klisemfg Chapter 350: The 388th Brigade Captures the Important Town of Datong
Chapter 350: The 388th Brigade Captures the Important Town of Datong
Datong.
Inside the Japs headquarters.
The Japanese brigade commander sat behind his desk with a frown on his face.
The other Japanese officers in the headquarters also had worried expressions on their faces.
They sat around the map, pointing their fingers back and forth at the location of Datong, but could not find any strategy that could turn the tide of the battle.
"In just one day, the enemy reached the city of Datong."
An officer muttered, his voice filled with disbelief.
"We couldn't even hold Yanmen Pass for half a day before it was broken through by the independent column. It's absolutely ridiculous." Another officer said indignantly.
The Japanese Chief of Staff, a thin, sharp-eyed middle-aged man, slowly walked to the brigade commander. His voice was deep and powerful: "Your Excellency, the independent column is coming, what should we do?"
The brigade commander sighed heavily.
"Chief of Staff, what else can I do now? With less than a regiment of soldiers under our command, do you think we can defend Datong?"
The chief of staff fell silent after hearing what the brigade commander said.
He knew very well that Datong could not be defended at all. There were only two options before them: either fight to the death to defend the city and die together, or retreat now.
"Your Excellency, Brigade Commander, we must make a choice."
The Chief of Staff said: “If we defend the city, we will be in danger of being annihilated.
But if we retreat, we can at least retain some strength to fight again for the glory of the Empire."
The brigade commander drummed his fingers on the table, struggling internally.
But the next telegram plunged everyone into despair.
The content of the telegram was brief and decisive, leaving no room for maneuver - we must defend Datong and wait for rescue.
The Japanese brigade commander took a deep breath, stood up, and said to the chief of staff: "Chief of Staff, now we have only one choice. We must hold on to Datong until reinforcements arrive."
"Hai."
The Japanese officers responded in unison.
That night, every corner of Datong City was busy.
Under the dim light, the Japanese defenders and officers worked hard to build fortifications.
They dug trenches, piled sandbags, and built lines of defense.
Concealed firing points were cleverly hidden in the ruins of the city, with machine guns and mortars positioned to cover the maximum killing area.
.......
The next day.
The sky was just beginning to turn pale.
The soldiers enjoyed a hot breakfast in the morning breeze.
"Comrades, only if you are full can you have the strength to fight the Japanese!" an old soldier shouted.
Then the soldiers began to check their weapons and equipment.
Outside the camp, the soldiers of the tank regiment were also busy.
Wearing greasy overalls and work hats, they were doing the final inspection of the tank.
The tracks were checked for firmness, the gun barrels were wiped clean and the ammunition was counted.
7 o'clock in the morning,
The sun has just risen.
Chu Yunfei stood next to a tank and gave the order to attack.
"Tank regiment attacks!"
200 tanks started their engines one after another, and the huge roar instantly resounded throughout the entire camp, like the roar of the earth.
Tanks began to drive out of the camp one after another. They formed neat rows and headed towards Datong like giant steel dragons.
Amid the roar of tanks, the infantry of the 388th Brigade also began to assemble.
They were ready to follow the tanks and launch an attack on the city wall.
"Brothers, follow closely!" The commander of the infantry regiment shouted loudly to boost morale.
The Japanese officer on the city wall, a middle-aged man wearing glasses and with a stern face, stared at the group of tanks approaching in the distance.
When he saw the tanks attacking, he shouted, "Enemy tanks are coming, get ready for battle! Push the anti-tank guns up!"
The Japanese soldiers acted quickly. They pushed their heavy anti-tank guns and breathlessly aimed them at the advancing tanks outside the city.
Before the tank came into range, the tank gun launched the first attack.
One shell after another was like the god of death's scythe, cutting through the air and hitting the city wall.
The Japanese soldiers on the city wall were blown to pieces and had nowhere to hide.
The power of the tank guns instantly turned the fortifications on the city walls into ruins, and the anti-tank guns were all blown up before they could play a role.
Immediately afterwards, the machine gunner on the tank used the machine gun to launch a fierce attack on the Japanese soldiers on the city wall.
The flames from the machine guns looked particularly ferocious in the morning light, and bullets poured down on the city walls like raindrops.
The Japanese defenders were suppressed to the point that they could not raise their heads, and they would be shot dead if they dared to show their heads.
