Since it has been decided to send Zheng Man back to Wuhan, it should be sooner rather than later. After all, the Japanese forward troops are gradually occupying the peak on the frontline battlefield.
If history were to go a little wrong, the result might be disastrous for the couple.
So, early the next morning, Zhang Tianhai selected four veterans from the old army in the special agent company to take charge of sending Zheng Man back to Wuhan. After the mission was completed, he would look for troops to return to and build up.
On the morning of the 17th, when Zhang Tianhai selected four guards for Zheng Man, the Japanese troops in the northern section of Jinpu Road launched a fierce attack.
The Japanese troops in Zaozhuang, Yixian, Shuiguo, Lincheng, and Hanzhuang, totaling more than 10,000 people, launched fierce attacks on the national troops one after another.
First, the Japanese troops from Zaozhuang, Shuiguo, Lincheng and Hanzhuang fought fiercely in the direction of Yixian. However, the Japanese troops in Yixian took advantage of the dawn and then launched a fierce counterattack against the national troops in an attempt to escape control of the lost area. right.
The front line is once again filled with flames of war.
Outside Hanzhuang, the frontline headquarters of the 51st Army.
The frontline headquarters of the 51st Army was set up in the outer position of Hanzhuang, about 800 to 900 meters away from the Japanese army.
A few days ago, the Japanese frontline troops advanced very quickly and strengthened a lot of heavy weapons. It didn't take long to capture Hanzhuang near Yi County.
Therefore, Yu Xuezhong's 51st Army Corps, which originally defended the line from Guzhen to Wuhe in the southern section of the Jinpu Railway (short of an infantry regiment and a mountain artillery battalion), was ordered to do so in mid-April, around the 13th. Set off to Taierzhuang to join the battle.
After Yu Xuezhong's 51st Army was ordered to transfer away, the defense of Guzhen and other places was taken over by the Li Pinxian Department of the Gui Army (the 11th Army).
Originally, according to the above plan, the 51st Army Headquarters got off at Chefushan Station on the Taizao Branch of the Longhai Railway (twenty miles away from Taierzhuang). However, due to the enemy's Itagaki Division and Isoya Division, , and unknown enemy reinforcements, together with the puppet army Li Shouxin's troops launched a large-scale counterattack from Yanshan, Hongwawutun, Yixian and other places.
As for the time of this counterattack, it was also the day when the first regiment directly under the third theater suffered a heavy blow from the Isotani Rensuke division.
Therefore, Yu Xuezhong's subordinates could only choose to accept the order and get off directly at Taierzhuang Station.
The city defense regiment in Lanling Town, the county seat of Lanling County, is not very powerful. It can be said that the line from the big and small Liangbi to the northeast of Pi County is a vacuum zone, and the situation is relatively critical. Therefore, that night, they That is, they stationed in Lanling Town, Pi County and other places.
After the Hanzhuang line was in crisis, Yu Xuezhong transferred back the military mountain artillery battalion on the Linyi front line, and then led a brigade of troops to Hanzhuang for support.
On this day, it was the time when Yu Xuezhong led his subordinates, the 337th Brigade of the 113th Division, to build a position and wait for a turnaround.
"Ring ring ring..."
As soon as the phone rang, Yu Xuezhong picked up the phone and said, "Hey, this is the frontline headquarters of the 51st Army. I'm Yu Xuezhong. If you have anything to say, please speak up!"
On the other side of the phone, a very low voice came, saying: "Hello, is this Commander Yu of the 51st Army? I am Chen Li, commander of the 127th Division of the Sichuan Army, and I am working under the command of General Manager Sun of our 22nd Army. Commander's order, come here to accept your command. The leading troops of our division are now less than ten miles away from your troops and can be reached within half an hour!"
After hearing this, Yu Xuezhong immediately became excited. He immediately said to the phone: "Mr. Chen, in this way, after your troops arrive, we will immediately violently counterattack the enemy forces in Zaozhuang! We are waiting for your troops now. It’s arrived!”
"Everything is waiting for the commander's orders. The 379th Brigade, the forward force of the 127th Division of the Sichuan Army, will absolutely obey orders and commands. Regarding this matter, I have ordered Commander Tao Zongbotao of the 379th Brigade to absolutely cooperate. Your army is attacking and obeys the commander's command." Chen Li's voice on the phone could be described as very serious.
"Okay, after your troops arrive, I will order the troops to bombard Hanzhuang!" Yu Xuezhong said still very happily.
For the strength of the 51st Army in Hanzhuang, it is more than enough to defend the position, but according to the existing strength, it is still quite difficult.
After all, one regiment under the 337th Brigade had more than one regiment and other branch lines suffered heavy losses in battles. Therefore, Yu Xuezhong does not have enough troops now.
Although there is still an army-affiliated mountain artillery battalion in hand that can support frontline operations at any time, but after all, there is only one regiment of troops in hand, which is more than enough for defense, but not enough for offense.
The strength of a regiment is not large, only about 2,000 people. Facing the Japanese troops stationed above Hanzhuang, there may be a large group, but with the fierce firepower, it is very likely that they will not even get close to the front of the village.
No, to be more precise, it’s definitely not close!
