Chapter 81: The Pinnacle

It's almost dark.

A fiery red sunset is slowly sliding down below the horizon. It is reflected in its last light and heat, and the entire world is covered with a light golden red color.

In this case, looking around, even the trenches that were blown into pieces, the still tenacious smoke, and the corpses that fell on the battlefield and no one had to clean up seemed to be written with the most cruel pigments such as the passing life.

He breathed deeply in the evening breeze mixed with the river's crossing, and smelled the unique smoke and bloody smell of the battlefield, Lieutenant General Takeuchi put his command knife in his hand, stood silently with his eyes closed for a long time before he let out a satisfied sigh.

No one knew about the officers following Lieutenant General Takeuchi Kura. Facing a position where they attacked for three consecutive days but still had not conquered them, and were filled with soldiers' bodies everywhere. What was the supreme commander of the 55th Division thinking? No one knew why a nearly intoxicating expression appeared on Lieutenant General Takeuchi Kura.

Only Takahashi Shinobu, who was following Takeuchi Hiroshi, understood that this young and powerful officer who was very ambitious and energetic, was respected by the military combat staff members as "Masato of Demon Swords" and became the leader of the division in his thirties. He was enjoying his spiritual feast.

"Master Takahashi Shin-shao," Lieutenant General Takeuchi did not open his eyes. He raised his head slightly, exposing himself to the air as much as possible to get closer contact with the temperature and breath left on the battlefield. His voice, at this time, was rarely gentle, "You think.

How are they?"

“Very strong!”

Major Takahashi Shinobu looked at the other side of the river, and the position that was smashed to pieces and was still standing in a position in just three days. He replied seriously: "From the scale, they probably only have one division, and there are no heavy artillery.

There is a lack of air defense weapons, and even heavy machine guns are pitifully rare.

Our division has 23,000 people and another aviation squadron to support it. With the remaining power of conquering Yangon, the capital of Myanmar, it can definitely be said to be as powerful as a magnificent and has a strong advantage. We should have made a concerted effort and easily break the enemy's arm and chariot-like trap.

However, it took us three days to break through their peripheral defense circle. This is enough to show that we meet the ground opponent here, which is very different from the previous one. "

Speaking of this, Takahashi's eyes subconsciously fell on Lieutenant General Takeuchi Hiroshi's face. Sure enough, he saw Lieutenant General Takeuchi Hiroshi's mouth slightly raised a curve that others were not easily noticed. That's right, Lieutenant General Takeuchi Hiroshi was laughing.

Takeuchi Hiroshi was only thirty-five years old this year and he had the rank of lieutenant general. When he accepted congratulations from his colleagues, he did not smile.

The 55th Division is a second-rate equipment and trains second-rate troops. During the Battle of Changsha, China, it was even severely damaged by Xue Yue's troops.

The veteran suffered heavy losses and had to withdraw from the battlefield for two weeks of rest and replenishment. In order to restore morale to this almost crippled unit, the Army Department would transfer Lieutenant General Takeuchi, a commander who could inspire the soldiers' offensive consciousness to the limit on the battlefield, to the 55th Division.

Lieutenant General Takeuchi Kuan did not disappoint. He led this army barely reintegrated and attacked Maudangang, Myanmar with a surprise attack. After defeating the British defenders in one fell swoop, he successfully landed.

Just when everyone thought Takeuchi Hiroshi would temporarily stop advancing and wait for other troops to fight together.

This division commander who was energetic and bold on the battlefield actually rushed forward and attacked Yangon, the capital of Myanmar with tens of thousands of British troops defending with one division. As everyone was stunned, Takeuchi Hiroshi only took four days to conquer this core city that is most important for the whole country of Myanmar, whether it is politics, economy, military, or culture!

After receiving the commendation order from the military headquarters, it has been promoted to be a hero in the Japanese media. It is said that even His Majesty the Emperor has prepared a cherry blossom samurai medal for him. Faced with such victory and cheers from the crowd, Lieutenant General Takeuchi did not smile.

