Chapter 133

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Protagonist:

Lv Muzhi

"Order the tank forces and the forward Tanaka Squadron: the most important task is to cover the Yoshizumi Battalion's withdrawal, do not get bogged down in battle!" Colonel Cangyong Chengzhi thought the enemy opposite might be Lv Muzhi's troops, and hurriedly warned his subordinates again.

"Hai!"

The vanguard landing force of the Japanese tank battalion was a squadron under the Fifth Tank Battalion; the tank forces had drifted at sea for over ten days, and finally had a chance to land ashore.

As soon as Nishizumi Kojiro, Squadron Leader of the Fifth Tank Battalion, went ashore, he was ordered to accompany Tanaka Squadron of the Third Division in combat, to go rescue the Yoshizumi Battalion suppressed by Xia Guo Army firepower.

On the march route, Infantry Squadron Leader Tanaka sat atop the tank squadron leader's tank, and the two were conversing.

"Lieutenant Nishizumi, my infantry squadron will follow your tank squadron in combat; this time we must be extremely careful. According to currently available public intelligence, the opposing Xia Guo Army's firepower is very strong!"

Nishizumi Kojiro of the tank squadron had also heard about the Marine Corps; the Marine Corps also had a tank unit, but at the very beginning of this war, the Marine Corps' tank unit had been completely wiped out by the enemy.

"Naturally we must be careful. During these days drifting aboard our Fifth Tank Battalion's ship, we have already studied the enemy's tanks. The enemy uses light tanks produced by Czechoslovakia, code-named 38T within Xia Guo, indeed suitable for Xia Guo's battlefield."

After hearing this, Squadron Leader Tanaka asked: "Then does your tank battalion have countermeasures? The enemy has a considerable number of tank forces; how many tanks does your tank battalion have?"

After hearing this, Nishizumi Kojiro proudly raised his chin: "For this expedition, to deal with Lv Muzhi's tank forces, our Fifth Tank Battalion has been reinforced, possessing nearly two hundred combat vehicles, including 39 Type 89 Light Tanks, 21 Type 95 Light Tanks, 21 Type 94 Cavalry Tanks, and over eighty trucks, motorcycles, and bicycles."

After Nishizumi Kojiro finished speaking, he pointed to one of his tank squadrons: "My reinforced tank squadron has 13 Type 89 Medium Tanks, 7 Type 95 Light Tanks, and 7 Type 94 Cavalry Tanks. I think dealing with Lv Muzhi's troops should be enough."

Infantry Squadron Leader Tanaka looked toward the tank forces behind him, combined with what Nishizumi Kojiro had just said, and couldn't help but frown tightly: "That's not right, Squadron Leader Nishizumi. According to what you said, one of your squadrons should have 22 tanks, but I only see eight tanks here at the scene?"

Nishizumi Kojiro smiled and said: "Well, I also received orders from the battalion commander. For this joint operation, first to support infantry combat, second to probe the enemy's armored forces and anti-tank strength; we cannot directly rush our entire squadron forward, lest we fall into the Xia Guo people's trap!"

After hearing this, Squadron Leader Tanaka sighed: "Your tank forces are indeed cautious! The Yoshizumi Battalion's two Type 92 Infantry Guns couldn't be brought away in time; my squadron brought their two infantry guns to participate in combat, coordinating with your tanks. I think dealing with an enemy battalion should be more than enough!"

The two were chatting when the scout returned from scouting ahead.

"Report to Squadron Leader! Two kilometers ahead, the Yoshizumi Battalion is being pinned down by the enemy's heavy firepower!"

Infantry Squadron Leader Tanaka jumped down from the tank: "What is the situation at the scene? How is the enemy's firepower deployment?"

The scout swallowed a mouthful of saliva: "The scene is very chaotic; I cannot enter the battlefield to understand the situation. Just looking from the outer perimeter, I can discover the enemy's firepower is very fierce."

