Sword: Heart of Iron

Chapter 120 Making Dumplings

Wang Feng was secretly surprised.

If the Japanese could really use dozens of tanks properly, they would be a force that could not be underestimated.

According to the Japanese army's conventional combat system, tanks were only supporting weapons to assist infantry advance and would never be used alone.

These dozens of tanks seem like a lot, enough to empty half of the Central China Expeditionary Force's assets.

But if distributed, an infantry battalion could only get 2-3 vehicles.

But now things seem to have changed.
Now that things have come to this, we can only deal with them as they arise.

Wang Feng: "Order Sergei to monitor the tank regiment's movements at all times, and change the routine reporting to once every ten minutes!"

Zhao Fangyuan placed the remaining telegrams on the desk one by one.

In order to save time, Wang Feng picked it up himself and quickly scanned the straw paper.

Other departments are making steady progress and everything is being carried out according to the established plan.

It is worth mentioning the telegram sent by the 51st Army.

[Our troops have successfully broken through to the south bank of the Xie River. The commander personally led the death squad to fight the Japanese invaders, attracting the enemy's main force to come to the rescue and reduce the pressure on the front battlefield! ]

(The telegram style, probably not from the war period, looks like this)
The telegram was sent in the voice of a signalman and its content was very brief, failing to describe the detailed situation on the battlefield.

But we can still get a glimpse of something from it.

Wang Feng raised his eyebrows slightly.

He originally thought that it was already very good that Yu Xuezhong could deal with the Japanese army on the north bank of the Xie River.

After all, our strength is limited and we can't force anything.

After Zhang Xueliang was imprisoned in Nanjing, the Northeast Army lost its backbone and completely lost its former glory.

Not only were they classified as a ragtag army, but no matter where they went, they were also labeled as cowards and fleeers.

A decent mother doesn't love her, and an uncle doesn't love her.

When the military supplies were distributed, some people ate the meat and some drank the soup. The Northeast Army soldiers living in a foreign land had to compete with others for the food if they wanted to lick the plate.

Moreover, the 51st Army's organization was seriously incomplete, with only about half the strength of an army.

Facing the elite Type A 18th Division, it was truly unexpected that they were not only able to stabilize the front line but also counterattack to the south bank of the Xihe River.

It is estimated that they risked their lives and took the risk of being completely annihilated to achieve such a record.

Wang Feng: "Reply in unison and let the headquarters know!"

Then he looked down at the watch on his hand.

It's almost two in the morning! Time is running out.

As soon as day breaks, Japanese fighter planes will take off from the rear airports and join the battle.

Wang Feng added: "Also, send orders to all units to speed up the attack!"

Zhao Fangyuan saluted: "Yes!"

at the same time.

Temporary command post of the 1st 'Red Flag' Mountain Infantry Regiment.

Wu Guangsheng stood aside, studying the tactical map carefully.

When marching and fighting, one must advance step by step carefully, and no decision can be made on a whim.

Moreover, it was an important matter to encircle and annihilate a Type A division of the Japanese Army, so we had to ensure that there would be no mistakes.

Zhang Hu also looked at the tactical map, frowning: "Old Wu, how about you stay here and watch while I go to the front line to take a look!"

Wu Guangsheng shook his head: "No!"

"Are you going to fight on the front line again? Carrying a gun yourself, fighting the devils in the trenches?"

Zhang Hu scratched his head, and was eager to make a move: "Isn't this how we followed the commander and fought our way up step by step?"

Wu Guangsheng sighed and advised: "The commander didn't assign us any specific combat missions this time. There are more than 5,000 people in the entire corps. We have to figure out how to fight and where to fight on our own."

"You are the head of the corps, you have to be in charge of the headquarters in person."

Listening to his partner's words, Zhang Hu nodded.

This is indeed the truth.

Wang Feng and Zhao Fangyuan told him more than once that he should do his job well.

The guys are no longer the kind of people who sit on the streets and only use force to solve problems.

Carrying a star on your shoulders is not only a right, but also a responsibility.

The lives of more than 5,000 brothers in the entire corps depend on him, and they are all waiting for him to give orders and make decisions.

Bullets on the battlefield don't have eyes, so how can they act recklessly?

On this point, Wu Guangsheng understands a lot.

He specialized in strategy and logistics, and performed the work of a staff officer as deputy corps commander.

Zhang Hu was good at mobilizing and boosting morale.

The First "Red Flag" Mountain Tactical Corps carries out the most difficult offensive and defensive battles, and any carelessness will lead to wrongdoing.

At critical moments, we need a corps commander like this to stand up and serve as the backbone of the brothers.

The cooperation between the two is currently the most coordinated and suitable in the entire battle group.

Zhang Hu responded and then looked at the tactical map hanging upright: "Old Wu, what do you think?"

Wu Guangsheng frowned and thought for a moment, then said, "We have five battalions, which are roughly the same size as a regiment, and have a complete logistics system. No matter which one is picked out, its independent combat capability is very strong."

"My suggestion is to use the strength of three battalions to penetrate deep into the enemy's territory, like three nails, and drive them into the interior of the Japanese army and nail them firmly to the river bank."

