Chinese martial arts! Grandmaster

Chapter 285 Hit! I took down a colonel!

After the Kwantung Army entered the territory of Nantongzhou.

Colonel Hisakichi Takahashi led his troops to follow Sakata Takeo three kilometers behind, responsible for covering the rear.

The rearguard was mainly under the command of Hisayoshi Takahashi.

He was the true commander-in-chief of the army; Fujita was merely his assistant.

In terms of rank, Hisakichi Takahashi was a colonel, while Tsuyoshi Fujita was only a major.

Although Takeo Sakata greatly admired Tsuyoshi Fujita.

but.

Like Higashimon Goro, Takahashi Hisakichi looked down on Fujita Tsuyoshi and held him in utter contempt.

How can a defeated general be considered brave?
If Fujita Tsuyoshi truly possessed exceptional military talent, he wouldn't have suffered such a crushing defeat when the Matsusaka Army attacked Qingdao.

He never understood why Takeo Sakata valued Tsuyoshi Fujita so much.

Is it simply because Fujita Tsuyoshi was a top student who graduated from the Imperial Army Academy?

at this time,

Takahashi Hisakichi led his troops, and it looked like they were about to enter the territory of Nantong Prefecture together with the Sakata Army.

There is no danger!

He finally breathed a sigh of relief.

but,

He soon discovered that the Ximen Hall army of the Great Qian Dynasty was in hot pursuit behind him.

"Baka! These Daqian people actually dare to pursue our Kwantung Army!?"

Takahashi Hisayoshi couldn't help but roar.

He was originally one of the bravest colonels under Sakata Takeo, and was a skilled and courageous warrior.

After retreating from Matsue Prefecture, Takahashi Hisakichi remained dissatisfied.

He didn't understand why they had to retreat.

Was it all because we lost the artillery battle?

When the Sakata Army faced the Northern Russians, they had twice the number of troops, yet they were still defeated by the Sakata Army.

Before the siege had even begun, they ordered a retreat.

Fortunately, he had followed Sakata Takeo for a long time and knew that Sakata Takeo would never order a retreat without a reason.

If it were any other commander, he would have already clamored against the withdrawal.

at this time,

Upon seeing the army of the Western Gate of the Great Qian Dynasty, they actually pursued from behind.

He was enraged and ordered the Kwantung Army to form a battle formation to meet the enemy, preparing for a major battle with the pursuing Ximen Tang army.

Because this is not an open space; the surrounding environment is a passageway through a valley.

Even if Ximentang's army wanted to use a flanking maneuver, it would be impossible for them to do so.

Therefore,
Takahashi Hisayoshi had no need to worry about being outflanked or attacked from both flanks.

He stationed his troops in place, forming a circular formation.

At the forefront were the heavily armored soldiers, while the logistics soldiers were ordered to dig trenches.

The Japanese artillery battalion and heavy machine guns were behind the trench.

In this battle, he intends to deliver a crushing blow to the Ximen Hall of the Great Qian Dynasty.

quickly,

Xi Mentang's troops quickly caught up.

Upon seeing the Kwantung Army adopt a 'positional warfare' strategy, Ximen Tang's elite troops immediately dispersed and dared not concentrate too much.

They stopped at a distance and then began to deploy mortars.

have to say,

In terms of mobility, Japanese field guns were too cumbersome. Each field gun weighed more than 500 kilograms and needed to be towed by wheels.

The 60mm mortar from Ximentang weighs less than 20 kilograms, making it very convenient to carry.

This is why every soldier in the West Gate must be able to use a mortar.

Chen Jie made the use of muskets and mortars a compulsory course for all soldiers in Ximentang.

Hisakichi Takahashi stood on a sloping hill and looked into the distance through binoculars.

The pursuing elite troops of the Daqian Ximen Hall should number around ten thousand.

In front were cavalry, followed by light infantry, and then machine gunners and artillerymen.

To Takahashi Hisayoshi's surprise, the Nishimondo army did not have heavy armor soldiers.

and,

The battle formation was completely different from that of the Kwantung Army, giving people a very strange feeling.

