SWDnovel Chapter 200: The Kameda Regiment is Annihilated; the 3rd Column Wins its First Battle
Chapter 200: The Kameda Regiment is Annihilated; the 3rd Column Wins its First Battle
But as soon as they rushed out of their bunker, they were met with a hail of bullets.
The infantry of the Third Column, advancing in coordination with the tanks, fired their submachine guns and bolt-action rifles simultaneously, perfectly filling the firepower gaps and firing blind spots of the tanks.
All the Japanese soldiers who tried to approach the tanks were hit by a hail of bullets, their chests and heads exploding into clouds of blood mist, screaming as they fell on the way of their charge, becoming cold corpses on the battlefield.
Before the cluster grenade in his hand could be detonated, he fell into a pool of blood along with its owner.
The battle lasted only an hour.
On the main Japanese position, the Rising Sun Flag, which had been flying high, was snapped in two by a soldier with a creaking sound and fell to the ground.
Before long, a brand new flag of the Republic of China, with a blue sky, a white sun, and a red earth, rose slowly against the wind at the highest point of the position.
On the battlefield, cheers that echoed through the valley resounded from the soldiers.
With his remaining less than two hundred soldiers, Kamedaoka retreated in a disheveled state toward the second line of defense.
On the main battlefield, the bodies of nearly a thousand Japanese soldiers remained, their severed limbs scattered everywhere. The scorched earth was soaked in blood, making it sticky to walk on.
Embarrassed.
He felt more embarrassed than ever before.
despair.
It was also an unprecedented despair.
Only now did Kameda Oka finally understand why the 10th and 20th Divisions had suffered such heavy losses when facing Li Jianghe's troops.
The easily torn defenses and the corpses scattered everywhere are the most straightforward answers.
"Send a telegram to the division headquarters! Quickly!"
As Kamedaoka staggered backward, panting heavily, he roared at the communications soldier beside him. His voice had lost all its previous arrogance, leaving only an uncontrollable tremor.
"Requesting permission to break out! The enemy's armored forces are launching an overly aggressive offensive, and our troops are struggling to resist! Requesting immediate permission to break out!"
Gone is his former arrogance; now, only the most primal instinct for survival remains in Kamedaoka's eyes.
In the forward command post of the 88th Division, Sun Yuanliang held up his binoculars and stared dumbfounded at the fleeing remnants of the Japanese army.
It's fast, incredibly fast.
He had fought all morning, suffering thousands of casualties, but had not been able to budge the line in the slightest. In front of the armored forces of the Third Column, they were as fragile as paper and were completely torn apart in just one hour.
Sun Yuanliang's eyes widened, his mouth slightly agape, and he could barely hold onto the binoculars. He remained silent for a long time.
"Commander Sun, it seems our motorized infantry detachment has a good chance of annihilating the enemy before nightfall."
Wang Dayong turned his head to look at Sun Yuanliang, who was staring blankly at him, and said with a smile.
Sun Yuanliang suddenly came to his senses, forced an extremely awkward smile, and replied dryly.
"Yes...yes, your department is indeed invincible, truly invincible..."
Meanwhile, at the Japanese southern command post.
Ogisu Rippei and Iida Sadako stood side by side in front of the battle map, their faces ashen as they stared at the telegrams they had just translated.
"Requesting a retreat? Didn't he say in a telegram this morning that the defenses were foolproof? How long has it been, and the main position has already fallen?"
Ogishu Rippei's tone was filled with disbelief, astonishment, and anger.
Iida Sadaharu took a deep breath, his voice heavy as if filled with lead.
"It was the Third Column. Their troops took over the main attack mission, and after just one charge, Kamedaoka couldn't hold on. More than half of their troops were killed or wounded, and they had to retreat."
Ogishu Rippei suddenly turned around, staring intently at the mark of Fujinsan on the map, his brows furrowed.
"But if we retreat, all our previous advances will be for nothing! Can't he hold on a little longer? Reinforcements are less than three kilometers away!"
Iida Sadaharu remained silent for a moment before slowly speaking.
"I think it's going to be very difficult."
"While we still have some remaining troops, let him break through to the rear as soon as possible. Our support troops will switch to offense and continue advancing."
"Furthermore, this situation was caused by Kamedaoka's own underestimation of the enemy and recklessness. He should pay the price for his stupidity."
Ogizu Ritsubei paced back and forth in the command post with his hands behind his back, his face extremely grim.
"I never expected that this third column would have such terrifying combat power when fighting in the mountainous area."
No wonder His Excellency the Commander repeatedly warned us to be wary of this enemy tank force.
He stopped and finally gritted his teeth.
"Then let them retreat as soon as possible."
"Already surrounded on all sides, they've now drawn out the enemy's main armored force. I think the sacrifice of Kameda's regiment was somewhat worthwhile."
Upon hearing this, Iida Sadaharu smiled faintly and comforted himself.
"That's true. Before, the Third Column always kept a low profile, and we were worried every day that they would launch a surprise attack on our flanks and rear."
"Now that they are exposed on the front lines, as long as we are prepared and do not give the enemy any opportunity, we will always find a way to deal with them."
Half an hour later, in his makeshift shelter, Kamedaoka received a telegram from the division headquarters authorizing his retreat.
Looking at the words on the telegram, Kamedaoka merely twitched the corners of his mouth, revealing a bitter smile that was even more unsightly than crying.
Because he knew better than anyone that regardless of whether the division headquarters agreed to the retreat, they were already trapped.
Traces of enemy tank activity could be seen from all sides of the position, with the roar of engines coming from all directions; there were at least a hundred of them.
Not to mention that the surrounding high ground and the retreat roads behind were already filled with the firing points of the Third Column, as well as tank units responsible for interception.
A desperate situation.
This is a truly desperate situation.
"Colonel, I'm afraid... we really can't leave."
The wing staff officer watched the black smoke rising in the distance, listened to the roar of engines getting closer and closer, his nose filled with the acrid smell of burning diesel, his voice trembled, and his eyes were full of despair.
Kamedaoka took a deep breath, gripped the katana tightly, and the blade hummed slightly as he trembled.
He suddenly raised his head and gave his final order to the remaining soldiers, his tone filled with a desperate resolve.
"Split up and break through! I'll cover the rear!"
With that, he drew his katana from his waist with a "whoosh," the gleaming blade reflecting his ferocious and desperate face in the smoke-filled light.
The breakout has begun.
However, this already depleted and demoralized army was doomed to failure from the very beginning in its attempt to break out of the impenetrable encirclement.
Or rather, from the moment the Third Column took over the main attack, the fate of the Kameda Regiment was already sealed.
The sky was not yet completely dark, and the afterglow of the setting sun shone on the scorched earth of Fujin Mountain.
The Kameda Regiment, a Japanese unit that had penetrated deep into enemy territory, was completely annihilated under the crushing weight of tank tracks and the roar of machine guns mounted on the vehicles.
Locking in the twilight years of dark clouds, locking in, locking in every update of "I put you in charge of the Sihang Warehouse, and you brought out a German-equipped division."