Chapter 228: If you win, you live; if you lose, you die!
"report!"
"The heavy artillery regiment is ready and can join the battle at any time!"
"report!"
"The tank company is ready to charge and can attack at any time!"
"report!"
"All officers and soldiers of the First Battalion of the Vanguard Regiment are ready to charge!"
……
In the vanguard regiment headquarters, one communicator after another entered the headquarters and reported to Qin Yangming on the preparations of their respective troops.
"Commander, the New 1st Regiment sent a telegram saying that it is ready to penetrate the middle of the Japanese 4th Brigade and cut off the Japanese 4th Brigade at any time!"
"Captain, the independent regiment sent a telegram, the cavalry company of the third regiment is ready to charge and can launch a charge from the rear of the Japanese Fourth Brigade at any time!"
Listening to the reports from various troops, Qin Yangming put down the pencil in his hand and walked out of the cave.
Qin Yangming stood outside the cave, looking in the direction of Tongshi Town.
"All units are ready. Now we just need to wait for news from the assault platoon."
"I wonder if the Japanese troops have finished assembling."
Qin Yangming looked at the dark clouds in the sky, listened to the whistling wind around him, and opened his right palm to feel the wind speed.
"It will probably be soon. The assault platoon sent a telegram for the last time, saying that the tank squadron of the 4th Brigade of the Japanese has arrived at the assembly area and is distributing weapons and equipment."
Zhangye, who had followed, heard what Qin Yangming asked and spoke quickly.
After retreating from the mountain, Qin Yangming guessed that the Japanese must want to regroup their troops outside the artillery range of the vanguard regiment and fight a decisive battle.
So after retreating from the mountain, Qin Yangming immediately sent Duan Peng's assault platoon out to conduct real-time reconnaissance of the actions of the Japanese Fourth Brigade.
Although he guessed that the Japanese 4th Brigade wanted to reorganize its forces for a decisive battle, Qin Yangming was also worried that his guess was wrong. The Japanese did not want a decisive battle, but wanted to defend Tongshi Town.
So we chose to send out the assault platoon for reconnaissance.
After the assault platoon broke up and sneaked into the area of Tongshi Town, Duan Peng sent a telegram saying that the Japanese were distributing weapons and equipment to the logistics troops.
Qin Yangming realized that the Japanese did not want to hold on to Tongshi Town. His guess was correct. The Japanese just wanted to gather their strength and rush out in one go.
Since the Japanese wanted to have a face-to-face decisive battle with a large-scale force, Qin Yangming naturally would not back down.
Directly issue orders to let all units of the Vanguard Regiment prepare for the decisive battle.
The Japanese wanted a head-on confrontation, which was exactly what Qin Yangming had in mind. He was also worried that the Japanese would not confront him head-on, but would instead hold on to Tongshi Town, or break up the troops and break out in different directions, going into the mountains to fight guerrilla warfare with the Eighth Route Army.
Standing outside the cave, Qin Yangming kept recalling his various arrangements to see if there were any omissions so that he could fill them up as soon as possible.
It was the first time for Qin Yangming to command so many troops in battle. Just remembering the positions of each troop, when to attack, how to attack, how much artillery support was needed, etc. made his head heavy.
"No wonder every regiment has to be equipped with one or two staff officers. This is really a test of physical fitness."
Qin Yangming's physical fitness can be said to be at the pinnacle of human beings. Even with such strong physical fitness, Qin Yangming felt a little overwhelmed just commanding a regiment of troops.
Judging from his own situation, Qin Yangming also admired the brigade commander and others for being able to command so many troops with ease.
"Have the shells from the heavy artillery regiment been delivered to them?"
"According to your arrangement, it has been delivered to them. However, Captain, how come I don't know when you hid the contraband?"
Hearing Qin Yangming's question, Zhangye looked at Qin Yangming with curiosity.
At that time, Qin Yangming asked him to arrange people to deliver the heavy artillery shells in the ammunition depot to the heavy artillery regiment. Zhangye was completely stunned.
Zhangye clearly remembered that all the 105mm howitzers and shells were taken away by the brigade commander.
As a result, Qin Yangming told him that there were still a few 105mm howitzer shells in the regiment, which were originally hidden by Qin Yangming and prepared to be used when he captured the 105mm howitzer.
However, Zhangye originally thought that Qin Yangming had only secretly hidden a dozen or so artillery shells, although he was curious about why Qin Yangming hid the artillery shells from under the noses of the brigade commander and Li Yunlong.
But Zhangye didn't think much about it.
