Republic of China: Ace Pilot

Chapter 802 Surprise Attack on the Black Lead Factory: First Combat Use of Television-Guided Rockets

After the demonstration of the Taishan Storm rocket launcher, preparations for the surprise attack on the Datong Black Lead Factory entered the final sprint stage.

Fang Wen and the Fifth Military Region held another operational meeting and finalized the action plan:

With the ground forces of the Fifth Military Sub-district as the main force, a frontal attack was launched towards Datong to contain the main force of the Japanese army. Fang Wen led the gunboat squadron to provide air support, destroying Japanese pillboxes, barracks and sentry posts along the way, clearing obstacles for the ground forces. Then, taking advantage of the fact that the main force of the Japanese army was tied down, Fang Wen led special forces to parachute into the black lead factory, seize control of the factory area, and then attack from both inside and outside to defeat the Japanese army and then transport high-purity graphite.

The transport troops immediately sprang into action after the meeting.

Under the cover of night, Fang Wen led ten seaplanes, fully loaded with parts for the Taishan Storm rocket launcher, directional mines, ammunition, and supplies, to land on the Sanggan River.

That evening, the supplies were transported to nearby villages under the escort of cavalry.

After the supplies arrived, the accompanying Taishan technical team immediately began assembling the rocket launcher.

The Eighth Route Army soldiers took the initiative to help, moving parts and setting up temporary assembly sheds.

Taishan technicians skillfully assembled the vehicle body, launch pad, television guidance system, and other components one by one, and repeatedly debugged and calibrated them to ensure that the launch vehicle could operate normally.

After more than six hours of intense work, all three Taishan Storm rocket launchers were assembled and neatly parked in the village, covered with camouflage netting, ready to be deployed in battle at any time.

Meanwhile, the ground forces of the Fifth Military Sub-district also completed their final preparations for battle.

1,500 soldiers are fully equipped and ready to go.

Fang Wen led the gunboat squadron and special forces members to prepare at the temporary water airfield on the Hutuo River.

At five o'clock in the morning, the sky was just beginning to lighten.

Commander Zhao issued the action order to all participating troops.

With the order issued, the raid on the Datong Black Lead Factory officially began.

The ground forces of the Fifth Military Sub-district were the first to launch the attack.

Fifteen hundred soldiers advanced towards Datong along the route from Shuoxian to Datong.

The Japanese pillboxes, outposts, and military camps along the way became targets that had to be destroyed.

To speed up the attack, Fang Wen led the gunboat squadron to take off and cooperate in the operation.

The intensity of this attack is extremely high.

Gunships and aircraft circled and fired at the Japanese pillboxes, completely blocking the Japanese firing ports with 12.7 mm bullets and 20 mm machine guns.

Behind the firing ports, which offered no protection against anti-aircraft fire, Japanese soldiers fell one after another as they were hit.

This is much more effective than suppressing the enemy with ground fire.

Seeing that the pillbox had fallen silent, the Eighth Route Army soldiers immediately charged and quickly approached the pillbox.

Then, the soldier carrying the individual rocket launcher aimed at the gate of the pillbox and pulled the trigger.

The rocket flew out with a trail of flame, tearing open the heavy gate of the pillbox upon impact.

The assault troops charged quickly, throwing grenades behind the gate.

After an explosion, the assault team rushed in and cleared out the enemies on the first floor.

They then stormed the pillbox and annihilated all the Japanese and puppet troops on the upper floors.

The ground forces' offensive quickly attracted the attention of the Japanese troops deployed along the route, who then reported it to Datong.

Upon learning that the Eighth Route Army was launching an attack towards Datong, the Japanese commander in Datong immediately ordered the Japanese troops in the blockhouses and barracks along the way to hold their ground and await reinforcements.

For a time, Japanese troops at various strongholds engaged in a counterattack with the ground forces of the Fifth Military Region along the highway south of Datong.

However, their defenses proved ineffective with air support.

One Japanese pillbox after another was destroyed, and the fleeing Japanese troops continued to retreat, eventually gathering at the Japanese military camp.

That military camp was originally intended to support various outposts, but now the outposts are being destroyed faster than they can launch an attack.

Therefore, this group of Japanese soldiers could only retreat back to their camp under the sway of the defeated army, attempting to resist from there.

But what they got in return was an attack by the Eighth Route Army, which had air superiority.

Gunships and aircraft continuously bombarded the Japanese forces below, with a constant barrage of bullets and explosions. The Japanese were unable to withstand the attacks from above and resist the ground forces' advance, and their defensive line collapsed immediately.

This collapse greatly reduced the morale of the Japanese army, and the Eighth Route Army seized the opportunity to launch an attack.

