Resistance against Japan: Starting with the local militia

Chapter 127 Troublesome Puppet Army

"Reporting to Deputy Commander Zhang, the commander is asking about our current situation?"

"Reply: All units of my department have entered attack positions and have completed the encirclement of the Sanjiaji stronghold. My department is about to launch an attack on the Sanjiaji stronghold," Zhang Haoshan said succinctly.

"Yes, Vice Captain."

"Communicator, inform Battalion Commander Tang to launch an artillery barrage on the Sanjiaji stronghold in 10 minutes and destroy the Japanese fortifications."

"Yes, Vice Captain."

"Fifth Company Commander, Sixth Company Commander, the main attack mission is now in your hands," Zhang Haoshan said, staring at the two men in front of him.

"Deputy Commander Zhang, I guarantee the mission will be accomplished."

"Alright, after the shelling ends, your two companies will immediately launch an attack on the Japanese. The Seventh and Eighth Companies will then launch a feint attack from the flanks to cover your advance."

"Yes."

"The shelling is about to begin. You all go down and prepare."

"It's alright, Deputy Regiment Commander Zhang." After saying that, the two left the pre-battle command post.

Zhang Haoshan picked up his binoculars to examine the Japanese troops at the Sanjiaji stronghold in the distance. Sure enough, the Japanese troops at the stronghold were on high alert. The Japanese soldiers who usually patrolled outside were now on patrol, and the stronghold itself was heavily guarded, ready to fight.

"A sneak attack is out of the question; we'll have to attack head-on." Zhang Haotian sighed softly.

"Fire!" With Tang Xiaolong's order, the three Type 92 infantry guns of the artillery battalion launched an attack on the Japanese stronghold.

Tang Xiaolong had already scouted the target points for this attack well in advance, and the target list had been marked out. The artillery would then bombard the target area, ensuring that the target was hit exactly where it was pointed.

Ten minutes later, all of the Japanese surface fortifications had been destroyed by the artillery battalion. The moment the militia's artillery fire ceased, the soldiers of the Fifth and Sixth Companies charged towards the Japanese positions like tigers descending a mountain.

The soldiers of the Fifth and Sixth Companies did not launch a blind attack, but instead, as they had been trained, they covered and cooperated with each other, taking down the remaining Japanese strongpoints one by one. Meanwhile, the soldiers of the Seventh and Eighth Companies continuously launched feint attacks on the flanks, drawing away the Japanese troops who were defending.

In a short time, the militia soldiers on the Sanjiaji battlefield were unstoppable.

"Damn it, this is what fighting is all about!" Zhang Haoshan exclaimed excitedly, slapping his thigh as he looked at the militia soldiers in front of him.

"With such a force, how can we not eliminate the enemy's supply lines?" Zhang Haotian looked up and wept.

"Deputy Regiment Commander, I didn't believe in the fighting capabilities of this unit before, but today's battle has left me utterly impressed," Staff Officer Sun exclaimed.

"I never imagined we'd have such a satisfying day fighting the Japanese devils." Staff Officer Sun couldn't help but shed tears as he thought of how many Sichuan soldiers had sacrificed their lives in the face of the Japanese.

"Alright, continue commanding the battle. It looks like the battle will be over soon." Zhang Haoshan observed the changes on the battlefield; the Japanese counterattacks were getting weaker and weaker.

"Yes, Vice Captain."

In Lijia Gou, Tang Xiaohu also engaged in combat with the vanguard of the Japanese army.

"Reporting to the Commander, we have been ambushed by the enemy. The advance reconnaissance team has been completely wiped out."

"I understand." Masatoshi Ikeda waved his hand, signaling him to leave.

"Commander Gou, it's your turn to attack, First Regiment of the Imperial Army. Do your best, I have high hopes for you." Ikeda Maken patted Gou Dongxi on the shoulder.

"Yes, Commander, please rest assured." After saying this, Gou Dongxi led the puppet army to prepare for the attack.

