A Journey Through the Flames of War in the Republican Era

The two battalions of the 522nd Regiment held their ground and resisted the enemy, while the three infantry companies of the entire battalion, arranged in a flexible defense with two in front and one behind, strengthened the defensive depth and formed a comprehensive crossfire.

The area is densely covered with minefields, barbed wire, and rock piles, and is equipped with a combination of long-range and short-range firepower from mortars and heavy machine guns, providing comprehensive blocking and lethal fire.

The two companies serving as the first defensive echelon, supported by mortars and heavy machine guns, inflicted casualties on the Japanese troops with firepower, preventing their assault and breakthrough. The reserve company provided fire support to the first echelon companies, and when the Japanese made a breakthrough, it tightly sealed off the breach, preventing the enemy from penetrating deep into the defensive lines and ensuring the safety of the flanks and rear.

Song Hongfei had to admit that the Japanese soldiers were indeed well-trained, with high tactical skills and a very high level of expertise, and they fought extremely cleverly and cunningly. Once they encountered our army's strongholds during the attack, they would immediately take cover with skillful tactical maneuvers, waiting for the Type 92 infantry guns to fire directly at them, or have the grenade launcher teams advancing with the attacking detachment destroy the exposed strongholds of our army.

The Japanese grenade launchers had a wide firing angle and a curved trajectory, resulting in a much greater explosive force than hand grenades, making them highly lethal to personnel without cover. They were easy to carry and operate, allowing them to accompany frontline infantry units. While their effective range was shorter than that of mortars, it far exceeded that of hand grenades. Their flexibility and concealment were particularly strong; concealed firing often made them difficult to detect, posing a significant challenge to our forces.

Each Japanese infantry squad had a grenade launcher platoon, equipped with three grenade launchers. Our army, at the company level, had no comparable weapons. Even the elite Central Army only had two 82mm mortars at the battalion level. Although mortars had a much greater range and power than grenade launchers, our army was at a significant firepower disadvantage against the Japanese battalion's two infantry guns and the numerous grenade launchers in each infantry platoon.

Once our machine gun fire was suppressed and destroyed by the Japanese grenade launchers, they immediately used light and heavy machine guns to suppress the enemy, and the attacking detachments launched a rapid assault.

"Report to the regimental commander, four Japanese armored vehicles and a large number of infantrymen are flanking our right flank from the starting position!" The forward position reported the Japanese tactical deployment to the 522nd Regiment headquarters.

This situation moved Wang Youping, Liu Anqi, Yi Anhua, and others, who immediately sensed the gravity of the situation.

The Japanese army's tactic of flanking attacks on the flanks was very effective against the National Revolutionary Army, whose tactical thinking was always outdated and rigid. Whenever the two sides were locked in a stalemate on the front, the Japanese army would launch a flanking maneuver, which would often cause the Chinese army's battle lines to waver and ultimately force them to retreat. The Japanese army's tactic was basically accurate every time.

Especially since the Japanese army also deployed armored vehicles for the coordinated attack, the officers of the 87th Division couldn't help but feel tense. Since the start of the war, the National Revolutionary Army, which was poorly equipped with anti-tank weapons, had suffered a lot from the Japanese tanks and inevitably developed a bit of "tank phobia".

Song Hongfei was also somewhat caught off guard. He did not expect that the Ito Brigade would launch a massive attack with almost all its might, with three companies launching a fierce assault at the same time.

He had to make corresponding adjustments to his deployment in response to the Japanese army's tactics.

"The 37mm anti-tank guns positioned on the front are heavy and difficult to move, and they are also under close surveillance by the Japanese army." Song Hongfei thought to himself that he had to find another way.

宋鸿飞对王又平道：“调一个‘民24’式高射机枪连、预备队3营的高射型机枪到右翼，配上钢芯穿甲弹！隐蔽屯兵于右翼2营侧后方的3营2个连做好战斗准备，并派一个连前出加强右翼防御。”

He continued, "Remember to position the anti-aircraft machine guns for side-firing, targeting the weak points of enemy armored vehicles such as the side armor, engine compartment, driver's compartment, observation windows, and tires!"