"Especially the machine gun firepower on both wings: many firepower points and very good suppression effect. The Yoshizumi Battalion's soldiers are all lying on the ground, not daring to stand up. At the scene, only the sounds of mortars and grenade launchers can be heard; no other firepower has been discovered yet."

After listening, Squadron Leader Tanaka looked up at Squadron Leader Nishizumi Kojiro on the tank: "Squadron Leader Nishizumi, in my opinion, let's fiercely attack one side of the enemy's machine gun positions, draw fire, and create a time window for the Yoshizumi Battalion's retreat."

After hearing this, Nishizumi Kojiro also nodded: "Alright. I will send three tanks to coordinate with one of your infantry squads to feint attack the enemy's left-wing machine gun positions; five tanks will coordinate with two infantry squads to main attack the enemy's right-wing machine gun positions. Once the enemy's machine gun firepower weakens slightly, the Yoshizumi Battalion can withdraw."

"Understood! Operation plan to rescue the Yoshizumi Battalion! Start now!"

Five kilometers east of Luodian, an ambush battalion of the Youth Army formed a semicircle, using heavy firepower to directly trap a Japanese battalion.

At this time, Battalion Commander Yoshizumi and the Japanese were lying in the fields on both sides of the road, lying tightly, completely not daring to stand up.

Fortunately, the night was dark, and rice, cotton, and other crops were planted in the fields, which instead gave the Yoshizumi Battalion a place to hide.

The ambush battalion used machine gun fire to strafe and suppress the enemy, preventing the Japanese from poking their heads out.

"Bakayarou, what on earth is going on? Don't the enemy's bullets cost money? Firing them like splashing water!" Battalion Commander Yoshizumi hid behind a field ridge, listening to the whizzing of bullets overhead; his understanding of the Xia Guo Army was completely shattered by this force before his eyes.

The battalion adjutant speculated: "Battalion Commander Sir, this must be the enemy's Youth Army force. Their firepower is very fierce. I heard the Marine Corps headquarters was taken by them!"

Battalion Commander Yoshizumi deeply agreed. Listening to the enemy's incessant machine gun fire, he asked: "Where are our machine gunners and grenade launchers? Think of a way to knock out the enemy's heavy firepower!"

"The night is too dark, and the crops in the fields are too high. As soon as the grenade launcher team raises their bodies, they will soon be shot by the enemy's machine gun fire. Even if they luckily fire a few shells, there isn't enough time to correct the trajectory before they are concentrated by the enemy's firepower!"

"Bakayarou. If it weren't for increasing marching speed, I would have known to push our two Type 92 Infantry Guns under the battalion forward! That way, dealing with the enemy's heavy firepower could still achieve some suppression effect!"

"Has headquarters replied yet? Why haven't the support forces arrived?!"

"Report! No reply yet!"

In the enemy's pocket formation, facing such machine gun fire, although the enemy left an opening to exit, Battalion Commander Yoshizumi speculated that the one escape route left was deliberately arranged by the Xia Guo Army.

Once the entire battalion rises to withdraw, I fear more than half of the battalion's troops will be instantly incinerated by the Youth Army's machine gun fire.

By then, the Youth Army will swarm up and chase and beat fiercely from behind; our own casualties will only be greater.

The Xia Guo Army deliberately did not seal the opening tight. This is "surround three sides, leave one"—they want the Japanese to stand up and run, exposing their backs to the machine guns.

Seeing that counterattack was hopeless and a full retreat was almost hopeless, Battalion Commander Yoshizumi had already decided to launch a Banzai Charge.

"All brave warriors of the infantry battalion, listen to my command. All prepare to charge!"

"Wait a moment, Battalion Commander Sir, our reinforcements have arrived!" The adjutant half-lying in the paddy field pointed toward the rear with a face full of surprise.

Behind the Yoshizumi Battalion, several flares rose with whizzing sounds.

Tank Squadron Leader Nishizumi Kojiro and Infantry Squadron Leader Tanaka, according to the previously agreed plan, launched an attack on the machine gun fire positions on both sides.