you standing there for! Aren't the casualties among the brothers great? Aren't the ammunition consumed a lot?

These are all to confuse the devils, so that the brothers will sacrifice less and execute orders! "

Duan Yaqin thought about it and realized that Brother Yue used ambiguous words. Apart from the fact that his injury was a bit exaggerated, there seemed to be nothing wrong with it.

Since it is to reduce the sacrifice of the brothers, it is reasonable to use some Spring and Autumn style of writing, so he said stubbornly:
"I'm doing this for my brothers!"

Before Yue Qianli could speak, He Qizheng interrupted and said:

"Thank you on behalf of the brothers."

Duan Yaqin blushed and turned away. Yue Qianli saw that the smoke bomb had been released and his mood suddenly improved. He continued:
"Brothers, we have hurt the Japanese this time, but they will not give up. They will come back soon, and their offensive will be even more fierce.

Everyone should be prepared to fight the devils to the bitter end. The next battle will be even more brutal!"

At this time, Captain Yuan came over and reported:

"Captain, the Japanese sent someone here to ask for permission to collect the bodies."

Yue Qianli was also worried that too many corpses would easily lead to infectious diseases, so he nodded and said:
"Tell the devils that they can collect the bodies, but they cannot take any spoils with them. All weapons and ammunition must be collected and piled together, otherwise don't blame us for being rude."

(End of this chapter)