Li Zhen and Zhang Ruigui, the two division commanders, only ordered their troops to move after receiving the order.

They were not far from Conghua County, hiding in the mountains and forests outside the county.

As soon as the troops moved, they quickly appeared outside Conghua County. Kan’no Yu Komichi, the captain guarding the county, received a report that the Nationalist army was attacking the city.

He immediately ordered the Japanese soldiers to defend the line and reported the news to Miyata Kaneshijiro, the regimental commander.

Miyata Kaneshijiro was the commander of the 108th Infantry Regiment under the 104th Division of the Japanese army. After receiving the report of the Nationalist army attacking the city, he immediately reported to Toshiro Miyake, the division commander.

At this time, Division Commander Toshiro Miyake was worried about the fate of his entire division.

As soon as Lin Fan ordered the artillery regiment and two rocket launcher companies to change their bombing targets, the two Japanese infantry brigades struggled in the artillery fire.

In particular, the 107th Infantry Brigade of the Japanese army, which had not yet been educated by the Special Operations Brigade.

The two infantry regiments under its command had more than 10,000 Japanese soldiers.

In the dense artillery fire, there was nowhere to hide. Brigade Commander Kenji Matsumoto could only crawl on the ground, shivering and secretly praying for the bombing to end sooner.

What they prayed to end sooner was what the soldiers of the Special Operations Brigade insisted on doing longer.

Moreover, the bombing by the artillery regiment could support the Second Regiment, which was charging towards the two Japanese artillery regiments.

Therefore, the artillery regiment's bombing never stopped from the beginning. They were not only bombing the 108th Infantry Brigade of the Japanese army, but also the 132nd Infantry Brigade of the Japanese army. The 104th Logistics Regiment sandwiched between these two infantry brigades, and the first and second field hospitals of the medical team were all within the bombing range.

Under such fierce artillery fire, the formation of the 104th Division of the Japanese army changed. They could not maintain their formation at all.

In this case, Division Commander Toshiro Miyake ordered all the troops: "The entire army will突击 (tū jī, assault) Xiangshan."

He wanted to break into Xiangshan, which would not only defeat the Nationalist infantry, but also annihilate the Nationalist heavy artillery unit.

They had a glorious battle experience under Luofu Mountain, and the result of that battle was quite satisfactory to the Japanese.

This time, Division Commander Toshiro Miyake felt that he could reproduce the battle experience under Luofu Mountain.

All the Japanese staff officers in the headquarters of the entire 104th Division also firmly believed in this. Even the brigade commanders and regimental commanders under his command strongly supported this plan.

It was with the order of Division Commander Toshiro Miyake that the 161st Infantry Regiment had already entered the battlefield in advance.

Regiment Commander Tadao Inui ordered his four battalions: "You carry the glory of the empire. The 132nd Infantry Regiment in front is not attacking effectively and needs reinforcements.

You must carry forward the spirit of daring to fight and die, defeat the Nationalist army. Find the Nationalist heavy artillery position and have another victory at Xiangshan."

"Hai!" Captains Kaizane Kishitani, Yuhika Akasaka, Takuma Nakamura, and Kaede Aiba stood up straight and responded loudly.

Looking at these four energetic subordinates, Regiment Commander Tadao Inui was in a very good mood. He was full of confidence in this attack.

As for the Takumi Takeuchi Battalion and the Marine Corps that had been completely annihilated in Dongling Ridge, that was their own problem. Such problems would never happen to the 161st Infantry Regiment.

Like commander, like soldiers. Under the indoctrination of Regiment Commander Tadao Inui's unwavering conviction, these Japanese soldiers were also full of confidence in victory.

The Akasaka Battalion was the vanguard of the entire regiment, charging at the front.

The first to charge into the assault circle was still the last complete infantry battalion of the 132nd Infantry Regiment: the Kaido Sekiya Battalion.

Battalion Commander Kaido Sekiya already knew that the attacks of the previous two battalions had been very unsuccessful today.

The infantry company of the Yosuke Uehara Battalion had been completely annihilated, and two infantry companies of the Hideki Koike Battalion were still holding on, waiting for reinforcements.

The task of the Kaido Sekiya Battalion was to support the突击 (tū jī, assault) of the Yosuke Uehara Battalion.

The two tank regiments in front of the Yosuke Uehara Battalion had been completely annihilated, and its infantry battalion had become the frying pan and the tip of the knife for the entire division.

