Anti-Japanese War: From Becoming Chu Yunfei to Rising

Chapter 181: Completely annihilate the th Regiment and cast bones into the Jingguan! (Part )

"I followed the order of Commander Li and rushed to the front position on the south bank of the Huai River to build a defense line. We have been fighting for three days. One of our main forces cooperated with the 358th Army to flank the enemy's main force in Xiaobengbu Town, and one of Zhou Xianlie's troops cooperated with the th Brigade to encircle Chenjiayuan.

The battle is now over, and it has been confirmed that more than 5,000 enemy troops were killed, and all participating units also suffered heavy casualties.

The 113th and 114th Divisions had suffered more than half of their casualties.

The Anhui Security Corps had a strength of about 1,500 men, most of whom were civilians. They had poor guns and were poorly trained, and were almost completely wiped out in this battle.

I request that this unit be merged and reorganized into the 6794th Regiment of the 113th Division to increase its military strength and facilitate command.

The enemy on the south bank of the Huai River has retreated to the city of Bengbu. There are about 3,000 enemies and the number of armored vehicles has increased to more than dozens. They seem to be regrouping and moving westward.

The situation has been reported to the Commander-in-Chief."

Wuhan.

Chiang Kai-shek was mixed with joy and sorrow.

Yu Xuezhong's telegram reported the course of the battle in detail.

The annihilation of the 118th Regiment was the best result achieved since the outbreak of the Battle of Jinpu Road.

Although the casualties of our four armies have reached more than 12,000 after days of fighting.

But after all, we achieved considerable results.

It’s just that there are a lot of things involved.

As many as four armies and one brigade participated in the battle.

Among them, the 59th and 51st Armies were the main forces of the attack.

This is the unit that Chiang Kai-shek least wants to promote and reward.

but no matter.

At this time, weapons and resources also need to be provided.

At the same time, send reinforcements to Xuzhou.

On the one hand, weapons and supplies had to be transported from the rear.

Some of the foreign aid that was originally intended to be sent to the rear for use as strategic reserves.

Chiang Kai-shek waved his hand and directly sent all the supplies to the Fifth War Zone, requiring the participating troops to be re-supplied.

At the same time, a telegram was sent to commend the 51st, 59th, 48th and 31st Armies.

Chiang Kai-shek attached great importance to the Battle of Xuzhou and even had great expectations for it.

Regarding the 59th Army under Zhang Zizhong and the troops under Chu Yunfei.

Chiang Kai-shek attached great importance to it and ordered Li Zongren, commander-in-chief of the Fifth War Zone, to focus on supplies.

The main battlefield on the north bank of the Huai River.

Eight hours ago.

The general offensive was launched.

The division commander Zhou Xianlie acted on his own and served as the leader of the assault team.

Carrying an automatic rifle, he led his soldiers to rush towards the Japanese position.

As the battle began.

The two main battalions of the 59th Army, responsible for the attack on the left and right wings, launched a fierce attack at the same time.

There were constant gunshots and explosions.

The soldiers quickly rushed into the Japanese position.

The close-range combat was extremely fierce.

All the anger and the blood of the Japanese invaders were poured onto this land.

The shouts of killing were deafening, accompanied by the screams of the Japanese devils.

The soldiers charged forward and killed all the remaining 200 or so Japanese devils.

"Master... we found Xiao Dong!"

"Commander, we found a lieutenant colonel."

Zhou Xianlie said, "Captain Liang, chop off the little devil's head. I'll go collect Xiao Dong's body."

"Yes!"

Liang Zhongwu called out to his brothers: "I heard you all, chop off the heads of the little devils!"

"What?"

"Chop off the little devil's head, damn it!"

"These bastards."

"Be careful when cleaning up the battlefield. These damned Japs are probably pretending to be dead."

"Yes!"

Soldiers of the 51st and 59th Armies.

While cleaning the battlefield, he ignored some soldiers who were venting their anger by hacking and killing.

