usatvline Chapter 269: Capture the City Wall and Enter the City
Chapter 269: Capture the City Wall and Enter the City
At the Japanese headquarters in Ping'an City, the atmosphere was so solemn that it seemed as if water could drip out.
The adjutant looked nervous and walked hurriedly to the division commander Nakayama Aoki.
"Report to the division commander!"
"The Eighth Route Army outside the city has occupied the outer positions. Our soldiers stationed there suffered heavy casualties, and only less than 500 people managed to retreat back into the city."
"idiot!"
Nakayama Aoki's face was gloomy and he growled angrily.
His knuckles turned white from the force of his clenched fists.
"Order all troops in the city to prepare for battle immediately. We will fight the enemy to the bitter end!"
"Hayi!"
The adjutant accepted the order, then turned around and quickly left the command center to convey this final order.
After the Japanese soldiers in the city learned the news, they began to prepare their defense line even more desperately.
They brought sandbags and piled them up to form simple shelters; they set up countless traps on the streets, hoping to stop the attack of the Eighth Route Army.
The Eighth Route Army outside the city did not immediately launch an attack after occupying the outer positions.
They set up a temporary command post on the battlefield, and the officers gathered around the map to discuss the next tactics.
Nakayama Aoki sat upright in the chair of the command center, tightly grasping the command knife that he never left behind.
He had prepared for the worst and even had a farewell telegram ready in advance.
He knew that the fate of the 103rd Division depended on this battle.
The fate of Ping An City will be determined by the next battle.
This will be a difficult and bloody battle for both the Eighth Route Army and the Japanese.
the other side.
On the position outside the city, the soldiers of the independent brigade were replenishing their ammunition and recovering their strength. The subsequent siege would be more intense.
Zhang Dabiao walked on the battlefield to encourage the soldiers. He was also well aware that the upcoming battle would be a test for many new recruits. They did not encounter strong resistance from the Japanese when occupying the positions outside the city, so the new recruits felt good about themselves.
But the coming siege will be extremely brutal. Zhang Dabiao is very clear about this. The last street fighting in Yangquan is still fresh in his memory. The madness of the Japs in the city was unimaginable. The regiment paid a heavy price that time.
...........
In the afternoon, the sun was high in the sky.
At this time, Li Yunlong stood in the command center with a firm look in his eyes, and gave the order to attack the city without hesitation.
As the order was issued, the regiments of the independent brigade took quick action, like a well-trained army, working closely together and in an orderly manner.
The first to launch the attack was the regiment's mortar battalion, whose mission was to suppress the enemy's firepower points and open up a path for follow-up troops.
At the same time, other troops were also ready, waiting for the opportunity to attack at any time.
However, surprisingly, the artillery regiment did not participate in the bombardment.
It turned out that the purpose of the independent column was to capture Ping An City, not to destroy it.
If large-caliber artillery were used, it would lead to the destruction of the city walls, which was inconsistent with their strategic goals.
Therefore, they chose mortars as their main weapon. Although their power was relatively small, it was enough to threaten the enemies on the city walls while avoiding causing too much damage to the city walls.
For a moment, intensive artillery fire rang out on the battlefield. Hundreds of mortars fired at the same time, spewing thick smoke and flames from the muzzles, creating a spectacular scene.
The shells flew towards the city wall like raindrops, drawing graceful arcs in the air, and then accurately landed on the enemy's firing points on the city wall, triggering a series of explosions.
In an instant, flames shot up into the sky and smoke filled the city walls.
The Japanese soldiers on the city wall were killed one after another, and their figures disappeared instantly in the explosion.
Some Japanese soldiers were blown directly and fell from the city wall about 10 meters high, dying on the spot. There was no possibility of survival at all.
Some of the Japanese soldiers were not killed by the explosion, but were maimed. They groaned in pain, and the screams and groans of the Japanese soldiers could be heard everywhere on the city walls.
The soldiers of the independent brigade took the opportunity to launch an attack. The sound of charge horns rang out everywhere on the battlefield. The passionate sound seemed to inject powerful motivation into the soldiers.
Tens of thousands of soldiers rushed towards Ping An City like a tide, and their figures appeared particularly determined in the sunlight.
"Go ahead, comrades."
"Go into Ping An City and wipe out the Japanese devils."
The soldiers' shouts and cries shook the earth, as if they were going to completely drown the enemy.
The Japanese soldiers on the city wall fired desperately, trying to resist the attack of the independent brigade, but to no avail.
The machine gun fire points on the city wall were basically destroyed. The Japanese who lost their machine guns had no chance of defending the city wall with their Type 38 rifles.
They were pinned down on the city walls by machine gunners from each regiment and dared not show their heads.
A regiment of soldiers quickly rushed to the city gate. The Japanese soldiers hiding on the city wall secretly threw grenades down. The sudden attack injured several soldiers.
Zhang Dabiao shouted loudly: "Demolition man, come on, blow up the city gate."
There was anger and determination in his voice.
"Yes, Captain."
"Demoman, follow me."
The demolition team rushed to the city gate carrying explosives in the hail of bullets. Their figures shuttled across the battlefield like fearless warriors.
Place the explosive pack under the city gate, quickly ignite the fuse, and then the demolition team quickly hide behind the city wall.
"Boom."
After a loud explosion, the gate of Heian City collapsed.
Almost at the same time, explosions were heard from other directions, and two other regiments were also blasting the city gates.
Seeing that the city gate had been breached, Zhang Dabiao's eyes sparkled with excitement and he shouted loudly: "Comrades, the city gate has been opened.
Rush in, destroy the Japs, and occupy the city wall."
A group of soldiers swarmed in from the city gate, their figures were like a surging torrent, unstoppable.
The Japanese behind the city wall fired desperately and bullets flew like raindrops, but the soldiers of the regiment were not afraid and launched a fierce charge.
The Japanese soldiers behind the city wall were killed one by one, and their bodies lay in disorder on the ground.
The soldiers quickly rushed up the city wall and started fighting with the Japanese on the wall. Fierce gunfire continued to ring out.
The Japanese soldiers on the city wall fought desperately, but they could not withstand the attack of the soldiers and were killed one after another.
After each regiment entered Ping'an City, they quickly organized their troops to attack the city.
Their figures shuttled through the streets like a group of fearless warriors.
The Japanese soldiers in the city hid in buildings and crazily fired at the soldiers of the independent brigade. The sudden attack was hard to defend against.
For a time, the number of casualties in each regiment continued to increase. The new recruits had never fought in street fighting, so they were very panicked when facing the Japanese sneak attacks and cold gunshots.
He took every step carefully, for fear of being shot by the enemy.
Their eyes were filled with tension and fear, but under the leadership of the veterans, they gradually calmed down and bravely joined the battle.