Chapter 73 An Empty Camp
On the other side, Keiichi Furukawa was angrily reprimanding several of his subordinates.
Half an hour had passed and they had not been able to break through the enemy's defense line, and they had lost more than 100 imperial soldiers. Such a result really did not satisfy him.
At this time, a scout in plain clothes hurried over.
He bowed sharply to Keiichi Furukawa and said, "Captain, according to my reconnaissance, the independent battalion's base seems to be on fire!"
"What? Why did the independent battalion's base catch fire?"
Keiichi Furukawa was stunned. They had not yet broken through the enemy's defense line, so how could the enemy's base catch fire?
Suddenly, he reacted: "Damn it! These damn Chinese know they can't win, they want to escape!"
"First Squadron, Second Squadron, continue to attack and try to break through the enemy's defense line in the shortest possible time!"
"Third and fourth squadrons, you must break through the enemy's flank defenses as quickly as possible and block the Chinese's escape route!"
"Hayi!"
Several Japanese messengers responded in unison and then turned and left.
…
The scene moves to the independent camp.
At this time, the monk hurried over. Led by a messenger, he found Yang Lin, saluted him and reported: "Report to the battalion commander, the second and third companies, the cavalry company and other units have received orders to rush towards the Yerengou direction."
"In addition, the reconnaissance company is fending off the enemy's attack on the flank and cannot escape for the time being, so they have not yet headed to Yerengou."
"Um!"
Yang Lin nodded to show that he understood. He saw that the time was ripe, so he ordered Ma Gan next to him: "Captain of the first company, the second and third companies, the cavalry company and the artillery company have already set up an ambush in Yerengou.
When the Japanese launch a new round of attack, you pretend to be defeated and lead a company to block the enemy layer by layer by relying on favorable terrain, fighting and retreating, and attracting the Japanese to the direction of Yerengou. "
"yes!"
Ma Gan straightened his body and responded loudly.
"Monk, go to the reconnaissance company and tell them that after the first company evacuates from the Zhaojiawan position, they should immediately rush over to join them and retreat together towards Yerengou!"
"yes!"
The monk responded, turned around and ran towards the warhorse tied not far away.
Then, Yang Lin also rode his warhorse and rushed towards Yerengou. This ambush had to be commanded by him personally so that he could be sure to wipe out the invading Japanese in one fell swoop.
…
Almost as soon as Yang Lin left, the Japanese launched a new round of attacks.
Following Yang Lin's instructions, Ma Gan fought and retreated, relying on the favorable terrain, fighting and retreating, blocking the enemy layer by layer, and engaging in guerrilla warfare with the Japanese.
Furukawa Keiichi had seen through the enemy's intentions early on. After breaking through the Zhaojiawan defense line, he immediately stopped the pursuit of the squadrons and ordered them: "Ignore the harassment of these small groups of enemies. They are buying time for the main force to move!"
"Launch an attack on the independent battalion's base!"
"Hurry, hurry!"
After receiving the order, the captains of each Japanese squadron no longer engaged in a fight with the first company and the reconnaissance company, but turned around and rushed straight towards the independent battalion's base.
Keiichi Furukawa came to the high ground of Zhaojiawan. With the help of the firelight, he could vaguely see the independent battalion’s base 1 kilometer away.
Although several barracks were already on fire, there were still many buildings standing in the night. He thought that the people in the independent battalion had not yet withdrawn, so he shouted at the top of his voice: "Messenger!"
When the Japanese messenger heard Keiichi Furukawa's voice, he immediately ran over, bowed and stood in front of him waiting for instructions.
"Captain, please give me your instructions!"
Furukawa Kei said expressionlessly : "Order the artillery squad to immediately attack the independent battalion station ahead!"
"Hayi!"
The Japanese messenger nodded suddenly and then ran away.
Soon, the artillery team received orders and they immediately set up mortar positions on suitable terrain.
It is worth mentioning that the Japanese artillery squads were equipped with 90mm caliber mortars, commonly known as small steel cannons.
This mortar is light and easy to carry, but very powerful.
The Japanese artillery squad leader raised his command knife and swung it forward vigorously, shouting: "Target, the Chinese Independent Battalion Headquarters ahead! Attack!"
The mortar's firing angle had been adjusted, and the ammunition handlers immediately picked up the shells and loaded them into the barrel.
"Bang!"
“Boom boom boom!—”
The sound of shells being fired was resounding.
After one round of salvos, the Japanese artillery quickly launched the second and third rounds of salvos...
Dense artillery shells fell towards the independent battalion’s base like a meteorite rain.
"boom!"
“Boom boom boom!——”
The shells exploded suddenly, and rows of barracks and the houses of the surrounding villagers collapsed in the scarlet flames, turning into ruins.
With wave after wave of artillery shells raining down, the entire Wu Village became the target of the Japanese bombing. It was devastated in a short time, and all kinds of burning building fragments were scattered everywhere with the shock wave of the explosion.
In his field of vision, Keiichi Furukawa saw that the entire Wu Village, including the independent battalion’s base, had turned into a sea of fire, and a hint of satisfaction immediately appeared on his gloomy face.
If he could destroy this independent battalion that had repeatedly brought shame to the Imperial Army in one fell swoop, especially if he could kill that damn Yang Lin, then he, Keiichi Furukawa, would surely become a favorite of Commander Yoshio Shinozuka.
Not only can you get the 100,000 cash reward, but you will also be one step closer to promotion.
"Warriors of the Empire, attack the Independent Battalion Headquarters!"
"Kill the chicken, kill the chicken!!!"
When the artillery launched the bombardment, the Japanese infantry had already suspended their charge. When they heard the order, they immediately rushed towards the independent battalion’s base in groups.
"Kill all the Chinese soldiers, charge!"
"His Majesty the Emperor, please board!"
"Imperial Japanese Army on board!"
The faces of the charging Japanese soldiers revealed undisguised madness, and everyone wanted to be the first to rush into the independent battalion’s base and take the first credit.
As we all know, the Japanese army's infantry-artillery coordination tactics, as well as infantry-tank coordination tactics, were very mature.
Almost wherever the infantry rushes, artillery shells can provide support.
Therefore, even though the bombing has not stopped at this time, there is no need to worry about accidental injuries.
The heavy artillery fire continued for a while, and then the sound gradually stopped.
As soon as the artillery fire stopped, the Japanese infantry quickly rushed to the entrance of Wu Village.
The entire Wu Village had been almost razed to the ground under repeated artillery bombardment, with clusters of flames burning on the collapsed wooden buildings.
The Japanese soldiers quickly occupied Wu Village and the independent battalion’s base.
But after searching everywhere, there was no sign of a single person, let alone a ghost, in the huge Wu Village.
The Japanese squadron leader on the front line immediately ran back and reported the situation at the independent battalion’s base to the battalion commander Keiichi Furukawa.
"Report to the captain, all the people stationed at the Chinese Army Independent Battalion have been relocated. This is an empty camp!"
So many artillery shells were wasted, and in the end, they occupied a worthless empty camp.
When the old Japanese named Keiichi Furukawa heard this, he was so angry that he almost vomited blood.
"Bakayar! Where did these damn Chinese go?"
