Comrade, Your Ingredients Are Too Complicated

Chapter 260 A message for the old man in the southwest capital

 After arriving at the top floor of the reconnaissance team, the artillerymen began to assemble the M1897 75mm cannon with great fury.

 Captain Jia's death deeply stimulated every soldier.

They don’t know the specific identity of the other person, and they are not interested in the traitor uniform they are wearing. They only know that they are comrades who died for the liberation of Taiyuan.

 “Set up the artillery!”

“Let the Japanese see what it means to mount a cannon with a bayonet!”

 “Aim directly at me and blast that son of a bitch! Avenge your dead comrades!”

The field of view on the roof is wide and the shooting range is extremely good. Not only can you have a bird's-eye view of the entire field to find the enemy's firepower points, but you can also beat the enemy from a high position.

 In a sense, Miss 75, which is mounted on the commanding heights, is no worse than the Shire B1 in supporting infantry firepower.

 “Load!”

Following Wang Chengzhu’s order, the ammunition hand immediately took out a 75mm high-explosive bomb from the ammunition box.

"put!"

The gunner pulled the match rope, and the enemy's defensive position was instantly reduced to ruins. Dust and gravel even splashed on the heads of the artillerymen.

 Mere civil fortifications alone are impossible to block the close range direct fire of the barrel cannon.

Appreciating the tragic situation of the Japanese, the comrades all smiled from the bottom of their hearts.

As an artilleryman, no one can resist the temptation to become a bomber.

 “Batalion Commander, this shot is okay!”

“Should we take advantage of the victory and send the little devils to meet the locusts?”

Because his physical fitness was not up to par, Wang Chengzhu was unable to join the artillery support company of the 1st Marine Regiment as he wished, and was forced to separate from his old regiment commander.

 But gold can shine wherever it is. With his excellent artillery skills and training capabilities, Zhu Zhu is now the battalion commander of the artillery unit directly under the 386th Brigade.

If he has enough equipment and further improves his command ability, he will definitely be more than enough to be an artillery regiment commander.

 After roughly observing the situation on the battlefield, Wang Chengzhu did not choose to attack the same point. He directed the soldiers to move the M1897 75mm cannon and said towards another fire point a few hundred meters away:

 “Don’t waste cannonballs, we only have sixty rounds left.”

“Just leave the position just now to the infantry. Trust your comrades!”

“At the eleven o’clock position, continue to reload. The enemies within a two-kilometer radius are our targets. Knock them one by one!”

"yes!"

 Facts have proved that the infantrymen will not live up to the expectations of their brother troops.

 Seeing that the Japs' defensive position was severely damaged, the platoon leader of the assault platoon made the most correct choice at the first time based on the Japs' existing firepower, number of people, bunkers, etc.

“Class 1! Class 2! Follow me!”

“Fire team! Suppress the enemy and help us attack smoothly!”

As soon as he finished speaking, the platoon leader did not hesitate at all and directly led two squads of soldiers to conduct a flanking maneuver toward the enemy position.

This route is extremely reliable, with some houses serving as shelters along the way. The assault team used bunkers and alternating firepower to rapidly approach the enemy.

After receiving the order, the fire team immediately used two light machine guns and several rifles to suppress the attack.

There was even a comrade who was not afraid of danger, carried 40 pieces of fire despite sparse counterattacks, and gave the Japanese a rocket armor-piercing bomb without saying a word.

Relying on the terrifying suppression power of the fire team, the commando team has successfully circled back to the enemy's flank.

 At a distance of fifty meters, there is no need to mention the value of a dozen submachine guns.

“Grenade! Use grenades to clear the way!”

 “Hit the officers first! Don’t let the Japs launch an organized counterattack!”

Relying on the command knife on the enemy's waist, the soldiers gave priority to killing the highest-ranking commander in the position.

 After entering the effective firing range of MAS38, amidst a burst of shooting sound like fried beans, the remaining Japanese soldiers on the position suffered heavy casualties.

The entire assault platoon is a group of soldiers who have known each other for many years, and have become very in tune with each other in terms of tactics.

Even if there is no communication between the two parties, the squad leader of the fire team knows what support his platoon leader needs. When the two squads were close to the enemy's flank, he turned the muzzle of the gun in the opposite direction.

Now we just need to wait for the Japanese to be driven out like ducks, and then we can win this small battle in one go.

 After the battle, the comrades handed over the wounded to the health workers coming from the rear, and then continued to attack due north.

The tactics arranged by the brigade commander for this battle were not complicated, and the main attack was launched from the east and south. With the detailed city defense map, the entire Taiyuan City was cut into a field shape with two swords.

