The Beacon of Laiyang Metal

Chapter 40

The armored vehicle paralyzed on the rails looked like a hornet's nest at the moment. The vehicle body was covered with dense bullet holes the size of a fist, and the surrounding air was filled with the pungent smell of gunpowder.

Climbing up the gentle slope where the rails protruded from the ground, Jiang Hongchun first checked the two Japanese soldiers who were shot down by submachine guns. He saw that one of them was still moaning and gasping in pain after being shot. "Clicking" the Thomson in his hand was another With a burst of fire, the Japanese man's grunting stopped immediately.

The soldier behind him also picked up his rifle with a bayonet and stabbed the other silent Japanese twice to make sure that no Japanese would pretend to be dead.

This detail was emphasized repeatedly by Wei Yuan to the instructors of the Independent Brigade to ensure that no soldiers would be brainwashed by the Bushido spirit and the Japanese would bite them before they died.

As for the three Japs who were hit by the M2 heavy machine gun, Jiang Hongchun took one look and ignored them. Apart from the Japs lying on the ground without their heads, the remaining two who were hit in the torso could only be described as horrific. There is no human form that can be pieced together from the corpse, so there is no need for a second inspection.

Then he came to the cab door of the armored vehicle. After pulling the door open, a Japanese corpse that was originally leaning on the door slid directly out of the cab and fell at Jiang Hongchun's feet.

His neck was covered in blood, leaving only the last trace of flesh to keep his head from falling off his body. Judging from his identity, he was a sergeant (equivalent to a non-commissioned officer) and the squad leader of this armored vehicle.

As for the Japs in the shooting position, it was even worse. Half of his head was missing, and his whole body was covered in blood and white bones. Lying on the floor of the carriage, it looked like he was an ammunition hand. There was no movement even when he was lying on his back.

For the sake of safety, Jiang Hongchun picked up his Thompson submachine gun and fired another short burst at the ammunition hand. Seeing that there were no other Japs in the carriage, he turned to the soldiers behind him and said:
  "Use the radio to inform the company that the road construction team our department is responsible for protecting was attacked by a Japanese armored vehicle on the railway bridge, killing five workers on the spot. After our department arrived at the scene, they exchanged fire with the Japanese, killing nine Japanese and destroying the One armored car, one of our soldiers is dead and one is injured, waiting for the next instructions from the company."

After saying that, he took out two long-handled offensive grenades from the side of his waist, pulled the fuse, and threw them into the armored car. Then he quickly retreated under the railway embankment. He only heard a "bang" and a large explosion. The smoke behind them scattered out from the car doors, shooting holes, and honeycomb-shaped bullet holes. As the mountain wind blew by, it drifted into the air and disappeared without a trace. The armored car paralyzed on the rails was completely worthless for repairs. .

Then he looked at the hilltop next to the railway roadbed and said:
  "You guys hurry up and clean the battlefield, collect the Japs and their weapons together, seize the high ground, ask the construction team to suspend the construction, take the wounded and Deputy Luan back to the rear first, and wait for the commander's instructions. Before the company orders are issued, give me Nail him on that high ground and not allow a single Japanese to cross the railway bridge."

After saying that, he took the lead in picking up a Japanese "38-type rifle" on the ground and carried it behind his back. Then, he seemed to remember something: "Oh, I also found a way to dismantle the heavy machine gun on the jeep and send it to the high ground to build a machine gun." fortifications.”

The few people who received the order from the squad leader immediately took action. The rifles on the ground and the ammunition boxes carried on the corpses of the Japanese were cleaned up.

With the cooperation of the workers of the road construction team, the vehicle-mounted heavy machine guns were carried on their shoulders to the top of the highland. A simple heavy machine gun fortification was arranged, and several tools such as shovels and pickaxes used for road construction were used to quickly dig out several Individual bunkers and gun-proof holes.

Kazuki Oura, a captain of the Kwantung Army stationed at the Qingshangou section of the "Anfeng Railway", felt inexplicably a little bit when he received a dispatch report that the armored patrol car had not arrived at Qingshangou Station twenty minutes later than expected. Something was wrong. After more than ten minutes, there was still no news about the armored patrol car. He couldn't help but become nervous, and a sense of foreboding arose spontaneously.

It was decided to take a team of 54 people (three squads and a grenade squad equipped with three grenade launchers), carry radios and ride in three trucks along the established patrol route of armored vehicles on the railway to see if there were any Whatever happened, if the patrol car was delayed for no legitimate reason, he wouldn't mind using his big slap to teach the Japanese sergeant leading the team a lesson.

