Chapter 9: The Unexpected Turn of Events

  The real ambush was Li Zhongyun's sharpshooter team, who scattered and hid in the rocky hills opposite the high ground, about 200 meters away from the Koizumi unit's flank. This distance was just within the maximum shooting range of the Hanyang-made rifles; any farther and it would be difficult to guarantee shooting accuracy.

  Li Zhongyun's sharpshooter team moved swiftly, taking advantage of the explosion to fire multiple rounds. The most skilled ones fired three shots, while the less skilled ones fired at least two. If they were not so far away and had a clearer shooting range, they could have taken out thirty or forty people. Even so, their results were dazzling, knocking down over ten Japanese soldiers, who retreated with cries of pain, fewer than half of them able to escape with their limbs intact.

  From 10:00 to 16:30, in six and a half hours, Little Japan was killed by more than thirty people, the number of wounded exceeded forty, and the direct combat casualties actually exceeded ten percent.

  Having suffered such heavy casualties and yet not even being able to touch the enemy's buttocks, this is a great shame for Koizumi Masao. He tells himself that he needs to calm down, change tactics, and can't follow the opponent's rhythm.

  So, can Koizumi Junichiro really calm down?

  As a young officer in the Japanese army, Koizumi Masao had his own unique way of doing things, he could really remain calm under pressure.

  However, this calmness is just a manifestation of his madness. Because if he really calmed down, he should be able to recognize that the target of this raid was not Ye Tufei, but Jiajiawang. Nevertheless, Koizumi Masao still threw Jiajiawang behind his head and concentrated on eating Ye Tufei.

  That is to say, in terms of tactical changes, Koizumi can calm down, but in terms of strategic goals, he has already lost his way.

  Koizumi finally made a tactical change: abandoning the strategic plan to target Yetai Feibu, and rapidly advancing the entire army towards Jiajiawang.

  This decision was completely correct for the Japanese army, and it returned to the essence of the problem. If that's the case, then Ye Tufei will thoroughly fail. However, Koizumi's intention in making this tactical adjustment was not that he had really woken up, but rather that he wanted to use Jiajiawan to force Ye Tufei to show himself.

  This is a tactical decision with the cart before the horse.

  This decision, however, was beyond Ye Tu Fei's expectations.

  From another perspective, Ye Tu Fei underestimated his enemy. He belittled Koizumi's tactical command ability.

  When the scout reported the Japanese soldier's movement to Ye Tufei, Ye Tufei was first startled and then fell into deep thought. He was judging the true meaning of Koizumi Masao's move. Was it that his entire plan had no effect on Koizumi Masao? Or did Koizumi Masao suddenly calm down and remember his true mission? Or was this just Koizumi Masao's trick? Ye Tufei couldn't make a correct judgment for the time being.

  In front of this multiple-choice question, Ye Tu Fei was most inclined to choose answer c, but he was still hesitant.

  The reason for his hesitation was not because Ye Tu Fei was indecisive, but rather because his past combat experiences had proven that he was a man who dared to take risks and stake everything on one throw.

  The reason he hesitated was simply because he still had time to hesitate.

  But Zhang Luohui couldn't hold back anymore, he thought that they must respond quickly and absolutely could not let Koizumi Junichiro pass through Erlang Mountain smoothly. "Sixth Master, we can't hesitate any longer, if we hesitate any further, it will be too late!"

  Under the stone pavilion, Ye Tufei was still sitting upright, fiddling with a new cigar in his hand, ignoring Zhang Luohui's request.

  Zhang Luohui was furious and blurted out a harsh remark to Ye Tufei: "You don't dare do it, I'll do it myself! At worst, we'll perish together with the little Japanese devils!"

  Ye Tufei remained seated, ignoring Zhang Luohui.

  Zhang Luohui faced the silent Ye Tufei, suddenly stamped his foot and turned to leave. He wanted to gather his troops and use their flesh and blood to block the steel torrent of Little Japan.

  Yè tú fēi wèi jiā zǔ lán.

  Translation:

  The leaves flew by without any obstruction.

  After the battle was over for a long time, one day, Ye Tufei and Zhang Luohui were drinking together. Zhang Luohui mentioned the Battle of Erlang Mountain at that time. He regretted not listening to Ye Tufei's orders and taking unilateral action. Under the influence of alcohol, he blamed Ye Tufei: "What were you doing at that time? You should have held me back, even if it meant being tied up or killed, it would be better than the current result!"

  Ye Tu Fei still ignored Zhang Luo Hui's accusations, but that day he finally got drunk, which was the first and last time in his life.

  Seven years later, Zhang Luohui led his troops to fight alongside Ye Tufei's troops. In the battle, when Zhang Luohui was seriously injured and on the verge of collapse, Ye Tufei finally mentioned why he didn't stop Zhang Luohui during the Battle of Er Lang Mountain. Ye Tufei explained that at the time, he thought Zhang Luohui simply didn't have the guts to fight to the death with the Japanese.

  This was one of the few times in Ye Tu Fei's life when he made a mistake.

  Zhang Luohui quickly assembled his troops, fixed bayonets and charged towards the Japanese who were advancing on Jiajiawang.

  It was a chance encounter. Koizumi Masao didn't have time to prepare artillery, and could only meet the enemy with infantry companies. The two sides quickly developed into close combat. The sounds of slaughter, shouting, and dying screams echoed throughout the valley, also waking up Ye Tufei.