But today, he was clearly suffering from his troops and generals, and was sniped the most tenaciously since entering the Myanmar battlefield, and even paid a heavy price. Takeuchi Hiroshi smiled.

He smiled happily, arrogantly, and even sharply! Only when he entered the army, he followed Takeuchi Kuroshiro, Major Takahashi, and realized that Takeuchi Kuroshi was enjoying the pleasure of suddenly meeting a strong enemy on the battlefield; he was enjoying this kind of inability to capture victory 100%, and he had to completely devote all his spirit and all his feelings to the battlefield, and in the repeated struggles and tearing like wild animals, the cruelest scene bloomed; he was enjoying the gathering of all the powers and finally breaking the life of the most tenacious enemy, the toughest position, and the most majestic peaks!

Whether he is perverted or he likes to pursue excitement, Takeuchi Hiroshi just doesn’t like a large number of wars in the dead without subordinates, he just doesn’t like victory that is too easy to win, he just doesn’t like a charge that can grab the position!

"Yes, they are indeed very strong. I saw their regiment commander charge in person. I saw that more than one of them were soldiers. After being seriously injured, the soldiers holding our soldiers pulled the grenades on their bodies. I also saw that one of them was a platoon leader holding the grenade bundle and rolling under the tank. When both legs were broken by the tank tracks, he could still keep the necessary awakeness and pulled the cluster grenades.

”

Listening to the slightly more tremolo of Takeuchi Kuan, it seemed like a sound squeezed out from the middle of the two layers of iron sheets, Major Takahashi couldn't help but shout in his heart: "Come here."

Really, looking at the 55th Division, or looking at the entire Japanese Army, no one knows better than Takahashi Shin-shin. Why did Lieutenant General Takeuchi win the most glorious title of "Masato of the Demon Sword".

"Look at the Echunk position in front of us. They only set up one regiment there, and I mobilized two entire regiments to attack.

On the Chinese battlefield, we have already come to a conclusion that we can fight against the Chinese and one division with our wing. As a result, we bombed again by planes.

The platoon of artillery bombardment was also intensively, and the tanks, armored vehicles, and cavalry units fought together. The two regiments fought for three days and three nights, and the positions were still in the hands of the Chinese people, but my two regiments were exhausted and their offensive became weaker and weaker.

I had to order them to withdraw from the battlefield an hour ago and prepare to replace them with new troops tomorrow.”

Lieutenant General Takeuchi Kurato put it lightly.

But at this time, every word he said was like the heaviest slap, slapping everyone present in the face: "Who can sue me, what's going on? Is our 55th Division really too weak, weaker than a group of East Asian sick men? Or are they becoming stronger, stronger than our imperial army, so strong that they can use a regiment.

Can you withstand the attack of one of our divisions?"

Faced with the problem of Lieutenant General Takeuchi, the highest commanders of the two corpses responsible for attacking the Ochunkan position lowered their heads; the captain of the cavalry team who cooperated with the two corpses lowered their heads... except for Master Takahashi Shinobu, all the people in the land lowered their heads.

No one spoke, and they didn't know how to answer. So they could only close their mouths, and at this time, Lieutenant General Takeuchi's voice became clearer in their ears.

"Now I know why you were beaten so badly by the Chinese people during the Battle of Changsha, China. You have to rest for two weeks before you can recover. The military leaders have to transfer me to take over as your commander.

Look at what you are now, you are like a group of defeated roosters. Without fighting spirit and the determination to be strong when you meet strong people, if you don’t lose, who will lose?!"

There was no angrily shouting, no bastards, fish, or fools. In this case, Takeuchi Kura's voice still maintained a calmness, but it was just such calmness. It hurt the self-esteem of every officer present.

Because they all understand. Takeuchi Hiroshi said the truth.

As soon as they entered the 55th Division, they led them to fight well-equipped and self-righteous British troops on the battlefield and fled in a glance. In the shortest time, they won all their respected division commanders and were really disappointed with them.

