Houma was captured, and the logistical supplies of the 20th and 36th divisions, as well as their retreat, were cut off.
Their ammunition reserves are indeed small, and they basically brought them all with them when they went out this time. But fighting not only requires weapons and ammunition, but also food and grass!
If Houma cannot be recaptured, Ushijima Minoru and his soldiers will be starving within three days.
Not to mention these, the most terrible thing is Liu Yu's main force, especially his armored troops!
Now is truly a matter of life and death.
I have to say that the Japanese permanent divisions are still quite tenacious in their fighting will and are not afraid of death.
After receiving Ushijima Minoru's order, the tank brigade of the 20th Division did not hesitate at all and drove directly into Hanxinling at full speed.
After arriving at Nanguan Village, the chariot brigade stopped.
24 Type 97 medium-sized tanks, 32 Type 94 ultra-light tanks (Doudin tanks), and hundreds of trucks attached to this tank brigade were parked on the road, blocking the entire road section.
I have to say that the location chosen by the Japanese chariot brigade was very clever, in the area north of Nanguan Village, because the Fen River made a 90-degree turn to the west here, and then turned south a few hundred meters later, and the entire river formed a straight line. The word "Gong" means "Gong", and the Japanese are hiding in this bend in the middle of the word "Gong".
The overall terrain here is wider than other parts of Hanxinling. The little devils chose to stop here so that their chariot could be fully deployed.
Moreover, the road ahead is also a curve along the Fen River. When the armored brigade came over, they could not be spotted immediately, and they were hiding on the edge of the river embankment. The large reeds next to them could just block the armored brigade coming over there. sight.
At 4 p.m., the 1st Armored Brigade of the Shanxi-Hebei Border Military Region arrived.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
Because the Japanese had already pointed their guns at the road ahead, when the armored brigade appeared, they took the lead in firing.
92 tanks were in the shape of arrows. After turning right, they saw the Japanese tank brigade, and they did not stop.
Brother Yunlong once said: When we meet on a narrow road, the brave one wins!
What's more, this brave man is still the stronger party now!
"Bang!"
A tank on the left side of the armored brigade formation was grazed by a 37mm armor-piercing projectile. The loud noise scared the crew in the vehicle to the point of breaking out in cold sweat.
The armored brigade had no reason not to fight back.
The two sides were shooting at each other from a distance of more than 1,000 meters, so the hit rate was not to be mentioned at this moment.
When the distance was reduced to 800 meters, the armored brigade suffered losses. One tank was hit in the turret and stopped.
After all, the Japanese were stationary and firing, while the armored brigade was on the move.
The distance quickly shortened to 500 meters, and the numerical advantage of the armored brigade was perfectly reflected. The Japanese tanks seemed to have been arranged, and 10 tanks were hit at the same time and caught fire.
If the armored brigade fails to hit, it will be fine. If it hits, nearly half of the opponent's main force will be wiped out!
When the distance was reduced to 300 meters, all the remaining Type 97 tanks were hit.
The remaining tanks and trucks could only use their 7.7mm machine guns hysterically to "scratches" the armored brigade, and then were blown up one by one.
Behind the queue, Gao Jingting stuck his head out on a tank. After using his telescope to see the situation on the Japs side, he took out his walkie-talkie and shouted: "Don't be stopped by these scrap metals! Rush over and catch up with the 20th Division! Machine!" The 1st Battalion will take out the remaining enemies and follow up!"
Following his order, the tanks of the armored brigade burst into rapid speed and passed through the wreckage of the Type 97 tanks in the front row on the opposite side, while the Dotin tanks and trucks behind them were directly knocked away.
By the time they passed through the Japanese tank group, more than a dozen tanks in the armored brigade had rolled over, and they didn't know what happened to the soldiers inside.
Even those who rushed over had many front faces crooked.
The logistics and maintenance personnel of the armored brigade are probably going to scold their mothers again...
However, the Japanese chariot brigade did not hold back the armored brigade for too long.
. . . . . .
"Report! The armored brigade has broken through the enemy's tank defense line and is heading towards Huozhou! The rest of the troops are following up at full speed!"
At the command center, Yang Xing'er's crisp voice sounded again.
Liu Yu slapped the table, with an excited look on his face: "Okay! Order the armored brigade to continue charging. After breaking through the enemy's defense line outside Huozhou, continue south and penetrate Linfen. I'll catch Ushidao Shijima!"
"yes!"
"Report!"
Just as Yang Xing'er turned around and left, another female comrade from the confidential department came over and reported: "The 129th Division called. The main force of its 385th Brigade has entered Yicheng and will arrive in Houma before about 3 o'clock tomorrow morning!"
With that said, he handed Liu Yu a piece of telegraph paper.
Liu Yu took it and frowned.
At this time, another report came: "Report! The special operations brigade sent a message that a regiment of the 20th Division has gone south in a truck!"
Going south, it must be to Houma.