Another defeat occurred, and the remaining Japanese soldiers abandoned their camp and fled towards Datong.

Such a fierce offensive shocked the Japanese commanders in Datong City.

He realized that this attack by the Eighth Route Army was by no means a small-scale harassment, but a well-prepared attack, equipped with powerful air force and sophisticated weaponry.

In order to protect the mining areas outside Datong City, the Japanese commander had to urgently dispatch the main force inside Datong City to strengthen the defense of the southern part of Datong in an attempt to block the Eighth Route Army's offensive.

Soon, the main force of the Japanese army arrived at the southern battlefield of Datong, and the forces of both sides were further concentrated, making the battle even more intense.

The Japanese artillery launched a barrage, firing mountain guns and howitzers in turn. Shells landed on the Eighth Route Army's positions, kicking up clouds of dust.

The Eighth Route Army's Taishan Storm rocket launchers were also immediately put into battle. The operators skillfully operated the television guidance system and launched precision strikes against the Japanese artillery positions and infantry groups.

"Whoosh—" A rocket roared out and, under the control of the television guidance system, hit the Japanese front-line position, causing a huge explosion instantly.

When the smoke cleared, only the corpses of Japanese soldiers remained on that position.

Immediately afterwards, the second and third rockets were launched in succession, hitting the Japanese front-line positions.

This accurate long-range firepower hit put a lot of pressure on the Japanese army.

In response, the Japanese army dispatched mobile units to launch a surprise attack on the Eighth Route Army's long-range firepower.

The mobile forces here in Datong are not motorized, but cavalry.

The Eighth Route Army also had cavalry, specifically the Yanbei Cavalry Unit.

Both sides' cavalry units launched an attack simultaneously.

The Japanese cavalry, armed with sabers and riding warhorses, charged toward the Eighth Route Army cavalry with great momentum.

The soldiers of the Yanbei Cavalry, fearless, rode their warhorses, wielding sabers and rifles, and charged bravely towards the Japanese cavalry.

Just as the two cavalry forces were about to meet, the soldiers of the Yanbei Cavalry suddenly split up to the left and right, avoiding the Japanese cavalry's frontal charge.

Upon seeing this, the Japanese cavalry were stunned and momentarily at a loss. Just then, three Taishan Storm rocket launchers aimed at the Japanese cavalry unit and launched a continuous barrage.

"Whoosh—whoosh—whoosh—whoosh—whoosh—" Six TV-guided rockets were launched one after another, trailing long plumes of flame, and flew toward the Japanese cavalry unit.

The operator uses wireless remote control to guide and aim, adjusting the flight direction of the rockets in real time to ensure that each rocket accurately hits the target.

A dozen seconds later, five rockets hit the Japanese cavalry unit in succession. "Boom—boom—" The explosions rang out one after another, flames shot into the sky, and smoke filled the air.

The Japanese cavalry unit was thrown into chaos instantly by the fierce barrage of rockets.

The warhorses were hit, neighed wildly, and fell to the ground. The cavalrymen were thrown into the air by the shockwave of the explosion. Some died on the spot, while others were seriously injured. The cries of pain and the sound of explosions mingled together. The originally aggressive Japanese cavalry unit was instantly routed. The remaining soldiers spurred their warhorses to turn around and fled in a sorry state.

Upon seeing this, the Eighth Route Army soldiers cheered, their morale soaring even higher.

"Charge!" The soldiers launched another charge, fiercely attacking the Japanese positions, and the Japanese defensive line collapsed.

After more than two hours of fierce fighting, the Japanese army suffered heavy casualties and was no longer able to launch an offensive. They could only withdraw their forces and focus on defense, holding the defensive line in Datong city in an attempt to buy time and wait for reinforcements.

Looking at the battle situation on the ground, Fang Wen knew that the Japanese army had been successfully tied down, and it was the best time to launch a surprise attack on the black lead factory.

He immediately issued an order to Zhou Pomen via radio: "Captain Zhou, immediately lead the special forces to assemble. After we return, board the plane and launch an air raid on the Datong Black Lead Factory."

"Understood!" Zhou Pomen responded immediately, leading 200 special forces members to assemble on the riverbank and prepare for the airborne landing.

Twenty minutes later, the gunboat returned and landed on the water.

After a tense inspection and refueling, the special forces soldiers, carrying parachute backpacks, boarded the plane.

The aircraft took off again and sped toward the black lead factory in the west of Datong City.

Half an hour later, the gunboat squadron arrived over the Black Lead Factory.

