PFC Chapter 231 This time I will hide in the turtle shell and wait and see what methods the Japanese can
Chapter 231 This time I will hide in the turtle shell and wait and see what methods the Japanese can
After receiving the telegram from the North China Front Army Headquarters, Ichiro Katayama was in disbelief. He did not expect that 18 out of 16 fighter planes were lost. He even doubted the authenticity of the telegram. After two confirmations, he confirmed that the telegram was authentic, which intensified his worries.
"Hatoyama, this incident is too unexpected. I really didn't expect that the Independent Regiment would have such strong anti-aircraft firepower. This means that our air advantage is likely to be directly offset! If we can't get rid of the Independent Regiment's heavy artillery, we won't be able to break through the current defense line!"
"At this point, there is no need to hide anything. Report our defeat last night to the North China Front Command immediately and ask them to deploy more fighter planes to provide us with air fire support!"
"Order the Morita Battalion stationed in Ping'an County to set off immediately. They must launch an attack on the independent regiment's position in the direction of the Xiaozhangzhuang stronghold within three days, and they must capture Xiaobaozhuang within two days!"
"Order the puppet army's 726th Regiment and the 28th Division to reach Erchaling within three days. Also, don't forget to notify the Taiyuan Command and have them hurry up to transport the fourth batch of ammunition to ensure the ammunition supply for our Second Mixed Brigade!"
Under Katayama Ichiro's arrangement, the Japanese in the entire northwest of Shanxi began to gather towards the location of the independent regiment, preparing to launch an unprecedented encirclement and suppression operation. In order to deploy more troops to attack the independent regiment, Katayama Ichiro even drew out a part of the troops previously used to block reinforcements to strengthen the strength of the Second Mixed Brigade. Katayama Ichiro ostensibly commanded a brigade of Japanese, but in fact, the Japanese troops he commanded were the same as the Japanese Type B division. The independent regiment was really going to face a real crisis this time, and would face the siege of a division!
The intelligence department headquartered in northwest Shanxi had suffered repeated sabotage from the Japanese Special High Section and therefore did not have any advance warning of the Japanese's large-scale mobilization in northwest Shanxi. Even Li Yunlong knew nothing about it. After Xu Zhongyi in Ping'an County discovered the mobilization of Morita's Battalion, he planned to contact the Independent Regiment through the radio. However, the Independent Regiment's radio was completely damaged, and no radio was seized in the previous battle, which cut off all external communications of the Independent Regiment. The several batches of signalmen sent out were unable to pass on the message for help due to the Japanese blockade. This time, the Independent Regiment was truly caught in the embarrassing situation of being isolated and helpless.
Chu Yunfei's troops, who were also stationed in the northwest, were also confused by the series of actions of the Japanese. They mobilized troops from various strongholds and gathered towards the base of the independent regiment. Chu Yunfei was a little confused at this time. Could it be that Li Yunlong captured an important figure of the Japanese? Otherwise, why would the Japanese mobilize so many troops to encircle and suppress the independent regiment? This was really incredible!
"Captain Chu, the Japanese are going to target the Independent Regiment this time. It seems they won't stop until the Independent Regiment is destroyed!" Chief of Staff Fang Ligong said while looking at the map.
Chu Yunfei said solemnly, "Nothing major has happened in Northwest Shanxi during this period. This time, the Japanese have only targeted the Independent Regiment and ignored other troops. I guess the Independent Regiment must have mastered something important that has attracted the Japanese's covetousness. Otherwise, the Japanese would not have made such a big fuss. At this time, our 358th Regiment must help. We can't let the Independent Regiment handle it on its own. We must not let the Japanese get what they want, otherwise the situation in Northwest Shanxi will usher in a major change!"
"Chief of Staff Fang, I know you want to object. After all, the current situation of our 358th Regiment is not very good. The troops have just completed the replenishment of new soldiers and their combat effectiveness is not strong. But we must not stand idly by at this time. Otherwise, once the devils get what they want and destroy the independent regiment, they will set their sights on us."
"We and the Independent Regiment are in a relationship of mutual dependence. In the entire northwest of Shanxi, only the two of us can still deal with the Japanese. The other troops suffered heavy losses in the last Japanese raid and have not yet recovered. We must shoulder the heavy responsibility and must not shirk it at this time!"
"I will call my old commander in a moment, hoping to get his full support. The ammunition of our 358th Regiment has not been replenished yet. Once it is replenished, we can go to help the Independent Regiment!" Chu Yunfei made the final decision.
Since Lin Zhenhua's arrival, he has had a significant impact on the situation in the entire Shanxi Province. In addition, the Japanese specially sent an additional division of troops to Taiyuan, preparing to launch a large-scale mopping-up operation. Because of this, just one day after the brigade commander left, he received an urgent message from the brigade headquarters that the summer mopping-up operation planned by the Japanese would be launched in three days. This forced the brigade commander to turn back and finally only dispatched two battalions of troops and let them go to the independent regiment on their own.
