Outside Mangshi, more than two dozen armored vehicles were parked quietly in the open space. Soldiers from the tank battalion were holding tools to inspect several vehicles that were emitting black smoke.
In the recent battle, the tank battalion was destroyed by the Japanese three armored vehicles during the assault, and the subsequent street fighting also allowed the crazy little devils to destroy two of them with suicide attacks.
The tank battalion lost five armored vehicles. In addition, the remaining armored vehicle bodies also suffered varying degrees of damage.
"How's the situation?"
"Battal Commander, the tracks of three tanks are damaged, and the brothers are repairing them. It's just that the No. 13 and No. 20 vehicles can't fire. It seems that there is an engine failure. We can't fix it for the time being..."
Yuan Li frowned and asked casually: "Isn't Qiu Guaizi from the Third Company good at repairing engines? Why don't you go find him?" He, he has even touched Lao Maozi's tank, and he doesn't know how to do this German thing. "The soldier replied with a sad face. "Old Six, how do you feel about the Garand equipped with a scope? "
At this time, Liao Mingyu was still competing with Zhang Liu in the camp to test his marksmanship. Now a lot of miscellaneous things have been unlocked in the system warehouse, including many rifle scopes.
For the two people with the best marksmanship in the division, they naturally wanted to personally test the performance of each rifle as a sniper rifle.
"Burst shooting is good. If the first shot misses, you can quickly make up for it with the next shot, but it's not suitable for me."
Zhang Liu played with the Garand with a scope and gave a very pertinent evaluation. He was not very interested in this kind of weapon with strong rapid fire capability but slightly inferior accuracy.
"It's pretty good. I think it suits me quite well." Yang Danzi next to him immediately took over the conversation. He actually felt that the mirrored Garand was a weapon tailor-made for him.
"This gun is a bit too far when it exceeds 300 meters, and its accuracy is not as good as 98k. Aren't you just trying to make up for the shortcomings in marksmanship by coveting the advantage of continuous fire? Do you think I don't know?"
Zhang Liu reprimanded him unceremoniously, and after that, he gave Yang Danzi a blow: "I told you to study hard and don't think about vain things all day long, you know."
"Ouch, I got it, Brother Zhang..." Yang Danzi covered his head and cried out in pain. Being exposed by his master on the spot made him blush somewhat.
Liao Mingyu secretly smiled and said, just when he wanted to say something, a soldier suddenly ran over and reported that he had received a call from Wei Lihuang, asking him to go to the headquarters immediately.
Liao Mingyu didn't dare to neglect Commander Wei's order. He said hello and took Ding Xiaoer out. Then again, asking him to go now is just a possibility, the people of the 200 Division have arrived.
As he expected, when he walked to the headquarters office, there was a majestic figure standing in front of Wei Lihuang. He said in a loud and powerful voice: "Sir Wei! Gao Jiren, commander of the 200th Division, is reporting to you!"
"Mingyu is here too?" Wei Lihuang glanced at Liao Mingyu at the door and stood up with a smile: "Let me introduce to you, this is Gao Jiren, the commander of the 200th Division."
Liao Mingyu hurried forward and politely extended his right hand: "Mr. Gao, this is our first meeting. Please take care of me."
"Hey, hello. I heard from the Commander-in-Chief that your Honorary Third Division is not simple. We are from Huangpu and no one is a coward."
The tall and square-faced Gaoji man also extended his hand to shake his hand and greeted him politely in a Shaanxi dialect.
"Haha, senior is so complimentary."
Liao Mingyu felt a little relieved. It seemed that Master Gao had a good attitude towards him. He would have to cooperate with others later, so he had to lay a good foundation for the relationship first.
Gao Jiren is a student of the fourth batch of Huangpu Military Academy and a graduate of the third batch of higher education classes of the Central Military Academy. His qualifications are relatively old.
Moreover, most of the early officers of the 200 Division from the division, regiment level to company and platoon levels were graduates of the second phase of Huangpu. This is why Gaoji people have a certain fondness for Liao Mingyu.
Although Wei Lihuang handed over the command of the 200 Division to Liao Mingyu, the latter did not dare to expect that all the troops would listen to him. As long as the other party did not stumble and could cooperate with the combat operations, thank God.
"Okay, don't be polite for now, Mr. Gao, please introduce the basic situation of the 200th Division first." Wei Lihuang, who was pragmatic first, waved his hand to interrupt their greetings.
"yes!"
The Gaoji man immediately replied seriously: "At present, the 200 Division has undergone a year of supplementary training and has reorganized a tank regiment, a chariot regiment and a mechanized infantry regiment, plus a light infantry regiment, totaling more than 12,000 people.
