Rise from eight hundred.

Less than 800 meters away from Sizhou Mountain, in an area covered by a camouflage net, several Japanese officers wearing helmets looked solemnly into the distance with binoculars.

None of the officers wore military ranks, but whether they were wearing dark yellow woolen coats, high leather boots, or beautifully patterned command knives hanging around their waists, they all showed their extraordinary status.

Perhaps only insiders of the Japanese army know that among the five people standing in this small forward command post, there is actually a Japanese army major general, three colonels and a lieutenant colonel.

The major general was Yamada Seiichi who was then the 105st reserve brigade of the 21th Division. The three colonels were the captains of the three infantry regiments, and the lieutenant colonel was the chief of staff of the reserve brigade.

It can be said that the five people standing here are the top five commanders of the Japanese army in front of the Sizhou Mountain defense line. If an artillery bombardment hits this place, the Japanese army, which has reached 1.4 troops, will instantly be leaderless.

"Gentlemen, the Chinese on the opposite side really amaze us! Although their equipment is simple and their soldiers' quality is average, their will to fight is tenacious! Do you think we should still attack them by force?" He is short but very strong. , the Japanese Army Major General with a thick civilized beard said.

None of the three colonels dared to easily answer the Army Major General's seemingly random question.

Although the Army Major General in front of him holds the position of Major General Brigade Commander of the Reserve Brigade, the three Army Colonels present here all know that this preparation is not the other.

The Fifth Division is considered a special existence among the divisions of the Japanese army. Many permanent divisions of the Japanese Army have their own reserve divisions. If personnel are lost in combat, they can be replenished at any time from their own reserve divisions.

The reserve divisions are not all new recruits. Many of them are veterans who have been recruited again after retiring. Although their combat effectiveness is not as good as that of the permanent divisions to which they belong, it is definitely not worse.

For example, the reserve division of the First Division is the 101st Division, and the reserve division of the Sixth Division is the 106th Division that was almost wiped out in the Battle of Wanjialing. After Japan launched an all-out attack on China, in order to ensure More troops entered China, and most of the reserve divisions had their own independent designations and formed independent armies.

But only the 105th Division, because of the Battle of Xinkou, was not completely separated from the 5th Division. Instead, it has been fighting with the 5th Division. Therefore, the establishment list of the 2.8th Division has a strength of 5. But there is actually a reserve division with more than [-] troops.

The 105th Division has also been fighting in North China for a long time. After more than a year, many of the new recruits originally equipped have now become veterans. Their combat effectiveness is not weaker than that of the newly established Class A divisions such as the 18th Division.

And because the 105th Division has never formed an independent division to build and fight, the division commander has always been served by Itagaki Shiro himself. I heard that once the 105th Division becomes an independent army, Major General Yamada Seiichi will be the default division commander.

The three Japanese colonels knew the officialdom very well. Yamada Seiichi was not only strong in personal ability, but also had a strong background. Otherwise, in the past time and space, he would have become the last commander of the Fifth Division, also in the Fifth Division. The division commander committed suicide before the regiment surrendered.

Perhaps for Shiro Itagaki, the commander of the Third Army at this time, among the four major generals under his command, Masao Nakamura was too upright, Sei Kunizaki was a little headstrong, and the other was not agile enough. Only Yamada Seiichi was the most... Demeanor, brave and resolute and not lacking in brains.

Just like now, the Japanese Army Major General took the risk and took three infantry commanders to an area only 800 meters away from the forward firing line to observe the battlefield. In fact, it was just sending an extremely strong signal.

He has made up his mind about this battle. Anyone who dares to raise objections may become part of the artillery fire.

The three Japanese army colonels were all over forty years old. Even the colonel captain who was drawn from the 3rd Division clearly felt the murderous intention hidden in this plain tone.

"Your Excellency, Brigade Commander, Your Excellency Nakamura sent us an order early this morning. As soon as the defense line on the opposite side is broken, our theater can break into the entire battle area, and the entire Zhongtiao Mountain Theater can also achieve a complete victory. Your Excellency, Commander of the Brigade, and Your Excellency, Commander Shan Shanyuan But everyone is watching my performance." Seeing that the three colonels were all silent, the Army Lieutenant Colonel could only answer the question bravely.

"Oh? What do you mean, Kawabe-kun, that our department should still attack the Chinese defense line with this intensity?" Yamada Seiichi glanced at the Army Colonel standing on the far right of him with a silent expression.

"Mizutani-kun, tell me your opinion!"

For Yamada Seiichi, what he wanted to beat was not his two commanders. He knew those two people very well. Even if his subordinates suffered heavy casualties, as long as he gave the military order, they could only carry out the order.

