Saito’s Detachment, while approaching the 341 Highland, was decimated by intense shelling and gunfire, leaving over 200 Japanese soldiers dead.
By now, this once full-fledged detachment was reduced to about 600 soldiers, with nearly half of them casualties.
Normally, the first wave of artillery strikes would inflict the most damage, with subsequent shelling causing minimal casualties as the enemy takes cover. The primary purpose of the later shelling is to suppress enemy firepower.
However, this ambush at Niu Jiao Peak was different.
As the Japanese soldiers approached the 341 Highland, they lacked proper organization, resulting in tight formations. This made them easy targets, with a single artillery shell often taking out several Japanese soldiers.
Furthermore, the use of the “bullet curtain” tactic effectively targeted the Japanese soldiers, maximizing casualties. The artillery shells seemed to have eyes, chasing after the retreating Japanese.
Add to this the attacks by the Guard Company and the 1st Battalion, and the swift loss of an entire company of Saito’s Detachment was no surprise.
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“We’re almost there. Soon, we can utilize the cover of the 341 Highland to form our ranks and set up artillery positions to counter-attack!”
Saito Hiroyuki looked at the 341 Highland, mere steps away, with a glimmer of hope in his eyes.
Bang!
At that moment, a bullet, fired from afar, struck his forehead, abruptly ending his plans for revenge.
As consciousness faded, Saito Hiroyuki saw the soldiers of the 811 Regiment, already in ambush on the 341 Highland, unleashing a torrent of fire.
A storm of bullets rained down, their intensity far surpassing the main position at Niu Jiao Peak.
“It’s over, Saito’s Detachment is finished! The guns and artillery at Niu Jiao Peak were merely a whip, driving them deeper into the abyss!”
In his final moments, Saito Hiroyuki finally understood everything, dying a knowledgeable ghost.
The sudden, overwhelming firepower from the 341 Highland caught the Japanese soldiers, who were still recovering from the shelling, completely off guard.
This barrage resulted in the deaths of nearly 300 Japanese soldiers, and Saito Hiroyuki’s demise left them leaderless, like headless flies.
Even if some lower-ranking officers managed to stand and attempt to organize a counter-attack, it was unlikely to be effective.
“Good! Good shot! Who took out that Japanese Lieutenant Colonel?”
In the Niu Jiao Peak command post, Xiao Yun looked through the binoculars, observing the Japanese Lieutenant Colonel who had been shot in the forehead, and couldn’t help but shout in approval.
The death of this Japanese Lieutenant Colonel had crippled their command structure, making it even more difficult to organize an effective resistance.
However, this meant that Liu Hu’s 812 Regiment, tasked with mopping up the remaining forces, might be left with nothing to do.
Once this battle is over, this kid will be complaining to the division headquarters again.
With victory assured, Xiao Yun began to contemplate matters outside the battle.
Putting down the binoculars, he gave the final order for the general attack.
“Sound the charge! The 1st Battalion and the Guard Company, charge down! Work with the 811 Regiment to reap the harvest!”
“Also, the big fish has taken the bait! Order Li Yunlong and Kong Jie to finish the job and eliminate those two remaining Japanese companies!”
“Yes, Division Commander!”
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With the resounding charge signal, the soldiers surged down the mountain like tigers unleashed.
During the charge, machine guns, submachine guns, and even the Type 26 automatic rifle provided continuous firepower suppression.
The 811 Regiment on the 341 Highland also sounded the charge signal.
Over 2,000 soldiers, under the cover of light and heavy machine guns, charged down the mountain at the Japanese forces.
The remaining 300 Japanese soldiers, after the forced march and multiple rounds of heavy fire, were already at their wit's end.
Combined with the loss of their leadership, they were forced to fight individually, unable to mount a cohesive resistance.
The supposedly formidable Type 92 heavy machine guns and Type 92 infantry guns had no chance to even deploy, completely outmaneuvered by Xiao Yun’s plan.
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“Quick! Don’t waste time talking to these devils! If you can kill them with bullets, don’t use bayonets!
Remember what the Division Commander said, you can get more bullets, but if you lose your life, what’s left to fight with?!”
The frontline commanders constantly emphasized Xiao Yun’s instructions to the soldiers.
Therefore, the soldiers fired at the Japanese soldiers on sight, without any consideration for chivalry or Bushido.
These beasts deserved no mercy, and bullets were the best way to teach them a lesson!
Under the combined charge of the 811 Regiment, the 1st Battalion, and the Guard Company, totalling nearly 3,000 soldiers.
The resistance of those remaining 300 Japanese soldiers, lacking even heavy firepower, was weak and insignificant, easily crushed by the relentless assault of the Chinese soldiers.
Soon, not a single Japanese soldier remained standing on the mountain below Niu Jiao Peak.
With minimal casualties, Xiao Yun’s 399 Division, using only one regiment, one battalion, one guard company, and an artillery battery, had wiped out an entire full-strength Japanese detachment.
This was an unprecedented feat in the history of the Chinese resistance war!