Thanks to the efforts of all the soldiers, the corpses of the Japanese soldiers were piled together.

Zhou Xianlie had just led his men to carry the body back to their own controlled area and arranged the burial location.

When I came back, I saw this scene..
"Fuck you, what the hell are you doing?"

Liang Zhongwu scratched his head and said, "Brothers, we think it's easier to burn it down like this, without having to dig a hole."

Zhou Xianlie was silent for a moment and nodded.

This is considered as tacit approval of the soldiers' actions.

Precious gasoline was poured over the pile of corpses.

A huge fire shot up into the sky, carrying with it a strange fragrance that drifted in the air.

The northwest wind blew and drifted straight towards Bengbu City.

Many Japanese soldiers smelled this burnt, smelly, yet strangely fragrant smell.

"What a strange smell. It always feels familiar."

"Idiot, this is the smell of a burning corpse."

"It seems that the 118th Regiment is in great danger. The Chinese are already cleaning up the battlefield."

"Report the situation immediately..."

"Hai!"

Half an hour later.

The commander of the 13th Division, General Ogisu Rippei, sent a reconnaissance plane to confirm the situation of the 118th Regiment.

An hour later, the reconnaissance plane reported back.

All they found was a burning corpse above a village somewhere, and the battle was over.

When they wanted to fly low to confirm the specific situation.

They were shot at and blocked by the Chinese army.

The battle is over..
The battle lasted only two days and one night, with the full support of the air force.

The 118th Regiment was completely wiped out.

Of course, the old Japanese soldier Ogisu Rikuhei knew very well the combat effectiveness of his troops.

And according to the battle report of the 26th Brigade, it can be found.

The combat effectiveness of these Chinese troops is not that strong.

All the variables lie in Chu Yunfei's troops who have just joined the battlefield.

The Chief of Staff Hata Yusaburo immediately suggested: "Division Commander, should we launch an attack to the west immediately?"

Ogisu Ribei frowned slightly, as if he was carefully weighing the pros and cons.

After a moment, he opened his lips and rejected the suggestion from his chief of staff.

"Do not."

"Division Commander"

Ogisu Rikuhei remained expressionless and stressed, "Follow General Matsui's orders."

"Hai!"

The Japanese offensive stopped after learning that the 118th Regiment had been completely wiped out.

The 48th and 31st Armies, which were providing flank support, also retreated to their original defensive positions.

At this point, the fighting on the southern front basically came to an end.

According to the order of Matsui Shigen (a war criminal who evaded investigation) of the Central China Front Army.

The Japanese troops on the Jinpu South Road entered the rest and recuperation phase.

The Battle of Jinpu Road changed the strategic situation from being attacked from the north and the south to defending the south and attacking the north.

Before the fifth war zone could catch its breath.

The main force of the Fifth Division that landed in Qingdao has moved south along the railway.

Along the way, the railway was basically completely destroyed by the military and civilians.

Therefore, the Fifth Division's actions were quite slow.

Even the Guoqi Detachment, which returned from Jinling by sea, lost a considerable amount of time.

"The 10th Division on the Jinpu Road has already begun its southward attack. If the 5th Division successfully joins up with the 10th Division, the threat from the north will be too great."

Chief of Staff Xu and Li Zongren naturally knew what was going on.

The Third Corps of Pang Bingxun is now stationed in Linyi.

The former members of the Northwest Army, a regular combat sequence of a ragtag army.

However, the equipment of this unit is not bad at all.

As for why this situation occurred, it has something to do with Lao Pang himself.

Miscellaneous troops would be awarded higher military ranks in the early days of the War of Resistance.

Troops like Pang Bingxun will naturally be awarded higher positions.

The commander of the Third Army... sounds very impressive, but in fact he only has one army under his command.

The corps commander also served as the army commander, the 40th Army.

The 40th Army was nominally an army but in reality it consisted of only one division.

