Resistance against Japan: Starting with the local militia

Chapter 122 Defensive Operations

"Company commander, the Japanese scouts are coming up."

"Third Platoon Leader, take them out and prevent them from scouting our position."

"Yes, Captain."

"The communications officer told the heavy machine gun platoon to hide well and not reveal their position."

"Yes, Captain."

The company commander of the first battalion immediately issued an order.

As the order was given, a burst of gunfire rang out from the company's position before ceasing.

"Report, Company Commander, only one Japanese soldier escaped back; the rest were killed," the third platoon leader reported as he ran over.

"Okay, good job."

"Communicator, notify all those who have left the positions to take cover. Everyone else, get into the artillery bunkers immediately. The Japanese artillery fire is coming!" the company commander of the first battalion ordered hastily.

"Yes, Captain."

......

"Reporting to the Commander, the forward reconnaissance squad was attacked by the enemy. Only the squad leader survived and was able to retreat."

"As expected, the enemy has left defensive forces here. Staff Officer Ozawa, order the artillery squad to launch an attack based on the targets scouted by the reconnaissance team." Tanaka Shu secretly rejoiced that he had sent people to scout ahead in advance and had not rushed in recklessly.

"Yes, Commander." Ozawa turned to the artillery detachment and directed the two Type 92 infantry guns of the battalion to prepare for shelling.

Ten minutes later, the Japanese battalion's artillery, based on target information provided by the reconnaissance platoon leader, was ready to bombard the enemy positions ahead.

"Reporting to the Commander, the artillery unit is ready and can fire at any time," Staff Officer Ozawa reported.

"Fire immediately!" Tanaka Shu gave the order to fire. The two Type 92 infantry guns, which had been prepared beforehand, began bombarding the positions in front.

"Boom, boom, boom."

In an instant, the sound of shells hitting the ground and exploding rang out from the position of the first company of the first battalion.

Ten minutes later, the Japanese shelling ended.

"Attack!" Tanaka immediately ordered the 3rd Company of Japanese soldiers and a puppet army battalion to launch an attack on the militia's position. Under Tanaka's command, the 3rd Company of Japanese soldiers and a puppet army battalion split into three groups and attacked the militia's position, with the puppet army battalion leading the charge in front of the Japanese soldiers.

The company commander, who was hiding in the artillery shelter, shook his head and shook off the dirt covering his head.

"The Japanese shelling is over, it's time for them to come up. Get to your positions quickly," the company commander said as he walked toward the position.

The others in the company also came out of the air-raid shelter one after another.

"Communicator, notify each platoon to quickly repair their defensive fortifications and report on the casualties from this round of shelling."

"Yes, Captain."

"Damn it, those Japanese devils started their attack so quickly." The company commander looked through his binoculars at the more than 200 Japanese soldiers rushing towards the position.

"Notify each platoon to let the Japanese get close and attack them. The attack range is 50 meters. Each platoon can freely choose when to open fire based on the previously set observation points."

"Yes, Captain."

"Battalion Commander, there's been no movement from the enemy positions. Could they have all been killed by the Imperial Army's artillery fire?" a puppet army company commander asked.

"What do you know? Be careful, and wait for the right opportunity. Bullets don't have eyes. And those Japanese devils are really bastards, always making us the ones to lead the charge."

"Remind the brothers to be alert."

"Yes, Battalion Commander." The puppet soldiers at the front all bent over and advanced toward the militia's position.

"Platoon leader, the puppet troops and the Japanese are coming up and have reached the 70-meter control line."

"Wait a little longer, wait until they are 50 meters away before opening fire," the platoon leader instructed.

"Attention everyone, prepare to fire."

The platoon leader kept a close eye on the enemy ahead. After seeing the puppet troops cross the target line of 50 meters, the platoon leader decisively ordered to open fire.

"Call me."

"Da, da, da, da."

