It is about 200 kilometers from Kunshan to Jinling, and the section to Changshu is about 120 kilometers. Since this section is under the control of Gujun Brigade, the march is relatively safe;
In order not to arouse the enemy's alert, the lone traveling army adopted the method of night march. It started at around six o'clock in the evening and began to lie dormant after seven o'clock in the morning. It marched about 60 kilometers every night and planned to reach the reconnaissance camp in two days. Control Changshu.
Breakout is the military operation that most tests the tactical literacy and organizational ability of an army. If the organization is not good, it may trigger a major rout. This has always been a shortcoming of the national army;
The defense is usually done in a methodical manner. Once the order to retreat is given, there will be a hive of rout. If the Japanese continue to pursue and kill, it will soon turn into a great rout, during which the loss of troops will be even greater than the loss during the defense.
The troops of the Gujun Brigade were mainly defeated, and they all had a history in this regard. Therefore, it can be said that Luo Ying and the brigade headquarters were very energetic when it came to the breakout. They not only formulated a detailed retreat plan, but also Some details on the way to retreat were regulated.
The heaviest equipment they carry is a dozen 94-type 75mm mountain guns. The total combat weight of this mountain gun is 536 kilograms. It can be pulled by a horse on the road. After being broken down into several parts, it can be carried by 6 mules and horses. , even in mountainous operations, it can keep up with the march of the troops.
In the Battle of Kunshan, the lone brigade completely annihilated the Japanese 103rd Brigade's baggage troops, with ready-made mules and horses, as well as a large number of war horses. All heavy equipment was carried by mules and horses, and the marching speed was not restricted at all;
They can even leave the road and march through mountains, forests and hills, so that they can avoid cities with more Japanese garrisons and hide the whereabouts of their troops as much as possible.
Under Luo Ying's careful arrangements, they arrived in Changshu smoothly without the Japanese noticing;
After the main force arrived in Changshu, the troops responsible for breaking up the rear began to retreat secretly, always keeping a distance of dozens of kilometers from the main force.
Just like this, they marched at night, marching 40 to 50 kilometers a day, avoiding cities when they encountered them. If small groups of troops could not be avoided, they were dealt with by the reconnaissance battalion. They were not blocked by a Japanese defense line until they reached the vicinity of Jingjiang City. The army has a regiment of Japs.
If we continue to detour northward, there will be no problem for the reconnaissance battalion and the 881st Regiment to detour, but the brigade headquarters and baggage train will definitely not be able to detour;
After asking Luo Ying for instructions, Li Shuo decided to fight in Taixing and clear the Japanese defense line in one fell swoop.
This was the first battle of the Gujun Brigade after leaving Kunshan. Li Shuo took it very seriously and ordered the brigade's reconnaissance battalion to conduct careful reconnaissance on the surrounding Japanese defense information before launching the attack;
After the reconnaissance battalion spent a day to find out the enemy's situation, the reconnaissance battalion commander Gao Tianshu (Luo Ying instructed to be under the unified command of 881 regiment leader Li Shuo) reported to Li Shuo:
"Captain Li, the Japanese deployed on the Jingjiang defense line is the 50th Regiment of the 14th Division. This regiment suffered heavy losses when it captured the Jiangyin Fortress. Its current total strength is about 3,000 people;
A Japanese regiment was deployed in the Jiangyin Fortress surrounding Jingjiang, but this regiment was affiliated with the Ninth Division and was not subordinate to each other;
In addition, there is a Japanese brigade in Taixing, and there is a Japanese brigade in Zhoujia Town, six kilometers west of Jingjiang. Both of these brigades belong to the 15th Regiment of the 14th Division..."
Li Shuo immediately used the map to find the above-mentioned locations. He calculated that the distance from Jiangyin to Jingjiang was only sixteen kilometers. If the Japanese reinforcements were sent at full speed after the war started, they could arrive in as fast as two hours, and the Japanese had absolute air control. , the 881st Regiment is not very sure that it can capture the Jingjiang defense line within two hours;
After thinking about it for a long time, Li Shuo came up with an idea and said directly to Gao Tianshu:
"Battle Commander Gao, I have carefully calculated that if we attack the Jingjiang defense line, the biggest threat to us is the Japs in the Jiangyin Fortress. They can arrive at Jingjiang for reinforcements in up to three hours;
We have absolutely no confidence that we can clear out the Japs in Jingjiang in such a short period of time. Once the Japs reinforcements arrive, we will be trapped in a double-sided attack.
