Songhu: Never Give Up

Chapter 315 gave Xue Lao Hu a big surprise
That night, Yue Qianli and others were also anxiously waiting for the result of the battle of Lanfeng City. This was related to the subsequent combat deployment of the guerrilla column and was an important part of Yue Qianli's participation in the Battle of Lanfeng.

"Old Yue, a good victory report from the first team!"

Chen Zhongyuan's voice arrived before he arrived. Yue Qianli hurriedly snatched the message from his hand, glanced through it, and a smile that was difficult to conceal appeared on his face;
Then he read it carefully again, and then announced loudly:
"Brothers, a detachment has recaptured Lanfeng City, forcing the old Japanese soldier Kenji Doihara to cut off his rear and survive, and broke through after blowing up the heavy artillery and baggage.
We annihilated more than a thousand enemies, and most importantly, we recaptured the key point of Lanfeng City. The rest of the battle will be easier to fight!"

Everyone cheered after hearing this. The next step was to focus on dealing with the 106th Division in Zhaozhuang. Before that, they had to report the victory to Commander Xue, the commander-in-chief of the Henan East Corps, to give him reassurance.

As long as Lanfeng City is still in the hands of the National Army, Commander Xue can fight more calmly and make the encirclement more solid. This is the significance of Yue Qianli's recapture of Lanfeng City. The rest is left to Commander Xue.

After arranging everything, Yue Qianli yawned and said with a tired face:
"I'll take a nap first, Lao Tian, ​​keep an eye on me, don't wake me up unless it's important.

By the way, unless the sky falls, nothing else matters!"

After Yue Qianli finished speaking, he fell asleep on a camp bed made of ammunition boxes, and soon he was snoring loudly.

Tian Yuanxi signaled for everyone else to leave, and asked someone to bring Lao Yue's marching blanket to cover him, while he himself quietly took over Lao Yue's duty, which was also the job of the deputy regiment commander.

At the Yudong Corps Headquarters, the major commotion in the direction of Lanfeng City had been reported to the higher authorities, and Xue Boling, who had just dozed off for a while, was also awakened by the Chief of Staff;

It was already five o'clock in the morning, and the front line had not yet figured out what had happened in Lanfeng City. This made Xue Lao Hu very dissatisfied and said:
"What's going on? Haven't you figured this out yet?

Are they all just eating for free?"

Although the Corps Headquarters was far away from Lanfeng City, Xue Lao Hu, who had an extremely sensitive sense of smell on the battlefield, seemed to have smelled something fishy, ​​and he was now eager to know what had happened in Lanfeng City.

The intensive gunfire in Lanfeng City meant that a major incident had occurred, which could affect the overall situation. As the commander-in-chief, he had to be aware of it.

Chief of Staff Wu quickly explained:
"CC Intelligence has already awakened several hidden agents in the city. It won't be long before we have news."

Xue Boling still said dissatisfiedly:

"It's been several hours? What a bunch of rubbish!"

At this moment, the director of the secret telegram department rushed in and reported loudly:
"Commander-in-chief, urgent message from the guerrilla column!"

Xue Boling was stunned at first, then he reacted. He had a hunch that it was related to Lan Fengcheng. He immediately took the telegram and looked at it. His two tiger eyes widened instantly. He looked at the director of the secret telegram in disbelief. After getting confirmation, he praised loudly and said:

"It is said that Yue Qianli is not only a brave general, but also a lucky general, and the nemesis of the devils. I didn't believe it before, but this time I let the arrogant Kenji Doihara suffer a setback!"

Seeing Chief of Staff Wu looking at him in bewilderment, Xue Boling stopped keeping him in suspense and said excitedly:
"The Lanfeng City incident has come to an end. A detachment of Yue Qianli's troops stormed Lanfeng City overnight. After two hours of fierce fighting, they forced Kenji Doihara to flee the city. They also destroyed a regiment's heavy artillery and killed more than a thousand enemies.

The guerrilla column recaptured Lanfeng City!"

After hearing this, everyone cheered, and Chief of Staff Wu asked in confusion:
“As far as I know, the guerrilla column’s detachment is only a deputy regiment-level unit. How did they manage to defeat an infantry regiment and a heavy artillery regiment of the defending army?

If it were any other unit, they probably wouldn't even dare to think about it, but they actually did it, the young are truly formidable!"

After learning that Lanfeng City had been recaptured, Xue Lao Hu felt relieved and in a good mood. He smiled and said:
“I don’t care how he got it back, but he has to keep it for me!
The guerrilla column was nominally a regiment, but I heard that one of its detachments had 7 men, all of whom were elite soldiers of the Central Army, and all of whom were veterans of many battles who had fought their way out of the city of Nanjing.

During the Battle of Xuzhou, Commander Li treated him as a guest of honor. When have you ever seen a regimental commander sitting on a round table at a theater combat meeting?
No one regarded him as the head of the regiment, including the devils!
In the southern battlefield of the Battle of Xuzhou, Fujita Susumu of the 3rd Division led the 13th Division to besiege the guerrilla column for two months, suffering heavy casualties, but Fujita Susumu did not feel ashamed.

