It was night, that is, late at night on April 6, 1938, the Japanese troops trapped in Taierzhuang launched a fierce attack on the northeast corner of Taierzhuang where the 52nd Army of Tang Enbo's Army was located. The ferocity of the attack even exceeded that of the previous day. Intensity.
If we had to compare it to one battle, it could only be compared to the most intense period when the main force of the Segu detachment attacked Tengxian County. After all, the artillery fire was not so fierce!
"Boom!!!"
"Boom!!!"
"Boom!!!"
Cannonballs flashed past in the dark night, like when the Leonid meteor shower broke out. The density of the cannonballs was like meteors streaking across the night sky!
It's a pity that behind this beautiful explosion, there are cold death fireworks hidden. Artillery shells exploded hard on the position of the 52nd Army of the National Army, and then exploded into flower-like fireworks, in the night Underneath, it seems that there are blooming flowers.
The explosion was accompanied by mud thrown into the air, and then scattered, mixed with pieces of shell fragments, flying in all directions.
Most of these shells are 75mm mountain cannon shells, occasionally mixed with some 15-year-old heavy howitzer shells.
Tang Enbo, Guan Linzheng and others were awakened at the first moment of the artillery bombardment.
As a result, Tang Enbo immediately hurried to Guan Linzheng's military headquarters.
It was twelve o'clock in the middle of the night on April 6th, oh no, it was midnight on April 7th to be precise.
Location: Northeast of Taierzhuang, 52nd Army Headquarters.
"Is this kid crazy? He didn't sleep in the middle of the night, and he actually launched an attack at this time!" Wan Jianfan, the army chief of staff who was ordered by Tang Enbo to stay here to observe the situation, cursed.
Speaking of Wan Jianfan, there is still a story. To be Tang Enbo's chief of staff, one must have real ability.
Long before Tang Enbo's regiment was ordered to support Teng County, Tang Enbo convened a military commander-in-chief combat meeting at the regiment headquarters with the rank of division commander or above. At that time, the chief of staff of the regiment, Wan Jianfan, considered that the situation in Teng County was relatively urgent, so It was advocated that the main force of the legion should attack the enemy positions in Teng County.
But at that time, Wang Zhonglian, commander of the 85th Army, judged that the enemy forces in Zaozhuang were relatively weak, and insisted on attacking Zaozhuang first to contain the enemy's offensive against Teng County. After all, Wang Zhonglian was the commander of the army, and even though the position of chief of staff of the army was higher, However, the decision-making power also lies with the powerful military commanders such as Wang Zhonglian.
Unexpectedly, before the 85th Army captured Zaozhuang, the 122nd and 124th Divisions of the Sichuan Army led by Commander Wang Mingzhang were unable to withstand the Japanese attack. All the 122nd Divisions Martyred in the city.
Therefore, if we talk about the responsibility for the death of the entire division under Commander Wang Mingzhang due to insufficient reinforcements, Tang Enbo, as the largest military officer, certainly has a great responsibility, but when it comes to the actual situation, Wang Zhonglian's command method is also It should be a big responsibility.
Later, when Wang Zhonglian led the main force of the 85th Army to launch a siege in Zaozhuang, all the troops of the Sichuan Army garrisoning Teng County died in the city, and the remaining troops of the 41st Army also retreated south, resulting in the 80th Army's siege in Zaozhuang. The back of the Fifth Army was exposed to the enemy's front. The headquarters of the Eighty-fifth Army was violently attacked by the enemy at Xinglongzhuang. The headquarters was charged by the enemy's cavalry. Wang Zhonglian escaped from the ditch and found a way. A way out.
Precisely because Wan Jianfan had certain combat talents and strategic vision, Tang Enbo left him at the 52nd Army Headquarters to assist in command.
Wan Jianfan was so angry when he got up, but Guan Linzheng was not blinded by this burst of artillery fire. He thought for a while and said: "No, this Isotani Rensuke is going to run away!"
After hearing what Guan Linzheng said, Wan Jianfan immediately woke up, thought about it, and then said: "What you said is very possible. After all, the Japanese army does not like night battles. Night battles cannot take advantage of their air force, and now Their artillery fire is so ferocious. This little devil used to be very diligent in firing artillery because the supply line could not keep up. Now he is firing so ferociously that if he can't keep up, he will have to use up his inventory to open up a way out."