 As long as the first step is successful, Yoshio Iwamatsu can be sentenced to death.

 The next step is to take advantage of the number of people, first divide and then encircle and annihilate, first eat the meat and then gnaw the bones.

 The specific method is that, unless encountering an enemy position stuck in a strategic transportation area, when the vanguard encounters strong houses and strongholds, there is no need to confront the Japanese head-on.

 Just leave a larger number of troops than the Japanese troops to monitor and keep an eye on the enemy to prevent them from running around.

The main force penetrated the wall and climbed over the top, continued to move forward, and occupied most of the city first.

To be as pervasive as mercury, first disrupt the enemy's defense formation, making it isolated and confused, and then capture strongholds one by one.

  ·······

 First Army Headquarters, basement.

 Looking at the battle reports coming back from the front line one after another, Yoshio Iwamatsu closed his eyes in pain.

 For no other reason, the main reason was that the defense line collapsed too quickly. It could even be said that it collapsed at the first touch and could not stop the advancement of the Eighth Route Army.

Although street fighting can, to a certain extent, shorten the gap in hard power between the two sides. But as more and more Eighth Route Army troops poured into Taiyuan City, the ratio of enemy and friendly forces became 5:1.

 Coupled with the omnipotent, ghost-like artillery.

 The street fighting fortress that the warriors relied on for survival was no different from an urn. It just depended on when to cremate it.

“How are the preparations for what I ordered you to do?”

　　After hearing what his commander said, Hua Guzheng took a step forward and came to the other party.

 Compared to an hour ago, the old devil had several more bandages on his body, and there were obvious gunshot wounds on his arms. After looking at the watch on his hand, he opened the folder and began to report:

 “Your Excellency, Lieutenant General, don’t worry.”

“I personally led people to arrange the bombs in the arsenal and granary. There will definitely be no problems.”

"Counting the time, it's almost going to explode." As soon as he finished speaking, a earth-shaking explosion sounded in Taiyuan City, followed immediately by a huge fireball rising into the sky.

 The shock wave caused by the explosion shattered the remaining glass of the headquarters. The whole building was shaking, and the beams and columns were creaking, as if they were about to collapse at any time.

Even Yoshio Iwamatsu, who was in the basement, could feel the strong earthquake.

 Looking at the billowing smoke rising straight into the sky, both the Eighth Route Army and the Japanese army were momentarily distracted.

 For the Japs, blowing up the ammunition depot means that their commander has lost confidence, and the city defense mission will basically fail.

 For the Eighth Route Army, the soldiers did not feel sorry for the arms, but were concerned about the safety of the common people.

 After all, the army has long been rich. Unless it is a heavy grenade of 105 mm or more, ordinary Japanese weapons will not be too distressing if they are destroyed.

 Fortunately, there were not too many arms in the ammunition depot. In order to firmly defend Taiyuan City, Yoshio Iwamatsu distributed a month's worth of ammunition to each stronghold and fortress.

Moreover, the ammunition depot is an important military area, and there are no civilians around it.

 A few seconds later, a huge plume of smoke also rose from another place. The munitions have been blown up, and the granary will certainly not be spared.

 This is really distressing for the soldiers. Now the three major base areas, especially in northwestern Shanxi, are short of food.

The First Army's granary contained rations prepared for the Zhongtiao Mountain Battle, enough to feed three independent mixed brigades and four B divisions for a month.

Hearing the sounds of gunfire getting closer and closer, Iwamatsu Yoshio in the basement clenched his fists in despair.

As a senior officer with great ambitions, he only felt that he had been extremely frustrated as the commander of the First Army for the past six months. It could even be described as dying before he left the army.

If given a chance to choose again, he will definitely stay as the commander of the 15th Division and will never wipe the **** of Yoshio Shinozuka.

 What makes Yoshio Iwamatsu even more uncomfortable is that Taiyuan will become the first big city lost by the younger brother's country since 1937, and it will also be a city garrisoned by the First Army.

As a lieutenant general commander, I may be included in the history books and be cast aside by future generations.

Moreover, the commander on the opposite side was frighteningly steady in fighting.

Even though there were only 10,000 men left in the First Army, they actually used five times the force for the main attack, leaving no chance for them to break through.

“Report to the general that according to your orders, the arsenal and granary have been destroyed.”

“It’s a pity that the factories in the city were captured in advance by an enemy of unknown origin, and we only destroyed 20% of them.”

"If there are no orders, I hope to lead the last guard to guard the gate of the headquarters and buy the last bit of time for you, Lieutenant General."

