Chapter Fourteen: What the Hell Do You Call Elite Troops?!
There were still four infantry battalions remaining—over four thousand four hundred enemy soldiers in total.
In addition, there was an artillery battalion equipped with 105mm field guns and 120mm heavy mortars, supported by the air force.
Matsuda Takeshi indeed had the grounds to make such a declaration.
“Alright!”
Sakata Nobutetsu nodded in satisfaction after hearing Matsuda’s plan.
The enemy’s strategy matched his expectations.
No matter how the so-called First New Regiment defeated the First Infantry Battalion, against overwhelming firepower, no cunning strategy could prevail!
A bloodthirsty grin curled on Sakata Nobutetsu’s lips.
“Tell our brave warriors to move out and head for Changye!”
“Once we take Changye, no ceasefire for three days!”
Matsuda hesitated before cautiously asking, “Regimental Commander, wasn’t it agreed with Commander Yan at headquarters...?”
Sakata Nobutetsu sneered with contempt.
“Commander Yan? What’s he to us? How dare he give orders to the Locust Army of the Great Empire!”
“This time, I’ll use the flesh and blood of the Shina people to warn them.”
“Cross us Locusts, and there’s only one road—the path to death!”
“Surrender your women and wealth obediently and become our slaves!”
...
Around one in the afternoon, after the soldiers of the First New Regiment had been crouching on Cangyun Ridge for nearly an hour, the frontline sentry finally transmitted the news via walkie-talkie.
Only eight kilometers remained—the Sakata Regiment’s enemy troops were almost upon them!
Li Yunlong, who had been nearly dozing off, was instantly energized as if injected with adrenaline upon hearing the news.
He crouched behind the sandbags and encouraged the soldiers behind him.
“Brothers of the First New Regiment, I heard this Sakata Regiment is reputed to be the elite force second only to the A-class divisions among the enemy!”
“I don’t buy that nonsense! They’re just two shoulders carrying one head each—who’s afraid of whom?”
“Our First New Regiment was never built on fear. Whether it’s a tiny Sakata Regiment or the Emperor’s own elite guard, I believe we can choke those sons of bitches one by one in the cesspool!”
“You all remember what I said—when the narrow path meets...”
The soldiers raised their weapons high and roared in unison: “The brave prevail!”
Morale was high!
Li Yunlong nodded with satisfaction.
“Soon, we’ll show Sakata’s troops what real elite means!”
---
“Prepare for battle!”
“Yes, sir!”
At Li Yunlong’s command, the entire First New Regiment immediately entered combat readiness.
Within the regiment’s artillery position:
“Report, Company Commander: all firepower is ready, awaiting orders!”
Wang Chengzhu glanced briefly at the assemblage of 75mm mountain guns and Type 92 infantry guns behind him, excitement growing in his eyes.
During World War II, a typical enemy infantry regiment had around 60 to 70 various artillery pieces (excluding grenade launchers).
An American infantry regiment possessed roughly 100 artillery pieces.
A peak German infantry regiment normally fielded about 144 guns.
By comparison, a regiment under the First New Division boasted over 200 assorted conventional artillery pieces—and that didn’t even include the heavier artillery above 75mm that hadn’t arrived yet.
After supplementing with additional artillery, the First New Regiment now had an astonishing total exceeding 300 conventional artillery guns—four to five times more than an average enemy infantry regiment.
Even if the Sakata Regiment had one artillery battalion with nearly a hundred guns combined, they were no match firepower-wise.
Moreover, the First New Regiment held the advantage of choosing the ambush position.
“Targets: northeast direction, within two to one kilometers—artillery group one, indiscriminate strike!”
“Artillery group two, focus on the enemy’s rear supply convoy!”
“Hold fire until I give the order!”
“Yes! All units, adjust firing angles again and prepare to fire!”
“Yes, sir!”
Unaware, the Sakata Regiment was closing in on the First New Regiment’s ambush zone.
They did not realize they were walking straight into the jaws of death.
...
As a senior enemy officer, Sakata Nobutetsu naturally would not be running alongside his foot soldiers.
He was resting inside a cramped Type 91 armored car, eyes closed.
After noon, the weather had suddenly turned gloomy—perfect for a nap.
Sakata intended to rest for a short while.
However, resources in the enemy’s homeland were scarce, and they adhered strictly to the principle of economizing.
What should have been a towering, formidable tank was crudely transformed into a miniature version.
The armored car was similarly built small and low, resembling a bantam rooster.
Even though Sakata himself was rather short, he still couldn’t stretch out fully.
After muttering a few choice words about the designer’s family, he finally drifted into a haze of sleep.
The Sakata Regiment’s sentries drew ever closer.
Yet the soldiers of the First New Regiment remained calm, patiently waiting for the main enemy force to enter the ambush zone.
Just as Montgomery had predicted before.
The sentries of the Sakata Regiment did not conduct thorough reconnaissance of the terrain using a three-wheeled cart, as the First Infantry Battalion had before.
They simply performed a routine sweep with machine gun bursts and moved forward.
One sentry stood atop a high slope, signaling with flags that all was normal to the troops behind.
Unbeknownst to him, the entire First New Regiment lay concealed not far behind.
Thus, the bulk of the Sakata Regiment’s forces unwittingly marched right into the First New Regiment’s trap.
Seeing the moment was right, Li Yunlong waved his hand backward.
Four nearby communications soldiers immediately opened their radio walkie-talkies and tapped rhythmically on the microphones.
Within seconds, the First New Regiment’s fighters on the opposite slope crouched low and dashed toward their assigned positions.
Once everything was in place, Li Yunlong picked up his microphone, baring two gleaming white teeth in a grin.
“Chuzhi, open fire!”
“Fire!”
One shell after another was loaded into the barrels.
The next instant, the artillery battalion’s position erupted in a rapid, continuous barrage.
“Thump! Thump! Thump!”
Over three hundred shells of various calibers tore through the sky above the First New Regiment’s position, tracing visible arcs, screaming piercingly as they slammed into the entire ambush zone.
When desperate, you encircle and infiltrate; when strong, you bombard with everything you’ve got!
Suddenly, sharp, piercing whistles sliced through the air above the dirt road along which the Sakata Regiment marched.
The sound approached swiftly from afar, growing louder and clearer.
Hearing this sudden noise, the seasoned soldiers of the Sakata Regiment were struck with alarm.
They knew this sound all too well.
It was unmistakably the shrill whistle of high-velocity shells slicing through the air!
Judging from the increasingly sharp whistle...