The battle was divided into two combat units, one in front and one behind. The front unit was shaped like an arrow, followed by an arc-shaped battle formation.

This combines the 'arrow array' and the 'arc array'.

Although the terrain here is treacherous, making flanking maneuvers impossible.

However, the two flanks of Ximentang were staffed by elite special operations regiments, all armed with replica AK47 automatic rifles.

There were very few musketeers in the entire pursuing army.

After observing for a moment, Takahashi Hisakichi finally breathed a sigh of relief.

It seems that the army of the Ximen Hall of the Great Qian Dynasty is not very good at land warfare.

Such a dual-combination battle formation lacks depth and is not very defensive.

Without heavily armored soldiers, they can be easily overwhelmed!

Although highly mobile, the treacherous terrain of this place limits flanking maneuvers.

If we can break through the 'arrow formation' from the front, we can advance straight in and completely crush the arc formation.

Arc-shaped battle formations do indeed possess formidable combat power in open terrain.

but,

In such a narrow valley passage, setting up an arc-shaped battle formation is practically suicidal.

Because once the artillery blocks both sides of the valley, the arc formation will collapse without a fight.

Therefore,
Once the Kwantung Army destroys the foremost "arrowhead formation," it can press on and wipe out the Ximentang army of the Daqian Dynasty, thus securing victory in this battle.

It seems that the Great Qian Ximen Hall, which instilled fear in Major General Sakata Takeo of the Kwantung Army, was indeed very strong in defending the city.

But once they enter the field combat of the army, they are novices.

Hisakichi Takahashi was very excited at this moment, as the number of people on both sides was about the same.

He was confident that he could crush Ximentang's elite troops in one fell swoop.

Therefore, he ordered a change of formation to the Kwantung Army's most famous "bayonet formation" and launched a counterattack against Ximentang.

Heavy infantry, artillery, machine gunners, and musketeers cooperated with each other.

To cover Takahashi Hisakichi's retreat, Sakata Takeo provided him with ample firepower.

then,

Hisakichi Takahashi made a thousand heavily armored shield soldiers the tip of the 'bayonet formation'.

Following closely behind the heavily armored soldiers was a platoon of light artillerymen.

Boom boom——!
Before the troops move, the artillery fires first!

Takahashi Hisayoshi acted decisively, without any hesitation, and launched a counterattack against Ximen Tang's pursuers.

The best way to limit the power of artillery is to charge at high speed, close the distance between you and the enemy, and enter the blind spot of the artillery.

at this time,

Hisakichi Takahashi ordered his heavily armored soldiers to lead the charge, with artillery providing cover.

The Ximentang Special Operations Regiment had already seen this kind of 'bayonet formation' assault tactic before.

Just as the Kwantung Army was charging forward at breakneck speed, the Ximen Tang army did not change its previous battle formation.

At the very front of the arrowhead formation, a mortar was erected.

Meanwhile, heavy machine guns were set up in the 'arc battle formation' behind them.

More than 50 heavy machine guns were set up, covering the entire valley passage.

in addition,

More than fifty snipers were positioned on each side of the flanks.

Two-person sniper teams, equipped with replica 98K sniper rifles, are already in place.

Gun barrels were all aimed at the Kwantung Army artillerymen, machine gunners, and commanders who were charging at the forefront.

At the very front of the 'arrow formation,' everyone was lying prone on the ground.

No one carried bulky shields, but whether they were machine gunners or artillerymen, they all wore the same bulletproof vests and helmets as those provided by Simontang.

Chen Jie went to great lengths to ensure that bulletproof vests were widely available in Ximentang.

Bulletproof vests are completely different from assault rifles and require the use of high-polymer composite materials.

Therefore,
When the Ximentang Armory copied the bulletproof vest, it used material substitutes.

In terms of protection level, these counterfeit bulletproof vests are naturally no match for the bulletproof vests he originally brought over.

but,

These bulletproof vests are far more effective than the armor worn by heavily armored soldiers.

