Chapter 287: Fatal Mistake
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
……
Japanese aircraft circled overhead, bombs falling like dumplings.
The ground was bombed full of holes, everywhere littered with corpse fragments and flying sand and gravel.
And that’s not all!
Japanese Army cannons also unleashed their fury, fierce bombardment sending soil into the sky, blotting out the sun and sky.
Regiment Commander Feng Zhihui of the direct line 217 Regiment was dug out of a dirt pit by his soldiers, just like digging up a potato.
“Regimental Commander, this battle can’t be fought, the Japanese invaders’ aircraft and cannons are too fierce.” Several officers of the direct line 217 Regiment gathered in front of Feng Zhihui and said, “We should find an opportunity to run.”
Anyway, in this war up to now, we haven’t run just once or twice.
Feng Zhihui looked at the horrific battlefield before him, unable to distinguish for a moment where his own people were and where the Japanese invaders were.
Troops from more than a dozen direct line armies and the Japanese invaders and traitors of the Kumamoto Army were killing in a chaotic melee.
Even if they wanted to run, they couldn’t discern the direction at all.
They might just charge headlong into the Japanese invaders’ heavy firepower area.
“Can we still contact the Brigade Commander or Division Commander?” Feng Zhihui asked.
When it comes to escaping, those higher-ups are the experts.
Feng Zhihui wasn’t about to foolishly run around on his own.
“The telephone lines have been bombed out, we sent three groups to repair them, and now they’ve all vanished without a trace.” The officers replied.
“Brothers, in this situation, even if we want to run, we can’t, so let’s roll up our sleeves and fight the Japanese invaders to the end.” Feng Zhihui looked at the officers before him, “The Japanese invaders’ firepower and combat power are fierce right now, but their logistics and supplies have been cut off. They’re making a desperate push to take us down. If we hold out through this wave, we’ll still have a chance to make merits.”
“Regimental Commander, look, that’s Japanese aircraft airdropping supplies.” At that moment, someone pointed it out to Feng Zhihui.
Feng Zhihui looked over, and indeed it was Japanese transport planes airdropping supplies.
The supplies descended under parachutes, like dandelion seeds.
“The Japanese invaders are airdropping supplies over there, that must be their core position.” Feng Zhihui said decisively, “We’ll avoid that side as much as possible, go, charge out in the opposite direction.” Feng Zhihui made the snap decision.
“Yes, Regimental Commander.”
The direct line 217 Regiment immediately charged in the opposite direction.
Many other direct line troops did the same.
However, they still couldn’t escape.
Because next they faced even fiercer artillery fire.
Bombs fell from the sky like hail, and cannonballs rained down.
Not just the direct line 217 Regiment, many other direct line troops also suffered heavy casualties.
Even more terrifying, large numbers of Japanese invaders appeared around them, quickly surrounding them.
“Regimental Commander, what’s going on? It seems like running in the opposite direction led us right into the Japanese invaders’ trap.” The officers gathered suspiciously in front of Feng Zhihui.
“How should I know.” Feng Zhihui patted the soil off his body and shouted: “From the looks of it, running is off the table, so let’s fight the Japanese invaders.”
However, the words were bold, but the actions were completely the opposite.
The Japanese invaders’ aircraft and artillery fire were too fierce, the direct line troops were bombed into keeping their heads down.
Forget fighting, they couldn’t even organize a proper attack.
……
Kumamoto Division Headquarters
“Division Commander, under your command, this important elite of the direct line troops is now completely surrounded by us, under fierce bombardment.” A staff officer excitedly said to the Kumamoto Division Commander, “After the bombardment, our soldiers charge in, and these more than a dozen direct line armies will be utterly routed.”
It turned out the airdrop location was deliberately set by the Kumamoto Division Commander.
He knew exactly what these direct line officers were like in battle—they’d slip away at the first sign of trouble.
So, the airdrop location wasn’t the core of the Kumamoto Division army; it was the opposite of the trap.
These direct line officers saw the airdrop and thought running the opposite way would let them escape, but it was exactly the reverse.
They led their large elite troops right back into the fierce bombardment zone.
“Pass the order: when the soldiers charge, first collect as many supplies from the direct line army as possible, then capture prisoners.” The Kumamoto Division Commander didn’t gloat despite the advantage; his expression was calm.
He knew the enemy wasn’t just more than a dozen direct line armies; there were Eighth Route Army troops behind them.
It was just strange why the Eighth Route Army troops hadn’t moved yet.
But regardless of why the Eighth Route Army troops weren’t moving.
They still had to hurry and collect the supplies from the direct line army.
“Yes.” The staff officer nodded and left.
“Come here.” The Kumamoto Chief of Staff called someone.
“Division Commander, any orders?” A Japanese officer ran up to the Kumamoto Division Commander.
