Chapter 37: The Eighth Route Army’s Firepower Is This Fierce? Capturing the Small Town

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“What?” Hirata Jiro stared in astonishment.

From the bombardment just now, it was clear that the weapon had the power of at least a seventy-five-millimeter howitzer.

How could this possibly be the Eighth Route Army?

Sun Sanqiang hurried outside to inspect the situation.

More intense gunfire and cannon fire immediately followed.

The entire town descended into panic.

The puppet troops were especially terrified.

After all, everyone knew how formidable the puppet garrison stationed in West Well Town was—or rather, how weak it was.

In an instant, their morale collapsed.

Seeing the panicked puppet soldiers, Hirata Jiro’s face turned livid with rage. Judging from the sound of the artillery, the enemy had already reached the outskirts of the town.

“Bastards!”

“Sun Sanqiang, make your men hold the line! If the Eighth Route Army breaks in, you won’t fare any better!”

“Stand with the Imperial Army and stop the enemy!”

“Yes, sir!”

Sun Sanqiang had no choice. He immediately led his men down to defend the town in person.

Hirata Jiro then sent his own squad out to resist the Eighth Route Army’s assault.

At the same time, he ordered the communications operator, “Request reinforcements from Copper Valley Town and Hemp Field Town at once.”

“Yes, sir!”

The operator immediately tried to place the call, but the line could no longer be connected.

To seize Yellow Cliff Cave Town as quickly as possible, Zhang Dabiao had cut the telephone lines long ago.

“Captain, we can’t get through!”

Hirata Jiro’s heart sank when he heard this.

The Eighth Route Army had clearly come prepared.

“Damn it!”

“If the telephone is out, send someone to request reinforcements immediately.”

“Yes, sir!”

The communications operator rushed off at once.

Yellow Cliff Cave Town was only a little over twenty kilometers from Copper Valley Town and Hemp Field Town. With a fast horse and a hard ride, the journey could be completed in roughly two hours.

Hirata Jiro believed that the troops in Yellow Cliff Cave Town could hold out for at least a day.

Once reinforcements arrived, the Eighth Route Army would have no choice but to withdraw.

With that, Hirata Jiro led the remaining soldiers toward the front line. He had never trusted the puppet troops, but he had no choice except to rely on their assistance.

Otherwise, a single squad would have little hope of stopping the Eighth Route Army’s attack.

…

Outside Yellow Cliff Cave Town.

Li Yunlong observed the town through his binoculars.

The artillery company was using seventy-five-millimeter mountain guns to bombard the enemy positions and blockhouses. At first, the shells failed to hit their targets accurately.

But after making adjustments, the artillerymen began striking the enemy positions and blockhouses with precision.

Everyone who witnessed the scene shouted in excitement.

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“Having artillery is wonderful!”

“A few shells and the enemy’s tower has collapsed!”

“Glory to the artillery company!”

“Comrades, keep up! When the guns stop, charge in and wipe out the enemy. Let the comrades in the artillery company see what we can do!”

“Yes!”

One company from the First Battalion launched an assault on Yellow Cliff Cave Town in a three-by-three formation, advancing toward a single point from multiple directions.

Li Yunlong carefully observed the First Battalion soldiers’ offensive.

These tactics had been disseminated throughout the army by Li Yunlong himself.

He had come to the front line in person precisely to inspect how well the troops were applying them.

After all, such tactics required a high degree of coordination, mutual understanding, and courage. They were an even greater test of the abilities of commanders at every level.

On the battlefield, the soldiers advanced rapidly under the cover of artillery fire, eliminating the enemy troops who were clinging to life.

Yellow Cliff Cave Town posed the greatest threat to the Yellow Cliff Cave Arsenal. No matter what, it had to be taken.

For that reason, Li Yunlong had deployed seventy-five-millimeter mountain guns—never before used by the regiment—as well as a considerable number of mortars.

The mountain guns were direct-fire weapons, unlike mortars.

They could strike walls, blockhouses, and other fortifications directly, making them particularly dangerous to defensive positions.

Mortars, by contrast, fired in a curved trajectory and served a different purpose.

This was also the first time since the formation of the New First Regiment that its soldiers had fought such an extravagant battle.

They were therefore exceptionally excited, their fighting spirit running high.

In barely any time at all, every outlying strongpoint and defensive position had been seized by the New First Regiment.

The troops surged toward Yellow Cliff Cave Town with overwhelming momentum.

