Even if I'm a useless bum at Whampoa Military Academy, I'll be invincible in the War of Re

On the western flank, a large number of dark figures stealthily crept towards the mountain ridge under the cover of night, while on the other side, a fierce battle raged—a classic example of feinting to the east while attacking the west.

The Japanese devils tried to use military strategy, but little did they know that Wang Guohua had seen through their schemes. The Chinese are the ancestors of the Thirty-Six Stratagems.

Just when the Japanese thought they had the upper hand, several flares shot into the sky, illuminating the night as brightly as day.

The Japanese soldiers who launched the sneak attack were blinded by the sudden bright light. Colonel Fu Rong's face changed drastically, and an ominous premonition rushed to the top of his head.

"Tap tap tap tap..."

"Boom boom boom!"

Hundreds of tongues of fire, some long and some short, erupted from the mountain ridge in an instant, sweeping down hordes of panicked Japanese soldiers—it was no different from a massacre.

Colonel Fu Rong's triangular eyes almost spit fire, his blood rushing to his head, and he nearly fainted.

Thinking their plan was brilliant, they were easily seen through by the Chinese, and the night raid became a complete joke.

"Baka yarou, those Chinese are so cunning!"

The Japanese soldiers who launched a surprise attack on the western mountain ridge suffered heavy casualties, and the rest were all pinned to the ground and unable to move an inch.

The defenders' firepower was too fierce; the Japanese's massed charges were suicidal, and even the few remaining artillery pieces could not reverse the tide.

The senior staff officer, steeling himself, advised:

"Commander, let the warriors retreat. Continuing to fight will only cause more grief."

"You idiot! It was all your bad idea, you useless piece of trash!"

Colonel Fu Rong swung his arm and slapped him twice. The senior staff officer looked as aggrieved as a wronged little wife. He had praised him as a "genius" before, but now he was called a "useless person".

"You idiot! What are you standing there for! Order a retreat immediately!"

The senior staff officer left as if granted a pardon. The regimental commander was furious, so it was best to stay away, or he might lose his teeth.

The regimental headquarters sounded the retreat horn, and the attacking Japanese troops retreated in a panic, showing no regard for their dignity.

The Sixth Regiment did not pursue, as fighting in the dark could easily turn into chaos. Wang Guohua decided to stop while he was ahead and continue to hold his ground.

After suffering heavy losses, the 63rd Infantry Regiment became quiet and did not launch a new attack until dawn, but failed to recover the ground lost during the night.

The soldiers of the Sixth Regiment calmly fought back and repelled two Japanese attacks in succession, making Colonel Furong realize the reality that they could not break through Heifeng Pass on their own and had to request tactical guidance from the brigade headquarters.

Major General Lai Gu initially thought he had misread the telegram, but after carefully confirming it, he angrily cursed:

"Baka yarou! That bastard Furong is getting more and more capable. He can't even take a small place like Heifengkou. He's completely disgraced the Imperial Army!"

Chief of Staff Juro Abe interjected:

"General, the one defending Heifeng Pass is the famous Chinese general Zhao Yunwen. He graduated from the first class of the Whampoa Military Academy and is extremely difficult to deal with. It is said that the Ninth Division, the Eleventh Division, and even the Sixth Division have suffered losses at his hands. He is particularly good at defensive warfare."

Major General Lai Gu's expression softened somewhat, and he let out a cold snort:

"This is not an excuse for Furong-kun's defeat. The Raigani Detachment must not be blocked by the small Black Wind Pass."

"Order the 10th Field Artillery Regiment to reinforce Heifengkou and bombard it flat. I want to see whether the guerrilla column's backbone is tougher or the Imperial Army's steel is harder!"

Major General Lai Gu agreed to Colonel Fu Rong's request and sent the 10th Field Artillery Regiment to assist. As for the heavy artillery regiment reinforced by the front army, Heifengkou was not qualified.

While waiting for reinforcements, the 65th Infantry Regiment became noticeably more subdued, with Colonel Furong burying his head in the sand and the 6th Regiment not launching any offensive.

At noon, the chief of staff rushed over to report:

"Commander, the reconnaissance company reports that the Japanese artillery has arrived, numbering in the dozens."

Wang Guohua hadn't expected the Japanese artillery to arrive so quickly. There was still half a day and a night left before the mission of blocking the enemy was completed. It would also take some time for the Japanese to deploy their artillery positions. The real hardship would only be a few hours. He just needed to hold on until dark.

Thinking of this, he said to the chief of staff:

"Notify the First and Second Battalions to extend their defensive lines. The Japanese infantry has at most two thousand men left. If necessary, send them into the mountains to fight. I refuse to believe that artillery can penetrate the mountains!"

Wang Guohua decided to change tactics, not to fight head-on, but to let the Japanese into the mountains. As long as Hill 1 was still in the hands of the Sixth Regiment, the Japanese wouldn't be able to cause any trouble.