It was just that this tip of the knife had now been broken, and the Kaido Sekiya Battalion needed to fill it in.

Along the way, their battalion passed the cavalry regiment of Yasuto Takahashi and witnessed many dead warhorses lying on the road, without having to think about it.

Just by looking at the piles of warhorse corpses on the road, they knew that the cavalry regiment was finished.

Captain Rintaro Imai, who was at the head of the formation, saw that the continuous hundreds of meters of road were full of warhorse corpses, interspersed with some Japanese corpses.

Hearing gunshots still ringing on the hillside, he looked towards the direction of the gunshots.

The Japanese soldiers of his company could see many of the cavalrymen of the Yasuto Takahashi Regiment falling on the hillside.

The few remaining Japanese soldiers were struggling on the hillside, barely guarding the hillside, seemingly unwilling to let the Nationalist army on the hillside charge down.

Regiment Commander Yasuto Takahashi was extremely excited when he saw this infantry unit coming.

This was the first unit to rush up since the battle started. Regiment Commander Yasuto Takahashi ordered Captain Rintaro Imai: "You immediately take this hill and replace my cavalry."

Captain Rintaro Imai reported: "Report to Regiment Commander Takahashi, my company's order is to go to the front to support the Yosuke Uehara Battalion. Please forgive me for being unable to help you in your situation."

Regiment Commander Yasuto Takahashi angrily raised his riding crop, wanting to teach this Japanese soldier who disobeyed the orders of his superior a lesson.

Just as his riding crop was raised, Battalion Commander Kaido Sekiya arrived at the front.

He said to Regiment Commander Yasuto Takahashi: "Regiment Commander Takahashi, we received orders to pave the way for the entire division and defeat the Nationalist army in the dark.

You are delaying military operations, I will report to Regiment Commander Kawazaki Shiro! You will be responsible for all the consequences!"

In the Japanese army, the infantry had the greatest power. Although Kaido Sekiya was only a battalion commander, his rank was the same as that of Regiment Commander Yasuto Takahashi, both being Lieutenant Colonels.

Therefore, Battalion Commander Kaido Sekiya was not afraid of Regiment Commander Yasuto Takahashi. Facing the infantry battalion commander with the same rank as himself.

Regiment Commander Yasuto Takahashi retreated. He did not dare to order Imai Rintaro's company to help him seize the hill, and could only reluctantly make way.

The Japanese soldiers of the Kaido Sekiya Battalion sped up their pace and passed through here. The infantry Japanese soldiers of the Naoto Kurokawa squad witnessed the scene of the company commander standing up to Regiment Commander Yasuto Takahashi.

These Japanese soldiers were even more motivated. For them, not retreating was the best way to boost morale. Of course, they were happy to not retreat in the face of officers of other arms of service.

These Japanese soldiers continued to pass through the territory of the Hideki Koike Battalion. Sergeant Kazuma Ito and Sergeant Yosuke Igarashi both saw the layers of corpses piled up on the hillside.

Sergeant Kazuma Ito pointed to the corpses on the hillside and said, "I'm afraid there are thousands of corpses up there!"

Sergeant Yosuke Igarashi said loudly: "There must be more Nationalist corpses and fewer Japanese corpses up there. One of us Japanese can kill at least ten Nationalist soldiers."

These ordinary Japanese soldiers could not see the scene on the hillside at all, and could only roughly see that there were corpses everywhere, a lot of corpses.

There were defensive positions established by the Hideki Koike Battalion on the hillside.

Battalion Commander Kaido Sekiya also paid attention to the corpses on the hillside. He stopped specifically and raised his binoculars to carefully observe the corpses on the hillside.

When he saw clearly that the corpses were all Japanese soldiers, Battalion Commander Kaido Sekiya was shocked: Why are they all Japanese soldiers?

Thinking that he was seeing things, Battalion Commander Kaido Sekiya raised his binoculars again and carefully checked the situation on it.

From the helmets worn by the corpses lying on the ground and the leather shoes they were wearing on their feet, it could be clearly recognized that they were Japanese soldiers.

The Nationalist army did not have so much money to equip ordinary soldiers with leather shoes.

So many Japanese soldiers, at least six or seven hundred corpses. Battalion Commander Kaido Sekiya, who had studied military tactics, of course estimated the approximate number of that pile of corpses at a glance.

Then he began to observe the strength of the Hideki Koike Battalion on the hillside defense line, plus those Japanese soldiers in their battalion headquarters.

