On Shotai Road, 5 kilometers west of Lion Mountain, the Yoshino Infantry Regiment of the Japanese 3rd Brigade is marching eastward.

The distance from Taiyuan to Yangquan is almost 110 kilometers, and the Japanese army's forced march speed was 80 kilometers per day.

After receiving the order to assist Yangquan, the Yoshino Infantry Regiment immediately took a train from Yangquan Railway Station and set off eastward along Shotai Road.

However, Yoshio Shinozuka was afraid of being bombed by the train and planes, so the train traveled less than 40 kilometers, so he ordered the Yoshino Infantry Regiment to advance on foot.

The Yoshino Infantry Regiment marched for more than 70 kilometers and took a day to finally reach Yangquan.

However, by this time, Yangquan had already been captured, and even the Tengjia Cavalry Regiment that came to the rescue was also eaten.

Wing Commander Yoshino Isamu was sitting in a Type 90 armored vehicle holding his command knife and closing his eyes to relax.

Japanese officers would not walk with the soldiers through thick and thin, and the Japanese soldiers naturally believed that riding horses and riding in cars were the benefits of officers.

The Yoshino Infantry Regiment, like the Watanabe Regiment, belonged to the 3rd Brigade of the Japanese First Army, but at this time the Watanabe Regiment no longer existed.

The Yoshino Infantry Regiment has 3 infantry brigades and an artillery brigade of more than 300 people, with a total of more than 3,700 people. In addition, Yoshino Yongo also brought a squadron equipped with 4 Type 95 light tanks, which can be said to be

Strong soldiers and strong horses.

The order received by Colonel Yoshino was to recapture Yangquan from the Eighth Route Army as soon as possible and restore railway traffic on the Shotai Road.

However, Yoshino Yongfu did not think that the Eighth Route Army would dare to defend Yangquan. When they heard the arrival of the Imperial Army Infantry Regiment, most of them had already fled.

This time the Yoshino United team came to Yangquan, and at most they would just accept a mess.

A Japanese cavalryman came from the front, the armored vehicle stopped immediately, and Yoshino Yuuo got off the armored vehicle.

The Japanese cavalry saluted and said: "Report to the colonel that the leading troops have discovered the Chinese army's defensive position in Shi Nao Mountain ahead!"

"Nani?" Yoshino Yuuo narrowed his eyes slightly, and a cold aura disappeared, "The Eighth Route Army didn't escape?"

At this time, Yoshino Regiment's operational staff Yanagihara Ryohei also got off the armored vehicle and said: "Your Majesty Colonel, it seems that Tubal Road wants to occupy Yangquan and completely block the traffic on Shotai Road."

"Wishful thinking!" Isamu Yoshino snorted coldly, "Tuba Road is looking for death!"

"Colonel, please don't underestimate the enemy." Yanagihara Ryohei said, "Shinao Mountain is easy to defend but difficult to attack. Last year, it was occupied by a regiment from Tubal Road. The headquarters of the Fourth Brigade attacked fiercely for seven days without being able to capture it."

"Meet my Yoshino team." Yoshino Yuuo said in a solemn tone, "The good luck of Tubal Road ends here!"

Yoshino took out the map from the armored vehicle, spread it out, pointed at the map and said: "Order the vanguard troops to seize Mao Mountain, and then launch a feint attack on Shi Nao Mountain to find out whether the Tubal Road is real or not!"

"Hi!" The Japanese cavalrymen nodded, then turned their horses and rode forward.

Yoshino Yongo ordered: "Order all soldiers to speed up!"

Mao Mao Mountain is only 1.5 kilometers away from Shi Nao Mountain. It is a medium-sized dirt slope, less than one-fifth of the size of Shi Nao Mountain.

After the leading Japanese troops occupied Mao Mountain, an infantry squadron came up from behind.

Immediately, two Japanese infantry squadrons of nearly 400 people dispersed and came towards the Shi Nao Mountain position of the Independent Regiment with rifles in hand.

