Chapter 443 There Is a Mountain Between Me and Mao Hang

Facts have proved that the 35th Division, which controls the four railway transportation lines of Longhai, Pinghan, Daoqing and Xinkai, is indeed qualified to be called the strongest mobile force of the North China Front Army.

However, there are gains and losses.

When the 1st Marine Brigade destroyed the transportation network in the enemy-occupied area, the Japanese who were accustomed to using the convenience of railways completely became crippled. It is not an exaggeration to say that they were beaten back to their original form.

The 17th Infantry Battalion sent by Shigeta Tokumatsu to support Xinxiang Airport is a typical example.

······

Qiyiji Railway Station in the middle of Xinkai Line.

Looking at a group of deaf and dumb soldiers in front of him, the Japanese Major Kodaira Keizaburo, who was forced to stay at the transfer point along the way, felt a sudden rise of anger in his heart.

"Baga! You guys are just useless people waiting to die, you are blood-sucking worms parasitic in the army of our brother country of Japan!"

"Two-fifths of the total mileage of 88.68 kilometers of railway was destroyed by the enemy overnight. Are your eyes and ears all for show?"

"No matter what means I use, I want to see the new line open to traffic in the shortest possible time. Otherwise! All of you incompetent pigs should commit seppuku to apologize!"

Although he had not yet officially fought with the 1st Marine Brigade, Keizaburo Kodaira knew that the enemy was the elite force of the Eighth Route Army, and was definitely not comparable to the Central Army of the First War Zone of the Preserved Fruit.

If he missed the military opportunity here, he might not even have the chance to collect the bodies of his friendly forces. How could he not be anxious?

The angry roar of his superior made the Japanese lieutenant, who was in the wrong, quickly use his tried-and-tested killer move 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 works all the time. No matter how correct your attitude is in admitting your mistakes, it can't change the bad situation.

Facing the servile subordinate, Kodaira Keizaburo first rewarded him with a big bag, and then ordered him fiercely:

"Baga! If you have time to shout slogans, you might as well think about how to remedy the situation! Now you take your men to requisition the livestock and motor vehicles in the town!"

"I only give you one hour, otherwise."

Just when the old devil was about to say a few more harsh words, an officer who was dressed completely different from everyone present suddenly pushed open the door of the transfer station meeting room.

The uninvited guest held a submachine gun, and a row of arc-shaped magazines were inserted on the chest of his combat uniform. On his shoulders, he hung 8 Type 97 grenades in a crazy way.

Such fierce individual firepower immediately made the ordinary infantrymen who had not seen much of the world gasp.

It is worth mentioning that the submachine gun carried by this person is very unique. The bayonet handle and bipod that show a non-mainstream atmosphere are completely contrary to the concept of close combat firearms.

"You are, you are Colonel Mashiko? I didn't expect to meet you in such a place!"

As if guessing the true identity of the visitor, Kodaira Keizaburo stepped forward with a flattering face and started to talk. The arrogance just now had disappeared without a trace.

The Mashiko Advance Team, originally affiliated with the First Army of the North China Front Army, was the successor of the Yamamoto Special Forces.

During the Battle of Zhongtiao Mountain, the 36th Division was defeated in the southern part of Shanxi. In order to save his life and leave the seeds of special operations, Shigeo Mashiko led his men to escape to the friendly territory.

Later, the Marine Brigade, which had repeatedly made extraordinary achievements, became a rising star in the Asian battlefield.

Adhering to the idea of ​​losing the battle but not losing the people, the 35th Division simply expanded this advance team, intending to use them to fight to the death with the Eighth Route Army paratroopers.

After being recognized, Shigeo Mashiko nodded very proudly, and then ordered the 17th Infantry Battalion:

"I heard all the conversation just now. Since you have delayed the military plane, you might as well follow my troops to act together. Anyway, Xinxiang Airport is most likely in the hands of the enemy."

"The enemy is powerful, far beyond your poor imagination."

After these words came out, Kodaira Keizaburo felt that he suddenly realized the meaning of a bright future. Being temporarily recruited by a superior with special voice, it is not considered dereliction of duty, it is too reasonable!

As for the disdain in Shigeo Mashiko's tone?

It doesn't matter. This colonel has always been crazy, and he always talks about the fact that there is no hero in the world. It is better to be a dog than to commit seppuku, and it is better to live a miserable life than to die a good death.

"Yoshi!"

"Colonel, it's an honor to fight side by side with the advance team! You will be in charge of my infantry battalion in this operation."