However, the colonel of the Third Division who was personally ordered by Itagaki Shiro to cooperate with his brigade in combat operations would not be as obedient as his two colonels. He must obtain the colonel's absolute obedience before fighting with all his strength.

"Your Excellency Yamada, I have been ordered to cooperate with the 105th Division in combat, so I take the military orders of Your Excellency Yamada as the most important thing. My personal opinion does not matter!" This Japanese colonel was also a loach, and his words were watertight.

But at this time, it was obviously not the time to avoid the important and take the easy. What Yamada Seiichi wanted was a clear statement, and his eyes suddenly became sharp: "Since Mr. Kawabe said so, then I will order the 7th Infantry Regiment to take charge of the entire frontal battlefield of the enemy's defense line. I am preparing the 21st Brigade to attack the two wings, what do you think by the riverside?"

The Japanese Army Colonel's expression changed drastically. If he hadn't lowered his eyelids in time, the fierce light in his eyes would have been obvious to everyone.

The frontal battlefield is the area where they stay!The remains of imperial officers and soldiers that had not been transported back in time were still left on the hillside, which all showed how tragic the battle was. To let his infantry regiment, which was responsible for assisting and cooperating, to take the main attack, was to kill his 7th infantry regiment!

But the army colonel also knew that if Yamada Seiichi really gave such an order, then he would have no choice but to act in accordance with the military order.

Today, Itagaki Shiro is the commander of the Third Army and his immediate superior of the 3rd Division. If he disobeys orders, there won't be many ways to punish him as a small army commander.

"Everything is based on the military orders of His Excellency Yamada. No one under my command dares to disobey." The Japanese Army Colonel lowered his head and his tone became more humble and respectful.

Seeing that his intimidation was effective, Yamada Seiichi stopped being aggressive and had a light smile on his face:
"Of course, since the 7th Infantry Regiment has just arrived on the battlefield and is not very familiar with it, Hebian-kun should lead his troops to take charge of the right-wing battlefield."

"Hi!" Japanese Army Colonel Rumeng was pardoned and immediately bowed his head.

"However, Mr. Kawabe also heard what Mr. Mizutani said just now. His Excellency Itagaki and Commander Sugimoto are waiting for me for the good news of victory. I am determined to continue the offensive. The frontal battlefield, the left and right armies, and the three armies must not slack off. If any attack fails to achieve the expected results, I will severely punish you! Before dark, I want to see the imperial flag planted on the enemy's defense lines." The smile on Yamada Seiichi's face gradually faded as he spoke, and his face was cold. .

"Hi!" The four Japanese army commanders no longer hesitated this time, and all lowered their heads to obey the order.

Even if their hearts were cold at this time, knowing that the major general commander had decided not to care about the casualties of the soldiers, they would definitely be in mourning after the war.

However, this is the battlefield, and no matter how cruel the military order is, it can only be accepted.

We can only hope that the Chinese on the other side are at the end of their game and will be unable to hold on before dark.

But obviously, it is most unreliable to base the hope of victory on the weakness of the opponent.

Under the command of an initial consensus among its highest-level commanders, the Japanese army began to launch more crazy attacks.

Tang Dao did not make specific statistics, but the battle report from the Japanese army was detailed enough. During the day on January 1, three infantry regiments launched a total of 12 waves of large and small attacks on various highlands in Sizhou Mountain. , the maximum number of troops invested at one time on the opponent's defense line, which was less than 37 miles wide, was up to 10 infantry brigades.

What that means is that on average there are hundreds of Japanese infantry involved in the attack on each high ground.

At this time, the Tang Dao Department had less than 3000 infantrymen who could still fight. If we use an infantry company of 150 people, there would only be 20 of them at full strength.

Tang Dao made the decision at noon when the Japanese army suspended the attack to reorganize all the disabled infantry companies. The officers of the baggage company and the veteran company commanders of the recruit companies with outstanding performance as well as the recruits with outstanding performance in the battle were used as the basis to serve in each reorganization. Company, platoon, and squad leader of an infantry company.

And a rotational battle was carried out. Each infantry company stayed on the position for two hours. After two hours, it was temporarily withdrawn to rest, and a new infantry company went to the battlefield.

In order to ensure that the infantry company understands the battle situation, the previous infantry company left a second lieutenant platoon commander to serve as the deputy company commander of the next infantry company.

It was this decision that allowed the Sizhou Mountain defense line to miraculously hold on for another day under such a crazy attack by the Japanese army.

The veterans of the baggage company and the veterans and recruits who had outstanding performance in the battle had a strong will. It was under their leadership that the recruits, whose morale had been low, broke out in a way that they could not even imagine in order to survive.

For example, there was a high ground on the right-wing battlefield. The 7th Infantry Regiment, under the command of its captain who was on the front line, played the extremely classic trick of "taking grain from the fire".