The Japanese machine gunner set up his light and heavy machine guns 300 meters away from the forward position, and the machine gunner immediately opened fire at the independent regiment's forward position.

The click-click-click sound of light and heavy machine guns suddenly broke the silence. Bullets were fired at the position like raindrops, and countless clouds of soil mist were bounced on the position.

At this time, most of the soldiers of the Independent Regiment were in the trenches, leaving only a few observers with their heads exposed.

"Report to the battalion commander, the enemy is still 100 meters away from the position!"

Second Battalion Commander Shen Quan said loudly: "Brothers, please calm down and wait until the Japanese enter 50 meters before opening fire!"

"70 meters!"

"50 meters!"

Chen Quan's eyes flashed with sternness: "Hit!"

Immediately, the soldiers in the forward position stood up, placed their guns on the trenches, and pulled the triggers towards the incoming Japanese.

All kinds of rifles, submachine guns, and light and heavy machine guns are firing on all cylinders.

A large area of ​​the Japanese fell down in an instant. The Japanese on the opposite side did not show any signs of weakness and fired back one after another. Behind them, there were Japanese light and heavy machine guns covering the fire.

Gunshots rang out like exploding beans at this moment, and the bombardiers of the second battalion in the trench threw wooden handle grenades and melon grenades at the Japanese.

Boom boom boom...

Along with the explosion, more than a dozen screams came from the Japs.

However, the combat quality of the Japanese soldiers is also very high, and the accuracy of the Japanese's marksmanship at this distance is a bit scary.

Although most of the soldiers were lying on the trenches, many soldiers were still shot by the Japanese, and most of them were shot in the face.

However, the Independent Regiment is different from other Eighth Route Army troops. It has more than 20 light and heavy machine guns, more than 40 submachine guns, and enough bullets.

Dozens of tongues of fire sprayed out densely from the forward positions, and dense bullets rained down on the Japanese.

In less than 3 minutes, the Japanese's feint attack troops retreated hastily after leaving more than 150 corpses in front of the position.

In the headquarters of the Japanese Army Regiment at Hat Mountain, Yoshino Yongfu looked through his telescope and saw corpses of Japanese soldiers lying in front of the position, and his face became a little ugly.

I was careless, and I didn't expect that I would suffer a terrible loss as soon as I started.

Yanagihara Taira said: "Captain, the Eighth Route Army on the opposite side seems to have better equipment than the Shanxi-Sui Army and the Central Army, and their firepower is several times stronger than I imagined. Moreover, the Eighth Route Army only opened fire from the forward position, and the second and second routes behind them The third line of defense has not yet been exposed."

"Yagihara-kun, it seems that we have encountered a formidable opponent." Yoshino Yuuo said, "But this is the fun. It would be too boring if Tubalu was defeated in one attack."

Yanagihara Taira asked: "Colonel, how are you going to fight this battle next?"

"To deal with a powerful opponent..." Yoshino Yuuo said, "Of course, punch hard and don't leave any room for the opponent to breathe!"

"Order, the artillery brigade fire half of the base number of artillery shells at Shi Nao Mountain!"

This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! "After the bombardment, the 1st Infantry Battalion cooperated with the tank squadron to attack the enemy. We must capture the Shi Nao Mountain position in one fell swoop!"

"In addition, send a report to Commander Shinozuka about our current situation, and ask the headquarters who our opponent is!"

Liuyuan Pingliang paused and said: "Hi!"

…

After repelling the Japanese's first attack, Shen Quan shouted: "The health workers must rescue the wounded quickly, and those who are not injured will be prepared to defend themselves against artillery fire!"

The soldiers of the second battalion hid in the dug cat-ear anti-cannon holes.

Li Yunlong, who was standing on the ladder behind the mountain, looked through his telescope and saw the Japanese being beaten severely. He couldn't help laughing loudly: "The Second Battalion fought beautifully!"

