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

The artillery fire lasted accurately for half an hour, and the isolated battalion's position was quickly cleared. Then, several hundred Japanese soldiers charged in from the artillery positions. This was standard Japanese tactic, but it was a bit overconfident. They should have at least tested the waters one more time.

The Japanese advanced very quickly, reaching the front lines in a short time. The defending positions were blown up without warning, with thirty or forty light and heavy machine guns and hundreds of rifles and submachine guns firing at the Japanese. The firepower never disappointed the Japanese.

Yang Guai has grown into a true commander and has been promoted to company commander, leading his entire company in battle.

The battlefield is a cruel filter, especially for rank-and-file soldiers. Those who survive a few battles can be promoted. Even Xiao Hubei was promoted to squad leader and no longer served as a machine gunner.

Yang Guai's Eighth Company defended the central route, facing the Japanese attack head-on. They were under the most pressure, but also eliminated the most Japanese soldiers.

The crossfire from six M1919 medium machine guns almost completely blocked the Japanese advance, killing a large number of enemy soldiers and pinning them down.

As a company commander, killing the enemy was no longer Yang Guai's main job, but his Springfield sniper rifle was still a nightmare for the Japanese in firefights.

In a short time, he shot and killed three Japanese soldiers, one officer and two veterans, with every shot hitting its mark.

In positional warfare like this, Yang Guai's role in command is minimal; his main function is to boost morale and kill the enemy.

Yang Guai spotted a Type 92 heavy machine gun, but his rifle couldn't reach it, so he shouted to the communications officer:

"Quickly notify the mortar unit to take out the machine gun on the left!"

The communications officer quickly ran along the longitudinal trench towards the last trench, which they shared with the heavy machine gun detachment. It was more than a hundred meters away from the first two trenches.

The fire support platoon was divided into a machine gun platoon and a mortar platoon. Each platoon had three groups of five men each, equipped with an M1919 medium machine gun or a 60mm mortar. Including the platoon leader, deputy platoon leader, and two communications officers, the total number of men was 36.

It comprises three infantry platoons of 54 men each and one fire support platoon, plus an 8-man company headquarters, for a total of 206 men.

八连是满编，装备6挺M1919中型机枪、3门60迫击炮和6挺M1918博郎宁自动步枪，另每个班装备2挺冲锋鎗、两支春田狙击步枪，剩下的全部是春田步枪，这就是107师鹰械连的标配。

The 648th, 647th, and 644th Regiments all had this configuration. The 643rd, 645th, and 646th Regiments were equipped with either domestic or Japanese weapons. The difference was that they all used rifles. The domestically equipped regiments were equipped with German or German-style rifles, all with a 7.92mm caliber. The 645th Regiment used Type 38 rifles.

Considering that the captured weapons sometimes cannot be processed, Zhao Yunwen will always retain a portion of the Japanese-equipped regiments and gradually phase out the domestically-equipped regiments, eventually leaving only the Japanese-equipped and Angkor-equipped regiments.

The mortar unit had been concealing its strength until it received Yang Guai's order. The platoon leader ordered three mortars to fire simultaneously, and the shells accurately covered the area where the heavy machine gun was located, with a kill zone of dozens of meters in radius.

The Type 92 heavy machine gun was blown to pieces, and almost all of the 15 machine gun squad members were killed or wounded, which frightened the other heavy machine guns into ceasing fire.

Yang Guai exclaimed in praise:

"Alright, let's fight like this, fuck that son of a bitch to death!"

With the addition of mortar units, the Japanese became even more passive in their fighting. Major Kawasaki, enraged, roared and insanely issued an order for indiscriminate shelling.

The adjutant quickly stopped him:

"Kawasaki-kun, the warriors are still up there. The two sides are only about 100 meters apart, so it's easy for them to get hurt together."

"Kitajima-kun, true warriors fear neither death nor life! Fire!!"

Captain Kitajima could only give orders to the field artillery battalion. The 75mm howitzers had a large error margin when firing from several kilometers away. When the shells came down, they would either be far from the position or both sides would be blown up.

Because the isolated battalion had earthen fortifications for protection, the Japanese suffered even greater casualties.

The soldiers of the isolated battalion fought back under artillery fire, almost overwhelming three companies of Japanese soldiers, with an exchange ratio of at least three to one.

