Chapter 386: Quietly and Without a Sound

Once the Sichuan Army's small-caliber artillery opened fire, the Japanese Army's large-caliber artillery, the 105mm howitzers and 150mm heavy artillery, followed.

They conducted carpet bombing directly on the positions where mortars and Type 92 Infantry Guns were likely set up.

Moreover, after the first round of counter-battery fire, the Japanese artillery units began using sulfur bombs on these areas.

Once the sulfur bombs landed, the hillsides instantly erupted in flames, forcing the Sichuan Army infantry to quickly retreat and abandon the field works they had already constructed.

At the same time, because the mortar and Type 92 Infantry Gun teams attached to each unit were slow to relocate, a portion of them were destroyed by the Japanese heavy artillery.

Now that the Segaya Detachment was using sulfur bombs to bombard them, the fires were spreading, and many Sichuan Army soldiers in some positions had suffered burns.

As for the Sichuan Army's artillery regiment, when they previously adopted mobile shelling tactics to exchange fire with the Segaya Detachment, they were ambushed by the Japanese heavy artillery, losing six Schneider M1919 guns during the relocation.

Once this telegram arrived, it immediately resolved the doubts in Li Delin's mind regarding Bai Zhuge; it seemed the movements of the 5th Division, the Sakamoto Detachment, and the 10th Division were indeed aimed at the 22nd Group Army in Teng County.

Upon hearing this, Wang Mingzhang cursed in anger: "Those bastards, the Segaya Detachment's heavy artillery is truly formidable."

Because, with the Japanese Army now concentrating the majority of their forces to encircle Teng County, the current battlefield situation could not possibly have evolved from this strategic situation map.

Sun Zhen was in distress!

In Xuzhou City of the Fifth War Zone, it was Li Delin who had a headache.

"Your assault strategy has not been effective!"

He hadn't expected the Segaya Detachment to be so cunning; the Sichuan Army hadn't gained a single thing, and instead, many units had been bombed and caught in the fires.

Sun Zhen was unwilling to accept this!

His 22nd Group Army had gathered sixty or seventy thousand men around Teng County, yet they had only annihilated one infantry regiment of the Segaya Detachment that was searching the mountains, and the Chongteng Detachment.

"Brother Sun!" Yu Hua sighed heavily, "That old devil Segu Qi is now on guard. Although our Sichuan Army 22nd Group Army has sixty or seventy thousand men in Teng County..."

After Bai Zhuge attended the supreme military conference in Kaifeng last time, Principal told Bai Zhuge to remain in the Fifth War Zone for the time being to cooperate with Li Delin in operations, striving to fight a brilliant battle.

"We concentrated forty mortars and twenty Type 92 Infantry Guns, yet we couldn't tear a hole in the Segaya Detachment's defensive line."

Furthermore, the Japanese Army had heavy artillery and armored support, making it very difficult for the Sichuan Army to conduct infiltration. Moreover, these bastards were all fearless, their minds filled with the ideology of loyalty to the Emperor, and they possessed strong combat effectiveness and accurate marksmanship.

"If only our Sichuan Army also had an artillery unit capable of striking twelve or thirteen kilometers away."

"Is this the latest strategic situation map?" Bai Zhuge stared at the operations staff officer.

Li Delin's eyes widened: "They have besieged the Segaya Detachment in Teng County; why hasn't Sun Zhen reported this!"

The 22nd Group Army had now encircled the Segaya Detachment, but they dared not launch a forced attack; first of all, the geographical location chosen by Segu Qi was easy to defend and difficult to attack.

"Chief of Staff Bai!" Staff Officer Yang said, biting the bullet: "The 22nd Group Army possesses autonomous operational authority."

Because he had received a joint telegram from the defenders of Langya, Pang Bingxun and Zhang Zizhong.

Bai Zhuge himself was also very confused as to what the Japanese Army was trying to do.

After all, previously, the Japanese 5th Division and 10th Division had strictly followed the orders of Pingjin Area Army Commander Terauchi Hisaichi, moving south in a Y-shape to attack Taierzhuang in a pincer movement.

