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

Chief of Staff Colonel Tsutsumi Fukagi already had a plan in mind, and was just waiting for Lieutenant General Isogai to ask.

"Your Excellency, the 107th Division under Zhao Yunwen is very strong. Half of the previous defeat of the Seya Detachment was due to them."

At Heifengkou and Hutoushan, the 107th Division consumed a large portion of the Imperial Army's fighting strength and destroyed most of the heavy artillery of the 10th Field Artillery Regiment through surprise attacks, which led to a significant reduction in firepower in the Taierzhuang direction.

During this period, I thoroughly researched Zhao Yunwen's records. His troops were highly skilled in city defense. Before the battle, they reinforced the fortifications of Yixian County, constructing numerous permanent bunkers. The Nagano Regiment's offensive on the front was progressing slowly. If this continued, by the time the 5th Division captured Linyi, Yixian's defenses might still be intact.

Colonel Tsutsumi paused deliberately at this point, wanting to gauge the division commander's reaction to avoid provoking resentment.

Lieutenant General Isogai's expression softened slightly, and he nodded, saying:

"Di Bujun's analysis of the defense of Yixian is very insightful. Just tell me your response plan."

Colonel Tsutsumi, having received Isogai's approval, was greatly encouraged and continued:

"Commander, military strategy is nothing more than the two paths of orthodoxy and unorthodoxy. Use orthodoxy to engage, and unorthodoxy to win. Since we cannot break through from the front in a short time, we should outflank from the flank and send a strong force to go around to the rear of Yicheng to attack its rear and cut off its retreat. The 107th Division will be thrown into chaos, and Yicheng can be taken down in the process."

"Well done, Mr. Tsubasa, that's a brilliant plan. Which direction do you intend to break through from?"

"Your Excellency, the eastern mountainous area is the junction of the 107th Division and the 20th Army Corps. Even if we can penetrate through, if the 20th Army Corps blocks our retreat, the penetrating troops will be in danger. General Tang and his 20th Army Corps are the elite of the Chinese Central Army. The Imperial Army cannot afford to take this risk."

In contrast, the western route, while also featuring mountainous terrain, consists mainly of low hills that can be bypassed.

After looking down at the map, Lieutenant General Isogai said:

"The 107th Division should also have backup plans on the western front, but without reinforcements from other units, and constrained by logistical limitations in the mountains, there won't be many troops available. Sending a regiment for a flanking attack would be sufficient."

"Your Excellency the Division Commander is wise. I suggest that we send the 63rd Infantry Regiment and the 10th Cavalry Regiment. Fukuei Shinpei is deeply ashamed of the disastrous defeat at Taierzhuang. Desperate troops can be used."

"Alright, then send the 63rd Regiment over there and tell Fu Rong-jun that they should be ashamed and then strive harder; this is their last chance!"

Colonel Tsutsumi gave a "yes" and left. Lieutenant General Isogai's expression turned grim. It wasn't just the 63rd Infantry Regiment that needed to redeem themselves; the entire Isogai Division needed to fight a battle to turn things around, and the 107th Division was their chosen stepping stone.

Zhao Yunwen sneezed several times for no apparent reason and couldn't help but curse:

"Which bastard is plotting against me again! Do you think I'm a pushover?"

After Zhao Yunwen finished cursing, he laughed. He was just a well-known good-for-nothing from Huangpu Military Academy. He shouldn't get cocky just because he won a few battles.

He first scanned the area with the mini-map and quickly spotted the uninvited guest, thinking that this must be the person who had his eye on him!

A moment later, the chief of staff burst in, holding a telegram in his hand, and loudly reported:

"Commander, Brigade Commander Zhang is calling. A unit of the Japanese is flanking the 322nd Brigade's position."

After reading the telegram, Zhao Yunwen said:

"That old devil Isogai has quite the grand scheme, with several thousand Japanese soldiers and over a thousand cavalrymen. He's got a lot to offer!"

Telegraph Zhang Yi: If the Japanese cavalry tries anything funny, let them penetrate deep into our lines; just hold off the infantry. Our cavalry regiment should also warm up.

Northeast of Yicheng, Lijia Village, Fifth Company Position

Company Commander Wu Jiang, his expression grave, said to the platoon leaders with a grim face, "The Japanese troops are coming in with great force; judging by their size, they are at the battalion level."

"The real test has come. The Japanese have amassed a large force and are preparing for the attack. There are thousands of them."

Tell the brothers of the Fifth Company to be prepared to fight to the death with the position.

Behind us are the city walls; there's no way to retreat. We'll hold our ground as long as we're alive!

