Chapter 430: Chen Cheng's Aggrieved Little Daughter-in-law

Liu Zhangqing nodded in response: "We definitely have to serve up a big meal, otherwise these little Japanese devils will really think that's all the strength we have."

Yu Hua called over a Communications Soldier, "Connect me to Artillery Battalion Commander Yu Dazhu."

"Yes!" The Communications Soldier saluted, then cranked the phone in his hand.

Meanwhile, at the Independent Brigade's artillery position, Yu Dazhu was directing the artillerymen to construct the position.

"Everyone, keep your spirits up for me! If anyone dares to act like a fool and doesn't listen to my orders, I'll whip them."

As a veteran artilleryman, although the artillery battalion under Yu Dazhu's command currently held the designation of a single battalion, its actual number of artillery pieces had already reached the establishment of an artillery regiment.

Six Type 41 Mountain Guns, six Type 94 Mountain Guns, and twelve Schneider M1919 Mountain Guns; the caliber of this batch of mountain guns was all 75 millimeters.

Boda Chongyi also took the opportunity to comment on the differences between Chinese women and Japanese geishas, and Inaba Shiro also offered his own insights.

"Some areas cannot see the impact points."

Inaba Shiro agreed with Boda Chongyi's words; whether it was the airport or Anqing City, these were very important to the Chinese side, and the Japanese Army also valued them highly.

"Boda-kun, we cannot abandon either the airport or Anqing City."

"After we attacked the Japanese Army's heavy machine gun and light machine gun positions in the eastern urban area, as well as the little devils' Grenade Launcher squads, we laid an ambush there according to your instructions."

Outside Anqing City, a Japanese Army regiment and a battalion began to mobilize; the sound of vehicles, mules, and horses, as well as the footsteps of the devil soldiers, carried very far.

Inside the city, the vanguard scouts of the Chu Ming Regiment, seeing the Japanese Army's troop movements outside the city, also reported back rapidly.

He proposed dismissing Xu Yuanquan from his group army post and sending Xu Yuanquan to a Military Tribunal for trial.

This time the hit rate was much higher than before; the remaining aircraft inside the little devils' airport were now all destroyed, and even the fuel depot was hit by ten artillery shells.

Many Puppet Army soldiers lay on the ground, not daring to move; everyone felt that being in the Puppet Army wasn't easy either, and many people, seeing the Japanese Army in a weak position, had already begun to plot their escape.

No sooner had Xu Yuanquan received the inquiry order from the 9th War Zone than Zhang Yungang used the Sichuan Army radio to report to Xu Yuanquan.

"Hai!" The Communications Soldier nodded heavily.

Looking at the Chinese side, although there were volunteer aviators from the Russians joining the battle, there were only two hundred or so aircraft, which was pitifully few compared to the Japanese.

Yu Dazhu snapped, "When I was on the battlefield fighting the Japanese Army to the death, you brat were still in the province hugging a woman and sleeping? You little fool, what do you know!"

"Communications Soldier!" Yamazaki Gōnei shouted; at this moment he was extremely panicked, and he was also wounded.

"Report to the Battalion Commander, southwest wind, wind speed level 4."

"All battalions, attention!"

Chen Cheng, as the Commander of the 9th War Zone, spoke first, emphasizing the various unfavorable situations after the 26th Group Army's rout.

Ten minutes later, Yu Dazhu's artillery battalion was ready.

The aircraft were blown to pieces, with wings and fuselages separated; many planes were shredded on the runway, and at the same time, some of the Japanese Army airport's fuel depots also burst into flames instantly.

After the five-round volley was finished, Yu Dazhu had Li Niu and the others observe the situation inside the airport.

In the Wuhan Battle, the Japanese Army committed over 400,000 troops, including over 500 Army Aviation aircraft and over 300 Naval Aviation aircraft, totaling nearly 1,000 planes.

Good heavens! This Sichuan Army Independent Brigade was actually secretly supporting Anqing City without reporting it to the War Zone.