It may sound a bit abstract, but this is the fact of the 39th Division led by Ma Fawu.

It has two brigades under its command, namely the 115th and 116th Brigade, led by Zhu Jiaqi and Li Yuntong.

The number of people in these two brigades is larger than that of ordinary infantry brigades.

In addition to the two regiments, each brigade also has a supplementary regiment, which is also composed of an artillery battalion, a baggage battalion, an engineering battalion, and a communications battalion.

Plus a cavalry company and a pistol company.

Lao Pang’s organization is very similar to Chu Yunfei’s.

Chiang Kai-shek gave him the organization of five regiments, and he set up six regiments with four battalions and three companies.

The total combat force is more than 13,000, and including non-combat personnel there are 15,000.

As mentioned in the previous article, the reason why Lao Pang’s troops are said to be the most combat-effective troops in the Fifth War Zone.

This is also because the equipment of the troops under his command is very good.

There were more than 8,000 rifles, more than 900 pistols, 660 light and heavy machine guns, 60 light and heavy mortars, and four mountain cannons.

There were more than 300 war horses and more than 200 grenade launchers.

A marginalized ragtag army.

The reason why he can maintain such a strong combat effectiveness has a lot to do with his preference to avoid heavy tasks and preserve his strength when fighting with Pang Bingxun.

He himself is also known as the "smooth" "tumbler".

In other words, it is a clever battle.

Focus on developing yourself.

He was not greedy or possessive, and shared the joys and sorrows with the soldiers.

He started out as a small business owner in his early years, so he developed a smooth and smooth skill.
Although the combat effectiveness of the troops below is not strong, they have a very prominent characteristic.

That is, even if they are dispersed by the war or incorporated into other troops, this group of soldiers will eventually leave the team and return to it.

Pang Bingxun himself is also very twisted.

It is a microcosm of the lives of most people of that era.

The instability and complexity are incredible.

During the Northern Expedition, he joined Feng Yuxiang, and later joined Chiang Kai-shek and opposed Feng.

In the early days of the war, he was determined to resist the Japanese and wanted to be like Yue Fei. Later, he defected to the Japanese and became a puppet soldier (but this was caused by many factors and had little to do with him. After receiving Chiang Kai-shek's order, he was betrayed by his subordinates.)
Inspired by the Communists, he led his troops to fight against the Japanese again, and soon returned to the ranks of the National Army.

During the War of Liberation, he fought against the People's Liberation Army and went to Taiwan after his defeat.

Finally, in order to make a living, he opened a restaurant with his old colleague Sun Lianzhong from the Northwest Army.

Some time ago.

Before Pang Bingxun went to Linyi, Li Zongren summoned him.

He respected Pang Bingxun very much and called himself his younger brother. He said that he was not qualified to command Pang Bingxun in terms of military service and seniority, but because of military duties, they had to treat him like a brother.

Just like what Li Yunlong said to comfort Kong Jie... let's discuss the positive and negative aspects together.

Although Pang Bingxun knew that these were just polite words.

But he was deeply impressed by Li Zongren's sincere attitude.

"We have been fighting in the civil war for more than 20 years. Today, we are fighting against the Japanese invasion together. This has given us an opportunity to serve our country in this lifetime. Now that we can die on the battlefield for our country and nation, it is truly a worthy death.

You and I are both over fifty years old. It is worth dying for. This is a life worthy of being a soldier."

Pang Bingxun was very moved. He kept sighing and seemed to be hesitant to speak.

Obviously waiting for Li Zongren to speak.

Li Zongren naturally knew and immediately asked: "Brother, what difficulties do you have?"

"Commander Li, the miscellaneous troops are suffering. Chiang Kai-shek has always wanted to kill me. He forced me to reduce the five regiments to four regiments, otherwise he would stop paying the Third Corps. If he did that, where would the remaining brothers of mine go?"

Li Zongren immediately said: "Please rest assured, brother Pang, I will definitely communicate with the central government and ask it to withdraw this order."

