Chapter Forty-Four

  Qian Sanmu's head was bleeding, but he didn't even bother to bandage it, and was directing the soldiers to block the enemy. Both sides were seeing red, the Japanese army's grenade launchers and mortars were firing wildly, the Sichuan army suffered heavy casualties, but relying on the terrain, they barely managed to prevent the Japanese from breaking through their defenses, the situation was extremely critical. Seeing Xiao Ming arrive with his men, Qian Sanmu slightly relaxed.

  Xiao Ming didn't have time to talk, ordering the three companies to organize rocket launchers and mortars to counterattack. Hand grenades and hand-held explosives were thrown down like they were free, only then did the situation slightly stabilize.

  Qian Sanmu's eyes were bloodshot as he came before Xiao Ming, and just as he called out "Commander!", he was cut off. "Report the battle situation!" Xiao Ming said coldly.

  "The gunfire came from the second line of defense, judging by the sound, the second row should still be fighting. The people on the first line are probably gone!" Qian Sanmu was almost speechless, seeing Xiao Ming deep in thought, he continued: "The enemy is well-equipped and has fierce firepower, it's like they were carefully trained, they caught us off guard. Commander, you command here, I'll lead the men to take back our position!"

  Xiao Ming's face was expressionless as he stared at Qian Sanmu and said: "What's the hurry, aren't you satisfied with how many of your people have died? Wait a bit longer!"

  Just then, a burst of engine sounds came, and more than a dozen cars rushed over. Before the car stopped, Cannon Long Ma jumped out: "Commander, the artillery company has arrived to report for duty, please instruct!"

  Xiao Ming nodded: "Ma Lianchang, deploy all your artillery, aim at the valley, and fire rapidly for 20 minutes. Then, extend the cannon fire!" Ma Rulong took orders and left. Xiao Ming turned to face the dozen or so soldiers carrying machine guns on the side and said: "As soon as the cannon fire stops, charge!"

  Ma Rulong was a hot-tempered man, gritting his teeth and ordering his subordinates: "First fire the illuminating shells, the rest use high-explosive shells. The mountain guns will control the valley and don't let those little devils run away!"

  The mountain cannons, infantry guns and 82-caliber mortars fired simultaneously, causing shells to explode and rocks to fly everywhere, leaving almost no blind spots. After three rounds of firing, the Japanese firepower was greatly reduced, and the pressure on the Sichuan army also decreased, which began to counterattack with grenade launchers and mortars. The light and heavy machine guns regained their rhythm, and the Japanese troops in the valley fled in a hurry, crying out in distress.

  Look at the Japanese army in the valley, almost no resistance, Xiao Minggang was about to lead the machine gunners to charge, Qian Sanmu blocked his way, with red eyes and said: "Commander, today's matter, you have killed all our brothers, but now, please let us take the lead!"

  Xiao Ming stared at Qian Sanmu, slowly unholstered the magazine and handed it over to him along with the submachine gun: "Alright, I'll be right behind you!"

  "Thank you, Commander Cheng!" Qian Sanmu solemnly saluted Xiao Ming and turned to shout to the soldiers of the Sichuan Army: "Brothers, let's kill the devils and go home!" "Kill the devils!" "Go home!" The soldiers jumped up and followed Qian Sanmu down the mountain valley.

  Xiao Ming ordered Gao Shouyi to hold the position, pulled out his pistol, replaced it with a 20-round magazine, and shouted: "Kill the devils, kill!" The soldiers hugged their machine guns, shouting "Kill the devils" as they followed Xiao Ming in a charge.

  The Japanese army was busy attacking the stronghold, ignoring the collapse of the second row. Zhang Xiaoshan led his men to run up the mountain, with only a dozen people left, all of whom were shivering with cold and had no clothes to cover their bodies. He ordered them to disperse and hide, waiting for reinforcements. After the artillery fire, the familiar sound of charging echoed in the valley. Zhang Xiaoshan stood up and shouted: "Brothers, the company commander is here! Charge down, retake the position, kill the devils!" The soldiers were frozen and unbearable, and they had been eager to rush out and fight the devils. They all stood up, shouting "Kill the devils" and charged out.

  The Japanese troops in the valley did not expect such a strong firepower from the other side, nor did they expect that the artillery attack had not stopped before launching a charge. For a time, they could not withstand it, and the commander ordered to withdraw from the second line of defense, back to the waist of the mountain valley, count the number of people, plus the original ones on guard here, already less than 40 people, and almost everyone was injured, then ordered to use the favorable terrain to block the enemy, waiting for reinforcements.