The two battalions sent out by Ding Wei and Kong Jie before were also chased and blocked by the Japanese on the road and were trapped in the mountains. They were trying to break the Japanese blockade and find a road leading directly to the base of the independent regiment. At this time, they met the remnants of the 22nd Division of the puppet army. They learned from them that the Japanese had begun the encirclement and suppression of the independent regiment, which made them feel even more difficult. The two entrances and exits to the independent regiment were all guarded by the Japanese. They could not go to the independent regiment to support it at all, and could only find ways to find some small roads to see if they could enter the base of the independent regiment.
In the direction of Xiaoyunling, the independent regiment’s front-line blocking position.
"College student, I was wondering why you got so many wooden thorns, but I didn't expect that you were planning to set a trap for the Japanese under the position. You can even figure out such a crooked trick. The Japanese are really unlucky to meet an enemy like you. If they are really hit by these wooden thorns, they will either die or be injured. This will make the Japanese die uneasy!" Li Yunlong teased with a smile.
Lin Zhenhua directed the soldiers to pour a thin layer of cement under the wooden spikes to fix them, and also poured some diesel underneath. This completed the trap. He also set up many targets within a radius of 500 meters so that the artillery support could be more accurate!
After doing all this, Lin Zhenhua finally had time to reply: "Lao Li, I am doing all this to be prepared. Although I still don't understand why the devils insisted on destroying our independent regiment, one thing I can be sure of is that when the devil's air force comes again next time, I am afraid it will be difficult for us to achieve the results we achieved this morning. I have planned to temporarily hide our air defense forces, and I am also taking this opportunity to install the special armored steel plates produced before on our fortifications. After a simple installation and combination, it will be very effective in resisting the devil's bullets and shrapnel from artillery shells!"
"Our cement factory has started working at full capacity, and the cement produced is enough for our current use. I plan to renovate our defensive positions again, and try to install all the bulletproof steel plates in place before the Japanese attack tomorrow. In this way, even if we encounter Japanese fighter planes, we don't have to be afraid. As long as we maximize the defense value and turn our position into a huge turtle shell, the Japanese will have nowhere to bite. In this way, we can consume the Japanese's manpower. Anyway, we have plenty of shells and bullets, so we don't have to be afraid even if a division of Japanese comes!"
Li Yunlong glanced at an anti-aircraft steel plate battle position that Lin Zhenhua had just guided to assemble. It really protected the people safely inside. There were only two shooting holes left, and there were shooting holes reserved in other places that could be opened at any time. It was simply a defensive artifact, which made him have to give Lin Zhenhua a thumbs up. However, this consumed a lot of armored steel, but thinking of the amount of armored steel in stock of the independent regiment, it was completely affordable, which made Li Yunlong's last worry dissipate.
"College student, what you said is damn right this time. We should hide in the turtle shell this time and fire a few shots and cannons at the Japs from time to time to consume their manpower. After doing this a few times, the Japs will see that their attacks will not yield any results and they may foolishly launch a desperate charge. At that time, we will use all our firepower and have a good fight with the Japs. We will definitely beat them to a pulp!"
When Li Yunlong was about to continue speaking, he heard the monk's shout. He felt very strange. He had previously sent the monk to ask for help from the brigade headquarters. How come this guy ran back so quickly?
"Monk, you son of a bitch, why are you back? Could it be that the brigade commander has personally brought people to support our independent regiment?"
Wei Dayong panted and replied, "Captain, our independent regiment's roads were all blocked by the devils in the early days. I looked for several places but couldn't break through the devil's checkpoints. We have been completely blocked in the base by the devils, and now we can't even ask for help! I estimate that the reinforcements sent by Captain Ding and Captain Kong should also be blocked on the road, otherwise they should have arrived long ago. Our independent regiment may really have to fight alone this time!"
"The Japanese have surrounded our independent regiment and it seems they will not stop until they destroy us. Commander, you must be prepared for the worst, right?"
Li Yunlong did not expect that the monk would bring the news that the independent regiment was completely blocked. He immediately understood that the Japanese's action against the independent regiment this time was definitely not just a short-term move. He was afraid that the brigade commander would find it difficult to withdraw troops to rescue the independent regiment at this time. The independent regiment was really in a situation of fighting alone this time.
"Monk, no matter what method you use, you must catch a few tongues for me and hand them over to the college students for personal interrogation. We must understand the combat deployment of the little devils so that we can respond in time!"
"College student, the defense of the frontline positions is left to you. I will hurry back to the regiment headquarters and redeploy the defense work in the base. We must ensure the stability of the base so that we can fight the devils head-on without any scruples. Once the rear is unstable, it will be very difficult for us to defend the front!"