Anti-Japanese War: I have unlimited assistance

Early the next morning.

The Imperial Guard Division dispatched an infantry battalion to seize Yujiashan and construct artillery positions nearby.

This position was, of course, deliberately abandoned by Kong Jie.

Yujiashan was just an ordinary hilltop position, without any concrete fortifications or tunnels.

Instead of fully utilizing the Independent Regiment's equipment advantage, they engaged in a fierce battle with the Imperial Guard Division at Yujia Mountain.

However, the Japanese soldiers of the Imperial Guard Division were somewhat smug because they had captured Yujia Mountain.

"The Independent Regiment's combat effectiveness is indeed inferior to that of the New First Regiment."

"In terms of firepower and combat effectiveness, we are far inferior. Our Guards Division has a very high chance of winning this battle."

Near Yujia Mountain, at the headquarters of the Imperial Guard Division, Iida Sadako glanced at the group of Japanese officers with a contemptuous look and spoke.

"According to the battle plan, we will launch a probing attack towards Datong."

Iida Sadako issued the order.

"Hi!"

The Japanese regimental commanders and battalion commanders suddenly lowered their heads, turned around, and walked out.

After the Japanese officers left, Iida Sadako's expression became more serious. He looked at the chief of staff who had walked in and said, "Imai-kun, this battle is of great importance and we absolutely cannot be careless. Have the scouts returned? How is the Eighth Route Army's defensive line?"

Chief of Staff Colonel Tadashi Imai breathed a slight sigh of relief. If Iida Sadako had truly underestimated the enemy, then the problem would have been serious.

Fortunately, the division commander's contempt was an act.

"Only a few scouts returned; the rest were killed by the Eighth Route Army cavalry, but they did manage to gather some useful intelligence."

Colonel Imai pointed to the map and said:
"The Eighth Route Army Independent Regiment, centered on Datong County, constructed various trenches and fortifications in the east, west, south, and north directions outside the city walls, as well as some concrete fortifications!"

Now that the Japanese have no air superiority in North China, they dare not send out reconnaissance planes to conduct high-altitude reconnaissance of the Eighth Route Army's defenses around Datong.

In recent days, the Japanese had also dispatched several batches of reconnaissance planes, but without exception, they were all intercepted and shot down by the Eighth Route Army's fighter jets.

Therefore, we can only send out scouts to conduct pre-battle reconnaissance, but that takes up a lot of scouts.

Last night, the search wing's soldiers were all elite reconnaissance soldiers and outstanding officers, and more than 400 of them were wiped out in one night.

It made Iida Sadako feel like his heart was bleeding.

Iida Sadako snorted coldly: "Just as I expected, Kong Jie's desire to attack is not as strong as Li Yunlong's!"

If the opponent were Li Yunlong, he would probably have led his troops to attack directly. How could he possibly be in a defensive posture?
Li Yunlong was a man of no strategy in battle; you could never guess what he would do next. Therefore, Iida Sadako felt a lot of pressure when facing Li Yunlong and the New First Regiment.

However, when facing Kong Jie, Iida Sadako felt less pressure and could use his tactical command ability to overwhelm the opponent.

"Commander, where is our division headquarters located?"

Colonel Imai asked in a deep voice.

"Let's set up the division headquarters on Yujia Mountain. The view from here is excellent, overlooking the entire Datong battlefield, which will make command easier."

"Iida Sadako said in a deep voice."

"This is unacceptable!" Colonel Imai immediately objected. "It's said that the Eighth Route Army's incendiary bombs are extremely powerful; one bomb can burn down half a mountain. A light bomber can carry about ten. If Eighth Route Army planes attack a mountain, wouldn't the division headquarters be..."

"Then where do you think would be a suitable location for the division headquarters?"

Iida Sadako frowned.

He also planned to conduct micro-management at Yujia Mountain, but he wasn't stubborn. Considering that the Eighth Route Army's aircraft were indeed powerful, he could only find another place to build the division headquarters.

After all, one's life is more important.

Colonel Imai pondered for a moment and then said, “Division Commander, this battle will probably last for more than three days. Why don’t we have the engineers dig an air-raid shelter on Yujia Mountain? We can set up the division headquarters in the woods at the foot of the mountain first, and then move the division headquarters up the mountain after the air-raid shelter is dug. At that time, we will not be afraid of the Eighth Route Army’s aerial bombs and incendiary bombs.”

“That makes sense.” Iida Sadako nodded coldly. “Then let’s do it this way. Order the detection team to keep a close watch on the eight high-power radio signals and pinpoint their location.”

Yujia Mountain is a barren land, and no one can hide on it at all.