The Type 24 heavy-duty anti-aircraft machine gun is equipped with an extended heavy barrel, which can fully utilize the power of the German-made SMK armor-piercing rounds and effectively penetrate a 10mm homogeneous steel target plate at a distance of 200 meters.

Song Hongfei didn't remember the exact armor thickness of the Japanese Type 93 armored vehicle, but estimated it to be about 6-8 millimeters on the front. He knew that the Japanese high-carbon steel armor was much stronger than ordinary steel plates, so he specifically instructed them to attack the weak points on the sides.

However, firing at enemy armored vehicles at close range requires immense courage from machine gunners. The most crucial point is to isolate the enemy armored vehicles from the infantry and cut off the infantry's connection with the armored vehicles, which necessitates careful deployment of troops and firepower.

Song Hongfei added, "Order the right-wing mountain artillery company and mortar company to be ready to fire at any time, concentrate firepower to cover the area around the vehicles, so that the enemy infantry dare not approach the armored vehicles and cannot coordinate their operations!"

Yi Anhua, the commander of the 522nd Regiment, immediately organized the battalions and companies to deploy according to Song Hongfei's battle plan.

Japanese battalion commander Ito Hiroshi knew he was cornered. If he couldn't capture the positions ahead, the very positions he had taken at great cost would likely be lost. Under the hysterical orders of his officers, the Japanese soldiers launched several "human bomb attacks" while howling wildly.

The Sakamoto Company provided fire support with grenade launchers and heavy machine guns overtaking our original outposts, and it seemed that they could launch a frontal attack or flank maneuver at any time, which would greatly increase the defensive pressure on our positions.

The continuous grenade launcher and machine gun fire from the Japanese army caused heavy casualties to our army. Our soldiers were constantly hit in the fierce firefights. Shrapnel and flesh flew everywhere in the trenches. The medics who were constantly running around to carry the wounded were also often hit and fell to the ground.

On the front lines, Zhu Yimin, the company commander of the 1st Company, Huang Zhengxian, the company commander of the 2nd Company, Fang Chengyuan, the company commander of the 4th Company, and Luo Jincheng, the company commander of the 6th Company, took the lead, determined to live and die with their positions. Waving their MP28 submachine guns, they shouted, "We swear to die for our country! Brothers, hold on! Hold on for us!" and led their men in a fierce battle against the enemy, fighting to the death without retreating.

From the occupied positions to the front lines of our army, a distance of 400 meters, the Japanese Ito Battalion had to pay a huge price for every step forward, but their fearless attack had brought them close to the point where they could throw grenades at each other.

The fierce battle quickly escalated to a fever pitch, with soldiers on both sides displaying a fearless spirit. The two armies clashed violently, rendering their artillery fire ineffective.

Soldiers from both sides fought fiercely in the trenches. Our MP28 submachine guns and Mauser fire-control guns fully utilized the powerful firepower advantage of automatic weapons in close combat, and the fierce rain of bullets caused the charging Japanese soldiers to be torn to pieces.

Two powerful armies of the same skin color, different ethnicities, different languages, and different purposes clashed head-on, but when they were hit, the blood flowing from their bodies was the same color!

Bayonets, stones, entrenching tools, rifle butts, teeth—everything that could be used as a weapon was put to use.

Some of our seriously wounded soldiers, who didn't have time to retreat, even carried cluster grenades and roared as they used their last strength to rush into the Japanese formation, clinging tightly to the Japanese soldiers. Blood, flesh, and blood mist flew into the air with the loud explosion!

This horrific scene terrified both Nakata and Inoue, who were wielding their swords and directing the attack.

"The morale is soaring, the soldiers are fighting with their lives on the line!" The officers in the 87th Division command post, who had been closely observing the battle situation, were deeply moved.