Chief of Staff Guo Zhenxing said with concern:

"This could lead to the military orders not being carried out, and it would be difficult to explain to the commander."

Wang Guohua said with a firm expression:

"Orders are rigid, but people are flexible. Abandon Black Wind Pass, and the First and Second Battalions retreat into the mountains and forests. The Japanese only have two paths to take."

The first thing they did was chase the First and Second Battalions into the mountains, which was bound to disrupt their offensive rhythm. Without the support of artillery, the Japanese could not gain any advantage in the mountains.

The other option is to enter the valley, which would mean facing suppression from the directly subordinate artillery company. They would also have to attack Hill 1. With the isolated battalion holding out until nightfall, it shouldn't be a problem.

After Wang Guohua's meticulous analysis, Guo Zhenxing's concerns were dispelled, and he then went to notify the troops with ease.

At 2 p.m., the shelling began. Dozens of artillery pieces opened fire on the positions on the east and west flanks. The 1st and 2nd Battalions simply abandoned their positions and retreated several hundred meters to clear the main road, leaving the choice to the 63rd Infantry Regiment.

Colonel Furong was thrilled to discover that the previously stubbornly defending troops had collapsed, and he said triumphantly:

"Yoshi, cannons truly live up to their reputation as the god of war. I still prefer your unruly ways."

The senior staff officer chimed in, "Let's get this over with!"

"Judging from the fleeing Chinese, they only had a thousand or so remnants left, who were no match for dozens of heavy artillery pieces."

Should we pursue the remnants of the army, or continue south along the valley?

Colonel Furong said in a relaxed tone:

There's another high point deep in the eastern flank, with Chinese artillery on it, enough to block the valley, so it must be taken. Immediately contact the artillery regiment and have them open fire on the unnamed hill to the east!

Once the artillery fire shifted, the Third Battalion attacked from the east, while the Second Battalion attacked from the Zheng Gu Road, flanking from both sides. They captured the nameless hill before nightfall.

The senior staff officer gladly accepted the order and left. The Japanese artillery positions were located five kilometers away, which the 75mm howitzers could not reach. They could only rely on 16 105mm heavy howitzers, which greatly reduced the firepower intensity.

The artillery bombardment of the two flanks of the mountain range had been planned in advance and continued for half an hour, practically razing them to the ground. Because the 1st and 2nd Battalions withdrew in time, they suffered few casualties; the Japanese were simply wasting ammunition.

After the artillery fire extended, the 63rd Regiment launched an attack from the eastern and central fronts. Subsequently, the Japanese 105mm howitzer group turned to Hill 1, but it was too far away and there were no clear coordinates, so the hit rate was average.

News of the breach at Hutou Mountain, the Second Brigade's position, and Heifeng Pass spread, making the atmosphere tense, but Zhao Yunwen's face remained calm.

He believed Wang Guohua, and although the Sixth Regiment did not offer an explanation, Zhao Yunwen guessed Wang Guohua's intentions.

As a trusted confidant whom Zhao Yunwen had personally trained from the Second Security Regiment, Wang Guohua's tactical awareness had long since been transformed, and he was no longer bound by formalities.

Qiu Fengzi said with some concern:

"Should we send the Fourth Regiment to reinforce them?"

Zhao Yunwen shook his head and said:

"No need. The Fourth Regiment's mission is to guard Tiger Head Mountain. The Japanese have only broken through Black Wind Pass. The high ground is still under the control of the Sixth Regiment. With the isolated battalion and artillery company there, the Japanese will not be able to take the high ground in a short time."

The First and Second Battalions seem to have deliberately abandoned their positions to avoid the enemy's main force and let the Japanese advance into their inner lines. As long as the isolated battalion holds its key points, the First and Second Battalions on the outer perimeter will become the Japanese's nightmare.

Qiu the Madman seemed to have figured it out and said excitedly:

"You mean this was done intentionally by Commander Wang?"

Zhao Yunwen nodded and said:

"It can't be said to be intentional; it was more of an impromptu response. The Japanese used dozens of artillery pieces, and if the Sixth Regiment continued to hold out, the casualties would be huge."

Letting the Japanese troops penetrate deep into enemy territory is also a tactic, provided that the troops are under strict control and can be deployed and withdrawn at will. This is not difficult for the Sixth Regiment.

Qiu Fengzi suddenly realized that the Nationalist army would not dare to use this tactic, as it would most likely result in a crushing defeat and backfire.

After Zhao Yunwen's analysis, everyone felt more confident and patiently watched the battle.

In the direction of Heifengkou, the Japanese troops in Dongling were entangled by the First Battalion and made slow progress, while the Japanese troops in the central valley advanced deep into the valley, killing their way several miles into the valley.

Their luck ran out. Shells rained down from the direction of Hill 1, causing heavy casualties among the Japanese. The battalion commander cried out in terror:

"Enemy attack!"