At this moment! Independent Brigade Command Post.

"All battalions, attention, adjust coordinates for me."

In a blockhouse, Yamazaki Gōnei was observing the situation inside the airport, when suddenly an artillery shell struck inside the blockhouse.

"Battalion Commander, Wang San is a loafer in Shu County; he has no wife and hasn't even touched a woman. He sleeps hugging the air."

Yu Hua sighed deeply, "This is only temporary. The little devils' aircraft can be produced continuously. For us, the most important thing in fighting planes is to take out the Japanese pilots."

"As long as the Japanese pilots are taken out, lacking elite pilots, the little devils' air power will truly be weakened."

These battalion commanders now all admired Chu Ming; if it were them, they would have long since gathered their subordinates to retreat and then thrown themselves into the arms of the Japanese Army.

The piercing sound of the sonic waves felt as if it were going to shatter people's eardrums.

Chu Ming looked at the battalion commanders, "See that? The little devils have set up a Pocket Formation outside the city, just waiting for us to drill into it."

"Sure enough, after the little devils, a large force came to encircle from outside the city, numbering about two battalions."

Ever since Yu Dazhu learned that the little devils in the airport wouldn't budge, he knew his artillery battalion would be needed sooner or later.

The airport outside Anqing City was very important for the Japanese Army's offensive on Wuhan; losing the airport now was a grave mistake for the 6th Division and the Hada Detachment.

Everyone took a look and discovered that in the telegram, Xu Yuanquan also emphasized the role played by the Sichuan Army Independent Brigade.

The little devils putting out the fire were covered in splashing fuel and burst into flames directly; many Japanese soldiers wailed in pain, crying and calling for their mothers.

"Give me a five-round volley to see the effect!"

Liu Zhangqing received Yu Dazhu's report that the Japanese airport had been completely destroyed, "Old Yu!"

It seems the enemy secretly dispatched troops to Anqing City, using a method of hiding by day and moving by night to deceive the Imperial Air Force's reconnaissance.

"The Chinese army only attacked the airport to resolve the siege of Anqing."

Upon hearing this, Yu Dazhu said, "That's great!"

"Your Excellency Battalion Commander." The Communications Soldier came to Yamazaki Gōnei's side.

"Your Excellency Division Commander, urgent telegram!"

"Wang San, Li Niu, you two go observe for me immediately. Act quickly; if you mess this up, I'll have to whip you both."

"Good, good, good..." Xu Yuanquan shouted excitedly.

"This time attacking the airport, our Sichuan Army achieved results no worse than the Eighth Route Army attacking Yangmingbao Airport."

Once Yu Dazhu's order was given, the entire battalion's artillery emitted a "Boom—" vibration, kicking up a cloud of dust.

"Battalion Commander, our hit rate is about seventy percent."

Chu Ming fell into deep thought at this moment? The Japanese Army mobilized troops again, why is this?

On the contrary, several battalion commanders remarked that the little devils were truly stupid; using the same trick again, now whoever falls for it is an idiot.

"I order your unit to pull out another battalion to support the airport. My 6th Division will dispatch another regiment to reinforce the airport."

"If there's something, don't keep it hidden; share it so we can be happy too."

Yu Dazhu is a Regimental Commander in the truest sense, with thirty or forty pieces of artillery under his command.

Building on the previous foundation, Yu Dazhu corrected the coordinates and once again unleashed a five-round volley on the Japanese Army airfield.

After obtaining the wind speed and wind direction, Yu Dazhu modified the coordinates he had previously observed.

Generals who dare to fight and struggle, and who do not fear sacrifice, can often inflict massive casualties on the Japanese Army on the battlefield, making the devils tremble with fear.

Once out of the airfield, if one takes off their uniform, who would know they had served in the Puppet Army? In this day and age, saving one's own life is what matters most.

Just as everyone was pondering Xue Laohu's proposal, Chen Cheng's Adjutant came to his side; after Lao Chen took the telegram handed over by the Adjutant and glanced at it, his originally bitter expression instantly turned into one of jubilation and cheering.

