November 26, 1937, 11:25 AM:

The good mood of Kawauchi Seiro's brigade commander began to plummet when the first shell was fired from Battery A.

Since his unit landed at Wusongkou on August 27th of this year, it had been almost three months.

They had been firing almost every day, whether bombing Dachang, Yangshupu, or Jiangwan. His unit had never missed a beat.

Although the National Revolutionary Army's artillery had tried to attack his brigade, their shells never landed on them.

On the contrary, their shells often routed the NRA's artillery.

In recent days, the 5th Field Heavy Artillery Brigade had continuously attacked the fortifications and bunkers on the NRA's two lines of defense, with remarkable success.

No matter how the NRA counterattacked, his brigade had never lost a single cannon or soldier.

His heavy artillery unit had never been hit by NRA artillery fire on the battlefield.

Today, everything changed!

The first shell fired by the enemy hit one of his own heavy cannons.

The hundred-jin shell exploded next to the 150mm cannon, rendering it useless.

Yamaguchi Himuki was just an artillery gunner.

He joined the army from the countryside of Yokohama and was assigned to the 15th Field Heavy Artillery Regiment.

After joining the unit, under the tutelage of the veterans, Yamaguchi Himuki quickly learned to:

Wash clothes and fetch water for the veterans.

He also learned to fire cannons.

The veterans always told Yamaguchi Himuki: Joining our field heavy artillery unit was the right choice.

It's always the safest in this unit.

We're kilometers away from the front lines. You don't have to worry about getting hurt.

Since landing in August, Yamaguchi Himuki had indeed realized that what the veterans said was very true.

Although their daily work was very hard, these days, they had to carry nearly a hundred jins of shells and load them into the cannon.

Then, fire them.

Even after such hard combat, these new recruits still had to perform the most tiring task of cleaning the cannon bore.

Several people used all their strength to insert the thick brush into the barrel, and it took all their might to pull it back and forth.

It was a test of physical strength, and the most tiring task when maintaining the artillery.

Of course, all this work was done by the newcomers.

Every day after finishing these tasks, Yamaguchi Himuki, who was almost exhausted, still had to fetch water and wash clothes for the veterans.

He didn't see a glimmer of hope for his aspirations of becoming an officer when he first joined the unit.

They had just been transported here last night, and all they had done was move the cannons from their marching positions to the temporary artillery positions.

As for the entrenchments and other things needed for the artillery positions, there was no time or energy to build them.

In these three months of fighting, they had only strictly followed the procedures for the first ten days or so.

Each cannon must have an artillery shelter built!

However, these artillery shelters had never been used, and no NRA shells had ever landed on their positions.

Later, the soldiers were unwilling to spend so much effort on fortifications and shelters that were never used.

In the end, it became a habit to use temporary artillery positions wherever they went.

Use and run!

Originally, this was the way these field heavy artillery units operated. They were constantly being moved around.

If they really had to strictly follow the procedures, these ordinary soldiers would probably be exhausted to death every day.

Today, the entire 5th Field Brigade artillery position was just a temporary position.

Therefore, when the cannon that Yamaguchi Himuki cleaned and maintained every day was bombed by the first shell fired by Lin Fan, Yamaguchi Himuki and his entire artillery squad were annihilated along with the cannon.

Yamaguchi Himuki and his comrades were truly shattered.

All seven soldiers in the operation squad were killed, and not even their bodies could be found.

Only a mass of flesh and blood could be seen.

The shell not only destroyed a cannon but also caused considerable casualties to the personnel in the two cannon positions on either side.

Kawauchi Seiro didn't care about the five soldiers who were casualties from the other two cannons.

It wasn't impossible for artillerymen to become cannon fodder.

As long as the affected cannons were okay.

As long as it didn't affect the other two cannons from continuing to fire!

There was still good news. Although the two cannons beside it were hit by some shrapnel, the cannons were intact.

That was enough. As for the artillerymen who were killed, replacements could be brought in.

Brigade Commander Kawauchi Seiro ordered, "The cannons must not stop firing. Keep bombing."

The three devils standing on the high observation balloon were very responsible.

They had already transmitted the data they had just observed.

Brigade Commander Kawauchi Seiro learned from the message sent back by the observation soldiers high above that:

The attack came from a hill in the Jiangyin Fortress.

He learned that the hill was called Xiao Shan, which was a very important gun emplacement in the entire fortress.

"All cannons, adjust your targets and aim at Xiao Shan. We must suppress their cannons," Brigade Commander Kawauchi Seiro ordered.

All twenty-nine 150mm cannons in the entire brigade concentrated their fire on the position from which the shells had just been fired.

As the observers in the balloon basket in mid-air constantly sent back the positions of the shell impacts.

