Blood-Red Front

Because of the initial observation balloon, the 6th Regiment's mortar company was forced to fight a guerrilla war at this time.

"Has communication been established with the frontline observation posts?"

Upon hearing the sound, Fan Youyi, the mortar company commander, turned around and was very surprised to see Lin Zhiyuan and a dozen guards.

"Sir, what brings you here?"

"Your shelling speed is too slow; you can't even fire once in half a day," Lin Zhiyuan said.

"The enemy's counter-battery threat is too great," Fan You said with some helplessness.

100mm mortars are typically used within 3500 meters. Once fired, the muzzle flash and smoke will be immediately detected by the rising airborne troops, so they must run away immediately after firing.

Moving the mortars was easy, but maintaining telephone contact with the frontline observation posts was a real problem.

They could only rely on the communications soldiers running around to connect the wires, and the communications soldiers were almost exhausted.

Lin Zhiyuan knew the situation and naturally didn't blame them. Instead, he said directly, "From now on, I'll be the observer, and I'll find a deputy to assist me."

Fan You immediately patted his chest and said, "Sir, I'll be your deputy. I've already memorized all the coordinates of the front line."

Lin Zhiyuan nodded. "Set up the cannons immediately and prepare for shelling."

"The next round will consist of three rapid-fire shots, followed by an immediate relocation."

"clear!"

Because they need to move frequently, mortar companies don't carry too many shells; they only carry enough for one rapid-fire round, and they replenish their ammunition when they move on.

Crouching on a dirt slope, Lin Zhiyuan focused his attention on an infantry gun at the forefront.

"Do you see that rock 800 meters ahead of the 2nd Company, 3rd Platoon?"

Following Lin Zhiyuan's instructions, Fan You immediately located the target. "I see it."

"There's a small mound about 50 meters to the left, and behind it is an infantry gun."

The infantry gun was hidden behind a mound, and Fan You couldn't see it, but that didn't stop him from calculating the coordinates.

After relaying the coordinates to the entire company, Fan You raised the small flag.

"Cannon No. 1, one test shot!"

"Boom!" The shell landed about 20 meters to the left.

Fan You didn't make any adjustments. That's how mortars are; as long as the error is within a certain range, it's considered a hit.

"Three rapid-fire shots from the entire company!"

"put!"

"Boom!" "Boom!" "Boom!"...

When the test-fired shells landed, the infantry gun squad realized that their position had been exposed.

However, the rapid-fire mortar battery gave them no chance to escape.

Eighteen shells rained down, wiping out the entire 15-man infantry artillery squad. The infantry gun was twisted into scrap metal.

The observer who spotted the firing trail immediately reported the coordinates to the mountain artillery regiment below. The Type 94 mountain guns adjusted their angles to counterattack the mortar company, but by then the soldiers had already carried the six guns and run far away.

……

As time went on, the number of infantry guns on the front lines of the newly promoted army dwindled, and Okazaki finally realized something was wrong.

Okazaki lowered his binoculars, his brow furrowed.

"What's going on with the frontline troops? Why haven't the number of Xia army machine gun bunkers decreased?"

"Call the front lines immediately and ask what's going on."

"Hi!" The staff officer next to him quickly made a phone call to inquire.

However, the reply from the front lines took Okazaki by surprise.

"all?!"

"Yes, except for the 3rd Battalion, which was in reserve and did not take action, the infantry guns and heavy machine guns of the 1st and 2nd Battalions were all destroyed."

"Two of the 41-type mountain guns of the 11th Regiment were also destroyed by enemy counterattacks due to close-range firing."

"Baka! How could this be? Could it be the 6th Regiment of the Second Detachment of the Xia Army?" Okazaki felt his dead memories attacking him again.

"According to the intelligence we have, the enemy is the newly formed 404th Detachment," the chief of staff reported.

"404th Detachment? Where did this detachment come from? I suspect this 404th Detachment is actually the Second Detachment!"

"Send a telegram to headquarters requesting an investigation. I want to know which unit is on the other side."

"Hi!"……

The investigation by the newly promoted army was swift; just half an hour later, Okazaki obtained information about the 404th Detachment, including the names of the commanders of its subordinate regiments.

"Baka yarou! I knew it!"

"This familiar fighting style... it must be that damned 6th Regiment!"

"Lin Zhiyuan!" Gang Qi gritted his teeth and said, "You escaped from Lujia Town, let's see where you can run to now!"

"Pass on my order: the brigade headquarters is to move forward. I will personally command the 11th and 41st Regiments in the attack!"

"Hi!"

……

After the 6th Regiment dealt a heavy blow to the newly promoted army, Lin Zhiyuan had just returned to the command post when Guan Jianchu reported: "Sir, we just received news that the newly promoted army's balloons have been shot down."

"Oh? So fast?" Lin Zhiyuan was somewhat surprised.

It has only been two hours since the order was given, which is more than an hour ahead of schedule.

"Our previous estimate was wrong," Guan Jianchu said. "Our position is relatively high, so the anti-aircraft artillery didn't need to be pushed to the front line. Commander Mu found a hilltop and shot the enemy down."

"However, there is also bad news: the newly promoted army has been reinforced, and the 3rd Regiment of General Mountain has also engaged in combat with the enemy."

"How is the situation with the 3rd Regiment?" Lin Zhiyuan asked.

"The enemy opposite the 3rd Regiment should be the 11th Regiment, but their offensive doesn't seem very urgent. The intensity of the firefight between the two sides is not very high. In the first wave, each side only suffered a dozen or so casualties."

"Tell Sun Zhongmin not to let his guard down. This is just the beginning. The enemy will likely launch several fierce attacks in the last two hours of the afternoon."

"Furthermore, now that the enemy's observation balloons have been destroyed, the mountain artillery battalion can be more unrestrained and focus its attacks on the Rising Army's supply and reinforcement lines."

Aside from its slightly shorter range, the 100mm mortar boasts great power and a high rate of fire, making it perfectly capable of easily cutting off reinforcements from attacking forces.

……

After the 14th Brigade's headquarters moved forward, Okazaki immediately summoned Inayoshi, the commander of the 41st Regiment.

Standing outside the command post, Okazaki pointed to Niutou Mountain and said, "Inayoko-kun, do you know which Xia army unit is opposite us?"

Daoheng shook his head.

To this day, they have not yet breached the position, so naturally they have not captured any prisoners or seized any soldiers' identification cards.

"The 6th Regiment!"

Upon hearing the name of the 6th Regiment, Daoheng's expression changed drastically.

In the Battle of Lujia Town, the regimental flag of the 41st Regiment was burned by fire. This was the first time since the founding of the army that a regimental flag had been destroyed, which made the 41st Regiment a laughing stock of the entire army.

Although the regimental flag was set on fire, and there is a legal opportunity to replace it, this is the first time such an incident has occurred, and no one knows whether it can be replaced.

However, if they can avenge their defeat, the probability of the 41st Regiment regaining its regimental flag will greatly increase.

"Brigade Commander, please give the 41st Regiment a chance to avenge this defeat!" Inayoshi shouted.

Okazaki nodded. "That's why I called you here."

"I have already notified the 22nd Tank Battalion, and they will provide you with full support."

"Inayoko-kun, this is the 41st Regiment's last chance."

"Thank you, sir!"

Inayoshi bowed again.

"No one in the 41st Regiment will leave the battle alive until we capture the enemy's hilltop position!"

……