Hearing this, Mashiko Shigeo did not refuse the other party's "good intentions" and nodded with satisfaction.

The mission of their advance team is to sneak into Zhongtiao Mountain secretly, find and destroy the logistics supply station of the Eighth Route Army. In the absence of intelligence and uncertainty about the enemy's troop deployment, more pathfinders are more guarantees.

"Okay, then I'd rather obey than respect. As for the division commander, I will personally send a telegram to explain the situation in a while, so please don't worry, Mr. Xiaoping."

"After the supplies are replenished, we will set off from the Zhenbei Road on time, aiming at Jiaozuo!"

······

An hour later, Mashiko's advance team and the 17th Infantry Battalion left Qiyiji hand in hand.

Because they were still in the occupied area, they very high-profile requisitioned a large number of animal power in the city for transportation, and they felt a bit like a large army when marching.

Soon after the Japanese left the city, a buzzing sound suddenly came from the northwest sky, and then twelve beautiful fighter planes appeared in the field of vision.

"Enemy attack! Hide!"

As soon as he heard the strange sound, Shigeo Mashiko led his team members to the side. He had experienced the Battle of Zhongtiao Mountain, so he naturally knew what would happen next.

However, the actions of the 17th Infantry Battalion were much slower.

When the Japanese heard the order and prepared to act, 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 Shigeo Mashiko hid in the natural shelter, he heard a series of explosions.

Looking back, he saw bombs falling from the sky. The exploding fireballs devoured the lives of the infantrymen unscrupulously.

"Masaka! Is there a traitor among us? Who exposed the marching route of the troops! The enemy air force has a clear target, and someone must have provided accurate intelligence!"

In the following time, dozens of high-explosive bombs fell one after another.

Both the Mashiko Advance Team and the 17th Infantry Battalion could only hide in the bunkers and tremble, praying to Amaterasu to protect them from enemy bombs.

As for retreat or transfer, it was impossible.

Their current location was flat, and once they left the hiding place, they would become live targets for fighter planes, and then they would be hit by large-caliber machine guns.

Shigeo Mashiko saw with his own eyes that a squadron in the rear position tried to transfer, but was smashed into pieces by two planes, and only two seriously injured soldiers survived.

······

"Captain Wang, it's really fun to cooperate with the 1st Marine Brigade. If every mission can save the tedious reconnaissance steps, I can send as many sorties a day as I want."

"This Mashiko Advance Team is really overestimating its own capabilities. What kind of rotten fish and shrimp dare to touch our paratroopers."

Looking at the Japanese infantry blown up by high-explosive bombs below, the pilots of the Second Air Division who set off from Xinxiang Airport said excitedly while dropping bombs.

Hearing the key words, Captain Wang Hai, who is usually known for his gentle character, rarely flashed a fierce look in his eyes.

In May 1942, coupled with the notorious Mashiko Advance Team. These two seemingly unrelated groups reminded him of some past events that he didn't want to mention.

After a moment, he thought for a while and ordered in the communication channel:

"Contact Xinxiang Airport, the second batch of close ground support aircraft will be dispatched immediately, and the group of devils below must not be let go! After the battle is over, I will ask the deputy chief of staff to give us a meal!"

"Send a telegram to the 1st Marine Brigade, and inform Deputy Brigade Commander Xing that they should move closer to Qiyiji. After the bombing operation is over, the ground forces will end the battle!"

The current battlefield is not far from Xinxiang, with a flight distance of only a few dozen kilometers. It only takes half an hour from takeoff to the start of the battle.

Moreover, it is sunny today and the sky is blue. In such weather, the aerial vision is excellent, which makes the effect of close ground support aircraft bombing the plain even better.

If it were in a certain white-haired naval game, this would mean that there was only a mountain between me and Maohang.

In the next hour, Xinxiang Airport dispatched a total of 60 sorties, dropping more than 20 tons of bombs on the Mashiko Advance Team and the 17th Infantry Battalion.

Faced with almost uninterrupted bombing, the Japanese soldiers who lacked field anti-aircraft weapons had no power to fight back. They could only wait for an opportunity to retreat to the towns in the rear, trying to use the people to make the Eighth Route Army Air Force afraid.

Unfortunately, the paratroopers who came to encircle them would not give the enemy a chance to resist.

Under the command of Xing Zhiguo, the soldiers completely ended the battle half an hour after the air force ended the bombing, and the 1st Marine Brigade successfully defended the ring again. (End of this chapter)