Chapter 161: A Day at Luodian 2

2000 m, 1500 m, 1000 m...

When the Japanese Vanguard Unit closed to 800 m, Li Nian'an gently set down his binoculars and nodded at the telephone operator.

"All units, fire!"

In an instant, the whole Luodian position spewed a deadly blaze. MG34 machine guns rained down bullets at 900 rounds per minute, and the concentrated fire instantly swept the Japanese infantry in sheets. The two Type 95 tanks at the forefront were simultaneously struck by 37 mm armor‑piercing shells, their thin armor tearing apart like paper.

"Baka! The Chinese Army still has this many heavy weapons!" Ito Yoshio stared dumbfounded from the rear, "Order the tank units to withdraw, call for artillery support!"

But it was already too late. The Independent Regiment's precise mortar fire began to blanket the Japanese follow‑up forces, and German‑made 80 mm mortar shells fell on the dense Japanese ranks as if they had eyes.

"Well shot!" Wang Yaowu couldn't help cheering from the observation post, "Commander, the Japanese are beginning to retreat!"

Li Nian'an, however, wore a grave expression: "Notify all battalions to relocate the heavy weapons immediately. Japanese artillery will be upon us any moment."

Sure enough, five minutes later, retaliatory Japanese artillery covered the former machine‑gun position. Because the relocation was timely, the losses were negligible.

At 08:20 a. m., the Japanese 11th Division headquarters, "Useless!" Shanshi Zongwu slammed the battle report onto the table, "A single regiment can't even take a Chinese Army division!"

Chief of Staff Tanaka whispered, "General, this enemy not only has excellent equipment but also employs very seasoned tactics. Their commander seems always able to anticipate our moves."

Shanshi Zongwu walked to the map and thought for a moment, "Order the Fifth Regiment to flank from the side, and also commit the Third Field Artillery Regiment to the fight. I will sweep the whole Luodian with heavy shells!"

At 09:15 a. m., Luodian position, massive explosions rang one after another, and when the 240 mm heavy‑artillery shells fell, the entire position shuddered violently.

"Commander, Second Battalion reports enemy flanking forces spotted on the left wing!" The signalman's voice cut in and out amid the artillery fire.

Li Nian'an shook the dust from his hair and swept over the map quickly, "Order the Third Battalion's reserve to move left, and also inform the Division, request artillery support."

He turned to Wang Yaowu and said, "Deputy Regiment Commander, this is yours. I'm going to check on the Second Battalion."

"Commander, it's too dangerous!"

"Execute the order!"

Li Nian'an, with a guard, bent and rushed out of the observation post, sprinting along the communication trench toward the Second Battalion position. Along the way, bodies of fallen soldiers lay everywhere, and medics were rescuing the wounded amid the artillery fire.

In the Second Battalion headquarters, the battalion commander, his face smeared with blood, reported, "Commander, the Japanese have at least a battalion's worth of troops, equipped with four tanks."

Li Nian'an raised his binoculars and indeed saw the Japanese organizing a new attack. This time they altered tactics, advancing squad by squad, using shell craters to push forward.

"Notify the anti‑tank artillery battery to concentrate fire on the tanks. Tell the machine‑gunners to conserve ammunition and engage at close range."

When the Japanese advanced to 200 m, Li Nian'an suddenly ordered, "Signal Flare, red!"

Three red signal flares shot into the air. Instantly, the mobile fire points hidden on the flank opened fire together, and the Japanese, who had just thought they'd found cover, were suddenly exposed to crossfire.

"Beautiful!" Second Battalion commander couldn't help praising, "Commander, how did you know they would take this route?"

Li Nian'an gave no answer; his gaze never left the battlefield. At that moment, a shell exploded nearby, and the blast knocked him to the ground.

"Commander!"

"I'm fine." Li Nian'an wiped the blood from his face, "Tell the brothers, today we will make the Japanese know that Huaxia soldiers would rather shatter like jade than survive as broken tiles!"

The position erupted with a thunderous shout, "Rather shatter like jade! Not survive as broken tiles!"

At noon, 12:00, the Japanese 11th Division headquarters, Shanshi Zongwu's face turned ashen as he read the report: the Third Regiment suffered over fifty percent casualties, the Fifth Regiment's flanking failed, and the attached tank units took heavy losses.

"General, should we pause the attack?" Chief of Staff Tanaka asked cautiously.

"No!" Shanshi Zongwu slammed a fist on the table, "Order the Sixth Regiment into the fight, push all reserves forward! I don't believe the Chinese Army is made of iron!"

At that moment, the signalman delivered the latest intel: "General, aerial reconnaissance reports that Chinese Army reinforcement units are moving toward Luodian."

Shanshi Zongwu took a deep breath and finally issued the order he dreaded: "Pause the attack, all units transition to defense on site."

At 14:00, the Independent Regiment position, the gunfire gradually thinned. Smoke and the scent of blood lingered over the position as the soldiers silently collected their comrades' bodies and repaired the damaged fortifications.

Li Nian'an patrolled the trench, occasionally stopping to check on the wounded. At a machine‑gun nest, he saw Zhao Dayong wiping a MG34 whose barrel had turned red.

"How are today's results?"

"Report, Commander, twelve enemy soldiers killed!" The young soldier rose immediately to salute, pride on his face.

"Well done." Li Nian'an patted his shoulder, "Take the time to rest; we may have to fight again tonight."

In the dressing station, the army doctor reported that supplies were nearly exhausted. Li Nian'an immediately ordered, "Send all the division's stored medicine here, prioritize the seriously wounded."

When he returned to the regiment headquarters, Wang Yaowu rushed up excitedly, "Commander, the Division reports the Japanese 11th Division has withdrawn five kilometers! We've held the line!"

Cheering erupted in the headquarters at once. Yet Li Nian'an's face showed no trace of joy.

"Has the casualty count been compiled?"

"387 killed, 142 seriously wounded, countless lightly injured," Wang Yaowu's voice lowered, "Especially the Second Battalion, casualties exceed sixty percent."

Li Nian'an walked silently to the observation slit, gazing at the direction of the Japanese retreat. The sunset's afterglow spilled over the scorched earth, casting a tragic hue.

"Increase vigilance tonight; the Japanese won't give up easily," he turned to his subordinates, voice steady, "Tell every brother that their sacrifice won't be in vain. Today we bleed here for tomorrow's victory!"

On the position, the surviving soldiers began to sing "Man Jiang Hong". The heroic melody echoed over Luodian, as if comforting the spirits forever bound to this land.

Night deepened, and Li Nian'an stood alone in the observation post, staring at the distant starry sky.