Blood-Red Front

After the initial bombing, the bombers left, leaving only 12 fighter planes circling and attacking over Moling.

The priests' anti-aircraft battalion couldn't cover the entire Moling, so after discussing it with Muya, the battalion commander decided to set a trap.

Afterwards, Mu Ya called Lin Zhiyuan, "Zhiyuan, I want to deploy a heavy mortar company as bait. As long as the newly launched fighter jets take the bait, we can definitely shoot down a few."

"Sure," Lin Zhiyuan agreed immediately. "I'll have the mortar company of the 6th Regiment cooperate with you."

"It's just that the 12.7mm heavy machine gun has already been deployed to the front lines and can't be used for air defense."

Mu Ya chuckled. "I've known you for almost 20 years. After the 12.6mm heavy machine gun was transferred out, I never intended to get it back."

"I'm just borrowing it; I'll definitely return it to the priesthood later," Lin Zhiyuan explained forcefully.

"Really? Then I'll wait." Mu Ya laughed and hung up the phone.

Li Zhiyuan instructed Guan Jianchu: "Notify the 6th Regiment's mortar company to move to Yuanjia Village and follow the instructions of the priests."

"Tell them to keep the number of people firing to a minimum."

"Also, make sure to find a location with a basement or cellar. Once the aircraft begins its dive, the artillerymen must immediately take cover, regardless of the safety of the mortars."

For Lin Zhiyuan, artillery was more important than mortars.

"clear."

……

The 100mm mortars were moved very quickly, and the artillery positions were redeployed within half an hour.

To ensure each cannon was properly positioned to match its own cellar, the six cannons were spaced far apart, which was actually a good thing, preventing them from being hit by a barrage of attacks from the launch aircraft.

When the mortar company was setting up its positions, Muya had already given instructions that they should continue doing what they were doing before. Therefore, after the redeployment was completed, the mortar company resumed shelling based on the received coordinates.

The mountain artillery battalion and heavy artillery battalion had already ceased firing, and the heavy mortar companies of the other two regiments were also firing secretly. Therefore, when the mortar company of the 6th Regiment suddenly began to fire intensively, it immediately attracted the attention of the launch aircraft.

Four fighter jets flew towards this direction.

"Target spotted. All artillery positions in the air defense battalion are locked onto the aircraft in the 5 o'clock airspace."

"Currently at an altitude of 1000 meters, a distance of 1600 meters, and a speed of 350 kilometers per hour."

"Enemy aircraft are descending, dive! Dive!"

"Height 800, 600, 500..."

Muya broadcasts real-time information on enemy aircraft, and the anti-aircraft guns adjust their muzzle positions based on the data.

When the helicopter began strafing, Muya shouted.

"Altitude 280, distance 500, speed 420 kilometers per hour."

"Live fire!"

"Knock knock knock..."

Four 40mm anti-aircraft guns and twelve 12mm anti-aircraft guns suddenly opened fire, creating a large barrage in the sky.

"Anti-aircraft guns!"

The newly launched fighter jet didn't have a radio, but the squad leader was still shouting at the top of his lungs.

However, shouting was not enough to stop the shells. The leading fighter jet was hit and exploded in mid-air, and the fighter jets following closely behind also emitted black smoke.

The newly promoted squad leader frantically gestured to his wingman, and the two planes quickly gained altitude.

As for the one that was smoking, it was already turning around and running back.

The newly launched aircraft circled high in the sky, hesitant to land. Muya reported the coordinates in real time but did not fire. Meanwhile, the soldiers of the mortar company crawled out of the cellar.

As the mortars on the ground began firing again, the newly promoted pilot was caught in a dilemma.

Although they were prepared, the dive attack was still a desperate gamble, but if they ignored it, the 14th Brigade in Moling would be overwhelmed.

After thinking for a long time, the two fighter jets circling in the air suddenly began firing at high altitude.

Seeing the launch plane firing indiscriminately, Mu Ya was somewhat bewildered. She even focused her attention and scanned the area in front of the launch plane multiple times, thinking that there were Xia Kingdom planes that she hadn't seen.