"Yamamoto... hurry and find more people, find the Collaborationist Army units!"

"Baka yaro!" Boda Chongyi was also filled with indignation.

After hearing this, Yu Dazhu raised the corners of his mouth; seventy percent was not bad at all.

As the commander of the Lanfeng Battle, Xue Laohu had seen his own troops beaten into a rout by a single Division of the Japanese Army.

"Boom— boom—"

Many Blockhouses inside the Japanese Army airfield were also completely shattered under the bombardment of the Mountain Guns, and some high walls were blown open by the 105mm Howitzers.

"Baka yaro!" Yamazaki Gōnei shouted: "Quickly... protect the aircraft."

"Is this battle result authentic?" Many generals had doubts, because the 26th Group Army had previously been in a full-scale retreat!

Now they were actually counterattacking the Japanese Army and had destroyed the Japanese Army airfield? It was truly hard for people to accept.

"Xu Yuanquan sent me a telegram; although his troops retreated, they have also been looking for opportunities to counterattack the Japanese Army."

Chen Cheng did not keep them in suspense, picked up the microphone and said: "Good news! Fellow colleagues, commanders of the various Group Armies and Corps, as well as members of the Military Affairs Commission."

"Yes!" Wang San and Li Niu said in unison, "Battalion Commander, we guarantee to complete the mission."

"The airfield was blown up by the Chinese forces; all thirty-plus aircraft of the Imperial Army were destroyed, and the airfield's fuel depot was also blown to nothing."

"Report the wind speed!" Yu Dazhu shouted over the phone.

"The fuel depot must not be lost, quickly..."

The 26th Group Army collapsed at the first touch, which made Chen Cheng very angry; he sent a telegram to Xu Yuanquan and severely criticized him.

"Let me see!" Xue Laohu lunged forward suddenly.

Inaba Shiro, using too much force, knocked all the wine and roast chicken on the table onto the floor.

Just as Yu Dazhu was about to speak, a Communications Soldier ran over hurriedly and said: "Battalion Commander, Brigade Commander Liu and Adjutant Yu called us, ordering our Artillery Battalion to conduct artillery strikes on the Japanese Army airfield."

Wang San was responsible for reporting, and Li Niu was responsible for measuring.

After reading the telegram, Inaba Shiro was so angry that he slammed the telegram in his hand onto the table.

Several other generals also crowded around to look at the telegram in Chen Cheng's hand.

Some little devils used water guns to rescue the oil depot, preparing to extinguish the fire, as the Japanese Army shouted: "Quickly... save the oil depot."

Inside the airfield, the Japanese Army Battalion Commander Yamazaki Gōnei heard the sound of air being torn apart and his face changed drastically!

"Whew, whew, whew!! ——"

The airfield was bombed, and the fire caused by the aviation fuel stored in the fuel depot caused far more damage to the Japanese Army than the Chinese artillery bombardment of the airfield.

Several newly enlisted artillerymen said: "Battalion Commander, the first stroke of the character 'eight' hasn't even been written yet, how do you know our Artillery Battalion is going to be deployed?"

"Commander Chen, what is it? Why are you so happy?"

This meeting was attended by generals including Li Delin, Sun Zhen, Xue Laohu, and Zhang Fakui.

"Your Excellency Division Commander, what is going on?!"

"The airfield outside Anqing City was attacked by a reinforced Regiment dispatched by Xu Yuanquan, with the Sichuan Army Independent Brigade coordinating; they took out the Japanese Army airfield, and for at least half a month, the little devils' planes won't be able to take to the sky."

"Yamazaki Gōnei says the Chinese forces have at least three Divisions, with no fewer than thirty 75mm Mountain Guns."

"Regimental Commander! We understand; we will no longer talk about retreating. Isn't it just a fight to the death? We will live and die with Anqing City."