"We have 12 T26 tanks, 6 American Sherman tanks, 33 Soviet-made BA-6 armored vehicles, and 50 trucks. Due to time constraints, heavy firepower has not been supplemented. Now the entire division only has one anti-aircraft artillery battalion. 37 caliber anti-aircraft guns and 24 pieces.”
Speaking of this, the Gaoji people felt a little ashamed. At its peak, the division had nearly 300 tanks and armored vehicles of various types, as well as heavy weapons such as 150mm and 122mm howitzers. However, now the division's weapons and equipment are really shabby.
Today's 200th Division is not so much an armored division as it is a mechanized infantry division equipped with tanks and combat vehicles. The armor ratio of the entire unit is too low.
Liao Mingyu also sighed secretly. The situation was basically consistent with history. After the defeat in the First Battle of Burma in 1942, the severely damaged 200th Division was stashed away until 1944. For various reasons, the authorities did not provide much supplementary information. , just retaining the frame of an armored force.
Later, when the 5th Army was reorganized, most of the armored units of the 200 Division became units directly under the Army. The division was reorganized into the 200 Brigade and became a light infantry brigade with beautiful weapons. It was eventually wiped out in eastern Henan in 1949. …
Fortunately, the 200 Division still has its strength and a certain degree of mechanization. The most important thing is that the more than 2,600 experienced battlefield veterans who returned from Myanmar are still in the team.
Even though most of the division is now made up of new recruits and there is not much armor strength, the combat experience and individual quality of the more than 2,000 veterans cannot be underestimated. This is what Liao Mingyu values the most.
"Well, originally you, Chief Qiu, did not agree with the dispatch, but now that the situation is special, it is a helpless move to ensure the smooth progress of Bao Teng's counterattack."
Wei Lihuang glanced at the two people in front of him, and louder and solemnly warned: "The task of blocking the 18th Division is arduous. You two must cooperate sincerely, and you must not let the enemy take advantage of the loopholes!"
"yes!"
"clear!"
Wei Lihuang hummed, but his brows still did not relax. He was a little worried that the young and energetic Liao Mingyu would not be able to suppress the mature Gao Jiren.
"Commander Gao may not know something. Just two days ago, the armored battalion of the Honorable Third Division successfully captured Mangshi with the cooperation of an infantry regiment, wiping out more than 900 Japanese troops while losing less than one company. "
"Oh? So powerful? Brother Liao is also so good at commanding armored forces?"
The Gaoji people were shocked. He knew that Wei Lihuang had always been true to his word and never adulterated his words, and the information he heard from the latter was very credible.
In addition, the "popular" Liao Mingyu was in the limelight during this period. Almost all military operations in western Yunnan were related to him, and his record was very impressive.
The Gaoji people, who have an upright and fierce personality, have always admired those who can fight, and upon hearing these words, they immediately felt respected.
"Haha, my brothers are all capable. Speaking of which, the commander of my chariot battalion, Yuan Li, used to be the battalion commander of the 200 Division. I wonder if Brother Gao remembers this person." Liao Mingyu replied with a smile.
"Yuan Li...that young boy from the 1152nd regiment?" Gao Jiren exclaimed, staring at Liao Mingyu in disbelief, and asked hurriedly: "He is still alive?"
"Well, they are still alive..." Liao Mingyu slowly told what happened to Yuan Li and the others.
When the 200 Division retreated from Yeren Mountain, the division commander, General Dai, was seriously injured and died. Gao Jiren succeeded the division commander and led the remaining troops to continue the retreat, but was overtaken by the Japanese army when passing through Wanding on the border.
The demoralized remnant soldiers of the 200 Division were in need of guns or cannons. Most of their weapons and equipment were completely lost, and they could only continue to flee eastward.
But the Japanese who were in hot pursuit clung to the troops' tail like dog-skin plaster, rushing over and taking a bite from time to time. Yuan Li and his party were ordered to do so in the face of danger. With the few remaining guns, they launched a brazen attack on the Japanese army and covered the safe evacuation of the large forces.
The Gaoji people had a profound influence on the stubborn and brave young battalion commander. If not for their sacrifice of life and death, I am afraid that more officers and soldiers of the 200 Division would have been bitten to death by the Japs.
"Bao said, the 200th Division owes you a favor! I want to thank you on behalf of the little boys under me!"
Gao Jiren said with great enthusiasm, and he was about to bow deeply to Liao Mingyu, who quickly stepped forward to support him.
"Oh, Master Gao, you can't do that! We don't want this in our team."
"Huh? Brother Liao is right! We have army rules in our army." After speaking, the Gaoji man took two steps back, stood up straight, and solemnly saluted Liao Mingyu with a military salute.
