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

The Second Battalion was not intimidated by the Japanese artillery fire. They fought fiercely against the Japanese under the bombardment. The machine gunners hid in the trenches, firing a few bursts before changing firing positions, making it difficult for the slow-reacting mountain guns to detect them.

In contrast, the artillery company's Type 2 mortars and M2 mortars were highly mobile and could be set up and fired immediately, posing a significant threat to the Japanese heavy machine guns.

More than 300 Japanese soldiers charged under the heavy firepower of the Second Battalion, but their casualties increased greatly as the distance closed.

The Japanese soldiers were not the type to give up easily; they completely ignored the deaths and injuries of their comrades around them and continued their advance.

When they reached within 100 meters, the Second Battalion's light firepower joined the battle, with hundreds of machine guns and rifles.

The Japanese soldiers finally couldn't hold out any longer and began to lie on the ground to fight back, putting them on the defensive.

Sniper Yang Yuan's favorite combat tactic has arrived: he hides in the trenches, appearing and disappearing unpredictably, rarely firing, but when he does, he always manages to get a kill.

Officers, sergeants, machine gunners, grenade launchers, and even veterans are all targets of his shooting; he is indiscriminate in his killing spree.

Soon, he locked onto another target, a seasoned veteran with excellent marksmanship, who almost sent Yang Yuan back to his hometown.

Yang Yuan was completely enraged. He was always the one who ambushed the Japanese. Anyone who dared to ambush him would die!

Koizumi Taro fired a shot casually, but he never expected to attract the attention of a killer.

He was an old Japanese soldier who survived the combined forces of Sichuan. He had his own ways of protecting himself and did not make a move easily. The two were locked in a stalemate.

Koizumi lay prone in the pit, only half of his head showing, wearing a steel helmet. He had to get the angle right, or he would be thrown off.

Yang Yuan adjusted the firing angle, gently pulled the trigger, and the bullet struck the left temple of the helmet. The helmet was pierced, and Koizumi died without pain, his eyes filled with disbelief.

He knew he had achieved a kill as soon as the bullet was fired, and without waiting to confirm the result, he retreated into the trench and moved to a backup firing position.

The Japanese machine guns were firing wildly, trying to suppress the Second Battalion's firepower and create an opportunity for the riflemen, but this only attracted several mortar shells.

Three 60mm mortars were fired in a triangular pattern, and the blast wave covered an area of ​​dozens of meters, killing not only the four machine gunners but also two other riflemen.

"Damn it, they seem stronger than before!"

Colonel Sukegawa's face was ashen. Although it was just a probing attack, the defeat was too humiliating. He was suppressed throughout the entire attack and could not see any hope of winning.

"Saeki-kun, let them take it down. It's embarrassing for them to stay up there."

Senior staff officer Major Saeki saw the difference in strength between the two sides, but he still stubbornly insisted:

"The Chinese have superior manpower and firepower, and they also occupy advantageous terrain. If the forces are equal, the Imperial Army will definitely crush them."

"Saeki-kun, there's no need to make excuses. The Imperial Army can still withstand some setbacks."

Have all the Chinese firing positions been marked?

Major Saeki nodded solemnly:

"Hey! I've marked the locations of all the firing points on the sketch. Once the coordinates are calculated, the artillery warriors will wipe them out."

"Good, very good. We absolutely cannot leave the enemy any way out. Immediately send a telegram to the division headquarters requesting tactical guidance!"

Colonel Sukegawa directly called in the division's artillery, determined to strike with deadly force against the 107th Division, which had given him a nightmare experience.

The artillery of the 16th Division was also replenished. This time, in coordination with the Chuan Brigade's attack on the city, the division commander gave them special permission to call in the division's artillery at any time.

It had 16 105mm mountain guns, 32 75mm mountain guns, and 12 anti-aircraft guns, making its firepower terrifying.

Although only one mountain artillery battalion arrived, it was enough to wipe out the Chinese army in Mengjiaji.

After receiving the order to retreat, the attacking Japanese soldiers took turns covering each other as they withdrew, taking away the seriously wounded and the dead with them, which shows their composure.

Li Musheng did not order a pursuit, but instead habitually crawled into the artillery shelter and quietly waited for the shells to fall.

The Japanese soldiers only knew two or three tricks over and over again, and the soldiers of the Second Battalion had long since figured them out, so they let them be arrogant.

