Chapter 173: Lighter
Skies above Wild Wolf Valley
The Japanese aircraft group’s bombing had already lasted half an hour, yet showed no sign of stopping; instead, it grew even more fierce.
Accompanied by the roar of engines, a formation of six Type 96 attack aircraft circled in the sky several thousand meters high like dark clouds pressing down, the 250-kilogram bombs under their wings gleaming coldly in the sunlight.
Attack aircraft occasionally broke from the formation to dive down; each aerial bomb that fell produced a massive explosion, the entire valley trembling as the powerful shockwave hurled shattered stones like raindrops onto the anti-aircraft cave entrances.
The entire valley was shrouded in gunpowder smoke, while dozens of anti-aircraft guns from the two anti-aircraft battalions deployed in the valley fired desperately.
Many Bofors 40 anti-aircraft gun barrels had turned dark red from continuous firing.
“Northwest direction… two Type 96 attack aircraft and two Type 1 fighters!” an observer suddenly roared, pointing to the northwest.
Accompanied by the roar, the shadows of two Type 1 fighters pierced through the clouds.
“Fire… fire…”
Amid the roars, the base of the Bofors anti-aircraft gun began to shake violently; the quadruple barrels spat out two-meter-long tongues of flame, tracer rounds drawing crimson arcs across the enemy aircraft’s belly.
Amid the cannon fire, the right wing of one Type 1 fighter suddenly exploded into aluminum shards, spiraling to the ground like a torn kite.
Not far away, sweat covered the forehead of the Oerlikon 20 anti-aircraft gun shooter’s brow; his wide eyes stared through the ring sight at the Type 96 attack aircraft diving toward the position, curtains of bullets weaving a deadly barrage in front of the enemy plane.
In the bullet curtain formed by the hail of bullets, the canopy of one Type 96 attack aircraft suddenly shattered, and as the massive fuselage dragged black smoke over the heads of the anti-aircraft position, the gunners could even clearly see the twisted face of the pilot in the cockpit.
“Boom…”
Before the gunners could cheer, a 250-kilogram bomb suddenly struck the anti-aircraft position; in an earth-shattering explosion, two Oerlikon anti-aircraft guns and the six gunners around them were torn into fragments and flung into the air.
“Fire… give ’em hell…”
Anti-aircraft regiment commander Wei Dayan stood beside a Bofors anti-aircraft gun, his eyes red as he glared at the Japanese aircraft in the sky and roared loudly.
All the anti-aircraft guns on the position roared; countless tracer paths intertwined into a burning fire net of continuous explosions.
More than ten minutes later, when yet another Type 96 disintegrated in the air at a hundred meters, the surviving Japanese aircraft could no longer hold out; they hastily climbed and randomly jettisoned their remaining bombs before flying off into the distance.
Watching the black shadows of the departing Japanese aircraft, cheers erupted across the position.
Only then was Su Yaoyang, finally permitted by his staff officers and guards to emerge, allowed out of the command post; he looked at the devastated position and the raging flames, remaining silent for a long time.
A staff officer beside him looked at the widespread devastation and said excitedly: “Commander, the Japanese planes have been driven off by us; the anti-aircraft regiment brothers have made a great achievement this time!”
“Yes, thanks to the anti-aircraft regiment brothers.” Su Yaoyang let out a long sigh and ordered: “Go… tell Wei Dayan to submit the anti-aircraft report.”
“Yes!”
More than ten minutes later, the staff officer ran over to report: “Commander, the anti-aircraft regiment reports that in the battle just now, we shot down two Type 96 attack aircraft and two Type 1 fighters.
Our losses… we lost six Bofors anti-aircraft guns and twelve Oerlikon anti-aircraft guns!
One hundred and nine personnel killed or wounded.”
At this point, the staff officer’s voice grew much quieter.
Seeing Su Yaoyang’s darkened face, the staff officer quickly comforted him: “Commander, don’t be sad; the little Japs lost four aircraft—their losses are much greater than ours.”
“I know, but with such heavy losses to the anti-aircraft regiment, how can I not be sad?”
Su Yaoyang’s voice carried deep helplessness.
The anti-aircraft regiment had three battalions under it; besides leaving one battalion deployed in Wuta County, he had brought the other two.
These two anti-aircraft battalions were equipped with a total of seventy-two Bofors 40mm anti-aircraft guns and Oerlikon 20mm anti-aircraft guns.
In his plan, these two anti-aircraft battalions should have been able to guard their own skies; unexpectedly, when the tank battalion left, it took one battalion with it, leaving the vast Wild Wolf Valley with only one anti-aircraft battalion, resulting in severely insufficient anti-aircraft firepower.
After several days of bombing, the anti-aircraft battalion had suffered heavy losses; now, only a dozen or so anti-aircraft guns could still fire—if the Japanese came for a few more bombing runs, this anti-aircraft battalion might disappear from the militia’s order of battle.
“Order Wei Dayan to quickly send all the wounded brothers back to the field hospital in Wuta County; additionally…”
Su Yaoyang hesitated for a moment before saying: “Send a telegram to Pi Ruoyu, have him move Anti-Aircraft Battalion Three over here, and transfer Anti-Aircraft Battalion Two to Wuta County; hurry to replenish manpower and equipment and restore combat effectiveness as soon as possible.”
“Yes!”
After issuing the orders, Su Yaoyang heard a series of “beep beep” sounds echoing through the valley.
The shrill whistle pierced the valley’s silence; soon, more than ten officers were seen emerging first from distant anti-artillery caves, standing on earthen slopes and waving their steel helmets while shouting hoarsely.
Accompanied by their shouts, militia soldiers streamed out of the anti-artillery caves one after another, their gray uniforms covered in dirt, looking just like a group of moles that had just crawled out of burrows.
After emerging from the anti-artillery caves, the soldiers began repairing the bombed-out trenches and other fortifications with shovels, engineer spades, and such tools; for a moment, the position was filled with clanging sounds everywhere.
Su Yaoyang said nothing more, merely silently watching the soldiers busily at work.
Time passed bit by bit; the soldiers restored the damaged fortifications to nearly normal in just one hour.
Before they could rest, a staff officer hurried over to report: “Commander, the forward reconnaissance post reports that the Japanese vanguard troops have approached the vicinity of Wild Wolf Valley; they are expected to make contact with our forces in another half hour.”
“Got it; tell the ambush sentries to continue observing and report any developments immediately.”
“Understood.”
In the trenches, the soldiers were still busily at work nonstop; although most of the trenches had been repaired, some details still needed patching, so the soldiers had no time to rest.
At a corner, a superior private in his forties crouched in the nook, trying to light a cigarette but failing repeatedly.
The match heads were scorched, yet several matches in a row were extinguished by the smoke-laden wind; in frustration, the veteran flung the entire box of matches and his now-empty cigarette pack into the dirt pile at his feet.
At that moment, there was a “click,” and a flame suddenly lit up in front of him.
Without thinking, the veteran leaned in to light up, then gently patted the back of the other’s hand; seeing the shiny Zippo lighter in the other’s hand, his eyes lit up. “Hey… brother, this lighter is really nice; you’ve really splurged buying it.”