“The Eighth Route side still hasn’t made a move…” The Kumamoto Division Commander didn’t finish.
From behind came the roar of Hell Cannon fire, and the Kumamoto Division Commander immediately turned to look in that direction.
Though distance and obstacles blocked the view, the Kumamoto Division Commander’s expression quickly darkened: “The Eighth Route Army troops have finally made their move. Just as I predicted, they’re sneaking from my rear.”
“Division Commander, we’ve deployed sufficient troops in the rear; the Eighth Route can’t get through.” The Japanese officer said.
“Don’t get careless.” The Kumamoto Division Commander said solemnly, “This is the critical moment to attack the direct line troops. Once the aircraft and artillery heavily damage them, and ground troops charge, victory is basically secured. First deal with the direct line army, then we’ll have the strength to handle the Eighth Route. Before that, we absolutely cannot let the Eighth Route troops break through.”
“They can’t get through.” The Japanese officer was still very confident.
In fact, it indeed proved the Kumamoto Division’s arrangements were flawless.
The Eighth Route that emerged from the rear was indeed blocked by heavy troops.
But!
Two other groups of Eighth Route took the chance to charge from left and right.
With the aid of Hell Cannons and rocket launchers, they quickly seized the high ground on left and right.
Then, something the Kumamoto Division Commander couldn’t understand happened.
After occupying the high ground on left and right, these two Eighth Route groups actually took defensive postures instead of continuing the attack.
“Division Commander, what are these two Eighth Route groups doing?” A staff officer asked suspiciously.
Normally, after taking the high ground on left and right, they should press on to our core.
That way, they’d have a chance to rescue the besieged direct line army.
They took the high ground on left and right and then stopped?
When did the Eighth Route learn to stand by?
“Bad news, the Eighth Route must want to sneak attack our artillery position.” The Kumamoto Division Commander suddenly remembered that Kitano Chuji had said the Eighth Route had made shells that could be fired from dirt pits, with power comparable to medium howitzers.
Now the Eighth Route occupied the high ground on left and right and held without attacking—it wasn’t standing by; they were definitely digging dirt pits in a hurry.
Though the Kumamoto Division Commander still couldn’t believe the Eighth Route could make shells fired from dirt pits—it was too absurd.
But at this moment, his battlefield instincts forced him to believe.
“Division Commander, how can the Eighth Route sneak attack? Their Hell Cannon has great power but insufficient range…” The staff officer didn’t finish.
“Hurry, hurry, order the artillery position immediately: stop shelling the direct line army now, turn the cannon muzzles to left and right, rapid fire, fire immediately!” The Kumamoto Division Commander yelled like a dog with its tail stepped on.
The staff officer, though still puzzled, immediately had it carried out.
The order quickly reached the artillery position, the shelling stopped soon, and the cannon barrels slowly began turning.
The staff officer asked: “Division Commander, stopping the shelling on the direct line army now—won’t that give them a chance to breathe?”
The aircraft bombs were exhausted, the planes had left.
Only continued shelling could further damage and suppress the direct line army.
Now with shelling stopped, the direct line army would surely counterattack.
If the direct line army breaks out, forget dealing with them—they might counterattack and threaten our positions.
“If we lose our artillery position, we won’t even have a chance to breathe.” The Kumamoto Division Commander’s voice trembled uncontrollably as he spoke.
Watching the slowly turning cannon muzzles, he’d never been this anxious.
Slow!
Way too slow!
The cannon muzzles were turning too slowly!
Hopefully the Eighth Route’s damned dirt pits aren’t ready yet, may Amaterasu bless the Imperial Army!
“How could our artillery position be gone?” The staff officer still didn’t understand.
“Kitano’s logistics and supplies are gone—why do you think that is!” The Kumamoto Division Commander roared at the staff officer.
The staff officer immediately recalled that Kitano Chuji had said in the telegram the Eighth Route made new shells that didn’t need cannon barrels—just dig a dirt pit to fire.
These new shells had lethality comparable to medium howitzers.
At the time, no one believed it; they thought it was a stupid excuse from Kitano Chuji.
And now!
Seeing the Eighth Route on left and right high ground not continuing the attack but holding position.
This bizarre action was baffling.
If combined with the Eighth Route’s new shells fired from dirt pits, it all made sense.
The Eighth Route on the left and right high ground were definitely desperately digging dirt pits.
Once the dirt pits were ready, firing the new shells from above, if the range was enough, they could hit our artillery position.
“Baka, if that’s the case, we’ve made a fatal mistake.” The staff officer’s face turned pale instantly; watching the artillery group’s slowly turning cannon muzzles, his emotions matched the Kumamoto Division Commander’s.
For the first time, he felt the cannon muzzles turned too slowly—slower than a turtle or snail.