Battalion Commander Kaido Sekiya became even more convinced: "The Hideki Koike Battalion lost at least seven hundred Japanese soldiers."

So many Japanese soldiers had almost reached the top of the mountain before dying, as if they were collectively rushing to the front to commit suicide.

This scene was thought-provoking and made Kaido Sekiya less confident in the upcoming attack.

The combat effectiveness of the Hideki Koike Battalion was still good. Since they could kill so many Japanese soldiers, it meant that they had worked hard in the battle.

At this time, if hard work did not achieve results, then it was unclear what was going on.

Battalion Commander Hideki Koike did not stop them from continuing to advance, nor did he request them to reinforce.

Looking at the back with hope, since a battalion had come to reinforce, there would definitely be more battalions coming later.

Battalion Commander Hideki Koike had such confidence.

Battalion Commander Yosuke Uehara was so moved that he almost shed tears when he saw the arrival of the Kaido Sekiya Battalion.

The situation of his battalion was now quite serious: all the infantry companies of the entire battalion were dead, leaving only more than a hundred Japanese soldiers in the battalion headquarters still resisting stubbornly.

The Japanese soldiers of the Yosuke Uehara Battalion had been reduced so much, but the threat it faced was not only from the top of the mountain. The units of the Special Operations Brigade that had ambushed the Japanese tank regiment had now rushed down the hillside along the way.

Charging along the road towards this direction.

When the Japanese soldiers of the Kaido Sekiya Battalion arrived at the battlefield, they did not have time to assess the situation on the battlefield. First, they had to advance a certain distance and establish a defense line on the road.

That was the task received by the Rintaro Imai Company at the front. It was to continue advancing along the road and rush into the ruins of the tank regiment to open the way.

The Yuma Okada Company immediately突击 (tū jī, assault) the hillside, and the remaining companies defended in place.

Battalion Commander Yosuke Uehara listened to the arrangement of Battalion Commander Kaido Sekiya and felt that there was no change from his previous arrangement.

He said with some concern: "Battalion Commander Sekiya, my battalion was just like this just now, look at the top."

Battalion Commander Kaido Sekiya was anxious because the soldiers of the Special Operations Brigade coming along the road had arrived here. He had not yet seen the battlefield clearly, so he sent the Rintaro Imai Company out first.

Now hearing the reminder from Battalion Commander Yosuke Uehara, he looked towards the top of the mountain: What he saw was another pile of corpses on the top of the mountain.

Battalion Commander Kaido Sekiya asked: "Uehara-kun, are all five of your infantry companies on the top of the mountain?"

"Yes!"

"How did they die?" Battalion Commander Kaido Sekiya was humble this time.

They were all Japanese soldiers from the same infantry regiment. He still knew Yosuke Uehara and knew that the Japanese soldiers under his command would not be too weak.

"The troops I sent to attack started from the front of the hillside and have never been attacked by the Nationalist army, just like you are now.

The Nationalist army on the top of the mountain is very cunning. They waited until the attacking troops rushed within fifty meters before suddenly using bombs.

Then, taking advantage of the smoke, they rushed out of the trenches and fought with the Japanese soldiers." Battalion Commander Yosuke Uehara said painfully.

"The Nationalist army actually dares to take the initiative to rush out of the trenches and fight with bayonets?" Battalion Commander Kaido Sekiya could hardly believe it.

"Who are the Japanese afraid of when it comes to bayonet fighting?" That's what he was thinking, but for safety reasons, he still ordered:

"Captain Taichi Nojiri, you immediately lead the troops behind the Yuma Okada Company and attack from behind."

Battalion Commander Kaido Sekiya had decided that even if the Yuma Okada Company at the front was crippled, the Taichi Nojiri Company following behind could complete the task of capturing the top of the mountain.

The Taichi Nojiri Company, having accepted the task, immediately chased after the Okada Company, which had already rushed halfway up the mountain.

Company Commander Wukui Hua, guarding the top of the mountain, said to Company Commander Bufang Su: "Look at the Japanese soldiers! We kill one batch, and another batch comes. We have to keep killing their living strength like this.

Let's see if we have more bullets or they have more Japanese soldiers."

Company Commander Bufang Su said with a smile: "Only your unit dares to say this. Ordinary units would feel very different when they see the Japanese soldiers increasing one after another."

Company Commander Hua said with a smile: "The Japanese soldiers have become smarter this time. They only sent one company in the front. Order the soldiers to aim at the Japanese soldiers and fire.

