Chapter 488: The Shift

The frontline troops are advancing smoothly; the Wanjialing Sichuan Army Command has already received several telegrams about capturing Japanese Army positions.

Especially the troops under Yu Jishi—their performance this time has left both Chen Cheng and Xue Yue somewhat stunned!

The 74th Army, utilizing the mortars, anti-tank guns, and M2 Heavy Machine Guns provided by the subsequent Sichuan Army reinforcements, launched a fierce assault on the weak points of the little devils.

Under the suppression of their respective artillery, the Japanese Army's machine gun fire and Type 92 Infantry Guns were instantly riddled with holes by the 74th Army.

Many Japanese soldiers were shocked by this fighting style of the 74th Army; is this really the poor and backward Republic of China Army?

They start calling in so much heavy artillery bombardment at the slightest disagreement?!!

The Sichuan Army 122nd Division, in coordination with friendly forces, has successfully breached the Japanese Army's first line of defense; meanwhile, the 124th Division and 187th Division are also seizing the time to penetrate deep into the heart of the enemy camp, covering the advancing 74th Army and 122nd Division.

Liu Zhangqing, Brigade Commander of the Chuan-Kang Pacification Office Independent Brigade, seeing the battle ahead so lively from the rear, felt an itch in his heart!

How could he be missing from such a spectacular battle?! It is a pity that he is currently the reserve force for the entire Group Army.

The Japanese Army's first line of defense has almost been taken by the Republic of China Army, with only the Guangdong 4th Army experiencing a slightly less smooth offensive.

When Feng Zhanhai's 91st Division was attacking the Japanese Army's positions, the little devils lured the enemy deep—one Infantry Regiment lured the enemy, while another Infantry Regiment flanked the rear of the 91st Division; furthermore, a portion of the Japanese Army's mountain artillery positions had not yet been cleared.

Currently, the Sichuan Army, Guangdong Army, Northeast Army, and Central Army are all making decent progress.

Within an hour of the battle starting, various Japanese Army units, unable to contact the Division Headquarters, could only hold their ground according to the previous defensive lines.

"According to Ou Zhen's request, have the heavy artillery units destroy the Japanese Army's Type 94 Mountain Guns; let's first give these devils a taste of artillery plowing, so they can experience what it's like when heaven doesn't answer."

"We cannot keep sitting on the bench!"

Guo Xunqi finished his cigarette and grinned: "No!"

First, when the 74th Army attacked the Japanese Army's second line of defense, the little devils not only fired special smoke but also used a large amount of sulfur bombs and explosive shells, which caused significant casualties to Yu Jishi's troops.

Now the entire 106th Division is in a passive defensive position, and multiple areas on the second line of defense have been bitten into by the Republic of China Army.

At the same time, the Japanese Army battalion facing the 90th Division was bombarded by Chinese heavy artillery units, and the little devils' four Type 94 Mountain Guns were turned into scrap metal in an instant.

After ten minutes of persuasion, Chen Cheng reluctantly returned to the command post; just at this moment, Yu Hua and Sun Zhen returned after contacting the troops.

"Furthermore, the Japanese Army has also set up artillery positions on it?"

Problems arose on the West Line battlefield; Ji Zhangjian, Feng Zhanhai, and several Division Commanders also quickly retreated, choosing suitable locations to hold their ground while reporting the battle situation.

The remaining 4th Army, 187th Division, 122nd Division, and 124th Division also encountered retaliatory shelling from the Japanese Army, likewise a mix of poison gas bombs and sulfur bombs; the troops suffered heavy losses, and the commanders of these units ordered a halt to the offensive, now forming a stalemate with the Japanese Army.

For this reason, Yu Hua specifically ordered all units that every ten minutes, Division and Brigade level units must report the battle situation and the progress of the troops to the Command.

Just as the Republic of China Army was rejoicing!

Soon, the four heavy artillery pieces of the Central Army's Heavy Artillery Regiment 11 and the artillery regiment directly under the Sichuan Army 22nd Group Army also went into action.

Saying this, Chen Cheng turned his head to look at Yu Hua, "On this hilltop, why didn't you Sichuan Army bury explosives and special smoke?!"

Regarding this, Yu Hua indicated that he had underestimated the little devils and was a bit careless.

Xue Yue patted Yu Hua on the shoulder: "This is not your fault; we didn't expect these devils to be so bold as to open an artillery position on a hillside unsuitable for setting up artillery."