It was not until Zhangye walked into the ammunition depot where the Vanguard Regiment was responsible for storing ammunition and looked at the 300 105mm howitzer shells that Qin Yangming mentioned were just a few in number that Zhangye became even more curious.
Three hundred 105mm howitzer shells! That's not just a dozen or so...
Zhangye made up his mind that after the battle, he would learn from Qin Yangming how he hid so many things.
Listening to Zhangye's question, Qin Yangming pretended to cough a few times.
"Ahem... Well, the mountain people have their own clever ideas. Don't ask me. Even if you ask me, I won't tell you."
Those 300 shells were not private goods at all. They were what Qin Yangming had just exchanged from the system.
It is somewhat possible to hide contraband under the brigade commander's nose.
But at that time, the brigade commander and Li Yunlong were watching them together. It was possible to hide it from the brigade commander, but it was unrealistic to hide it from Li Yunlong's eyes.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk, tsk. Three hundred 105mm howitzer shells and so many rockets that are just as powerful as 105mm howitzer shells are. This is enough to give the Japanese a hard time."
"Well, send a message to Luo Chengwen, asking him to temporarily withdraw from the first position and enter the fortifications at the back.
Tell him I used six tons of artillery shells to replace him!
In this decisive battle, artillery plays the leading role!
I want to make the large Japanese army fall under the artillery fire of our Eighth Route Army!"
Considering that after the Japanese launched a large-scale charge, they would definitely cover the first line of position with intensive artillery fire to destroy the resistance means on the position.
In order to avoid meaningless sacrifices, Qin Yangming directly ordered the first battalion to withdraw and use artillery fire to stop the Japanese.
See whose artillery fire is more powerful.
Qin Yangming realized that the Japanese Fourth Brigade did not have weapons that could suppress the 105mm howitzer.
This means that their 105mm howitzers can shoot at the Japanese without restraint, without having to worry about the Japanese having artillery that can threaten the 105mm howitzer positions.
"Commander, the assault platoon sent a telegram!"
"The Japanese troops have gathered, but there seems to be something wrong with their officers. Platoon Leader Duan asked if we should let the assault platoon get closer to scout the situation?"
"Send a telegram to Duan Peng. If the Japanese army starts to move, he should withdraw from Tongshi Town as quickly as possible. He is not allowed to take the lead in engaging the Japanese army with the assault platoon.
The assault platoon only has a few dozen people, and the Japanese in Tongshi Town have at least 6,000 people. A few dozen people against 6,000, even people made of steel will be torn apart by the Japanese. "Yes!"
"Order all troops to get ready, the Japs are preparing to attack!"
……
"Your Excellency, the troops have all been assembled!"
Tongshi Town, the area where the elite troops of the 4th Brigade are assembled.
Kasahara Koizumi reported to Hiraru Isamu who was sitting on the ground and resting against the truck wheel.
Hiraru Isamu, who was resting with his eyes closed, opened his eyes and stood up immediately after hearing what Kasahara Koizumi said.
I don't know if it was because the 4th Brigade was surrounded and in danger of being annihilated, or because Pinglu Yongfu had a premonition of what would happen next and was extremely worried, which caused Pinglu Yongfu's spirit to drop to the extreme.
Pinglu Yongfu, with a tired face, stood up, straightened his body and looked excited.
"Kasahara-kun, gather the troops and prepare for battle. I need to give a speech."
"Hi!"
Pinglu Yufu, who was in a bad mental state, walked forward, without noticing that Kasahara Koizumi was winking at his guards.
"Kasahara-kun, have all the awakening pills been distributed?"
Listening to Pinglu Yufu's question, Kasahara Koizumi followed Pinglu Yufu forward and responded.
"Your Excellency, the Awakening Pills have been distributed. Wait for your order for the warriors to take them."
"Do you have any awakening pills on you? Give me one."
When Kasahara Koizumi heard Pinglu Yongfu asking him for the Awakening Pill, his face changed immediately.
"Mr. Brigade Commander, you cannot take the Awakening Pill. Your body cannot bear it!"
"Give it to me, this is an order!"
"Mr. Brigade Commander, even if you want to shoot me, I will not give you the Awakening Pill. You must not take the Awakening Pill!"
Kasahara Koizumi is not an ignorant soldier. He knows very well what the Awakening Pill is and how harmful it is to humans.
It is fine for young and strong people to take it, as their bodies are at their peak and there will be no major problems if they take it.
But Pinglu Yongfu is different. Pinglu Yongfu is already old, and he will be doing high-intensity exercise soon. If he takes the awakening pill at this time, Pinglu Yongfu will definitely die!