It not only helped Pang Bingxun retain his staffing situation.

A large amount of guns and ammunition were also allocated from the supplies currently available in the Fifth War Zone to supply the Third Corps.

Real benefits are obtained.

Pang Bingxun no longer worried that Li Zongren was being hypocritical: "Sir, you are a man of great virtue and authority. As your subordinates, we are willing to serve the country under you. We will not hesitate to die for you. Sir, please rest assured that I will not hold back on my strength this time and will fight the devils to the end!"

Pang Bingxun really intends to fight the Japanese devils!
After going to Linyi.

He quickly made corresponding arrangements at the first opportunity.

Integrate the remnants of the Chinese Marine Corps and the local civilian anti-Japanese guerrillas
A battalion of main force cooperated with the guerrillas to attack Mengyin and Sishui and then occupied them.

Use guerrilla tactics in the direction of Tai'an and Qufu to threaten the enemy's rear.

Then, the Lunan People's Anti-Japanese Self-Defense Army (this army has only 500 people, but it's a pretty cool name) cooperated with a company under its command and stationed in Zhangzhuang, confronting more than 300 Japanese troops from Zhucheng.

On the sea in the direction of Rizhao, Japanese warships were anchored and fired artillery shells from time to time. Enemy troops had already appeared in Boer Town northeast of Rizhao.
The Japanese Army's 21th Division formed the Katano Detachment with a half infantry battalion and an artillery company under the command of Captain Katano of the st Infantry Regiment as the vanguard.

The march south began on February 21st.

The Chinese defenders, marines and guerrillas were unable to resist the Japanese vanguard's advance to Zhaoxian Town, northeast of Ju County.

Pang Bingxun immediately ordered the 115th Brigade to reinforce Ju County.

That is at this point in time.

On the Jinpu South Road, the news that the 118th Regiment was completely annihilated spread throughout the front line.

Everyone knows that the 51st and 59th Armies, both ragtag armies, achieved such brilliant results.

The 31st Army, the 48th Army...are both ragtag groups of ragtag groups.

At this time, in the headquarters of the Third Legion.

Pang Bingxun was in mixed feelings as more bad news came.

Just as Chu Yunfei's troops were taking a train north to Suxian for rest and recuperation.

The puppet troops in Ju County had already fled away completely.

The 115th Brigade immediately adjusted its deployment, and Deputy Brigade Commander Huang Shuxun led the 229th Regiment to enter the city and defend it.

Brigade Commander Zhu Jiaqi led the 230th Regiment and its mountain artillery to provide support outside the city.

Dawn the next day.

Chu Yunfei's troops got off the train in Suxian and received the first batch of supplies from the Fifth War Zone.

In the direction of Ju County, the Japanese also began to attack the city.

The defending troops in the city had not even had time to repair their fortifications.

The Japanese had surrounded Ju County from both sides, cutting off communication between the city and the outside world.

The movement speed is extremely fast.

In less than an hour, two infantry companies of his unit were defeated.

Under the cover of fierce artillery fire from the Japanese invaders, the Japanese infantry began to climb the city wall.

The two sides engaged in a bloody battle. In such a siege battle, the defender only needed to have a firm belief in defense.

It will cause considerable damage to the attacker.

What's more, the 229th Regiment has no shortage of basic defensive weapons such as grenades.

The Japanese attack was quickly repelled.

The commander of the 229th Regiment, Shao Ensan, was injured.

Suxian, temporary brigade headquarters of the 358th Brigade.

Fang Ligong walked quickly to Chu Yunfei and said, "Sir, the latest news from the Fifth War Zone Command Headquarters is that the Japanese army launched a surprise attack on the Juxian defense line in the middle of the night, but was successfully defeated under the supervision of Deputy Brigade Commander Huang Shuxun and Regiment Commander Shao Ensan.

But the troops suffered heavy casualties, especially early this morning, when the Japanese climbed up to the northeast corner of the city wall.