  The battlefield situation reversed, and the Japanese army defended, while the Flying Tigers attacked. In the mountain valley, a passage several meters wide and tens of meters long was littered with dozens of corpses. For a time, both sides were in a stalemate. Xiao Ming ordered the mortar to be brought over, but then changed his mind and told Shan Wazi: "Take some men to clean up the battlefield, tie up the Japanese who aren't dead yet, I have use for them!"

  The artillery had not yet arrived, when the sound of intense gunfire was heard from the mouth of the gourd valley, as if someone had ambushed the Japanese army's rear. After a short while, the gunfire subsided, and only the shout could be heard: "Are you brothers from the Flying Tiger Fort inside? Commander Gao Mingqing of the Vanguard Regiment of the Guerrilla Army has come to pay his respects!"

  Xiao Ming was taken aback, thinking to himself that the guerrilla army would not be here at this late hour. He replied loudly: "I am Xiao Ming, the second-in-command of Fei Hu Zhai. What brings your unit here?"

  "The other side shouted: 'Xiao Dangjia, I have long admired you! We were pursued by the Japanese army to this place, please do us a favor and lend us your land for a while, what do you think, sir?'"

  Xiao Ming listened carefully and heard gunshots in the distance. After thinking for a moment, he said: "There is a defensive position at the entrance of the valley, send someone over to respond!"

  Before long, two people walked over from the opposite side, holding up their hands and shouting: "Don't shoot, it's just us two!" Xiao Ming signaled to everyone to put down their guns and let the two come over.

  As they approached, the visitor's features became clear. He was dressed as a military officer, with the rank of colonel on his uniform, and accompanied by someone who appeared to be a guard. The colonel saluted: "I am Gao Mingqing, commander of the Vanguard Regiment. May I ask which one of you is Mr. Xiao?"

  Xiao Ming stepped forward with a fist: "I am! I don't know why Commander Gao came here in the middle of the night?"

  Gao Mingqing smiled wryly: "My unit was attacked by the Japanese army, and our rear was cut off. We had no choice but to transfer here. Hearing the intense gunfire from your camp, I guessed that you were also under attack by the Japanese. So I came to help, and we can support each other." He then briefly introduced the situation.

  The Japanese army launched a clearing operation, and the guerrilla army was like a startled bird, sending out scouts to monitor the Japanese army's movements. At night, the military department received a report that a Japanese army was moving south, with about one battalion, with unclear motives. At dawn, Gao Mingqing's unit, stationed in the west, discovered a Japanese army attacking from the west. The military department judged that the Japanese army was heading for the guerrilla army, intending to attack them from two sides and annihilate them. They ordered Gao Mingqing to block the enemy on the spot and cover the military department's transfer. The Japanese army, seeing that they could not take the position after a long time, divided their forces to launch a surprise attack, cutting off their retreat route. Gao Mingqing had no choice but to retreat towards Feihu Village, where he encountered a group of Japanese soldiers confronting the villagers, and he charged into battle.

  Xiao Ming broke out in a cold sweat after hearing this, and he understood that those devils were rushing towards the Flying Tiger Fort. Gao Mingqing muddled through a battle to cover for himself, otherwise the Flying Tiger Fort would have been doomed.

  The gunfire is getting closer and closer, Xiao Ming said immediately: "Commander Gao, you can enter the valley, but tell your brothers not to go up the mountain. After all, we are not familiar with each other, and please forgive us in this extraordinary period!"

  Gao Mingqing said with a smile: "Alright, I'll thank Mr. Xiao first! Please rest assured, Mr. Xiao, if any of my men dare to go up the mountain, feel free to shoot!" After finishing speaking, he bowed to Xiao and turned around to leave.

  A warrior came over and handed an assault rifle to Xiao Ming: "Commander, our company commander..."

  Xiao Ming's heart sank, the submachine gun was wet, it should be blood, but now is not the time to grieve. He appointed Zhang Xiaoshan as acting company commander and had the wounded and their own dead transferred to the back mountain. After going up the valley, Xiao Ming left a squad for the Sichuan Army Company and ordered: "If those guerrillas dare to come up the mountain, kill them without mercy!"

  The mountain bandits captured over a dozen prisoners, all of whom were dazed from the explosion. Xiao Ming ordered them to be taken away and tied up in the stronghold: "This is a defensive treasure!"

  Wang Jinlong made a phone call to inquire about the battle situation and said that Heifengxia and Jiudaowan were both attacked by the Japanese army. Xiao Ming felt something was wrong, so he called Shan Wawa to pass on the order: strengthen the patrol of the cavalry company in the back mountain, Dalong and Ma Liu search for suspicious targets in the mountains, Sun Erdou organizes the militia to be on guard and make preparations for evacuation.

