Chapter 51 Mutual Attacks and Defenses: Chu Yunfei Steps In for Micro-Management

A single exchange of fire wiped out dozens of the Japanese invaders.

They had expected an easy victory.

However, the counterattack speed of these little devils far exceeded the soldiers' imagination.

In less than ten seconds, they scattered in all directions.

And they immediately formed combat formations.

Some of the veteran Japanese soldiers quickly dropped to the ground on both sides of the river valley, using the bodies of their comrades as cover.

"Baka Yaro!"

"Fight back quickly!"

In just a brief moment.

Two machine guns were silenced by the Japanese riflemen.

As the battle progressed.

The Japanese grenade launcher operators quickly found positions and set up their weapons.

"Thump! Thump!"

Boom, boom!

With several explosions.

The few remaining light machine gun positions were also knocked out.

Everything happened in the blink of an eye.

Wu Dabao adjusted his hat, feeling utterly shocked for a moment.

To ensure the success of the ambush, he had not set up pre-prepared ambush positions.

As a result, he had successfully deceived the Japanese scouts.

However, having no cover.

Also meant that most of the soldiers were exposed directly to the enemy's muzzle.

Given the combat effectiveness of the Japanese forces.

This was no different from shooting at live targets.

Every gain has its corresponding loss.

Wu Dabao felt an overwhelming wave of regret at this moment.

The firepower of an infantry company was much stronger than that of a Japanese platoon.

Yet, compared to a full Japanese infantry company organization, it was naturally inferior in many aspects.

"Banzai!"

"Attack!"

"Charge!"

Seeing the Japanese roaring as they rushed forward.

Wu Dabao immediately issued an order: "Prepare grenades!"

"Yes!"

The soldiers quickly pulled the pins on the Shanxi-made wooden-handled grenades placed beside them.

And hurled them in the direction of the advancing Japanese.

The sturdy and robust soldiers of the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army.

Even from a prone position, were able to throw the wooden-handled grenades thirty to forty meters away.

Explosions rang out continuously, and flying shrapnel blocked the Japanese from advancing further.

The thick smoke generated by the violent explosions obscured everyone's vision.

Instead, it temporarily served as cover for both sides.

Wu Dabao turned his head to look at the communications soldier not far beside him: "Quickly go and ask the battalion commander to send reinforcements!"

"Yes!"

Not long after the communications soldier left.

He ran straight into a friendly force rushing forward at high speed.

They were the brothers of the Fourth Battalion.

Hearing the gunfire and explosions, they had run all the way.

Upon running into his comrades.

The communications soldier hurriedly stepped forward: "Quick, send reinforcements!"

"Right by the river valley, it's the main force of the little devils!"

"Brothers, follow me!"

The reinforcements from the Fourth Battalion were fierce.

They immediately pulled out their bayonets and fixed them to their rifles, while the leading platoon leader took the lead, holding a pistol in his hand.

Roaring at the top of his lungs, he led his men in a charge.

The Japanese, who were attempting to push forward, heard the battle cries coming from not far away.

A brief moment of panic ensued as they raised their rifles to aim at the high ground on both sides of the river valley.

Terrified of being hit by a sudden ambush at any moment.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, the soldiers of the Third Company.

Quickly broke away from the ambush site and retreated toward the rear.

There.

A defensive position had been prepared for them in advance.

The nameless stream was blocked by the corpses of both friends and foes.

Blood flowed steadily, completely staining the entire stream red.

The entire river valley was filled with thick smoke and the stench of blood.

This stimulated the nerves of Shiraki Tsuyoshi.

As the commander of the company, Shiraki Tsuyoshi could not figure out the specific situation ahead.

"Company Commander, could this be a trap by the enemy to lure us deep into their territory?"

The sergeant's suggestion was not without reason.

They were unfamiliar with the local terrain, otherwise they would not have collided head-on with the main force of the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army defending the ditch.

To play it safe.

Shiraki Tsuyoshi immediately ordered the attacking troops to turn back and halted the pursuit.

After retreating two kilometers, Shiraki Tsuyoshi took the operational map from his adjutant.

After studying it carefully for a moment, he let out a slight sigh.

Secretly thanking his lucky stars that they hadn't continued pressing forward...

On the other side, Wu Dabao, whose main force had retreated into the defensive position.

Was also thanking heaven that the Japanese had not pursued them further.

In an ambush without cover, the two sides had exchanged fire for less than ten minutes.

Yet the Third Company had already suffered fifty percent casualties.

The formidable firepower of the Japanese army and their exquisite marksmanship were far more shocking than the defensive battle fought earlier at Ruyuekou.

"Report your casualties!"

"First Platoon, thirteen killed, eight wounded, lost two light machine guns."

"Second Platoon, eight killed, seventeen wounded, two missing."

"Third Platoon, eighteen killed, four wounded, three missing, lost one heavy machine gun."

Wu Dabao slapped his thigh and cursed angrily, "Those goddamn little devils are truly vicious!"

"Company Commander, we must relocate our light machine gun positions quickly. The little devils' aim is too precise and ruthless!"

"And that mortar of theirs is dead-on as well; just one shell directly wounded four or five of our brothers!"

Wu Dabao stood up, looked at the Fourth Battalion reinforcements not far away, and waved his hand: "Over here!"

"Company Commander Wu, what is the situation!"

"The force breaking through here is the main body of the Japanese troops, numbering at least five or six hundred men, equipped with mortars. A single company of ours might not be able to hold them off!"

As the battle in the small river valley broke out.

Chu Yunfei naturally discovered the situation on the map right away.

The combat effectiveness of the Japanese troops was obviously a cut above the Third Battalion's.

The yellow bar representing combat strength was nearly twice that of the Third Company.

And it was not inferior to the entire Second Battalion.

Chu Yunfei immediately ordered a redeployment, leaving a single infantry platoon from the main force of the Fourth Battalion to continue garrisoning Daniudian.

The rest of the main force quickly marched toward the frontline of Shuigouzi and Hanzhuang to relieve the Second Battalion's defense line.

The main force of the Second Battalion was ordered to immediately reinforce the defensive positions along the small river valley to prevent the Japanese from breaking through.

Chu Yunfei's decisiveness shocked Fang Ligo and the other operational staff officers immensely.

Yet none of them uttered a word of objection.

Judging by the current situation, this was already the optimal defensive deployment.

Although they did not know whether there were still main enemy forces trailing behind.

Judging by Chu Yunfei's demeanor.

He had no intention of letting these several hundred men escape.

Half an hour later.

Shiraki Tsuyoshi led his troops to bypass the Hanzhuang line and made another attempt to break through.

Here, they were met with a head-on interception by the Fourth Battalion.

When they advanced to within fifty meters of the defense line.

The Fourth Battalion soldiers in the trenches leaped up, fixing their bayonets and brandishing their broadswords as they charged straight at them.

The Japanese grenade launchers and mortars instantly lost their significance for fire support.

Shortly after Shiraki Tsuyoshi ordered a halt to the bombardment.

Mortar shells came crashing down toward the Japanese artillery positions.

The heavy mortar company, which had been holding its fire for a long time, poured shells onto the little devils to their heart's content.

The advancing Japanese soldiers did not even have a chance to retreat.

The soldiers of both sides instantly locked in close combat, and within just ten minutes, both sides suffered heavy casualties...