Devil's Army

After the fall of Madang Fortress, the government troops preparing to defend Wuhan were not yet fully prepared.

Chen Cheng commanded his troops to launch a counterattack against the Ma'an Fortress in an attempt to recapture it. However, at this time, the Ma'an Fortress was no longer a natural barrier to block the Japanese army, but a natural barrier to block the government army.

The government forces launched several large-scale assaults in succession and suffered heavy casualties under the three-dimensional bombing by the Japanese navy, army and air force.

General Chen had to order his troops to stop the attack and order the troops in the rear to speed up the construction of a new line of defense.

Commander Liu of the 26th Division also ordered his troops to strengthen patrols and intensify preparations for war, because the Japanese army's next target of attack would be their Hukou.

Division Commander Liu did not treat the regiment commander and his men as outsiders, and asked him and Deputy Regimental Commander He to attend the meeting of officers above the regiment level of the 26th Division to discuss how to deal with the next attack by the Japanese army.

Some officers and soldiers of the 26th Division suggested setting up more lines of defense based on the terrain to block the enemy layer by layer.

Some required deep digging and consolidation of fortifications to prevent enemy shelling.

……

Commander Liu asked the regiment commander for his opinion.

A captain stood up and responded:

"The Japanese ship guns are large in caliber and powerful. The bombs from the planes are also very destructive. Our fortifications lack steel and concrete, so it is difficult to withstand the Japanese bombardment."

"Do you mean to abandon Hukou and become a deserter?" asked Brigade Commander Fu of the 76th Brigade.

"There is no word like 'deserter' in the dictionary of our First Anti-Japanese Army."

“What do you mean?”

"Before the Japanese attack, they will first attack with heavy artillery fire, and then attack with infantry. We should deploy a small number of observation posts in the trenches, and then the troops will enter the position when the Japanese infantry launches a charge."

"The Japanese tanks were advancing very quickly. If our infantry were not in the trenches, by the time our infantry ran back to the trenches, the Japanese had already reached them."

"The Japanese tanks are not a concern. What we are worried about are the Japanese planes, naval guns and large-caliber artillery."

Brigade Commander Fu disagreed, thinking that the regiment commander was just trying to attract attention.

"Regarding the upcoming Battle of Hukou, I, He Dejiang, have an unwelcome request." The first regiment commander continued.

"Captain He, please speak."

"This time, the Yinjiashan Pass will be guarded by the First Regiment of the First Brigade of our First Anti-Japanese Army. Commander Fu's 76th Brigade will be deployed elsewhere."

"Captain He is really a toad yawning, so arrogant. Our brigade can't even guarantee that we can strictly guard the Yinjiashan Pass, and you can do it with just one regiment?"

"Commander Fu, I don't mean to look down on you. Our First Anti-Japanese Army is organized differently from your Sichuan Army. Our brigade has more than 9000 people, and our regiment is a reinforced regiment with more than 3000 people. We have been fighting the devils for several days and have suffered nearly a thousand casualties. If Commander Fu agrees, you can leave a regiment to assist us. This will give us more confidence in defending the Yinjiashan Pass."

Brigade Commander Fu looked at Division Commander Liu, and Division Commander Liu nodded at him.

"Captain Zhu of the 151st Regiment will stay and defend the Yinjiashan Pass together with Captain He Dejiang."

“Thank you for the support from Commander Liu and Brigade Commander Fu.”

"Division Commander, should our 151st Regiment obey the command of Commander He?" Commander Zhu stood up and asked.

"Yes!"

"They just arrived at Hukou. Why should our 151st Regiment obey their command?"

"They have come from thousands of miles away to support us in fighting the Japanese. They have been fighting the Japanese since 32, and it has been 6 years now." Commander Liu shouted loudly.

Captain Zhu sat down silently and said nothing more.

Next, the regiment commander asked Zhu to send someone to assist the artillery battalion commander in finding an artillery position suitable for them, and to find three backup positions.

There was no other way. The Japanese army now had superiority in the sea and air, and had far more artillery than the government army. Their artillery could only be transferred frequently to avoid the danger of being annihilated by the Japanese army.

The regiment commander also ordered the soldiers to dig two double-layered holes in inconspicuous places on both sides of the trench. The ground was covered with three layers of soil and wooden boards. A platform was laid with wooden boards one and a half meters above the ground, so that people could stand on the platform and shoot outside.

Zhu was very confused about the purpose of these two underground caves. Although they were better at preventing artillery fire than trenches, they were too small. Each cave could only hide five or six people at most. They were obviously not enough to stop the enemy's firepower.

The artillery battalion commander also set up two more artillery positions 6000 meters behind the three pre-selected artillery positions because they captured three Type 150 150mm cannons from the Japanese army this time, with a range of meters, which was more than meters farther than their mm howitzers.

A week after the Japanese army occupied the Madang Fortress, part of the Hata Detachment and the vanguard of the Japanese 106th Division arrived in front of the position of the st Company, nd Battalion, st Regiment at the Yinjiashan Pass in Sanli Street.

The Battle of Hukou officially began.