Company Commander Captain Chiba was extremely frustrated, his eyes practically spitting fire. He had never fought such a humiliating battle before.

"Useless, a bunch of useless trash!"

"Thrust, thud!"

Captain Chiba couldn't hold back any longer. He shooed away the useless soldiers lying on the ground and continued the charge. He couldn't let the 40th Infantry Regiment lose face any more.

Seeing the Japanese soldiers rushing forward recklessly, Yang Guai was overjoyed and excitedly shouted:

"Brothers, beat them to a pulp!"

He wasn't idle either; he aimed at the Japanese soldier with the Japanese flag raised on the tip of his gun and fired. The Japanese soldier fell to the ground. Yang Guai's eyes were completely unmoved, as if he were killing a chicken or a dog.

The soldiers of the Eighth Company unleashed their full firepower, and the Japanese soldiers fell in rows, unable to break through the fire net. It was no different from sending them to their deaths.

The main casualties of the isolated battalion came from Japanese artillery fire. Fortunately, they were all hiding in trenches and wearing M35 German-style steel helmets. The trenches and helmets blocked most of the shrapnel damage, and the casualties were within acceptable limits.

Xiao Hubei chose a Springfield rifle; the submachine gun had a lot of recoil, and he wasn't used to using it.

As a squad leader, he was also equipped with a pistol, but it was a captured "turtle box" pistol, which could be used in close combat. The company and platoon leaders were equipped with 20-shot Mauser pistols.

Little Hubei had already taken down two Japanese soldiers, but his killing efficiency was far less than when he was a machine gunner. His experience as a machine gunner had forged a strong heart in him. Although Little Hubei was not yet 17 years old, he had already killed over a hundred Japanese soldiers, all of whom were veterans from top-tier divisions.

Xiao Hubei's expression was blank as he mechanically aimed, fired, cocked the bullet, and the Japanese soldier fell down—all in one smooth motion.

Captain Chiba had been hiding behind the other Japanese soldiers, but as more and more soldiers fell, he became afraid!

The defenders' firepower was too strong, and they couldn't break through at all. Just as he was about to order his men to lie down, a rifle bullet hit him in the face, instantly turning his face into a gruesome and unsightly mess.

Xiao Hubei shot and killed another Japanese soldier. Although he was a captain and company commander, his emotions remained relatively calm.

With Captain Chiba falling, the morale of the Japanese soldiers, which they had been holding onto, collapsed instantly, and they retreated in droves, with no one caring about the reputation of the 40th Regiment.

Major Kawasaki was so angry that he cursed:

"Baka yarou, a disgrace to the Empire!"

"Useless, a bunch of useless trash!"

"fire!!!"

The enraged Major Kawasaki gave the order to fire the shells, simply to vent his frustration; he was now too ashamed to face Colonel Nagano.

The soldiers of the isolated battalion were already used to this way of fighting. As soon as the Japanese were defeated, the company and platoon leaders blew their concealed whistles. The piercing whistles echoed across the position, and the soldiers rushed into the anti-artillery bunkers, leaving only a few observation posts and two machine guns on duty.

Shells rained down, destroying trenches section by section, but no one was afraid.

Southwest of the county town, on an unnamed hill, lies the headquarters of the 107th Division.

The fighting on the outer perimeter drew Zhao Yunwen's close attention. Although he already knew the outcome of the Battle of Pengcheng, this did not affect the 107th Division's fighting.

After receiving 3,000 replacement soldiers and exchanging them for 2,000 veterans from the Northwest Army, the division's strength had increased to over 26,000 men, no less than a first-class Japanese division.

Equipped with 12 105mm heavy cannons, plus dozens of 75mm cannons and infantry guns, and with the ability to rent aircraft to join the battle at any time, it was essentially in control of the air. It could cripple a portion of the Japanese forces. If the Japanese wanted to take Yixian, they would have to pay with their lives.

The 10th Division was an old rival of the 107th Division. Now that they had run into each other, Zhao Yunwen didn't mind crippling them once again.

As expected, the Japanese devils did not stop. The North China Area Army dispatched more than 30 aircraft, which came straight towards Yixian County with murderous intent.

Zhao Yunwen could not swallow this insult and immediately called the system;

"Chief, immediately rent a squadron of Lightning fighter planes and leave the Japanese with no chance."

【Received, will arrange it immediately, no problem!】

Zhao Yunwen smiled happily; there was more to watch.