Bright Sword: Japs, times have changed

During the retreat, Uratoichiro noticed something was wrong. The whole process was too smooth, just like when they came, without any obstacles.

What he didn't know was that Lin Qiang did this on purpose so that he could go back and lure more Japanese soldiers over.

However, Uratoichiro suddenly became bolder. He believed that Lin Qiang's plan was due to the lack of manpower in the Eighth Route Army.

"Yoshi!"

"It seems that the Eighth Route Army here has long been scared away, leaving only a small force here to bluff. If that's the case, don't blame me for being polite!"

Urayasu said to his adjutant, "Leave me a squadron. You are responsible for reporting back the situation here. Tell them that the Eighth Route Army has withdrawn and I am pursuing them with all my strength."

"Uratomo-kun, don't forget that the commander of the 7th Brigade was too arrogant and died a disgrace to the Empire."

After hearing the adjutant's words, Uratoichiro remembered that the commander of the 7th Brigade, Kawashita Hideki, died here and was described as a disgrace to the empire by Commander Yoshio Shinozuka.

If I die because of this, wouldn't it be a shame?

Thinking of this, Uratomo Ichiro looked at his adjutant gratefully and said, "You are right. Order the troops to retreat."

However, Uratoichiro did not really retreat like that. He left behind a small group of Japanese soldiers. After the main force retreated, they frantically threw grenades at the position of the first row of the third company.

"Second Platoon Leader, kill these bastards!"

After a burst of gunfire, a small squad of Japanese soldiers were killed.

In just half an hour, the Japanese infantry battalion entered the battlefield and completely retreated.

Through the telescope, Lin Qiang smiled slightly as he watched the fleeing Japanese soldiers, hoping that after these soldiers returned, they would attract a large number of Japanese troops to swarm in.

Putting down the binoculars, Lin Qiang took the intercom and said, "Duan Peng, once you are ready, let the brothers start the action!"

"Squeak~"

There was a burst of electric noise from the intercom, followed by Duan Peng's voice: "Got it!"

In the following period of time, the main task of the team of more than 105 people who arrived later was to deploy twelve mm caliber howitzers to the Xiaowangzhuang position.

In addition, the 150mm caliber howitzer previously deployed on the top of the hill also advanced more than meters, which is the maximum distance. If it moves forward any further, it will fall off the cliff.

The main purpose of deploying howitzers on the battlefield is to engage in artillery battles with the Japanese.

The response this time is different from the past. The Japanese have suffered two heavy losses and will definitely make sufficient preparations before taking action. Therefore, Lin Qiang put himself in their shoes and guessed before deciding to prepare such a deployment.

Twelve 105mm caliber howitzers are deployed in four locations, with three howitzers in each location, which can cover the entire battlefield in all directions.

In the afternoon.

The independent battalion was busy deploying its defenses, however, there was no intelligence that a lightly armed Japanese infantry battalion was quietly approaching Heiyun Village in the direction of Anhua County.

The advance route of this Japanese infantry battalion was very tricky. They took a route that even Lin Qiang believed the Japanese would not take, and they avoided all the observation posts set up by the independent battalion along the way.

On the front, a regiment of Japanese troops quickly approached Xiaowangzhuang. By the time Lin Qiang received the news, the Japanese had already passed through Hulukou.

The ones coming this time were not lightly armed devils, but a devil regiment carrying large-caliber artillery. They were the 22nd Infantry Regiment of the 4th Brigade of the Japanese Army, and the regiment commander was named Yuta Jiro.

The Japanese troops entered the ambush range of the independent battalion in broad daylight. Lin Qiang watched the Japanese troops advance through the telescope without giving any order to stop them.

To be honest, he still couldn't understand what the Japs' real purpose was.

The two battles have clearly told the Japanese that it would be impossible to capture the independent battalion base through conventional warfare, even if two brigades were sent.

Now they only sent one infantry battalion, which made Lin Qiang, who had always been very cautious, express his disdain.

But Lin Qiang knew one thing very well: when something is abnormal, there must be something wrong.

The Japanese would definitely not use this infantry battalion to die if they did this. They must have other purposes.

However, the Japanese in front did not give Lin Qiang much time to think. After the entire team entered the battlefield, the Japanese infantry suddenly launched a charge.

The truck towing the artillery also stopped at this time. The Japanese deployed the artillery in less than five minutes, as if they had received professional training.

The Japs were fast, but Lin Qiang was always one step ahead of them.

"Concentrate your artillery fire and blow up the Japanese artillery!"

At the same time, the Japanese regiment commander Yuta Jiro also gave the order to open fire: "Aim at the enemy's first-line position, no need to test fire, fire immediately!"

"Infantry troops, charge with all your might, force out the independent battalion's entire defensive strength, and buy more time for Miyamoto-kun!"

The fact that the Japanese were able to deploy artillery in this situation was entirely intentional by Lin Qiang. Otherwise, they would have suffered a devastating blow as soon as they entered the range of the howitzers.

The purpose of doing this is to see if there are any blind spots in the artillery fire in our deployment. If so, we need to make timely adjustments.

He was not worried that the Japanese artillery bombardment would cause the casualties of the soldiers. As early as when he deployed the troops, he had ordered the soldiers to be prepared for artillery bombardment.

Cat-ear holes have been dug on the positions specifically for preventing artillery attacks. As long as it is not a large-caliber heavy artillery, it can basically provide effective protection.

Moreover, Lin Qiang would not give the Japanese the opportunity to fire a second round of artillery shells.

This was indeed the case. After the Japanese's first round of artillery fire, the artillery position suffered a devastating blow before they could reload the second shell.

The destructive power caused by the 105mm caliber howitzer can be imagined. After only one round of shelling, all the Japanese artillery was destroyed.

In the cat ear cave.

The soldiers only felt that the earth was shaking, and the dirt above their heads kept falling on their heads.

Zhao Dapeng, the platoon leader of the first platoon of the third company, and Zhang Yuntian, the company commander, were hiding in a cat-ear cave. Taking this opportunity, Zhao Dapeng said, "Company commander, how could the battalion commander be so amazing? He actually asked us to prepare in advance. The battalion commander knows the enemy's movements like the back of his hand!"

Zhang Yuntian was one of the first to surrender to Lin Qiang and had witnessed the independent battalion's growth. After hearing the platoon leader's words, he nodded and said, "Sometimes I have this question. The battalion commander may have come from a humble background, but his combat command ability is no less than anyone I've ever met."

"If you can't figure something out, then don't dwell on it. Isn't following a leader like this exactly what we want?"

"I can lead my brothers to achieve great things, and I can also avoid becoming cannon fodder on the battlefield. I tell you, only by staying alive can we kill more devils."

After Zhang Yuntian finished speaking, the bombardment ended: "Quick, return to your positions quickly and stop the enemy infantry!"