newbobooks Chapter 284 The Arrogance of the Hirata Regiment
Chapter 284 The Arrogance of the Hirata Regiment
[Unlimited Pay-to-Win System]
Current funds: £6,543,876
[Daily Increase in Funds]: £3 per second (continuously soaring)
[Current troop strength]: First Army (five German-trained infantry divisions, two armored divisions, and the First Independent Heavy Artillery Brigade), Second Army (independent motorized infantry division, the Twelfth Division, the Second Independent Heavy Artillery Brigade, etc.), and the Northward Task Force (the vanguard battalion of the First Armored Division and the Independent Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion).
[System Prompt]: Due to entering the high-intensity combat zone in North China, the frequency of enemy air force activities has increased significantly. The system has automatically deducted £2,000,000 to equip the anti-aircraft artillery and air defense brigade with sufficient 88mm high-explosive anti-aircraft shells and special armor-piercing shells.
Cold rainwater dripped continuously from the metal roof of the vehicle, splashing up murky water droplets on the muddy gravel road.
On the outskirts of Beiping, five miles north of Lugou Bridge, a desolate and oppressive landscape prevailed.
The piercing sound of gunfire echoed faintly in the distance, marking the location where the Hirata Regiment of the Japanese forces had launched their probing attack.
On this very defensive line, large numbers of Fengtian Army and Northwest Army remnants, dressed in tattered gray uniforms, were retreating in disarray.
They dropped their military caps and even their guns, only concerned with fleeing into Beiping city.
"Run! Run! The Japanese are attacking!"
"Those are the elite troops of the North China Garrison Army, armed with machine guns and artillery; we simply can't stop them!"
"Don't block our way! Let us into the city! Staying outside is just waiting to die!"
Hundreds of defeated soldiers rolled in the mud, and panic spread rapidly across the wasteland like a plague.
"Stop right there! All of you, stop right there!"
A battalion commander, his eyes red with anger, pushed and shoved the soldiers around him, trying to seize the few carriages that were available by the roadside.
However, just as he was pushing and shoving, a series of uniform and extremely heavy footsteps suddenly came from ahead.
"Tap, tap, tap, tap."
That was the sound of military boots stepping on muddy water, heavy and powerful, as if each step was hitting one's heart.
In the wind and rain, rows of cold-blooded soldiers in black uniforms and German-style helmets marched in neat formation toward the fleeing troops.
They held submachine guns painted in black, their bayonets gleaming coldly in the rain.
The discipline of this unit was breathtaking; even when marching across muddy wastelands, the troops remained perfectly organized.
"Where...where did this army come from?"
"This uniform, this equipment, I've never seen them before!"
The fleeing soldiers gradually stopped in their tracks, staring blankly at the black-clad army, their eyes filled with shock.
"The Southeast Area Army's Northern Anti-Japanese Special Task Force will take over the defense line."
Shen Li, his face cold, sat on his horse and looked down at the routed soldiers below.
"All retreating personnel shall immediately clear the road and retreat into the city for resettlement. Anyone who dares to attack our defense line shall be dealt with according to military law."
Shen Li's voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable killing intent that made the clamoring, defeated soldiers instantly shrink back.
The battalion commander who stole the carriage was pale-faced. Pointing ahead, he said in a trembling voice, "Sir, take my advice and run!"
"The one coming from ahead is the Hirata Regiment, the elite of the North China Garrison Army, a full three thousand veteran Japanese soldiers, all of them fierce and ruthless wolves."
"Even if you have the best equipment, you few thousand men are just free food for the Japanese devils."
Upon hearing this, Shen Li's lips twitched slightly, revealing a cold, mocking smile.
"Elite? Veterans?"
"I'm targeting the elite."
"Get out of here."
He suddenly waved his hand, and the black torrent of steel behind him accelerated instantly, cutting directly into the defensive line.
Under the command of the engineer battalion of the 1st Armored Division, the soldiers quickly jumped into the abandoned makeshift trenches.
Their movements were extremely skilled; clearing the silt, setting up sandbags, and laying out machine gun positions were all carried out in an orderly, silent, and effective manner.
What's most striking is that flatbed trucks stopped behind them, their massive metal outlines vaguely visible beneath the camouflage netting.
Dozens of sturdy cannon barrels slowly rose in the rain, pointing directly at the distant plains.
"Young Marshal, the defensive line is set up."
Shen Li arrived at the temporary command post located on high ground and saluted Chen Zijun, who was standing with his hands behind his back.
"All 24 88mm guns of the First Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion are in position, the camouflage nets have been removed, and they are ready for direct fire."
"In addition, the thirty-six machine gun positions have formed a cross network and are ready to fire at any time."
Chen Zijun stood in front of the lookout point of the mud fortress, staring blankly ahead.
His black military overcoat trembled slightly in the wind and rain, and his eyes revealed a calm and indifferent gaze that seemed to see through everything.
"Where is Hirata's team?"
Chen Zijun asked calmly.
"They have already crossed the railway bridge north of Lugou Bridge and are advancing at full speed in our direction."
"Their marching formation was extremely arrogant; they didn't even conduct flank reconnaissance, they simply pressed forward with their marching posture."
Shen Li chuckled coldly, his tone full of disdain.
"These Japanese devils are used to running rampant on the North China Plain. They think the Chinese army on the other side is made of paper and don't take us seriously at all."
Chen Zijun snorted coldly, gently stroking the holster with his right hand.
"Then let's teach them a lesson and let them know that this North China is not a place where they can run rampant."
"Notify the anti-aircraft artillery battalion that I paid real money for this ammunition."
"Every shell we fire will make the Japanese pay with their blood."
"Yes, young marshal."
Shen Li nodded emphatically, then turned and ran down from the command post.
At this moment, on the opposite side of the wasteland, the Hirata Regiment's forces were arranged in a dense formation, rolling in like a gray tide.
Colonel Hirata rode on a brown warhorse, holding binoculars in his hand, his face full of arrogance and pride.
"Colonel, it seems that all the Chinese troops stationed at the front have retreated, but a new black-clad unit has taken over the defense line."
A major stood by and loudly reported to his superior.
Colonel Hirata didn't even remove his glasses; he just gave a cold laugh.
"The Black-Clad Army?"
"It's just a local warlord in a new outfit."
"What could these weak Chinese troops do besides flee in the face of the Imperial Army's might?"
"Order the 1st and 2nd Infantry Battalions to charge forward in a dense 'Banzai' assault formation!"
"We won't even need to use heavy artillery; we'll just tear them to shreds with the bayonets of the warriors of the Great Japanese Empire!"
Colonel Hirata's voice was full of arrogance.
In his view, the current defensive line was nothing more than another mud toy that could be crushed at will.
Three thousand Japanese soldiers shouted in unison, pulled back their rifle bolts, and charged wildly into the pouring rain, bayonets gleaming.
"Long live His Majesty the Emperor!"
"Heavyweight black card, Banzai, Banzai..."