After the guerrilla commander Liu Zhendong died heroically, the remaining troops began to retreat.

The flank of the 229th Regiment was under great threat, and the two sides engaged in street fighting, with heavy casualties so far.

According to the current development of the war, the situation in Linyi is likely to be a major problem. "

Chu Yunfei nodded and looked at the battle map in front of him.

"It is said that there are puppet troops attacking this time?"

"Yes, Liu Guitang of the puppet army was appointed as the forward commander of the Imperial Army. Currently, the number of troops under his command has grown to more than 3,000 people."

"Who are these people?" Chu Yunfei touched his chin and asked.

Fang Ligong pondered for a moment and said truthfully: "Some are ordinary people who can't make a living, and a small part are his old friends. They are all die-hards."

Seeing Chu Yunfei's puzzled expression.

Fang Ligong then introduced: "It is Liu Heiqi who Han Fuju had failed to eliminate despite several attempts to mobilize troops before."

Chu Yunfei suddenly realized and he remembered.

Liu Guitang, nicknamed Liu Heiqi, was a complete villain and a big bandit who roamed the seven provinces of North China.

He was a bandit and joined a warlord.

He also served as a rare soldier and participated in the Chahar Anti-Japanese Allied Army. Later, he attacked the anti-Japanese base areas and also attacked the national army.

Others become bandits under the banner of killing the rich and helping the poor.

Liu Heiqi never concealed the fact that he was a typical bandit, unruly, and "whoever feeds him is his mother" monster.

"The Japanese army alone is enough for Pang Bingxun's troops to deal with. Now there are 3,000 more fresh troops. I'm afraid it will be difficult to defend Ju County."

Fang Ligong put his hands behind his back and sighed: "Yes, it won't be long before we receive another transfer order to go north for reinforcements."

The battle situation developed just as the two men had predicted.

It's only been one day.

The 229th Regiment, which was attacked by the Japanese invaders and puppet troops, withdrew from Ju County.

There was no other way, as there were only two battalions of troops in the city.

Deputy Brigade Commander Huang Shuxun ordered that all supplies and ammunition that could not be evacuated be burned.

Abandon the county town and retreat from the south gate.

The retreating 229th Regiment ran all the way to Xiazhuang, 30 miles southwest of Ju County.

But the Japs left behind a puppet army unit to clear the city, while the rest of the group quickly launched a pursuit.

The officers and soldiers of the 115th Brigade fought and retreated, and one group withdrew to Xianggongzhuang, about 50 miles south of Xiazhuang.

The battle lasted for three days, with so many people participating, and the Japanese mobilized planes and artillery to bombard the enemy.

Logically speaking, the losses on both sides should be considerable.

But in fact.

The 115th Brigade suffered only 500 casualties, a large number of whom were too seriously injured to be rescued.

The people of Ju County avoided him and were unwilling to take him in.

Many people were seriously injured and were essentially abandoned on the battlefield.

It is indeed a pity, sad and lamentable.
Although the Japanese army suffered two to three hundred casualties, it was almost no major loss to the Japs.

When the 115th Brigade retreated to Xianggongzhuang, the Supplementary Regiment, under the command of Pang Bingxun, launched a surprise attack on Duozhuang west of Ju County.

The soldiers of the supplementary regiment encountered such a group of Japanese devils when their commander Li Zhenqing was leading his troops to Mengyin.

We were originally planning a surprise attack in the middle of the night, but unexpectedly, the Japanese soldiers sensed the danger and fled overnight.

Captain Li led his troops in pursuit, and one group reached Duozhuang.

The casualties in the assault were heavy, so we wanted to call in mountain artillery for the assault.

Unfortunately, there are only two mountain cannons left in the entire army.
The continuous bombardment of mortars finally created a gap in the gate of the village, and the soldiers immediately climbed up the city wall.

Just when the battle was in full swing.

The Japanese fighter planes also came to support, and the attacking troops suffered heavy casualties in a short time.

