Chapter 520: Siege of Pingmana (6)

"Liu Shaofeng!"

Dai Anlan picked up the radio, tone unquestionable, "Relay the order: all lines launch an attack! Command the 600 448th Regiment First Battalion and Second Battalion, relying on the already‑dug trenches, to immediately break through the Japanese Army Pingmana outer First Defensive Line! Fight bravely, tear open the Japanese Army's defensive breach, and clear obstacles for the follow‑up forces!"

"Tell the soldiers, Pingmana is the necessary route for moving south to Yangon; today, we must break this defensive line!"

"Yes! Division Commander! We guarantee the mission!" On the other end of the radio, the voice of 600 448th Regiment Regiment Commander Liu Shaofeng was full of fighting spirit.

Immediately, the attack order was quickly transmitted to every combat unit.

At this moment, in the outer trench of Pingmana, the First Battalion commander of the 600 448th Regiment, Deng Qiang, was crouching in the mud, surrounded by the Platoon Leaders of each Squad.

The soldiers held Mauser 98 rifles, bayonets already glinting coldly from their sheaths, pressed tightly against the barrels, their eyes full of determination and resolve.

The civil engineering work had already progressed smoothly to the outside of the Japanese Army's First Defensive Line; only a narrow observation slit remained at the top of the trench.

One could clearly hear the clamor from the Japanese Army's positions, occasional conversations among Japanese soldiers drifting through the thin layer of earth.

But when the soldiers followed the trench to the entrance of the underground passage beneath the Japanese position, everyone was a little stunned.

The underground traffic routes beneath Pingmana were dense and criss‑crossed, like a huge spider web.

Each passage was pitch‑black and deep, with no end in sight.

It was impossible to tell which one led to the core of the Japanese Army's First Defensive Line and which was a trap.

"Battalion Commander, there are too many tunnels; we have no idea which to take!" a young soldier whispered, his face full of anxiety, gripping his rifle tightly.

"If we take the wrong one, wouldn't we just walk straight into the Japanese encirclement?"

Deng Qiang frowned, reached out and patted the soldier's shoulder, his tone steady: "Why panic! Though the Japanese underground tunnels are dense, the core of the First Defensive Line must be at the spot closest to our trench."

"Platoon Leaders of each Squad, heed the order: split into three groups, each select a passage to charge through; if you encounter Japanese submachine guns, open fire immediately, and be sure to find a breach in the line. After converging, concentrate force for the attack!"

Deng Qiang said viciously: "If you meet a tunnel whose forward situation is unknown, first use a Hand Grenade, blow the Little Devil out."

Before departing, the th Division not only replenished ammunition; every member of the Expeditionary Force also carried two to three Hand Grenades.

"Understood!" the Platoon Leaders of each Squad answered in unison, leading their soldiers toward different underground passages.

Deng Qiang personally led a Platoon of soldiers, chose a relatively wide passage, and carefully advanced forward.

Inside the passage it was pitch black, the air filled with mud, gunpowder smoke and the sweat‑stink of Japanese soldiers, and the mud beneath was slick and hard to walk.

Each step had to be taken with extra caution, lest a sound be made that would alert the Japanese inside.

The soldiers gripped their Mauser 98 rifles tightly, bayonets ready to strike, but Deng Qiang knew in his heart that trench warfare relied on courage; especially in such narrow tunnels, the rifle's usefulness was limited.

The long barrel was hard to maneuver in the cramped space, whereas the MP40 Submachine Gun in each Platoon Leader's hand was far more practical; its dense fire could suppress the Japanese and give an advantage in close‑quarters melee.

"Everyone slow your pace and listen for movement!" Deng Qiang whispered, taking the lead, MP40 Submachine Gun in hand, finger on the trigger, ready to fire.

At that moment, at the corner of the forward passage, a sudden rapid footstep sound rang out, accompanied by Japanese soldiers' chatter: "Quick! The Chinese trench has reached the outside; the battalion commander ordered us to hold the passage, we must not let them break through!"