Just when Oura Kazuki was sitting in the co-pilot of the truck in the middle, thinking about how to teach the Japanese sergeant a lesson, the convoy suddenly stopped, and then heard the sound of machine guns, submachine guns, and rifles. In an instant, there was a large sound, mixed with The soldiers in the front car suddenly became noisy with their screams and wails.

As a veteran who participated in the Russo-Japanese War, Oura Kazuki immediately pulled out the Southern pistol from his waist, opened the door and jumped out of the truck, shouting loudly, urging the living people to get out of the car and fight, and the grenade squad , armed with three grenade launchers, also immediately looked for a position suitable for launching grenades.

Jiang Hongchun held a filtered cigarette in his mouth, emptied a drum, and shouted to the soldier carrying the radio while reloading his submachine gun:
  "What did the company headquarters say? Did you reply to the message? Tell the company headquarters that the Japs have arrived again with a full team, estimated to number fifty or sixty people. Ask the brothers who have added more people to come quickly. If they arrive late, they can only give it to us brothers. They collected the bodies"

After saying "spit", he spat out the cigarette butt with only the filter in his mouth, picked up the newly installed 50-round drum, and faced a few Japs who were about to take advantage of the cover of grass at the foot of the hillside, "Da da da da" "It was a long shot, and immediately a Japanese soldier was hit and rolled down the grass.

This positional offensive and defensive battle, which was not a large one in terms of scale, instantly became intense from the first gunshot. The M2 Browning heavy machine gun was completely lit except for the moment it came into contact with the Japs squad. After unloading an entire ammunition chain and blowing up the first truck, there was no more movement in the following time. At this moment, the twisted gun body and gun frame were separated and scattered on the side of the machine gun fortification.

There was no way, the Japanese grenades were too accurate. Except for the first grenade for the school building, which landed more than ten meters away from the heavy machine gun fortifications, the explosion point of the subsequent grenades was basically no more than five meters away from the machine gun fortifications. Several rounds landed directly along the machine gun position, blowing up the soldier responsible for controlling the heavy machine gun and the heavy machine gun on the spot.

For a 300mm grenade with a maximum range of 5 meters and a killing radius of 50 meters, there is no way for people to stand on the hilltop position. Fortunately, during the training of the recruit company, the instructor focused on explaining the range and killing radius of the Japanese grenade. Several individual gun-proof caves were built on the top of the mountain, so that they were not overwhelmed by several rounds of grenades from the Japanese. Even so, apart from one death and one injury in the initial encounter, and the soldier manipulating the heavy machine gun on the top of the mountain who was killed, the remaining three people in the squad were all injured at this moment, with no less than five shrapnels inserted in each person's body. .

Maybe the team didn’t bring many grenades with them in a hurry. After firing more than 50 grenades intensively, they would only fire one or two to cover the attacking soldiers when they saw someone shooting at the top of the mountain. When they heard the grenades come out with a "thud", At this time, Jiang Hongchun and the others were like frightened rabbits, immediately stopped shooting and retracted into the anti-gun hole as quickly as possible.

Then they relied on the two boxes of wooden-handled grenades that the workers helped carry up the mountain before the war started. They huddled in the anti-gun cave and kept throwing grenades out from a high position to fight off the Japanese attacks one after another. However, the grenades were all gone. , after a few more waves, you can only resist the enemy's grenades on the position, otherwise when the enemy comes up from the grass below, just a few grenades can wipe out a few of your people.

Kazuki Oura, who was using a huge bluestone as cover at the foot of the mountain, looked at two more corpses falling in the bursts of explosion smoke. The soldiers who retreated were so angry that they immediately drew out their command swords and struck the bluestone beside them. Sparks suddenly flew out. His hands were sore from the shock, and even the word "sexy dog" was not enough to describe his angry mood at this time.

From the moment they came into contact with the battle, the leading vehicle responsible for opening the way was blown up by the heavy machine gun ambushed by the opponent in advance, wiping out the combat effectiveness of a squad. In the subsequent attack on the unknown high ground, another seven or eight imperial soldiers were killed. , if you include the nine imperial soldiers in the armored patrol car, they killed almost half of your squad.

Although the intelligence agencies have recently reported to the local garrison that the "Independent Security Brigade" has recently expanded significantly and is equipped with German equipment and training, and is even equipped with armored vehicles and fighter aircraft. It is not a Northeast Army unit in the general sense. It is obviously not a Northeast Army unit. No Kwantung Army officer took this information seriously.

When have you ever seen a sheep that can kill a hungry wolf? No matter how well-equipped and rigorously trained the cowardly Chinese people are, they are just sheep without sharp teeth and claws. When they encounter the imperial army, they will be grabbed on the head by the imperial army like their fathers. Long braids, and cut their throats bit by bit with a saber.

