Resistance against Japan: Starting with the local militia

Chapter 210 Deliberate Retreat

Hidden behind the lines, Tang Dazhuang and his men from the Second Battalion were keeping a close eye on the Japanese soldiers in front of them. Tang Dazhuang was secretly estimating the distance to the Japanese.

On the anti-aircraft company's position in the distance, Deputy Battalion Commander Zhang had already ordered each platoon to lock their anti-aircraft machine guns firmly onto the Japanese soldiers on the position. He was now waiting for the sound of gunfire from the distant position.

As Tang Dazhuang watched the Japanese soldiers getting closer and closer to the last line of defense, he and Tang Dazhuang made a decisive decision and ordered to open fire.

"beat."

With a roar from Tang Dazhuang, a dense hail of bullets began to rain down on the Japanese soldiers in front of him.

Tang Dazhuang and his men concealed their firepower, which was once again revealed to the Japanese. In an instant, the battle intensified!

The Japanese soldiers who charged to the front of the position fell wave after wave to the bullets of the militia soldiers.

However, the Japanese soldiers behind them were like they had been injected with chicken blood. Instead of retreating immediately, they risked their lives and launched a series of attacks on the militia's positions, braving the intense firepower of the militia.

"Attack, attack."

"Heavy machine guns, suppress them! Fire!" Colonel Kobayashi shouted.

Faced with the Japanese troops surging forward again, the defensive pressure on the three battalions defending the position suddenly increased.

At this moment, the anti-aircraft battalion finally revealed its firepower. The four anti-aircraft machine guns, scattered in four positions, began to sweep away the Japanese soldiers charging at the forefront from their high ground.

With the powerful firepower of its four anti-aircraft machine guns, the anti-aircraft company decimated the Japanese soldiers, leaving them in pieces. In just one minute, the Japanese soldiers at the forefront were wiped out by the anti-aircraft company.

Colonel Kobayashi was stunned by the sudden burst of firepower, but he still did not order a retreat. Instead, he immediately adjusted his tactics, ordering the heavy machine gunners to turn their guns around and suppress the enemy's firepower, while the others continued to maintain their attack formation and continue to charge toward the defensive line in front of them.

"Damn it, have those Japanese devils gone mad? They're courting death! Everyone, give them a good beating!" Tang Dazhuang and the others were not to be outdone, firing wildly at the attacking Japanese soldiers, repelling wave after wave of their frenzied assault.

The battle gradually reached a stalemate, with soldiers on both sides fighting for their lives.

"Staff Officer Andao, order the Type 92 infantry guns to advance and provide support troops for the attack."

Seeing this scene on the battlefield, Sakai Rai gave an order with a grim face.

Even if Sakai Rai were stupid, he would know from this scene that poison gas was useless against this unit, or rather, they already had ways to prevent poison gas attacks.

"Commander, our troops are now very close to the Chinese troops. If we use artillery now, it is easy to accidentally injure our soldiers."

"Obey orders. As for the soldiers who were unfortunately wounded, consider them as having served the Empire and His Majesty the Heavenly Locust." Sakai Rai said coldly, his tone as chilling as a wind blowing from hell.

"Yes, Commander, I know what to do." With that, Staff Officer Andao turned and left.

On the other side, Tang Weiguo, who was also observing the position, saw the fierce fighting at the defensive position and began to hesitate, wondering whether he should withdraw from this defensive line.

Tang Weiguo paced back and forth in the command post, deliberating repeatedly before deciding to hold the position. The gas masks left behind by the fallen soldiers of each battalion had been handed over to the soldiers of the previously retreating battalions, who were now providing support on the front lines.

"Battalion Commander, our reinforcements are here! The Third Company Commander is leading his men over."

"Good! Have the Third Company block the right flank and prevent the Japanese from charging up!" Tang Dazhuang shouted loudly.

"Yes."

"Soldiers, give them a good beating and drive the Japanese devils back!"

Seeing the Japanese soldiers charging forward from the left flank, Tang Dazhuang immediately led a squad of soldiers to provide support. Tang Dazhuang, armed with his Czech-made machine gun, pressed down on the Japanese soldiers.

Just as Tang Dazhuang repelled this wave of attacks, he heard a whooshing sound in the distance. Without thinking, Tang Dazhuang shouted loudly:

"Everyone take cover! The Japanese are shelling us!"

Just as Tang Dazhuang finished shouting, an explosion rang out on the position. Tang Dazhuang quickly directed his men to take cover in the nearest trench.

The attacking Japanese troops were in trouble. Shells exploded nearby, and the wave of Japanese troops that had just charged forward was driven back by their own artillery fire.

Ten minutes later, the Japanese artillery fire stopped.

"How is everyone?" Tang Dazhuang rushed out and shouted immediately.

Guan Tang Dazhuang reacted quickly enough and issued the order promptly enough, but many soldiers still didn't have time to crawl through the cat hole.

"Battalion Commander, we're here." The Second Battalion Commander stepped forward one after another from different places. Of the original 200-plus men, fewer than 150 were still standing.

"Battalion Commander, the Japanese are coming up!" the company commander shouted.

"Attention all companies, give them a good beating!"

Tang Dazhuang once again commanded his soldiers to fight the Japanese invaders.

.......

"We can't keep fighting like this, or we'll wipe out all three battalions."

Tang Weiguo's expression grew increasingly grave as he watched the dwindling number of soldiers on the battlefield.

Tang Weiguo paced back and forth in the command post, deep in thought. After a long time, he finally decided to withdraw all three battalions of troops to the third line of defense.

"Hello, connect me to Song Shan." Tang Weiguo walked to the phone and dialed.

"Commander, what new orders are there?"

How many shells do you have left?

"Reporting to the regimental commander, our companies currently have half a unit of ammunition."

"Alright, now adjust your artillery positions, aim at our defensive positions, and await my orders to be ready to fire at any time."

"Yes, I'll adjust the artillery position immediately."

After hanging up the phone, Tang Weiguo immediately gave orders to the communications officer waiting in the command center.

"Immediately notify the Second, Third, and Fourth Battalions to repel this wave of Japanese attacks and then immediately retreat to the fourth line of defense."

"Yes." After failing to get through on the phone, the communications officer immediately ran back to the position to notify the enemy.

"Battalion Commander, Battalion Commander, the Regimental Commander's order!" Tang Dazhuang, who had just managed to repel a wave of Japanese soldiers, heard the messenger's shout.

"What orders?" Tang Dazhuang asked, perking up.

"The regimental commander ordered us to retreat immediately after repelling this wave of Japanese attacks."

"Alright, obey orders. Each company, immediately organize personnel to evacuate the battlefield." Tang Dazhuang decisively organized the retreat. Li Debao of the Third Battalion and Zhou Liansheng of the Fourth Battalion, located on both sides of Tang Dazhuang's position, also received the same order.

The three battalions simultaneously organized their troops to retreat in an orderly manner towards the fourth line of defense. Tang Weiguo also left the front-line command post and returned to the fourth line of defense to arrange related defensive work.