Listening to the roar sounding behind the Japanese temporary camp, the soldiers of the reconnaissance team who were staying in the buffer zone could not help but be shocked. It seemed that the previous few mortar shells made these Japanese angry.

If the situation is wrong, then withdraw quickly!

As the Japanese infantry artillery squadron opened fire first, they shot the shells to the buffer zone without targets. The scouts who slipped down from the blocking positions also brought their weapons and returned to the position with the falling artillery fire.

The reconnaissance battalion commander who was staying on the blocking position also looked at the artillery fire in the sky below the mountain and couldn't help but laugh and scold: "These brats are really good at bullying the Japanese. You know, the rabbit is still biting people if they are too anxious! Let's take it off now!"

Zhu Xinwen, who had been staying next to him, said with a little concern: "Captain Liu, isn't our comrades have something to do?"

‘Don’t worry! Unless you are not lucky, this kind of scattered artillery will not pose too much threat to them. But if they do this, we will also prepare for the battle. I guess the Japanese will start an attack.’

In fact, with the 116th Division's main force entering Zhengzhou City, the mission of blocking positions outside the city has ended. It is only because so much effort has been spent to build this blocking position, and it is naturally unlikely to not use it.

For this reason, whether the Japanese attack was early or postponed, they were actually inevitably going to fight with the Japanese. Fortunately, during the day, the officers and soldiers on the positions were resting well, and they would not suffer any losses in the night battle.

In contrast, the Japanese who did not get enough rest had to fight in the night, which undoubtedly suffered a lot in terms of physical strength and mental health. This is also why the reconnaissance battalion sent a harassing team after nightfall.

As the reconnaissance battalion commander expected, as the infantry artillery squadron launched artillery fire counterattack. Looking at the Eighth Route Army running wildly under the flames, the Japanese army on duty also knew that the guys who fired cold guns had finally retreated.

However, this bombardment made all the Japanese soldiers who had just rested for a while, ran out of the temporary camp. The feeling of just getting ready to rest and being woken up in a hurry made many soldiers feel a little irritated.

Unfortunately, not many people paid attention to the mood of these soldiers. Sakai, who convened the brigade captain to hold a meeting, also issued an order to attack in advance at the right time. This also means that the previous rest order was cancelled.

Hearing Sakai's order, an infantry corps captain who came to reinforce said in time: "General, our corps has not yet been rested. If we fight continuously, will it seem too anxious?"

'Your regiment is the reserve team of the headquarters, and the offensive matters will be left to the infantry of our brigade. But you are afraid you will not have time to rest next. For the safety of the camp, the periphery guard mission will be left to you.

Colonel Yasuda, I know your unit has worked hard all the way, but you also saw the previous situation. Those damn Eighth Route Army did not allow us to rest well. So we could only attack in advance.

At the least, we must drive them back to the city. Only in this way can we rest with peace of mind. Most importantly, the current battlefield situation does not allow us to waste time. The main force of the Eighth Route Army may arrive in Zhengzhou at any time!’

It is clear that the corps commander sent by this division to reinforce does not actually belong to his infantry brigade. Sakai naturally has to give the other party some face to reinforcements sent by such divisions. But as a commander, his authority cannot be provoked!

‘Hi! I understand!’

Seeing that Sakai had already said this, Colonel Yasuda didn't have much to say. In fact, Yasuda also knew the intention of Doihara to send him over, and it was somewhat of a sense of supervision.

At present, Sakai asked the wing he brought to act as a reserve force to be responsible for the safety of the camp. This also means that the next task of attacking the opponent's blocking position will be the responsibility of Sakai's brigade troops.

With the issuance of combat orders, the Japanese temporary camp, which had originally seemed quiet, soon became lively. The scouts who had been staying nearby soon knew that the Japanese army was about to start an attack.

The Japanese artillery camp, which was defended by heavy troops, soon took the lead in launching artillery bombardment on the blocking position as the vanguard of the infantry brigade. As the first wave of artillery fire came, the officers and soldiers on the position quickly retreated into the nearest anti-aircraft pit.

Listening to the explosion sounded outside the pit, many officers and soldiers of the Third Regiment of the Guards also truly realized what the veterans of the reconnaissance battalion said during the day. The artillery bombardment during the day was just a tentative artillery bombardment by the Japanese, and it was not considered a real artillery bombardment at all.

The deafening explosions at this moment also made these garrison officers and soldiers who had just passed through the battlefield understand how terrible artillery fire was on the battlefield. Even if they stayed in the tunnel, they still felt that they were trembling all over.

On the other hand, the experienced veterans said calmly: "Okay, the artillery fire of the Japanese cannons will be fun. Our fortifications are very strong, and their shells cannot be penetrated, so you are very safe.