  The situation at the nine bends was relatively good, and as soon as the Japanese army appeared, they were discovered and an effective defense was organized. The Japanese army was surprised to find that in this terrain, their usual tactics did not work at all, because they couldn't see where the enemy was. If they launched a cannon attack, it would only increase the difficulty of the charge. So they sent out a small team for a probing attack, and as soon as they turned two bends, they were severely hit: more than a dozen hand grenades flew down from the top of the mountain, and in the narrow mountain road, the flying shrapnel had almost no blind spots. The Japanese army didn't even see the enemy's shadow, threw down twenty or thirty corpses, and retreated. The commander ordered that there would be no further attack, and that they should just block the exit from the mountain.

  At the same time as the attack on Gourd Valley, a Japanese squadron surrounded Er Long Ridge. A small team of Japanese troops sneaked up quietly, but unfortunately, a soldier triggered a landmine, and the explosion awakened the defenders of Fei Hu Village. The surprise attack turned into a strong assault. The Japanese artillery showed great power, with infantry-artillery coordination being very mature. After the defenders survived a round of shelling, the Japanese had already appeared in front of the fortifications. Both sides engaged in close combat, and the defenders were at a disadvantage in terms of numbers. The platoon leader reluctantly ordered a retreat, running deep into the mountains. Several heavily wounded soldiers ignited explosives, perishing together with the charging Japanese troops.

  The Japanese army left a small team to stand guard, and the main force quickly passed through Er Long Ridge, rushing straight to Hei Feng Xia. Several tanks stopped at the entrance of Hei Feng Xia, waiting for orders. After a while, a group of Japanese military officers rode horses over, led by Kawabe and Kimura!

  Kawano was very unhappy and asked why the attack had not started. A tank commander reported that there were some black things, about one person high, on the road in Kurokaze Pass, which seemed to be anti-tank stakes, and requested artillery support to clear the obstacles.

  Anti-tank stakes? Hano laughed and said to Kimura, "Kimura, what you said is indeed correct. This isn't an ordinary bandit after all. It seems we've underestimated them!"

  Kimura furrowed his brow, deep in thought, and upon hearing Kono's words, hastily said: "Sir, shall we confirm the news about Gourd Valley before advancing?"

  Kawano waved his hand and said, "No, the fighter planes will be gone in no time. If we launch an attack here, the pressure on Gourd Valley will be greatly reduced! Order the artillery to clear the roadblock at Black Wind Gorge."

  The commander-in-chief equipped Kawanishi with several large-caliber artillery this time, and the anti-tank stakes on the road were quickly destroyed under the powerful strike of the artillery. What's strange is that the entire Black Wind Canyon was dead silent, without any reaction.

  Kawano gave a wave of his hand, ordering the charge. Several tanks roared forward, followed closely by a small group of Japanese soldiers, who launched an attack on Heifengxia. The scattered rocks slowed down the tanks, and the soldiers also carefully watched their feet, as if they were tripped, the sharp stones on the ground could cause them to get hurt. On the battlefield, having a flexible body was the key to survival.

  After passing through a narrow pass, it suddenly became spacious inside. The Japanese army was so focused on their feet that they didn't expect dozens of black objects to suddenly fly down from above, shattering as soon as they hit the ground, releasing a strong smell of gasoline. Then, dozens of torches were thrown down from the mountain, and with a loud crash, a huge fire erupted in the valley. A war vehicle was caught off guard, igniting instantly, while the others slammed on their brakes to turn around, but it was too late. The people on the mountain took advantage of the firelight to throw something down, causing deafening explosions that shook the air, with steel and rocks crashing against each other in the valley. The war vehicles were destroyed, and the soldiers screamed as they flew into the air. The Japanese army behind them quickly retreated back.

  A loud explosion sounded, and Kimura was shocked in his heart: This is the sound of a large-caliber shell exploding. Could Flying Tiger Village have such powerful firepower? In fact, Kimura was overthinking. The Flying Tiger Village had hijacked a batch of large-caliber shells, but Xiao Ming thought they were useless, so he let someone remove the warheads and put them on the mountain as explosives.

  Looking at the two chariots and a dozen or so soldiers fleeing back, Kawanabe was furious and ordered the artillery to open fire and clear out the enemy's garrison. The artillery commander hesitated for a moment and said: "Sir, the enemy is on the leeward side of the mountain, it's a blind spot for shooting..."

  Kimura contacted the Japanese army in the direction of Hulu Valley and Jiudao Bay, learned that the attack was frustrated, and suddenly had a bad feeling in his heart. He asked for instructions from Kawano, stopped attacking, and waited until dawn to discuss further.