Chapter 351

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Protagonist:

Lv Muzhi

Thousands of warhorses of the Cavalry Brigade, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Fushimi Takeo, advanced toward the outer defensive position west of the city lost not long ago, vowing to retake the position.

Under the night, the warhorses surged mightily, shaking the earth and mountains.

Between the outer defensive position and the Huangchuan County city wall, two haystacks moved under the moonlight.

"Do you hear... what sound?"

In the haystacks were two Youth Army scout soldiers, lying in ambush for reconnaissance.

The other soldier listened intently: "Horse hooves, many in number, the enemy's cavalry unit is coming! Hurry back to report!"

The position previously lost by the Imperial Guard Xian Bing had now become the Youth Army's position, used as a foothold for continuing the forward attack.

After receiving the report from the frontline reconnaissance post, the Youth Army officer at the defended position immediately sent out more reconnaissance posts to reconnoiter ahead.

After Qiu Qingquan received the report at the command post, he immediately took the radio and went to sit in command at the artillery position, ready to support the frontline at any time.

"The little devils won't turn back until they hit the south wall; not properly defending Huangchuan County, they instead actively attack our position, wanting to retake the outer defensive position at the western corner of Huangchuan County—pure fantasy!

Ask the frontline whether it's the Imperial Guard Division, to be so arrogant!" Qiu Qingquan said to his staff officer.

Hu Gongnan also received news of the Japanese night attack and came late at night to find Qiu Qingquan; at such a critical moment, not a single mishap could be allowed.

"How is the situation?" Hu Gongnan asked.

At this moment, Qiu Qingquan's telephone rang, and the staff officer answered: "Okay, okay, understood, continue alert, defend the position to the death."

After hanging up, the staff officer trotted over: "Frontline reconnaissance report: the Japanese night attack should be the Imperial Guard Division's cavalry brigade, with over four thousand men and horses!"

Hu Gongnan stroked his chin and said: "The Imperial Guard Division's resources are indeed rich; they want to rely on the cavalry's high mobility to break through our army's position in one fell swoop?!"

Qiu Qingquan nodded: "I've heard that those who play with cavalry are the Japanese army's nobility; the brigade commander of the cavalry brigade is a prince of the Fushimi Family; below in the regiments, there is also a baron......

Hmph, but since they've chosen this undignified way to come and die, I have no choice but to give this group of Japanese imperial family a good beating!"

Ding ling ling~!

More than ten meters away, the telephone at the artillery command post rang.

Qiu Qingquan took three steps as two and went forward to directly answer the telephone.

A clear and urgent voice came from the telephone: "Requesting firepower strike, coordinates G43!"

Qiu Qingquan did not hesitate and loudly replied: "Received your strike request, target confirmed, G43! Artillery group, fire!"

The artillery position immediately became busy, all artillerymen entering combat positions.

"Target G43, rapid fire!"

"Fire!"

The red flags in the hands of each gun commander were waved down fiercely.

Boom! Boom boom boom—!

Twenty-four 155mm howitzers roared simultaneously, cannon muzzles spouting several meters of fierce flame, the enormous recoil causing the heavy gun carriages to sink deeply into the mud.

Almost simultaneously, the 105mm howitzer group and the 75mm mountain gun field guns also fired toward the target area.

Shells of different calibers traced different arcs in the air, flying toward the assembly and advance area of the Japanese cavalry brigade.

On the plain under the night, the Imperial Guard Cavalry Brigade was advancing rapidly.

Lieutenant Colonel Fushimi Takeo rode a tall Dogu horse, constantly urging: "Increase speed! We must retake the outer defensive position before the Chinese consolidate their positions!

The honor of cavalry lies in the speed of assault!"

The sound of horse hooves rang like thunder, thousands of warhorses galloping, the earth trembling.

Fushimi Takeo looked at the terrain and decisively ordered: "Right here, order the Cavalry Artillery Regiment to select a suitable position on the spot and deploy, preparing to provide fire cover for the assault!

Cavalry First and Second Regiments, split into left and right wings, outflank and assault the enemy position! Use cavalry mobility to tear a gap from the flank!"

"Hai!"

Orders were quickly transmitted.

The Japanese Cavalry Artillery Regiment began to slow down, the mules and horses pulling the 75mm mountain guns were reined in, and the gunners hastily disengaged the guns from the towing state, seeking relatively flat ground to set up.

