nucmednet Chapter 182 Defeating the Tanaka Battalion
Chapter 182 Defeating the Tanaka Battalion
"Commander, Colonel Tanaka has sent a telegram inquiring about our situation," Staff Officer Ozawa reported as he ran over.
“Return the telegram to him: My unit is launching an attack on Sanjiaji, and the local militia is putting up a very strong resistance. Finally, have Colonel Tanaka report the situation on his side.” Masatoshi Ikeda replied after thinking for a moment.
"Hai." Staff Officer Ozawa immediately ran off to make the arrangements.
“Ikeda-kun, I have a feeling that things aren’t going well for Tanaka-kun?” Suzuki Ichiro suddenly said.
"I feel the same way, Suzuki-kun. If things were going well on his end, he wouldn't be sending me a telegram."
"Ikeda-kun, let me lead the next wave of attacks," Suzuki Ichiro continued to volunteer.
“Well, that’s fine then, Suzuki-kun. I’ll leave it to you.” Masaki Ikeda bowed to Ichiro Suzuki.
"Okay, I'll get ready now."
"Suzuki-kun, the puppet troops will fight alongside you and will be under your command."
"Okay." Suzuki Ichiro nodded and left.
Meanwhile, Tanaka Itsuki received a telegram from Ikeda Masaki.
"Officer Onimaru, what do you think?" Tanaka Itsuki asked.
"Colonel, as planned, we will join forces with two other battalions to besiege the Sanjiaji outpost, and then rendezvous with the Sakai Regiment from the south to wipe out the militia forces in Wolong Mountain."
"Now, our first step in the battle plan has encountered an unexpected situation. Our battalion is now trapped here and unable to reach Sanjiaji to join the other two Japanese battalions in attacking the militia's stronghold."
"Furthermore, Colonel Ikeda just telegraphed us saying that their attack has been stalled, so I boldly deduce that the militia's strength is greater than we anticipated."
"Given the current situation, we have no way to break through the enemy's defenses and rendezvous with the other troops in Sanjiaji."
Looking at the Imperial warriors who were defending and counterattacking, Tanaka Noboru nodded in agreement.
"Strategist Onimaru, what do you suggest we do?" Tanaka Itsuki asked.
"Colonel, let's retreat. We can launch a new attack once the Sakai Regiment from the south arrives. Our current stalemate here will not affect the overall situation."
"At present, Colonel Ikeda is unable to capture the Sanjiaji stronghold, and therefore cannot cooperate with us to eliminate the enemy in front of us."
"Yes, your analysis makes sense."
"Communications officer," Tanaka Itsuki called out.
"arrive."
"Send a telegram to Colonel Ikeda: Our advance has been stalled, and we are unable to reach Sanjiaji by the agreed time to jointly attack the enemy forces there. I suggest we halt our attack on Sanjiaji and wait until we rendezvous with Sakai's regiment before launching a joint attack," Ikeda Maken said.
"Officer Onimaru, organize the troops to retreat." Tanaka Itsuki immediately decided to order the retreat.
"Yes."
"Hmm, I have a feeling the Japanese are about to run away?" Niu Dali keenly sensed the changes on the battlefield.
"Communicator, order the platoon leader to attack!" Without hesitation, Niu Dali immediately deployed his trump card, Qin Yang.
"Company Commander Qin, the regimental commander has ordered your unit to launch an immediate attack!!" The communications officer ran over and quickly gave the order.
"Finally, it's my turn." Qin Yang rubbed his hands together excitedly. After he had increased their firepower, he could finally have a big fight!
"Let's go, let's go. I'm warning you beforehand, anyone who dares to drop the ball halfway through will be dealt with later!"
"Yes, sir!" a soldier from the First Company shouted.
"attack!"
Qin Yang commanded his troops to launch an attack on the Japanese.
The deputy company commander of the first company, accompanied by two communications soldiers, ran and laid telephone lines, stopping every now and then to call Company Commander Zheng of the mortar company behind them to report the first company's advancing position.
Meanwhile, Company Commander Zheng of the Second Artillery Company kept adjusting the angle of the artillery shells according to the positions reported by the deputy company commander.
Through close communication between the two, the mortar shells consistently landed at a distance of 50 meters.
They charged smoothly into the Japanese ranks under the cover of mortar fire.
"kill!"
Qin Yang shouted and began firing his submachine gun at the Japanese troops.
At this moment, in close-quarters combat, the advantages of submachine guns are fully demonstrated, and the German-made MP18 submachine gun shows its might in this situation.