"Yes, I think so too." Guan Linzheng agreed, "And our army is on the retreat line of the Japanese army. If they don't attack us, they will be afraid of retreating and they will not be happy."
Wan Jianfan's addition gave Guan Linzheng and others a more sufficient reason to suspect that the Japanese army was going to break out.
Therefore, Guan Linzheng immediately called the frontline troops and encouraged the frontline troops to persist and hold on to their positions. As long as they persisted, these Japanese troops would not be able to escape. If conditions permit, it is best to launch a counterattack.
Wan Jianfan went to report the information to the army headquarters immediately, but not long after, Tang Enbo arrived directly at the headquarters of the 52nd Army, so they sent the telegram directly to the commander of the fifth theater.
This burst of shelling by the Japanese army alarmed many people, especially the headquarters of the Fifth Theater Commander. After the analysis telegram arrived, Li Zongren immediately summoned a group of senior officers for a meeting.
Among these senior officers, they also included Commander-in-Chief Cheng Qian who came from the First Theater Command to assist Li Zongren in commanding, Bai Chongxi, Deputy Chief of General Staff of the Military Commission of the Nationalist Government, Xu Zuyi, Chief of Staff of the Fifth Theater Command, and others.
After unanimous discussion and judgment among the senior officers, they concluded that this Japanese army must be running away!
"Everyone, it seems that Taierzhuang has been defended, and Xuzhou has also been saved. I don't think there is any need to explain how to act next, right?" Li Zongren's face revealed a sense of joy. After all, whether it is the Battle of Linyi, It was the Battle of Taierzhuang, both were victorious, and his face was very bright...
"The next step is to order Tang Enbo's army to pursue the Japanese army. There is really no need to explain it. Brother De Lin should prepare a press conference tomorrow to celebrate the great victory of Taierzhuang." Cheng Qian had the same expression on his face. Also with a smile.
"With the auspicious words of Brother Songyun (Cheng Qian's pseudonym Songyun), tomorrow's press conference must be held. What do you think of the upcoming pursuit?" Li Zongren smiled and got back to the topic. .
"Sir Li, I believe that once this group of enemies breaks through, they will definitely flee towards Yixian County. The first regiment directly under the third theater stationed at Xigaohuang Temple can be mobilized to intercept this group of enemy troops and prepare for this. Tang Enbo's army pursued and encircled the enemy troops to buy time." Xu Zuyi spoke at the side.
"This suggestion is very good. So according to Brother Yanmou's opinion, where should the unit go to stop the Japanese army?" Li Zongren looked at Xu Zuyi.
Xu Zuyi thought for a while and said: "I believe that this Zhangshan Mountain will be a key area visited by the Japanese army. After all, as long as Zhangshan Mountain is defended, the Japanese army can move out of Taierzhuang at any time to capture the outer positions of the national army." Moreover, Zhangshan Mountain is the commanding height in the southwest of Yixian County. As long as we occupy this place and have one artillery unit, from the perspective of holding on to Yixian County, it is a strategic location. We can use artillery firepower to attack the flanks of our army in Yixian County at any time. Launch a bombardment!”
"Brother Yanmou's words are reasonable. It happens that there is a first regiment directly under the Third War Zone stationed here at the Xigaohuang Temple at the foot of Zhangshan Mountain in the southwest corner of Yi County. They can be ordered to occupy Zhangshan Mountain immediately to cope with the attack of Tang Enbo's army. The battle in Yixian. What do you think?" Li Zongren looked around at the crowd.
"I think the opinions of brothers De Lin and Yan Mou are correct and reasonable, and I would like to express my support." The first person to express support was Bai Chongxi, Li Zongren's old partner and brother.
The three people in front of me already thought it made sense, so Cheng Qian also expressed his approval.
In this way, a battle fell without warning on the head of the first regiment directly under Zhang Tianhai's third theater, and it was a heavy burden!
…
PS: The first update is here, there is another update, maybe I’ll make it up tomorrow! I worked overtime too late today, my life is at stake, I have to make up for it later.
good night everybody.
Thanks to Qidian Book Friends 20180829210002055, Xihe33, and angw12 for each of their monthly passes!