The two cavalry regiments were like a forked river, beginning to deploy to the left and right sides, preparing to execute the cavalry two-wing envelopment tactic.

Unfortunately, heaven did not cooperate, and rolling thunder came from the sky.

This thunder did not herald a heavy rain, but the Youth Army's artillery fire descending!

"Artillery strike!" an experienced veteran warned, and the nearby Japanese immediately scattered.

The first wave of 155mm shells had already landed.

Boom! Boom! Huge explosion fireballs suddenly rose among and around the cavalry columns.

The lethal radius of 155mm shells was extremely large; the explosion shockwave flung people and horses like straw, tearing them apart.

A warhorse was directly hit, man and horse turning into a cloud of blood mist; several nearby cavalrymen were struck by fragments, screaming as they fell from their horses.

All kinds of shells—155mm, 105mm, and 75mm—fell like hail, covering a large area.

Explosion sounds continued without end, firelight constantly flashing, illuminating the night alternately bright and dark.

Frightened warhorses neighed and ran wildly in all directions, throwing off the cavalrymen on their backs, then being swallowed by subsequent shells.

"Don't panic! Continue executing orders! Assault! Assault!" Fushimi Takeo, protected by his guards, shouted hoarsely, trying to steady the troops.

Staying in place made them living targets; either retreat or assault forward—only then was there a sliver of hope.

Fushimi Takeo absolutely would not allow retreat; his only choice was to assault forward.

Under the urging of officers and veterans, the Japanese cavalry suppressed their fear and continued to ride toward the Youth Army positions on the left and right wings.

Youth Army Artillery Command Post.

Not long after Qiu Qingquan put down the phone, it rang urgently again.

"The Left Wing has discovered about five hundred or more Imperial Cavalry, rapidly outflanking our Left Wing Position! Coordinate Area H51 to H55, request adjustment of firepower strike!"

Not long after putting down the phone, it rang again: "The Right Wing has discovered several hundred Imperial Cavalry, coordinates...... request adjustment of firepower strike!"

Qiu Qingquan turned his head and said: "Order the Rocket Artillery Group to launch a strike based on the coordinates of the Right Wing Imperial Cavalry!"

"Yes!"

The order reached the Rocket Artillery Position; two Battalions totaling forty-eight Self-propelled Rocket Launcher Vehicles had long been on standby.

"Fire!"

In an instant, hundreds of Rocket Shells shot into the sky trailing dazzling tail flames, illuminating the night sky as if it were daytime.

Boom! Boom boom boom boom——!

The advancing Right Wing Imperial Cavalry suffered a devastating strike; men and horses fell in pieces amidst the explosions, with shattered limbs and weapon parts thrown into the air.

Those lucky enough not to be directly hit were thrown to the ground by the shockwave, or were thrown off and trampled by frightened war horses.

Baron of Kurojima Morita, Imperial Guard Cavalry First Regiment Commander, rode on horseback and saw the horrific scene around him, his heart sinking to the bottom.

"How could this be......" Although Baron of Kurojima Morita was extremely terrified, he could only desperately spur his horse to charge.

An arrow shot cannot be called back; the remaining cavalry, driven desperately by their officers, finally barely broke through the Firepower Blockade and approached the Youth Army's Outer Perimeter Position.

They waved horse sabres, held up cavalry lances, let out their final screams, and attempted to rely on cavalry shockwave to smash through the position in one go.

Rat-tat-tat-tat-tat!

On the Youth Army Position, the light and heavy machine guns that had been strictly awaiting battle opened fire.

MG34 General Purpose Machine Guns, M2 Browning Heavy Machine Guns, rifles, submachine guns—countless tongues of fire spat out from trenches, foxholes, and simple cover. Bullets poured toward the charging cavalry like a rainstorm.

Rat-tat-tat-tat-tat——!

The cavalry company at the very front, men and horses alike, were turned into sieves, screaming as they fell.

The cavalry behind tried to turn or seek cover, but there was nowhere to hide in the open ground.

The 20mm Autocannon also joined the shooting, shells exploding among the cavalry with even more horrific power.

The battlefield was everywhere littered with human tissue and horse debris, a sea of crimson.

Qiu Qingquan issued the final command: "Hmph! Brave of a Common Man!"

"Order the Tank Troops to go up and collect the dish. With tracks and machine guns, completely sweep the Japanese Imperial Guard Cavalry out of the History Stage!"