The Japanese Type 38 rifles were no match for the submachine guns of the company in terms of rate of fire, and the Japanese suffered a great loss in direct confrontation.
The Japanese soldiers who had been fighting head-on fell one after another to the muzzle of a submachine gun.
"That was awesome! Awesome!" Qin Yang shouted with exhilaration.
"Colonel, something terrible has happened! The enemy is attacking!" Onimaru ran over and said.
"What?! What's going on?" Tanaka Itsuki asked hurriedly.
"Colonel, the enemy suddenly sent out a unit with overwhelming firepower, and the other units were scattered by them."
"I have no way to organize a large-scale retreat!"
"Withdraw! Signal for retreat!" Tanaka Itsuki, who was already preparing to retreat, immediately began to retreat upon seeing this.
Staff Officer Onimaru hurriedly ordered the only remaining intact Japanese company in the vicinity to retreat towards the river mouth stronghold.
There are rebuilt fortifications there, which can be used for defensive operations.
As Tanaka Itsuki gave the signal to retreat, the remaining kids fought individually, retreating while still fighting.
"Qin Yang, well done." Looking at the First Company, which was wreaking havoc among the Japanese troops, Niu Dali nodded in satisfaction.
"Launch a general offensive!" Niu Dali immediately gave the order.
Strike while the iron is hot! Niu Dali couldn't miss such a good opportunity.
"Yes."
Then, as three green signal flares rose into the air, the militia soldiers who were originally on both sides jumped out of the trenches and rushed towards the Japanese soldiers in the middle.
"Kill, kill, kill!"
The shouts of battle were deafening!
The Japanese soldiers who couldn't retreat in time fell one after another on their escape route.
The militia soldiers chased for two miles before reluctantly stopping under Niu Dali's orders.
"Battalion Commander, why did you stop?" Qin Yang ran over and asked, having been having a great time killing people.
"We have achieved our objective and crippled this Japanese unit. Don't forget we have a new mission to complete, so we need to save time."
"understood."
"Lian Sheng, you're in charge of cleaning up the battlefield. We're leaving." Niu Dali gave his final order.
"Okay, everything went smoothly."
"Ah."
"Let's go." After the reconnaissance battalion had assembled, Niu Dali walked along the mountain path towards Wolong County.
The remaining battalion and the fourth battalion, after clearing the battlefield, immediately carried out new tasks according to the established mission plan.
Tanaka, who had retreated to the Hekou stronghold, immediately reported the news of his battalion's defeat to the Taiyuan headquarters.
"Reporting to the Commander, the Taiyuan Command has ordered our troops to cease their offensive and await reinforcements from the Sakai Regiment."
"What?" Masaki Ikeda looked at the contents of the telegram again and again, somewhat incredulous.
"Immediately send a telegram to the Taiyuan Command to inquire about the reason."
"Hay."
"Staff Officer Ozawa, notify Colonel Suzuki to halt the attack."
"Hay."
This time, Ichiro Suzuki was commanding troops to launch wave after wave of attacks on the Sanjiaji defensive positions.
With the Japanese soldiers personally involved this time, the pressure on the entire Sanjiaji defense line increased dramatically.
Tang Xiaohu had originally ordered the concealed heavy machine gun positions to join the battle and suppress the Japanese attack.
Meanwhile, the grenade launcher squads in the attacking Japanese troops launched a counterattack against the militia's heavy firepower positions.
The two heavy machine gun positions that had not been quickly relocated were destroyed by the Japanese mortar crew, causing Tang Xiaohu to grimace in pain.
"What are you doing in the 3rd Artillery Company? Did you eat the sorghum rice for lunch for nothing? You can't even suppress the Japanese grenade launchers!"
"Battalion Commander, we..." The 3rd Artillery Company Commander was about to explain when Tang Xiaohu interrupted him.
"I don't need your explanation. I only care about the results. If we don't win this battle, I'll dismiss you!" Tang Xiaohu said sternly.
"Yes, Battalion Commander. If I don't perform well, you can relieve me of my command!"
"Fine!" Tang Xiaohu angrily hung up the phone.
"Battalion Commander, the Japanese have retreated!" the deputy battalion commander hurriedly said.
"Hmm, what's going on? The Japanese have a huge advantage right now, why are they suddenly retreating?"
Tang Xiaohu picked up his binoculars and indeed saw that over ten thousand Japanese soldiers were retreating in an orderly manner.