  "This son of a bitch is a strong-limbed simpleton!" Ye Tufei cursed loudly, "Old Feng, take your assault team and charge from the front to relieve that idiot's pressure! Fourth Brother, immediately provide cover for Old Feng and his team by sniping at those little Japanese devils surrounding that idiot! Fifth Brother, use all the tricks up your sleeve to deal with those little Japanese who are ready to reinforce at any moment, cut off their connection!"

  Three generals received their orders and left.

  Three minutes later, shells and grenades rained down on the Japanese camp.

  At the same time, Feng Zhongliang's vanguard rushed down from Fenghuangling and attacked the Japanese army that was fighting with Zhang Luohui's unit.

  Li Zhongyun's sharpshooter team also entered the sniping position, along the assault route of Feng Zhongliang, continuously sniping at dangerous targets.

  Under the triple effect, the Japanese army's encirclement of Zhang Luohui's unit loosened. Under Feng Zhongliang's response, Zhang Luohui's unit finally tore open a gap in the small Japanese encirclement and merged with Feng Zhongliang's assault team.

  "Retreat quickly to Fenghuangding!" Ye Tufei gave the order with flag signals from a commanding height to Feng Zhongliang and the Divine Gun Squad.

  From Ziroukou battlefield via Fenghuangling to Fenghuangding, a distance of only about 400 meters.

  But it was this 400-meter distance that formed a life-and-death line under the Japanese army's machine gun blockade and artillery attack.

  Li Zhongyun's Divine Gun Squad was the closest to Fenghuangling. They retreated back almost without any casualties.

  Feng Zhongliang's vanguard was familiar with the terrain, and although they started at the same time as Zhang Luohui's unit, once they got running, the fast and slow separated. After paying a price of more than 20 lives, they also successfully retreated back.

  The most tragic was Zhang Luohui's unit, with 240 brothers attacking, about 150 broke through the siege, but less than 50 retreated back to Fenghuangding.

  Koizumi finally evened the score.

  This one battle accounted for a huge advantage in terms of total troop losses. Zhongyitang and the 258th Regiment lost more than 200 brothers, while the Japanese army's total casualties were still less than three digits.

  This is the real strength comparison.

  In any war, tactics can play a big role in the initial stages, but ultimately it is still the strength of the warring parties that counts.

  Due to Zhang Luohui's impulsiveness, the main forces of Zhongyitang and the 258th Regiment were finally exposed in front of the Japanese army. Once exposed, they could no longer be hidden. Koizumi Masao was absolutely unwilling to let go of this opportunity.

  On the top of Feng Huang, Ye Tu Fei looked at Zhang Luo Hui's face covered in blood and exhaustion, without rebuke or comfort.

  Guo Zhonglin reminded Ye Tufei, "Sixth Master, although the Phoenix Peak is easy to defend and hard to attack, if the Japanese block our retreat route at the back of the mountain, it will become a dead end. Six Master, let's withdraw quickly!"

  Ye Tu shook his head and said: "It's too late. Even if the Japanese haven't completely blocked our retreat, we can't withdraw now."

  Guo Zhonglin was puzzled and asked: "Sixth Master, why is this?"

  Ye Tu Fei pointed to the retreat route behind the mountain and said, "As long as we go down from here, we will be firmly bitten by the little devils. Brothers, our two legs can't outrun the bullets and shells of the little devils. In that case, casualties will only increase."

  Zhang Luohui recovered a bit of physical strength, hoarsely saying: "It's also good this way, who knows if we sacrificed ourselves and saved the Jia family's Wan."

  Guo Zhonglin hastily spat three times and said: "You were a crow in your previous life, why do you always say such unlucky words?"

  Zhang Luohui sneered: "What's lucky or unlucky? Do you think we can still make it down the mountain alive?"

  Ye Tu Fei suddenly said: "Can! As long as my memory is correct, we will definitely be able to get out of the mountain alive."

  Guo Zhonglin slapped a wet towel in his hand at Zhang Luohui and said, "I told you that you are a jinx! Don't you admit it? I'll tell you, as long as Sixth Master is here, there's no hurdle that can't be overcome!"

  Zhang Luo Hui took the wet towel and wiped his face a few times, then turned to Ye Tu Fei and said: "Sixth Master, do you remember anything? Can we really make it down the mountain alive?"

  Ye Tu Fei now had his hands clasped over his head, slowly crouching down, his face filled with painful expressions.

  Guo Zhonglin hastily came forward to support him and asked with concern: "Sixth Master, what's wrong with you?"

  Ye Tu Fei gritted his teeth and pounded his forehead, muttering: "I don't know, I don't know, my mind is too messy, I need to calm down!"

  Half a minute later, Ye Tuofei returned to normal and asked Guo Zhonglin: "Is today the Qingming Festival?"

  "Yes, Sixth Master!"

  Ye Tu Fei took a deep breath and said, "If I'm not mistaken, General Li Zongren will launch a general attack on the enemy at Tai'erzhuang tomorrow morning. The Japanese army has already shown signs of decline and is powerless to fight again. I believe that as long as we can hold out until tomorrow morning, the little devils below the mountain will definitely receive the order to withdraw!"