The Japanese did not leave me many training opportunities. However, in early February, the "Houyi" Armored Regiment had initially acquired the combat capability, and the combined infantry and tank operations also achieved initial results. Li Zongren, who came to inspect, was impressed by our performance. Very satisfied, all that's left is to let the war test us.
After Huang Jie received the new equipment, he hurriedly returned to the new weapons research and development team in the rear area and stepped up his efforts to imitate the 50mm long-barreled artillery and develop new weapons. Before leaving, he promised me to tell my team a good story in front of the commander-in-chief. of suffering.
The Military Commission gave the No. 3 tank the Chinese name "Kuafu" and the No. 4 tank "Nuwa" in Chinese. In fact, it was hoped that these two new weapons could cover the sky with one hand and help the Chinese army reverse the defeat.
What I didn't expect was that within a few days, an air defense company from the Air Force was added to my unit, then an engineering company, an anti-tank platoon from the tax police corps, and a guard from the commander-in-chief's garrison division. Company, various arms sent me support units one after another. By early February, the "Houyi" Armored Regiment had expanded to 2 tank battalions, 1 mechanized infantry battalion, 1 air defense company, 1 logistics company, 1 1 engineer company, 1 anti-tank platoon, 1 guard company, 1 reconnaissance company, 1 maintenance battalion, 1 communications company, and 1 special forces group. In terms of weapons, it is equipped with 6 medium tanks, 27 Panzer II tanks, 16 Fiat tanks, 10 Panzer I tanks, 32 various artillery pieces (mainly 50 mm mortars), 2 armored reconnaissance vehicles, and 1 armored command vehicle. vehicles, 8 half-track armored transport vehicles, 113 other vehicles, and 4,337 soldiers, of which only 1,905 are combat personnel, and the rest are logistics support and security personnel. However, this is good, and it guarantees the combat effectiveness of the combat troops to the greatest extent. fully use.
In early February, the Japanese army occupied Jining, Wenshang, Mengyin and other places and stopped advancing to wait for the arrival of follow-up troops. The Japanese army in the south also advanced to Bengbu, Tianchang, Yangzhou and Nantong, waiting for the opportunity to attack from the north and south with the Japanese army moving north. In one fell swoop, Li Zongren defeated the Chinese army that was heavily defending Xuzhou, and Li Zongren quickly drew up a battle plan:
1. Use the 9 divisions of the 3rd Group Army to carry out offensive attacks, occupy Jining and Wenshang, annihilate about 5,000 Japanese defenders there, and move in the direction of Xintai and Tai'an to expand the results and regain the lost ground.
2. Use 8 divisions of Sun Zhen's 22nd Army to attack the Japanese troops in Zouxian and Mengyin areas as support. If greater results can be achieved, they can cooperate with the 3rd Army to flank the Japanese troops in Xintai and regain lost ground.
3. Use eight divisions of the 21st Group Army to implement frontal defense on the north bank of the Huaihe River to prevent the Japanese army from advancing southward. Specifically, Yu Xuezhong's 51st Army established defenses in the area starting from Huaiyuan in the east and ending in Wuhe in the west. Zhang Zizhong's 59th Army and the 7th Army were reserves on the flanks and rear.
4. Use nine divisions of the 11th Group Army to implement frontal defense in Linyi, and Pang Bingxun’s 3rd Army to deploy defenses in the city.
5. Use the 122nd Division of Wang Mingzhang of the 41st Army to defend Tengxian County, and the 124th Division to fortify outside the city. No unauthorized retreat is allowed without the order of the war zone commander.
6. Use the six divisions of the 24th Group Army to implement frontal defense in the northern direction of Jiangsu to prevent the Japanese army from moving south to threaten the Xuzhou flank.
7. The six divisions of the 27th Group Army and Tang Enbo's 20th Army were assigned to the Jiangsu, Henan, and Shandong border areas as theater reserves.
8. The 1st "Houyi" Armored Regiment is the general reserve force of the theater and is assigned to Xuzhou to facilitate maneuverability.
After the battle plan was reported, it was immediately approved. The commander-in-chief sent Bai Chongxi to Xuzhou to assist Li Zongren in commanding the battle. He also transferred Sun Lianzhong's 2nd Group Army to strengthen Xuzhou's strength. In May, he transferred the 2nd Army under the command of Xue Yue. The 1st Army Group participated in the battle. The Xuzhou War is imminent. A battle that will determine the fate of China is about to break out. The outcome of the battle will directly determine the unity or division of the National Government.
On March 3, I waited for the two people I had requested from my superiors for a long time, Captain Zhuang Hailong and Park Jong-il. I decided that they would command my intelligence brigade and be responsible for intelligence and counter-espionage work.