"Advance with full force toward Teng County and annihilate the Sichuan Army 22nd Group Army. Judging from the telegram, the Segaya Detachment is under siege by the Sichuan Army in the mountains around Teng County, and Terauchi Hisaichi has ordered Segu Qi to stall the Sichuan Army while he mobilizes his troops."

"Brother Yu!"

"This situation map was also reported to the War Zone Command by the Sichuan Army a few days ago."

"The Sichuan Army!?"

That old devil Segu Qi was still entrenched there with twenty thousand Japanese soldiers; such a big piece of fat, and he couldn't even eat it.

Bai Zhuge and Li Delin walked up to the sand table and glanced at the small flags around Teng County.

Originally, Yu Hua had wanted to launch a concentrated artillery barrage to see if he could tear a hole and rip a piece of meat off the Segaya Detachment.

To the side, Sun Zhen looked at the telegrams sent back by various units, his brows slightly furrowed.

Because these newly and temporarily constructed field works were not at all like those of the Sichuan Army at Dagu Mountain, which had pre-constructed air-raid shelters and ventilation shafts.

The 22nd Group Army was currently besieging the Segaya Detachment, and with so many troops hiding on the hillsides, the density was too high; when the Japanese heavy artillery struck, it caused a certain amount of damage to the Sichuan Army.

Zhang Zizhong and Pang Bingxun reported directly to Li Delin that the Sakamoto Detachment, which had been fiercely attacking Langya City, had behaved very abnormally tonight, breaking camp and withdrawing from Langya in the dead of night.

Now, coupled with the Segaya Detachment's use of sulfur bombs on these hilltops, the fires were spreading, and the Sichuan Army units had no choice but to shift positions.

Today, the Segaya Detachment was using sulfur bombs to spread fires across the hilltops, forcing the Sichuan Army back.

This series of changes by the Japanese Army left Li Delin somewhat bewildered: "What on earth is going on?!

Everything was fine, why did the bastards change their formation? What are they trying to do?!"

"This Segaya Detachment has now made their entire camp like an iron barrel." Chen Qian looked at Sun Zhen, "Commander-in-Chief, we are also the side with weaker firepower; a forced attack is too difficult."

Yu Hua also ordered the artillery regiment to have Hou Degui stop harassing the Japanese Segaya Detachment; after all, in artillery duels, the bastards' heavy artillery had a longer range and sufficient power, and the Sichuan Army's Schneider guns were easily at a disadvantage.

Soon!

"According to the Japanese telegrams intercepted by our signal personnel, the 5th Division and 10th Division have already received orders from Terauchi Hisaichi."

A communication staff officer ran over in a hurry, "Commander, Chief of Staff Bai."

"These bastards were prepared long ago; we just fired the first round of artillery, and their retaliatory fire came immediately."

"The frontline units' attacks have failed; the Japanese heavy artillery has powerful firepower, and on top of that, they are now using sulfur bombs to bombard the hilltops."

"Report... Chief of Staff, Division Commander, Commander-in-Chief."

"However, if we launch a forced attack on Segu Qi, we could annihilate him, but our own losses would be heavy. I won't do such a losing business."

At the same time, the rear units of the Sakamoto Detachment, the 5th Division's Itagaki Seishiro, also changed their route and were no longer heading toward Langya.

"Operations staff, set up the strategic situation map around Teng County for me immediately."

Li Delin looked at Bai Zhuge, "Old Bai, what are your thoughts? After reading the telegrams from Pang Bingxun and Zhang Zizhong, what do you think the Japanese Army is going to do next?"

"The key is that this old devil is now on full defense, having gathered his tanks and armored vehicles to act as mobile forces to support the battlefield at any time. If our troops try to infiltrate, it's very easy to be crushed by the Japanese tanks."

"Many of our brother units have now been wounded by the Japanese Army."

Looking at the strategic situation map on the sand table, Bai Zhuge and Li Delin both knew that the real situation was certainly not like this.

"I'd better call Sun Zhen personally and ask!" Li Delin felt he should make a phone call to check.

For the Sichuan Army to bring about such a major change in the Fifth War Zone without a sound, there must be a significant result.

(End of chapter)