"this…"
Liao Mingyu was made to laugh and cry, but he had a great impression of this fast-talking and straightforward northwest man.
"Haha, it's good that you, a tall barbarian, are still so reckless." Wei Lihuang was also amused by his behavior and couldn't help but smile.
"Commander, one code is another code. He saved the people of the 200th Division and is my 200th Division's benefactor. I didn't say it before. This time on the battlefield, no matter how you are dispatched, Gao will never go against the will."
After hearing his statement, Wei Lihuang nodded with satisfaction and immediately gave serious instructions:
"Okay, you are familiar with it and are almost familiar with it. We must also sum up the following combat strategies."
"This interception battle is of great importance. I have decided to form the Longling Defense Corps. In addition to your two troops, there will also be a supplementary brigade of 5,000 people, totaling more than 30,000 people. Liao Mingyu will be the commander-in-chief for the time being. We must All the Japanese supporting troops are not allowed to give way even half a step west of Longling, do you hear me clearly!?"
"Understood!" they both replied in unison.
Liao Mingyu was shocked. He was very grateful for Wei Lihuang's trust. It was the first time he commanded so many people to fight. It was impossible not to feel excited. But no matter what, this time he could finally let go and fight. .
…
Two days later, Liao Mingyu returned to Longling to take charge of the overall situation, and the final adjustments to the army were also coming to an end.
In addition to the original establishment, the three main regiments have added an artillery battalion and a baggage battalion, which has brought the firepower and logistics support of each unit to a higher level.
At the same time, the division's artillery regiment was also strengthened, and Li Jie's anti-aircraft artillery battalion was also incorporated into it.
Caliber is justice. The firepower ratio of 24 105 howitzers and 12 155 howitzers is very terrifying. Coupled with the 16 Bofors 40mm anti-aircraft guns that have an amazing rate of fire and can shoot directly or horizontally, in terms of division-level heavy firepower alone , the little devil is already beyond his reach.
Even if the artillery regiment of the 18th Division came here, it would only be beaten. Liao Mingyu wanted to know what their expressions and mentality would be like after being baptized by the justice of the artillery regiment. Haha, that’s really exciting.
Time quickly came to September 4th, one day before the expeditionary force launched a full-scale counterattack. Basically, all the troops had moved to the corresponding positions, just waiting for Wei Lihuang's order.
According to the pre-plan, Liao Mingyu arranged the main battlefield in Mangshi. The flat terrain allowed the huge troops of the Honorable Third Division to fully deploy.
Including the later Gaugi people, they were full of praise after seeing the terrain here. It was an ideal battlefield tailor-made for armored forces.
From the map, there are three roads into Mangshi Plain from the west, but if you want to go east to Longling through Mangshi, there is only one option, and that is to follow the Burma Highway, otherwise you will have to climb over the mountains like a monkey. Jungle detour.
Obviously, the little devils cannot be monkeys. They also have a lot of heavy equipment and cannot march flexibly unless they abandon a large amount of baggage materials and raid lightly.
But it is not realistic to do this. They are not familiar with the place and they dare not underestimate the enemy and advance rashly. After all, several Japanese troops in western Yunnan have been wiped out by the Chinese. All of this has to make the commander of the 18th Division very nervous. Take it seriously.
Liao Mingyu gave up his plan to establish a defensive line at the three intersections entering Mangshi. He arranged the main position on a high ground near the east, where Xing Fuquan's second main regiment was stationed.
All the heavy artillery of the artillery regiment are placed 2 kilometers behind the high ground. The wide field of view allows them to cover any corner of the battlefield with firepower anytime and anywhere.
The main position spreads out in a semi-circular shape to the west along the high ground. On one side of the high ground is a steep mountain and on the other side is a lush forest.
If the Japanese army wants to attack, they must either attack head-on, take a detour through the woods on the left, or ignore the defenders on the high ground and take a detour from the base of the mountain on the right.
However, at the edge of the forest, Chen Jize's Third Regiment and the Chariot Battalion were defending here, while Long Wenwen's First Regiment was placed behind the Second Regiment, acting as a reserve team and able to support the right wing at any time.
There is no position built in the open area at the foot of the mountain on the right, because the terrain here is very flat and unobstructed, and it is completely exposed to the enemy's firepower. The pressure of setting up defenses here is too great, and there may be very heavy losses.
However, it is not easy for the little devils to use this place to break through the defense line. This place is only about one kilometer away from the high ground defended by the second regiment. Similarly, the artillery regiment behind the third division can also cover the firepower instantly.
This place looks like a loophole in the entire defense line, but it may become the key to victory in this battle. It just depends on whether the Japanese will get into this hole.
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