Their soldiers who were severely injured in the Battle of Changsha followed Lieutenant General Takeuchi Kuan again and again on the battlefield in Myanmar, and were used to being praised and others' surprise and recognition. When they finally encountered tenacious resistance, facing Lieutenant General Takeuchi Kuan's face full of disappointment, they once again recalled the pale powerlessness when the defeat of the Battle of Changsha, China, the collision of self-esteem and inferiority made them feel particularly uncomfortable.

As recognized by the Japanese military, it can inspire the unyielding and passionate generals on the battlefield. Takeuchi Kura never waved a samurai sword against the bullets shot from the enemy, and used hoarse roars, exaggerated movements and leading by example to boost the morale of the troops.

In his eyes, any brave commander can do such a thing.

What he likes to do the most is to provoke!

Their eyes were inflamed, their breath was irritated, and if they didn't find a venting point and pour out the anger in their chests, they would be suffocated to death until they were about to reach the critical point, and then they would launch a fierce attack on the enemy without Bushido or Supervising Team. These soldiers would naturally become a group of crazy wild beasts that were fearless!

"Tomorrow, we will continue to attack Tong'an Gucheng, and I hope that tomorrow will be our last battle in Tong'an Gucheng."

Takeuchi Hiroshi raised his hands to the ground. At this time, his eyes had already jumped over and pointed at the area of ​​military buildings that had been overturned by artillery fire. Almost all the military buildings that could be seen with naked eyes had been destroyed, but they were still firmly grasped by the Echunk position in the hands of Chinese soldiers. They fell directly on the wall of the ancient city that had been passed down for a long time but still stood still. They said in a deep voice: "I will find a way to grab the lost things!"

He did not issue any combat orders, nor did he say anything like "If you can't break the enemy's position today, you will commit suicide by cutting off your caesarean section to thank the Emperor". He put the samurai sword back into the scabbard, and Lieutenant General Takeuchi left without looking back.

As a general who can stimulate the maximum offensive force of an army, Takeuchi Hiroshi did use the "It's better to provoke generals than to ask for generals" in Chinese military strategy to reach the pinnacle.

A group of officers who were left at the forefront of the battlefield by Lieutenant General Takeuchi Kurata, their ranks and different types of troops, may have personal grudges in normal times, but at this time.

They were all staring at the positions ahead with the same gaze.

At this time, Master Takahashi, who knows the best of Lieutenant General Takeuchi's agitation, often plays the finishing touch, knowing that it is time for him to make the final statement and guide the anger of these officers to the right path.

He was able to become Lieutenant General Takeuchi Kurato and was transferred to the 55th Division with him. Of course, Takahashi Shinomi had his own outstanding field.

Takahashi Shizuki was once a well-known physical education teacher in China. After responding to the call of the Japanese Army and the headquarters and joining the army, Takahashi Shizuki selected a group of excellent students from various Japanese sports schools, and strictly trained them to form a reconnaissance team with the style of Japanese military.

This reconnaissance team has not received regular special forces training, but everyone has the best physical fitness.

Everyone can swim through a river five thousand meters without any equipment. In close combat such as empty-handed fighting and bayonet fighting, no three well-trained veterans can beat them.

After rigorous training, their shooting skills have reached the level of A-level shooters.

Following Lieutenant General Takeuchi, who likes to fight tough battles and pick tough battles, after experiencing a series of bloody battles on the Chinese battlefield, such a reconnaissance unit.

Under the tempering of the war, we have grown into an excellent team that can complete combat tasks under any circumstances.

"We have been fighting against the enemy's defensive positions for three days. Now, in addition to knowing that the enemy has a division stationed in Tonggucheng and a regiment on the outer positions of Echunke, we have compiled their numbers.

We all know nothing about the composition of the weapons, and we don’t understand why they are still trapped in the ancient city even though they are already isolated and helpless.

