Chapter 204: The Japs are really fighting themselves
Dawangzhuang stronghold.
After dealing with the officers' observation group, Wei Dayong led the commando team back to Yuxi Town, while Ding Wei took the rest of the people to join the first battalion to prepare to attack the Dawangzhuang stronghold.
"Captain of the First Battalion, what is the situation at Dawangzhuang now?"
"Captain, the fight between that group of bandits and the Japanese is fierce, and the Japanese are even using mortars.
But so far, except for a few unlucky ones who were killed by artillery shells, the group of bandits and the Japanese soldiers in the Dawangzhuang stronghold have been killed.
Everything else is fine.
It seemed that the group of bandits attacked the Dawangzhuang stronghold with great momentum, but it was more like a feint attack.
They all hid behind the hillside, raised their guns above their heads and fired at the Dawangzhuang stronghold without even aiming.
I don’t understand what those bandits want to do.”
Listening to the report from the battalion commander, Ding Wei frowned and said, "Come on, take me over to see the situation."
"Yes!"
When the battalion commander of the first battalion saw Ding Wei was going over to check the situation, he quickly arranged some personnel and accompanied Ding Wei to the front line to observe.
"Yes, Captain, look, that's the gang of bandits. We can see the artillery tower and the gang of bandits from where we are.
The Japanese soldiers in the artillery tower did not come out, but stayed inside and fired their guns. The bandits outside also did not charge, and the two sides kept wasting time like this."
The battalion commander of the first battalion pointed at the bandits in front who were fighting fiercely with the Japanese and explained the current situation to Ding Wei.
Ding Wei took out a telescope and began to observe the Japanese in the artillery tower and the group of bandits outside.
"Hiss, from the sounds, they are all Type 38 rifles, and Type 99 light machine guns... grenade launchers... Damn it, are the bandits so rich now? They even have mortars?
This gang of bandits is a little too well-equipped."
Ding Wei looked at the bandits' equipment through the telescope and couldn't help but click his tongue.
Judging from the equipment that the bandits have on the surface, their equipment is no worse than that of the regular troops of the Eighth Route Army.
Mortars, grenade launchers, Type 99 rifles, Type 38 rifles, and plenty of ammunition.
"Yeah, the bandits' equipment is damn good stuff. I really don't know where these bandits got their equipment from."
The battalion commander of the first battalion listened to Ding Wei's words and nodded in agreement.
"Or maybe they bought it on the black market, but this gang of bandits doesn't look that rich...
Or maybe this group of bandits took advantage of the situation when the Japanese soldiers in Shangdang area were fleeing.”
"Damn it, now that the battle is over, we have to eliminate the bandits nearby."
Ding Wei looked at the bandits' equipment, which was no worse than that of his new regiment, and made up his mind to report the situation to the brigade headquarters after the battle and demand the elimination of the bandits.
Not to mention those rifles, the bandits' two mortars alone were enough to warrant the New 1st Regiment sending out troops to attack them.
Ding Wei speculated that the equipment of these bandits was most likely picked up while the Eighth Route Army was fighting the Japanese in the Shangdang area.
“Although this group of bandits seemed a little timid and didn’t even dare to stick their heads out to fight, they were able to take the initiative to fight the Japanese devils, which shows that they are courageous and unambiguous in their righteousness.
Later, we will see if we can recruit them directly. After a little training, they will become a good group of soldiers."
Looking at the bandits fighting fiercely with the Japanese, Ding Wei also had the idea of recruiting these bandits.
No matter how bad the bandits are, they can't be that bad if they take the initiative to fight the Japanese.
"This group of bandits is pretty good. Their machine gun fire is quite rhythmic, and their mortar fire is also quite accurate..."
Ding Wei was praising the bandits for their good fighting when he suddenly noticed something was wrong.
The bandits' equipment was so luxurious that he could understand that the bandits had taken advantage of the fight between the Eighth Route Army and the Japanese to pick up some bargains.
But these bandits are really good at fighting.
Not only do the machine guns know how to fire in bursts, but even the mortars fire in a standard way!
Are there so many talented people among the bandits? !
Realizing this, Ding Wei raised the telescope again and began to observe the bandits.
"leather shoes!
Those are not bandits, they are Japanese devils!"
Ding Wei reacted instantly when he saw the bandits who were attacking the Dawangzhuang stronghold, all of them wearing the same leather shoes used by the Japanese army.
They are not bandits at all, they are clearly a group of Japanese devils!
Weapons and equipment can be understood as taking advantage of opportunities to pick up bargains, but there is no such thing as weapon operation!
Especially leather shoes, which were either taken off from the Japanese soldiers or found in logistics warehouses.
But no matter how good a group of bandits are at fighting, it is impossible for them to kill so many Japanese devils and make all of them wear leather shoes!