"The other two battalions will set up a net in the rear to prevent the Japanese army from encircling our troops!"

"How about it?"

Zhang Hu nodded and searched for the location on the map: "No problem, deploy the mountain artillery in the rear, probably here!" "Are the telephone lines connected?"

Wu Guangsheng: “All connected!”

The battlefield situation changes rapidly, and compared to telegraph communication, direct phone calls are more efficient.

After reaching the [Well-Trained] level, the coordination of the entire army will be greatly improved.

The telephone wires were wrapped around a wooden drum. The infantry marched quickly in front, while at the same time, the engineers in the rear rode mules and horses to quickly lower the telephone wires.

The follow-up troops immediately carried out the laying, connection and other work.

Maximize work efficiency.

Zhang Hu turned around and picked up the phone: "We need a large team!"

After a busy tone, a voice came from the microphone: "Sir! Our troops are ready for battle!"

"Please advise!"

Zhang Hu said sternly: "Listen! Launch an attack on the enemy immediately, and attack quickly. Don't delay!"

"Did you hear that?"

The person on the other end of the phone: “Yes!”

"Assault quickly, never delay!"

Zhang Hu: "Our corps is the spearhead of the entire army, and your battalion is the spearhead of our corps! You are the main attackers, and you must show your ability!"

"Can we break through the two Japanese fronts in half an hour?"

As soon as the words fell, the person on the other end of the phone said without hesitation: "Yes!"

Zhang Hu smiled and said, "Okay! I'll be waiting for your good news at the command post!"

After saying that, he hung up the phone with a bang.

at the same time.

Direction of the 59th Army.

When luring the enemy deep into the territory, Li Zongren had already sent transport teams to deliver the weapons and equipment discarded along the way to the towns in the rear.

Not only did the shortfall get made up in one go, but there was a lot of surplus left.

At this moment, the 59th Army can be said to be well-trained and well-fed, and the entire army is still holding its breath. Even ordinary grassroots soldiers know that this battle is to vindicate their old commander!
The flames of war spread across the plains. Both sides took out their best weapons and fired shells at both sides like crazy.

If you look down from the air, you will find that the entire banks of the Xihe River are covered in flames, the earth has turned into scorched earth, and soldiers are sent to the front line in batches, but what are pulled down are corpses.

When one battalion is wiped out, replace it with another one!

Soldiers fought to the death, officers took the lead and rushed to the front, and promotions on the front line happened frequently on the battlefield.

Thirty thousand men, determined to die, besieged eight thousand men. Even though there was a gap in equipment and quality, the 18th Division was still dizzy from such a fierce attack.

59th Army Command Post.

A 105mm howitzer landed nearby, and the powerful impact force spread to all directions. The ceiling shook slightly, and bursts of sand, gravel and soil fell down.

Zhang Zizhong was calm and composed, observing the situation on the battlefield calmly.

He glanced down at the time.

It’s exactly two o’clock in the morning.

"What is the movement of the North China Army?"

According to the agreed time in the telegram, a surprise attack on the Japanese rear should have been launched by now.

Deputy Army Commander Li Wentian was checking battlefield information. He came over immediately after hearing the voice: "I called three minutes ago. Friendly forces have begun a formal raid!"

Zhang Zizhong was speculating secretly in his heart.

There is a certain delay in transmitting information by telegraph on the battlefield.

If the time had been advanced a little, we would have encountered the Japanese rear by now.

On a large battlefield, the first priority of a commander in coordinated operations of multiple forces is to unconditionally trust his friendly forces.

Regardless of the situation, the established combat plan should be implemented resolutely.

Don't act on your own!

Thinking of this, Zhang Zizhong's eyes flashed with a hint of decisiveness, and he immediately ordered: "Mobilize the general reserve to fill the vacancies on the front line. All the soldiers in the army, except for the logistics soldiers, will participate in the battle!"

"Order all troops to force their way across the river. No matter how many casualties are incurred, a bridgehead must be established on the south bank of the Xihe River!"

Li Wentian did not object at all and stepped forward to salute: "Yes! I'll give the order right away!"

In the 59th Army, Zhang Zizhong was the boss. Even if he ordered all the soldiers to jump into the river and drown, someone would resolutely carry out the order.

Only such troops can be called truly elite.

Five minutes after the order to storm was given, artillery fire suddenly became intense on the Japanese position.

Zhang Zizhong reacted immediately.

It's friendly troops!
Fortunately, the order to attack was issued early, and the first wave of attacking troops had already arrived at the center of the Xie River.

The soldiers held torches, crouched low, and tried their best to avoid the bullets flying in the air.

The main force of the Japanese army was successfully attracted, and more and more devil soldiers were transferred to the front line of defense.

Faced with the sudden fierce artillery fire, I couldn't help but be stunned.

The quick-witted Japanese officer immediately realized that there was an attack from the rear.

But it was too late to dispatch troops to provide reinforcements.

The Chinese army was so powerful that as far as the eye could see, the center of the river was filled with countless enemy soldiers.

Although there were no flares, countless burning torches illuminated the entire Xie River.

The sound of gunfire was mixed with the sound of gurgling water, and a strong sense of oppression came over me.

(End of this chapter)