The artillery must also aim at the Japanese soldiers before moving."

He could see that the Japanese soldiers were quite strong today. Not only did he have reinforcements from the Japanese army here, but also the positions of the Second and First Companies had reinforcements from the Japanese army.

Artillery shells really had to be used sparingly.

The company commander ordered to fire at the Japanese soldiers. Machine guns, heavy machine guns, and rifles on the top of the mountain all fired at the Yuma Okada Company on the hillside.

Youcai Jin stared at the Japanese soldiers rushing at the front, waited for an opportunity, and then pulled the trigger, hitting with one shot.

Watching a spurt of blood erupt from the forehead of the Japanese soldier rushing at the front, Youcai Jin proudly flaunted to Hongxuan Shangguan next to him.

Sergeant Keita Kase, who was rushing at the front, was very vigilant. As these Japanese soldiers got closer and closer to the top of the mountain.

He could also see clearly the corpses of Japanese soldiers falling along the way. Hundreds of corpses reminded these charging Japanese soldiers to be careful.

Although the cautious Sergeant Keita Kase did not hear any gunshots along the way, and the entire company was not attacked.

He still moved as if he were walking on thin ice, bending over and lowering his head, moving at any time in places where he could hide his figure. That was how he slowly charged towards the top of the mountain.

Sergeant Keita Kase never thought that he, such a careful Japanese soldier, would be specially noticed by Youcai Jin on the top of the mountain.

Youcai Jin stared at him for a full three minutes before firing.

Sergeant Keita Kase was shot down with one shot. He lost consciousness, but it startled Yuji Sato next to him.

Sergeant Yuji Sato pounced forward like a hungry dog and quickly crawled on the ground. After a while, he nervously looked up.

At this time, sporadic gunshots had begun to ring out on the top of the mountain. These gunshots were not intense.

They were ringing ping-pong-pong, and even machine guns and heavy machine guns were only firing in bursts, not continuously.

Battalion Commander Kaido Sekiya at the foot of the mountain was really surprised this time: The Nationalist army on the top of the mountain was too calm.

Just now the gunshots rang out, and he could see machine gun fire points firing in many places, but they were all bursts.

How much confidence did those soldiers have in themselves to be able to be so unhurried?

Regardless of whether the guards on the top of the mountain were busy or not, Battalion Commander Kaido Sekiya at the foot of the mountain was now panicking.

He loudly ordered: "All machine guns and rifles fire at the top of the mountain to cover the Yuma Okada Company charging."

With an order, nearly a thousand Japanese soldiers at the foot of the mountain all fired. Including those remaining Japanese soldiers of the Yosuke Uehara Battalion, they also joined in suppressing the fire on the top of the mountain at this time.

Battalion Commander Yosuke Uehara at this time had no intention of competing for merit. He only wanted to capture this hill as soon as possible.

As for the regimental commander and division commander's fantasy of annihilating this Nationalist army unit? Battalion Commander Yosuke Uehara did not believe it could be done at all.

The Taichi Nojiri Company also began firing at the top of the mountain at this time.

For a time, thousands of Japanese soldiers simultaneously fired at the defense line of the two companies, which made Company Commander Wukui Hua on the top of the mountain a little angry.

He ordered: "Infantry guns and mortars fire at the positions where the Japanese soldiers are gathering more at the foot of the mountain, and blow up the Japanese machine guns.

Rocket launchers, fire at the Japanese machine guns attacking on the hillside, and blow up the grandsons."

The infantry guns and mortars, having accepted the order, immediately fired at the Japanese soldiers at the foot of the mountain.

The Japanese soldiers of the Taichi Nojiri Company had just started firing when their machine gunner, Kazuki Shimaya, was hit by a rocket, and the Japanese soldiers of a squad within a radius of a dozen meters were all dead or wounded.

The loss of a squad of thirteen Japanese soldiers at once made Company Commander Taichi Nojiri feel heartbroken.

When he saw that all three machine guns of his company were extinguished in a short time. One machine gun had been blown up and could no longer be used.

There were still two machine guns, although the gunners operating them had died, but the machine guns were still there.

But no Japanese soldier was willing to operate those two machine guns anymore: The Japanese soldiers were also cunning. They had already seen that as long as they fired with rifles, the possibility of being blown up was small.

As long as a machine gun fired, it would be 100% blown up.

With such a lesson from the past, the remaining Japanese soldiers were of course unwilling to operate the machine guns.