The Japanese army mobilized 5 mountain guns and 8 infantry guns, but instead of bombarding the high ground, they bombarded the left and right ridges, completely cutting off the connection between the highland and the two highlands on the left and right.

This resulted in not only the inability to send reinforcements to the small high ground on the main high ground defended by the infantry company, but also the thick smoke making it difficult to see clearly the conditions on the high ground.

The Japanese army not only threw explosive bombs and incendiary bombs, but also poison gas bombs. Fortunately, Zhuang Shisan always maintained enough vigilance. No matter where he went, gas masks were a must-have. All the officers and soldiers of the infantry company who went to the highlands basically Everyone has a gas mask, otherwise, this round of poison gas attack can reduce the number of soldiers on the high ground by one-third.

However, the artillery blockade tactic used by the Japanese army was very successful. This small highland cut off by artillery fire was completely lost.

More than 500 Japanese infantrymen from three infantry squadrons attacked this highland like an isolated island.There is only one second lieutenant platoon leader with two incomplete infantry squads on the high ground. Counting the second lieutenant platoon leader himself, there are only 2 people.

With 25 vs. 500, and without heavy machine gun fire cover, any normal person would know what the final outcome would be.

The veteran who served as the commander of the infantry company 300 meters away from the high ground was desperate. Instead of sending reinforcements through the Japanese artillery blockade to support the high ground in vain, he used his precious troops to reposition on a hill behind the high ground. Line of defense.

This veteran who had participated in the Guangde Defense War and lost an arm was not wrong in his judgment based on his combat experience and the current battle situation. Even if he found Tang Dao to collect his own punishment after the war, Tang Dao did not blame him.

Under such circumstances, anyone would do this. The lives and deaths of more than 20 people are nothing to the safety of the entire defense line.

But a miracle happened.

Until nightfall, the rest of the battlefield gradually returned to calm. The battlefields that had been occupied by the Japanese army were still filled with constant gunshots and explosions.

After hearing this, Tang Dao immediately sent Mingxin to lead an infantry squad towards the area that was basically occupied by the Japanese army, and ordered them to find a way to figure out the situation.

Unfortunately, the Japanese army used a large number of bonfires and searchlights to build dense light sources at various key points in the mountains, making it impossible for experts like Ming Xin to move forward. According to preliminary estimates, there were at least a thousand Japanese soldiers on the position captured by the Japanese army.

That was the result that the 7th Infantry Regiment spent a full 400 lives to achieve. The distressed captain of the 7th Infantry Regiment did not even smile on his face the entire afternoon.

400 lives were lost in exchange for the most insignificant area of ​​the Chinese right-wing position. It seemed that its defense line had been broken, but in fact there was still a high ground that firmly blocked the 7th Infantry Regiment's attempt to move forward.

To put it bluntly, it seems to have gained something, but in fact it only hurts the opponent's skin, and it is far from breaking through the opponent's defense line.

But just now, his infantry brigade has been disabled.

What's even more annoying is that even the Chinese people are still resisting this piece of 'skin' that already belongs to them.

Who would be in a better mood if it were this person?
But what the Japanese Army Colonel, who was in a bad mood, never expected was that he thought this was the worst, but it turned out to be even worse at night.

The Chinese man on the small high ground who was surrounded and had to eat a plate of food in his mouth unexpectedly gave him wave after wave of counterattacks.

Yes, you heard it right, it’s a counterattack, and it’s three times in one night!
In this night's Chinese counterattack that was completely illogical, the 7th Infantry Regiment suffered more than 40 casualties, including 26 killed in battle alone.

What Tang Dao didn't know at this time was that by dusk, the number of people in this unknown small highland had dropped sharply from 25 to 14. The second lieutenant platoon leader who led the team died in battle at 5 p.m., and the squad leaders of the two squads were on duty at night. They were all seriously injured early on.

On this kind of battlefield lacking medical treatment, serious injury means death. The six seriously injured soldiers who remained on the position and did not evacuate took their last breath in despair while listening to the sound of gunfire in the sky.

According to normal logic, a small unit with only a 14-man infantry squad has lost its commander who has considerable battlefield experience, and is surrounded by Japanese troops. It is also running out of ammunition. If it does not collapse and surrender immediately, it will be very awesome. .

But at that time, a new recruit named Dong Laowu stood up and took the initiative to become the squad leader. The new recruits who were already in a state of confusion instantly found their backbone.

This young man whose father worked in the Tangjia Winery was one of the 1500 recruits Tang Jili prepared for Tang Dao.

Although half a year of training is not enough to make him an elite soldier, he is smart and studious and trains hard. On weekdays, he is very close to the instructors because of Tang Jili's relationship. The instructors hired by Tang Jili with high salaries are also happy to give him He was taught various life-saving techniques on the battlefield, and also shared many experiences on the battlefield.