A dense barrage of bullets rang out from the militia's position. The puppet troops at the forefront were wiped out by the militia's sudden attack. Dozens of puppet troops fell straight down. Upon seeing this, the other puppet troops decisively took cover on the spot and lay down to fire at the militia.

The Japanese soldiers behind the puppet troops, under the cover of heavy machine gun fire, began to charge towards a row of defensive positions.

"Grenadier squad, aim at the Japanese heavy firepower and fire!"

The platoon leader, having just dodged a volley of heavy machine gun fire, ducked down and quickly gave orders.

"Grenades, get ready." The platoon leader took out grenades and ordered everyone to prepare to throw them.

"Throw."

Dozens of grenades were thrown into the advancing Japanese troops.

"Boom, boom, boom."

With the sound of grenades exploding, the Japanese attack formation was disrupted, and the platoon leader decisively resumed fire to suppress the Japanese attack.

"Company commander, all platoons have engaged the Japanese. The Japanese firepower is fierce."

"I see it. Third Platoon Leader, reduce firepower. We're going to feign weakness and draw the Japanese troops from both sides over."

"Yes, Captain."

As the firepower of the militia's central positions began to wane, Tanaka Itsuki, who was in command, keenly noticed the changes on the battlefield.

"Hahaha, Staff Officer Ozawa, the enemy is about to collapse. Look, our frontal defenses are flawed, and our firepower is significantly weaker than that on the flanks." Tanaka Shu laughed heartily.

"Commander, the shelling just now was mainly aimed at the positions directly in front," Staff Officer Ozawa added.

"Staff Officer Ozawa, order the attacking forces on both flanks to converge on the center and coordinate with the central attacking force to break through the enemy's defenses."

"Order the Fourth Company to launch a full-scale attack as soon as the Third Company breaks through the enemy's defenses and tear this enemy group to shreds."

"Yes, Your Excellency, Commander."

The commander of the Japanese 3rd Company, who was directing the attack at the front, immediately ordered personnel to be transferred from both flanks to support the attacking force in the center. In order to ensure a successful breakthrough of the enemy's position in one go, the 3rd Company commander concentrated all the heavy weapons of the company to cover the attack of the central force.

"Company commander, the Japanese devils have taken the bait and are starting to come this way."

"Good, that's the effect I wanted. Notify the heavy machine gun platoon to prepare to fire under my command."

"Yes, Captain."

"90 meters, 70 meters, 50 meters." This was the distance the company commander was constantly monitoring for the Japanese attack.

"50 meters, fire!"

At the company commander's command, the heavy weapons platoon began its attack. The platoon's Type 92 heavy machine guns unleashed a hail of bullets at the advancing Japanese soldiers. The third platoon's machine guns, working in conjunction with the heavy weapons platoon's machine guns, formed a dense wall of bullets. The first Japanese soldiers to charge were instantly riddled with bullets.

Upon seeing this, the Japanese company commander immediately ordered his grenadiers to aim at the militia's heavy machine gun position and fire. Before the grenadiers could even prepare to fire, the third platoon of grenadiers, who had been keeping watch on them, immediately launched their shells, killing them.

Seeing that the grenade launcher squad had been wiped out by the enemy in front, and seeing that the attacking troops were being suppressed by the enemy's heavy firepower, the company commander gave the order to retreat, and the attacking Japanese soldiers began to retreat in an orderly manner.

"Baka yarou! The enemy is cunning! Staff Officer Ozawa immediately ordered artillery fire."

Seeing what was happening on the battlefield, Tanaka Itsuki was furious. He had fallen for the enemy's trick again. The middle position was not a breakthrough point, but a trap prepared for them.

"We've driven back the Japanese devils! We've driven back the Japanese devils!" The soldiers of the company cheered.

"Order all platoons to take cover immediately, the Japanese artillery fire is about to come." The company commander immediately ordered the soldiers to quickly take cover in the air-raid shelter.

Just as he crawled into the air-raid shelter inside the trench, a barrage of shells came crashing down, followed by a series of violent explosions.

"Damn it, the Japanese artillery fire is too fast!"