This time, his Regiment coordinated with the Sichuan Army Independent Brigade and has already destroyed the Japanese Army airfield; the little devils' thirty-plus aircraft are all lying on the ground now.

As for the Puppet Army units at the airfield, it was their first time experiencing such a fierce artillery bombardment.

Boda Chongyi saw Inaba Shiro so angry and knew that something huge must have happened.

Xu Yuanquan called his Communication Staff Officer and reported this matter to the th War Zone Command.

They still thought this was the devils feigning a troop movement to make the Sichuan Army think they could use this opportunity to break out.

"Great! Well done." Sun Zhen shouted. "This battle was fought well; it is beneficial to our army's subsequent operations."

"All of you, be sharp. It will be our Artillery Battalion's time to shine soon, so don't you dare drop the ball at a critical moment."

Wang San got anxious upon hearing this, "Li Niu, what do you know? When I was drinking flower wine at the Yihong Courtyard, you brat were still digging for food in the dirt!"

"Immediately send a telegram to Division Commander Inaba Shiro; the airfield has been shelled by the Republic of China Army. The opponent possesses an artillery regiment, and it is estimated that the enemy force consists of three Divisions."

"We have really struck it rich this time; over thirty Japanese aircraft were destroyed, and the little devils' air power in the Wuhan region has weakened significantly!"

If it weren't for his guard's quick reaction in tackling him, Yamazaki Gōnei would be a corpse by now.

Just as the two old devils were talking with great interest, Inaba Shiro's Adjutant suddenly ran over in a hurry.

"Fight it out! At worst, eighteen years later, I'll be a hero again. Regimental Commander, we Sichuan Army soldiers don't fear hardship or fatigue, and we fear bloodshed and sacrifice even less."

"Hai!" Boda Chongyi nodded, "Everything is up to the Division Commander's arrangements."

"The whole battalion, prepare; bomb the little devils' airfield for me immediately."

Although his Group Army had been routed, he was still able to achieve a major battle result during the retreat; if this were reported up, the higher-ups would certainly not pursue his responsibility too much.

However, the speed of the shells was far faster than the Japanese Army, and countless shells landed in the Japanese Army airfield.

This allowed the Puppet Army soldiers to see for the first time that the Republic of China Army actually had such powerful artillery; this firepower was not at all inferior to the Japanese Army.

"Fart..." Li Niu also began to quibble; the two started claiming they had held women in their sleep, neither backing down an inch for the sake of a man's pride.

Furthermore, the Artillery Battalion also had an attached Machine Gun and Artillery Company; this company was a true battalion-level formation, with six Type 92 Infantry Guns, six 20mm Machine Cannons, and twelve M2 Heavy Machine Guns.

"Your Excellency Division Commander, I believe this is the Chinese forces' plan of the Siege of Wei to Rescue Zhao; half of Anqing City is now in the hands of our Imperial Army."

"Listen to my command: sight scale 516, elevation angle 47 degrees 55 minutes, direction right 010, decrease elevation by 1, charge number 3."

At this time, Inaba Shiro and Boda Chongyi were happily drinking, discussing what they had seen and heard on Chinese soil.

Most importantly, the four 105 mm Howitzers were also under the command of Yu Dazhu.

Meanwhile, at this moment, the 9th War Zone also received news that the Japanese Army had launched a Night Raid on Anqing City and routed the 26th Group Army.

Anqing City, Chu Ming Regiment!

Several scouts returned: "Report, Regimental Commander."

Due to the Japanese Army's Night Raid, the 26th Group Army retreated rapidly, and the Nanjing Command in Hankou held an emergency meeting.

Chen Cheng looked toward Sun Zhen, "Old Sun, I recall that the commander of this Independent Brigade is Liu Zhangqing, right? This force was assigned to your 22nd Group Army; why didn't you notify me when you made such a big scene?"

Chen Cheng had the tone of a mistreated young wife; this was the first time Sun Zhen had ever seen Commander Chen show such a side.

(End of this chapter)