Devil's Army

With the commander of the 2nd Battalion of the 18th Division and two company commanders in charge of the main attack all killed, the Japanese troops attacking Gunkanshan were suddenly left without a leader.

At this moment, the division commander called again to inquire about the progress of the battle. Only then did they learn that their battalion commander and two company commanders had been killed by the devil's artillery.

He immediately promoted the deputy battalion commander to battalion commander and led the soldiers to capture the Junjianshan position.

After readjustment and personnel arrangements, the Japanese army launched another fierce attack on Gunkanyama at around 3 p.m.

The fierce battle continued until evening, when the battalion commander sent out the last remaining company, the fourth company, to resist the Japanese attack.

With the Japanese army poised to breach the defensive line at any moment, the battalion commander of the third battalion had no choice but to request reinforcements from the regimental commander of the first regiment.

However, even the regimental commander was powerless to help, as his only directly subordinate company had been dispatched, and he had no soldiers left to send.

The regimental commander told the third battalion commander helplessly:

"You should retreat to Helong County when the opportunity arises! The Hongqihe Canyon can probably only hold out until tomorrow at most."

After hanging up the phone, the battalion commander, with a heavy heart, convened a meeting with the remaining company and platoon leaders of the third battalion:

"The regimental commander has ordered us to withdraw from Junjianshan at an opportune time and return to Helong County to join the Fourth Regiment in blocking the Japanese army. Tell us your plans."

"Battalion Commander, other units are resisting the Japanese attack. It would be too humiliating for us to retreat into Helong County like this," a company commander said somewhat unwillingly.

(The company commander was killed in the battle. Now less than half the soldiers of the company remain, and a deputy company commander is in command.)

"The battalion stationed in the Hongqihe Canyon will also withdraw to Helong County tomorrow."

"Then let them retreat first, and we'll hold off the Japanese attack for another day tomorrow," the third company commander said immediately.

(The fourth company commander was keeping watch at the front to prevent a Japanese sneak attack and did not come to the meeting.)

As a result of the meeting, everyone unanimously requested that the Japanese army be held off for at least one more day so that the other units could retreat first.

This also cost them the opportunity to retreat, and (under the cover of night) put the Third Battalion in danger.

The next morning, the newly appointed Japanese battalion commander did not send the Korean regiment to lead the attack, but instead sent his own battalion to lead the attack, and even brought in four tanks for cover, launching a fierce attack on Gunkan-yama.

This Japanese attack was not reckless, but rather a steady and methodical advance.

Under the cover of the soldiers, the tanks kept firing, covering the soldiers' attack and pushing the front line step by step to the Devil Force's warship mountain position.

The Third Battalion has no reserves left to deploy; all soldiers capable of carrying guns have been sent to the front lines to fiercely resist the Japanese offensive.

The remaining rocket troops of the Third Battalion crawled forward, attempting to destroy the Japanese tanks.

However, the Japanese tanks were very cautious. They did not take risks until they were sure it was safe ahead. Instead, they stayed in place and fired and strafed fiercely to cover the soldiers' attack on Gunkan-yama.

Although the regimental commander had no troops to spare, he still sent a telegram to the air force requesting assistance.

At this time, the First Army's air force had already gained air superiority. When the battle of the Third Battalion reached its climax, three bombers and two fighters from the First Army roared in and bombed the Japanese attacking forces.

Upon hearing the roar of the First Army's aircraft, the Japanese artillery immediately ceased firing. However, the dense forest provided cover for the Japanese troops, making it difficult for the First Army's bombing to achieve its intended effect.