Facts have proved that the 35th Division, which holds the four railway transportation lines of Longhai, Pinghan, Daoqing and Xinkai, is indeed qualified to be called the strongest mobile unit of the North China Front.
However, with every gain there must be a loss.
After the 1st Marine Brigade wreaked havoc on the transportation network in the enemy-occupied areas, the Japanese who were accustomed to taking advantage of the convenience of the railway became completely cripples with broken legs. It is not an exaggeration to say that they were beaten back to their original shape.
The 17th Infantry Battalion sent by Shigeta Tokusatsu to support Xinxiang Airport is a typical case.
The middle section of the newly opened line is Qiyiji Railway Station.
Looking at the group of soldiers who were pretending to be deaf and dumb, Japanese Major Keisaburo Kodaira who was forced to stay at the transfer point along the way, felt an unknown fire suddenly rise in his heart.
"Baga! You people are simply trash waiting to die. You are blood-sucking parasites living in the Japanese army!"
“Two-fifths of the 88.68-kilometer railway was destroyed by the enemy overnight. Are your eyes and ears just decorations?”
"No matter what means are used, I want to see the new line open to traffic as soon as possible. Otherwise! You incompetent pigs will all commit harkiri!"
Although he has not yet officially fought against the 1st Marine Brigade, Keisaburo Odaira knows that the enemy is the elite force of the Eighth Route Army, which is by no means comparable to the Central Army in the First Preserved War Zone.
If he delays the military plane here, he may not even have a chance to collect the corpses for the friendly forces. How can this keep him from being anxious?
The superior roared with anger, causing the Japanese lieutenant who was wronged to quickly use his tried and tested trump card and bowed at a right angle in front of everyone.
"Hi!"
“We will definitely eliminate the fault as quickly as possible and get the new line back on track within three days!”
It's a pity that the spirit of craftsmanship is not a magic weapon that can be tried and tested every time. No matter how correct your attitude is when you admit your mistake, you can't change the bad status quo.
Facing the groveling subordinates, Kodaira Keisaburo first rewarded the opponent with a big handbag, and then ordered viciously:
“Baga! If you have time to shout slogans, you might as well think about how to make up for it! Now you quickly lead your men to requisition the livestock and motor vehicles in the town!”
“I'll only give you an hour, otherwise.”
Just when the old devil was about to say a few harsh words, an officer who was dressed completely different from everyone present suddenly opened the door of the transfer station conference room.
This uninvited guest was holding a submachine gun, with a row of curved magazines inserted into the chest of the combat uniform, and eight Type 97 grenades hung frantically on his shoulders.
Such ferocious individual firepower immediately made the ordinary infantrymen who had not seen much of the world take a breath of cold air.
It is worth mentioning that the submachine gun carried by this person is very unique. The bayonet handle and bipod, which are full of non-mainstream flavor, are completely contrary to the concept of close combat firearms.
“You are, are you Colonel Masuko? I didn't expect to meet you in a place like this!”
As if he had guessed the true identity of the visitor, Keisaburo Kodaira took a step forward and began to talk with a flattering face. The arrogance he had just now disappeared without a trace.
The Masuko Advance Team was originally affiliated with the First Army of the North China Front and was the successor of the Yamamoto Special Agent Team.
During the Battle of Zhongtiao Mountain, the 36th Division suffered a frontal defeat in the southern Shanxi area. In order to save his own life and leave behind the seeds of special operations, Masuko Shigeo led his men to escape to friendly territory.
Later, the 1st Marine Brigade, which had repeatedly accomplished extraordinary feats, became a rising star on the Asian battlefield.
Adhering to the concept of losing the battle but not losing the enemy, the 35th Division simply expanded this advancing team in an attempt to use them to fight the Eighth Route Army paratroopers in a life-or-death showdown.
After being recognized, Masuko Shigeo nodded proudly, and then ordered the 17th Infantry Brigade:
"I heard all the conversation just now. Since you have delayed the military plane, you might as well follow my troops. Xinxiang Airport is probably in the hands of the enemy anyway."
“The enemy is far more powerful than your poor imagination.”
As soon as these words came out, Kodaira Keisaburo felt that he suddenly understood the meaning of another village. Being temporarily called up by a superior with special right to speak is not considered a dereliction of duty, it is so reasonable!
As for the disdain in Masuko Shigeo's tone?
It doesn't matter, this commander has always been crazy and talks about Shi Wu's hero making Zhuzi famous every day. It's better to be a dog than to commit seppuku. It's better to die than to live.
“Yoshi!”
“Your Excellency, Colonel, it's an honor to fight alongside the advance team! In this operation, you will command my infantry brigade.”
