bookrandom Chapter 208 Raid on the Japanese Stronghold
Chapter 208 Raid on the Japanese Stronghold
The soldiers quickly returned to the battalion commander, briefly sorted their equipment, and wiped the blood from their weapons. Each face wore the cold and resolute look of battle. After a quick headcount to ensure there were no casualties, the battalion commander quietly laid out the next tasks: "We've dealt with this patrol, but the main Japanese force could detect any disturbance at any time. We must expedite our operations. First Company, stay behind to clean up the battlefield and drag the Japanese bodies to a hidden location. We must not leave any traces. Second Company, go to the intersection ahead and set up a simple roadblock to slow the advance of the Japanese follow-up troops. Third Company, follow me to scout the next Japanese stronghold and identify the right moment to attack. Meanwhile, the assault team will prepare for action."
After receiving the order, the commandos quickly gathered their equipment, checked their weapons to ensure they were functioning properly, and securely fastened their daggers, pistols, and other melee weapons to ensure they made no noise. With nimble physiques and sharp eyes, they crept towards the Japanese stronghold like ghosts in the dark night.
Soon, the commandos quietly reached the protective ditch at the edge of the stronghold. A soldier carefully pulled out a pair of pliers, his eyes fixed intently on the caltrop wire mesh before him. With steady hands, he manipulated the pliers, bit by bit, severing the tough wires. With a few soft clicks, a gap wide enough for one person to pass through was created. Immediately afterwards, another soldier quickly produced a sturdy rope and expertly tied one end to a nearby tree. Then, holding the other end tightly, he pushed off the ground and lightly descended into the ditch with the rope. The other soldiers followed suit, quickly and orderly entering the ditch.
After entering the trench, the soldiers clung to the wall, vigilantly observing their surroundings. They discovered some simple alarms within the trench. Drawing on their experience and skill, the soldiers carefully dismantled them, avoiding triggering the alarm and alerting the Japanese. Then, they slowly made their way along the trench wall toward the interior of the stronghold.
As they approached the stronghold's wall, one soldier crouched down, clasped his hands together, and formed a human ladder for his teammates. Other soldiers, in turn, stepped on their teammates' shoulders to gain leverage and scale the wall. Once there, the soldiers quickly dispersed, using the buildings and shadows within the stronghold for cover as they advanced toward the Japanese barracks and command post. Their steps were light and swift, each step precisely avoiding potential traps and obstacles.
As they approached the Japanese barracks, the soldiers heard snoring and whispers from within. They peered through windows and cracks in the door. After determining the Japanese's position and numbers, the captain gestured to command the attack. The soldiers quickly drew their daggers, quietly pushed open the door, and slipped inside like ghosts.
The leading soldier's eyes were sharp, and he instantly locked onto the Japanese soldier closest to the door. He rushed forward, covered his mouth and nose with his left hand, and decisively stabbed the Japanese soldier's carotid artery with his right dagger. The Japanese soldier's body instantly collapsed without a sound. The soldiers next to him also acted quickly, rushing to the bed and stabbing the sleeping Japanese soldier's heart fiercely. The Japanese soldier on the bed struggled a few times before falling silent.
A Japanese soldier was startled awake by the slightest noise. His body trembled violently, his eyes widened instantly, and he was about to open his mouth to shout when the quick-eyed and quick-handed soldier pounced on him like a cheetah hunting its prey. The soldier's left hand quickly covered his mouth, his palm pressed tightly together to prevent him from making any sound. At the same time, his right hand tightly grasped the sharp dagger and without hesitation, slashed it across the right side of the Japanese soldier's neck, accurately severing his throat. The Japanese soldier's body trembled violently for a few times before he stopped moving. Only a faint "woooo" sound came from his covered mouth, and then he completely collapsed. The soldiers continued to search the barracks, leaving no corner untouched, and eliminated the remaining Japanese soldiers one by one.
After eliminating the Japanese troops in the barracks, they followed their plan: some soldiers stayed behind to clean up the scene and hide the bodies, while others headed towards the ammunition depot. They carefully avoided Japanese patrol routes, taking advantage of the shadows of the buildings and the surrounding debris to quietly and gradually approach their target.
