Bright Sword: From Northwest Shanxi to Shangganling

Chapter 80 The Plane is Coming
"Captain, the artillery squadron is ready." Shigeru Aoki, deputy captain of the Pinggang reinforcements, reported.

"Yo, fire immediately." The Japanese captain Hirosuke Takada didn't even put down the telescope.

"Hai!"

"Boom!" "Boom!" "Boom!".
"Yoshi." Hirosuke Takada looked at the Eighth Route Army position covered in dust by artillery shells and nodded with satisfaction.

In previous battles, as long as mountain artillery was deployed, the Chinese army's positions would often collapse. Even if some troops could hold on, they would suffer heavy casualties. The infantry could take the position with just a charge.

However, this time Takada Hirosuke misjudged the situation. At Chen Chengxing's request, the front line still dug a 2-meter-deep trench.

In such a deep trench, the 75mm caliber shells could not affect the soldiers huddled in the position at all except for hitting the inner wall of the trench.

The only effect of the Japanese artillery fire was to destroy the makeshift machine gun fire points.

But this thing only requires a dozen sacks, so it's not difficult to rebuild.

Inside the temporary command post of the Third Regiment, Li Yunlong looked at the heavily bombarded position through a telescope, feeling extremely envious.

"This mountain artillery is really TND powerful."

He thought again of the mountain artillery and infantry guns that had been stolen from him.

When building the position, Li Yunlong's eyes turned red when he learned that the independent regiment also had an infantry gun.

Now he only hated himself for being too greedy. If he had sent the mountain artillery to the brigade headquarters at that time, the brigade commander would definitely be too embarrassed to ask for another two infantry artillery pieces. Even if he had asked, he could at least keep one.

However, Li Yunlong's words were obviously hindsight. Given his style, no matter how many times it happens, he will choose to keep the spoils to himself.

"The Japanese are about to move." Chen Chengxing, who had been paying attention to the Japanese's movements, spoke up.

The frequency of the Japanese mountain artillery's bombardment is decreasing, and the infantry is also starting to move forward. This is a sign of launching an attack, and it is also the Japanese's common three-pronged strategy.

After the artillery bombardment, the infantry charges. If the infantry cannot charge, continue to bombard with artillery. If that doesn't work, launch a flank attack.

"I wonder which position the Japanese are going to attack?" Kong Jie said.

The place called Shaohukou was only a few hundred meters wide. Even if three deep trenches were built along the hillside, it would be impossible to accommodate three regiments of six or seven thousand people.

Therefore, they now only have one battalion each on the position, and the other troops remain in the reverse slope fortifications as reserves.

"No matter which position the Japanese attack, three infantry guns and two mortars are enough to give them a hard time." Chen Chengxing said casually.

In other words, the grenade launcher has relatively fewer shells, otherwise the grenade launcher alone would be enough to pose a sufficient threat to the Japanese infantry.

When facing a line of skirmishers, artillery bombardment is the most appropriate method.

After the frequency of shelling began to decrease, the captain of the first squadron of the Japanese army, who was responsible for the first wave of attack, drew out his command knife.

"Kill the chicken and give it to me!"

"Da da da", "Da da da", "Da da da".
"Thump, thump, thump." "Thump, thump, thump."
The Japanese light and heavy machine guns opened fire at the same time to provide cover for the infantry.

"Taoci, here you go!"

After receiving the order, the Japanese infantry jumped out of the fortifications and began to charge forward in a standard skirmish line.

They are now 300 meters away from the Eighth Route Army's position. It is not the time to charge yet, so there is no need to call for the Sky Locusts.

After all, Tian Huang is quite busy, and he can only be called over to protect us when the time comes.

The troops at the front line did not shoot immediately when they saw the Japanese start to attack. It was not their first day in the army and they knew very well what their level was.

If the battle line is not pulled within 100 meters, it will be too disadvantageous to engage in a firefight with the Japanese. The Eighth Route Army does not have so many bullets to waste.

