Resistance against Japan: Starting with the local militia

Chapter 129 The Fall of Lijia Gou

In an instant, the militia soldiers in the makeshift light machine gun squad at the front of the position picked up their light machine guns and opened fire at full force, shooting at the Japanese soldiers. The Japanese soldiers charging at the front were suppressed for a time.

This team truly lived up to its reputation as the elite of the Japanese forces; they did not suffer significant casualties in the recent defensive battle fought by the local militia.

When attacked, the Japanese troops quickly took cover and provided mutual cover, and then launched a counterattack against the militia soldiers.

Meanwhile, the heavy machine guns that the Japanese troops set up immediately behind the lines provided suppressive fire on the militia's positions.

"Damn, no wonder they're the Japanese from the 5th Division. We've finally met our match." Tang Xiaohu patted his clothes, which were covered in dirt from the Japanese grenades.

"Now it all depends on the artillery company. I wonder if these little devils will like the gift I prepared for them." Tang Xiaohu had just finished speaking when he heard the sound of mortar shells whistling through the air.

"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh."

"Fire!"

"Fire!" The artillery company commander urged his soldiers to fire shells at the Japanese attacking positions.

The dense barrage of mortar shells exploded among the attacking Japanese troops. Due to the small size of the battlefield and the high density of mortar shells, the Japanese were left with nowhere to hide and had to keep taking cover.

The militia soldiers seized the opportunity and fired wildly at the hiding Japanese soldiers. The bullets fired by the militia were like the Grim Reaper, reaping the filthy souls of the Japanese soldiers piece by piece.

"Baka yarou!" Ikeda Maken, who had been confident of victory, cursed angrily upon seeing the scene unfolding on the battlefield.

"The enemy is cunning."

At this moment, Masatoshi Ikeda realized that the enemy had not used mortars during the previous attack by the puppet troops, creating the illusion that the enemy's artillery had been destroyed.

Then, taking advantage of his disregard for enemy artillery fire, he launched an attack on Imperial Army soldiers, catching them off guard.

"Order a retreat." Seeing the situation before him, Masatoshi Ikeda had no choice but to order the attacking Japanese soldiers to retreat and prepare for the next attack.

"Heh heh, you've successfully caught my attention, and the next attack will be your annihilation," Masato Ikeda sneered.

"Battalion Commander, the Japanese are trying to escape."

"Soldiers, charge!" Tang Xiaohu couldn't miss such a good opportunity and immediately organized the remaining soldiers to launch a counter-charge.

"Charge! Kill those Japanese devils!"

"You little devil, Grandpa's here."

The militia members were filled with righteous indignation and charged towards the retreating Japanese soldiers.

Seeing that less than a squad of Japanese soldiers had run out of attack range, Tang Xiaohu stopped ordering the attack and immediately organized the soldiers to retreat.

"Second Company Commander, you stay on the position to set up booby traps, the rest of you come with me to evacuate the position."

"Yes, Battalion Commander."

Seeing that less than a small squad of Japanese soldiers had survived, Masato Ikeda's eyes blazed with fury.

"Artillery, fire immediately! Aoki Company, you attack immediately! You must take this position!" Ikeda Maken glared fiercely; this time, he was truly enraged.

"Yes, Your Excellency, Commander."

"Boom. Boom. Boom!" Explosions rang out again on the militia's defensive position, but the position was now deserted.

Tang Xiaohu, who was retreating and preparing to rejoin Li Debao and Zhou Liansheng, heard the explosion that followed and laughed:

"Hahaha, you little devils, go ahead and bomb, bomb as many as you want, the better."

"Soldiers, retreat immediately!" Tang Xiaohu urged the soldiers to retreat.

"Attack! Attack!" Under the command of Company Commander Aoki, the Japanese soldiers of Aoki's company covered each other during their attack, maintaining sufficient distance between adjacent attacking units to avoid being hit by enemy artillery fire.

However, what intrigued Captain Aoki was that the company had not encountered any enemy resistance along the way. But Captain Aoki became even more cautious, fearing that the enemy might be lying in ambush and launching a sudden attack.

"All squads, be on high alert and guard against enemy ambushes," Captain Aoki ordered.

"Yes, squad leader."

It wasn't until the Aoki Company planted their battle flag on the position defended by the militia that Company Commander Aoki realized the enemy had already retreated.

"Check the situation immediately," Captain Aoki ordered.

"Yes, squad leader."

Just as the Aoki Squadron was checking the situation, a series of explosions suddenly rang out all around. It was the booby traps that the Second Company had set up before leaving that had been detonated by the detectives.

"Lie down!" Captain Aoki shouted immediately.

Seeing more than a dozen Japanese soldiers lying on the ground groaning in pain, Company Commander Aoki cursed angrily.

"Cease reconnaissance and immediately take the wounded back."

"Yes."

So Squadron Aoki immediately returned, and Squadron Leader Aoki reported to Masato Ikeda.

"Reporting to the Commander, the enemy has retreated. Our troops encountered no resistance and successfully occupied the enemy's position."

"What caused the explosions on the position just now?" Masatoshi Ikeda asked.

"Reporting to the Commander, it was an accidental detonation of a landmine planted by the enemy."

"Damn it, this team is too cunning." Masato Ikeda slammed his fist on the hood of the car next to him.

"Order the mine-clearing team to immediately begin mine-clearing operations."

"Order the engineers to quickly repair the road, and then we will set off immediately."

"We've already wasted three hours here!" Masaki Ikeda shouted angrily.

"Aoki Company, you will assist the engineers in road repairs," Masato Ikeda then issued the order.

"Yes, Your Excellency, Commander."

With the cooperation of the Aoki Company, the Japanese engineers finally cleared the road after an hour of emergency repairs. Ikeda Masaki then led his troops to continue their attack toward Sanjiaji.

"Report, Commander, urgent telegram from Tang Xiaohu." Tang Weiguo, who was also on an urgent march toward the Sanjiaji outpost, received the telegram from Tang Xiaohu.

"read."

"Commander, the Japanese have broken through the Lijia Gou defense line. Li Debao and Zhou Liansheng have already established a second line of defense along the Juma River. I am rushing to join them."

"This Japanese unit truly lives up to its reputation as a product of the Fifth Division; they broke through the Lijia Gou defense line so quickly," Tang Weiguo said.

"Commander, we need to abandon our supplies and retreat first. This will greatly increase our marching speed and allow us to return to Wolong Mountain via the Sanjiaji stronghold sooner."

"No need for now. Let's proceed according to the original plan. I trust Tang Xiaohu and his men, and I believe the militia soldiers will be able to complete the blocking mission," Tang Weiguo affirmed.

"Since the frontline troops risked their lives to buy us time for transportation, we must speed up and get through Sanjiaji as soon as possible."

"Yes, Commander, I'll arrange it immediately."