However, although the First Battalion was advancing rapidly, Li Yunlong’s expression remained grim.

The reason was that the soldiers’ formations had become somewhat disorganized.

If the enemy in Yellow Cliff Cave Town seized the opportunity to counterattack, the regiment would inevitably suffer considerable casualties.

Still, Li Yunlong understood that this was an unavoidable stage in the army’s growth.

“Order the artillery company to cease fire!”

“Yes!”

…

Inside Yellow Cliff Cave Town.

Hirata Jiro watched the Eighth Route Army’s assault, utterly dumbfounded.

With firepower and an advance like this, were they really the Eighth Route Army?

The Eighth Route Army had actually learned how to coordinate infantry with artillery?

What was more, although the Eighth Route infantry appeared to advance without any discernible order, they possessed a peculiar force that drove the puppet troops back step by step.

At first, Hirata Jiro had assumed the puppet troops were simply incompetent.

But even after sending his own squad to intercept the attackers, the result was no different.

What kind of tactics were these?

Yet Hirata Jiro no longer had time to think about it.

The Eighth Route Army had already broken into the town.

Should he retreat, or hold his ground?

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Only half an hour had passed, and the enemy had already reached the heart of the town. How much longer could he possibly keep them at bay?

Seeing the puppet troops fleeing in defeat, Hirata Jiro’s confidence weakened further.

Sun Sanqiang approached with his face and uniform covered in dust.

“Sir, the Eighth Route Army’s firepower is too strong. We can’t stop them.”

“We have to withdraw! If we don’t leave now, it will be too late!”

Hirata Jiro shouted at the still-shaken Sun Sanqiang, “Retreating will only get you killed faster! Since the Eighth Route Army dared to attack, do you think they came unprepared?”

“Commander Sun, hold your position. As long as we stand until the Imperial reinforcements arrive, victory will be ours.”

“When this is over, I’ll personally recommend you for a military commendation!”

Sun Sanqiang’s expression became terribly strained.

Hold the position?

How were they supposed to hold it? The Eighth Route Army’s assault had been so fierce that they had broken into the town in less than half an hour, while his troops had suffered heavy losses.

Even so, he replied, “Yes, sir!”

“Thank you, sir. I will hold out to the very end.”

He then turned and left.

But he was not going to organize a defense. Instead, he returned to his quarters to hide his money and silver, making preparations for the future.

If they could not defeat the enemy, he would surrender. Once the fighting was over, he could return for his hidden wealth and continue living comfortably.

Sun Sanqiang was not the only puppet officer with such thoughts.

Some puppet soldiers who had long been oppressed by Sun Sanqiang and the Japanese also saw how swiftly the Eighth Route Army was advancing and began to consider rebellion.

Their offering of allegiance would be the Japanese soldiers and the officers of Sun Sanqiang’s battalion.

Thus, a number of puppet soldiers gathered together. When the opportunity arose, they attacked Hirata Jiro and the officers of Sun Sanqiang’s battalion.

They intended to take them prisoner as proof of their sincerity and surrender to the Eighth Route Army.

As the puppet troops collapsed and rebelled, Yellow Cliff Cave Town was left with virtually no power capable of resisting the First Battalion’s assault.

An hour later.

The gunfire gradually subsided, leaving only scattered shots.

Li Yunlong entered the town and saw the soldiers excitedly searching the battlefield. Only then did a faint smile appear on his face.

Capturing Yellow Cliff Cave Town so quickly had exceeded his expectations.

It also demonstrated that the First Battalion’s combat strength had improved considerably.

Zhang Dabiao jogged over to Li Yunlong and reported, “Commander, Yellow Cliff Cave Town has been completely secured. Our casualties are light.”

“There’s one more unusual matter. Two platoons of puppet troops rebelled. As proof of their allegiance, they captured a Japanese second lieutenant and the puppet battalion commander.”

“How should we deal with them?”

“Hand them over to the Special Operations Company for practice and interrogation.”

“Since they have rebelled, reorganize them. If they perform well in the battles to come, we can absorb them into our ranks.”

“Understood!”

Zhang Dabiao nodded.

For the sake of security, Li Yunlong had the defectors subjected to a loyalty screening. Only after confirming that they were genuine did he give them a chance to redeem themselves through meritorious service.

Fifteen minutes later.

Zhang Dabiao came to Li Yunlong and said, “Commander, we have the results of the interrogation.”