Resistance against Japan: Starting with the local militia

Chapter 209 Gas Warfare

"Connect me to the logistics department." Tang Weiguo said, then immediately walked to the phone and dialed the number.

"I am Bi Shoucai."

"I am Tang Weiguo."

"Commander, what are the orders?" Bi Shoucai heard...

"Old Bi, how many gas masks does the logistics department have left?"

"There are only 300 or so left now. I just bought them from Director Tang."

"Good, send it to the air defense battalion immediately, and be quick!" Tang Weiguo was overjoyed upon hearing the news and immediately gave the order.

"Yes."

After hanging up the phone, Bi Shoucai hurriedly went out of the house and shouted to the reserve transport company under the logistics transport battalion outside:

"Company Commander Zhang, quickly transport the newly arrived gas masks to Deputy Battalion Commander Zhang of the air defense battalion. You must be quick!"

"Yes, battalion commander."

After saying this, Company Commander Zhang didn't dare to delay and ordered the troops to quickly load the gas masks onto the vehicles and immediately transport them to the air defense battalion's location.

After hanging up with Bi Shoucai, Tang Weiguo immediately dialed the air defense battalion's number.

"I am Tang Weiguo."

"Hello, Commander." Zhang Yu straightened his back immediately when he heard that it was the commander calling him.

"You shot down the Japanese warplanes well just now."

"Thank you for the compliment, Commander."

"I have an urgent task for you."

"Please speak, Commander," Zhang Yu said with a serious expression.

"Your air defense battalion, disperse your four air defense machine guns, keep the muzzles level, and provide fire support for the defense line."

"Commander, what about the air defense mission?"

"The Japanese planes won't be coming over for now; let's carry out this mission first."

"Yes, I promise to complete the mission."

"In addition, I have informed Director Bi that a batch of gas masks has been delivered to you. You should distribute them to each soldier as soon as you receive them."

"Yes."

"Okay." Tang Weiguo hung up the phone after saying that.

"Commander, everything is arranged. All soldiers in each battalion without gas masks have been withdrawn to the fourth line of defense," Tang Dazhuang said breathlessly.

He just ran around the position in a cool manner.

"By the way, Commander, you should keep this gas mask handy. I need to ensure your safety. It would be troublesome if the poison gas drifted to the command post again." As he spoke, Tang Dazhuang took out a new gas mask from his bag and handed it to Tang Weiguo.

"The others' bags are in the back. Staff Officer Wang, please distribute them to everyone." Tang Dazhuang had just placed his bag by the door. Upon hearing Tang Dazhuang's words, Staff Officer Wang went over, opened the bag, and distributed the items to everyone.

"I say, Regimental Commander, why don't you retreat to the rear first? We three battalion commanders can take over the third line of defense," Tang Dazhuang continued to persuade.

"Tell me, how many men are left on the position?" Tang Weiguo asked in return after taking the gas mask.

"The three battalions together have more than 900 men."

"Are the three of you sure you can hold out?" Tang Weiguo continued to ask.

"Commander, as long as we're here, we'll hold the position. Unless all three of our battalions are wiped out, we will absolutely not lose the third line of defense," Tang Dazhuang said resolutely.

"I know your determination, but this is not a battle that big," Tang Weiguo said, patting Tang Dazhuang on the shoulder.

"You order the three battalions defending the position to abandon the entire front line. Then set up machine gun positions and carefully conceal them to create the illusion that the troops are retreating."

"Remember, this work needs to be done quickly; the Japanese won't give us much time to prepare."

"Yes, I understand, I'll go now." After saying that, Tang Dazhuang hurriedly ran out again, almost bumping into Cheng Shanshan who was also running over.

"Commander, Dean Chu and the others have all evacuated. Dean Chu also told me that she has now notified the hospital's disinfection team to be ready to enter the battlefield for disinfection operations at any time upon the commander's order."

"Cheng Shanshan, tell them to stay put and wait for my orders before taking any action."

"Yes."

