On the afternoon of July 2, 1938, the Japanese 10th Division launched four more large-scale attacks on the urban area of Hankou, each time with no less than two squadrons.

The last offensive, even four squadrons were thrown!

But the result is still the same, it's all a bad word!

The artillery clusters of the national army in the fortresses of Guishan and Snake Mountain have always been an insurmountable hurdle for the Japanese army!

By the time the Japanese army crossed the fire blockade of the artillery of the Nationalist army, the originally complete infantry ranks had already fallen apart, and the combat effectiveness was greatly reduced, so how could they not be defeated?

By six o'clock in the evening, it was getting dark.

The sound of gunfire on the battlefield gradually fell silent.

……

The time soon came to the early morning of July 3rd!

Stepping on the moonlight, Yoshio Shinozuka and Tsutsumi Butsuki once again ascended to the observation post of Mt. Toyoshi.

It's already past 2 o'clock in the morning, and the temperature is at its lowest during the day, but since it's July, the hottest month of the year, the heat in the mountains has not yet dissipated.

After climbing to the top of the mountain, the two were already sweating profusely.

Yoshio Shinozuka couldn't help but untie his shirt, only to feel a little cooler.

The embankment is not expensive, but he endured it to the death, and he didn't even untie the wind and discipline button.

In the moonlight, Di Bujiagui raised his wrist and brought his watch to him, glanced at it, and said, "Division commander, it's already a quarter past 2 in the morning!" ”

"Hmm." Yoshio Shinozuka bowed his head slightly.

At that moment, the two of them turned their eyes to the boundless darkness ahead.

Although they couldn't see anything, in the minds of Yoshio Shinozuka and Tsutsuki Bugui, such a picture still clearly emerged, a whole six infantry squadrons, more than 1,000 imperial soldiers, holding the 38 big covers with good bayonets, had lined up in the wilderness, and just waited for an order to launch a fierce attack on Hankow!

In addition, two squadrons of anti-aircraft guns, 8 37mm caliber anti-aircraft guns, as well as a squadron of combat vehicles, and 12 Type 95 tanks participated in this night attack!

This will be the largest offensive launched by the Japanese army since the Battle of Wuhan began!

Di Bu Jia Gui had been looking at his watch, and at a certain moment, Di Bu Jia Gui Huo Ran turned around: "Division Commander, it's time!" ”

Yoshio Shinozuka hummed softly and said indifferently: "Then let's start!" ”

"Hello!" Without hesitation, he raised his pistol and shot it at the night sky.

Just listen to the sound of a bang, and a red flare rises into the air.

The next moment, several Japanese artillery positions not far from Fenghe Mountain immediately boiled.

First, the lights came on one after another, revealing the outlines of several artillery formations, and then rows of shells swept up from several artillery positions.

The Japanese artillery had already been prepared!

However, the Japanese artillery shells did not go towards the city of Hankou, but towards the Turtle Mountain Fortress in the southwest and the Snake Mountain Fortress in the south.

Immediately afterwards, the national army on the opposite side was also alarmed.

Realizing that the Japanese were going to attack at night, the Nationalist army reacted quickly.

With a scream, three flares rose from the Chinese army's position, and the dazzling light instantly illuminated the wilderness several kilometers north of Hankou as bright as day.

With the dazzling bright light, and even without the help of binoculars, Yoshio Shinozuka and Tsutsumi Bugui can clearly see the imperial soldiers in a strict queue on their own attack positions, as well as rows of battle defense guns, and tanks!

At this time, after more than 40 seconds of flight, the shells fired by the Japanese artillery finally flew over the Turtle Mountain Fortress and the Snake Mountain Fortress, and immediately fell down with a piercing scream.

Suddenly, a dazzling red light rose from the Turtle Mountain Fortress and the Snake Mountain Fortress.

It didn't take long for the thick smoke and dust from the explosion to completely obscure the fortress!

At this time, the field of view of the Chinese artillery of the two fortresses was completely blocked, and at least for a short time, it was no longer possible to block the attacking Japanese troops!

And if, at any cost, the Japanese artillery carried out a continuous shelling of the two fortresses, then the artillery in the fortress would never want to block the attacking Japanese troops again!

Yoshio Shinozuka originally wanted to use this tactic during the day, but after thinking about it again, he decided to use it at night, because the night attack is obviously more sudden!

It's also more likely to succeed!

"Yo Xi!" Seeing that both fortresses were shrouded in gunsmoke, Yoshio Shinozuka nodded happily.

Di Bugui raised his southern pistol again and fired another flare into the sky!

After seeing this signal flare, more than 1,000 Japanese infantry, 8 37mm caliber anti-aircraft guns, and 12 Type 95 light tanks were dispatched at the same time.

At this time, the flares in the sky were still not extinguished.

With the strong light of the flares, Yoshio Shinozuka and Tsuki Bugui could clearly see that more than 1,000 Japanese infantry and 8 anti-aircraft guns were under the guidance of 12 Type 95 light tanks, like a monstrous flood that broke the embankment, rushing to the city wall ahead!

In the blink of an eye, the Japanese attack force had rushed to the middle of the wilderness north of Hankou City, but there was no response from the other side!

Seeing this, Di Bujiagui couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief, and the corners of Yoshio Shinozuka's mouth finally showed a smile, without the support of artillery, what did the Chinese army do to stop the imperial army?

As long as the imperial army broke into the city of Hankou and gained a foothold, the battle was over!

No matter how strong the Hankou railway station and the bunkers on both wings are, they can't change the final result!

……

In Guishan, Yuwang Palace Observatory.

The front of the Turtle Mountain Fortress has been shrouded in gunsmoke, and the artillery in the fortress can no longer see the battlefield on the other side at all.

However, the Yuwang Palace Observation Post was not shrouded in gunsmoke, so Zhong Yi, Sun Liren and Stilwell, who were in the Yuwang Palace Observation Post, could still clearly see the battlefield scene on the other side of the river.

Seeing the Japanese army pouring into the ruined city wall north of Hankou City, Stilwell's face couldn't help but change slightly.

"It's broken!" Stilwell hurriedly said, "Without artillery suppression, the Japanese attack force can break through to the city of Hankou unscathed, and the battle behind will be difficult to fight!" You should still build a defensive line on the city wall, with this defensive line, you can resist for a while, as long as the smoke of the two artillery positions disperses, you can still carry out artillery suppression! ”

Sun Liren smiled slightly, not only did he not have a trace of anxiety, but he looked like he was in his chest.

The corners of Zhong Yi's mouth quietly bloomed with a hideous smile, the Japanese army thought that they could stop the Chinese artillery from blocking their vision with gunpowder smoke and dust, but they were too naïve!

……

On the other side of the river, a few kilometers away.

Four squadrons of devil infantry plus 12 tanks, divided into two teams, left and right, pounced on the left and right ribs on the northern edge of the city of Hankou.

In the blink of an eye, the devil's attacking troops had rushed to the abandoned city wall.

On the city wall, there was still a dead silence, and there was not a single Chinese soldier in sight!

Immediately afterward, a group of devil infantry broke through the gap in the city wall and broke into the city!

(End of chapter)