klisemfg Chapter 164: Bridge Defense (4)
Chapter 164: Bridge Defense (4)
Boom—boom—boom—" Like a ferocious beast, the Japanese regiment's mountain artillery began frantically bombarding the defensive positions of the 3rd Battalion of the st Detachment west of Bamao Bridge. The Japanese artillery was undoubtedly quite skilled, playing a crucial role in their battles against China, the United States, and Britain, like a sharp sword.
By this time, the Japanese army's equipment was already far behind that of the US and British. In Burma, they were even inferior to the Chinese Expeditionary Force. However, the Japanese artillery was extremely professional, and their bombardment was not only accurate but also extremely fierce. In the Pacific Theater, a single Japanese 92mm infantry gun, designed during World War I, was like a ferocious falcon, capable of ruthlessly suppressing an entire American company. This was a feat unmatched by any other army, including the seemingly powerful German army, which could not achieve such a brilliant feat of suppressing an entire company with a single infantry gun.
"Boom!" A machine gun position in Du Yiping's 2nd Platoon was hit, and the two machine gunners and their machine guns were instantly destroyed. This was the second firing point hit by the Japanese artillery.
"Damn it! Your artillery fire is so accurate! I can't stand your torture!" Du Yiping cursed inwardly, then quickly ordered the heavy firepower to withdraw immediately. The squads dispersed and tried to hide in the bunkers, because even if the enemy's 75mm mountain artillery hit the bunker, it would not explode.
Tang Xuesi was at a secret observation post on the front line, standing shoulder to shoulder with the commanders of the 2nd and 3rd Battalions. After peering through his telescope and taking in the entire formation of the Japanese 115th Division, he turned to the commander of the 3rd Battalion and asked, "Do you have the confidence to hold your position?"
The 3rd Battalion Commander grinned. This former lieutenant platoon leader of the new 29th Division had experienced the bloody resistance in the prisoner-of-war camp and the arduous battles in the jungles of northern Myanmar for more than a year. In addition, Qin Shi's careful training of battalion and company-level (then battalion and company) commanders, he is now the major of the 3rd Battalion Commander of the st Detachment of the st Column.
The 3rd Battalion Commander laughed and said to Tang Xuesi, "Captain, don't worry. No matter how many Japs come, if they try to cross our 3rd Battalion's position, I can bite off a piece of it even if it's made of iron!"
Tang Xuesi cursed angrily, "I'm not asking if you can bite the enemy, I'm asking if you can hold the position!"
The battalion commander hurriedly said, "Excuse me, excuse me, Captain. It was a slip of the tongue. It's just a slip of the tongue. Guerrilla warfare is just the way it is." He then added, "If any Japanese dare to pass through my position, I will definitely skin them alive!"
The battalion commander chuckled and said, "Old Wu, the detachment commander asked if you could hold the position, not if he wanted to skin you alive."
Battalion Commander Wu looked at Tang Xuesi and said with an embarrassed look on his face, "The 3rd Battalion will have no problem. We will definitely be able to hold our position."
Seeing this, Tang Xuesi wanted to tease Captain Wu and said deliberately, "They have a regiment with three to four thousand people, and you only have five to six hundred. How can you be so confident that you can hold it?"
Captain Wu was stunned, momentarily unable to grasp the detachment commander's intentions. Tang Xuesi chuckled to himself and feigned, "It seems the 3rd Battalion lacks confidence. I'd better switch to the 2nd Battalion."
"No, no, no, Captain, the 3rd Battalion will definitely hold this. If we can't, you'll have my head!"
Tang Xuesi raised the corners of his mouth slightly, revealing a sly smile. "If the position is lost, what's the use of your head? Forget it, Captain of the 2nd Battalion, your 2nd Battalion will defend it!"
Captain Wu's face flushed with anxiety, and he shouted at the top of his voice, "No! Captain, how can you go back on your word? Besides, our 3rd Battalion has spent so much time and effort to establish this position. Are we going to give it to the 2nd Battalion for nothing?"
The battalion commander could no longer contain himself and burst into laughter. He said to Tang Xuesi, "Captain, please stop teasing Old Wu. Tell him what you think right now, or he'll drive you crazy."
Captain Wu suddenly realized that the detachment commander was making fun of him. He muttered with displeasure, "Well, you two are teaming up to make a fool of me!"
Tang Xuesi couldn't help himself any longer. He raised his hand and gently patted Captain Wu on the head, scolding him with a smile, "So what if I'm playing you like a monkey? Who told you to be so stupid!"
Captain Wu dared not disobey the captain's orders and nodded repeatedly, "It's my fault, it's my fault, Captain, I'll do whatever you say the 3rd Battalion should do!"
Tang Xuesi had had enough of the teasing and the laughter, and his expression grew serious. He said solemnly, "I am placing the 2st Company of the 1nd Battalion and Bai Lang's assault company under your command. Remember, you must hold your ground for three days and gradually withdraw, giving the enemy the illusion that you are desperately defending but unable to do so." Tang Xuesi added, "Withdraw Bai Lang's assault company tomorrow. Their primary mission is to defend the bridge from a surprise attack and blow it up. Meanwhile, they will be responsible for defending the bridgehead."
Captain Wu finally understood. He lowered his voice and said, "Captain, you're trying to lure the enemy deeper into your territory. I understand! We must complete our mission!"
Tang Xuesi smacked Captain Wu's head again and said, "I'm trying to lure the enemy in. When will you finally learn the lesson? I'm helpless. If I don't give the Japanese a little advantage, so they think they can retake the bridge, I'm worried they'll be desperate and blow it up!"
Battalion Commander Wu finally woke up, understanding the detachment commander's good intentions and feeling reassured. Seeing that Battalion Commander Wu understood, Tang Xuesi waved him over, signaling him to deploy his forces accordingly. He then conferred with the commander of the 2nd Battalion, plotting how to leverage the two companies of the 2nd Battalion and the Kachin guerrillas to annihilate the Japanese Security Brigade's reckless intrusion before the 33rd Division's battalion arrived.
Tang Xuesi immediately advanced into the mountains with the 2nd Battalion. Battalion Commander Wu felt relieved and contacted the artillery battalion through a walkie-talkie, asking the artillery battalion to stop its defensive support for his west side from today.
The artillery battalion commander had already received orders from the detachment commander to transfer the mortar company to the 2nd Battalion, and follow it into the mountains to ambush the Japanese security brigade. The remaining two rocket artillery battalions hid quietly according to the deployment of detachment commander Tang. They were to launch a thunder attack at the most critical moment and deal a fatal blow to the enemy's heavy troops.
After bombarding for a while, the 115th Division of the Japanese Army suddenly came to their senses and felt that what they were doing was not worth the effort. Bombarding the bridge position would not help them break through the blocking positions in front. They had to let the infantry companies deal with the enemy's positions one by one. The troops could only advance slowly towards the Bamao Bridge at the speed of an old ox pulling a broken cart.