Traveling through 1937, starting from the Battle of Songhu

Chapter 460: Stirring Up the Storm VI

Over the next few days, the Japanese began to lick their wounds, waiting for reinforcements to start Yoshio Shinozuka's mopping-up plan.

The Japs wanted to wait, but at this time the 3rd and 4th Regiments of the Independent Brigade had already sneaked into the mountainous area northeast of Shouyang.

Shouyang is located in the north of Jinzhong City, Shanxi Province. It is located on the western foot of Taihang Mountain and the middle and upper reaches of Xiaohe River. It is the junction of the two major bases of Jin-Cha-Ji and Jin-Ji-Yu. Its geographical location is very important.

The first shot of the "Hundred Regiments Offensive" in history was also fired here, but in this time and space, there was an independent brigade under Gu Changfeng's command, so it was definitely not this side's turn to fire the first shot.

At present, the main railways and highways are still under the control of the Japanese, and the vast mountainous areas and villages have become the bases or guerrilla areas of the Eighth Route Army.

The Japanese had a regiment of troops stationed in Shouyang. They built hundreds of large and small artillery towers and bunkers on both sides of the Shouyang Highway and railway, and dug isolation trenches more than two meters deep.

The isolation trench was covered with barbed wire and a large number of mines were buried in the trench.

In order to prevent the Eighth Route Army and the Independent Brigade from raiding Shouyang, the Japanese put a lot of thought into it. Of course, they were mainly afraid of the Second Regiment of the Independent Brigade. After all, their combat record and firepower were there, and Yoshio Shinozuka was also afraid of them!

In Zhangjia Town, more than ten kilometers southeast of Shouyang, the sound of gunfire suddenly came out. The first battalion of the third regiment of the independent brigade was attacking the Japanese in Zhangjia Town.

The Japanese soldiers in Zhangjia Town had never seen such fierce firepower, and hundreds of them were killed in a short time.

Seeing this, Captain Ogawa, the Japanese squadron leader, immediately called the Shouyang Garrison Battalion.

"Moxi, Moxi, the Zhangjia Town stronghold has been attacked by the Chinese. Their firepower is very strong, with at least a reinforced battalion of troops. Requesting tactical guidance!"

After receiving the call for help, the Shouyang garrison immediately dispatched a battalion and half a regiment of puppet troops, with a total strength of more than 2,300 troops.

This was the first time that the Shouyang blockade line was attacked, and the Shouyang garrison took it very seriously.

In fact, with the actions of the two regiments of the Eighth Route Army and the Independent Brigade in Laiyuan, the Japanese headquarters also realized through intelligence analysis that both sides were preparing to start a war, so when they gave orders to the garrison troops below, they specifically reminded them to be careful.

At the Zhangjia Town stronghold, the sound of gunfire was heard.

The machine guns on the Japanese artillery tower fired crazily to prevent the soldiers of the first battalion from approaching. They had received news that a battalion and half a regiment of the Imperial Army were on the way and would arrive in about two hours.

"Damn it, these little Japs are quite stubborn," the battalion commander cursed, then ordered, "Artillery, charge!"

He didn't want to delay any longer. These Japanese and puppet troops were not enough to fill their teeth. He still had to prepare for the next battle!

As his order was conveyed, four rocket artillery teams began to move towards the Japanese artillery tower.

The Japanese's attention was all on the heavy machine gun team in front, so their actions did not attract their attention.

Whoosh whoosh whoosh…

Boom boom boom!

Four rockets flew directly towards the Japanese main gun tower from four directions. After penetrating two thick walls, the rockets directly blew up several large holes. In less than 30 seconds, all the Japanese and puppet troops were buried inside.

Captain Ogawa didn't have time to report to the Shouyang garrison, and was buried before he could even react. The rockets came too suddenly.

When the battalion commander saw the passage was opened, he immediately led his soldiers to charge.

The soldiers reacted quickly, with the firepower team in front and the artillery team in the back. They were divided into several assault echelons and began to clear the bunkers on both sides.

Boom boom!

In less than thirty minutes, the entire Zhangjia Town stronghold was captured by the Third Battalion, and the puppet troops of the Xiaochuan Squadron stationed at the stronghold were completely wiped out.

