Devil's Army

Chapter 976: Rushing into the West Gate of Tangshan

"Brother, although the First Anti-Japanese Army takes good care of the military families, our children and family are far away in Sichuan, not in the base area. How can they take care of us?" asked the commander of the 728th Regiment worriedly.

Brigade Commander Wang really had no way to answer this question, because he had not yet entrusted his son to Army Commander Tan. But if an officer had concerns, he would not be able to fight bravely. He thought about it and decided to call Gray Wolf.

Brigade Commander Wang told Gray Wolf in detail about the battle process of their 364th Brigade today and the casualties of their brigade. Finally, he asked Commander Tan to help them with something.

"What's the matter, Brigade Commander Wang, please tell me."

"Commander, this is a little hard to say."

"Brigade Commander Wang, please feel free to speak."

"We traveled thousands of miles to fight the Japanese invaders, and we have lived up to the trust of our fellow countrymen. But can the commander find a way to take care of the orphans in the families of our soldiers? Especially for the commander of the 728th Regiment, Wu. His three children are still young, and his parents are ill all year round. He and his wife are the only ones supporting the family. I am worried that no one will take care of his family after he leaves."

"Tomorrow's battle in your brigade will definitely not be as tragic as today. Also, write down the addresses of the families of the officers and soldiers who died in your brigade and have the signalman bring them to me. I will find a way to bring them to the base to live a good life. For those who don't want to leave Sichuan, our First Army will also give them a pension so that they will have no worries about food and clothing."

"Thank you, Commander! I thank you on behalf of my brothers!"

"I thank you, and you thank your brothers on my behalf!"

Afterwards, Brigade Commander Wang told the commander of the 727th Regiment and others who were still at the brigade headquarters what Commander Tan had said.

Brigade Commander Gao of the Jidong Independent Brigade, who had been listening to the conversation between Brigade Commander Wang and others, couldn't help but interrupt.

He had heard Commander Tan tell the story of the 364th Brigade resisting the Japanese Fifth Division for two days, so he specially brought a regiment of officers and soldiers above the company level to watch the battle with the 364th Brigade yesterday. Officers from his other two regiments were also watching the battle with the rd and th Brigades.

He was stunned by the brutality of the battle during the day, and was also impressed by the tenacious fighting will and solid military qualities of the officers and soldiers of the 364th Brigade.

He asked himself, if it was their brigade that was fighting today, the soldiers would have been running around like headless flies. But he still couldn't help but give a suggestion to Brigade Commander Wang:

"Brigade Commander Wang, shall our brigade take part in the battle tomorrow?"

"Your brigade is inadequately trained. Commander Tan has ordered that you can only watch the battle but not participate in it. Besides, which soldier in your brigade doesn't have a wife, children, or parents?" Brigade Commander Wang said sadly.

Yes, every soldier is born by his parents. If it weren't for these Japanese invaders, they should all be around their parents, or their wives and children, instead of...

Captain Zhang of the 727th Regiment did not interrupt, but began to write down the names and home addresses of the officers and soldiers of their regiment who had died that day on paper.

"Captain Zhang, how long are you going to keep writing like this?" asked Brigade Commander Wang.

"I have to finish it even if I have to write until dawn. Otherwise, it hurts here and I can't sleep." Captain Zhang said, pointing to his chest with tears in his eyes.

"Will you still have the energy to lead the battle tomorrow if you write until dawn?"

"Captain Wu and his men will be on the field tomorrow."

"Go back to the regiment headquarters and write. It makes me feel uncomfortable when I see you writing here." Brigade Commander Wang ordered him to leave.

Brigade Commander Wang didn't know what the army commander meant when he said that the battle in their brigade tomorrow would not be so tragic. Maybe he had other plans.

Brigade Commander Wang was not wrong, Gray Wolf did have arrangements.

During the day, the Japanese fighter planes and the First Army's fighter planes chased and attacked in the air.

Although the Japanese bombers could not bomb the troops and artillery positions of the 5th Brigade at will, they could always find an opportunity to carry out limited bombing on the troops of the 5th Brigade under the protection of fighter planes.

For safety reasons, the artillery of the 5th Brigade did not open fire after the Japanese planes arrived.

Without the support of heavy artillery, the casualties of infantry siege would increase exponentially. Therefore, the infantry of the 5th Brigade did not launch an attack on the west gate wall of Tangshan. They only bombarded the west gate wall of Tangshan with mortars from time to time.

By nightfall, all the Japanese planes had returned.

At nine o'clock in the evening, the 150mm howitzers of the Fifth Brigade, which had terrified the Japanese, suddenly roared and flew towards the west gate wall of Tangshan.

The city wall that had just been repaired during the day was once again destroyed by the 150mm howitzer shells of the th Brigade.

The Japanese and puppet troops patrolling on the city walls and on high alert were also blown away by the shock wave generated by the explosion of the 150mm howitzer.

As soon as the fire of the 150th Brigade's mm howitzers stopped, the th Brigade's mortar shells began to hit the city wall of the West Gate of Tangshan.

The soldiers of the First Battalion of the First Regiment of the Fifth Brigade began to move closer to the West Gate wall of Tangshan Mountain amid the sound of mortar artillery.

As soon as the mortar fire stopped, the soldiers of the first battalion shouted and charged towards the west gate of Tangshan.

The quiet night in Tangshan was torn apart by the sound of gunfire and the shouts of soldiers.

The surviving Japanese and puppet soldiers blocked the broken city wall and resisted the attack of the first battalion.

The machine gunners of the first battalion lay on the ground, suppressing the firepower of the Japanese and puppet troops on the city wall.

Soldiers from the first battalion quickly rushed into Tangshan City through the broken city wall.