Soon, the skilled gunners of the 1st Artillery Company calculated the coordinates of the Japanese artillery positions based on the trajectory of the shells.
Based on these coordinates, the four 92-type infantry guns adjusted their angles and positions.
Similarly, the dozen or so mortars of the 2nd and 3rd Artillery Companies, which had completed their setup, were also being adjusted based on the coordinates.
"1st Company, ready!"
"2nd Company, ready!"
"3rd Company, ready!"
"Prepare to fire! Fire!"
With Zhang Jixian's order, one by one, the cannons roared. The first salvo of a dozen shells slammed into the Japanese artillery positions.
Soon came the second salvo, the third salvo...
.....................
At the Japanese artillery position, the Japanese Lieutenant Colonel, who had thought he could completely destroy the National Revolutionary Army's artillery positions outside the city, was caught off guard after the outpost reported the unusual situation.
Although arrogant and conceited, he wasn't a fool. On the contrary, his military skills were quite solid. Naturally, he knew he had fallen into the enemy's trap.
He immediately ordered a change of position. Unfortunately, although the 92-type infantry gun was known for its lightweight design, it couldn't compare to the mortar, which could be carried by a single person.
The entire company of Japanese soldiers used all their strength to drag the cannons only about ten meters to the side.
But what good was ten meters?
Normally, artillery fire could deviate by as much as ten meters. They had essentially moved for nothing.
Even with the Japanese Lieutenant Colonel's frantic efforts, it was too late. At this moment, the sharp whistle of shells cutting through the air reached his ears.
It's over!
At this moment, only this thought echoed in the Japanese Lieutenant Colonel's mind.
If he had a second chance, he would never have underestimated the National Revolutionary Army, and he would not have lost his entire artillery company because of his arrogance.
The artillery battalion gave him time to regret, but no chance to change his fate.
Shell after shell rained down on the Japanese artillery position, creating a sea of fire, playing a symphony of steel and iron.
The precious Japanese artillerymen, once cherished, were now like torn rag dolls under this barrage.
Their cannons, which they considered more important than their lives, were continually destroyed. Finally, a shell landed squarely on a pile of scattered ammunition boxes.
Boom!
A deafening explosion rang out. The entire artillery position seemed to ignite into a giant fireball, engulfing everything within.
It was a chain reaction, and all the Japanese soldiers at the artillery position were sent to their demise, leaving no survivors.
The six 92-type infantry guns were also blown to pieces. If the barrels had been longer, they might have been twisted into a mess.
............................
"Chain reaction!"
At the artillery battalion's position outside the city, the soldiers watched the giant fireball that could be seen clearly from miles away and listened to the roar coming from the direction of the explosion.
They knew it must have been the ammunition piled up at the Japanese artillery position detonating. They erupted in cheers.
A relaxed smile spread across the face of the artillery battalion commander, Zhang Jixian. With such a massive chain reaction, the Japanese artillery company was finished!
Their artillery battalion would no longer face any counter-fire and could now freely bombard the Japanese soldiers in the city of Shuozhou!
The artillery battalion ceased fire, turned their guns towards the city walls, where Japanese soldiers were still resisting the attacking soldiers with light and heavy machine guns and grenade launchers.
The Japanese soldiers' firepower weakened under the suppression of artillery fire. Sensing the weakening of the Japanese counterattack.
The soldiers of the 811th Regiment, the New 1st Regiment, and the Independent Regiment surged forward like caged tigers, roaring with rage.
They seemed to want to cut the Japanese soldiers in half!
..................................
"Prepare to fire! Fire!"
Wuyun Ridge, 812th Regiment's blocking position.
The Japanese 1st Battalion had been subjected to fierce attacks by the 812th Regiment. They had tried to attack numerous times, even employing their famous "Banzai" charge, but they still couldn't break through the 812th Regiment's defenses.
This caused great anxiety for the Japanese battalion commander, who had received a death order to reinforce Shuozhou at all costs.
To break through Wuyun Ridge, the two 92-type infantry guns belonging to the 1st Battalion's artillery squad had been assembled and were pouring shells onto the 812th Regiment's blocking position.
"Cheng Sang, your puppet regiment will attack alongside the Imperial Army later!"
Looking at the explosions erupting on the Wuyun Ridge position, the Japanese battalion commander lowered his binoculars and said to the puppet regiment commander standing beside him, who was bowing and scraping.
The puppet regiment commander dared not object. Even if he was reluctant and wanted to preserve his strength, he couldn't defy the Japanese.
He could see that the Japanese had gone mad in their effort to reinforce Shuozhou City. If he dared to utter a single word of dissent, they would pull out their guns and shoot him dead.