Resistance against Japan: Starting with the local militia

Chapter 212 Repelling the Japanese Invaders

The battle escalated rapidly from the outset. The second company commander led his troops in a fierce and relentless assault.

Thanks to the batch of light machine guns that Tang Weiguo had equipped the Second Battalion with before the war, the Second Company's firepower was in no way inferior to that of the Japanese.

The second company commander led his men in a charge for a while, and the Japanese artillery defensive positions, which had been carefully designed, were in grave danger. Soon, a breach appeared in the Japanese artillery positions.

To prevent the Japanese from resorting to desperate measures and destroying the Type 92 infantry guns on the position, the 2nd Company Commander decisively led his platoon to immediately penetrate through the gap in the Japanese lines.

After the 2nd Company Commander led his men to charge, the Japanese defenses completely collapsed. However, the Japanese soldiers on the position did not retreat or flee; instead, they held their guns and fought the 2nd Company soldiers with bayonets.

The soldiers of the Second Company were fearless. After long-term bayonet training, their tactics were in no way inferior to those of the Japanese.

At this moment, the 2nd Company Commander did not order his soldiers to fight the Japanese soldiers individually. Instead, he relied on their numerical advantage, having two soldiers fight the Japanese together. This maximized the use of their numerical superiority in the battle.

There is no fairness in war; to be merciful to the enemy is to be cruel to oneself.

On the other two Japanese artillery positions, two other companies, just like the Second Company, had already broken into the Japanese positions and were engaged in close combat with the Japanese.

The alarms warning of an attack on the artillery positions continued to sound. Matsukawa Maki, who was directing the battle at the front, heard the alarms coming from behind and immediately sensed that something was terribly wrong.

At that moment, the communications officer rushed over in a panic and reported to Colonel Matsukawa:

"Colonel, Colonel, the artillery position is under attack!"

"How is the situation?" Matsukawa Maki asked loudly.

"Colonel, three artillery positions were attacked by the enemy at the same time, with each artillery position being attacked by nearly 200 enemy troops."

"I never imagined the enemy would still be hiding so many troops!" Matsukawa Maki exclaimed in astonishment.

"Damn it! They're really good at holding back!" Matsukawa Maki cursed.

"Matsukawa-kun, this is bad! Once the enemy seizes the artillery positions, we'll lose our current advantage. If they coordinate with the enemy forces in Tangjia Town to encircle us, we'll be in grave danger!"

“Matsukawa-kun, at this point, our only option is to retreat,” Ikeda Maken said.

"retreat!"

Matsukawa Maki made a decisive decision and immediately organized the troops to retreat.

"Staff Officer Yasi, go and lead the gas grenades to launch all the remaining gas grenades to cover the retreat."

"Hay."

Upon receiving the order, the Japanese squads ceased their attack and began to retreat under alternating cover.

"Oh no, the Japanese are retreating. You guys stick to them immediately!"

Shen Lei, who was directing the battle, noticed signs of the Japanese retreat and immediately led the 5th Company, which was closest to the enemy, to charge forward.

"Beat them! Beat them hard!"

Just as Shen Lei was leading his troops in pursuit, the Japanese launched a poison gas attack.

Shen Lei's face turned pale when he saw the poison gas bombs that were about to start smoking on the position. He hurriedly gave the order.

"Japanese poison gas bombs! Retreat to the tunnels immediately!"

The fifth company commander, who had originally chased after them, also changed his expression upon hearing Deputy Battalion Commander Shen's order. Without thinking, he led his troops to the nearest tunnel entrance, wishing he had two more legs.

The battle situation outside was immediately relayed to Tang Xiaohu.

"Those Japanese devils aren't stupid; they retreated very decisively."

Tang Xiaohu had originally planned to use this opportunity to encircle and annihilate the Japanese troops, but now it seems the Japanese have realized his intentions, otherwise they wouldn't have retreated so decisively.

"Battalion Commander, the Japanese used poison gas to cover their retreat. Battalion Commander Shen and his men have retreated back into the tunnels," Yao Xing reported quickly.

"I didn't expect the Japanese to have poison gas bombs. It did disrupt our previous plans, but it's not a big problem."

"Staff Officer Yao, notify Deputy Battalion Commander Shen to lead the 7th Company to the 12th Company to provide immediate support from the outer tunnels. Other units shall remain in place for the time being."

"Yes."

"Further notice: the second and third companies, and the reserve company, should act according to the situation."

"Yes."

"Notify the artillery battalion to immediately take men to the artillery position to receive this batch of Type 92 infantry guns."