After giving instructions to Cheng Shanshan, Tang Weiguo then called the Third Company of the Artillery Battalion.

"Hello, this is Tang Weiguo. Get your deputy battalion commander on the phone."

"Deputy Battalion Commander, the Regiment Commander is looking for you."

"Commander, this is Song Shan."

"Song Shan, when the Japanese attack, please make sure to fire artillery at the front lines of the defensive positions. I have already notified all the defensive troops to withdraw from the front lines, so you don't need to worry about friendly fire."

"My request to you is that as long as the Japanese do not retreat, you must keep shelling them until you can no longer shell them."

"Yes, Captain, I promise to complete the mission."

"The other three artillery companies of the battalion will be under your command to launch an attack on the invading Japanese."

"it is good."

After arranging everything, Tang Weiguo finally breathed a sigh of relief and now just waited for the Japanese to launch their next attack.

.....

In Sakai Rai's command post, Sakai Rai received a phone call from the artillery platoon leader.

"Reporting to the regimental commander, our unit is ready and can fire at any time."

"Very good, fire the artillery immediately."

"Hay."

After hanging up the phone, Sakai Yori said to Staff Officer Anjima.

"Are the attacking troops ready?"

"Reporting to the regimental commander, the troops are ready, totaling more than 1500 soldiers, divided into two attacking forces, left and right, led by Colonel Kurosawa and Colonel Kobayashi respectively."

"Yes, tell them they must break through the enemy's defenses today. Once we take this nut, the rest of the battle will be much easier."

"Also, inform Colonel Kurosawa that Colonel Kobayashi should be on guard against enemy artillery fire; the enemy will certainly not give up the bombardment."

"Yes, platoon leader, I will make sure the message is delivered." With that, Staff Officer Andao left.

Sakai Yori went outside and used binoculars to observe the enemy's position.

Not long after Sakai Yori stepped outside, he heard the sound of mortar fire. At that moment, Sakai Yori knew that the gas unit had begun its attack.

The poison gas shells fired by the Japanese did not explode at the militia's position, but instead released yellow gas. The yellow gas quickly spread across the entire position with the help of the wind.

Tang Dazhuang and others, wearing gas masks, were carefully surveying the position, preparing to respond to any Japanese attack. Meanwhile, Tang Weiguo, also wearing a gas mask, was cautiously observing the situation from the command post.

"Commander, may we launch an attack now?" Staff Officer Anshima asked.

"Wait a little longer, until the poison gas takes full effect," Sakai said, looking on.

At that moment, Sakai Rai could never have imagined that the Chinese troops in front of him were all wearing gas masks, safely waiting on the position, poised to fight them at any time.

Sakai Yori saw that the time was almost up, so he immediately ordered his troops to attack.

"attack!"

As Sakai gave the order, the soldiers of the two Japanese units, who were already prepared to attack, all wore gas masks and, under the command of two colonels, launched their respective attacks on the Chinese army's defensive positions.

This time, the Japanese attack went exceptionally smoothly, encountering almost no sporadic resistance. The attacking Japanese troops almost immediately stormed into the militia's front-line positions.

Sakai, who was observing from the rear, was overjoyed when he saw this through his binoculars. This time, it was a sure thing!

"What? There's no sign of the enemy, not even a corpse. Could it be that the enemy has all retreated?" Colonel Kobayashi wondered, seeing only an empty position before him.

However, being cautious by nature, it immediately ordered its troops to be on high alert, advance carefully, and prepare to guard against enemy artillery fire.

Meanwhile, on the other side, Colonel Kurosawa made the same decision as Colonel Kobayashi, cautiously advancing forward.

As they continued their advance, the militia's artillery fire came down again, just as expected.

"Fire!" Song Shan commanded a Type 92 infantry gun company, along with three mortar companies, to unleash a barrage of fire on the front lines.

"Avoid artillery fire and continue the attack." Colonel Kobayashi continued the attack under heavy fire. This time, he had received a death order: he must break through the Chinese army's defensive line.