afterglow

Chapter 600: The wind is whistling and the Yi River is cold; one shot will take it

"They have all been written and are being collected. They haven't been collected yet." Liu He replied with a fist salute.

"There are thousands of letters. Collect them and let the submarine take them back." Shangguan Xun took out another pack of cigarettes.

"Commander, why don't you allow the plane to take it?" Liu He asked with a suspicious look on his face.

"The plane is not stable." Shangguan Xun said leisurely, "These family letters are very valuable."

In the lagoon north of Betio Island, a submarine is making final preparations before setting sail.

The submarine soldiers were in a heavy mood, as they knew that after this separation, the thousands of officers and soldiers here would surely be in danger of death.

During its fifth attack not long ago, the Guyu Yi No. 7 submarine captured two cargo ships, but was also chased by US destroyers and aircraft, suffering heavy damage and a diesel engine malfunction.

They came to Tarawa and made simple repairs for a few days, but the problem was still not solved, so they had to return to their homeland for major repairs. They wanted to rest for two more days before leaving, but they didn't expect that a large number of US troops would rush over.

At night, the captain impatiently urged the staff on the dock: "What's going on? We have to leave. We are in a hurry."

Submarines can only travel safely at high speed on the water surface at night. They must get away from this dangerous place as soon as possible at night, otherwise they will be in trouble when daybreak comes.

After a while, a Schindler 1 jungle truck drove slowly over and the soldiers took down several oil drums on it.

"Why carry oil drums?" a submarine soldier muttered.

"There are all letters in here..." The civilian captain jumped down from the co-pilot seat and solemnly clasped his fists and said, "The letters from thousands of people on the island are all in these three buckets. I'm counting on you."

The sergeant driving the car, one hand on the steering wheel and the other holding a cigarette, said calmly: "This is a tiny place. Once the war starts, we can only fight to the death. There is no way to survive."

To die in a remote place thousands of miles away from home...it's depressing just to imagine it.

However, the submarine soldiers had a good mentality and quickly calmed down. After all, their death rate was actually higher, with almost no chance of survival.

"..." The captain was silent for a long time, then said seriously: "Tell the commander-in-chief that we will deliver all the letters to the mainland safely."

In the dark night, Guyu B-7 started its engine and slowly drove away from the slender dock trench bridge.

Soon after, the submarine's silhouette melted into the darkness.

Soon, a telegram from Tarawa was received in the mainland.

"Reporting to the Grand Commander's Office and the Ministry of War, our department has made all preparations and vowed to defeat the invading enemy to the death. Please rest assured, superiors."

Zhou Changfeng was in a very depressed mood. He knew very well that the remaining lives of the thousands of officers and soldiers on the island were already in countdown.

The cruelty of the Pacific battlefield lies in the fact that each island is an isolated death zone, surrounded by the sea, with no way to break through and no hope at all.

In any other battlefield on the continent, no matter how bloody, cruel, and difficult it was, at least the remnants of the defeated troops still had the possibility of breaking through.

Sometimes, people insist on living just for a glimmer of obsession.

At today's Imperial Court meeting, everyone was still discussing the situation on Tarawa Atoll.

"It's a dead end. We can't make it out of this dead end game. We can only try our best." Minister of War Li Gangqiao sighed.

"We must defend to the end no matter what. We must inflict the greatest damage to the enemy and shock them. The Baiyi people fear our power but not our virtue! It will be difficult to rely solely on the defenders on the island. Our Air Force will go all out to support us these days." Jiang Jiapei, the deputy director of the Air Force Department, said solemnly.

Liang Yuexi, the deputy director of the Army Department, said nothing. He was touched by the pain from his own experience.

Thirty years ago in the northwestern border area, one day, a border patrol team of more than thirty people was surrounded on a hill by more than two hundred Russian troops who were well prepared.

The northwest sky is so blue and the clouds are so white.

What a beautiful view, but unfortunately... there is no water source, and the climate is hot and dry.

The water in everyone's kettle was soon finished, and everyone's mouth was dry and their voices were hoarse.

The dry food you bring with you can last for many days if you eat it sparingly, but you can only survive for three days without water.

When they were extremely thirsty, some people started drinking urine, some even cut their wrists with bayonets and drank blood, and some dug three feet into the ground to lick the slightly moist soil underneath.

Without exception, all the people sent to report the news and ask for help were captured. They were trapped alone on the hill for three days and two nights.

The warrant officer in charge asked everyone to leave a will. They put more than 30 notes into a canvas bag and put it into the pit. They covered it with a helmet and buried it. Then they prepared to break out by force no matter what. They would rather die of thirst than die.

Finally, the search team sent by the border defense battalion finally arrived.

Because the route took two days and one night to walk from the start to the end, no one knew what had happened to the patrol until they arrived a day later than the scheduled time and then rushed to search for them.