Especially in the Shangdang area, the Japanese soldiers are basically garrison troops, and they all wear rubber-soled shoes!
So it is a bit hard to understand why all these bandits were wearing leather shoes.
But if these bandits were the Japanese in disguise, then it would explain why they were so luxuriously equipped.
"Japs? But Captain, if those bandits were all Japs, why would they fight against themselves?"
"How the hell would I know? Go down and ask yourself!"
"Quick, order the troops to prepare for the attack!
Fight together!"
"Yes!"
Ding Wei put away the telescope and immediately began to organize troops to prepare for an attack on the Dawangzhuang stronghold.
……
Dawangzhuang stronghold.
When Taro Yonekura heard the gunfire in the distance stop, he realized that the officers' observation group had been eliminated by the Eighth Route Army.
"Send a telegram to the brigade commander and tell him that our Dawangzhuang stronghold is in a fierce battle with the Eighth Route Army outside and that we are temporarily unable to leave the stronghold to support the officers' observation group.
The officers' observation group was fighting with the Eighth Route Army, and the gunfire was fierce.
Please ask the brigade commander to send reinforcements as soon as possible."
"Hi!"
Although the officers' observation group was dealt with by the Eighth Route Army, some basic things still had to be done.
In case anything goes wrong, they still need the Officers Observation Group to take the blame, so the Officers Observation Group cannot "die" for the time being, and must live in the telegrams first.
It was not until the reinforcements from the 4th Brigade arrived at the outskirts of Dawangzhuang that the officers' observation group received a telegram stating that all the members had been killed.
"Send a telegram to Ono-kun and ask him to assign some personnel to investigate and ensure that the Eighth Route Army completely annihilates the Officers' Observation Group. Remember, no one can be left alive."
"Hi!"
Below the turret.
Several squadron leaders were taking the initiative around Sekiguchi Nathan's constant requests.
"Captain, those bandits outside don't even dare to show their heads. I request to lead a troop to charge and eliminate those bandits outside!"
"Captain, the gunfire over there has stopped temporarily. I'm afraid we need support urgently!"
"What are you arguing about!
I’m afraid those people outside are not bandits at all!
Can the bandits’ equipment be that good?
There is a high probability that we are the Eighth Route Army disguised as bandits. Our purpose is to lure out the troops in the stronghold and then surround and attack the reinforcements!
The reason why the Eighth Route Army sent people disguised as bandits is to make you think they are afraid of death so that you can take the initiative to attack.
Once you chase them out, you will fall into the ambush of the Eighth Route Army!
I can guarantee that there will be a large force of the Eighth Route Army not far from the artillery tower, and the Eighth Route Army is waiting for you to chase them out now!
If you all can see it, how could the Chief of Staff and I not see it?
Everyone, please pay attention. No charge is allowed without orders!"
Nathan Sekiguchi saw that all the squadron leaders under his command requested to lead their troops to charge.
Resolutely rejected their request. What a joke, there are no bandits or the Eighth Route Army outside, the people outside are most likely arranged by Yonekura Dalang.
If he led the troops to charge like them and caused a disaster, he would not be able to bear the responsibility.
It would be better to obey Yonekura Dalang's orders obediently. Anyway, these orders are recorded. If something goes wrong, you will not be the one to take the blame.
I am just a small lieutenant colonel and cannot take such a big blame.
Nathan Sekiguchi also admired Taro Yonekura and Yongfu Pinglu very much. He could kill two hundred officers who were not on their side at will.
"Fortunately, I joined the 4th Brigade early on, otherwise I would have been included in this officers' observation group."
Thinking about how he had some complaints about being transferred to the 4th Brigade not long ago, Nathan Sekiguchi now felt only a trace of relief.
If he had not been transferred to the 4th Brigade, he would most likely have been in the officers' observation group this time.
By then, he would be like other military officers now, dying inexplicably in the internal struggles among the top leaders.
"boom!"
Just when Nathan was at the critical moment, he was thankful for his good luck and saved his life.
The sudden explosion startled Nathan Guankou.
Nathan was very familiar with that explosion.
That was the sound of the Type 92 infantry gun shell exploding!
Nathan Sekiguchi was not the only one startled by the sound of the shell explosion.
Taro Yonekura who was upstairs was also frightened.
“What’s going on?!
Ono-kun, did they bring the Type 92 infantry gun? ! "
When Taro Yonekura heard the explosion, he mistakenly thought that Ono Ryota outside was carrying the Type 92 infantry gun.
But the explosion that followed completely dispelled Dalang Yonekura's idea.
With a loud bang, a bunker in the stronghold was blown directly into the sky.
That was the sound of the Type 41 mountain cannon shells exploding.
It is understandable that Ono Ryota carries the Type 92 infantry gun, as he also has the ability to do so.