In this case, we might as well encircle the point for reinforcements. I will leave three infantry cannons to you, and the reconnaissance battalion will launch a accompanying attack on the Jingjiang defense line. I will lead the main force of the 881st Regiment to ambush the Japanese reinforcements from Jiangyin Fortress halfway. I will kill the Japanese first. Reinforcements, what do you think? "
Gao Tianshu nodded in agreement, and after the two reached a consensus, they reported the battle plan to the brigade headquarters;
Luo Ying quickly responded to them, agreed to their combat plan, and gave them sufficient autonomy.
After Li Shuo received the approval from the brigade, he began to arrange his troops. In particular, the selection of ambush points was crucial;
Jiangyin Fortress is related to the overall situation of the Jinling Campaign, and its strategic position is very important. Therefore, even if the Japanese reinforce Jingjiang, they will definitely leave enough troops to defend the fortress. In this case, up to two brigades can be sent to reinforce Jingjiang.
The 881st Regiment has 4,000 men. It ambushes 2,000 enemy men. It is deliberate but not deliberate. Even if it cannot be annihilated, it is acceptable to maim or severely injure them;
Based on this combat idea, Li Shuo set the ambush point at Linjialing, which was the most suitable place for an ambush within a radius of more than ten miles.
Although Linjialing is a ridge in name, its altitude is not high. It is more like a wasteland. The terrain is U-shaped, with high sides and low in the middle. It is about several kilometers long and 100 to 500 meters wide. It is shaped like a trumpet. From Jiangyin to The Jingjiang highway passes through the middle and is the only way to Jingjiang.
Since the Japanese had control of the air, Li Shuo set the time to attack Jingjiang at dawn, that is, four o'clock in the morning.
That night, the 881st Regiment used the cover of darkness to drive into Linjialing and set up an ambush. The artillery battalion's two 75mm mountain guns and six mortars were deployed on a commanding height several hundred meters away;
In order to increase the hit rate of artillery strikes, the artillery battalion had calculated the firing parameters of Linjialing Highway in advance, and only needed to remove the camouflage and fire directly.
At four o'clock in the morning, three red signal flares pierced the sky at the Jingjiang defense line of the Japanese army. Six mortars and three infantry guns equipped by the reconnaissance battalion suddenly launched a fierce bombardment on the Japanese defense line;
Immediately afterwards, a large number of light and heavy machine guns fired wildly at the enemy's defense line, and the shouts of killing resounded through the sky in the dark night...
At the headquarters of the 50th Regiment, the commander of the regiment, Colonel Oda Kensaku, who was sleeping in his clothes, was awakened. While he was confused, the senior commander of the regiment, Lieutenant Commander Hirashima, hurried in and reported to him:
"Your Excellency, Captain, our defense area was suddenly attacked by the Chinese. The enemy had a large number of artillery and light and heavy machine guns. The offensive was very fierce. It only took a while to break through our outer defense line;
The Tasaka Squadron deployed on the outer defense line was severely damaged and retreated to the main position. The enemy immediately launched an attack on our main position. Major Anton judged that the Chinese had at least one division and requested tactical guidance. "
Oda Kensa said angrily:
"On Bagaya Road, the main Chinese force in the Taizhou area has been defeated. They have retreated to Jiangdu. Where can they find a division of troops?
Anton, this bastard, is getting more and more promising. After a while, he started asking for tactical guidance. I only have two squadrons of reserve teams on hand, so sending them all to him won't do much!
Mr. Pingdao, are you sure the Chinese have a division? "
Lieutenant Commander Hirashima bowed and replied:
"Based on the Chinese firepower configuration and the intensity of the offensive, even if there is not a division, there is still a brigade. They are equipped with at least a dozen artillery pieces——"
When Oda heard that there were more than a dozen artillery pieces, he immediately lost confidence. According to his understanding of the Chinese people, one of their divisions did not have so many artillery pieces. In just a short time, one of their field squadrons was crippled. This combat effectiveness might be He is a workhorse.
If his regiment is full, he won't worry. He knows his own business. The existing 50th Infantry Regiment has only more than 2,800 people, including a large number of wounded and non-combatants. The maximum number that can be used for combat is 2,000. People, it is very difficult to block a Chinese division equipped with a large number of artillery——
"Quickly, request tactical guidance from the Ninth Division of Jiangyin Fortress."