"Alright, the Second Company will stay here and fire blanks, and the rest of you follow me!"

After the battalion commander gave the order, he immediately led his troops towards Shouyang.

The other soldiers of the Third Regiment have already crossed Zhangjia Town. If he doesn't catch up, he won't even be able to drink the soup later!

On the highway a few kilometers away, the battalion commander, Lieutenant Colonel Mitsuharu Tsuchiya, was sitting in an armored vehicle with an anxious expression.

The gunshots coming from Zhangjia Town were getting quieter and quieter. He didn't know what the situation was with the Ogawa Squadron at the moment, and he couldn't get in touch with them. This made him feel uneasy.

"Hurry up!"

Lieutenant Colonel Tsuchiya could not help but urge them on, and the driver of the Japanese armored vehicle stepped on the accelerator again. Unfortunately, the road washed by the spring rain was already difficult to drive on, and it was impossible to rush to Zhangjia Town quickly, not to mention that they had to take care of the infantry and puppet troops behind them.

Two kilometers away from the Japanese convoy, the Third Battalion of the Third Regiment, which arrived early, had already prepared an ambush position.

Wu Mazi was very experienced in ambushing and did not take the Japanese seriously at all.

"Jiayi, are you all ready? We can't let a single devil go this time!"

"Commander, just wait and see! We've buried dozens of bombs, enough to send the Japs flying in their homemade planes. Thirty rocket launchers are ready, just waiting for the Japs to enter our trap!"

Wen Jiayi reported to Wu Mazi happily, and it was obvious that he didn't take the supporting Japanese soldiers seriously.

Da da da!

Da da da!

More than ten minutes later, the search team of the Tsuchiya Battalion conducted fire reconnaissance on a three-wheeled motorcycle. No matter how anxious Lieutenant Colonel Tsuchiya was, he still maintained the necessary vigilance.

Soon, a Japanese search team on seven or eight motorcycles entered the ambush position of the soldiers of the Third Regiment.

The ambush point chosen by Wu Mazi was not very good. There was hardly enough space for people to hide within a hundred meters on either side of the road.

Of course, given the strength that the Third Regiment has developed to today, there is no need to worry too much about these things. Just suppress the firepower.

Da da da!

Another burst of machine gun fire was directed at the clods of earth on both sides. This kind of formal reconnaissance was okay for rookies, but it had no effect on the soldiers of the Third Regiment.

Five hundred meters away from both sides of the road, the first and second battalions hid under the slopes and waited quietly, without being affected at all.

With the Japanese marching so quickly, it was impossible for the search team to run hundreds of meters to search, and time did not allow it. They also had to rescue Ogawa's squadron.

After the Japanese search team passed, the next ones to arrive were three Japanese tanks, seven trucks, a Japanese squadron and puppet troops.

The First Army did not have the equipment for a fully mechanized march, and even if they had Yoshio Shinozuka, they would not be willing to waste it. So the Japanese and puppet soldiers at the back had their feet covered in mud, and they looked very embarrassed.

On the Japanese armored vehicle, Lieutenant Colonel Tsuchiya seemed to have a sense of alarm in his heart. Just as he was about to say something, a violent explosion sounded right under his vehicle!

Boom boom boom!

A series of explosions sounded instantly, and the thick smoke that followed enveloped the entire Japanese convoy.

The Japanese's fragile armored vehicle was directly overturned by the shock wave generated by the explosion. Lieutenant Colonel Tsuchiya only had time to shout "Enemy attack" before his head was chopped apart. His big head hit the iron gate directly, and a big bump soon appeared on it, and he fainted.

The force caused by dozens of explosives was not small. The two trucks following the armored vehicle were also blown over. Seeing this, the Japanese drivers behind them stepped on the brakes.

"Bakayaro, enemy attack! Enemy attack!"

The Japanese soldiers in the rear reacted quickly, shouting and preparing to jump out of the car.

Boom boom boom!

Thirty rocket launchers from three regiments opened fire simultaneously. Thirty shells were fired at the Japanese army at high speed. The Japanese army was in tragedy...