But Muya ultimately didn't care.

After a short while, the newly launched aircraft turned around and flew eastward.

After those two planes left, other planes flew over to try and straf the mortar positions on the ground.

However, faced with the threat of air defense battalions, novice pilots dared not descend too low, and the fuel of novice aircraft was not unlimited, and various maneuvers were particularly fuel-intensive.

After several rounds of back-and-forth fighting, the first helicopter had to withdraw from the battlefield due to fuel shortages.

The planes left, and the heavy artillery resumed its bombardment, smashing the 14th Brigade's defenses piece by piece.

Hearing the explosions getting closer and closer, Okazaki asked, "Is there any more air support?"

The chief of staff shook his head. "Brigade commander, there are unusual movements from the Xia army on the eastern front. The air regiment has to focus its main efforts on the eastern front. Our second wave of support will not arrive for at least two hours."

During the Battle of Binxi, the naval air force alone deployed more than 400 aircraft, and there were always aircraft available in the air to provide support.

However, upon arriving in Kyoto, only 40 aircraft from the Army Air Force and 72 aircraft of various types from the Navy Air Force were available for combat. After deducting reconnaissance aircraft, only about a hundred aircraft were actually usable in combat.

Upon hearing that it would take another two hours, Okazaki completely gave up hope. By the time the plane arrived again, he would probably only be able to collect his body.

Okazaki, supporting himself with his command sword, stood up and looked at the people in the command post.

"Gentlemen, the defeat in this battle is entirely my fault."

"I hope you will hold your ground and fight to the death. Her Majesty the Queen will remember us."

Okazaki calmly gave a few instructions to everyone, then walked to a corner on the east side and knelt down on a white cloth with his legs together.

After taking off his general's uniform, folding it neatly, and setting it aside, Okazaki unbuttoned his shirt one by one before finally drawing his command sword.

Please.

"Hey!" The chief of staff stood at attention for the last time and saluted, then drew his command sword and raised it high.

Okazaki remained calm, gripped the blade, and plunged it into his left abdomen. Then, he swung it horizontally to the right, leaving a cut that pierced through his entire abdomen.

At the very instant Okazaki made his horizontal slash, the Chief of Staff simultaneously swung his sword and struck Okazaki on the neck, causing Okazaki to collapse forward and die.

Then, the chief of staff turned around and shouted, "The brigade commander is loyal to the Queen!"

"The rest of you, charge out with me! Today is the day we die for our country!"

"Long live the Empress!"

"kill!"

Everyone in the staff rushed out screaming.

Several soldiers carrying oil drums rushed into the command post, and soon, a raging fire broke out.

……

As the sun gradually set, the gunfire in Moling gradually subsided.

"Sir, the evacuation route is open!" Guan Jianchu reported excitedly.

"The following reports indicate that they are clearing out the remaining enemy forces and have captured a considerable amount of supplies, but unfortunately, many artillery pieces are buried in the rubble."

"We don't need to worry about the remaining enemies for now," Lin Zhiyuan said.

"Take all the spoils you can carry, leave one regiment behind to await reinforcements, and withdraw the main force from Moling to prevent further bombing by helicopters."

"What about those artillery pieces? We don't have enough transport capacity," Guan Jianchu said.

Guns and ammunition are easy to carry and can be taken away, but artillery and heavy artillery are not so simple to transport; they cannot be transported by manpower alone.

"It's simple," Qiu Yu'an said with a smile. "If we can't pull it, someone else can."

"Send a telegram to Commander-in-Chief Chiang, telling him that if he wants these spoils of war, he should send people to take them; if he doesn't want them, then blow them all up."

Lin Zhiyuan nodded. "Send the message like that, and at the same time, have him send men to wipe out the remaining enemy. We need to continue our advance; we don't have time to waste here."

The 150mm howitzer of the newly promoted army was indeed a good thing, but without shells, it was no better than a fire poker.

Their greatest value lies in boosting national morale.

……