Devil's Army

At this point, the morale of the Japanese army plummeted, but retreat was not an option.

The two sides remained locked in a standoff across Maba Town.

Meanwhile, another Japanese force from Xuyi County was advancing towards Huaiyin County from the Weiqiao River-Qiuji Hills.

The Weiqiao River-Qiuji Hills are located in the southwest of Xuyi County, Huai'an City, Jiangsu Province, and the terrain here is highly undulating.

Qiuji is located in a hilly area with "seven parts mountains, one part water, and two parts farmland", surrounded by mountains and rolling hills.

The Third and Fourth Battalions of the New 727th Army of the Sichuan Army built blocking positions in various hills, preparing to move between the positions and look for opportunities to attack the Japanese army before they arrived.

Xuyi County has a terrain that slopes from southwest to northeast in a stepped manner.

The artillery of the New 727th Regiment built an artillery position on an unnamed mountain peak at an altitude of 231 meters next to the Five Kilns in Qiuji Town, so as to suppress the Japanese army from a high vantage point.

The roads in the hilly area of ​​Qiuji Town were narrow and winding, which greatly limited the marching speed of the Japanese army.

The deployment and maneuvering of Japanese troops will also become difficult.

Soldiers from the Third and Fourth Battalions set up roadblocks and deployed troops in key narrow valleys and bends to stop the Japanese advance.

Moreover, the hilly area has plenty of forests, grasslands, and rocks, which can provide good cover and mutual support for the Third and Fourth Battalions.

As the battle of Maba Town began, the vanguard of the Third Battalion of Qiuji Town also launched a fierce attack on the Japanese troops who had entered the hills in front of Qiuji Town.

After a brief period of chaos, the Japanese army launched a series of attacks on the hill positions of the 3rd Battalion's vanguard.

The small hilly position was immediately filled with explosions and flying dirt.

The company commander then ordered his soldiers to retreat into Qiuji County while firing.

The Japanese troops were in hot pursuit.

The Japanese troops were pursuing the retreating First Company with all their might when they were suddenly attacked by the Second and Third Companies from both sides.

The Japanese army had no choice but to divide its forces to counterattack the hilly positions on both sides.

The following Japanese reinforcements also launched a fierce attack on the hilly positions on both sides.

After holding out for a while, the third and fourth companies retreated.

While pursuing the soldiers of the 3rd and 4th Companies on both sides, the Japanese troops were attacked by the devilish troops who had been lying in ambush in the woods.

Battalion Commander Wei of the 3rd Battalion of the New 727th Regiment constructed multiple blocking and ambush positions in the hills and woods in front of Qiuji Town. These positions were interconnected, coordinating and covering each other. This allowed them to both divide and annihilate small groups of Japanese troops and concentrate their forces to attack superior Japanese forces.

The Japanese troops were exhausted and suffering heavy losses. Before even reaching the gates of Qiuji Town, they had already incurred significant casualties.

The Japanese army launched attacks in all directions, but was attacked everywhere.

The Japanese commander promptly changed tactics, concentrating his forces to launch a frontal attack and advance towards Qiuji Town.

When the main force of the Japanese army arrived outside the west gate of Qiuji Town, they were met with fierce resistance from the Fourth Battalion of the Devil Force.

Outside the west gate of Qiuji Town was an open area. When the Japanese army was engaged in fierce fighting with the Fourth Battalion, three fighter planes and two bombers from the Devil Force flew over and launched a fierce bombing and strafing attack on them.

The area outside the west gate of Qiuji Town was deserted, with nothing for the Japanese soldiers to hide from the air raids by the devilish troops. The Japanese commander had no choice but to order his troops to retreat.

Upon receiving the order to retreat, the Japanese troops took off running into the woods behind them. However, the Japanese troops who first retreated into the woods were met with a fierce attack from a part of the Third Battalion, who were lying in wait.

By the time the main force of the Japanese army arrived, the Third Battalion had already fled.

The march was ambushed, and the attack was thwarted. This greatly angered the Japanese commander.