Chapter 266: Bombardment Along The Way
Nakano Hidehiro’s death was like the final straw that broke the camel’s back, completely crushing the remaining morale of the Japanese 13th Regiment.
The already crumbling defensive line instantly collapsed under the Pirate Squadron’s aerial saturation bombing and the Independent Regiment’s ground troops’ three-dimensional offensive.
In the trenches, gunfire gradually became sparse, replaced by the terrified screams and desperate wails of Japanese soldiers.
Most Japanese soldiers were completely annihilated, their corpses strewn haphazardly in the trenches, mangled flesh and blood, some even reduced to severed limbs and body parts mixed with mud and rubble, the air filled with the thick stench of blood and acrid gunpowder.
The few surviving Japanese soldiers, under the threat of death, discarded their helmets and armor, fleeing in panic toward the 47th Regiment like lost dogs, only regretting that their parents hadn’t given them two more legs.
In the command post at the Bell and Drum Tower, Su Yaoyang’s lips curved into a slight victorious smile upon receiving the good news.
He was about to issue orders for the troops to press on, pursue the victory, completely annihilate the remaining Japanese forces, and even charge directly at the 47th Regiment to expand the gains.
At that moment, a staff officer rushed into the command post with a grave expression, holding a just-decoded telegram.
“Commander! Aerial reconnaissance shows that the Japanese 3rd Division and 13th Division are advancing toward Yichang from Dangyang and Jingshan respectively, expected to arrive in Yichang tomorrow morning!” The staff officer’s voice carried urgency, shattering the relaxed victorious atmosphere in the command post.
“Pa-da!”
The pencil in Su Yaoyang’s hand fell onto the map with a faint sound.
His smile froze on his face instantly, his previously elated mind sobered as if doused with a bucket of ice-cold water from head to toe. He abruptly stood up from his chair, eyes wide, filled with incredulous fury: “What?”
He stared fixedly at the staff officer, chest heaving violently, voice laced with uncontainable anger: “Something this big, why didn’t we receive any prior notice?
What the hell is Cheng Rufeng doing?”
His questions bombarded the staff officer like a machine gun, each word heavy with weight.
The staff officer was intimidated by Su Yaoyang’s fury, head bowed, hands clutching the telegram tightly, lips trembling but unable to respond.
He knew this wasn’t Cheng Rufeng’s fault alone, but the entire aviation squadron’s negligence, yet facing the commander’s rage, he could only remain silent.
Su Yaoyang looked at the staff officer’s bowed silence, took a deep breath, and tried to calm his inner fury.
He knew that losing his temper now wouldn’t solve anything and would only delay the opportunity.
Since the Japanese reinforcements were about to arrive, the original plan to crush the 6th Division had to be readjusted. His gaze quickly scanned the map, mind rapidly calculating new countermeasures.
Right now, time was the most precious resource.
He turned to the staff officer and said coldly: “Immediately inform Cheng Rufeng to deploy all aircraft for airstrikes on the 3rd Division and 13th Division, at all costs, to delay their march.
Bomb as much as possible, delay as long as possible!
Understood?”
Su Yaoyang’s voice carried an unquestionable command.
“Yes!”
Upon receiving the telegram, Cheng Rufeng was filled with shame; he knew his prior negligence in reconnaissance had led to the dangerous situation.
A soldier’s duty is to obey orders, so without any excuses, he immediately carried out Su Yaoyang’s command.
The shrill alarm pierced the airport’s tranquility like torn canvas.
Pilots who had been resting in groups on the grass, cleaning weapons, or chatting and joking scattered like a disturbed wasp nest. Ignoring their poker cards and cigarettes, they reflexively jumped up and rushed to their fighters at top speed.
“Hurry! Hurry! Get moving!”
Ground crew shouted tensely, skillfully removing the fighters’ mooring ropes, checking fuel tanks, and loading munitions.
The entire airport boiled into action, engine roars, propeller spins, and running footsteps weaving into a tense yet orderly clamor.
Pilots deftly climbed into their cockpits, fastened seatbelts, and donned helmets.
Over the earpieces came Cheng Rufeng’s slightly subdued yet powerful voice.
“Brothers, this time it’s my fault, and the reconnaissance team’s negligence, allowing the Japanese reinforcements to sneak right under our noses.”