The guards and Staff Officers who arrived with Chen Cheng, fearing that the Commander of the 9th War Zone might be in danger, kept trying to persuade him at Chen Cheng's side!

Of course, the ammunition supported by the Sichuan Army was also inspected by the Supervision Team of the 22nd Group Army to ensure it was "used for its intended purpose."

The few of them could only watch the brother troops ahead killing devils; Liu Zhangqing took a cigarette out of his pocket and handed it to Guo Xunqi, Rao Guohua, and Bai Zhangsheng.

Chen Cheng looked at the position of the Guangdong 90th Division, "This commanding height can indeed cause us significant damage."

Yu Jishi hurriedly adjusted his deployment, ordering the troops to retreat and count the casualties.

At the Wanjialing 22nd Group Army Headquarters, Chen Cheng and Xue Yue stood on a small hillside, standing on tiptoe, holding telescopes, watching the battlefield in the distance where flames soared into the sky, and the mountains filled with smoke.

"You wait for my news; as soon as there is word, I will notify you immediately."

After Matsuura Junrokuro issued a series of orders, the Japanese Army 106th Division also recovered its composure from the previous panic.

At this moment!

The Commander of the Japanese Army 106th Division, Matsuura Junrokuro, also came down from another hilltop; in a valley, Matsuura Junrokuro set up a radio and began contacting the various units of the 106th Division.

All the artillery of the 90th Division fired in unison, bombarding a battalion of the Japanese Army; under the suppression of the artillery fire, the Japanese Army battalion could not hold on for long, a breach appeared in the defensive line, and under the fierce attack of the Guangdong Army, this hilltop was finally captured.

After the 91st Division was surrounded by the Japanese Army, it was bombarded by the little devils' mountain artillery; Feng Zhanhai's unit suffered heavy losses, if not for the timely rescue by Ji Zhangjian's Reserve 6th Division and the 125th Division.

Rao Guohua patted Guo Xunqi on the shoulder: "Old Guo, you must talk to Commander Sun properly and ask for a combat mission for us; this battle has been going on for almost an hour."

"I have to go to the Command to see; we are acting as a reserve force, and it won't do to just stay in the rear."

As the 74th Army, the Sichuan Army 122nd Division, and other units continued to advance, they suddenly discovered that this battle was becoming increasingly difficult to fight.

In the southwest direction, the 147th Infantry Regiment was responsible for luring the Republic of China Army, while the 123rd Infantry Regiment in the due south direction cut off the Republic of China Army pursuing the 147th Infantry Regiment!

The two Infantry Regiments in the northeast and northwest continued to hold their ground, defending the line. The 53rd Infantry Regiment in the due north direction was ready to provide support at any time.

Equally depressed... were Guo Xunqi and Rao Guohua, plus Independent Regiment Commander Bai Zhangsheng.

"At the time, our Staff Officers assessed that this hilltop was not suitable for setting up an artillery position, but I didn't expect the little devils to actually set up an artillery position on it."

"Report to the Commander!" Yu Hua stepped forward: "Most of this hilltop is rock, making it difficult to bury explosives and special smoke."

The two of them also roughly explained the current battle situation to Chen Cheng and Xue Yue; because the various units were advancing very quickly, it took Yu Hua and Sun Zhen some time to finally clarify the current positions of the various units.

"This matter is my fault; I take primary responsibility."

Guo Xunqi nodded, took his guards, and rode his horse toward the Group Army Headquarters.

Now, after Matsuura Junrokuro contacted the various units, he immediately adjusted his combat deployment; in the southeast direction, Matsuura Junrokuro ordered the 113th Infantry Regiment to retreat and fall back to the hillside, while at the same time using up all the special smoke in the regiment to retaliate against the Republic of China Army.

Feng Zhanhai's 91st Division would likely lose two-thirds of its men within the encirclement.

A series of situations were transmitted to the Group Army Command; Chen Cheng, Xue Yue, Sun Zhen, and Yu Hua all quickly gathered around the map.

At this time, Xue Yue was full of confidence because, since the start of the annihilation battle, Chen Cheng had transferred another batch of weapons and ammunition, and the Sichuan Army had also supported the participating troops with a significant amount of ammunition.

"We are now strong in troops and horses; so what if the little devils have set up an artillery position on it?"

Especially Yu Hua—an unexpected change had occurred on the battlefield, and he had not expected that the 106th Division would recover its composure in such a short time, and that its strategic and tactical adjustments would be so fast.

"Report!"

Just as everyone was deep in thought, a report interrupted the silence of the Group Army Command post!

(End of chapter)