Bright Sword: Construction starts from southeastern Shanxi

As the signal flare sounded, the soldier responsible for detonating the explosives immediately pulled the fuse. At the same time, the artillerymen who had been waiting at the artillery position began to adjust the firing angle based on the observer's report.

As the explosives on the highway exploded, the Japanese defensive formation began to be disrupted. However, Nobuaki Ohno did not panic. He immediately ordered his soldiers to spread out to both sides of the highway and start a counterattack based on the terrain.

Because the terrain in this area has gentle and steep slopes and there are mostly rocky gullies on both sides of the road, the 20th Regiment has a lot of defensive space. Then the two sides started a fierce exchange of fire in this narrow section of road less than five kilometers long.

When Zhang Ziqing saw the Japanese army hiding in what they thought was a safe terrain, a sneer appeared on his face. He then ordered the soldiers to detonate the mines buried in advance on both sides. Suddenly, the casualties of the entire regiment increased sharply.

As the two sides continued to exchange fire, the special forces on the mountain began to call out the names of the Japanese light and heavy gunners one by one, and quickly suppressed the Japanese heavy firepower.

When Nobuaki Ohno saw this scene, he immediately realized that the enemy army had a large number of sharpshooters. At the same time, he knew that he had suffered a big setback because of underestimating the 389th Brigade. The firepower was almost catching up with one of his own brigades. He immediately led his troops to retreat and reported the situation to the First Army and the commander of the 19th Brigade in Shijiazhuang, Tatsumi Kusaba.

However, as the 3rd Battalion of the 83rd Regiment blocked the Japanese army's retreat route, the two regiments soon compressed the 20th Regiment into a narrow section under the eastern loess slope.

When Ohno Nobuaki saw this scene, he immediately realized that the Eighth Route Army in front of him had probably planned to encircle and annihilate him long ago, so he immediately ordered his troops to attack the Third Battalion of the 83rd Regiment that was blocking the road on the front line.

As the 20th Regiment concentrated its artillery fire and began to attack the 3rd Battalion's position, the 3rd Battalion's casualties began to increase. Zhang Ziqing, who was on the East Loess Slope, saw this scene and immediately ordered the 125th Regiment in Yujiazhuang to begin reinforcing the 3rd Battalion to prevent the Japanese army from breaking through.

As the artillery fire on the battlefield extended and the 125th Regiment joined, the Third Battalion quickly stabilized its blocking position, and the encirclement of the entire battlefield began to shrink.

Ohno Nobuaki, covered in dust and dirt, commanded his troops with a gloomy expression, mentally cursing the First Army from top to bottom. Amidst the gunfire, Ohno Nobuaki recognized the sounds of numerous Imperial-made light and heavy weapons, even the sound of Imperial 150mm mortars.

How many weapons and equipment did the fucking 389th Brigade seize from the Locust Army? Their firepower is even stronger than that of the Locust Army. I've never heard of the First Army losing a large amount of weapons, equipment and ammunition before.

However, Nobuaki Ohno could no longer wait for the answer he wanted. As the encirclement of the 389th Brigade gradually narrowed, Zhang Ziqing saw that the time was ripe and immediately ordered the bugler to blow the charge.

As the Eighth Route Army soldiers around them continued to attack and intersperse, the remaining forces of the 20th Regiment were soon surrounded into small groups. The soldiers, in groups of three, held rifles and stabbed at the Japanese army.

Seeing that the situation was completely irreversible, Ohno Nobuaki immediately regretted why he had underestimated the enemy and advanced rashly. He also understood why the commander of the First Army had issued such an outrageous marching order.

Afterwards, after burning the regiment flag and code book, Nobuaki Ohno led the regiment headquarters in a desperate attack, but was killed on the road by a soldier holding a machine gun.

12 noon, 389th Brigade Headquarters.

At this time, Zeng Jiwenzhen, Wang Zhuo and others were closely following the situation on the front line. To the west and south, the Japanese troops had been blocked in the designated mountainous areas by various regiments.

Afterwards, they received news from Zhang Ziqing and Zifeng that they were encircling and annihilating the 9th and 20th Regiments in the encirclement.

After receiving the news, Zeng Jiwen and others became excited. They immediately ordered the New 1st Regiment and its local militia guerrillas, which were lurking on the Zhengtai Line waiting for orders, to begin to capture Niangzi Pass and Yangquan according to the established plan, and to move south to occupy Pingding County, blocking the Independent Mixed 4th Brigade's way back for reinforcements.