Resistance against Japan: Starting with the local militia

Chapter 188 Ambush at Ikeda

"Company commander, these bastards are pretty fast," a platoon leader following behind the Japanese soldiers said, cursing.

"With those short legs of those Japanese soldiers, how fast can they go?" the company commander said disdainfully, looking at the Japanese soldiers who were making their way out.

"Company commander, how should we fight this battle? The battalion commander told us to find a way to deal with them, but they run like dogs, so even if we catch up, we won't be able to inflict any damage."

"Company commander, the Japanese have already run far away. Should we still chase them?" the platoon leader asked.

“Who said we should chase after them? You need brains to fight. Why am I the company commander and you're the platoon leader? That's the difference.” The company commander pointed to his head and said.

"That's why you were able to become a company commander," the platoon leader said, offering a small compliment.

"Company commander, how should we fight?" the platoon leader asked again.

Do you still remember Lijia Gou?

"I remember, the battalion commander ambushed the Japanese there last time. Is the company commander planning to follow his example?"

"That's right. Let's take a shortcut and get to Lijia Gou before those Japanese devils, then ambush them and catch them off guard."

"Company commander, brilliant, absolutely brilliant!" The platoon leader repeatedly gave a thumbs up.

"Alright, stop flattering me. Did you bring all the landmines I told you to bring?"

"I brought them all, a total of 5 boxes. I even asked the Second Company for another box before I left."

"Company commander, you were already planning to ambush the Japanese back then!"

"Nonsense, otherwise why would I have you carry landmines?"

"Company Commander, I have such high respect for you now, and I need to learn a lot from you!"

"Use your brain more often. Alright, let's get moving and head to Lijia Gou."

"Yes."

"All platoons, depart immediately!" With the company commander's order, the platoons sped off along the side paths toward Lijia Gou.

Half an hour later, the group arrived at Lijia Gou. By then, the sun had risen and it was dawn.

"I estimate the Japanese won't be here for another 20 minutes. Now I'm issuing the order," the company commander said to the platoon leaders.

"The first platoon immediately led men to lay landmines, and another squad was sent to guard the vicinity."

"Yes."

"Second and third platoons, immediately lead your men to repair the positions along both sides of the minefield laid by the first platoon. The trenches we dug last time are still there. You can use them after a little tidying up."

"Yes, Captain."

"Fourth Platoon Leader, take your platoon and set up a heavy machine gun position for me on that high ground. Same as always, set up a lot of them. Don't let the Japanese grenade launchers wipe us out with one shot. Our company only has this one precious gem."

"Don't worry, Company Commander. If the Japanese destroy the heavy machine gun, I'll cut off my head and give it to you to use as a chamber pot."

"No way, don't scare me tonight. You'd better keep your brain intact on your neck."

"Yes, Captain."

"Alright, time is tight and the task is heavy, everyone hurry up and get ready."

"Yes." After answering, the platoon leaders immediately led their men to hurry up and repair the fortifications and lay landmines.

Ten minutes later, the squad leader of the first platoon responsible for guarding the area ran over to report.

"Reporting to the company commander, we've spotted the Japanese soldiers; they're about two miles away."

"Damn, these little short-legged guys are fast runners."

"Platoon leader, have you buried the mines yet?" the company commander asked.

"Give me three more minutes."

"it is good."

"Other units, immediately enter combat readiness."

"Yes."

After the platoon leader cleaned up the traces of the mines and withdrew from the minefield, Masatoshi Ikeda led the Japanese soldiers over.

"Everyone stay close, don't fall behind!" Ikeda shouted loudly.

The Japanese soldiers were no longer the same as when they first set out from the county town; they could barely maintain a single line when they ran.

"Commander, we've reached Lijia Gou just ahead," Staff Officer Ozawa reminded him.

"Halt!" Masato Ikeda immediately halted the advance.

"Advance in battle formation." Masatoshi Ikeda immediately gave the order. The militia had ambushed them here before, and he had to be on guard now.

