my scientific age

Chapter 444 Capturing a Japanese Pilot Alive!
"Annihilation fire! Enemy aircraft, charge number three, fire!" At the mortar position, the fiery red light of the signal flare shone on the face of Company Commander Zhu Kai. He slammed the flag he was holding tightly in his right hand down, and his roar echoed throughout the entire position.

In an instant, the twelve 60mm mortars, already aimed at their respective targets, spewed fire. With a burst of flame from the muzzle, the 60mm mortar shells left the barrel at an initial velocity of 130 meters per second. The tail fins of the shells cut through the dense air to provide stability. The twelve shells followed their trajectories across the Hutuo River and headed straight for Yangmingbao Airport, before flying directly toward six different targets.

The main task of the regimental mortar company was not to provide fire support for the 3rd Battalion, but to destroy Japanese bombers as soon as possible. The two mortars attacked the same target together to ensure the maximum damage effect.

At the same time, the soldiers of the 3rd Battalion, who were in attack positions, quickly left the riverbed and grassland, aimed at the Japanese sentry posts and outer firing points, and opened fire simultaneously with Czech light machine guns and battalion-level 60mm mortars, plus the firepower of the Type 24 rifles. The terrifying firepower network covered all the key nodes of the outer positions of Yangmingbao Airport in an instant.

Several Japanese soldiers guarding the airport perimeter fell to the ground on the spot, and nearby Japanese patrol soldiers on patrol duty also fell one after another. The dense rain of metal bullets easily tore apart the fragile human tissue.

"Boom!" A few seconds later, six Type 93 bombers in the airport apron area were covered by shells. Three of them were directly hit and exploded on the spot. Flames and intense heat spread outwards, and countless parts of the aircraft flew outwards. The deafening sound spread outwards at a speed of 340 meters per second.

Gunfire and explosions mingled, and enemies were everywhere. The Japanese garrison at Yangmingbao Airport was instantly stunned. They had never experienced such a terrifying battle. In just one encounter, all the outer positions of the airport were lost, leaving only the airport accommodation area and ammunition depot.

"Mortar squad, focus on the Japanese airfield accommodation area. First Company, attack the ammunition depot and annihilate all the Japanese troops. After taking the ammunition depot, head to the accommodation area. Second and Third Companies, follow me. Don't worry about the planes on the airfield; that's the mortar company's job. Provide cover with light and heavy machine guns and fire hard. Don't worry about ammunition!" After capturing the outer perimeter of the airfield according to plan, Battalion Commander Zhao Chongde immediately issued new combat orders to the three company commanders. After speaking, he immediately led two companies toward the airfield accommodation area.

Once the order was given, all the teams operated efficiently and in an orderly manner. As a main force that had been tested during the Long March, the Third Battalion, equipped with brand-new weapons and equipment, had an incredibly high combat effectiveness.

You think the Japanese soldiers in 1937 were incredibly skilled?

I'm a damn veteran of the Long March from 1937, no less!

Should we avoid his sharp edge?

My sword has never been weak!

The battalion's two 60mm mortars turned their muzzles, aimed at the Japanese troops who were gathering in the accommodation area, and opened fire. The ammunition handlers were fully focused and kept loading shells with both hands. Meanwhile, the light and heavy machine guns, which had moved into attack positions, aimed at the airport accommodation area, and the machine gunners pulled the triggers to provide suppressive fire and cover the attacking troops.

The two companies successfully entered the outer perimeter of the position and opened fire on the living quarters using the cover. The Japanese machine gun emplacements in the living quarters began firing, but only for less than ten seconds before ceasing fire. More than six highly trained marksmen focused on high-value targets on the battlefield, with Japanese machine gunners and officers in the lead.

In the pitch-black night, the flashes of the machine gun firing continuously were particularly conspicuous, like the flashlight.

"Bugler, charge!" Battalion Commander Zhao Chongde shouted the order as soon as he saw the opportunity.

Immediately afterwards, the bugler stood up, gripped his bugle tightly, and sounded the familiar bugle call.

The bugle call echoed like waves all around, and two companies of Eighth Route Army troops launched a victorious charge. Dozens of soldiers in the lead left their outer positions and bunkers and rushed towards the airport accommodation area more than 500 meters away. Light and heavy machine guns provided frantic suppression, and the machine gunners' eyes were bloodshot as they wholeheartedly enjoyed this moment of firing without caring about ammunition.

When poor, conserve ammunition; when rich, suppress enemy fire with overwhelming force.

With ammunition plentiful, who the hell would risk their life for tactical infiltration?
Faced with the dual firepower of 60mm mortars and light and heavy machine guns, the Japanese garrison of just over one hundred men quickly collapsed. They were completely unable to fight back and could only watch helplessly as their positions were lost one after another. At the same time, the twenty-odd Japanese soldiers in the ammunition depot were attacked head-on by a company of more than two hundred men, and most of them were killed in a single encounter.

Victory is decided.