When Li Zhenqing was supervising the battle at the front line, he couldn't help but sigh: "This is just a squadron of the Japanese devils, but it's so difficult to deal with it."

Yes, the Japanese army is strong and has air superiority.

In the plains, even if you want to encircle and annihilate the enemy, it is quite difficult.

From the moment Chu Yunfei's troops were exposed, the Jinpu South Road had no chance to continue the encirclement and annihilation campaign.

This is also the reason why Chang Kaishen and Li Zongren agreed so readily to Chu Yunfei's proposal to withdraw from the battlefield for rest.

There is no point in staying where you are. Such an elite force must be deployed as a decisive force on the critical battlefield.

For another three days, the Japanese troops on the Jinpu South Road remained silent and maintained a defensive position.

Judgement made by the Fifth War Zone Commander Headquarters.

In the short term, the Japanese troops on the Jinpu South Road are likely to give up crossing the Huai River to the north.

then.

The 59th and 51st armies also began to change guard at Li Zongren's signal.

The main combat forces of the 59th Army began to leave the front line.

Be ready to support the northern battlefield at any time.

Assembling behind the battlefield, trains along the Jinpu Railway also began to fail and the corresponding transportation plan was changed. According to the plan, the 59th Army was transported to Hanzhuang, north of Xuzhou.

General Zhang Zizhong himself went to Xuzhou again at the request of Li Zongren.

Pang Bingxun and General Zhang Zizhong were previously both subordinates of Feng Yuxiang.

Pang Bingxun was bribed by Chang Kaishen to defect and unexpectedly attacked Zhang Zizhong's troops, causing General Zhang Zizhong himself to almost die.

I was shot, but luckily I survived.

Zhang Zizhong believed that Pang Bingxun was unkind and unjust, and he would not give up until he had avenged himself.

At the beginning, Zhang Zizhong was ordered to come to the headquarters of the commander of the Fifth War Zone to fight.

I have expressed my stance to Li Zongren.

His troops could fight to the death on any battlefield, but not with Pang Bingxun.

Pang Bingxun has more seniority.

If the two men have equal military ranks, the command will inevitably be given to the commander of the Third Army, Pang Bingxun.

The northern section of Jinpu was in crisis.

Li Zongren had no extra troops to draw on, he only had the 59th Army.

Zhang Zizhong was aware of this.

After meeting Li Zongren.

General Zhang Zizhong immediately said: "I am determined to put national interests first, reinforce Linyi, rescue Pang Bingxun's troops, and absolutely obey orders, please rest assured, sir."

Just as the commander of the 5th Division, Seishirō Sakagami, was frequently withdrawing troops and changing deployments, he decided to increase the force again.

This kind of ragtag army.

According to Seishirō Sakagami's estimation, they should have fled after seeing the military flag.

I never expected that we would encounter such an obstacle in the outer positions of Linyi.

After four or five days of attack, there was still no progress.

Even the outermost defensive fulcrum of Tangtou Town could not be taken.

Seishirō Sakagami could not accept such a speed of attack, so he immediately deployed tanks and other advanced weapons to continue the attack.

During the few days that Chu Yunfei was waiting for Chiang Kai-shek's order to attack.

The commander of the Fifth Division captured Tangtou Town.

At the same time, Itagaki Seishirō ordered the Katano Detachment to be "incorporated into the 21st Infantry Brigade under the command of Major General Sakamoto and renamed the Sakamoto Detachment."

This brought the total strength of the Sakamoto Brigade to 3 infantry regiments, 1 field artillery regiment, 1 mountain artillery company and 1 cavalry battalion, plus part of Liu Guitang's puppet army.

The total force was more than 12000 people, equipped with more than 80 tanks, more than 30 cannons, and more than 10 aircraft.

The military force is quite strong.

On the third day after its formation, it launched an attack on the frontier troops in Linyi. Linyi was in danger!
(End of this chapter)