This is a powerful combat power. No commander could regard them as an elite force used by abandoned soldiers. Facing them, they were trapped in the lonely city without any military knowledge, and they did not conduct reconnaissance at the beginning of the battle.

Understanding their strategic plans and trends is the biggest mistake of our reconnaissance team! As the commander of the independent reconnaissance team, I will bear a lot of responsibility for the failure of the battle in the past few days."

The sun had already set below the horizon, and there was only a gray darkness between the sky and the earth. Looking at the position hidden in the darkness on the other side, a trace of light that was almost scattered with gold and gravel suddenly burst out in Major Takahashi's eyes. He said in a deep voice: "It will take another hour at most, and the sky will completely sink. At that time, I will personally lead the reconnaissance team, cross the Pew River, and grab a 'tongue' across the river, and before launching an attack on the enemy tomorrow, send the enemy as detailed information as possible to everyone.

”

After saying what he should say, Major Takahashi Shinobu saluted everyone and took great strides.

"Our Land Aviation Flight Squadron is ready tonight to prepare all the ammunition, fuel, and parts that may be replaced on the battlefield tomorrow."

The second person to speak was the captain of the Fifty-Fifteenth Division, who launched an attack on the Tonggucheng, "It is the mission of our Air Force to clear all obstacles before the infantry launched a charge."

Here we have absolute air supremacy, and the enemy does not even have a few anti-aircraft machine guns. If we still cannot fulfill our mission in this case, then I will be the first to fly a fighter full of explosives to hit their positions!"

After saying these words, the captain of the Land Aviation Flight Squadron left without looking back. Following him, the artillery commander of the 55th Division was the artillery commander.

Looking at the backs of these two colleagues, everyone present knew that tomorrow, the Echunk position would inevitably be subject to unprecedented violent bombing.

A corps captain also spoke, "We pay too much attention to the knowledge we have learned in the military academy. We must pay attention to the coordination of artillery and artillery. We must follow the time marked in the textbook, and wait until we support artillery bombardment before we launch a charge.

But by the time we rushed up, the damn Chinese had already had time to breathe. They were huddled in the trenches and prepared enough grenades. They didn't even need to poke their heads out of the trenches, and could throw out a large rain of grenades.

Almost all of our charges were suppressed by them using this method.”

Hearing this passage, the infantry commander present nodded repeatedly, and the Chinese army's grenade tactics did make them suffer a lot.

The Chinese soldiers hid in trenches, lay in shell craters, huddled behind stones and mounds, and did not even need to come out. They threw grenades out regardless of this defense method. Faced with this high-precision shooting technology, their Japanese soldiers were most proud of.

It's useless.

After three days of pulling and pulling, even their tanks were blown up by grenade bundles thrown out by the Chinese army.

"Isn't it just a life-threatening commander? Isn't it just a deputy regiment commander rushing to the front line?!" The captain of the regiment stared at his blood-red eyes and shouted: "I will select veterans with practical experience in the army tonight and form a suicide squad led by me personally! When the cannons were still bombarding.

I will take them to attack, and only then can we catch the Chinese people off guard and rush into the trenches before they have the chance to throw grenades. Force them to fight with us in bayonets!"

The commanding force attacked for three consecutive days but did not break through the Echunke position. He gritted his teeth and sucked a little cold air.

He shouted: "There aren't many Chinese soldiers who have been seriously injured in the past few days and have been fired grenades? We are the death squad. From me, everyone has to carry explosives on their bodies. Even if we die, we will tear their positions to pieces! As long as they disrupt their defense system, they cannot take into account both the beginning and the end.

Our large troops can launch a final attack on the enemy's positions under the cover of tanks and armored vehicles!"

Looking at the combat program of the army in various countries around the world today, tanks and armored vehicles are usually rushed to the front, using the mobile steel barriers they formed to cover the infantry behind.

However, the corps captain pioneered the rebellious tactics of infantry rushing in the front. Tanks and armored vehicles followed.
To be continued...