Devil's Army

The Seventh Squadron was short of manpower to support the large force in attacking the five important strongholds of the Japanese army in Shanhaiguan that were easy to defend but difficult to attack.

After discussion, Captain Tanaka deployed three teams to deal with the Japanese army at Dongluochang, Dongguan Parade Ground and the Four Artillery Platforms.

Especially the four forts, the numerous artillery on them can suppress the first army troops that attack the Shanhaiguan city gate. Even if the first army troops attack Shanhaiguan, if they cannot effectively control the four forts, they will be suppressed at the city gate by the artillery fire of the four forts.

Captain Tian sent a message to Commander Leng about his plan and asked for his opinion.

Leng Feng also consulted the Seventh Brigade Commander Hong Lang and the Fourth Brigade Commander Wang Zhuangfei for their opinions on this matter. In the past few days, both of them have been vying to be the main force to attack Shanhaiguan.

But on this matter, the two people's opinions were surprisingly consistent. Wang Zhuangfei believed that taking down the four artillery batteries would suppress the Japanese barracks in Dongguan Jiaochang and block the Shanhaiguan city gate.

"There are also Japanese military camps and fortifications built in Dongluocheng of Shanhaiguan. The city walls there are high and the fortifications are strong, making it easy to defend but difficult to attack. But it is less than three miles away from the Fourth Artillery Fort, and is completely within the artillery range of the Fourth Artillery Fort. There are Japanese troops and supplies in the Dongguan Parade Ground. Moreover, the Dongguan Parade Ground is only seven or eight miles away from the Fourth Artillery Fort, and is also within the range of the large-caliber artillery of the Fourth Artillery Fort. Controlling the Fourth Artillery Fort means controlling the Shanhaiguan city gate, Dongluocheng and Dongguan Parade Ground." The commander of the Seventh Brigade analyzed.

"Captain Tian also mentioned this, but they don't have enough troops."

"If the troops are insufficient, continue to send troops to infiltrate. The supplies will be transported by golden eagles."

"Commander, our Fourth Brigade is ready for battle. I can send elite troops to infiltrate." Wang Zhuangfei asked for battle.

"Commander, our Seventh Brigade is also ready for battle. I can also send our elite troops to infiltrate."

"Your Seventh Brigade has just finished the Changtu Campaign. You suffered heavy casualties and need to rest for a while."

"Didn't your Fourth Brigade fight the Huludao Campaign some time ago? It's time to rest for a while."

"Okay, both of you stop arguing. The battle to get through to the Tangshan base is going to be a fierce one. Your Fourth Brigade and Seventh Brigade are the main forces of our First Army, and both brigades have to go." Leng Feng was getting a headache because of the quarrel between the two of them.

Then Captain Tian received an order from Leng Feng to occupy the four artillery batteries after the battle started, and to cover the main force's advance into the depths of Shanhaiguan.

Starting from that day, soldiers from the Fourth Brigade sneaked into Shanhaiguan one after another and hid in Tian's Middle School to wait for orders.

The golden eagles also continued to transport ammunition and food to Tian’s Middle School.

As the investigation of the Fourth Fort became more and more detailed, Captain Tian became less and less confident in attacking the Fourth Fort. Because he was flanked by two Japanese military camps, Dongluocheng and Dongguan Parade Ground. Captain Tian was not arrogant enough to use his current force of 200 men to deal with more than 1000 Japanese soldiers in two military camps.

He reported his concerns to Commander Leng.

Brigade Commander Wang Zhuangfei suggested bombing with airplanes. Their current tribal airport has been moved to Xiaoling Mountain in Jinzhou. In the last Huludao battle, their Huaxia II fighter planes had defeated the Japanese planes from Qinhuangdao, gaining partial air superiority.

Leng Feng expressed his opposition to the use of aircraft bombing, saying:

"It is precisely because our aircraft can gain air superiority over this small area that we cannot use aircraft bombing."

Seeing that Wang Chuanfei didn't understand, he continued:

"Shanhaiguan is an extremely important military location. It is an important base for the Japanese invaders to attack northern Hebei and North China. After we occupy Shanhaiguan, the Japanese invaders will definitely not sit idly by. At this time, the four artillery batteries can play a huge role."

"So, Commander, you are worried about the Japanese counterattack in the future."

"Arrange the air force to bomb Dongluo City and Dongguan Parade Ground to prevent them from rescuing the Fourth Fort. Continue to send additional troops to sneak into Shanhaiguan to assist Captain Tian in attacking the Fourth Fort."

As more and more soldiers sneaked into Shanhaiguan, Captain Tian redeployed the battle plan.

He assigned the two companies of the 1st Regiment of the 4th Brigade to block the Japanese troops in Dongluocheng and Dongguan Parade Ground. Their 7th Squadron of the Special Operations Team attacked the 4th Battery with all their strength.

However, more than 400 soldiers sneaked in at once, and the risk of Tian's Middle School being exposed also increased sharply.

Captain Tian could only ban most soldiers from going out and increase the number of sentries to prevent exposure.

Fortunately, their food supplies were provided by golden eagles from the air, which effectively prevented the soldiers from being exposed when going out to purchase supplies.

The waiting time was long and boring. On the one hand, Wang Zhuangfei was worried that the soldiers lurking in Shanhaiguan would be exposed, and on the other hand, he was anxiously waiting for Commander Leng to give the order to attack.

On May 5, the 27th Regiment of the Japanese Army besieged the Soviet Army in Nomonhan. The main forces of the Kwantung Army were also transferred to the Nomonhan area.

Leng Feng calculated that the main Japanese Kwantung Army in the northeast had no time to take care of Shanhaiguan, so he ordered an attack on Shanhaiguan at 5 o'clock on May 28.