The War of Resistance: My Expedition, My Country

The Japanese Army's 33rd Regiment, 143rd Division, raided and captured the stronghold. It consisted of a squad, an infantry artillery unit, a mixed mortar and heavy machine gun unit, and a communications group. It numbered approximately 120 men. By this time, both sides had realized that traditional organizational structures were no longer adequate for combat in the tropical rainforest. The Japanese Army established task forces ranging from dozens to to men, depending on operational needs. Similarly, the Sino-American coalition forces also organized special forces with varying structures.

Liu Jiang quietly advanced to the vicinity of the stronghold, not daring to get too close. Through his telescope, he observed that after occupying the stronghold, the Japanese were strengthening its defenses. In addition to the main stronghold, they had also extended three supporting firepower points toward the Sino-US coalition forces. The Japanese were clearly establishing this as a new assault point.

Initial estimates indicate that the Japanese army numbered over 100, with rifle, mortar, and heavy machine gun positions. Their firepower was strategically deployed, with crossfire networks forming between the positions, providing mutual support.

Liu Jiang knew he had met his match and that with his current strength, it was not suitable for a surprise attack on the enemy. Liu Jiang quickly found Lewis and the two discussed again the plan to fight against the Japanese stronghold.

Lewis had been ambushed yesterday and evacuated hastily, apparently unaware of his assessment of the enemy's strength and firepower. When Liu Jiang informed him of the Japanese forces he had reconnoitered, noting they possessed infantry artillery, mortars, and heavy machine guns, with over 100 personnel, Lewis felt a sense of unease. He had no choice but to ask Liu Jiang for advice on how to fight.

Liu Jiang thought calmly and said, "Based on observation, the Japanese army has at least one 92mm infantry gun, two 2mm mortars, and three heavy machine guns. According to the organization of the Japanese infantry squad, there are at least three light machine guns and six grenade launchers."

"The layout of the three Japanese forward positions and the main position is very tricky, blocking our three directions of attack. Given the Japanese habit of concealing their firepower, there must be at least one mortar or even infantry gun hidden in the dark. This poses a huge threat to our attack! Furthermore, our total strength is comparable to that of the enemy, so this battle will be difficult to win!"

"Captain, do you mean to give up the attack?" Lewis asked worriedly.

Liu Jiang shook his head. "Of course we have to fight, but we can't attack at night. We can only do it during the day, taking advantage of the Japanese army's paralysis!"

Liu Jiang took out a simple map of the enemy and the surrounding area, pointed to the corresponding location, and said, "The tanks must quietly drive over and bypass the Japanese army. Here, this high ground. As supporting firepower, if necessary, knock out the Japanese army's hidden artillery!"

"Take down the two M2s from the jeep and form a hidden firepower unit. Position them here to counter the Japanese heavy machine guns."

"Put the mortars here, here; the rocket launchers are here. All teams advance here, here! When the time comes, the rocket launchers will immediately fire and directly hit the exposed mortars and infantry artillery of the Japanese army!"

Following Liu Jiang's explanations and instructions, Lewis quickly understood his combat intent. He said simply, "Shield! That's it! Liu, you take command! I'll follow your lead."

The troops quickly deployed. The tanks, led by several soldiers, made a wide detour and quietly arrived at the high ground to the right rear of the Japanese army, where they lay in ambush. Simultaneously, the first detachment, composed of the reinforced platoon of the 600th Regiment, moved to the Japanese left, while a platoon from the special operations company also moved to the right. Lewis and the task force lay in ambush around the artillery group. Everyone quietly awaited Liu Jiang's final orders.

Captain Kato, the leader of the Japanese task force and a master of jungle warfare, could clearly sense the enemy's approach and readiness to attack from the quiet brushwood across the way. Indeed, as Liu Jiang had suspected, Kato had concealed a 1mm mountain gun and a 70mm mortar. After occupying the stronghold, the Japanese found it a good defensive area. The 120rd Regiment had already decided to establish a medium-sized defensive position there and was in the process of deploying a reinforcement squadron.

Kato was not clear about the opponent's situation. In order to delay time, he decided to open fire first and lure the enemy out!

"Boom——", "Boom——", "Da Da Da——"

The Japanese opened fire on a suspicious target, and one shell landed in the hiding place of a reinforced platoon of the 600th Regiment. Shrapnel from the shell wounded a soldier. He endured the pain, saying nothing, while nearby soldiers quickly bandaged him.

Because the weeds were too deep, the Japanese army could not see what was happening inside the grass and fired machine guns again.

"Swish, swish, swish--" a string of bullets flew by, fortunately not hitting the soldiers. "Boom--" another shell exploded in the grass, splashing countless dust and mud.

Liu Jiang watched all this nervously, fearing that the soldiers would be exposed. Fortunately, whether it was the Special Operations Company, the 600th Regiment, or even the US troops of the Sino-US Task Force, they all withstood the test.

Kato fired several probing rounds, finding nothing unusual. He wondered if he'd been overthinking. Looking at the time, the reinforcements were expected to arrive in several hours. Sato ordered the task force to stop probing and take advantage of the moment to eat.

Just as the Japanese soldiers were chatting and laughing in groups of three or four as they took out their rice balls to eat, Liu Jiang quietly gave the orders to each team to take action.

"Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh--", hundreds of meters away, the rocket artillery group, which had already adjusted all the parameters, launched 9 107mm rockets rapidly flying towards the Japanese stronghold.

"No! Artillery fire!" Kato immediately lay down and shouted loudly, "Enemy - attack -"

“BOOM—BOOM—BOOM—BOOM—”

The shells landed precisely within the enemy's position, instantly covering two heavy machine gun positions and a mortar position. Continuous huge explosions blew the Japanese soldiers' guns and artillery into the sky.

After the explosion, Kato quickly ran to the infantry artillery and asked the squad leader if he had a clear view of the enemy attack position. The Japanese infantry artillery squad leader nodded and quickly adjusted the artillery. At this moment, "whoosh-whoosh-" the mortar shell flew over with a distinctive whistle.

Sato and the Japanese gunners, who had no time to dodge, rolled on the ground. The shell exploded about four or five meters away from the 92mm rifle. "Boom boom!" The rifle was overturned!

"Counterattack! Counterattack!", with Sato's loud shout, the Japanese army's hidden mountain artillery removed its camouflage and aimed at the area where the rocket launcher had just fired, unleashing furious fire!

"Boom!" The shell exploded more than 10 meters away from the rocket launch point, with great accuracy. Unfortunately, the rocket launcher team had already moved to a new position and was 30 meters to the left of the original shelling position, loading new ammunition and preparing for a second shot.

The tank crew, hiding on the high ground, saw the position of the Japanese mountain artillery and quietly adjusted the muzzle. At the command of the tank commander, a 37mm high-explosive shell flew out of the tank's long barrel, carrying a blazing flame, into the Japanese mountain artillery position!