Chapter 062: Depleting the Japanese Army

  Outside Guangfu County Town, inside the frontline command post.

  Fang Hanqin looked at the Japanese army's camp in the distance with lanterns lit up, and immediately dispatched a messenger to summon the commander of the artillery regiment, Long Yan.

  Before long, Long Yan ran to Fang Hanqin's face.

  "Concentrate all the artillery of your battalion, heavily pound those little devils, they have exposed themselves, if we don't attack, it would be ungrateful to others' kindness." Fang Hanqin pointed at the distant Japanese army's position and said to Long Yan.

  Long Yan looked at the Japanese army's position and saluted, saying: "Don't worry, Colonel. Our artillery unit will definitely give those devils a good reception."

  Fang Hanqin nodded and waved his hand, indicating for Long Yan to go back and prepare.

  On the artillery position, the guns quickly adjusted one by one.

  The muzzle of the cannon was aimed at the Japanese army's position in the distance.

  These Japanese officers and soldiers were very careless, with piles of torches exposing all their positions.

  "Report to the commander, four battalions, a total of forty-four artillery pieces, are all ready, requesting permission to fire." A lieutenant colonel officer ran to Long Yan's side and saluted as he spoke.

  Long Yan put down his binoculars and shouted loudly: "Fire!"

  With Long Yan's order, forty-four cannons began firing.

  Shell after shell accurately pounded into the Japanese army's position.

  In no time, the Japanese army's position fell into a state of utter chaos.

  The Japanese army surrounding the torches became ghosts under the hail of bullets.

  The flames rising around them quickly ignited the tent.

  All Japanese military personnel quickly grabbed their weapons and started running out.

  Some of the officers and soldiers were quickly extinguishing the fire.

  In the 8th Division headquarters, Maeda Toshinaga's face was filled with anger.

  As the big fire had already started burning, Maeda Toshiie, as a high-ranking general, quickly relocated with his chief of staff.

  Shells were constantly exploding all around, and occasionally a few unlucky Japanese soldiers would be hit, falling to the ground.

  Under the cover of the guards, Maeda Toshiie had already retreated with his chief of staff to a safe area.

  Looking at his own position, Maeda Toshiie's face turned pale blue.

  The planned night raid had to be cancelled.

  The Chinese troops' artillery fire had ceased, but the 1st and 3rd regiments defending the positions had dispatched small detachments to launch a counterattack against the Japanese.

  These troops were equipped with light machine guns and pistols. After finishing the fight, they quickly retreated, leaving the Japanese with no way to do anything.

  It wasn't until dawn broke that both sides stopped fighting and rested on their respective positions.

  On the Japanese army's position, inside a temporary constructed command post.

  The surroundings were already filled with guards, and on top of the command center, some wood had been covered to reinforce its solidity.

  Maeda Toshiie stood in front of the map, his facial expression was very complex.

  At the same time as being surprised, Maeda Toshiyasu also had some anger.

  While angry, Maeda Toshiie also had some excitement.

  He hopes that this army can be annihilated by itself, and annihilating such a powerful Chinese army will have more honor than defeating several vulnerable Chinese armies.

  Two division commanders were again summoned from the past, and the commander of the 4th Cavalry Division was also summoned by Toshinao Maeda.

  Although it had suffered a series of setbacks, as one of the two main force brigades of the Eighth Route Army, it did not suffer any blows.

  Although his own artillery brigade and the 4th Cavalry Brigade were severely damaged, Maeda Toshisada was confident that with his two infantry brigades, he would be able to quickly capture the position.

  "Gentlemen, we must quickly break through the Chinese army's position. Only then can our 8th Division regain its honor." Lieutenant General Toshio Iida said hastily after seeing the two brigade commanders.

  "Please instruct us, Commander. We will definitely fight with all our might." The two brigade commanders quickly stood up and said respectfully.

  The cavalry regiment commander on the side was silent, and had no expression from start to finish.

  "The 16th Brigade is in charge of attacking from the flank, which is also the main attack location. I hope you can open a gap from the flank and win the entire battle." Lieutenant General Toshifusa Maeda gave orders to Lieutenant General Shōsei Hayashi, commander of the 16th Brigade.

  Lin Maqing quickly replied: "Don't worry, Commander, it won't take more than two hours, I guarantee to break through the Vietnamese army's position."

  "The 4th Brigade will launch a frontal attack, pinning down the main force of the Chinese troops, while dispatching an reinforced battalion to outflank and cover the actions of the 16th Brigade."

  "Hey, Captain." Suzuki Yoshinori replied without backing down.

  Looking at the commander of the 4th Cavalry Brigade, Lieutenant General Toshifumi Maeda said to his two infantry brigade commanders: "You go down and prepare, we will launch an attack on the Chinese position immediately."

  "Hi, Brigade Commander." The two regimental commanders quickly saluted and walked out towards the outside.