Song Hongfei was already in tears. He had only read about such heroic deeds in war history materials before, and he was deeply moved at the time. However, written materials could not express such a magnificent scene. But now, being there in person, the heroic deeds of the Chinese martyrs who bravely sacrificed their lives were vividly happening before his eyes.

Song Hongfei murmured to himself, "Our soldiers are so great! They are the warriors of our Chinese nation, the heroes of our people! With such heroes, we will never be defeated!"

Song Hongfei became even more determined: "We must not let the blood of our heroes be shed in vain! We must make Japan pay for its blood debt!"

The battlefield was like a hellish scene, littered with the corpses of soldiers from both sides.

Our reserve 3rd and 5th companies, which were second-line troops, organized elite troops to launch multiple counterattacks, and the Japanese army was unable to penetrate our deep positions.

The Nakata and Inoue companies, which were launching a frontal attack, were having a terrible time. They had never seen such a persistent Chinese army! They couldn't break through or shake them off, and they had to be constantly on guard against being bitten back!

Just as fierce fighting was taking place on the main front, gunfire suddenly erupted on the right flank as the Nomura Company, which was making a flanking attack, and Japanese tanks approached, launching a fierce assault supported by dense grenade launchers and heavy machine gun fire.

Yi Hua'an ordered: "Mountain guns and mortars to cover the enemy armored convoy!"

The heavy machine guns were also firing at long range, with dense bullets clanging against the armor plates. However, the standard-length barrels lacked the penetrating power to penetrate the Japanese armor at long distances.

Japanese Navy armored vehicle commander Lieutenant Kameda said smugly, "Like a mantis trying to stop a chariot, like an egg striking a rock!"

However, the Nomura squadron soldiers who were hiding behind the vehicle and following the attack discovered that the armored vehicle had become the enemy's target of concentrated fire. Shells were constantly falling and exploding around the vehicle. Hiding behind the vehicle did not save them. Only by staying away from the armored vehicle could they be safe!

Lieutenant Kameda was furious. He leaned out and shouted at the soldiers of Nomura's squadron to keep up with the tanks and protect them!

But no matter how much it yelled, no one paid any attention. The army soldiers had long disliked the arrogant navy idiot. Even the domineering battalion commander had been humiliated by this Kameda. The soldiers of the Ito Battalion kept their distance from this plague god.

Moreover, the Chinese army's artillery fire is now clearly aimed specifically at armored vehicles. Who would be so foolish as to jump into a fire pit?

The soldiers of Nomura's squadron pretended not to hear Kameda's hysterical shouts and kept their distance.

"Bagaya road!"

Kameda was furious, but there was nothing he could do.

His current situation is very difficult. He can neither retreat nor stop. If he stops, he will become a target for the enemy's precise artillery fire. At this moment, he has no choice but to grit his teeth and go on.

The irritable Kameda cursed the army as idiots, thinking that he would vent his anger after taking the positions ahead.

The Japanese formations became scattered and disorganized, with no longer any coordinated attack formations.

Song Hongfei, who had been observing through binoculars from a distance, noticed something amiss. The Japanese army's use of armored forces was still limited to supporting infantry. He sneered arrogantly, "The Japanese army's combined arms tactics are nothing special!"

Japanese armored vehicles and infantry had to be constantly on guard against and evade our blocking artillery fire. Their attention and firepower were drawn to the frontal positions, and they did not notice at all that our anti-aircraft machine guns on the right flank and rear had already moved into position with the help of the terrain and vegetation. The carefully arranged flanking firing positions were well concealed, and the Japanese would hardly be able to detect them unless they got very close.

"The Japanese devils want to outflank our right flank, so we'll launch an even bigger outflank!"

Wang Youping and the others also felt much more relaxed.

While closely observing the movements of the Japanese troops, a staff officer kept whispering, "It's almost here, it's almost here! The Japanese armored vehicles are about to enter our ambush zone!"