"Don't worry! This tunnel is so narrow, even if the Chinese get in they can't bring firepower; as long as we hold the corner, they won't think of advancing another step!" another Japanese soldier said with contempt, his tone full of underestimation.

The chattering ahead was unintelligible to Deng Qiang, but he knew it was the Little Devil speaking.

Deng Qiang's eyes hardened; he immediately made a shushing gesture to the soldiers beside him, then lowered his voice and ordered: "Prepare for battle! Platoon One left flank encirclement, Platoon Two right flank detour; when I fire the signal, charge immediately, and annihilate these Japanese!"

The soldiers instantly dispersed, slipped around both sides of the passage, held their breath, eyes fixed on the corner ahead.

Deng Qiang inhaled deeply, slowly raised his MP40 Submachine Gun, aimed at the corner, and slammed the trigger: "Rat‑a‑tat—" a hail of bullets roared out, instantly shattering the silence in the tunnel.

"Eight‑grid tooth road! Chinese!"

The Japanese ahead were caught off guard, a scream rang out, followed by frantic gunfire and shouts, "Quick! Fire back! Hold the passage!"

"Charge!" Deng Qiang shouted, leading the charge.

The MP40 Submachine Gun kept sweeping, bullet after bullet striking Japanese soldiers with precision.

Several Japanese, unable to react, fell into the muddy passage; blood instantly stained the soil beneath their feet.

"Battalion Commander, there are still Japanese here!" a soldier shouted, raising his rifle, bayonet aimed at a Japanese soldier and thrust forward, "Damned dogs, still daring to resist!"

The Japanese soldier roared, brandishing a Type 38 rifle, trying to block, while shouting wildly, "Chinese, you will never break through the line! Soldiers of the Great Japan Imperial, we would rather die than surrender!"

"Today you'll die here!" The soldier's eyes hardened, not understanding what the other said, but it didn't matter; they had no intention of letting this Little Devil live.

He thrust the bayonet hard, piercing the Japanese soldier's chest; the Japanese soldier let out a wail and fell, his Type 38 rifle clanged "Clang" onto the ground.

The melee inside the passage grew fiercer; the Japanese, relying on the corner, resisted stubbornly, dense bullets whistled, several Expeditionary Force soldiers were hit and fell, but the remaining fighters did not retreat, still pressing forward, using bayonets and submachine guns, engaging in a life‑or‑death struggle with the Japanese.

"Platoon Leader, the Japanese fire is too intense, we can't charge up!" a soldier shouted from behind the passage wall, his body already covered in mud and blood.

Platoon Leader Fan Sheng gripped his MP40 tightly, shouted to the soldiers, "What are you afraid of! We are soldiers of the th Division, elite of the Expeditionary Force! This difficulty is nothing! Follow me, charge! Use the MP40 to suppress them, tear open a gap!"

After speaking, Platoon Leader Fan Sheng thrust his body forward, the MP40 Submachine Gun raged in a wild sweep, the dense fire instantly silenced the Japanese gunfire, several Japanese soldiers were hit and fell.

The soldiers seized the chance, surged forward, bayonets flashing, engaging in close‑quarter combat; the passage rang with the sounds of fighting, screams, and clashing weapons.

"Damned dogs, it hurts!" Fan Sheng looked at his bleeding abdomen, but said nothing.

He quickly swapped the Magazine, and kept charging at the front.

After breaking through countless Japanese positions, Fan Sheng finally could not hold on any longer and fell.

"Platoon Leader, Platoon Leader!" the soldiers behind shouted Fan Sheng's name.

But Fan Sheng was truly exhausted; he wanted to rest, and he seemed to see his family, that was 1937, in Nanjing!

"Revenge for the Platoon Leader!"

"Kill!"

"Kill the Little Devil!"