While the battle at Yangmingbao Airport was raging, the battle at Yanmenguan Railway Station, seven kilometers away, also broke out. Two 60mm mortars bombarded the station's barracks area. The 2nd Battalion, with more than 800 men in attack positions, launched an attack according to the battle plan, easily eliminating more than 30 Japanese soldiers and capturing all the positions around the station.

The Japanese garrison at Yanmenguan Station consisted of only two squads. Caught completely off guard, they were utterly overwhelmed by the sudden and fierce attack from the Second Battalion.

As a unit of the 129th Division, the Second Battalion received an unprecedented upgrade in weaponry and equipment, with over 500 Type 24 rifles and over 300 Type 88 rifles, 2 Type 60 mortars, 6 light machine guns and 2 heavy machine guns. The firepower configuration was quite fierce. Although it could not compare with the weaponry and equipment level of the neighboring 386th Brigade, it was several times better than during the Long March.

After capturing the outer positions of Yanmenguan Railway Station, the deputy regimental commander and the second battalion commander immediately led their troops to attack the station's barracks, giving the Japanese troops no chance to catch their breath.

Even though it's a sneak attack, we must use all our strength!
The Second Battalion showed no mercy. After several days of reconnaissance, they had a thorough understanding of the terrain and firing positions of Yanmenguan Railway Station. Based on the outer positions, they launched a three-pronged attack on the station's barracks. Two 60mm mortars opened fire with all their might, pouring shells into the Japanese machine gun positions and defense zones in the station's barracks area. The soldiers of the three companies took turns providing cover, and under the suppression of light and heavy machine gun fire, they quickly advanced and fiercely attacked the station's barracks.

Attack fiercely and relentlessly, without any mercy.

despair!

At this moment, the remaining Japanese soldiers at Yanmenguan Station and Yangmingbao Airport were almost shrouded in despair, having never encountered such a scene since they entered the Chinese battlefield.

Shells rained down from the sky, covering every firing window of the position. There was no chance to look up and aim; as soon as you peeked out, you would be hit. The enemy that suddenly appeared was not only numerous, but their soldiers were also frighteningly skilled in marksmanship.

This is outrageous, this is utterly hopeless. Are there really troops like this on the Chinese battlefield?
Showing your head means instant death, not showing your head means being blown up by artillery shells; both are fatal.

"Boom!" Just then, a series of muffled and powerful explosions came from afar, echoing throughout Yangmingbao Airport and Yanmenguan Railway Station, which was in the direction of Guoyang.

A series of explosions occurred on the Tongpu Railway line from Guoyang to Yanmenguan Railway Station. Soldiers from the First Battalion and the engineering platoon of the regiment laid explosives along the railway line at intervals of 100 meters, with a total distance of 10 kilometers. After the overall signal was given, the pre-buried explosives were immediately detonated.

On the Guoyan section of the Tongpu Railway, blocks of Shaanxi-branded TNT, each weighing five kilograms, were activated by detonators, releasing a terrifying 2100 million joules of energy. The heavy rails deformed and broke under this force, revealing jagged fractures. Anchor wood and gravel flew into the air together, and the roadbed suffered severe damage.

ten kilometers!
Ten kilometers of railway have been reduced to ruins, no longer resembling its former appearance. At the current level of construction, it will take at least a month to restore traffic.

The political commissar, who was the first to complete his combat mission, led the first battalion and the engineer platoon to retreat quickly and advance toward Yangmingbao Airport, which was four kilometers away. Meanwhile, the battle at Yangmingbao Airport was coming to an end.

All the Type 93 bombers in the airport apron area were destroyed by the regimental mortar company. The First Company annihilated the ammunition depot garrison, occupied the ammunition depot, and advanced towards the airport accommodation area. In coordination with the Second and Third Companies, the Japanese soldiers who were putting up a last-ditch resistance in the accommodation area were all wiped out, leaving only more than 30 Japanese soldiers in the main building, most of whom were Japanese bomber pilots.

"Battalion Commander, this is the only building left. The Japanese pilots that the regimental commander specifically instructed should all be inside. I just shot down one of the Japanese pilots. Their clothes and appearance are different from ordinary Japanese soldiers." Company Commander Fang Youqing said to Battalion Commander Zhao Chongde, who had just arrived, from behind the cover.

"Great, we've hit the jackpot! If we can capture the Japanese pilot alive, our battalion will definitely get an honorary title. Cease fire, battalion! Xiao Li, use the Japanese you've learned to call out!" Zhao Chongde was overjoyed and had no time to feel sorry for the Japanese pilot who had been killed. He quickly issued the ceasefire order and then said to his guard, Xiao Li.

Upon receiving the order, the soldiers of the two surrounding companies ceased fire.

The battlefield fell silent.

"Yes!"

Guard Xiao Li immediately nodded, moved forward using cover, then stood up slightly and shouted in the special Japanese he had learned in night school: "Surrender and you will not be killed, prisoners will be treated well!"