Each cannon in the entire brigade adjusted its firing parameters.

With this kind of correction, the shells fired by the entire brigade were getting closer and closer to the target.

The situation was developing in a good direction, and Kawauchi Seiro's mood began to improve again.

That last shell was just a coincidence!

Yes! Just a coincidence!

Just as he thought so, the second shell fell from the sky and landed on his artillery position again. This time, another cannon about thirty meters from the previous shell impact was hit.

The same situation happened again, and the second 150mm cannon was destroyed.

As for the seven artillerymen in this cannon's operation squad, they had now become cannon fodder.

Ten soldiers had already been killed or wounded in this cannon position.

Even as cannon fodder, Brigade Commander Kawauchi Seiro felt a little heartache.

He didn't know if he felt heartache for the cannon fodder or for the cannon.

Because the cannon had already been affected when the first shell exploded.

Similarly, this time, another cannon beside it was also affected.

Fortunately, as before, the cannon was fine, but three artillerymen died.

Brigade Commander Kawauchi Seiro was shocked, "Does the enemy have eyes here?

Otherwise, they wouldn't be able to hit so accurately."

He immediately ordered, "Search the area around the artillery position, and notify Regiment Commander Saiki Doichi:

Ask his 58th Regiment to send soldiers to search the high ground around the artillery position.

The NRA has planted spies around us, who are guiding the NRA's cannons to cause great damage to the Imperial artillery position."

Brigade Commander Kawauchi Seiro also knew in his heart, "Even if there are spies, the technology to hit my cannons with two consecutive shells is impossible in this world. It will never be possible.

It can only be a probabilistic event, just like two shells landing in the same crater.

This is an extremely low probability event."

When the third shell destroyed his third cannon.

Brigade Commander Kawauchi Seiro panicked, "The enemy's artillery is executing our cannons one by one!

Using the first impact point as the coordinate, each of his shells has moved thirty meters to the north."

Although this shell didn't directly hit his cannon, the fragments from the shell hit a shell that was being loaded.

The shells in the cannon position detonated.

Whether it was accidental or inevitable, Brigade Commander Kawauchi Seiro didn't dare to gamble anymore.

He immediately ordered, "The artillery position, retreat immediately. All the 240mm cannons that are being installed do not need to be installed. Retreat immediately."

He didn't dare to stay in this position any longer.

Now Brigade Commander Kawauchi Seiro understood, "The enemy may not be using spies.

But the defending soldiers had long ago surveyed this area that could be used as an artillery position.

They had predetermined the data in advance, so they could bomb so accurately."

He had to say that his guess was roughly the truth.

Although Brigade Commander Kawauchi Seiro's order was issued very promptly.

But the retreat of a field heavy artillery brigade was not a journey that could be taken on a whim.

The heavy equipment needed time to be packed up slowly.

During the retreat of Brigade Commander Kawauchi Seiro, more cannons were hit one after another.

But after that, only the cannons were destroyed, and there were no more casualties.

After all, the pattern of the shells fired by the enemy was easy to figure out: a shell would fall every four to five minutes.

Each shell would move about thirty meters north of the previous shell.

With this pattern, although the cannons could not be dragged away in time, the soldiers could run away as fast as their legs could carry them.

In this way, the role of cannon fodder had changed: now the cannons had become the cannon fodder.

This was Kawauchi Seiro's treasure!

This was also the treasure of the entire Empire! Each of these cannons required a lot of money to build.

Kawauchi Seiro's heart was bleeding: each of these cannons was his sweetheart, and now six of them had been scrapped, six of them!

And the tragedy was not over yet.

Kawauchi Seiro had already summarized his experience: the enemy was bombing according to the planned positions.

Therefore, Brigade Commander Kawauchi Seiro issued the latest order: "Leave five more cannons for the defenders to play with.

All the cannons behind, retreat fifty meters from the cannon positions first."

At the same time, he also sent all the logistics personnel of the entire brigade up.

First, drag the sixth cannon north of the last shell impact point.

All the artillerymen in this direction were now bolder, operating from such a distance, and their safety was guaranteed.

The soldiers had the strength and dared to use it. The trucks drove up urgently, and hundreds of soldiers rushed up.

The spectacular scene of hundreds of people dragging a cannon appeared.

Under the emergency towing of the trucks, and with the assistance of hundreds of people.

The cannon was finally dragged out and quickly retreated hundreds of meters.

At this time, the fourth of the five cannons that Brigade Commander Kawauchi Seiro had reserved had been bombed.

The soldiers of the entire 5th Field Heavy Artillery Brigade didn't dare to rest. They now needed to grab the cannons behind them and drag them out more quickly.