Platoon leader Niu Lehan said nonchalantly:

"Company commander, it's just death. The brothers have long since disregarded life and death. If the Japanese want Lijia Village, then they'll exchange it for lives."

The third platoon leader loudly echoed:

"Company Commander, you don't need to worry about morale. The brothers are satisfied if they kill one, and they'll make a profit if they kill two. The Fifth Company's position isn't easy to take either."

Seeing that morale was high, Wu Jiang stopped arguing and said loudly:

"Alright, then let's give the Japanese a good welcome. We need to keep a close eye on their suicide squad members and grenade launcher operators. We absolutely cannot let them fire grenades into the trenches."

Mortar units will operate separately, and you are granted the right to fire freely. Focus your fire on Japanese machine guns and grenade launchers; if infantry guns are within reach, eliminate them first.

After the mobilization meeting, the platoon leaders returned to their respective battle positions. Like the left flank positions, the core position of Lijiacun was located in the northwest of the village.

The position consisted of anti-tank ditches, barbed wire, trenches, and seven bunkers.

The seven bunkers are arranged in a crescent shape, one main and six secondary, five in the northeast and two in the east, forming a line with three trenches to protect the northeast and east sides of the city wall and assist in the defense of the central route.

The Japanese had previously launched a probing attack and thus had some understanding of the defenses of the positions. Major Nishihara said to the artillery battalion commander who was cooperating with the operation:

"These seven bunkers and the trenches that are connected in a line are the biggest obstacles to the Imperial Army's attack and must be eliminated."

Those trenches, barbed wire, and bunkers were all leveled, ultimately destroying the Chinese defense system and opening up a path for the infantry to attack.

The regimental artillery battalion commander, completely disregarding the small village, arrogantly stated:

"Nishihara-kun, you overestimate the Chinese. They number at most a few hundred and cannot withstand the attack of an Imperial Army infantry battalion and artillery battalion. The task of destroying the Chinese field fortifications will be assigned to the artillery battalion. You can rest assured and wait to collect the corpses of the Chinese. I'm afraid many of the corpses have already been blown to pieces."

Seeing that the artillery battalion commander was full of confidence, Major Nishihara didn't want to spoil the mood, so he didn't say anything more. He also acknowledged the strength of the field artillery battalion.

At the Fifth Company's position, Wu Jiang did not leave any reserves. The Japanese were coming in a fierce manner, and he dared not be careless. He went all out, and everyone hid in the anti-artillery bunkers on the flanks of the trenches. Only a small number of observation posts were left to guard the position, so as to avoid too many casualties.

The Japanese artillery bombardment arrived as scheduled, row after row. The soldiers of the Fifth Company could only huddle in their bunkers and silently endure the bombardment, praying for better luck.

The field artillery battalion had more than a dozen cannons with astonishing power. Much of the Fifth Company's defenses were destroyed, and sections of trenches were leveled.

Second Battalion Commander Wang Minghui, worried that the Fifth Company's position might be lost, said to the deputy battalion commander:

"The Japanese have invested heavily. Quickly ask the regimental commander for help. Even just firing a few rounds of shells at the Japanese artillery positions would be fine. We absolutely cannot let them become too arrogant and disrespectful."

The deputy battalion commander was waiting for Wang Minghui's words. He was also worried about the Fifth Company, not because he was worried about losing the position, but because he was afraid of losing the entire unit.

They were all old comrades, and as the former company commander of the Fifth Company, he had a special affection for the company.

The Japanese artillery positions consisted of more than a dozen cannons divided into several groups, with all the cannons pointing towards the Fifth Company's position. A volley of shells was fired, and the gunners, shirtless, were carrying the cannonballs, creating quite a lively scene.

A volley of shells rained down from the sky, hurtling towards the Japanese artillery barrage like the Grim Reaper. The commander screamed in terror.

"Baka yarou, enemy attack!"

His desperate attempt to stop it with his eyes only resulted in him watching the shells fall and instantly engulf the three cannons.

"Baka yarou, that's a group of Imperial mountain guns! Where did they come from?"

No one had time to answer his question; everyone was busy moving the cannons and couldn't afford to get hurt.

The shells were incredibly accurate, as if they had eyes, completely unlike the professional skills expected of Chinese artillery. The field artillery battalion suffered heavy losses in personnel and equipment.

Major Nishihara's face was shrouded in gloom; artillery being bombed before the infantry charge was not a good sign.

But the arrow was already on the bowstring, and it had to be released; all that was left was to give the order loudly:

"Thrust, thud!"