Although the airborne regiment is powerful, they only have mortars in their hands. If they fight against the main force of a permanent division equipped with a large number of artillery, although they will not be defeated, they will definitely suffer heavy losses.
Moreover, the Japs will never send just one regiment to recapture Houma, that regiment will definitely be just the vanguard!
Thinking of this, Liu Yu's eyes narrowed and he said to the confidential officer just now: "Call the 385th Brigade and ask them to speed up! Tell Political Commissar Xie that Houma must not be lost!"
. . . . . .
A few minutes later, Xijiao Village, north of Yicheng.
Seen from a distance, a long gray-blue dragon is traveling southward along the Fu River.
The main force of the 385th Brigade, about 5 regiments, marched towards Houma under the leadership of political commissar Xie Fuzhi.
Next to the queue, political commissar Xie was standing on a dirt bag with his guards, looking at the ranks of the new army.
At this time, a soldier ran up and saluted: "Report! A call came from the Shanxi-Hebei Border Military Region Headquarters. An enemy regiment was taking a car and rushing to Houma! Commander Liu asked our troops to speed up and said: Houma, Never throw it away!”
Political Commissar Xie smiled: "Do I still need to be reminded?"
As he spoke, his face turned serious and he ordered: "Order the troops to leave one battalion to continue carrying the baggage, while the rest are lightly equipped and go at full speed to reinforce Houma!"
"yes!"
After the order was given, the messengers rode along the road to convey the order and let the team run forward.
The soldiers of the 385th Brigade stepped forward and ran towards Houma.
. . . . . .
At the same time, Huozhou City.
Ushijima Minoru walked quickly into the compound where the headquarters was located, and bumped into Nagamai Denou who hurried out.
"Ushijima-kun!"
The situation was urgent. Changwu Denan also forgot about the unpleasantness just now and asked worriedly: "How to deal with such a war situation?"
Ushijima Minoru sighed and said: "Senior, we all underestimate Liu Yu! Every time we fight against him, his strength will increase by one point, and he seems to have endless trump cards!"
Changwu Rennan knew that he was talking about the airborne troops, so he heard him say: "Now is not the time to dwell on this problem. We must solve the current situation as soon as possible, otherwise we will be in danger!"
Ushijima Minoru nodded after hearing the words, and after taking a long breath, he said in a deep voice: "Senior, I have asked the 77th Wing to go south to recapture Houma first, but I think Liu Yu must have a backup plan, so please Senior is leading the 36th Division to support the 77th Regiment. I will stop Liu Yu in Linfen and buy time for you!"
"Okay!" Chang Wu, a man without any pretense, responded and turned to leave.
However, Ushijima Minoru grabbed him and held his hand: "Senior, on this occasion of life and death, I hope you will work hard!"
"Yeah!" Changwu Dennan nodded heavily, then turned and left.
After Nagamai Denou left, Ushijima Minoru continued to give the order: "Order the 1st Supplementary Regiment to guard the outskirts of Huozhou, the 2nd Supplementary Regiment to transfer to Guxian to garrison, and the rest of the troops to follow the division headquarters to Hongdong, Linfen, build a defense line on the spot!"
"Hi!"
. . . . . .
Not long after Ushijima Minoru had just led his troops to set off, in the north of Huozhou City, the armored brigade, billowing with smoke and dust, appeared in front of the 20th Division's defense line to supplement the First Regiment.
It's not that the Japanese don't want to defend the city, but they have to hold back the armored brigade! If they resist the city and defend it, the armored brigade has no need to pay attention to them. They can directly bypass Huozhou and beat Ushijima Minari's ass!
On the Japanese position, the six combat anti-cannons attached to this regiment were pushed out and fired a round of shells at the armored brigade.
Fortunately, it was far away and missed.
As usual, the armored brigade should be stopped or slowed down at this time, because the 105th howitzer battalion attached to their armored brigade is 5 kilometers behind them. As long as the howitzer battalion fires a few rounds, the combat defense artillery on the opposite side will have to die. By destroying more than half of it and charging again when the time comes, casualties can be minimized.
But who is Lao Gao? Can you be cowardly?
"Smoke grenade! Hit the front line of the enemy's position!"
Lao Gao gave an order, and all the tanks of the armored brigade charged forward while firing smoke grenades.
For a time, smoke filled the front of the Japanese position.
But after all, they were facing a regiment's defense line. It was so long that the smoke bombs fired by more than 70 tanks could not completely cover it.
When the armored vehicle entered 500 meters in front of the Japanese position, losses occurred again.
A tank whose front face was dented in the collision just now was hit in the front armor and fell flat on its face.
However, that was all the results of the Japs' battle, and they were quickly broken into the position by the armored brigade.
The tanks rolled over in front of them, and the armored vehicles of the mechanized infantry battalion that followed behind them were spitting out tongues of fire crazily as they moved forward.
On one of the armored vehicles, the machine gunner held the trigger and fired while biting his molars and sneered: "You guys call it a permanent division? Huh?"