If you are all scared now, when the Japanese artillery bombardment is over, we will go out and hold our positions. At that time, it will be the time to truly see the truth. New recruits, let me tell you one thing, the more afraid of death comes to the battlefield, the easier it is to die.

You must learn to be calm and forget to be afraid. Only when you calm down and hold the weapons in your hands can you have hope of survival. When you go to the battlefield, don’t be afraid. The more you fear the more you panic, the more likely you will die, do you understand?"

‘Well, I understand! Thank you brother!’

The polite recruits nodded gratefully, indicating that they understood. But even though they understood, they could still feel their bodies shaking and their palms holding guns were sweating. This kind of practical battle was not something that anyone could adapt to.

In the war years, when new recruits transform into veterans, they need to go through the trials of blood and smoke. Only by experiencing the test of blood and fire can these young recruits truly understand the cruelty of the battlefield and truly transform into veterans with practical experience.

The crazy shelling that lasted nearly half an hour made many soldiers staying in the tunnel feel that their ears have lost their hearing. Very much from the soldiers' ears, except for the buzzing sound, it seems that they can no longer hear any other sounds.

At this moment, a rapid whistle came from outside the tunnel. The veterans who had originally closed their eyes and rested turned over and roared: "All get up, hurry up! The Japanese are coming up soon! Hurry up, all are quicker!"

On the position, whistles and trumpets often mean orders. In the state of complete ignorance of some new recruits, these veterans pulled and pulled them out of the tunnel and began to enter the blocking trenches they were responsible for.

Seeing the many collapsed trenches after being ravaged by artillery fire, these veterans also said quickly: "Don't lie down, quickly repair these fortifications. Remember, if you want to survive on the battlefield, fortifications are also something that can save your life.

While the Japanese have to come up, they need some time to repair the fortifications and repair the trench. They may be able to save your life later. Hurry up, don’t stand there, strengthen the fortifications quickly!”

While talking, the veterans of the reconnaissance battalion were holding the shovels placed in the cat's ear piercing and quickly repaired and reinforced the collapsed fortifications. Under the circumstances of some people's guidance, these soldiers of the garrison regiment could naturally follow suit.

When the Eighth Route Army strengthened and repaired the fortifications that were collapsed, an infantry brigade responsible for the first round of attack also raised his waist and touched the blocking position in a scattered line. Even though the vision was not good, many Japanese soldiers walked carefully.

At this moment, in addition to the sound of shovel excavation and slapping on the blocking position, some full-time scouts were listening carefully to the movement of the positions ahead. Even in front of the position, there were some burning scattered flames.

Just as they entered the shooting range of 200 meters, many attacking Japanese troops suddenly kicked some empty canned boxes. The sound of ding-dong dong seemed particularly harsh when both sides were suppressed.

Just as the Japanese military officers were about to order soldiers to be careful of their feet, the sound of ding-dong dong was just like contagious, and soon resounded in the Japanese marching team. This made many Japanese soldiers feel that they were afraid of being exposed.

The warning sentry who also heard the sound quickly passed by: "The Japanese are here to prepare for battle!"

The voice of sentries came out. Many soldiers who were originally strengthening the fortifications threw the shovel into the cat's ear piercing. The guns placed next to the tunnel were quickly mounted on the trench that had just been leveled and repaired, quietly waiting for the order to fire the gun.

When there were more ding-dong sounds on the position, the company commander in charge said, "Try two flares!"

The signal soldiers staying next to the company commander quickly shot out two flares into the sky in front. As the flares soared into the air, they touched the Japanese soldiers blocking the position with their waists, and immediately felt something was wrong.

At this moment, the squad leader in countless trenches shouted: "Fight!"

The machine gunners who were ready to shoot pointed their guns at the Japanese formations with relatively dense numbers as the flares flew into the air. As for the other riflesmen, they each locked their own shooting targets.

As the sound of "beating" came, all the soldiers on the position quickly pulled the trigger in their hands. The intertwined bullet flames shot towards the exposed Japanese soldiers like insignificant meteors.

The Japanese army, who were also not slow to react, launched an attack when they saw the flares rising into the air. The bullets in the hands of the soldiers on both sides were like two convective flames, which made the entire blocking position shrouded in a fiery red color.

The commanders of both sides were watching the first collision between the two sides calmly. However, compared to the calmness of the reconnaissance battalion commander, Sakai, who was staying at the foot of the mountain to watch the battle, seemed somewhat shocked. He truly realized that this Eighth Route Army was very unusual.

Ordinary national troops are very uncomfortable with night battles. Few troops will be assigned to things like flares. However, the troops guarding the blocking positions in front of them can occasionally shoot flares to provide reference for shooters.

In this case, as the attacking side, it is undoubtedly a great loss! This also means that if you want to take down the blocking position in front of you, it will probably hurt his brigade!
Chapter completed!