But today's encounter gave him a thorough and severe slap. Kazuki Ohura began to regret why he did not listen to the advice of the intelligence agencies and learn more about the Chinese troops in his jurisdiction.

He really couldn't imagine when the Chinese people's fighting power became so powerful, when the Chinese people were so brave that they were not afraid of death, when the Chinese people's equipment became so luxurious, a squad unit, heavy machine guns, light machine guns (Thomson submachine guns) ) are all equipped, and even the grenades used to prevent the imperial army from approaching are seemingly endless.

"Conspiracy, this is a conspiracy against the imperial army. They specially ambush the patrolling armored vehicles here, and attract the imperial army to come for reinforcements. Finally, with the fierce firepower, they inflicted huge damage to the imperial army at the first time."

Yes, that's it. Oura Kazuki was convinced of his analysis, and then said to the communication soldier on the side:

"To generate electricity for the Kwantung Army headquarters in Dandong. Near the Qingshangou section of the "Anfeng Railway", the imperial army's armored patrol vehicles were attacked by unknown armed forces and all were broken into pieces. The Oura squadron was attacked again by Ming armed forces during reinforcements. The militants have now been The siege will be to an unnamed high ground near the railway bridge and will be annihilated later. Judging from the militants' clothing and equipment, they are very similar to the Northeastern Army's independent security brigade in Dandong. Please verify it, sir, Squadron Leader Kazuki Oura."

After seeing the signal corps send this telegram, he added: "The telegram orders the remaining two teams to assemble, carry armored vehicles, infantry guns and other heavy equipment, and rush to the Qingshangou section of the railway bridge as quickly as possible. I want to cut down this telegram with my own hands." Several Chinese heads.”

At this time, in Fengcheng County, two Willys Jeeps were leading the completed cement road, followed by a 1930 version of the "Zhenhua CA10" truck. The smoke and dust were billowing at high speed, heading towards Rushing towards the Qingshangou section of the railway bridge.

Yang Erwa, the platoon leader who was the co-pilot of the first car, could already vaguely hear the sound of explosions coming one after another. He shouted urgently to the driver: "Quick, hurry, speed up, keep accelerating." The driver was gritting his teeth and almost stepped on the accelerator to the bottom of the car.

Yu Shaohu, commander of the ninth company of the third battalion of the first regiment, received a telegram from Jiang Hongchun asking for help. Knowing that the situation was urgent, he reported it to the battalion headquarters immediately, and the battalion headquarters immediately reported it to the regiment. By the time Wei Yuan received the telegram, it was already twenty Minutes later.

At this time, at the Gushan Town Military Airport, Wei Yuan, accompanied by Gao Zhihang, visited the independent brigade's first transport aircraft "Yun-5 Transport Aircraft" (later full name: Yun-5 multi-purpose single-engine bi-wing transport aircraft) that had just completed assembly and test flight. ), WoWoTu is a self-made transport aircraft. Its biggest features are stable flight, low operating cost, and a take-off distance of only 170 meters. From its first flight in December 57 until today, WoTu is still equipped with it. Its main focus is safety. , even if the air engine is stopped, as long as there is a piece of grass or simply a road, this thing can fly back unscathed, nicknamed "Aerial Tractor"

After witnessing the "Yun-5" leaping into the air after just gliding a hundred meters, Wei Yuan smiled and said to Gao Zhihang:
  "Our independent security brigade finally has a transport aircraft. You, the captain of the flight group, have a much heavier burden. In addition to being a conventional transport aircraft, the airborne troops and the "Yun-5" platform are converted into bombers. , and it must be set up as soon as possible. When this frame is set up, I will expand your flight group. By then, your flight group will include: fighter units, bomber units, and airborne units as one. Our brigade, and even the most advanced troops in China."

After hearing this, Gao Zhihang also looked excited:
  "I heard the Chief of Guard say before that the independent security brigade would be equipped with transport aircraft and bombers. Zi Heng naturally believed it, but he didn't expect that this day would come so quickly. It was like a dream. The fighter/bomber squadron had just been formed, and the transport aircraft It has already been produced, and it is still such an advanced model. Ziheng will live up to the entrustment of the Chief of Guard and strive to turn the "Yun-5" into combat effectiveness as soon as possible."

While the two were chatting and laughing, they heard a sudden squeak of brakes. A Willys Jeep stopped quickly under the airport tower, and a communications soldier hurried up to the tower with a telegram:

"Reporting to the brigade, according to a call from the 1st Regiment, a certain squad of the 3rd Battalion and the 9th Company, under the jurisdiction of Fengcheng County, near the Qingshangou section of the "Anfeng Railway", was responsible for protecting the road construction team and was attacked by the Kwantung Army. "

(End of this chapter)