Hearing this, Masuko Shigeo did not reject the other party's "good intention" and nodded with satisfaction.
The mission of their advance team is to sneak into Zhongtiao Mountain secretly, find and destroy the Eighth Route Army's logistics supply depot. In the case of lack of intelligence and uncertainty about the enemy's troop deployment, more pathfinding cannon fodder is a multiple guarantee. "Okay, then I'd rather be respectful than obey. To the division commander, I will personally send a telegram explaining the situation in a moment. Please don't worry, Mr. Xiaoping."
“After the supplies are replenished, we will set off from the Zhenbei road on time, aiming for Jiaozuo!”
An hour later, the Masuko Advance Team and the 17th Infantry Brigade left Qi Yiji hand in hand.
Since they were still in the occupied area, they requisitioned a large number of animal drafts in the city in a very high-profile way, and the march felt like a large army pressing the border.
Not long after the Japs left the city, a buzzing sound suddenly came from high in the northwest, and then a dozen beautiful-looking fighter planes appeared in sight.
“Enemy attack! Hidden!”
The first time he heard the abnormal noise, Masuko Shigeo led his team members to rush to the side. He had experienced the Battle of Zhongtiao Mountain and naturally knew what would happen next.
However, the movements of the 17th Infantry Brigade were much slower.
When the Japs heard the order and prepared to take action, the four Spitfires and eight Typhoons had already begun to dive, and even the bombs under their bellies were clearly visible.
“Boom! Boom! Boom!”
When Masuko Shigeo hid in a natural bunker, he heard a series of explosions.
Looking back, I saw bombs falling from the sky. The exploding fireball devoured the lives of the infantrymen without restraint.
"Masaka! Did we find a traitor? Who exposed the marching route of the troops! The enemy's air force has a clear target. Someone must have provided accurate information!"
In the following time, dozens of high-explosive aerial bombs fell one after another.
Whether it was the Masuko Advance Team or the 17th Infantry Battalion, they could only hide in the bunker and tremble, praying to Amaterasu to protect the enemy's bombs from falling on their heads.
As for retreat or transfer, it is completely impossible.
Their current location is on a flat terrain. Once they leave their hiding place, they will become a target for fighter planes, and then large-caliber cannons will lick the ground.
Masuko Shigeo witnessed with his own eyes that a small team in the rear position tried to move, but was beaten to pieces by two planes. In the end, only two seriously injured people survived.
“Team Wang, it's really a pleasure to work with the 1st Marine Brigade. If every mission can save the tedious investigation steps, then I won't have any problem sending out as many sorties a day.”
“This Masuko advance team really overestimates its capabilities. What kind of rotten fish and shrimps dare to touch our paratroopers.”
Looking at the Japanese infantry below who were blown up by high-explosive aerial bombs, the pilots of the Second Air Division departing from Xinxiang Airport sighed excitedly while dropping the bombs.
Hearing the keyword, Captain Wang Hai, who is usually known for his gentle personality, had a rare flash of fierceness in his eyes.
May 1942, plus the infamous Masuko Advance Team. These two seemingly unrelated compositions reminded him of certain past events that he didn't want to mention.
After a moment, he thought for a moment and then ordered in the communication channel:
"Contact Xinxiang Airport. The second batch of close ground support aircraft will be dispatched immediately. We must not let go of the group of Japs below! After the battle is over, I will ask the deputy general staff to give us extra food!"
“Send another report to the 1st Marine Brigade and inform Deputy Brigadier Xing that they are moving closer to the Qi Yiji area. After the bombing operation is over, the ground troops will end the battle!”
The current battlefield is not far from Xinxiang, only a few dozen kilometers away, and it only takes half an hour from takeoff to the start of the operation.
Besides, it's sunny today and the sky is blue. In such weather, the aerial visibility was excellent, which made the effect of close ground support aircraft bombing the plains even higher.
If placed in a certain Baimaozi naval battle game, this would be called Mao Hang and I are only separated by a mountain.
In the next hour, Xinxiang Airport dispatched a total of 60 sorties and dropped more than 20 tons of aerial bombs on the Masuko Advance Team and the 17th Infantry Brigade.
Facing the almost non-stop bombing, the Japanese who lacked field air defense weapons were powerless to fight back. They could only wait for an opportunity to retreat to the towns behind, trying to use the people to make the Eighth Route Army Air Force fearful.
What a pity, the outflanking paratroopers would not give the enemy a chance to resist.
Under the command of Xing Zhiguo, the soldiers ended the battle half an hour after the air force ended its bombing, and the 1st Marine Brigade successfully defended the battle again. (End of chapter)
Chapter end
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