Fortunately, the entire brigade had plenty of manpower, and many tasks were carried out simultaneously.

After the first cannon was dragged out of its original position, the cannons behind were quickly dragged out one by one.

Another shell exploded in the original position of the first cannon that was dragged out.

This time, the shell exploded in the air.

The soldiers of Brigade Commander Kawauchi Seiro, who had just rescued the cannon, let out cheers of victory.

It felt like they had won, and the blow of eleven cannons and dozens of soldiers being destroyed had been forgotten by these soldiers.

They only remembered that they had just saved a cannon for the Empire.

Another cannon.

As the shells from the NRA's cannon positions landed one after another on the empty cannon positions. Da Feng Novel

These soldiers of the 5th Field Heavy Artillery Regiment burst into cheers again and again.

Starting from the impact point of the first shell and moving north, all the 150mm cannons of the 1st Field Heavy Artillery Regiment were dragged out at this time.

Although it was not possible to completely leave this area, it was enough.

Brigade Commander Kawauchi Seiro also smiled, "Thanks to my wit. If it weren't for my quick response.

Today, we wouldn't have lost only eleven cannons.

I don't know how much we would have been hit in the next battle."

Now the entire 5th Field Heavy Artillery Brigade was no longer bombing the Jiangyin Fortress.

The 5th Field Heavy Artillery Brigade, of course, had to preserve itself as the top priority.

They were not an infantry regiment that could be consumed in large quantities.

Brigade Commander Kawauchi Seiro ordered, "Recover the observation balloon and evacuate the battlefield."

The commander of the 13th Division, Ogisu Rippei, knew about the damage suffered by the 5th Field Heavy Artillery Brigade.

Faced with such a situation, he could not stop it.

It seemed that it would be impossible to capture the Jiangyin Fortress today or tomorrow.

He looked at the sand table of the fortress and pondered bitterly.

Now he was not thinking of using infantry to charge up.

With such powerful artillery fire on the other side, Division Commander Ogisu Rippei held a small wooden cannon in his hand.

He used this as his artillery, constantly placing it in various places on the front of the fortress.

No matter how he put it, he always felt that: although this land was large, there was no place to put his artillery unit.

Annoyed, Ogisu Rippei could no longer suppress the anger in his heart.

He threw the toy in his hand hard and was about to leave.

Near Shin Kentaro, the staff officer guarding the sand table, quickly picked up the toy that the division commander loved the most.

He was carefully putting it on the edge of the sand table.

Suddenly, he heard a stern order, "Put it back!"

Near Shin Kentaro was startled. It was the division commander's voice.

Did he have an opinion on his actions?

Near Shin Kentaro's movements were a little slow, and Ogisu Rippei's voice became even harsher, "Put it back!!"

Near Shin Kentaro quickly put the wooden toy cannon into the sand table.

"I'm telling you to put it back in the same place as before," Division Commander Ogisu Rippei's voice was not as stern as before.

At this time, he also picked up two toy cannons in his hand.

The surfaces of these toy cannons were shiny and oily. It was obvious that they had been completely coated with patina.

It could be seen that their owner often played with them.

Near Shin Kentaro put the cannon in his hand in the place where he had just picked it up.

This was behind the Jiangyin Fortress.

Next to this cannon, Division Commander Ogisu Rippei put two more cannons.

He also put a few wooden figures on the back of Jiangyin.

Division Commander Ogisu Rippei's tightly knitted brows were now relaxed.

A hint of a smile appeared on his face, "Attack from the rear!"

Division Commander Ogisu Rippei was pleased with his ingenious idea.

Seeing that none of the staff officers around him could understand it.

The superior feeling of intellectual crushing made him even happier.

So Division Commander Ogisu explained to his group of mentally retarded subordinates:

"What is the purpose of the Nanjing government setting up the Jiangyin Fortress?

It is to block the Yangtze River waterway," he answered his own question triumphantly.

Although these staff officers under him knew the answer in their hearts, none of them dared to speak.

Now was the happiest time for Division Commander Ogisu Rippei. Who would dare to interrupt?

Division Commander Ogisu Rippei continued, "Since it is to block the waterway, and to block the waterway entering the Yangtze River from the downstream.

This determines that all the cannons of the fortress have a shortcoming:

Their targets are all downstream, which is the south.

Even if these cannons can move their firing range a little to the left and right, their general direction will not change.

They can only attack to the south."

Now all the staff officers' faces showed a look of sudden realization.

They really understood.

The division commander was going to change the main attack direction from the front to the back.

Attacking from the rear could avoid the strongest artillery attacks on the fortress.

Looking at the admiring gazes of his subordinates, Division Commander Ogisu Rippei felt as sweet as honey in his heart.