"The battle has just begun." Zhao Gang said, "The Japs are going to fire artillery next, and they will not start the official attack until after the artillery fire. We here must withstand the Japs' offensive, otherwise, Lao Li, your iron wall encirclement plan may be over. Failed."

"One infantry regiment wants to defeat our independent regiment..." Li Yunlong snorted, "Dream!"

"Give me the order!"

"The artillery battalion finds the Japanese artillery position as soon as possible. Don't save artillery shells, just cover it with artillery fire!"

…

The artillery brigade of the Yoshino Regiment has two artillery squadrons, each squadron is equipped with four 70mm Type 92 infantry guns.

Behind Mao Mao Mountain, the Japanese artilleryman read out a series of data parameters, and then the Japanese artilleryman vigorously shook the handle of the infantry cannon.

Then the barrels of the eight infantry guns quickly rose up visible to the naked eye.

Then, the gunner handed over a cannonball, loaded it into the barrel, and the semaphore soldier lowered his flag.

The Japanese artilleryman pulled back the match rope, and the artillery shells roared out, crossed Mao Mao Mountain, and then flew towards the Shi Nao Mountain position.

The Japanese artillery observers on the top of the mountain quickly issued firing parameter signals downwards based on the impact point of the bullet.

The Japanese artillerymen fine-tuned the firing parameters according to the semaphore, and then eight shells were stuffed into the barrel.

As the Japanese flag-caller put down the mini plaster flag in his hand, the eight Japanese gunners pulled the match rope in unison.

After a muffled sound, eight artillery shells roared across the sky.

Before the shell could hit the ground, the second gunner handed over another shell. The first gunner took it and stuffed it into the barrel of the gun, closed the gun bolt, and the Japanese soldier on one knee held the match rope.

The Japanese flag-caller suddenly waved the plaster flag, and eight more artillery shells rushed out of the barrel.

With the repeated operations of the Japanese artillery, intensive artillery fire bombarded the independent regiment's position over and over again.

Large swaths of mud mist arose on the Shi Nao Mountain position, and then shrapnel, gravel and soil fell again.

The soldiers were all hiding in the Maoer anti-cannon cave. As long as the shells landed right in front of the trench and exploded, the shells did not pose much of a threat to the soldiers in the anti-cannon cave.

However, the soldiers were not feeling well either. The random flying shrapnel and air waves, as well as the explosion sounds like huge drums beating in the ears, made people feel as if the sky was about to collapse.

There were even shells exploding nearby and overhead. My head and ears were buzzing, and I couldn't hear any sound from the outside world for a long time.

Yao Shangwu looked through the artillery scope on the top of the mountain and quickly found the location of the Japanese artillery position.

Fortunately, it was not on the reverse slope of Mao Mao Mountain. The Japanese set up the infantry artillery position in the open space below behind Mao Mao Mountain.

Yao Shangwu had been there beforehand to conduct reconnaissance and knew the terrain well.

If the Japanese cannon is on the reverse slope, there is really nothing you can do about it.

Yao Shangwu quickly wrote the parameters on the paper with a pen, and then handed it to the artilleryman behind him. The artilleryman took the parameters and ran quickly towards the artillery position.

When we arrived at the artillery position, the artillerymen quickly reported the parameters.

The guns of the independent regiments are all captured, so there are various models, and the shooting parameters of each gun are also different.

The gunner quickly shook the handles of the infantry guns, mountain guns and field guns to adjust the muzzles.

As the barrels were slowly raised upwards, each gun adjusted its firing angle, and its muzzles were pointed at the Japanese artillery position.

Then the gunner brought the shells, stuffed them into the barrel, and closed the gate.

Make sure every gun is loaded.

"preparation!"

"put!"

The flag commander suddenly put down the flag in his hand.

The gunner pulled the matchlock almost simultaneously.

The cannon body shook suddenly, and a cloud of dust rose up from the side.
Chapter completed!