As soon as these words came out, Iwamatsu Yoshio was slightly moved.

Hagatani Masaru, who originally disliked dogs, actually seemed to be somewhat pleasing to the eye.

Although the other party is a brainless and reckless man, he still maintained his loyalty to Tianlu even to the last moment, and he can be regarded as a good senior general.

 After thinking for a moment, the old devil gave the last order in his life.

“Send a farewell telegram to the commander of the North China Front, General Okamura Neiji!”

The relieved expression on Hua Guzheng's face flashed away, and then he picked up the folder on the table and made a recording gesture.

"Our First Army fought fiercely with the Eighth Route Army for a day and a night. The enemy deployed ten times its troops and launched a human sea assault tactic. However, our army persisted in resisting from beginning to end and did not surrender. We did not do anything to disgrace our brother country."

“Unfortunately, the reinforcements have not arrived yet, and the first army is unable to defeat the four-handed army with two fists. Our army has decided to fight to the last man to repay Locust’s kindness! Long live His Majesty Tian Locust, and long live the country of Japan!”

"That's all, send the telegram. I agree with you to go to the front line and guard the gate of the headquarters. But you need to destroy all the important information in the communication equipment first."

 There are many shameful things in the First Army, such as the hospital that was raided by Zheng Yingqi and Li Yunlong.

That hospital not only used living people as materials, but also conducted many experiments that are prohibited internationally. If those reports were obtained by the Eighth Route Army, many unfavorable factors would inevitably arise.

"Hi!"

 “Your Excellency, Lieutenant General, take care!”

Huagu stood at attention, then bowed his head heavily, turned around and walked towards the next door communication room.

  ·······

 After thirteen hours of fierce fighting, the two major groups in the east and south have successfully divided the enemy into four independent areas.

 The northern group responsible for the feint attack also crossed the moat under the leadership of Commander Fan of the 10th Brigade and entered the city through Zhenyuan Gate and Gongji Gate.

 Soldiers from the nine brigades, under the guidance of workers' pickets and some ordinary people, began to orderly liquidate the remaining troops of the First Army.

 At present, Yoshio Iwamatsu's headquarters is surrounded by the 772nd Regiment. However, Cheng Xiazi was not in a hurry to launch an attack, but was waiting for the brigade commander's order.

 Half an hour later, the commander-in-chief of this operation came to the scene in person.

“Commander-in-Chief, the headquarters of the First Army is just ahead. Do you think we should attack in and try to capture some middle- and senior-level Japanese generals alive, or should we just open fire?”

 After hearing Cheng Xiazi’s inquiry, the brigade commander raised his telescope and looked at the situation through the firelight.

 At present, the Japanese have used the buildings of the headquarters to build some civil fortifications to fight against trapped animals. If the infantry were to charge alone, the casualties among the soldiers would definitely be considerable.

Even though he broke into the First Army Headquarters, capturing Yoshio Iwamatsu alive was the dream of every commander in the army. But if the price to pay is too high, then it is completely unnecessary.

What's more, there is already a lieutenant general-level prisoner in the border area.

 Coupled with Anda Twenty-three's performance in the Anti-War Alliance, the brigade commander quickly made a decision.

“Let’s just fire. The Japanese lieutenant general is not that easy to catch. There is a high probability that Yoshio Iwamatsu has committed suicide. There is no need for the soldiers to make meaningless sacrifices.”

“Do we still have enough artillery shells? If not, just wait. The battle will last no more than an hour or two.”

 As the main force of the 386th Brigade, the 772nd Regiment has a very strong financial background.

 In addition to three infantry battalions that were considered over-staffed on the European battlefield, Cheng Xiazi also spent half a year piecing together an artillery battalion.

After hearing the commander-in-chief's order, he waved back. The commander of the artillery battalion immediately entered the position with a Type 92 infantry cannon, three Miss 75s and twelve mortars of different calibers.

“Comrades! Have you heard the commander-in-chief’s orders?”

“Next, let’s shoot all the remaining artillery shells, and let’s give Yoshio Iwamatsu, the old devil, a glorious fight.”

 The brigade commander is still very confident in Cheng Xiazi's strength. What's more, the First Army is just a candle in the wind, and victory is only a matter of time.

He seemed to have thought of something interesting, so he called the correspondent who had been following him.

“Send a message to the deputy commander-in-chief and ask him to send a message to the old man in the southwest capital for me.”

“Let’s just say that wherever my troops go, the people welcome them wholeheartedly. It’s really a perfect opportunity! Do you envy that kind of state where everything is full of vitality and everything is in full swing?”

 (End of this chapter)