Bright Sword: I am an undercover agent in the puppet army

Chapter 89: Tactical Interspersion in Poor Times, Firepower Coverage in Rich Times

The Japanese deputy said in bewilderment: "Sir, isn't it our duty to defend the stronghold and protect the smooth operation of the Zhengtai Railway? Why do we have to take the initiative to blow up the railway?"

Kato Yingnan said sullenly, "Idiot! At this point, it's only a matter of time before the Niangzi Pass stronghold falls, and we can't even report this news, let alone the news of the armored train being hijacked.

If we don’t blow up the tracks and stop the loss in time, once the Niangziguan Railway Station is completely lost, the damn Tubalu will be able to control the banker’s train to continue eastward and bombard Jingxing County.”

The deputy added: "But even if we blow up the tracks and block the armored train's route to the east, they can turn west and bombard Pingding and Yangquan counties."

Kato Takao: "Pingding County and Yangquan County are at least much farther away than Jingxing County, and there are several large strongholds in between. Moreover, all we can do now is to cut off the armored train's eastward route."

"Hi! Sir, you are wise."

The Japanese deputy bowed heavily and flattered Kato Takao loudly.

However, Kato Yingnan had no time to enjoy the praise from his subordinates. His face darkened again and he shouted, "Pass on my order. Everyone, be prepared to be loyal to His Majesty the Emperor!

In addition, the first and second squadrons, immediately launch a desperate charge towards the armored train a thousand meters away, and make sure to destroy the armored train! "

The fanatical Kato Takao had no plans to break out, because he was well aware of the importance of Niangziguan Railway Station and the threat posed by the armored train.

If Niangzi Pass was lost, even if he could eventually escape death, he would definitely be sent to a military court and forever be fixed on the pillar of shame in military history, which he was unwilling to accept.

For him, it would be better to die and put an end to it all.

Since death is inevitable, it is better to recover some losses before dying.

"Hi Yi!"

The deputy bowed again, then turned and left to convey the order.

……

On the armored train.

Under the snow-white searchlight, the more than 300 Japanese soldiers who counterattacked from Niangzi Pass along the railway tracks had nowhere to hide.

Tian Shuisheng gave Xu Yang a thumbs up and said, "Captain, you are amazing! The Japanese are really coming towards our train. It looks like there are at least two or three hundred of them. If we have already entered the station, it would be difficult to handle so many Japanese rushing towards us at once."

Xu Yang said with disdain: "You are just going to die. Pass my order, all machine guns, fire at full power, let the Japanese see what firepower coverage is!"

"Yes!"

Ma Tong, who was standing next to him, immediately picked up the phone and passed on the order from Battalion Commander Xu Yang.

The next moment, more than a dozen Type 92 heavy machine guns on the armored train fired in all directions, and the continuous pouring of bullets was like the whip of fate danced by the god of death, sweeping towards the side of the railway track.

"Puff puff!"

“Puff, puff, puff!—”

The Japanese soldiers were hit one after another. Even though they were hundreds of meters away, their bodies were still easily penetrated by the 7mm caliber bullets of the Type 7 heavy machine gun. They fell in a pool of blood with screams.

Some of the Japanese soldiers were killed on the spot, while others had their limbs broken by the rain of bullets and lay on the ground howling in pain.

"Fight back!"

"Fight back!"

"The machine gun crew provides cover fire, and the infantry spread out and charge!"

The Japs reacted very quickly.

Under the command of a captain, a number of Type 92 heavy machine guns were quickly set up and emitted bursts of roars.

Unfortunately, although the firepower of the Japanese heavy machine guns was strong, it was unable to break through the armored defenses of the train.

The dense bullets hit the outer armor of the train like tickling it. Apart from splashing a cluster of sparks and making a sharp tinkling sound, no one from the Independent Third Battalion was hurt.

Near the railway tracks, the Japanese soldiers' casualties continued to increase.

Their companions fell one after another on the way to the charge, but the Japanese soldiers turned a blind eye to it.

Because, from the moment they received the order to charge and die, their fate was left with only two choices.

Either die on the way to charge, or charge the enemy position and defeat it, there is no other way!

"His Majesty the Locust is on board!"

"The Japanese Locust Army is onboard!"

The Japanese soldiers roared and continued to charge forward.

At this moment, the obstacles that were originally used to prevent the enemy's sneak attack were now costing them their lives.

In the open wilderness, the Japanese soldiers rushing towards them were no different from a group of pigs seeking death. Their ability to withstand attacks was even worse than that of pigs.