After all, as an experienced and excellent commander who has commanded countless battles, Yu Xuezhong also ordered his troops to launch a tentative attack on Hanzhuang. However, the result was a ferocious attack by the Japanese army. The fire suppressed him, and he could hardly even lift his head.
From that moment on, Yu Xuezhong knew that he would either not attack or attack with a general attack, which would require at least one regiment of troops to be effective.
Otherwise, a small-scale attack will not only have no effect, but will also cost people heads and lives!
Therefore, Yu Xuezhong decided to join forces with Sun Zhen's command of the Sichuan Army to strive to capture Hanzhuang as soon as possible!
Hanzhuang, the nail wedged between the northern edge of Yixian and Zaozhuang, must be pulled out, otherwise, it will become a bridgehead for Zaozhuang's Japanese troops to reinforce Yixian!
Not long after, Tao Zongbo, commander of the 379th Brigade, the vanguard of the 127th Division of the Sichuan Army, arrived with his troops.
After arriving at the frontline headquarters of the 51st Army, Tao Zongbo gave Yu Xuezhong a military salute and said in his Mandarin with a Sichuan accent: "Hello, Sir Yu. I humbly accept orders from Commander Chen to come here." I accept your command. If anything happens, just try to say hello to me. There will never be a coward in the 379th Brigade of the Sichuan Army!"
Tao Zongbo was not very tall, only about 1.62 or 1.63 meters tall. In front of Yu Xuezhong, a tall northern man, he was indeed a bit underwhelmed. Only his ghostly eyes proved that. So, he is a person who relies on his brains to make a living, rather than someone who relies on hard work to get promoted.
Hmm... It seems that this last sentence is indeed nonsense. After all, who can rise to this position is a simple person?
"Very good." Yu Xuezhong nodded, and then directly ordered: "Commander Tao, you should lead your troops into the position immediately, familiarize yourself with the specific situation, and then have a general understanding of Hanzhuang. By then, The mountain artillery battalion of our 51st Army will directly fire artillery and violently bombard Hanzhuang. To cover our fierce attack on Hanzhuang, our troops will dispatch one battalion and yours will dispatch two battalions to immediately launch an outflank attack on Hanzhuang. how?"
Yu Xuezhong is the commander and the deputy commander-in-chief of the Third Army. No matter in terms of military rank or military position, Gao Tao Zongbo is not the least bit. Furthermore, he came to accept Commander Yu on the order of the division commander. of command.
Now that Chief Yu has spoken to this extent, does Tao Zongbo still have room to refute? Of course not!
So, Tao Zongbo immediately stood at attention and saluted: "No problem, I will absolutely obey the command and order of the superior!"
"Okay, come here and take a look at the map of Hanzhuang." When Yu Xuezhong arrived in front of the map of the headquarters, an electric lamp illuminated the outline of the map clearly.
"Yes, sir." Tao Zongbo responded, and then followed Yu Xuezhong.
It was an enlarged version of the map near Yixian and Hanzhuang. Yu Xuezhong said: "Commander Tao, what we are responsible for attacking here is Hanzhuang, the key point between Zaozhuang and Yixian.
Now, whether it is Zaozhuang or Yixian, or the Japanese troops in nearby Shuiguo, Lincheng and other places, they have been restrained by our army. What we have to do now is to try to capture Hanzhuang within one day! Buy time for Tang Enbo's Army and Sun Lianzhong's Army! "
Then, Yu Xuezhong's right hand, which was wearing a white command glove, pointed at the area of Hanzhuang and said: "Now the enemy of Hanzhuang has about a large group, that is, between 800 and 900 people. The strength of my regiment is definitely not enough to encircle the enemy, let alone attack."
"I have decided that a battalion of the 673rd Regiment of the 337th Brigade of our 51st Army will be responsible for the attack. To the south, where the enemy's firepower is the fiercest, your Sichuan Army can send two battalions to launch a fierce attack on the east and west sides of the enemy." Xuezhong said bluntly.
"Yes! Sir!" Tao Zongbo responded. He must fight well in this battle, otherwise Commander-in-Chief Sun of the group army will be the only one to ask questions. After all, Commander Yu will directly talk to Commander-in-Chief Sun. We need reinforcements!
"Before the battle begins, I will order the mountain artillery battalion to launch a fierce bombardment on Hanzhuang to cover the outflanking movement of your two battalions on both sides of the enemy. Anyway, at all costs, we must capture Hanzhuang as soon as possible!" , Yu Xuezhong clenched his hands into fists and punched lightly on the small blackboard with the map.
"I understand, I'm going to order the troops to prepare." After saying that, Tao Zongbo was about to walk out of Yu Xuezhong's frontline headquarters.
But before he could walk out, Yu Xuezhong called out to him: "Commander Tao, let the rest of your troops stationed in the defensive position! If the situation goes bad, our 673rd Regiment will immediately step forward to provide support. of."
Tao Zongbo nodded slightly and said, "Yes, sir."
After saying that, Tao Zongbo left the frontline headquarters of the 51st Army directly and left without looking back.
…
PS: Today’s first update is here.
Thanks to Qidian Book Friends 201703242015904763 for two monthly passes!
Thanks to Qidian book friends Alvin’s Knight, Lingfeng Xiaolangjun, Yangge Qianjun, and 9527188 for each of their monthly passes!