  After seeing the two leave, Lieutenant General Toshitsune Maeda smiled and said to the commander of the 4th Cavalry Brigade: "I have decided that temporarily, I will put the 8th Cavalry Regiment under your command. This way, your brigade will also have some combat capability. Once we solve the problem of the Chinese troops, I will explain the situation of your brigade to our superiors."

  The team leader looked at Toshiyuki Maeda and asked in confusion: "What about our mission?"

  "After our troops break through the Zhina position, your cavalry will quickly pursue and attack the fleeing Zhina troops. Don't let a single one escape, kill them all." Lieutenant General Toshinari Maeda said with a fierce glow in his eyes.

  The team leader saluted and walked out towards the outside.

  The sun gradually rose higher and the surrounding area regained some temperature.

  Yang Junran was commanding the 2nd Brigade, Cavalry Regiment and Tank Regiment troops at this moment, which were on the outer perimeter of the Japanese army, coordinating with the garrison's combat operations.

  Yang Junran thought there would be action at night, but he ordered the cavalry regiment to stand by at all times.

  As a result, for one night, apart from the fierce battle between the garrison troops and the Japanese army, there was no intense fighting here.

  "Qin Litian, assemble the second battalion, the entire battalion must act, attack the Japanese army's flank and rear positions. Today those little devils will definitely launch a crazy attack on the county town, we must tie up their forces. Also, the cavalry regiment must be deployed, prepare to strike the Japanese cavalry troops." Yang Junran quickly gave orders.

  "Yes, sir." The officers saluted and walked out towards the outside.

  In a short while, the troops gathered and set off towards the Japanese army's position under the leadership of Yang Junran.

  The tanks of the tank regiment were led by Zhang Junzhe and continued to guard here.

  Outside Guangfu County town, on the battlefield.

  The officers and men of each camp had just finished breakfast when they were met with a strong attack by the Japanese army.

  The warriors relied on solid fortifications and continuously fired at the Japanese troops.

  However, the Japanese army never gave up its attack and instead launched more than a dozen consecutive attacks.

  On the first battlefield, Regiment Commander Kang Qin erected his large knife ten meters behind the position.

  Behind the big sword was a supervisory team composed of the first guard company, and anyone who retreated from the position and crossed the big sword would be shot by the guard company.

  "Brothers, those little devils have only one head, and this isn't the first time we've repelled their attacks. They're stuck here, deadlocked. I'd like to see whose combat strength is stronger today - theirs or that of our First Regiment." Kang Lianjin had already taken off his uniform, revealing a white shirt underneath that was now covered in dust and mud.

  The warriors revealed a hint of smile, after all, the Japanese army's attack was not very fierce, and their troops had less than fifty casualties.

  The fortifications here are very solid, and if you want to take down the position with human wave tactics, the Japanese army really lacks a good set of teeth.

  On the position where Kang Lianqin is currently located, there are nearly 800 officers and soldiers in total. They are equipped with nine light machine guns, three heavy machine guns, twenty-seven grenade launchers, three Type 97 90mm mortars, and three Type 92 infantry guns.

  And can also get support from ten heavy machine guns and ten 94-style mountain cannons at any time.

  Such firepower can completely block a large Japanese army's attack.

  Moreover, the fortifications here were built by the engineering troops over a long period of time, and each strongpoint can withstand multiple direct hits from Japanese heavy artillery.

  "Enemy planes, bandits are coming again!" a lieutenant shouted at Kang Lianqin.

  Kang Lianqin looked around and shouted loudly: "Brothers, give me some face, kill a few more for me!"

  The warriors quickly made preparations, crouching in the trenches, avoiding the Japanese artillery attack.

  The Japanese artillery regiment was unable to provide covering fire, while the attacking Japanese regiments used all six of their 92-type infantry guns and six 37mm anti-tank guns to follow the infantry in an attack, firing at Chinese troops in trenches.

  However, the Japanese artillery was soon hit by the first brigade's ten 94-style mountain guns.

  Without the suppression of artillery, the warriors quickly raised their heads and fired at the Japanese officers and men close to the trenches.

  A small Japanese army team that rushed to the front was taken care of by machine guns, and many Japanese officers and soldiers fell in front of their positions.

  The fourth squadron leader, Suzuki Yoshinori, who was observing from behind, had a helpless look on his face.

  He didn't know if he could break through such a solid fortification without heavy artillery, but he was also gloating, after all, the main attack was carried out by the 16th Brigade.

  "Colonel, the 5th Regiment has been hit hard and over 500 casualties have been reported. Shall we stop their attack and replace them with the 31st Infantry Regiment?" The chief of staff ran over to say to Colonel Suzuki Yoshinori.

  Furrowing his own brow, Suzuki Yoshinori, who was quite short in stature, couldn't help but think.

  He knew that this unit was not easy to deal with, and he didn't want his own troops to suffer heavy casualties at this time.

  "Don't, let the Fifth Brigade conserve its strength and send a small force to pin them down. Anyway, we're not the main attackers, let that idiot Lin Maoqing go on the attack." Suzuki Yoshinobu hesitated for a moment before saying this to his chief of staff.

  The chief of staff nodded and ran past with a salute.