Chapter 219

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Protagonist:

Lv Muzhi

The news Fujita Susumu received was that a small detachment of the Youth Army had eliminated a squad of Japanese soldiers on the outer perimeter of the Third Division.

After succeeding, they immediately withdrew from combat, leaving the Japanese soldiers of the Third Division with nowhere to vent their anger.

At the same time, the news of the Yamamoto Battalion's total annihilation was confirmed; it was said they died in a gruesome manner, and some of the Yamamoto Battalion's soldiers injured by poison gas shells were taken over by the medical team.

The soldiers of the Third Division were being gathered outside by Division Commander Fujita Susumu to sing, and all the soldiers happened to witness the miserable sight of the Yamamoto Battalion survivors being brought down.

The condition of those soldiers brought down could only be described as too horrible to behold.

Regiment Commander Ying Sen Xiao stood at the edge of the earthen slope, watching the remnants of the Yamamoto Battalion being carried down on stretchers or dragged by simple cloth.

The atmosphere that had just been barely rallied by military songs instantly became oppressive again with the appearance of these wounded.

Among the wounded, the exposed skin, especially on the face, neck, and arms, was covered with large patches of red, swollen, and ulcerated blisters; some blisters had burst, oozing yellow-white pus mixed with mud and blood, emitting an indescribable strange odor.

Many Japanese soldiers' eyes were swollen into slits, some even completely unable to open, only able to emit painful moans.

Some soldiers of the Third Division who were lined up listening to Fujita Susumu's singing saw this scene and began to whisper among themselves.

"Is that... the Yamamoto Battalion's men?"

"Oh god... what happened to them..."

"Are we... are we going there too?"

Ying Sen Xiao immediately realized something was wrong; he stepped forward a few steps and urged the military doctor and soldiers responsible for transporting the wounded: "Move quickly! Send these wounded to the rear rescue station immediately! No lingering!"

Immediately after, Regiment Commander Ying Sen Xiao turned around and roared at the troops still standing in a daze: "This is war! All of you, get back to your own tents and cover! Sleep, maintain your strength, and avenge your fallen comrades!"

Under the pushing and scolding of officers and non-commissioned officers, the soldiers began to disperse, lying down to the melody of "Hometown."

Fujita Susumu's complexion was already quite bad, because the singing from Lv Muzhi's loudspeaker was like a provocation, not stopping for a moment.

"Simply a great disgrace! Lv Muzhi, you have successfully angered me, Regiment Commander Ying Sen Xiao!"

"Present!"

Division Commander Fujita Susumu looked at Ying Sen Xiao: "Regiment Commander Ying Sen Xiao, we cannot wait any longer! The enemy uses such despicable means to strike our morale, and even sends out small detachments to harass us; we must immediately make a strong counterattack!

I order your regiment to immediately organize a powerful night raid! The target is Chu Yunfei's frontline position facing us! Do not fear casualties; I want a victory, a victory that can boost morale and wash away the disgrace!

Use the blood of the Chinese soldiers to comfort the officers and men of the Yamamoto Battalion who died an honorable death!"

Ying Sen Xiao's heart tightened.

Night raid? The enemy was already prepared, with solid fortifications and strong firepower; was he not just going to deliver food to them?

Ying Sen Xiao hesitated for a moment and said: "The enemy's position is solid, and night attacks have limited visibility; should we wait until dawn, coordinate with the air force and more sufficient artillery preparation before..."

"Wait until dawn?" Fujita Susumu rudely interrupted him, pointing at the direction the wounded were being carried away and the still noisy camp: "Look at the state of the troops now; before dawn arrives, morale will have completely collapsed!

Moreover, according to the firepower intensity of the Ninth Group Army facing the enemy, and the solidity of the Wufu Defense Line, we may not be able to gain an advantage even after dawn; we must act immediately, using the night as our camouflage, to break through Chu Yunfei's defensive line."

At this moment, the Chief of Staff also walked over, patted Ying Sen Xiao's shoulder, and analyzed: "Regiment Commander Ying, your concerns are reasonable.

However, please think about it; today during the day, we carried out a large-scale special shell attack. Although the Yamamoto Battalion encountered an accident, through the Yamamoto Battalion's encounter, we can confirm that the power of mustard gas is beyond doubt.

The enemy's position opposite has been covered by poison gas for so long that their combat power must be greatly reduced! Personnel may suffer non-combat attrition, and morale must certainly be affected.

Plus our previous leaflet psychological warfare; although it was countered by the enemy with music, it still planted seeds of doubt in their hearts to some extent.

Now, they have just repelled the Yamamoto Battalion and carried out a successful harassment; they are very likely to produce emotions of underestimating the enemy or complacency.

This is exactly a good opportunity for us to take them by surprise and launch a fierce night raid!"

Ying Sen Xiao listened to the Chief of Staff's words and actually felt they made some sense.

He also looked at Fujita Susumu's complexion and knew he had no way out.

The Japanese army needed a victory to regain face and morale; this was not only the most urgent need of the Third Division at present, but also the need of the entire land force of the Central China Expeditionary Army.

In the days without naval gunfire support, the army urgently needed victory!

"I understand, Division Commander Excellency, Chief of Staff Excellency! Regiment Commander Ying Sen Xiao will resolutely execute the order! I will immediately organize a death squad and assault echelon, and under the coordination of artillery and tanks, launch a decisive night raid on the enemy's position! I vow to fight to the death to seize victory, avenge the officers and men who died an honorable death, and restore the military prestige of my Third Division!"

Fujita Susumu patted Ying Sen Xiao's shoulder hard: "Yoisho! Ying-kun, you are the hope of the entire division!

I will have the artillery and tank units fully cooperate with you!

Remember, be fast, be ruthless! Crush Chu Yunfei's unit opposite them, and turn off that damn music completely!"

At three in the morning, Regiment Commander Ying Sen Xiao's night raid was suddenly launched.

First, the Third Division's artillery concentrated fire for a sudden attack, with shells densely smashing toward Chu Yunfei's unit's frontline position.

Immediately after, several Type 95 Light Tanks and Type 89 Medium Tanks roared with their engines, like moving steel fortresses, guiding the dense Japanese infantry to launch a bold night raid on the Youth Army's position.

"Enemy attack! All personnel enter combat positions!"

The music in the loudspeaker was temporarily turned off, and the piercing alarm and the shouts of officers at all levels spread throughout the position.

Soldiers who were originally resting inside the Gas Mask Fortress grabbed their weapons, rushed to their respective combat posts, and quickly entered combat status.

Lv Muzhi held binoculars in the rear and laughed: "Little Japanese devils, you've finally taken the bait!"

Chu Yunfei put down his binoculars and said: "Commander Lu, it seems this little Japanese hometown tune really angered the Third Division; they came to launch a sneak attack in the middle of the night without even sleeping!"

Lv Muzhi nodded: "Hmph, indeed very effective; immediately popularize this practice among other troops on the Wufu Defense Line; those few divisions of the little Japanese devils can forget about getting a good night's sleep!"

Chu Yunfei rubbed his hands: "Commander Lu, I think this way, the little Japanese devils' fighting spirit will be worn down in front of our defensive line."

"No rush, wear them down some more, especially the Third Division opposite; it won't be long before I take Lieutenant General Fujita Susumu's dog head!"