The distance of just a few hundred meters seemed to have become an insurmountable chasm that these Japanese devils could never cross in their entire lives!
As long as the Independent Third Battalion has enough ammunition, let alone two infantry companies, even two infantry battalions or even two infantry regiments are actually no different from pigs sent to die.

At best, the herd of pigs is just a little bigger...

the other side.

Zhang Dabiao also stood up and gave the order to attack again.

"First Battalion, continue the attack!"

Zhang Dabiao subconsciously touched his head and found that it was already bald and his hat had been thrown away somewhere long ago.

After receiving the order, the soldiers of the first battalion immediately got up from the ground. The new recruits finally learned their lesson and no longer rushed forward, but bent down as much as possible.

Otherwise, no matter how much training one receives, it is all just talk. Only after experiencing the baptism of life and death on the battlefield can recruits transform into qualified veterans.

"Tu Tu Tu!"

"Da da da!--"

“Snap! Snap! Snap! —”

There were constant gunshots outside the Niangzi Pass stronghold. Those were the Japanese skirmishers outside shooting.

However, this level of shooting was obviously no longer able to suppress the independent regiment's attack.

There is no need for the armored train to open fire, the independent regiment's own firepower is enough.

Today's independent regiment is well-trained, well-fed and has strong firepower. Each battalion has at least 20 light and heavy machine guns, in addition to grenade launchers and mortars.

Every hundred meters they advanced, each machine gun group would build machine gun positions on both wings to cover the infantry charge, and then the mortars and grenade launchers would carry out precise artillery fire.

Following the process, the perimeter of the Niangzi Pass stronghold was quickly cleared.

Rear attack position.

Li Yunlong raised his lips, holding up a telescope to observe, and said: "Infantry and artillery coordination, artillery re-infantry charge, machine gunners fire cover, mortars and grenade launchers attack accurately." "I used to think that the Japs' attack had no tactics at all, but now it seems that this tactic of the Japs is really fucking cool!"

Zhao Gang next to him said slowly: "When we are poor, we can use tactics to infiltrate, and when we are rich, we can use firepower to cover the enemy. I don't know when our Eighth Route Army will be able to achieve firepower coverage against the enemy."

Li Yunlong: "If that day comes, I will fight to Taiyuan... No, I will fight to Tokyo!"

"Damn it, this war is so pathetic, the flames of war are spreading all over our territory. Even if we can drive the devils out of the country in the end, we are still the ones who lose!

Only by letting the devils have a taste of war on their own land can I relieve my anger! "

Zhao Gang was silent for a while and then said: "Although I think that the Japanese civilians are innocent, if it were not for the will of their entire nation and the support of their own people, how could Japan have the ability to launch a war of such a scale.

Just as the Lone Wolf Staff said, only dead devils are good devils, I agree with this statement very much! "

Li Yunlong: "I agree with that, Lao Zhao. We finally peed in the same pot for once."

“……” Zhao Gang was speechless.

Li Yunlong continued to observe.

At this time, the assault troops of the independent regiment's various battalions had rushed to a position less than 100 meters away from the Niangzi Pass blockade ditch.

This is an extremely threatening distance, and it is even possible to launch a charge.

Once the Japanese are unable to stop the charge of the independent regiment's battalions and the soldiers of the independent regiment rush into the stronghold, they will have to engage in hand-to-hand combat.

No matter how arrogant the Japanese were and how much they thought their hand-to-hand combat tactics were invincible, they still had no chance of winning against the Eighth Route Army, which was ten times their size.

As for that battalion of puppet troops, they could not be relied upon at all.

It's okay for them to join in the fun and make trouble when the situation is favorable, but once the situation is disadvantageous, they will be lucky if they don't flee in all directions and disrupt morale, let alone provide any help.

Kato Takao did not dare to place his hopes on the puppet army.

Looking at his subordinates who were like grass and were constantly being mowed down by the heavy machine guns on the train, the old Japanese soldier was so angry that his teeth were itching. He deeply regretted the stupid order he had just issued to launch a desperate charge against the armored train.

If he had known earlier, he should have withdrawn his troops and fought a decisive battle with the enemy inside Niangziguan Railway Station. Even if he was inevitably defeated in the end, at least he could have inflicted more casualties on the enemy.

Now, the two squadrons of locust soldiers were finally defeated in vain.