With the last Japanese soldier killed, the Second Company had completely captured the Japanese artillery position, and the three Type 92 infantry guns on the position were now in their possession.

"Deputy Company Commander, what is the casualty situation of the troops?"

"More than 60 soldiers have been killed and more than 20 wounded. We still have more than 100 soldiers who can fight."

"I understand. Deputy Company Commander, you should immediately lead your men to reinforce the position and prevent the Japanese from launching a counterattack."

"Yes."

"I wonder what the situation is with the other two units." The second company commander heard bursts of gunfire coming from the artillery position in the middle, which was some distance away from them, and knew that the battle at the reserve company's location was not over yet.

Just as the second company commander was considering whether to lead reinforcements, a unit appeared in the distance.

When the troops got closer, the second company commander realized that the approaching troops were the seventh company.

"Second Company Commander, the battalion commander ordered us to reinforce you. We are closer and have come first. Companies 8-12 will be here soon."

"Deputy Battalion Commander Shen told me to follow your instructions."

"Seventh Company Commander, you've arrived just in time. Take your men and reinforce the reserve company immediately." The Second Company Commander pointed to the Japanese artillery position in the distance.

"Yes, we'll go right away." With that, the Seventh Company Commander immediately led his men to provide support.

"It looks like things are stable now." The second company commander watched the seventh company leave into the distance.

"Company commander, something's up," a platoon leader ran over and said.

"what's the situation."

"The retreating Japanese troops from Tangjia Town are not far from our position."

"Attention all personnel, enter combat readiness!" the 2nd Company Commander shouted.

Meanwhile, Matsukawa Maki and Ikeda Maken were leading the remaining 700-plus Japanese soldiers to retreat out of Tangjia Town.

"Reporting to the two colonels, all outer artillery positions have been lost," Staff Officer Yasi reported.

"What! How could the enemy have captured the artillery position so quickly?" Matsukawa Maki exclaimed in a panic.

"Where are our military camp positions?"

"It's in our hands for now."

"Immediately change direction, return to the military camp, and then retreat to Sanjiaji," Matsukawa Maki said immediately.

"Hay."

The Japanese soldiers, who were originally rushing towards the Second Company's position, suddenly changed direction, bypassed the Second Company's defense line, and ran back to the Japanese camp behind them.

"Company commander, what are those Japanese devils doing? They're right at our doorstep, why are they stopping and not fighting?" the platoon leader asked, puzzled.

"The Japanese are trying to escape. First Platoon Leader, you take your men and guard these three cannons. The rest of you, follow me. We'll catch up." The Second Company Commander ordered the other troops to follow the Japanese.

Not long after the second company commander left the position, Shen Lei arrived with the remaining five companies, totaling more than 500 men.

"Where is your company commander?" Shen Lei asked.

"Reporting to Deputy Battalion Commander Shen, our company commander and his men are chasing the Japanese soldiers, who are now retreating towards the military camp."

"Alright, the Japanese are indeed trying to escape. Everyone else, follow quickly." Shen Lei immediately organized the troops to chase after the Japanese.

Running as fast as he could, Colonel Matsukawa finally led his troops back to the camp. Without taking a break, Colonel Matsukawa immediately continued to issue orders.

"Staff Officer Yasi, immediately organize a small suicide squad to hold this camp. The rest of you, take the supplies and retreat immediately."

"Hay."

"Ikeda-kun, you take Aoki-kun and retreat first," Matsukawa Maki said, turning to Ikeda Masato.

"it is good."

Ten minutes later, after destroying the supplies that couldn't be transported, Matsukawa Maki gave one last, almost brainwashing shout to the suicide soldiers remaining in the camp:

"Long live the Empire! Long live the Locust!"

"Long live the Empire! Long live the Locust!"

"Long live the Empire! Long live the Locust King!"

The Japanese soldiers on the position also shouted loudly.

After taking one last look at Tangjia Town, Matsukawa Maki got into his car and left with regret. No sooner had the Japanese troops left than Shen Lei and his troops gave chase.

The Japanese suicide squad left behind on the position immediately opened fire on Shen Lei's troops.

"Attack!" Shen Lei commanded his troops to begin their assault on the Japanese camp.

To Shen Lei's utter surprise, the Japanese soldiers on the position went berserk and launched a counterattack against their troops while carrying explosive charges.

Startled, Shen Lei immediately ordered his troops to engage in cautious combat.

It took Shen Lei a full 10 minutes to completely wipe out a small group of Japanese soldiers. By the time Shen Lei captured the camp and tried to continue the pursuit, it was too late; the Japanese had already retreated far away by car.