“Listen up, you bastards!”
“We, the 13th Infantry Division, are a newly formed unit, most of you are greenhorns who haven't seen combat.”
“But our junior officers and senior officers, including me, have seen battle and served under the Commander-in-Chief.”
“Our machine guns and artillery are no less than any other infantry division.”
“I don't believe we're weaker than any other infantry division.”
“Do you guys have one less egg than the men in other infantry divisions?”
On the city wall of Dacheng, Major General Lei Zhenchun, commander of the 13th Infantry Division, roared loudly, his voice echoing throughout the city.
The soldiers were busy reinforcing the city walls, digging trenches outside the city walls, laying mines, and putting up barbed wire.
Hearing Major General Lei Zhenchun's question, they shouted back in unison: "No! We're no worse than any other infantry division!"
“Good! This upcoming battle, fight it well for me! Let those other infantry divisions know that we, the 13th Infantry Division, are no pushovers!” Lei Zhenchun roared.
“Yes, Division Commander!” The soldiers answered in unison.
The fighting spirit of the 13th Infantry Division was ignited at this moment.
The 13th Infantry Division consisted of three infantry regiments, one artillery regiment, one cavalry squadron, one reconnaissance squadron, one logistics battalion, one engineer battalion, and other division-level units.
Each of the three infantry regiments had three infantry battalions.
After discussing with Brigadier General Li Jingcheng, the Chief of Staff, Major General Lei Zhenchun decided to deploy one infantry battalion on each of the four city walls. Another infantry battalion would be deployed outside the city walls, close to the city walls.
The remaining infantry battalion and the other division-level units would serve as reserves.
This was primarily because the city walls of Dacheng were relatively low. By extending the defense line outward, more troops could be deployed on the defense line, thus maximizing the firepower advantage of the Beiyang Army.
On March 17, 178**9, the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Infantry Divisions of the Eastern Army had reached Qingxian, Dacheng, and Wen'an respectively.
The 1st and 3rd Infantry Divisions were responsible for containing the 5th and 7th Infantry Divisions of the Beiyang Army, which were deployed in Qingxian and Wen'an.
The 2nd Infantry Division of the Eastern Army was to launch an all-out attack on Dacheng, aiming to crush the 13th Infantry Division of the Beiyang Army in the shortest time possible, thus further strengthening the Eastern Army's advantage.
That morning, the 2nd Infantry Division of the Eastern Army was ready to attack.
“Your Excellency Division Commander, all infantry brigades, infantry regiments, and artillery regiments are ready for battle and can launch an attack at any time,” Colonel Sakamoto Junxi, Chief of Staff of the 2nd Infantry Division of the Eastern Army, reported.
“Excellent! Order the 2nd Artillery Regiment to immediately launch a massive artillery barrage against the Beiyang Army's positions. Afterwards, the 5th Infantry Regiment will be deployed to attack. I expect our Imperial warriors to break through the Beiyang Army's defenses and enter the city of Dacheng in the first wave of the attack!” ordered Lieutenant General Sakuma Soma, Division Commander of the 2nd Infantry Division of the Eastern Army.
“Hai, Division Commander!” Colonel Sakamoto Junxi answered.
Soon, the 2nd Field Artillery Regiment of the Eastern Army was ready to open fire.
One by one, the 70mm mountain guns and 70mm field guns were deployed into position.
At the regimental commander's command, 36 70mm mountain guns and 12 70mm field guns opened fire on the eastern defense line of the 13th Infantry Division of the Beiyang Army.
Shell after shell rained down on the Beiyang Army's defenses, exploding violently.
The Beiyang Army soldiers, who had been prepared for this, hid in their trenches and other shelters, suffering minimal casualties.
Immediately, the artillery regiment of the 13th Infantry Division of the Beiyang Army launched a counterattack.
The Beiyang Army's artillery had longer range and greater firepower.
Even though these cannons were deployed inside the city, they were sufficient to cover the Japanese artillery positions.
As the 24 105mm light howitzers and 48 75mm field guns of the Beiyang Army began firing, shells rained down heavily on the Japanese artillery positions.
“Whiz! Whiz!”
The shells tore through the air at high speed, emitting a sharp, piercing whistle.
The faces of the officers and soldiers of the 2nd Field Artillery Regiment of the Eastern Army turned pale.
Having lived with cannons all their lives, they naturally knew the sound of shells heading their way.
The Japanese artillerymen scattered and fled, but it was too late.
The shells rained down from the sky, hitting the Japanese artillery positions, causing violent explosions.
Fire erupted, smoke billowed, and the Japanese artillery positions were engulfed in flames in the blink of an eye.
In the midst of the violent explosions, Japanese cannons were destroyed, and artillerymen were blown to pieces.
In a very short time, the 2nd Field Artillery Regiment of the Eastern Army suffered heavy losses.
On the city wall of Dacheng, Major General Lei Zhenchun, commander of the 13th Infantry Division of the Beiyang Army, lowered his binoculars, a hint of sarcasm flashing in his eyes.
“So this is the Japanese? They're not so impressive after all!”