Chief of Staff Wu also knew this, and seeing that the commander-in-chief was in a good mood, he said in a playful way:
"The Military Commission was very kind to us this time. They sent the First Chinese Regiment and recaptured Lanfeng City with just one move.
It is possible for a detachment of 7 people to defend Lanfeng City!"

Xue Boling pretended to be dissatisfied and said:
"What do you mean by possible? It means must!"

“Send a telegram to Brother Yue right away, asking them to hold on to Lanfeng City for three days—no, five days!
If you have any difficulties, just tell me. I can't guarantee anything else, but I will replenish the ammunition consumed after the war, and I can also give them several regiments of soldiers.

Don't worry, they are all veterans who have seen blood for more than a year!"

Xue Boling was also a man who could do great things. He would not let the horse run without giving it grass to eat.
For the military leaders of the National Army, the most cost-effective things are food, ammunition and reinforcements. They have to make people fight for their lives, and the consumed manpower and supplies must be replenished. This is a realization.

Chief of Staff Wu left in high spirits. After retaking Lanfeng City, the dark cloud that had been weighing on the headquarters was dispelled.

Next, Commander Xue can calmly deploy the plan to encircle and annihilate the 14th Division. He does not need to be as hasty as before. He just needs to take steady steps to fill the gap.

With Yue Qianli's surprise attack, he was more confident in encircling and annihilating the 14th Division. He snorted coldly and said:

"Doihara Kenji, Yue Qianli is known as the general harvester. With this lucky general's help, I want to see how you can escape from my palm!"

Thinking of this, he shouted:
"Someone, record the order!"

Xue Lao Hu began to adjust the deployment and deploy troops. He had already opened his tiger's mouth, ready to swallow the isolated 14th Division in one gulp.

Zhaozhuang, when a new red sun rose, the barrels of dozens of artillery pieces of the 106th Division Artillery Regiment were raised high, with the muzzles pointed directly at Zhaozhuang;
The Japanese soldiers who were previously in the village have already withdrawn to avoid being in the way and causing accidental injuries. Although the Japanese soldiers like to carry out indiscriminate shelling, they also have to consider the situation, otherwise the commander may also be punished by his superiors.

In Zhaozhuang's situation, the confronting troops can be withdrawn. After all the troops are withdrawn, the Japanese can finally act freely.

Before launching the general offensive, Major General Shandi adjusted his troops and sent the newly reinforced 145th Infantry Regiment to the west.
The main forces, the 113th Regiment, the 147th Regiment, and the Mountain Artillery Regiment were all deployed in front. Zhaozhuang was so small that it was within the range of the artillery group. In response, Major General Yamaji Wataru said excitedly: "Mr. Kawai, Zhaozhuang is like a flower girl who has taken off all her clothes, waiting to be ravaged by the imperial army;

The regiment's heavy artillery has been attacking for a whole day. I really can't imagine how Yue Qianli can resist it?

The cannon is the god of war. In front of the absolute reality, even if Yue Qianli is a cunning fox, he cannot escape death!"

Seeing that the brigade commander was showing off, Kawai Jiro had to act as a good supporting actor, so he smiled charmingly and said:
“General, Yue Qianli has never been defeated since he became famous.
The 9th Division, the 13th Division, the 3rd Division and other powerful forces of the Empire have all suffered losses at his hands. The 9th Division had its entire regiment destroyed, becoming the shame of the Empire.

Now he and the guerrilla column are like a piece of meat on a chopping board, and my mountain detachment can do whatever they want. It is almost certain that we will defeat them.
After today, the General's reputation will spread far and wide, and His Majesty will also reward the General and the warriors. From now on, it is possible that the 106th Division will become a permanent division."

Seeing that Kawai Jiro was getting more and more boastful, Yamaji Wataru humbly waved his hand and said:
"Mr. Kawai, these are all empty titles. I do not want to be a marquis. I only wish for peace in the world.
As long as the empire destroys China and establishes an immortal foundation, I will be satisfied! "

Kawai Jiro said with admiration:
"General, your heart is truly as broad as the sea and the stars. Everything is for the empire, everything is for Your Majesty. Kawai has learned a lot."

After saying this, she bowed deeply to him, almost kneeling down to lick his toes;

Because he knew that as long as the guerrilla column was defeated, Major General Shandi's promotion to lieutenant general and taking over the position of division commander would be a foregone conclusion.

How much credit he could get depended on Major General Yamadi's words. His greatest wish was to be promoted to Colonel Chief of Staff, and it would be even better if he could be the commander of a regiment in a field army.

As long as Yue Qianli is defeated, everything is possible!
"Kawai-kun, give the order to the artillery regiment - fire and raze Zhaozhuang to the ground!"