"Hidden! Hidden!"
The Japanese officer shouted at the top of his lungs.
Under the city wall, the soldiers of the infantry regiment used the tanks' fire cover to quickly approach the city wall.
As the tanks continued to bombard the city, the gate of Datong was blown open with a violent explosion.
The heavy wooden door and iron chain shattered under the powerful impact, and fragments flew everywhere.
The Japanese soldiers on the city wall tried to resist stubbornly in desperation, but were soon reduced to ashes by the merciless artillery fire.
"Comrades, the city gate has been blown open. Charge in and wipe out the Japs!" The commander of the infantry regiment waved his rifle and shouted to boost morale.
One tank after another stepped on the accelerator and rushed towards the city gate.
The tank tracks rolled over the rubble and debris, making a harsh friction sound, and they rushed into Datong City like an unstoppable torrent.
The soldiers following behind also rushed into Datong City quickly. Under the cover of tanks, they quickly dispersed and entered every corner of the city.
The fighting in the city was extremely fierce, and the Japanese tried every means to stop the tank troops from advancing.
They kept firing from the ruins, from narrow alleys, and from high windows, trying to use their firepower to stop the advance of tanks and infantry.
But the number of tanks was too large. They were like mobile fortresses, constantly breaking through the defense lines set up by the Japanese.
"Concentrate your firepower and hit that tank!"
A Japanese squad leader roared and commanded his men to try to hit the leading tank.
But the tank's armor is strong and ordinary bullets cannot penetrate it. Instead, the tank's machine guns and main guns continue to reap lives.
The Japanese soldiers hiding in the dark were also killed by the soldiers who followed from behind.
They took advantage of the urban environment to wage guerrilla warfare, but their resistance was insignificant in the face of large numbers of tanks and infantry.
Every street and every corner became the front line of the battle.
There were constant sounds of gunfire and explosions in Datong City, and flames and smoke enveloped the entire city.
......
Around 12 o'clock in the morning.
As the echo of the last gunshot faded away, all the Japanese devils in Datong were wiped out, and the 388th Brigade successfully captured the important town in the Datong Basin.
The victory of this battle was not only a heavy blow to the enemy, but also a full demonstration of the combat effectiveness of the 388th Brigade.
Chu Yunfei quickly entered Datong in a jeep. He looked through the car window at the city full of ruins, and a complex emotion surged in his heart.
On both sides of the streets, buildings destroyed by artillery fire silently tell of the fierce fighting in the city.
The streets were full of Eighth Route Army soldiers cleaning up the battlefield.
Some of them were carrying the wounded, some were clearing the battlefield, and some were collecting weapons and supplies left behind by the enemy.
Everyone's face was filled with smiles of victory. The 388th Brigade created a miracle on the Chinese battlefield.
In just one and a half days, they broke through Yanmen Pass and captured the important town of Datong, which was heavily guarded by the Japanese.
If Chu Yunfei had not personally commanded this battle, he would not have believed such a record. It was too damn amazing.
The jeep soon arrived at the headquarters in the city center.
As soon as Chu Yunfei got out of the car, the tank regiment commander immediately trotted forward and said, "Report to the brigade commander, the tank regiment has successfully completed the mission."
Chu Yunfei looked at the dusty but energetic regiment commander and praised him, "Captain Li, the tank regiment has made an indelible contribution to this battle. I will personally ask the commander for credit for you."
"Thank you, Brigade Commander!" A grateful smile appeared on Captain Li's face.
Chu Yunfei nodded, turned around and said to the communicator next to him: "Contact the rear headquarters immediately and report our current situation."
"Yes, Brigadier!"
The communicator acted quickly and sent a telegram to the column headquarters.
the other side,
The two infantry regiments of the 388th Brigade led by Li Yunlong also completed the established action plan, and the battle went very smoothly.
The Japanese soldiers along the way were simply unable to withstand the fierce attack of the 388th Brigade.
Li Yunlong stood on a high ground, overlooking the entire battlefield, with a satisfied smile on his face.
"Old Li, we really showed our skills this time." His adjutant said with a smile.
Li Yunlong couldn't stop smiling when he saw the battle record of the 388th Brigade. It made him proud.
He patted his adjutant on the shoulder and said proudly: "Let's go to the front line and cheer up our brothers!"