Fang Wen picked up the microphone and called out over the air frequency: "All aircraft, maintain formation and follow me. Open your hatches and jump simultaneously after the airdrop order is given."

Pan Jiafeng and the other pilots responded.

Immediately afterwards, the gunboat squadron followed the plane piloted by Fang Wen and flew towards the southwest of the factory area.

Once within the drop zone, Fang Wen picked up the microphone: "Initiate the drop."

As the cabin doors opened, the special forces soldiers jumped out in a line. The moment they jumped, the safety ropes connecting them to the aircraft's crossbar snapped, and parachutes bloomed in the air.

The Japanese army witnessed this scene.

They attempted to fire into the air to stop the airborne troops.

Fang Wen would not allow them to succeed.

Immediately launch air suppression against the Japanese forces below with gunboats and aircraft.

Under intense firepower, the Japanese army had no time to deal with the paratroopers.

Two minutes later, the paratroopers landed on the southwest side of the factory area.

Upon landing, they immediately cut the parachute lines, quickly regrouped, and launched a surprise attack on the outpost on the southwest side of the factory area.

The Japanese soldiers inside the outpost were dodging aerial fire when, before they could react, they were shot dead one by one by the special forces soldiers.

Subsequently, Zhou Pomen led his special forces team, divided into five groups, and rapidly advanced into the factory area.

Fang Wen led the gunboat squadron to continue circling over the factory area, providing air support. Once Japanese soldiers were spotted, they were immediately attacked to clear obstacles for the special forces.

The special forces soldiers moved swiftly, using their superior equipment and skillful tactics to quickly traverse the factory area and engage in fierce street battles with the Japanese soldiers.

As the battle progressed, the enemy forces within the factory area began to split up.

The puppet troops were terrified; some took the opportunity to flee, while others laid down their weapons and surrendered.

The ones putting up a stubborn resistance were all Japanese troops, and their resistance was even more intense than that of the Japanese troops outside.

But they still couldn't withstand the combined air and ground firepower, and were wiped out one by one.

It was only then that the special forces soldiers realized why the Japanese army was putting up such fierce resistance.

On the northwest side of the factory area, there is a locked tin shack from which faint groans and sobs can be heard.

The special forces soldiers immediately broke the lock.

The moment the door opened, the scene before them stunned all the special forces members, their eyes filled with anger and regret.

This room turned out to be a torture chamber used by the Japanese army. It was filled with torture instruments, including branding irons, whips, chains, and tiger benches. The walls were covered in bloodstains and emitted a pungent smell of blood.

Inside the room, dozens of miners were imprisoned. They were all wounded and weak, covered with whip marks and burns. Some had broken limbs, while others were chained to the wall. Their eyes were numb and their faces were bloodless.

"We're here to rescue you!" The squad members rushed forward, untied the chains binding the miners, and handed them the water and compressed military rations they carried with them.

The miners took the water and military rations and began to wolf them down, weeping as they ate, recounting the atrocities committed by the Japanese army in the lead factory.

“You’ve finally come…” an elderly miner said, weeping. “We were captured and forced to mine every day. We were only given a little bit of moldy food to eat. If we were even a little slow, we would be whipped and branded with hot irons. Many of my fellow miners have been tortured to death… They even threw the dead miners directly into the mine shaft…”

Another young miner, covered in burns, choked up as he said, “The Japanese forced us to work 18 hours a day. We were so tired that we couldn’t stand it, and as a result, we were digging out less lead ore, so they brought me here.”

Another miner with a broken leg said, "We tried to resist, but we were unarmed and no match for them. Many of our fellow workers who resisted were beaten to death on the spot..."

Listening to the miners' stories, the special forces soldiers were filled with anger.

The atrocities committed by the Japanese army were appalling. They not only plundered China's resources, but also wantonly harmed the people, carrying out all sorts of massacres, biological experiments, and this kind of oppression.

The special forces soldiers comforted the miners while treating the wounded miners' injuries, using Taishan emergency medical kits to bandage, stop the bleeding, and reduce inflammation.

He then reported to Zhou Pomen via walkie-talkie: "Captain, we've discovered a Japanese torture chamber in the northwest corner of the factory area, holding dozens of miners, all of them covered in wounds. They also say the situation in the mining area is even worse, and we need to rescue them!"

Upon learning of the situation, Zhou Pomen was furious and immediately reported to Fang Wen: "General Manager, we have discovered a Japanese torture chamber in the factory area, where dozens of miners are being held and brutally tortured by the Japanese. They say there are even more workers being held in the mining area. I request that a small team be sent to rescue the miners!"

Fang Wen naturally agreed to this request.

Two more aircraft were dispatched to provide support. (End of Chapter)