At the guerrilla column headquarters, Yue Qianli was still awakened by others. After a few hours of sleep, he regained his energy and spirit. Tian Yuanxi said to him with a guilty look on his face:

"Old Yue, this is because the Japanese didn't let you sleep well. I just received a call from Captain Wang. The mountain detachment launched a general attack on Zhaozhuang, using dozens of cannons. Zhaozhuang was almost plowed through, and the soldiers suffered heavy casualties.
Immediately, three regiments of Japanese soldiers rushed into the ruins of Zhaozhuang from the west and north. A fierce battle broke out between the two sides in the village, resulting in casualties on both sides.

In order to show weakness to the enemy, the main force of the supplementary detachment retreated to the southeast corner, relying on Zhaojialing and the mountains behind them to fight desperately, leaving most of the village to the devils. Whether you can replicate the great counterattack in Taierzhuang depends on you! "

Wang Jianfei was right. The inspiration for the Battle of Zhaozhuang came from Taierzhuang. They used Zhaozhuang to pin down the mountain detachment, and then the main force surrounded them from the east, west and north. They had to escape at least if they didn't die.

Yue Qianli has always been vindictive. Since he has disturbed his sweet dream, he will pay with his life. He immediately said loudly:
"Then why are you still standing there? Close the net!
The third detachment surrounded the devils from the front, the second detachment from the left, and the independent detachment from the right, and the teaching group followed behind to see some blood;

The artillery battalion first destroyed the enemy's command system and artillery positions, and then the infantry rushed up to resolve the battle.

The artillery attack will start at 10 a.m. sharp. Start setting your watches now!"

At 60:75, the three detachment artillery battalions and the column artillery battalion's 3 mm mountain guns were fully prepared, and their positions were more than kilometers away from the mountain detachment's headquarters;

The Japanese's core security circle was less than 2 kilometers, and the outer security team was deployed 5 kilometers away, but their number was too small, often a search team of a dozen people, and they would have been eliminated by the brothers in the reconnaissance battalion long ago.

The death of dozens of Japanese soldiers in the periphery did not alert the Japanese command at all. Major General Yamada's mind was all on Zhaozhuang. Victory was in sight. Kawai Jiro flattered him again:

"General, the warriors have occupied most of Zhaozhuang, and the defenders have been squeezed into a very small area in the southeast corner.

The defenders suffered heavy casualties, with only about 3 men left. The guerrilla column that was once famous throughout China was finally eliminated by you. This will definitely become an event that will shock the empire!

Once announced, the general's reputation will surely spread throughout the world, and he will become the empire's number one general, even the three great generals of the Warring States period cannot compare to him."

Major General Shandi was a little flattered. Normally, he was a very low-key person. It was just that Yue Qianli's reputation was too great, and even Yu Ren had a reputation about him.

Whoever destroys the guerrilla column will become famous. This is an irresistible temptation for Major General Shandi. He can't wait to destroy Yue Qianli as soon as possible, and said to Lieutenant Colonel Kawai:
"He Jing, as for Yue Qianli, I want to see him alive or dead!
I tell you all, intensify the offensive and don’t be afraid of casualties. The warriors have been loyal to Your Majesty, and those who died can be buried in the Yasukuni Temple and be worshipped by thousands of families.

The time for the general attack is set at 10 o'clock sharp, kill all the Chinese!"

After hearing this, Lieutenant Colonel Kawai excitedly bowed to Yamachi Wataru, then left with his ancestral command sword slung over his shoulder.

Since the defenders had been compressed into a very small area, their heavy artillery was no longer useful, and they could only rely on mortars, infantry guns and infantry to clear out the enemy.

When the clock pointed to ten o'clock, both sides launched the general attack on time. It has to be said that there is no coincidence in the world.

When dozens of shells whizzed towards the mountain brigade headquarters, Shandi Wataru thought his artillery had made a mistake, because with his rich battlefield experience, he had already recognized the sound of the Empire's 75mm mountain artillery;
"Bagayalu, who fired the cannon?"

A series of explosions drowned out his voice, and that was his last curse. The guerrilla column answered him with artillery shells, sending him back to hell.

The first round of artillery fire from the guerrilla column destroyed the mountain detachment's headquarters and paralyzed its command system.

Even if you don't hit it, it doesn't matter, there will be a second round, a third round...

Row after row of mountain artillery shells hit the area where the detachment headquarters was located. The main goal was to provide large quantities and saturation coverage so that not a single enemy would be allowed to leave the headquarters alive.

Six consecutive rounds of saturation strikes with more than 6 300mm shells almost completely ploughed the camp of the mountain detachment;
The 111th Brigade Headquarters, its subordinate units, and the two regiment headquarters all suffered devastating blows, and their command systems were completely paralyzed. This decapitation-style attack from behind quickly left the Japs in a state of leaderlessness.

Then the artillery group changed its target, with one part attacking the enemy's artillery positions and the other attacking the enemy's infantry group. The enemy finally paid the price for their arrogance...

(End of this chapter)