Devil's Army

Just as the Second Regiment of the Third Brigade was on high alert for the Japanese attack on Xixiakou, the 85th Unit of the 31st Group Army of the Nanjing government army was also ready to support the Xixiakou position at any time.

(If the Japanese army breaks through the Xixiakou Fortress, it will directly threaten the security of the 31st Army’s garrison.)

At that time, when the Japanese army arrived at the wide area of ​​Xixiakou, they were severely bombarded by the artillery of the Third Brigade and had to retreat.

Subsequently, the Japanese artillery launched a retaliatory bombing on positions on both sides of the West Canyon.

Violent explosions rang out one after another, and the positions on both sides of the West Canyon were blown into flying sand and rocks.

The soldiers from the second and third battalions of the second regiment and the soldiers from the Nanyang militia hid in a sturdy anti-artillery cave, listening to the explosions outside, their eardrums buzzing.

After the Japanese artillery bombardment ceased, the infantry began their assault on the West Canyon.

To the surprise of the Japanese commanders, this time their infantry was not bombarded by the devil's troops.

When the Japanese infantry attacked the West Canyon position through the narrow passage in the middle of the West Canyon, dense gunfire was heard from the high ground positions on both sides of the West Canyon.

At this time, the artillery of the Second Regiment fired fiercely again, cutting off the connection between the Japanese reinforcements and the attacking forces.

The attacking Japanese infantry tumbled down the West Canyon under heavy bullet fire and mortar bombardment.

This wave of Japanese attack was repelled without any suspense, and the Japanese army lost hundreds of infantrymen instead.

The Japanese commander was so angry that he launched several waves of attacks, but all of them were repelled.

The Japanese army launched attacks on Xixiakou for two consecutive days, but both times failed. The Japanese commander had no choice but to take a detour.

The Japanese army attempted to bypass Xixiakou and enter western Henan, but was resisted by the 78th Army of the Nanjing government army.

The purpose of the Japanese army's concentration of superior forces this time was to eliminate the devilish troops that entered Henan, and they had no intention of making enemies with the Nanjing government forces.

So when the Japanese vanguard engaged in battle with the garrison troops of the 78th Army of the Nanjing government army, Commander Hata Shunroku immediately ordered them to retreat and break off contact with the Nanjing government army.

The Japanese army's attacks on Luoyang and Sanmenxia were not smooth either.

At that time, most areas of Luoyang were under the control of the Nanjing government army and were one of the core defense areas of the Nanjing government army's first war zone.

Luoyang, as the headquarters of the First War Zone, served as the command center and defensive core for the War of Resistance in western Henan. Nanjing government forces deployed heavy forces in and around Luoyang, forming a circular defense system centered on Luoyang.

When part of the Japanese army attacked the Second Brigade in Sanmenxia from Luoyang, they encountered stubborn resistance from the Nanjing government forces.

The Japanese army, which had no intention of fighting with the Nanjing government forces, quickly withdrew from the battle, detoured to the north of Nanyang, joined up with another unit, and attacked Hangu Pass in Sanmenxia directly, where they encountered stubborn resistance from the Second Regiment of the Second Brigade.

Hangu Pass is located in Lingbao City, Sanmenxia City. It is one of the earliest fortresses built in Chinese history.

Hangu Pass is bordered by the Yellow River to the north, the Qinling Mountains to the south, the plateau to the west, and a steep ravine to the east. Nestled in a valley, it is as deep and dangerous as a box. Surrounded by ravines and valleys, it is steep and difficult to navigate.

There is only one narrow east-west crack on the plateau that is passable. It is about 7.5 kilometers long and 50 to 70 meters deep. The valley bottom is about 10 meters wide and only 2 to 3 meters at the narrowest point. It can be said that "one man can guard the pass and ten thousand men cannot open it."

The second battalion of the first battalion of the second regiment of the second brigade set up machine gun positions on both sides of Hangu Pass to guard the narrow entrance to Hangu Pass.

Moreover, the Second Regiment's machine gun position was at the corner of Hangu Pass, and the Japanese artillery had no way to bomb it.