I poach people everywhere, and as long as they are people I like, all departments must release them unconditionally. On March 4th, the "Houyi" Armored Regiment added another airborne troop, and 200 paratroopers were added to our armored regiment. However, due to the tense war, I did not wait for them to arrive. Anyway, the current airborne troopers lack transport aircraft, etc. The necessary equipment can only be used as an excellent infantry. If there is more or less, it will not have much impact on the battle situation. However, Wang Hongxian was very interested in the airborne troops. He specially found a German airborne troops tutorial and planned to have the opportunity to train these airborne troops. The future commander of the Chinese Airborne Forces was born. The special forces brigade was divided into a guard company by me, and Teng Chao was responsible for commanding and using it.
On March 3, the 5th Division of the Japanese Army Seishiro Itagaki, with the cooperation of more than 100 tanks, captured Tangtou, directly threatening the safety of Linyi. Pang Bingxun's 3rd Army deployed five regiments of troops in the city to defend the city. The Japanese vanguard attacked Linyi on the 4th. Bullets rained down on Linyi. The defenders rose up to resist. With the support of the Li Guang Wing of the Air Force, they repelled the Japanese army. In the second attack, the Japanese suffered heavy casualties, two squadrons were completely destroyed, and the Li-Guang regiment shot down 4 Japanese aircraft.
At the top of the city filled with the smell of gunpowder smoke, Staff Sergeant Li Yongming used his good right hand and his teeth to bind the cluster grenade. There was a faint pain in the area where his head was wrapped in layers of gauze. Medical soldier Zhao Dabao was very busy, everywhere. There were the sounds of wounded soldiers. He had never seen so many corpses in his young age. With so many wounded soldiers, he had already run out of gauze and medicine. Now for some wounded soldiers, he had nothing at all. To delay their death, the young man burst into tears, because if there were sufficient medicines, these soldiers could survive. He dragged out a soldier from the rubble. He was a veteran. The soldier's arms were blown off, but he was still alive and his consciousness was still clear. He said to Zhao Dabao: "Why are you crying? Brother Pao never has loose vaginal discharge. I made a profit today and killed 6 Japs. I have been fighting all my life and I feel that today’s fight is the most enjoyable. It’s nothing. Give me a cigarette. I won’t be able to smoke even if I don’t want to when I die.” Zhao Dabao said lightly. He put down the veteran gently and nodded desperately, "Smoke, smoke, where is the smoke?" He looked everywhere for cigarettes, and finally found three broken cigarettes on the body of Battalion Commander Li Liansheng. He ran back with the precious cigarettes in his hands. The veteran had been dead for a long time. Zhao Dabao's cigarette fell silently to the ground. Zhao Dabao threw himself on the veteran and burst into tears. From then on, every time he participated in a battle, he would carry a pack of cigarettes with him. , although he does not smoke, his comrades asked him strangely, but he did not give any reason.
The regiment commander Liang Gaozhu looked at the city defense map silently and did not speak for a long time. The chief of staff Gao Xi said to him cautiously: "Captain, the casualties are too great. Should we mention it to the division commander and ask for some reinforcements?" Liang Gaozhu said fiercely. He stepped on the cigarette butt fiercely, "Reinforcements, it's not that you don't know the situation in Linyi, it's not that I don't want to mention it, there are no reinforcements in the division at all. We can still get one more, gather the communication squad and the guard company, and the cooks , all the grooms gathered together, each sent 4 grenades, and sent them all to me. I want to see if I, Liang Gaozhu, can die on the battlefield today." Gao Xi lowered his head and thought for a moment: "Captain, let me see. There is no use for me and several staff officers. I will lead the troops up first, and you can go up last." Commander Liang said with tears in his eyes: "Old Gao, we have fought so many vicious battles since we raised our troops, but they have never been as dangerous as today. Originally, you are all intellectuals, the pillars of the country, and the seeds of our regiment. You should not be allowed to take the lead. But today it has really come to the point where the last person and the last bullet have been fired. You have left behind a young staff officer. Go back to the division headquarters to report the situation. You should take the first step. Remember to wait for me when you drink Meng Po soup by the Naihe Bridge. We will team up to conquer the world for the rest of our lives." Captain Liang turned around, looked at the map, and tried his best not to let go. Seeing the tears in his eyes, Gao Xi stood at attention and saluted him, "Old Liang, I'm leaving first." "Okay, take care of yourself along the way." A few simple greetings gathered the hearts of many comrades. Friendship and trust were inside. Gao Xi looked at the commander's back and walked outside the headquarters: "Company Commander Feng." Commander Feng immediately ran out of the guard room, "Chief of Staff Gao?" Gao Xi said, "You lead a squad Protect the regiment leader here. The rest of the people and the regimental staff will follow me to the battlefield. Our 411th Regiment of the 3rd Army will fight the Japanese to the end today." Company Commander Feng gathered the guards and watched Gao Xi lead the last soldiers to the north gate. And go. Liang Gaozhu suddenly rushed out of the headquarters and stared at their figures for a long time.