Why was Liang Yuexi so clear about such a trivial "little thing" at that time?
Because that warrant officer was him—he had just graduated from Suncheon Military Academy only half a year ago.

Having had this experience, Liang Yuexi can relate.

Zhou Changfeng had been calculating the data in his mind. He asked, "The air force's attack effect in the past two days is quite good. Seven or eight ships have been sunk. However, Makin Atoll and Nauru will be bombed next. How much attack power can they maintain after the bombing?"

"With Makin gone, Nauru alone can probably only maintain 100 flights a day."

Although Jiang Jiapei had made bold statements before, he was limited by the actual situation and his intentions were good but his abilities were insufficient.

"The aviation force will adjust the target priority next." Zhou Changfeng stared at the map and said slowly: "Stop attacking the aircraft carrier formation. The twin-engine torpedo planes cannot penetrate, and give priority to dealing with the landing formation."

"Ke Xing's words make sense, and that's what should be done."

With the improvement of the US fleet's air defense system, the limitations of long-range shore-based twin-engine torpedo bombers have become greater, and it is almost impossible to successfully penetrate without a numerical advantage. Now is no longer the good time at the beginning of the war.

The most efficient is still the dive bomber, but its range is too short.

Nauru is more than 700 kilometers away from Tarawa, which is beyond the combat radius of the Air Force's Type 38D dive bombers, so the Air Force can only send Type Yuan medium bombers and Type 37E shore-based torpedo planes.

Zhu Lingjing, who had remained silent throughout, also spoke up. She said softly, "Ministry of War, compile a list of the Tarawa garrison soldiers. No mistakes can be made. Soldiers will be promoted two levels, and officers will be promoted one level."

"The Ministry of War understands." Li Gangqiao bowed and accepted the order.

Soon.

A telegram of pre-war promotion was sent across the ocean to Tarawa Atoll.

Promotion... Such encouragement is better than nothing. After dying in battle, he can be promoted to another level, and the situation of his wife and children at home will be better.

Near dawn, the Ming army at Tarawa held its final flag-raising ceremony.

The sun had not yet risen, the stars were dim, and everyone could only vaguely see the flag fluttering in the sea breeze.

Shangguan Xun informed all officers and soldiers of the promotion decree and gave a pre-war instruction speech. "I am not talented, but I want to tell you that this battle is of great significance. The enemy has been accumulating strength for a year and is trying to counterattack. We must cut off their thoughts."

"Let them know that all the islands occupied by our royal army are like fortresses, which are as strong as iron. We must fight for every inch of land and will never take it easily."

"Even if we are completely annihilated in the end, we will make them lose many soldiers and generals, and their bodies will be scattered all over the ground. This is a blow to the head. Are you willing to fight to the death and smash it until it bleeds?"

His voice echoed through loud speakers on the tiny island of Betio.

"willing!"

"Be prepared for battle!"

"Kill them all!"

"Long live!"

The enthusiastic response of thousands of people reached the sky, as if tearing apart the deep darkness - daybreak.

The edge of the fiery red sun appeared above the sea level, and the first ray of morning light sprinkled on the sky and the sea, reflecting the fluttering crimson flags.

Betio Island is shrouded in a solemn and solemn atmosphere. The refreshing sea breeze blows towards you, but it feels like the wind is whistling and the water is cold.

The weapons and equipment of the Tarawa Ming Army were quite good, even excellent, with a total of:

2 192mm heavy coastal defense guns and 12 144mm coastal defense guns (coastal defense gun battalion);

12门112㎜榴弹炮、6门七联装144㎜火箭炮、6门48㎜反坦克炮（混成重火器营）；
6 wheeled assault guns (assault gun team);

8 Type 6 Medium Tanks Type B and Type Medium Tanks Type A (Tank Team);
12 20.8mm anti-aircraft guns and 6 38.4mm anti-aircraft guns (anti-aircraft gun battalion);

Not only that, there are also a large number of mortars, heavy machine guns, recoilless guns, and rocket launchers.

Shangguan Xun took a car to inspect the area, and it was difficult to raise morale in such a desperate situation.

But the good news is that at least people are not depressed, and most people remain commendable calm.

It is easy to die heroically, but difficult to die calmly!
He heard someone crying, and a disdainful voice nearby mocked, "Why are you crying? You have no ambition! Isn't it better to kill a few more enemy soldiers before you die than to farm in a remote corner of the countryside for the rest of your life? Isn't the purpose of life to save face?"

Some people also comforted him, "The enemy must be crazy if they dare to attack here. When the fleet comes back, they will all die here. Maybe General Zhou will come and kill them all."

Hearing these words, Shangguan Xun thought of his wife and children, and then imagined the scene of his fleet retaking this place in the future.

Although the main naval fleet was unable to arrive to the rescue, the air force and submarine forces were doing their best to provide support.