Not only is it lightweight, but it can also withstand attacks from ordinary musket bullets and shrapnel.

Protecting vital organs greatly enhances battlefield survivability.

Three kilometers!
— Two kilometers!
-

one kilometer!

-

Eight hundred meters!
The mortars in the Ximen Hall had not fired, seemingly waiting for the enemy to get closer.

When Takahashi Hisakichi led his troops to a distance of 800 meters.

Da da—da da—!
The heavy machine guns began to fire fiercely.

Takahashi Hisakichi was secretly pleased to see that Nishimondo had not used any cannons.

at this time,

He was startled when he heard the gunshot.

what's the situation?
How could the army of the Western Gate of the Great Qian Dynasty start firing at a distance of only 800 meters?
As expected, these troops of the Great Qian Dynasty's Ximen Hall were complete novices when it came to field battles.

When they defended the city, they were indeed very powerful, relying on their powerful artillery.

but,

Now that both sides have started positional warfare, the Ximen Hall army of the Daqian Dynasty is simply losing its composure.

Neither side has yet entered the effective firing range of 500 meters.

Wouldn't firing at this moment be a waste of bullets?
Takahashi Hisakichi no longer needed binoculars to clearly see the battle formation of the Daqian Ximen Hall army on the other side.

He shouted, urging his team to accelerate their charge and try to wipe out the enemy in one fell swoop.

but,

The moment he gave the order, he suddenly felt a burning sensation in his ears.

hiss--!
A sharp pain shot through my ear.

He couldn't help but wipe it with his hand, only to find his hand covered in blood.

"idiot--!"

Takahashi Hisayoshi couldn't help but roar.

If his head had shifted even slightly, it would have blown his head off with a single shot.

Almost simultaneously, screams and shouts echoed throughout the Kwantung Army's battle formation.

Artillerymen, machine gunners, heavily armored soldiers, and so on were all precisely eliminated by Ximen Tang's 'snipers' who were lying in ambush on both flanks.

"What kind of gun is this? How can it hit so accurately from such a distance?"

Hisakichi Takahashi felt his head buzzing and even forgot the pain in his ears.

The maximum range of a musket can reach 800 meters.

Even bullets from heavy machine guns can travel a distance of 800 meters.

but,

Whether it's a musket or a heavy machine gun, the accuracy is poor and the lethality is weak if the distance is too far.

Only when the range reaches 300 meters is the musket at its effective firing range.

Generally, heavy machine guns only have super-strong killing power at a distance of 500 meters.

At a distance of 500 meters, the bullet is significantly decelerated, making it almost impossible to penetrate the shield.

but,

The sniper rifle's effective range reached 800 meters, overturning Takahashi Hisayoshi's understanding.

Chen Jie certainly knew the effective range of a sniper rifle.

He did not use mortars, his purpose being to bring the Kwantung Army closer, lest the Japanese troops retreat and flee before he could even fire a few shots.

Eight hundred meters is the optimal attacking distance for Ximentang.

If they enter within 500 meters, the Kwantung Army could launch a counterattack, posing a significant threat to Ximentang.

Get started first!
Launching an attack from a distance of 800 meters not only suppresses the enemy's firepower but also allows them to take out the enemy's machine gunners and artillery first.

Therefore,
When Takahashi Hisakichi led his troops to within 800 meters, Chen Jie decisively ordered an attack.

At a distance of 800 meters, the firepower of a heavy machine gun is greatly reduced, and it may not even be able to penetrate heavy armor.

However, the purpose of the heavy machine gun was to slow down the enemy's charge; the real killers were the snipers that Simon had laid in ambush.

First, break the opponent's teeth and claws.

After the first round of sniper fire, approximately fifty people were killed.

Some people, after being injured, fell to the ground and screamed in pain.

The artillerymen and heavy machine gunners were taken out by snipers, which immediately slowed down the Kwantung Army's march.

Then the sniper rifles fired again in a second round.

Targeted sniping!

The targets included not only the Kwantung Army's artillery and heavy machine gunners, but also their commanders.

If the lower-level commanders of the Kwantung Army are eliminated, the entire Kwantung Army will fall apart.