Kato Takao would not give up. He shifted his strategic focus back to the train station and organized another wave of firepower counterattack!
The two Type 37 light tanks that had been kept at the bottom of the box rolled on their tracks and appeared one after the other at the west gate of the Niangziguan stronghold, trying to turn the situation around with two 7.7mm main guns and two mm vehicle-mounted heavy machine guns.

But it is still in vain!

The 7.7mm heavy machine gun roared continuously, killing and wounding some soldiers of the independent regiment and slightly delaying their offensive.

However, the 37mm main gun still failed to shake the armored train a thousand meters away. It was not that it did not hit the target, but due to the interference of strong light, the Japanese gunners failed to hit the vital parts of the armored train.

Of course, the 37mm caliber tank main gun cannot penetrate the defensive armor of an armored train from a thousand meters away.

Although both are defensive armor, since the armored train runs on rails, its defensive armor is much thicker than the thin armor of the Type 95 light tank.

As soon as the enemy tanks opened fire, they were immediately exposed to Xu Yang's field of vision. Without even needing his orders, Li Sanpao had already directed the soldiers of the artillery company to turn their guns and launch a counterattack! "

Accompanied by two loud "boom" sounds, the two Type 95 light tanks turned into two fireballs one after another, rising up with billowing thick smoke.

The sight of the metal turbulence running around was even more exciting than the iron flower performance.

The tank parts that were blown away even killed and injured many Japanese soldiers nearby.

The last wave of firepower counterattack by the Japanese was aborted, and Zhang Dabiao, Shen Quan and Wang Huaibao immediately organized the final charge.

Amid the loud sound of the charge horn.

Each battalion began to compete for the first merit, and the soldiers fought bravely and rushed to the enemy's outer positions one after another.

The Japanese soldiers in the foxholes were stabbed to death by sharp bayonets as soon as they jumped out.

Every Japanese soldier had to face at least five Eighth Route Army soldiers. It was impossible to defend against them and there was no way to escape.

After killing the Japanese stragglers, the soldiers of the independent regiment, with the cooperation of local armed forces, laid ladders across the blockade ditch, pulled down the barbed wire behind them, and rushed straight into the stronghold in one go.

Although the Japanese in the stronghold tried their best to stop them, it was of no use.

Because while charging, the machine gunners from each battalion were still providing fire support, and mortars and grenade launchers were also attacking with all their might.

Faintly, there was a feeling of slowly entering the barrage.

The independent regiment's battalions launched an offensive without any pause, and rushed into the stronghold in one go, followed by a fierce hand-to-hand combat.

“Bang, bang, bang! Puff, puff, puff!—”

The sounds of bayonets and gun barrels colliding, the cutting sounds of sharp blades piercing into human bodies, shouts of killing, curses, as well as the howlings and groans of people being stabbed, and the wails before death all mixed together.

The battle reached a fever pitch almost from the beginning. The soldiers of the independent regiment were in high spirits. They roared and greeted the Japanese devils' ancestors with the traditional Chinese culture, while at the same time they attacked them fiercely with their bayonets and swords.

Driven by despair, the Japanese soldiers in the Niangzi Pass stronghold screamed and launched a desperate counterattack.

The two armies, totaling more than 2000 people, engaged in a brutal melee on the tracks and on the platform...

After completely wiping out the Japanese suicide squad, Xu Yang got off the train and headed straight for the independent regiment's attack position.

After receiving the report from the communications soldier, Li Yunlong and Zhao Gang hurried to meet them.

"Captain Li, Political Commissar Zhao."

"Hahaha! Brother Xu Yang, we meet again!"

Li Yunlong strode forward and gave Xu Yang a big hug.

Zhao Gang reminded: "Lao Li, discipline, call by code name."

Li Yunlong smiled and said, "There are no outsiders here, what are you afraid of?"

Zhao Gang wanted to say something else, but Xu Yang also said, "Political Commissar Zhao, after I finish this job, I will probably have to come back, so it's okay."

Zhao Gang didn't say anything more and focused on the battle situation.

Li Yunlong was very confident.

Up to now, there were still about 300 Japanese soldiers at Niangziguan Railway Station, but the independent regiment had more than 2000 people.

2000 against 300. Not to mention the well-trained Eighth Route Army Independent Regiment, whose living conditions have improved in the past two months and whose physical fitness has been greatly enhanced, they can definitely defeat the opponent easily even if it is the Central Army or the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army.

As for that battalion of puppet soldiers, not only did the Japs not treat them as human beings, but Li Yunlong did not treat them as human beings either.

……

(End of this chapter)