"Hi."

Colonel Imai suddenly lowered his head and quickly went to make arrangements.

Iida Sadako stared at the map with narrowed eyes. He had also considered having the Imperial Guard Division bypass Datong and attack Ping'an County directly, raiding Li Yunlong's stronghold.

But that's a foolish tactic.

Not to mention that Ping'an County is surrounded by three major fortresses: Shahu Pass, Majiapo, and Jiangjunling, which the Imperial Guard Division cannot penetrate in a short time, even if such a powerful force as the Independent Regiment launches an attack from the rear and cuts off the Imperial Guard Division's logistical supply channels.

Within a week at most, the Imperial Guard Division will be defeated by the Independent Regiment.

Only by capturing Datong and using it as a transit point for combat supplies will the Imperial Guard Division have the opportunity and strength to attack Ping'an County.

More than half an hour later.

The Japanese troops from the Imperial Guard Division, tasked with a feint attack, began to assault the Independent Regiment's positions, intending to test the Independent Regiment's strength.

Outside Datong City, inside a large concrete pillbox, was the headquarters of the Independent Regiment.

Although this concrete pillbox was not as large as the air raid tower in Ping'an County, it was much larger than the pillboxes that the Japanese had built with shoddy workmanship. It had three floors and underground ammunition and food storage rooms, which could accommodate a company of soldiers for a long time.

On top of the concrete pillbox, there is also a twin-mounted 40mm anti-aircraft gun, about 20 meters high, which can be described as a mini anti-aircraft tower.

The third floor of the watchtower offers a much better view than the city wall, and its defensive capabilities are also far superior.

Therefore, Kong Jie set up the headquarters of the Independent Regiment here.

"Commander, the enemy has begun their attack!"

An aide reported to Kong Jie.

Kong Jie strode to the observation window, raised his binoculars and looked out. Sure enough, he saw several kilometers away, elite Japanese soldiers wearing yellow uniforms and steel helmets were driving the puppet troops toward the front line of the Independent Regiment.

In comparison, the morale and spirit of the puppet troops were far inferior to that of the Japanese soldiers; they were like dogs whose spines had been broken.

However, this was a probing attack by the Japanese. The Japanese artillery units were afraid of being bombed by aircraft, so they did not provide artillery support.

"There were about 200 Japanese soldiers and 200 puppet troops."

Kong Jie quickly assessed the enemy's strength and issued orders:

"Order the 1st and 2nd artillery battalions to fire on the attacking enemy for 10 minutes. After the artillery fire ends, order the cavalry battalion to charge up and eat dumplings."

Kong Jie planned to wipe out all the Japanese soldiers who were probing their attack.

"Yes!"

The chief of staff quickly went to convey the order.

Just then, the communications officer strode in, holding a telegram in his hand.

"Commander, Commander Li, the overall commander of the front, has replied!"

Kong Jie didn't turn his head, holding up his binoculars and staring at the battlefield: "Read it!"

"I am pleased to learn that your unit, last night in the Yujiashan area, used a combined ground and air tactic to annihilate more than 400 enemy search corps members, destroy 12 enemy tanks, and kill one colonel and one lieutenant colonel. This battle has yielded fruitful results and greatly boosted the prestige of our army."

"A special award of 17 new flamethrower tanks."

"I hope your unit will guard against arrogance and impetuosity, continue to implement the Party's policy of protracted resistance, mobilize the masses, and make new contributions to winning the final victory in the War of Resistance."

"Li Yunlong, commander of the New First Regiment!"

Kong Jie turned around, his face beaming: "A new flamethrower tank?"

As for this telegram, Kong Jie knew it was definitely not written by Li Yunlong; that bastard didn't have the writing skills.

It must have been written by Zhao Gang.

After wiping out the Guards Division's search corps last night, Kong Jie sent Li Yunlong a battle report.

The reward for the 17 flamethrower tanks was, of course, to destroy 12 Japanese tanks and kill one colonel and one lieutenant colonel.

Normally, Li Yunlong would definitely take a cut, and Kong Jie would never have received as many as 17 tanks.

However, since this was during the battle, Li Yunlong didn't have any middlemen taking a cut, and he gave all 17 flamethrower tanks he earned to Kong Jie.

The communications staff officer nodded with a smile: "That's right, it's a flamethrower tank. The new regiment has already been using it for the past two days. It's extremely powerful. Regiment Commander Li informed us to pick it up at 2 PM this afternoon at a location 3 kilometers west of Datong!"

"Haha..." Commander Kong was overjoyed. "So, that bastard Li Yunlong does have a conscience after all." (End of Chapter)