Devil's Army

In the end, Brigade Commander Wu did not dare to take the risk. His convoy was transporting weapons and ammunition. If any truck was hit by a Japanese artillery shell, it would explode and even affect the trucks next to it.

Following the order of Brigade Commander Wu, the commander of the first regiment arranged the first and second battalions of their regiment to occupy the high ground on both sides of Liuyu Villa, and then search and advance along the mountain road in the direction of Tangshan.

Although the commanders of the first and second battalions did not know whether there were any Japanese ambushes on the high ground, since the commander of the first regiment had given instructions, they treated the situation as if there were Japanese ambushes.

The first and second battalions each sent a company to search forward cautiously.

In fact, at this time, a Japanese infantry battalion was ambushing on the high ground on both sides.

During the artillery reconnaissance of the 16th Brigade, some of their soldiers were injured by shells. The high military literacy of the Japanese army allowed them to endure the pain and not cry out. The scouts of the 16th Brigade did not discover the Japanese ambush.

The Japanese captain was in a dilemma at this time. Firing would expose their ambush position. If he didn't fire, the soldiers of the Devil's Army would also search here.

As the two companies of the 1st and 2nd Battalions of the 1st Regiment got closer and closer to the Japanese ambush fortifications, the battalion commander had no choice but to order the shooting.

The sudden gunfire knocked down the soldiers in the front group. The soldiers behind them quickly lay down and fired back at the enemy's position.

Brigade Commander Wu was glad that he was cautious, otherwise the entire convoy of arms would have been destroyed.

Liuyu Villa was surrounded by trees on both sides and the terrain was dangerous. Brigade Commander Wu ordered a regiment to stay behind to hold back the Japanese troops. He led the large force to take a detour to the Tangshan base.

In order to reduce casualties, the regiment commander did not order the troops to attack, but only ordered the mortar soldiers to bombard the Japanese positions on the high ground on both sides, and the infantry symbolically launched a charge and then retreated.

The fighter planes of the First Army strafed the Japanese positions and then chased after the main force of the Sixteenth Brigade.

At around 2:00 p.m., the main force of the 16th Brigade arrived in Changli County.

Next we will enter the Tangshan base of the First Army.

The periphery of the Tangshan base was completely surrounded by the Japanese army, and the two sides were fighting fiercely. It was not easy for the 16th Brigade's transport convoy to enter.

Luan County, the county seat closest to Changli County, was occupied by the Japanese army.

Brigade Commander Wu sent a telegram to Army Commander Tan, proposing that their 16th Brigade attack the Japanese troops in Luan County and transport ammunition and supplies from Luan County into the Tangshan base.

Gray Wolf quickly agreed with Brigade Commander Wu's suggestion, but at the same time pointed out that all the troops in the base area were fighting the Japanese army, and there was no way to send troops to assist him in attacking the Japanese Independent Mixed 7th Brigade.

Brigade Commander Wu sent a telegram to inquire about Army Commander Tan about the strength of the Japanese Army's 7th Independent Mixed Brigade in Luan County.

Gray Wolf replied: The Japanese Army's 5000th Independent Mixed Brigade has a full complement of more than 3000 people. Among them is an artillery battalion. After fighting with the rd Regiment of the th Brigade and the st Regiment of the th Brigade for more than a week, the remaining force should be around .

He also instructed Brigade Commander Wu that the purpose of this battle was to break the Japanese blockade and connect the transportation line between the base and the tribe. It was not necessary to recapture Luan County. They could go around Luan County and enter Xiaoguanzhuang Airport.

After receiving the reply from Army Commander Tan, Brigade Commander Wu became more confident. Without having to deal with Luan County, could his brigade break through the blockade of more than 3,000 Japanese troops?

Brigade Commander Wu ordered a regiment that arrived in Changli County later to stay behind to guard the ammunition and supplies. He personally led a large force to attack the Japanese Independent Mixed 7th Brigade and open the blockade.

Around five o'clock in the afternoon, the vanguard of the 2nd Regiment of the 16th Brigade arrived at the outskirts of Luan County.

The Japanese army attacked for more than a week but still failed to break through the northern defense line of Xiaoguanzhuang Airport. The morale of the soldiers was low.

The vanguard of the Second Regiment suddenly launched an attack on the Japanese Independent Mixed Brigade 7th from behind.

The Japanese army was attacked suddenly and had to respond hastily.

Upon hearing the news, the Japanese troops in Luan County rushed over to reinforce, but were soon blocked by the main force of the Second Regiment.

The commander of the third regiment also led a large force to encircle the Japanese troops coming out of Luan County from both wings.

If the main force of the Japanese Army's 7th Independent Mixed Brigade could be eliminated outside Luan County, it would be a good result. At least there would be no need to pay too much sacrifice to recapture Luan County in the future.

The Japanese commander heard the sentry's report and knew that a large number of devil troops were outflanking on both wings. He immediately ordered his troops to withdraw into Luan County in an attempt to resist stubbornly.

The Second Regiment's attempt to annihilate the main force of the Japanese army outside Luan County was shattered, and it then moved its troops to attack toward the northwest of Luan County.

The Second Regiment advanced with great force and directly reached the fortifications north of the Xiaoguanzhuang Airport.

A unit of the Japanese Army's 7th Independent Mixed Brigade had just retreated to rest after a failed attack when it was suddenly attacked from behind by the 2nd Regiment.

The Japanese army hurriedly organized a defense line to resist the attack of the Second Regiment.

Seeing this, the soldiers of the 1st Regiment of the 2nd Brigade and the remaining soldiers of the 11th Brigade in the fortifications north of Xiaoguanzhuang Airport also attacked the Japanese army head-on.

The Japanese army was attacked from both sides by the devil's troops. After holding out for less than half an hour, they began to flee to both sides.

The second regiment commander led his soldiers to chase the Japanese army all the way until the remaining enemies were driven into Luan County. Then they guarded the north gate of Luan County and blocked the way for the Japanese army to attack Xiaoguanzhuang Airport.