When the distance was almost right, the person in charge at the front shouted:

"Hit me!"

"Thump, thump, thump." "Thump, thump, thump."
"Da da da", "Da da da", "Da da da".
"Bang!" "Bang!" "Bang!" "Bang!".
The soldiers had been aiming for a long time, and when they heard the order to fire, they immediately opened fire. The Japanese who heard the gunshots immediately lay down subconsciously and began to look for a place that could provide them with some cover.

"Cover! Cover!"

"Grenade launcher! Fire quickly!"

As the Japanese grenade launchers opened fire, the firepower density on the Eighth Route Army's positions was inevitably greatly reduced.

The Japanese infantry also took this opportunity to continue their advance. They would not charge until they were within 50 meters.

"Let the artillery fire!" Chen Chengxing gave the order directly without asking Li Yunlong and Kong Jie for their opinions.

Now three of the five artillery pieces on the artillery position are from the New Second Regiment, so Chen Chengxing has absolute initiative.

"Boom!" "Boom!" "Boom!".
With the firing of infantry guns and mortars, the Japanese offensive was immediately curbed.

At this time, all the Japanese firepower points were within the range of the artillery shells. Faced with the danger of artillery shells, the Japanese heavy machine guns could only choose to move their positions.

"Damn it, how come the Eighth Route Army has so many cannons?!" Takada Hirosuke looked at the locust army that was bombed with a very ugly expression.

His confidence has always been based on his own artillery advantage.

Although mountain artillery is powerful and has a long range, it is impossible to hit the mortars and infantry guns behind the ridge.

If you want to fight against the enemy's mortars and infantry guns, you can only let your brigade's infantry guns move forward.

But the enemy had five artillery pieces, while we only had two infantry guns, so we would be completely beaten if we went up.

Moreover, he could see very clearly that although the Eighth Route Army on the opposite side had a position on the positive slope, it only had a trench. More of their people were on the ridge, and he had no idea how many people were on the reverse slope.

However, the other side has already taken out 5 cannons. Hirosuke Takada believes that they definitely will not only have one or two thousand people. The other side is probably either a brigade or a division.

If the enemy has heavy troops deployed on the reverse slope, even if the Locust Army can occupy the ridge, it will probably be difficult to gain a foothold.

Once we reach the ridge and a melee breaks out between the two sides, our mountain artillery will hardly be able to play a role.

"Order the troops to retreat!" Hirosuke Takada decisively decided to cut the losses.

Continuing the attack while the situation is unclear is likely to result in unnecessary casualties.

"Send a telegram to the wing headquarters immediately and request tactical guidance from the aviation team," said Hirosuke Takada.

As long as they send out planes, they will immediately know the situation on the opposite side clearly, and if necessary, the planes can also bomb the Eighth Route Army positions.

The Taiyuan Command attached great importance to Hirosuke Takada's request, after all, it concerned the safety of Fu'an.

After deployment, two light bombers soon flew towards Shaohukou.

When Li Yunlong heard the voice, his face changed drastically.

"It's a Japanese plane!"

"Hide the artillery immediately!" Li Yunlong said anxiously.

If the artillery is not hidden in advance, it will have no power to resist the attack of aircraft.

"Don't worry, they have already built the fortifications before, we just need to put up the camouflage net." Chen Chengxing signaled Li Yunlong to be patient.

Knowing the importance of Fu'an, it was impossible for Chen Chengxing not to be on guard against the Japanese planes.

Inside the fortifications, as long as the bombs did not hit them directly, they were basically not in much danger. After putting up the camouflage net, they would be even safer.

After all, the Japanese planes were hovering at high altitudes, and it was impossible for the human eye to see the specific situation on the ground.

Of course, if the Japanese planes really dared to fly at low altitude, the six Type 6 heavy machine guns that Chen Chengxing had ambushed would be able to teach them a lesson.

(End of this chapter)