Arriving near the warehouse, the soldiers keenly spotted two Japanese guards at the door. After exchanging a tacit glance, the two nimble soldiers approached the guards from either side, stealthily approaching like ghosts in the night. Once they were close enough, they attacked simultaneously, quickly dispatching the two guards with clean, efficient movements, without attracting the attention of the other Japanese soldiers in the stronghold.
The soldiers then successfully entered the warehouse. At this point, the battalion commander quickly issued new instructions: Remove all guns and ammunition that could be moved. These weapons and equipment were extremely valuable resources for the troops and must not be wasted. Any ammunition that could not be moved due to excessive quantity or weight was to be destroyed with explosives, ensuring that these weapons would never again be used by the Japanese. Upon receiving the order, the soldiers immediately took action, with a clear division of labor. Some quickly and orderly gathered the guns and ammunition that could be moved, while others expertly placed explosives and precisely set the detonators in the central ammunition storage area and where heavy weapons were stored. They then methodically evacuated the warehouse, preparing to detonate the explosives at the appropriate time in subsequent operations, based on the overall battle plan, to completely destroy the Japanese ammunition stockpile.
Another group of soldiers infiltrated the Japanese commander's residence. Cautiously avoiding several patrols, they arrived outside the commander's residence. Through a window, they spotted the commander examining a map inside, accompanied by his aide. The captain assigned tasks, and one soldier quietly circled around the back of the house, preparing to storm through the rear entrance, while the others stormed the front door. At the captain's command, the soldiers at the front door burst in. The commander and his aide panicked, reaching for their weapons when the soldiers rushed forward and subdued them, successfully capturing the commander and disrupting the Japanese army's command system.
However, as the commandos prepared to evacuate, a Japanese guard noticed something unusual. Seeing the bodies of the slain guards near the warehouse, they immediately became alert and began searching, firing warning shots. The commandos, realizing their whereabouts had been exposed, quickly made a decision, using the terrain of their stronghold to ambush the Japanese guards.
The captain quickly scanned the surroundings and selected an area of dilapidated houses on the edge of the stronghold as his ambush point. The houses were arranged in a patchwork pattern, offering ample corners for concealment and firing. The surrounding debris and low walls provided some protection for the team. He immediately whispered instructions to his men, dividing them into two groups. One group, led by him, would ambush behind the low walls in front of the houses, while the other, led by the deputy captain, would circle around the corner of the houses, preparing to flank the Japanese.
The team members quickly took their positions, each concealing their forms, weapons clutched tightly, and their eyes fixed on the direction the Japanese might appear. Soon, the Japanese guards began searching along the road. As they neared the ambush, the captain held his breath, waiting for the perfect moment. Once the majority of the Japanese troops were within range, he decisively raised his hand, signaling the attack.
Instantly, the team members behind the low wall in front opened fire simultaneously, sending a barrage of bullets flying towards the Japanese. Caught off guard by this sudden attack, the Japanese scrambled for cover and began firing back. Simultaneously, the team members on the flanks rushed out from around the corner, firing fiercely at the Japanese flanks, creating a crossfire. The Japanese were immediately caught in a pincer attack, suffering heavy casualties.
But the Japanese guards were no pushovers, and they reacted quickly. Some of them used nearby sandbags and bunkers to organize effective resistance, suppressing the assault team with firepower; another part of them tried to flank and outflank the team led by the deputy captain.
Facing the Japanese counterattack, the captain calmly directed his team to continue firing while keeping an eye on the changing situation on the battlefield. He realized that the Japanese flanking force might pose a threat to the flanks, so he decisively ordered a sharpshooter to go around to a high slope in the rear and look for an opportunity to snipe the Japanese flanking force.
The sharpshooter acted swiftly, leveraging his agility and familiarity with the terrain to quickly reach the higher ground. Lying prone on the ground, he adjusted his breathing and, through the scope of his rifle, aimed at the flanking Japanese troops. With a few crisp gunshots, the flanking Japanese force was successfully intercepted, with several soldiers falling. The remaining Japanese troops were forced to halt their advance and retreat to the side, daring not to act rashly.
On the front lines, the exchange of fire between the two sides continued fiercely. As the commandos' ammunition gradually dwindled, the team members had to fire more cautiously, ensuring that every bullet had the greatest impact. Meanwhile, the Japanese were constantly adjusting their tactics, beginning to disperse and attempt to break through the commandos' defenses from multiple directions.