Previously, from January 1 to January 28, 1 aircraft were transferred from Rabaul, Truk Atoll and Guadalcanal to Nauru to strengthen the local air force.

On February 2, although the high-intensity attacks in the previous two days resulted in huge losses, they were very effective. The Nauru army was determined to maintain the scale of the air strikes and fully support the Tarawa army.

On February 2, the TF-3 task force received a telegram—there was no change in the main fleet of the Ming army in the Aleutian direction, and all aircraft carriers were there.

Chester Nimitz sent orders from the Pacific Fleet Commander, allowing "the offensive to be commenced at the discretion of the commander."

The Army's 124th Regimental Combat Team completed the occupation of Baker Island and Hawker Island, then boarded the ship and left to reunite with the fleet. The engineering unit took over and began to expand the small alternate airport on the island.

The TF-44 task force has been carrying out air strikes for two consecutive days. The Essex and Hornet are responsible for suppressing Nauru, 710 km southwest, while the Glorious and Saratoga are responsible for Tarawa in front.

The carrier-based aircraft from the two aircraft carriers swooped down one after another, and aerial bombs fell like hail.

The Air Force's 7th Independent Anti-aircraft Artillery Battalion fought back hard, shooting down 9 US planes and damaging in the next few days, but it also suffered heavy casualties itself.

Along with the bombs, a large number of leaflets persuading surrender were dropped, like flowers scattered by fairies.

"Our fleet is here, why isn't your navy fleet here?"

"This shouldn't be your grave. It's too far away."

"Don't listen to the officers, keep this leaflet and seek refuge from us."

Psychological warfare may have played some role, but overall the impact was minimal.

The Ming army on Tarawa had learned through radio broadcasts that their fleet was attacking the Aleutian Islands in the far North Pacific, and was afraid that it would not be able to come.

The air strikes launched by the US aircraft carrier were not very effective. Nearly a thousand large and small bombs destroyed three coastal defense guns, six anti-aircraft guns, three tanks, and 3 vehicles. However, the damage to the fortifications was minor, and there were few casualties, most of whom were anti-aircraft artillery soldiers who held their positions and fought to the end.

That afternoon, the U.S. military's landing fleet, excluding the two aircraft carrier groups, arrived off the coast of Tarawa Atoll.

The USS North Carolina, USS Washington, and USS South Dakota of the TF-44.3 task force launched their seaplanes one after another and began to direct artillery attacks.

Three Respectable-class minesweepers of the 6th Minesweeping Squadron sailed out of the fleet and carried out minesweeping operations under cover; five hydrographic survey boats followed closely behind.

The Ming army on Tarawa immediately tried to stop it, but Shangguan Xun did not want to expose the artillery position too early, so only one team of the Navy's 109th Independent Coastal Defense Artillery Battalion received the order to fire.

The four 144mm coastal defense guns quickly aimed and concentrated their fire on the minesweeper in front.

The minesweeper was soon hit by multiple shells and turned to flee, but it was engulfed in flames and its speed became slower and slower, eventually becoming a floating bonfire of steel.

Several destroyers began to close in and open fire, attacking the exposed coastal defense guns, and then the battleships joined in.

After suppressing the coastal defense artillery, the other two US minesweepers continued their operations. More than a hundred officers and soldiers of the underwater demolition brigade also approached the beach water in rubber boats and began to blast various concrete obstacles set up by the Ming army.

At this time, the American soldiers on the landing ships and transport ships were eating breakfast. Some were nervous, some were excited, and they knocked rhythmically on the plates with their knives and forks, making a clanging sound.

Next, the military chaplain began to lead everyone in prayer...

The soldiers checked their weapons and equipment again, then walked onto the deck, lined up to climb over the side of the ship, and climbed down the rope net into the landing craft.

"Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!"

The slender and huge body of the battleship Washington trembled slightly, and the triple-mounted 406mm main guns of turret A spit out orange-red flames, followed by turrets B and C taking turns to fire half-salvos, taking the lead in playing a symphony of steel.

The North Carolina and South Dakota immediately joined the symphony performance, and the nearby destroyers were not to be outdone and opened fire.

Countless artillery shells of different calibers streaked across the sea and hit Betio Island. In an instant, this tiny land was engulfed in flames and thick smoke, and the land seemed to be on fire.

On the bridge of the USS Washington, an inexperienced British liaison officer said: "The Americans will probably walk up there like tourists. There are probably only a hundred Chinese alive."

"The whole island is burning. Oh, it's like hell. It seems there is no need to fight. I bet the boys can occupy it with just one shot." A war reporter said easily while holding a camera.

A major beside him, who had experienced the bloody and brutal counterattack on Kauai that ended in failure, cursed coldly: "Shut up, bastard! You don't know how to do anything except taking pictures."

(End of this chapter)