Takahashi Hisayoshi covered his ears, sensing that something was wrong.

He truly lived up to his reputation as the most valiant colonel under Sakata Takeo, possessing unparalleled combat prowess.

He drew his command sword from his waist and shouted:
"Charge! Kill them all—!"

Tens of thousands of elite Kwantung Army soldiers could charge into the enemy's camp.

Then let's engage in hand-to-hand combat, a battle of bayonets!

Hisakichi Takahashi believed that once they entered close combat, the Kwantung Army would absolutely not lose to anyone.

No sooner had he finished speaking than a thud was heard.

Takahashi Hisayoshi suddenly fell to the ground, and a huge bloody hole appeared in his head.

He didn't even have time to struggle before he was killed on the spot!
As a commander of the Kwantung Army, he was a prime target for assassination.

At this moment, he was holding a samurai sword, and his colonel uniform was so conspicuous that it was impossible for him to easily avoid being sniped.

"Haha—you hit it!"

"I hit that guy, I hit him! That bastard is a colonel, the highest commander of this Japanese army!"

Niu Mang, from the elite sniper brigade of the Ximentang Special Operations Regiment, held the spent cartridge in his hand and shouted excitedly.

The barrel of the replica 98K sniper rifle in his hand was still scorching hot.

Xu Xiaodao, the captain of the elite sniper squad, observed through binoculars for a moment, then patted him on the shoulder and said:
"Well done! Niu Mang, I'm recommending you for a first-class merit for this sniping operation!"

"You're lucky, kid. You actually managed to take down a colonel in the Kwantung Army. You're even luckier than me!"

"I've been fighting for so long, and I still haven't personally killed the colonel!"

Hearing Xu Xiaodao's envious tone, Niu Mang's eyes widened, and he was very excited.

First class merit!

This is Ximentang's extremely high military achievement!
To know,
This was Niu Mang's first time fighting alongside his unit after joining the Ximentang Special Operations Regiment.

He was initially very nervous and never thought he could take down a colonel.

at this time,

Having received affirmation from Captain Xu Xiaodao, Niu Mang became even more excited.

He skillfully lay down and continued aiming, searching for his next target.

This is the Ximentang Special Operations Regiment cooperating with the main force in combat, not the previous jungle training exercise.

The special operations regiment is equipped with the best gear in the entire Ximen Hall, with each member carrying a replica AK47 assault rifle.

The elite squadron of the special operations regiment consists of reconnaissance special forces, each equipped with a replica of the 98K sniper rifle.

Unlike assault rifles, sniper rifles prioritize accuracy and range, and every component is highly precise.

In terms of range, the effective range of a sniper rifle is twice that of an assault rifle.

therefore,

On the flanks of the Ximentang battle formation, there were fifty sniper rifles on each side, posing an even greater threat to the enemy than artillery and machine gunners.

In the Kwantung Army, there were commanders ranging from second lieutenants to majors and colonels.

To distinguish ordinary soldiers from commanders, their uniforms were completely different.

Therefore,
Even from a distance of several hundred meters, it is easy to distinguish who the commander is.

This saved Ximentang's snipers a lot of trouble.

Through the binoculars, one could distinguish between ordinary Kwantung Army soldiers and officers.

Niu Mang is indeed very lucky!

At this moment, Colonel Hisakichi Takahashi actually raised his sword and shouted "Charge!" Wasn't he courting death?

Bang, bang, bang—!
Next,
As Takahashi Hisakichi was shot in the head, the other Kwantung Army commanders fell one after another.

Although these Kwantung Army officers were all wearing armor.

but,

A sniper's target is never the body, but rather a vital organ, aiming for a single, fatal shot.

head shot!

This is the sniper's primary target.

Actually, Takahashi Hisakichi should have been alert from the moment his ear was hit.

This means someone is targeting him!

Unfortunately, his sixth sense of danger couldn't detect that far, and he was hit a second time.

He didn't even have time to utter a sound before he was shot in the head and killed instantly.

(End of this chapter)