The general direction had been determined, and now all that was needed was to attack:

Attack the city behind the Jiangyin Fortress, and take down a place for an undisturbed attack.

Behind Jiangyin was Wujin, and the 16th Division of the Empire was the main force of the attack in this direction.

Now Division Commander Ogisu Rippei could only wait for the 16th Division to send good news.

The commander of the 16th Division, Nakajima Kesago, had seen the hope of occupying Wuxi since yesterday.

The soldiers of Battery A of the Jiangyin Fortress were now also excited.

They had suppressed the devil's artillery fire with such blind firing without observers.

Company Commander Lin Xiaoxiao checked the base of the cannon that had made such a great contribution again: A good foundation lasts a lifetime!

The entire ground was still very solid, which reassured Company Commander Lin Xiaoxiao.

Lin Fan knew that the devil's artillery had stopped firing, so he immediately adjusted the firing angle of the cannon.

The soldiers of Battery A now looked at Lin Fan as if they were looking at a god.

These soldiers couldn't figure out how everyone had seen the devil's observation balloon in the distance, but why was this Company Commander Lin able to suppress the devil's artillery with a dozen shells?

These soldiers knew in their hearts: it must have been the shells fired by their cannon that had caused great damage to the devils.

Otherwise, the devils would not have stopped shelling so easily.

Firing cannons, of course, required skill, but the most important thing was the person who pointed the cannon in the right direction!

Lin Fan!

A divine man!

This divine man was now doing what ordinary people did, retreating far away, waiting for the shell to be fired.

With another loud noise, a shell roared out, carrying the expectations of all the officers and soldiers of Battery A.

No one here would ever know whether they would win the lottery.

But Kawauchi Seiro knew immediately:

In the middle of his artillery team, which had just retreated hundreds of meters, a shell exploded in the middle of the team.

This time, the casualties were as if the shell was trying to make up for the losses of those previous shells that had only hit the cannons and not the people.

A portion of the soldiers of the 5th Field Heavy Artillery Brigade, who had gathered together to cheer and wait to see the defenders' cannons fall into the empty space.

Were blown to pieces by this shell. This time, not only was another cannon destroyed, but also a tractor.

Dozens of soldiers who were working around the cannon were all wiped out by this shell.

This time, the sight made all the devil officers and soldiers dare not stay any longer.

They couldn't wait to drive the tractors away immediately.

But as a heavy cannon, it had power, but of course, its portability was much lower.

It took more than ten or twenty minutes for a cannon to be converted from a combat state to a marching state.

Brigade Commander Kawauchi Seiro could only accept this reality: helplessly watching his artillery regiment being bombarded by the defenders on the fortress with a single cannon.

They kept throwing shells over.

It was a bit like throwing bricks over the wall to hit people. What was annoying was that they were able to hit them every time.

This was what annoyed Brigade Commander Kawauchi Seiro the most.

Of the thirty cannons that had fired here in the entire brigade, twenty had been destroyed by the enemy.

The soldiers had also lost more than three hundred. In this cannon battle where they had not even met, the 5th Field Heavy Artillery Brigade had lost completely.

At this time, the 16th Division, which was placed high hopes on by the commander of the 13th Division, Ogisu Rippei, was exhausted.

The soldiers under the command of the commander of the 16th Division, Nakajima Kesago, had suffered heavy casualties.

His team had been in a bitter battle since the 23rd.

Today was the fourth day of the bitter battle. Although Commander-in-Chief Matsui Iwane of the Shanghai Expeditionary Army had ordered the 9th Division and the 11th Division, which were attacking on the flanks, to increase the intensity of their attacks.

He even sent the Akiyama Brigade, which was acting as a reserve team in the rear.

Then the speed of advancement on the entire front line was still frighteningly slow.

Fortunately, today, the Koshito Detachment, which had been severely damaged on the Huishan position, had been reorganized.

They were put into battle again, and Koshito Chiharu commanded his team to launch an attack on Hangan Bridge, twelve kilometers northeast of Wuxi.

This time, he suffered the same lesson as last time. The road for a large-scale offensive was repeatedly beaten back by the Fourth Army, relying on its strong defenses.

Battalion Commander Takahashi Ryo of the Taiwanese 2nd Infantry Regiment saw that the offensive ahead was not going well.

The eager-to-achieve commander personally led his men in a suicide charge.

This time, none of the soldiers in the 2nd Regiment dared to run backwards when facing the defenders' fierce fire.

These soldiers had to continue their attack under the heavy rain of bullets fired from the fortresses by the officers and soldiers of the Fourth Army.

The NRA's firepower was fierce, and the fortresses were strong, which made Takahashi Ryo's 2nd Infantry Regiment unable to move an inch.