The shells fell quickly, overwhelming the sky and shaking the earth. Each round of artillery fire destroyed a large number of fortifications, including artillery shelters.

If they were directly hit by artillery fire, an entire squad of brothers would be buried, with very few surviving.

Since the main force of the artillery regiment had not yet arrived, the artillery battalion that bombarded the Mengjiaji position this time was the 1st Mountain Artillery Battalion.

The 16 75mm mountain guns, though powerful, were not enough to render the 647th Regiment helpless.

Commander Qin shouted coldly:

"Are they taking advantage of our lack of artillery? An eye for an eye! Chief of Staff Mao, signal the artillery company to fire six rounds in rapid succession, targeting the Japanese artillery position! Bomb them!"

Colonel Sukegawa was very satisfied with the effect of the shelling. Most of the defenders' trenches were destroyed, leaving the area in ruins and a terrible sight.

"Good heavens, this is the Imperial Army's formidable firepower. One division is equivalent to all of China's artillery. What are they going to fight back with?"

Seeing that the regimental commander was in a good mood, Major Saeki chimed in:

"The Chinese are overestimating themselves. Modern warfare is fought with industry and steel. They even need to import a box of matches. They are worlds apart from the Empire."

Just as the two were getting into their game, a thunderous roar came from the direction of the artillery position. Soon after, flames shot into the sky, and screams could be faintly heard.

Although Colonel Sukekawa was somewhat reluctant to think in that direction, his expression betrayed him; the memory of Tangshan being dominated by the guerrilla column resurfaced in his mind.

He seemed a little too proud. The "guerrilla column" also had artillery, even though it was now in the shell of the 107th Division, its body and soul were just as strong.

"Damn it! The Chinese are cunning! Tell the warriors to be careful of the Chinese artillery."

Where Colonel Sukekawa could not see, the position of the 1st Battalion of the 20th Mountain Artillery Regiment suffered heavy damage, losing 5 artillery pieces, dozens of casualties, and a large number of shells were destroyed. The scene looked like a hellish landscape.

Fearing retaliation, the artillery company only fired six rounds, but the effect was obvious, effectively deterring the Japanese artillery and preventing them from shelling recklessly again.

The Japanese artillery then launched a counterattack, but it was too late; they only managed to bomb a few empty shells.

The artillery preparations ended hastily, but the Japanese did not give up the attack; they would not easily admit defeat.

With insufficient artillery fire, infantry was deployed to compensate. Colonel Sugawa increased his stakes, committing an entire battalion to launch a new offensive.

All four infantry companies were deployed to the battlefield, with machine gun companies, infantry gun platoons, and rapid-fire gun companies providing fire support, and mountain artillery companies providing long-range support.

Faced with the swarming Japanese troops, Battalion Commander Li Musheng was not afraid at all; instead, he shouted excitedly:

"Good, the more the better. The division commander has said long ago that the 16th Division are all beasts; wipe them out every time we see them!"

"Fire! Blow up that son of a bitch!"

The battalion's artillery company unleashed a barrage of ammunition on the enemy lines, firing twelve rapid rounds in one go, taking less than a minute.

Rows of shells exploded among the enemy ranks, each round of bombardment taking away many Japanese soldiers, leaving the ground littered with corpses and wounded.

The Japanese could only silently endure it, as the rate of fire of the Type 20 mortar was too fast, easily firing twenty rounds per minute.

Once the shell weighs several tens of kilograms, you can just carry the barrel and base and walk away. Catching them is extremely difficult, and most of the time you just waste shells.

The artillery bombardment wasn't about killing many Japanese soldiers, but mainly about demoralizing them and disrupting their formation; the rest was left to the infantry.

The artillery barrage had just ended when the light and heavy machine guns on the defending positions opened fire again, as if they were in a relay race.

The Second Battalion's defense was nothing special, but it was practical, relying on firepower and possessing an iron will to fight. They were defending their homeland, fearless of death.

As the distance closed, the Japanese casualties increased dramatically; every step forward required paying with lives.

Colonel Sukegawa felt a pang of bitterness. Whenever they encountered that man and his troops, Sukegawa's regiment would never have a good time.

"You bastard, Zhao Yunwen, what kind of monster are you?"

Unbeknownst to him, Zhao Yunwen and the 107th Division had become a mental obsession for Colonel Sukekawa, an obsession that he could not shake off, and perhaps only a victory could break it.

Can he really win?