Immediately afterwards, the Japanese soldiers scattered and headed towards Lijia Gou.

"Company commander, those Japanese devils are something else. Even while they're running away, they still manage to maintain their formation," the platoon leader said as he watched.

"Otherwise, why would they be so difficult to defeat? Otherwise, why would the Nationalist army be forced to retreat again and again?"

"The regimental commander is truly remarkable, leading us to victory after victory," the platoon leader exclaimed in admiration.

"Yes!"

"Company commander, those Japanese are quite cautious," the platoon leader said, looking at the Japanese soldiers lined up in battle formation.

"The Japanese devils learned their lesson here once, so you have to be even more cautious. But this is the only way to the county town, so no matter how cautious you are, they'll still have to fight us!"

"The company commander is right."

"Company commander, the Japanese soldiers are about to enter the minefield."

"Alright, prepare for battle."

"Boom!" An explosion shattered the quiet of Lijia Gou. A Japanese soldier who was advancing stepped on a row of landmines.

"Baka yarou, there's an ambush." ​​Despite being mentally prepared, Ikeda Maken couldn't help but curse inwardly. This militia was utterly despicable.

"Break out immediately! First captain, provide covering fire!" Masato Ikeda immediately gave the order, preparing to break out.

"Fire!" As the landmines exploded, the soldiers of the first company began firing at the Japanese soldiers, while the fourth platoon leader, from a nearby high point, controlled a heavy machine gun to suppress the Japanese soldiers who were trying to break through.

"Da da da."

Amidst the gunfire, the sound of heavy machine guns was particularly pleasant, but to the Japanese soldiers, it was the sound of death lurking in their ears.

"Baka yarou! They've even brought heavy machine guns! Grenade launcher squads, suppress enemy fire immediately!"

"Once the heavy machine gun fire is suppressed, each squad will cover each other as they charge and break through," Masatoshi Ikeda immediately ordered.

"Hay."

"Platoon leader, the Japanese have deployed grenade launchers," the squad leader in charge of battlefield reconnaissance said to the fourth platoon leader.

"Move to a new position immediately." Without hesitation, the fourth platoon leader led his soldiers, carrying heavy machine guns, and turned to leave.

The fourth platoon leader hadn't gone far when an explosion rang out from the original heavy machine gun position.

"Damn it, those Japanese grenade launcher operators are still incredibly accurate. Let's go, let's quickly set up our new positions."

"Yes."

Seeing that the militia's heavy machine guns had stopped firing, the Japanese soldiers immediately began their breakout towards the outside of Lijia Gou.

"Platoon leader, take out the Japanese grenade launchers!" the company commander hurriedly ordered.

"Yes."

The fourth platoon leader, who had just moved to the new position, immediately set up the heavy machine gun and resumed firing at the Japanese.

"You little devils, I'll fuck your immortals, taste my bullets."

"Da, da, da, da."

"Baka yarou, grenadiers, continue to suppress them, the rest of the troops, continue the breakout." Ikeda Maken then issued the breakout order.

The Japanese grenade launcher operators who were preparing to attack were not as lucky as last time. Under the special attention of their platoon leader, they fell to the guns of the militia before they could even fire.

"Baka yarou! First squad, second squad, cover fire!" Ikeda Maken cursed under his breath upon seeing this, but still pushed forward under the militia's fire. The 500-meter stretch of road felt like 5 kilometers to Ikeda Maken.

Under the cover of two detachments, Masato Ikeda finally led his men out of the encirclement and fled frantically toward the county town.

"Company commander, a Japanese soldier has escaped."

"Never mind that, let's take out the Japanese soldiers in the encirclement first."

"Yes."

As the gunfire gradually subsided, all the remaining Japanese soldiers, except for those who managed to break through the encirclement, were wiped out.

"Quickly clean up the battlefield; we need to rendezvous with the battalion commander," the company commander then ordered.

"Yes."