However, carrying the Type 41 mountain gun was completely impossible.
Otherwise, with the power of the Type 41 mountain cannon, the stronghold would not be able to withstand it at all.
Even if he was carrying the Type 41 mountain cannon, Ono Ryota could not aim directly at the bunker.
Now that a bunker has been blown up, there is only one possibility!
The real Eighth Route Army is going to attack the Dawangzhuang stronghold!
"Enemy attack!"
Taro Yonekura reacted and immediately issued a warning.
At the checkpoint downstairs, Nathan heard the explosions of infantry artillery shells and mountain artillery, and saw the bunker being blown away, so he immediately ran upstairs to find Taro Yonekura.
"Your Excellency Chief of Staff, a machine gun bunker down below was blown up by bandits!
Do we step up our fight back?!"
“They are not bandits, they are the Eighth Route Army!
Besides us, the Eighth Route Army is the only one with mountain artillery nearby. Counterattack, counterattack! "
"Quickly send a message to the brigade commander and ask him to send reinforcements to support the Dawangzhuang stronghold!"
Yonekura Taro never expected that the Eighth Route Army would actually attack the Dawangzhuang stronghold.
In order to mislead the Officers' Observation Group into believing that the fighting at the Dawangzhuang stronghold was very fierce, he was unable to provide any support to the Officers' Observation Group.
So the order was to counterattack with maximum firepower.
The battle lasted for more than an hour, and more than half of the ammunition in the stronghold was used up.
As a result, when the Eighth Route Army attacked the Dawangzhuang stronghold, the enemy also carried powerful siege weapons such as mountain cannons.
Without reinforcements, the Dawangzhuang stronghold could not be defended at all!
Yonekura Dalang arranged for people to seek help from Pinglu Yongfu.
While picking up the telescope and looking across.
The position that Ono Ryota was supposed to be responsible for attacking was now full of explosions.
On the other side of the mountain, Taro Yonekura could clearly see a group of Eighth Route Army soldiers wearing blue-gray uniforms using grenade launchers and mortars to bombard Ono Ryota's position.
On the other side, the Eighth Route Army was setting up a Type 41 mountain cannon and aiming directly at the stronghold.
"idiot!"
……
Tongshi Town, the headquarters of the Japanese Fourth Brigade.
"General, the Chief of Staff is sending a message requesting support!"
Ping Lu Yongfu frowned as he listened to the communicator's report: "Didn't he just send a telegram requesting support?
Why another one? "
Kasahara Koizumi took the telegram, signaled the messenger to leave first, then looked at the telegram and spoke to Pinglu Yongfu.
“Your Excellency, Commander of the Brigade, perhaps the Chief of Staff deliberately sent a few more telegrams to show that Dawangzhuang encountered an extremely powerful attack, so it was unable to send troops to support the Officers’ Observation Group.
In this case, our 4th Brigade will not have to bear any responsibility. After all, there are always unexpected situations in war, and none of us want to see an accident happen to the Officers Observation Group."
Pinglu Yongfu listened to what Kasahara Koizumi said and nodded with satisfaction.
"Yoshi, arrange for someone to send a telegram to Yonekura Taro, telling him that the brigade's support troops are on the way, and ask him to hold on, and the 22nd Regiment is on the way to support him.
Kasahara-kun, arrange for your troops to move towards Dawangzhuang."
"Hi!"
"Hahaha, I wonder what expression that bastard Iwamatsu Yoshio would have when he knew that all his men were killed and that he had to take the blame."
"I think Lieutenant General Iwamatsu Yoshio must be very regretful for provoking Lieutenant General Shinozuka Yoshio."
“Hehe, now those officers under Iwamatsu Yoshio are gone. Even if Iwamatsu Yoshio takes over the First Army, he will have to rely on us.
Kasahara-kun, after this battle, if our contributions are sufficient, we may be able to merge the 4th Brigade and the 21st Brigade into a division. At that time, I will definitely recommend you to be the commander of the 21st Brigade!"
"Thank you for your training, Brigade Commander!"
"Don't be modest, this is because you have the ability.
Well, Kasahara-kun, take your troops and prepare to support Dawangzhuang, so that the North China Command will not find any fault with it. "
"Hi!"
After Kasahara Koizumi left the 4th Brigade headquarters, Pinglu Yongfu received several telegrams asking for help from Dawangzhuang.
However, Pinglu Yongfu thought that these were telegrams deliberately sent by Yonekura Dalang in order to increase the severity of the Dawangzhuang stronghold.
He just replied to Dalang Yonekura according to what had been agreed upon beforehand and didn't take it to heart.
Pinglu Yongfu never thought that the Dawangzhuang stronghold was actually attacked by the Eighth Route Army.
All I can say is that the Japanese shot themselves in the foot.
(End of this chapter)