"Battalion Commander, look who that is," the Second Company Commander said to Tang Xiaohu.

"Oh, let me see. I didn't expect that traitor Gou Dongxi is still alive. That kid is really lucky." Tang Xiaohu looked disappointed. Why didn't they kill him in the last ambush at Liujiagou?

"Second Company Commander, we didn't treat him well last time, so you'd better make sure to give him a proper welcome this time."

"Battalion Commander, no problem, the landmines we've planted are enough to give them a hard time," the Second Company Commander sneered.

"Second Company Commander, did you notice? This time, the puppet troops' attack was quite methodical, managing to take out three or four of the Japanese soldiers. It seems this puppet army has had a lot of training."

"Battalion Commander, it seems this new Japanese commander is no pushover."

"Yes, after this battle, we'll relay this important intelligence to the regimental commander."

"Now this gang of puppet troops is all in your hands."

"Just you wait, Battalion Commander, my landmines weren't planted for nothing." The Second Company Commander ran towards the front line.

"Hold your ground, let the puppet troops in before you attack," the second company commander said as he moved through the trenches.

"Yes, Captain."

"Yes, platoon leader."

"Company commander, these puppet troops have entered the minefield we set up," the platoon leader said.

"Alright, give me Lare, let them see what we're made of."

"Yes, platoon leader." After saying that, the platoon leader decisively pulled the pin and detonated a minefield that had been laid in advance. At that moment, the puppet troops in the minefield were hit by a big jackpot, and one by one they were blown to the ground by the mines.

The puppet troops who were hit by the landmines did not immediately retreat and flee as before. Instead, after the chaos that had just occurred, they reorganized their formation and attacked the militia's position.

"Commander Ikeda is truly a genius. He has trained this group of puppet troops to be completely different from before," Gou Dongxi said with a smug look from behind.

"Awesome, really awesome! This is what fighting a war should be like! Commander Ikeda actually entrusted this unit to my command; he's practically treating me like one of his own." Gou Dongxi couldn't stop smiling as he thought about it.

"Jia Chusheng, don't even think about shitting on my head in this lifetime, hmph."

"Fire!" Seeing that the puppet troops had not retreated, the second company commander ordered his soldiers to open fire. In an instant, the battlefield was filled with a hail of bullets.

Tang Xiaohu's heart tightened when he saw this scene through the telescope.

"This is troublesome. There are too many people on the other side. Even the puppet troops are so difficult to fight." Now Tang Xiaohu can only hope that the regimental commander can lead the transport troops to retreat quickly from the Wolong Mountain area.

Seeing that the Second Company was locked in combat with the puppet troops, Tang Xiaohu immediately notified the artillery company to provide fire support to the Second Company.

"Boom, boom, boom, boom."

With the sound of mortar shells exploding, the puppet army's attack formation was instantly broken up.

"Retreat!" Gou Dongxi hurriedly ordered the attacking puppet troops to retreat immediately.

"Very good, the enemy's artillery has finally come out." Ikeda Masatoshi was pleased rather than angry when he saw the enemy's artillery fire.

"Notify the artillery squad to locate the enemy's artillery positions and destroy them!" Masatoshi Ikeda immediately issued the order.

"Yes."

"Battalion Commander, these puppet troops are acting like madmen, why are they fighting us to the death?" The Second Company Commander walked over.

"What are the casualties?"

"One squad of soldiers was killed, and another squad of about one squad of soldiers was rendered incapable of fighting."

"Move the wounded out immediately. We need to be prepared to retreat at any time. This battle will not be easy."

"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!" Suddenly, Tang Xiaohu heard the sound of cannonballs whistling through the air and hurriedly shouted.

"Take cover, the Japanese are shelling."

However, the Japanese shells did not land on the Second Company's position, but rather behind it, which was the location of the mortar position.

"Damn it, this is bad!" Tang Xiaohu hurriedly ran towards the mortar position.