Awakening Pills are a special medicine developed by the Japanese devils, a medicine that can drag people into hell.
After taking it, people's spirit will become extremely excited, tireless and without fatigue, and no longer afraid of pain. Soldiers will forget their fear, fall into madness, and charge forward desperately.
Listening to what Kasahara Koizumi said, Hiraru Yufu suddenly turned his head and stared at Kasahara Koizumi.
Kasahara Koizumi looked at Heiraku Isamu without showing any weakness.
Looking at Kasahara Koizumi's eyes, Pinglu Yongfu turned to look at his personal guards. Looking at the determined eyes of those guards, Pinglu Yongfu seemed to have thought of something.
Pinglu Yongfu no longer asked Kasahara Koizumi for the awakening pill, but strode forward directly.
On a platform made of sandbags.
Pinglu Yongfu stood on the earthen platform, leaning on his saber and looking at the soldiers below, the tanks at the back, and all the trucks and motorcycles.
"Warriors, this is the first time we have engaged in a large-scale direct battle with the Eighth Route Army.
Tell me, do you have the confidence to use the bayonets in your hands to pierce the Eighth Route Army standing in front of us? ! "
"kill!"
"Okay, warriors of the Fourth Brigade, I have seen your courage. In ten minutes we will launch a decisive battle with the Eighth Route Army!"
"This is the first time that our Great Japanese Locust Army has engaged in a large-scale direct battle with the Eighth Route Army, and it is also the decisive battle between our Fourth Brigade and the Eighth Route Army!
If you win, you live; if you lose, you die!
And we will definitely not be the losers!
All warriors listen to my orders, take the awakening pills, and fight the Eighth Route Army to the death!
Long live His Majesty the Heavenly Locust!"
The Japanese soldiers below listened to Ping Lu Yongfu's orders and took out the pills given to them and swallowed them in one gulp.
It was not known whether it was because the medicine took effect quickly or because Pinglu Yongfu's words inspired the morale of the Japanese Fourth Brigade. All the Japanese soldiers took off their helmets and then took out the cloth strips they had made and tied them around their foreheads.
Thousands of Japanese soldiers held up their weapons and shouted "Long live the Sky Locusts". For a moment, the sky was filled with the shouts of the Japanese soldiers.
After Pinglu Yongfu finished his speech, he just walked down the platform and walked to the side of a truck, when he saw Kasahara Koizumi coming to his side with his guards and cavalry.
"I'm sorry, Your Excellency the Brigade Commander."
Listening to what Kasahara Koizumi said, Hiraru Isamu had already thought of something.
"How did you convince my guards?"
"I have not convinced your guards, your guards are very loyal to you."
"They decided to pay the price for betraying you with their lives."
"Cavalry, escort the brigade commander away from the front line, look for an opportunity to break out from Yuxi Town and head to the location of the 11th Brigade. I have already contacted the 11th Brigade, and they will send troops to support us.
Gentlemen, the life of the brigade commander is in your hands."
After Kasahara Koizumi finished speaking, he bowed and expressed his gratitude to the cavalry present, his own guard, and Pinglu Yufu's guard.
The soldiers selected by Kasahara Koizumi to escort Pinglu Yongfu to retreat were all real elites. Pinglu Yongfu's guard team led the charge and was responsible for using their lives to clear the way for Pinglu Yongfu.
The cavalry team closely protected Pinglu Yongfu, while Kasahara Koizumi's guard team was responsible for diverting the Eighth Route Army's pursuers or covering their retreat at critical moments.
After Kasahara Koizumi finished speaking, several Japanese soldiers from the guard team brought a set of ordinary soldier's clothes for Pinglu Yongfu to change into, and then asked two other soldiers with similar build to Pinglu Yongfu to put on Pinglu Yongfu's general uniform and coat respectively.
One was responsible for staying where he was and stabilizing the morale of the troops, and the other was responsible for disrupting the Eighth Route Army's vision so that the real Pinglu heroes could successfully evacuate.
After everything was done, Kasahara Koizumi directly took away Hiraru Isamu's command of the 4th Brigade.
Under the command of Kasahara Koizumi, the 4th Brigade assembled all its artillery and launched an artillery bombardment on the Eighth Route Army's positions.
At the same time, tanks and modified trucks took the lead and advanced towards the Eighth Route Army's positions.
At the same time, a large number of infantrymen carrying rifles followed closely behind the tanks and trucks and moved closer to the Eighth Route Army's positions.
(End of this chapter)
