Devil's Army

The Japanese attack was repelled, and no new attacks were launched for the time being.

The soldiers of the Fourth Battalion quickly consolidated their position.

The fourth battalion commander looked around and saw that not far behind the trench, communications soldier Xiao Wang was lying on the radio transmitter. His body was riddled with holes from shrapnel, and blood stained the transmitter and the ground red.

No wonder the Second Regiment Commander couldn't contact the Third Battalion; their communications soldier had already been killed.

The fourth battalion commander immediately instructed the communications soldier to contact the second regimental commander and inform him that the position at Twenty-Three Gully was still in their hands.

Shortly after the signalman sent the telegram, Japanese artillery shells followed in quick succession.

The fortifications that the soldiers of the Fourth Battalion had just built were instantly destroyed by the fierce artillery fire of the Japanese army.

The fourth battalion commander, holding binoculars, stood on a high slope and calmly observed the Japanese army's situation.

Suddenly, he noticed several telephone lines and an antenna hanging in the distance beside the ravine.

He quickly sent a guard to fetch the artillery platoon leader.

A moment later, Artillery Platoon Leader Zhang jogged up to the Fourth Battalion Commander and asked:

"Battalion Commander, what's the matter?"

"Xiao Zhang, take a look over there," the fourth battalion commander said, handing binoculars to Platoon Leader Zhang.

Platoon Leader Zhang looked at it for a while and said:

"There are antennas and telephone lines there, so it's very likely a Japanese command post."

The fourth battalion commander nodded and asked:

Are you confident you can take it down?

Platoon Leader Zhang gave a thumbs-up, squinted for a moment, and said:

"No problem, I guarantee I'll complete the mission!"

After finishing his speech, Platoon Leader Zhang hurriedly ran off to deploy the artillery.

A short while later, Platoon Leader Zhang led the artillerymen, carrying four mortars, to the high ground.

The fourth battalion commander was still standing there, and he said to the artillerymen:

"The Japanese are taking advantage of our lack of artillery, placing their command post so close to the front lines. This time, you must wipe them out in one fell swoop."

"Yes!

Platoon leader, the artillery has been set up. Please give instructions.

Platoon Leader: On your marks! Pre-load all parameters! Target behind the ravine, sights X, bearing X-XX, load, detonate instantly!

Gunners 1/2/3/4: Range X, Azimuth X-XX, Loading, Instantaneous Fuze, Preloading complete!

Platoon Leader Zhang: First test firing, fire!

The mortar shell landed on the right side of the ravine. Platoon Leader Zhang (observing the deviation) then ordered: Deviation 3 to the right, keep the sights unchanged, direction 2 to the left, correct!

Gunners 1, 2, 3, 4: Correction complete!

Platoon Leader Zhang: Three rounds in quick succession! Fire! Fire! Fire!

The fourth battalion commander saw through his binoculars that the antenna behind the ravine had been blown down and the telephone lines had been severed. The entire ravine was filled with smoke and dust.

After a while, the fourth battalion commander saw a group of Japanese guards carrying several wounded soldiers hurriedly out of the ravine.

One of the wounded was wearing a major's uniform.

The fourth battalion commander was overjoyed; he hadn't expected that they would actually manage to bomb the Japanese command post.

He pointed to the group of Japanese soldiers who were hurriedly retreating from the mountain pass and ordered Platoon Leader Zhang:

"Bomb that squad of Japanese soldiers!"

Platoon Leader Zhang quickly adjusted the artillery parameters and launched a fierce bombardment at the retreating Japanese troops.

Due to the arrogance of the Japanese army, their command post was bombarded by the artillery of the Fourth Battalion.

The Japanese battalion commander who led the operation was seriously wounded, and one staff officer and two company commanders died.

The Japanese command system was temporarily paralyzed, making it impossible to launch an attack on the Fourth Battalion's position.

The officers and soldiers of the Fourth Battalion also got a rare chance to catch their breath.

During a lull in the fighting, the fourth battalion commander inquired about the remaining officers and soldiers of the third battalion:

"Who holds the highest official position here?"