Cheng Rufeng took full responsibility without evasion, his voice filled with deep self-reproach yet also a man’s unique resolve.
“We should have detected their tracks earlier, buying more time for our ground brothers. But now, the passive situation is set.”
He paused, his voice growing louder with a do-or-die determination: “Now, we have no time to complain or wait.
The Japanese 3rd Division and 13th Division, these two main forces, are charging toward Yichang. If they arrive smoothly, our frontline brothers will face even greater pressure.”
“So, what we must do now is use our iron fists to smash these Japanese devils back home!
Let them know who rules this sky!”
Cheng Rufeng’s voice echoed in every pilot’s earpiece.
He wasn’t emotional or exaggerating, just laying out the facts and clearly conveying responsibility and mission to everyone.
The pilots listened quietly to their squadron leader, resolve flashing in their eyes.
With Cheng Rufeng’s order, engine roars filled the sky again as dark blue fighters taxied onto the runway and soared into the heavens.
The Pirate Squadron, this air force personally built by Su Yaoyang, quickly revised its operation plan.
The suppressive bombing of the Japanese 6th Division was temporarily shelved, all attack focus shifting instantly to the marching routes of the Japanese 3rd Division and 13th Division.
Cheng Rufeng personally led two Pirate Squadrons—that is, fighter squadrons—and one SBD2 Dauntless dive bomber squadron, splitting into two flight formations heading east and west.
The dark blue fighter swarm traced elegant arcs in the sky, their fuselages gleaming coldly in the sunlight like the Grim Reaper’s scythe, heralding impending disaster.
Around 2 p.m., they simultaneously spotted the Japanese 3rd Division and 13th Division.
On open plains and valleys, the Japanese massive marching columns writhed like two serpentine dragons toward Yichang.
Soldiers burdened with heavy gear marched slowly and clumsily, fully exposed to aerial strikes.
“Bombs away! Free attack!” Cheng Rufeng ordered without hesitation.
The SBD2 dive bomber squadron struck first.
Bombers dove from high altitude, noses plunging like arrows from bows, emitting shrill whistles as they targeted the Japanese column. Bombs hung from their bellies dropped like ripe fruit, hurtling vertically downward.
“Boom! Boom! Boom!”
Explosions erupted one after another, shaking the earth.
Bombs accurately hit the dense Japanese marching ranks, sending up black smoke plumes and massive dirt mushroom clouds.
Japanese soldiers were thrown into chaos, flesh flying. Some bombs struck supply trucks or wagons, triggering secondary blasts with soaring flames and billowing smoke.
Acrid gunpowder and charred smells spread instantly, mingling with soldiers’ screams and running footsteps in utter pandemonium.
Close behind came the Pirate Squadron’s fighters.
They circled low over the Japanese column, wing cannons and machine guns spewing fire, bullets raining down like a storm, shredding exposed soldiers into sieves; their bodies convulsed and fell, blood flowers blooming where they landed.
The Japanese, on the other hand, were utterly helpless, marching with virtually no anti-aircraft fire.
Even sporadic high-angle guns firing skyward posed no threat to these ultra-fast, highly maneuverable fighters.
The absolute air superiority allowed the Pirate Squadron to slaughter the ground Japanese with impunity.
In just one afternoon, the Pirate Squadron launched four waves.
Each sortie delivered devastating blows to the Japanese 3rd Division and 13th Division.
The Japanese columns were bombed to pieces, supply lines severed, morale at rock bottom.
Muddy dirt roads littered with Japanese soldiers’ corpses, severed limbs, blood pools, and wrecked vehicles and horses.
Gunpowder smoke filled the air, cries and wails rising everywhere. Japanese commanders’ faces turned ashen as they urgently pressed the troops to advance faster, but each airstrike rendered their efforts futile.
A Japanese soldier lay desperately on the ground, staring at his comrades blown to bits nearby, eardrums ringing from blasts.
His body caked in mud and blood, eyes full of terror.
Before he could even glance at the sky’s reaper, the next bomb exploded nearby. The massive shockwave flipped him over, slamming his body to the ground, mind blank.
The Japanese march slowed under the Pirate Squadron’s relentless bombing waves, even stalling at times.
They had to spend massive time clearing bombed roads, rallying scattered troops, and treating the wounded.
The original plan to reach Yichang tomorrow morning became indefinitely delayed under the Pirate Squadron’s furious bombardment.
