Resistance against Japan: Starting with the local militia

Chapter 200 Severely Injuring the Japanese

Twenty minutes later, the artillery battalion fired its last shell, signaling the successful conclusion of Tang Xiaohu's meticulously planned bombardment.

"Soldiers, the shelling is over, let's charge!" Shen Lei gave the order from inside the tunnel.

"Beep, beep, beep." The bugle call for the attack sounded.

Each company gathered all its light machine guns early on and handed them over to the newly formed assault team for the assault team members to use.

Upon hearing the bugle call to charge, the assault team members of each company opened the tunnel doors, leaped out of the tunnels, and fired at the Japanese soldiers who were retreating in panic.

"Da, da, da, da."

Dozens of light machine guns opened fire simultaneously, chasing and firing at the retreating Japanese soldiers.

"Retreat quickly, retreat quickly."

"The surviving Japanese squad leader, who had just regained consciousness from the shelling, immediately led his team to retreat, running wildly out of Tangjia Town without looking back."

"Charge! Don't let the Japanese get away!"

Shen Lei took the lead, carrying a light machine gun as he chased after the Japanese soldiers.

"Damn, this battle was really exhilarating." Shen Lei looked on with satisfaction as he watched the Japanese soldiers running away.

"Five minutes are up. Sound the horn and retreat quickly. Don't get caught in the Japanese artillery fire." Shen Lei decisively gave the order when he saw that the time was up.

"Yes."

"Beep, beep, beep." This time, the retreat signal sounded.

The militia soldiers who were pursuing the enemy did not hesitate and immediately stopped their pursuit, turning around and retreating towards the nearest tunnel entrance.

Not long after the soldiers of each company withdrew, the Japanese artillery fire once again covered the positions in Tangtangjia Town.

"That was close, thank goodness the battalion commander reminded me." Shen Lei, who had just entered the tunnel, breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing the artillery fire outside.

"Battalion Commander, we've won a great victory!" Shen Lei shouted to everyone as soon as he returned to the tunnel.

"How were the results?"

"Battalion Commander, we've eliminated at least seven or eight hundred Japanese soldiers this time. Less than half of them escaped from Tangjia Town during the attack. Even the four of the Japanese's six-wheeled armored vehicles were destroyed by our artillery."

"It's been a long time since we've had such a satisfying battle," Shen Lei said cheerfully.

Upon hearing Shen Lei's report, cheers erupted in Tang Xiaohu's command post.

"We won! We won!" everyone shouted excitedly.

"It's a pity we haven't had time to clean up the battlefield yet. I wonder how many intact guns the Japanese have left after this artillery barrage," Shen Lei said regretfully, recalling the guns the Japanese had left scattered all over the ground.

"Whether it's good or bad, it's useful to us. Now that it's dark, wait until the Japanese shelling ends before you notify each company to clean up the battlefield."

"Yes."

"Shen Lei, announce the results of this battle to the entire camp, so everyone can have a good laugh," Tang Xiaohu said with a loud laugh.

"Alright, I love doing this. I love delivering good news." Shen Lei happily accepted the order.

"Yao Xing, report the results of the battle to the regimental headquarters, and also notify the mountain artillery battalion and the air defense battalion."

"Yes, I'll go."

In stark contrast to the bustling scene at Tang Xiaohu's command post, the Japanese command post attacking Tangjia Town was filled with wails of agony.

"Staff Officer Yasi, have you compiled the casualty figures yet?" Aoki Kuroto asked in a heavy tone.

"Reporting to Colonel Aoki, the preliminary statistics have been completed."

"read."

"In today's battle, a total of 763 soldiers were killed, 156 were seriously wounded, and 230 were lightly wounded. The casualties are close to half of the total."

"What! How could it be so devastating?" Aoki Kuroto was furious.

Aoki Kuroto had anticipated heavy casualties, but he never expected them to be this severe. In less than half a day of fighting, nearly half of his troops had been killed or wounded.

"Reporting to Colonel Aoki, the main problem is that the enemy's artillery fire seems to have eyes, specifically targeting our area. Most of our soldiers have fallen under the enemy's fire."

"Baka yarou!" Aoki Kuroto slammed his fist heavily on the table.

“Aoki-kun, since things have come to this, let’s report the information to Captain Sakai and request their support.”

"That's the only way." Aoki Kuroto hung his head.

"Staff Officer Yashi, summarize the situation and report it to Regiment Commander Sakai."

"Hay."

"Aoki-kun, it's dark now. Be careful about the defense of the military camp tonight."

"Matsukawa-kun, do you mean this unit will launch a surprise attack tonight?"

"Yes, according to intelligence, this unit is very good at surprise attacks and ambushes, so we have to be on guard."

"Matsukawa-kun, why don't we take advantage of this tactic the enemy excels at and set a trap?" Aoki Kuroto suddenly had a bright idea.

"This idea is quite good." Matsukawa Maki nodded.

"I'll leave this task to you, Matsukawa-kun, but I'll need your help with the wounded."

"it is good."

After saying that, the two of them went about their own business.

On the other side, Sakai Raiya, who was directing the battle in front of Wolong Mountain, frowned. The attack this afternoon had not gone smoothly. It took the loss of two companies to barely break through the enemy's first line of defense.

Although Sakai had overestimated the fighting strength of this unit, the defensive forces of this unit still made him feel very troubled during the battle this afternoon.

Now he can only hope that the battle in Tangjia Town can end quickly, and then adjust his troops to attack Wolong Mountain and completely wipe out the local militia forces entrenched there.

"Report, Regiment Commander, Colonel Aoki has sent a battle report." A Japanese communications soldier handed the telegram to Sakai Yori.

"You can go now," Sakai Yori said after taking the telegram.

Hopefully it's good news.

"Commander Sakai, the attack on Tangjia Town has gone poorly, with a total of 763 dead and 156 seriously wounded..." Sakai Laiyi's eyes went blank, and he felt his blood boil and a surge of anger welled up in his heart.

"You bunch of good-for-nothings!"

After reading the telegram, Sakai tore it up and then grabbed the telephone on the table.

"Get me on the phone from Tangjia Town," Sakai Lai said in an unfriendly tone.

"Hello, Regiment Commander, this is Matsukawa Maki."

Sakai Yoriichi was furious when he heard the voice and immediately started cursing.

"You bastards! You're all a bunch of useless trash! More than 700 of my Imperial Warriors were wiped out in one fell swoop! You bastards!" Sakai Rai cursed on the phone for a full half hour.

On the other end of the phone, Matsukawa Maki could only keep saying "Hai hai" (a Japanese greeting).

"Since things have come to this, I will order Masaki Ikeda to lead troops to support you. In addition, I will request from headquarters to dispatch aircraft to assist you in destroying the enemy's artillery positions in Tangjia Town," Sakai Rai said after calming his anger.

"Hai, thank you, Commander."

"If you still can't eliminate the enemy forces in Tangjia Town after this, prepare to commit seppuku." With that, Sakai Yori hung up the phone heavily.

"What a bunch of useless trash!"

"Hello, Sanjiaji." Sakai Rai dialed the number again.

“Ikeda Masakatsu, this is Sakai Yori. I order your unit to lead two squadrons to reinforce Tangjia Town tomorrow.”

"Hai," Masaki Ikeda replied from the other end of the phone.