The first tactic Dong Laowu learned after being trained by the veterans for half a year was to keep a low profile and save his life first. Therefore, the new recruits who were not outstanding did not perform very well in the battle during this period, and they were not reorganized. Received promotion while serving in an infantry company.

But no matter how low-key he is now, the big guy will die, and Dong Laowu, who is forced to go to Liangshan, can only stand up.

It didn't matter that they stood up, but the 14 infantrymen actually fought a god-level defensive battle on the hellishly difficult battlefield in Sizhou Mountain.

Thanks to Tang Dao's full preparation before the Battle of Tongguan, there is absolutely no shortage of ammunition, and there are special anti-gun holes on each highland to store ammunition. Unless it is hit head-on by a 105 grenade or a heavy aerial bomb, otherwise These machine rifle bullets and grenades cannot be destroyed.

当时14名步兵总共拥有4杆冲锋枪、2把驳壳枪以及2挺轻机枪和18杆步枪以及200多枚手榴弹，各式子弹近5000发。

Since the Japanese infantry are scattered around the high ground, the Japanese large-caliber artillery has long stopped bombarding. At most, there will only be 92 infantry guns and grenade launchers that pose a heavy fire threat to this position.

These are the two main reasons why hundreds of Japanese troops failed to conquer the high ground after spending an entire afternoon.

If you put it into ordinary people's logic, if you finally defended until dark, did everyone take advantage of the darkness to run away and find the main force?

But Dong Laowu refused. He actually led 13 people to stay on the position. After 300 o'clock in the evening, he led everyone down to the high ground to sneak attack on a Japanese camp more than [-] meters away.

A burst of submachine gun and machine gun fire was fired randomly, grenades were thrown, and the fight lasted for five or six minutes. After the Japanese army recovered, they returned to the high ground.

The Japanese hate it!But launching an attack at night was tantamount to courting death. After an hour or two, seeing no movement, they fell asleep again.

After all, who wouldn’t be tired after a day of fighting?

Then, the magical Dong Laowu came again with 13 soldiers and fired again.

From 11 pm to 5 am the next day, a total of three waves of attacks were launched.

The Japanese army didn't get much sleep that night, and more than 40 people were injured or killed.

Colonel Kawabe Soya, who received the news the next day, almost went crazy and slapped five or six of his infantry brigade captains in one breath.

The Third Division has fought many useless battles. For example, in the Battle of Tongguan, it was continuously attacked by a small group of Chinese troops. The dignified Third Division was disgraced. The two consecutive battles of forcibly crossing the Yellow River directly destroyed the Third Division. The reputation he spent decades accumulating was thrown away at his grandma's house.

But that’s it, I’ve never fought such a useless battle, right?
It was like a fat sheep in a tiger's mouth suddenly jumped up and kicked the tiger in the face so hard that his big teeth were broken.

However, before Colonel Caoya by the river could vent his anger, the Chinese gave him another blow to the head.

中方于天刚蒙蒙亮还不到六点的时候，突然以6门150重迫、12门山炮、20几门82迫击炮组成的重火力覆盖，把第7步兵联队好不容易才占领的那点地盘炸成一片火海。

There were no Chinese soldiers there, so the Chinese artillery exploded without any burden. Wave after wave of fire covered the Japanese infantry until they cried for their fathers and mothers.

Then, a full five infantry companies launched a counterattack against the Japanese army, conquering two highlands in one go and almost driving the Japanese army off guard. When the Japanese army recovered, they called for artillery bombardment and continued to invest in support. The Chinese He quickly retreated and slipped away.

It turned out that this time it was a large-scale counterattack by the Tang Knife Division. It was not to counterattack back to the outer positions, but to meet our own soldiers who were trapped inside.

The sound of gunshots and explosions that echoed through the winter night last night had already proved that there were still people trapped in the position. Through analysis, it was found that there were only those two infantry squads.

Dong Laowu's night attack on the Japanese army not only attacked the Japanese army, but also sent a signal to the main force: I am still alive and I am still fighting!

This Tang Dao fellow believes that the colonel who stood on the stage and told the Sichuanese people to fight for China was a real soldier!

Sure enough, Tang Dao lived up to the trust of the recruit squad leader and used all the artillery fire and troops he could mobilize to break into the enemy's formation and snatch out his own soldiers.

In the end, 10 of this magical infantry squad were intact, 4 were seriously injured, and all 11 remains on the position were returned to the main position.

All members of the infantry squad, except Dong Laowu, were awarded second-class military merit after the war!
The corporal of the Xinke Army who performed the miracle stood side by side with the equally miraculous Second Lieutenant Long, and Tang Dao personally wore the special combat merit medal on him!