gnovel Chapter 94 Crossing the River on a Cold Night: Desperate Japanese Soldiers, A Desperate Choice
Chapter 94 Crossing the River on a Cold Night: Desperate Japanese Soldiers, A Desperate Choice
The troops moved quickly, and the Japanese tank units had not advanced for long before their artillery fire came down on them.
This forced the Japanese tank units, along with their accompanying infantry units, to either speed up or temporarily retreat.
Only a small number of people actually reached the defense line of Yuefang Village.
Anti-tank guns and mortars on the high ground, aided by flares, bombarded the Japanese troops below.
On the battlefield, which was as bright as day, everything became transparent.
Japanese soldiers were constantly being hit by artillery shells and blown away while marching or fleeing.
Many Japanese soldiers hid in the shell craters, thinking it was safer, but in an instant, shells would hit them, specifically targeting the Japanese soldiers hiding in the shell craters.
Saburo Isoda's troops launched an attack from two directions simultaneously, but found it difficult to make any progress in either direction.
However, the enemy's artillery fire continued to cover the area, previously covering the road and the areas on both sides, and now bombarding the rice fields on the east side.
Many Japanese soldiers who were hiding in the rice paddies were killed by the constant barrage of shells.
As for the Japanese artillery positions, they were targeted by artillery scouts from higher ground.
As soon as Japanese artillery was spotted, it was immediately bombarded.
Even the Japanese Type 92 infantry guns became key targets, not to mention the heavy-caliber field guns and mountain guns.
Saburo Isoda pinned his hopes on an attack from the direction of Yuefang Village.
With the help of armored forces, there should be some gains.
Inside Yuefang Village, anti-tank guns and rocket launcher squads have arrived to provide support and have aimed their artillery forward.
The advance of the Japanese tanks was delayed by the Nationalist army's artillery fire, which bought some time for the reinforcements sent by Li Jianghe.
When the Japanese Type 97 medium tanks and Type 95 light tanks roared and sped toward Yuefang Village, leading their infantry in a charge, the roar of anti-tank guns interrupted the clamor of the Japanese charge.
"boom!!!!"
A Type 97 medium tank charging head-on was instantly pierced by a 45mm anti-tank gun shell. The metal jet and high-temperature flames that poured into the tank's compartment engulfed the entire crew in an instant.
The illusion was shattered. More shells and rocket-propelled grenades with oversized warheads whistled through the armor of Japanese tanks.
"Boom!!!"
With the tanks being attacked one after another, the Japanese infantry following behind had no choice but to grit their teeth and continue advancing under the orders of their commander.
But what lay before them was a well-prepared network of machine gun fire. If they got close, even a fly would be killed, let alone this "locust army".
Amidst the roar of machine guns, Japanese soldiers fell to the ground one by one, eventually forced to retreat temporarily and return to their original positions.
The battle lasted from the first half of the night until the second half.
The artillery fire raged all night long. Mortars, anti-tank guns, field guns, mountain guns, howitzers, and other artillery, almost constantly bombarded the area where the Japanese troops were located with the help of flares.
Most Japanese soldiers did not die on the way to the front lines or under the guns of the Nationalist army; they were almost all blown to death by artillery shells.
Saburo Isoda realized that if things continued like this, they would all be killed by enemy artillery fire before reinforcements arrived.
This area is very small, no more than three kilometers long and only two kilometers wide. It is entirely within the enemy's artillery range, and hiding anywhere could result in being bombarded by enemy artillery.
If you are a little closer to the enemy's position, the enemy's artillery fire will not cover you, but the machine gun fire from the position will come like raindrops.
"Our casualties are too heavy. I'm afraid we won't be able to hold out until the main force of the division arrives before we are annihilated by the enemy."
A Japanese regimental commander, looking disheveled, ran to Saburo Isoda to report.
Saburo Isoda had naturally witnessed the entire battle.
Lacking artillery support, their troops charged the enemy's high ground head-on, resulting in heavy losses and failing to capture even a single position.
"There's no other way but to break through."
Saburo Isoda knew that if he hesitated any longer, he would probably die here.
"The tank units cannot break through the direction of Keyuefang Village; the enemy's defenses there are even more robust."
"That's what the regimental commander said."
Saburo Isoda's mind raced, considering multiple possible breakthroughs.
As they attempted to break out to the south, the enemy also deployed firepower in Houzhou Village, continuously firing machine guns at them.
The Zhushan area was even more difficult to capture, as it was where the enemy's main force was located. Not only was the enemy's firepower fierce, but the terrain also gave them an advantage.
The defenses of Yuefang Village were equally tight, and the previous charges by cavalry and chariot units had no effect whatsoever.
The main purpose was to increase the speed of marching. They carried few cannons, and these cannons were the main targets of the enemy's artillery at the beginning of the battle.
Japanese infantry only ever used a few basic tactics.
Artillery fires, infantry charges, infantry charges, then artillery fires again.
Now that there is no artillery bombardment, only infantry charge, and the enemy's machine gun firepower is absolutely overwhelming, Saburo Isoda can't understand how to fight this battle.
"Head east, cross the river."
Saburo Isoda turned to look east. The E'xi River was just three miles behind him, and its width was about two hundred meters.
Although the river water is icy cold right now, we can grit our teeth and hold on. It's better than being blown to death by the enemy here.
Especially after daybreak, the enemy's dozens of cannons will probably be able to fire even more accurately.
After all, the high ground was filled with enemy artillery scouts who were constantly providing the rear artillery positions with the coordinates of the Japanese troops.
The rice paddies offer no cover from darkness, making it extremely difficult to hide.
A large number of Japanese soldiers immediately moved eastward, away from the machine gun fire range of the Nationalist army positions in the direction of Zhushan.
As the Japanese troops disappeared into the darkness, a cold smile crept onto Li Jianghe's lips.
"Heh, so they're heading towards the river. Can you withstand the cold of the river in winter, and also the bullets fired from the other side?"
Several thousand Japanese soldiers, some of whom remained to the west to cover the rear, quickly rushed to the riverbank.
The river water was icy cold and the river surface was wide. In the darkness, even with the help of moonlight, the Japanese soldiers had a hard time seeing where the opposite bank was.
Seeing that the Japanese soldiers were all cowering and afraid to go into the water, Saburo Isoda was the first to take off his clothes, fold them neatly, hold them high above his head, and slowly walk into the cold river.
Seeing the chief of staff take the lead, the Japanese soldiers did not hesitate. They took off their clothes, held them above their heads along with their guns and ammunition, and waded forward into the icy river.
The cold air seeped into their bodies, and the Japanese soldiers quickly turned pale or their lips turned purple, and they shivered uncontrollably.
Unbeknownst to the Japanese soldiers crossing the river, from the rice paddies on the opposite bank, dark gun barrels were quietly protruding, aimed at the Japanese soldiers crossing the river.