Sword: Heart of Iron

Chapter 130 Starry Night Rescue
2 month 27 day.

morning.

The newly formed First Corps has marched twenty kilometers.

When the troops stopped to rest, Zhao Fangyuan sent a telegram: "Sir, there is a call from Linyi!"

Wang Feng opened his eyes: "What's going on?"

Zhao Fangyuan looked bitter: "The battle situation is urgent, the Third Army Corps urged us to march as soon as possible."

"Sir, we are still at least 80 kilometers away from Linyi. We can't move fast with heavy weapons. It will take at least three days. By the time we get there, the Third Army may have already..."

Wang Feng thought for a moment and said, "That makes sense. We should send a vanguard first, and it would be best if they could reach Linyi within 24 hours."

Zhao Fangyuan was surprised: "Twenty-four hours?"

Wang Feng nodded: "Yes, at the latest within 24 hours, we must help our friendly forces stabilize the front before the Second Division captures Linyi!"

"Send a telegram to Zhang Hu, and the task will be carried out by the First Red Flag Corps!" After thinking it over, he said firmly.

The combat mission was extremely difficult. Not only did they have to march for 24 hours, but they also had to immediately enter combat status after arriving at the battlefield.

The first one alone can screen out a large number of troops.

The first to be excluded were the two reorganized armies, which had more than 20,000 people under their command and were large and bloated.

It is not impossible to send one brigade to attack first while the rest of the large force marches quickly in the rear.

However, the brigade-level troops lack a complete post-support system, and their combat capability is bound to be inferior to that of the First Red Flag Corps.

After all, this force was built for quick response and mobile assault.

Zhao Fangyuan responded, stuck his head out of the car window, and was about to call the signalman.

Suddenly a sharp scream came from overhead.

hum!
It instantly attracted the attention of the surrounding soldiers.

"what's the situation?"

"Air raid! Air raid! Those are the Japanese fighter planes!"

"Protect the commander! Anti-aircraft machine gun! Anti-aircraft machine gun!"

"quick!"

The soldiers who were originally sitting on the grass quickly stood up, pointing at the sky and cursing.

Wang Feng was sitting in the car and also looked up at the sky.

There's nothing surprising about it. A Japanese Mitsubishi Type 97 reconnaissance aircraft is conducting low-altitude observation.

It does not carry a warhead, so it poses no threat.

Zhao Fangyuan gnashed his teeth and cursed non-stop: "You little bastards, you are so f*cking rampant. Sooner or later, we will all be defeated by you!"

Wang Feng yawned, feeling calm and composed.

Just a reconnaissance plane.

I've seen several of them in the past few days.

The Fifth War Zone was full of Japanese spies, and the whereabouts of 50,000 troops on a long journey would definitely be exposed.

It's not just a few thousand people, they can't be hidden at all.

Fifty thousand men were spread out on the plain, and the march alone would extend their territory to a depth of eight or nine kilometers.

If the legion wants to change direction, it will take at least an hour just to coordinate at all levels.

Very bulky!

Da da da!
Behind the jeep, several transport trucks were loaded with heavy machine guns, which were responsible for the air defense mission of the general command post. When they spotted the trace of enemy aircraft, they immediately spewed out tongues of fire.

Bullets fired from the muzzle, and the machine gunner held his breath.

Damn it!
Flying so low! Who are you looking down on?
Inside the cabin.

The Japanese pilot heard a "ding ding" sound from the left wing, and when he looked sideways, he found several bullet holes.

Looking down through the cabin door glass, the pilot smiled contemptuously.

"Out of control."

The observation mission has been completed. The pilot pulled the joystick, quickly raised the aircraft's altitude, and flew away.

"See you on the battlefield, stupid Chinaman!"

"A few old machine guns, you want to shoot down a plane? You'd better dream about it."

Troops below.

The enemy planes gradually disappeared from sight, and the soldiers beat their chests and stamped their feet in anger.

It’s so fucking infuriating!
The captured Taisho Type 3 heavy machine gun had a low rate of fire and a small magazine capacity.

It is difficult to form an effective air defense firepower network.

Inside the jeep.

Wang Feng looked down at the time and said, "It's almost time, let's continue."

Heavy machine guns can only threaten low-altitude reconnaissance aircraft and ground support aircraft. If you want to completely eliminate the threat overhead, you can only build a strong air force as soon as possible.

"air force."

Wang Feng leaned back in his chair, with a myriad of thoughts in his mind.

It is easy to build airplanes, but it is difficult to train qualified pilots.

The cycle is long, the investment is large, and the key is consumed quickly.

In comparison, the cost-effectiveness of developing anti-aircraft artillery seems to be higher.

In addition to air defense, its ground defense capabilities are also first-class.

How does the saying go - level the anti-aircraft guns, military court!

The 1st 'Red Flag' Mountain Tactical Corps.

As soon as Zhang Hu received the telegram, he summoned his officers.

Inside the command post set up in a tent.

Zhang Hu threw the telegram on the table: "Look, the commander has issued an order!"

Several officers who were nearby picked up the telegram and huddled together to read it: "Twenty-four hours! Eighty kilometers of march?"

"Sir, this."

Zhang Hu raised his eyebrows and said calmly, "Why? Can't do it?"

The officer was frightened and said, "No problem! It's only 80 kilometers. We can get there in 18 hours instead of 24 hours!"

Zhang Hu pointed with his finger: "Good! This is encouraging!"

"Since you said eighteen hours, then you four teams will take the lead!"

"If you can't get to Linyi in 18 hours, I'll hold you responsible!"

The officer saluted and secretly rejoiced: "Yes!"

Fortunately, it happened to me.

In the past, this type of combat mission was always undertaken by elite troops from the First and Second Battalions.

Our own troops had no chance at all.

This is a vicious cycle.

If you want to become an elite, you need to train more and perform more difficult tasks.

However, the war situation was urgent and there was no extra cost for trial and error, so the only option was to deploy the existing elite troops to carry out important tasks.

Over time, the more elite troops become stronger, and it is relatively difficult for ordinary troops to get opportunities to grow.

Zhang Hu ignored the officer's thoughts and cleared his throat. "Brothers, this is a matter of urgency. Move out immediately after the meeting. The Fourth Squadron will lead the way. The rest of the troops must arrive at the battlefield within the designated time!"

"Can you do it? Tell me the truth!"

The officers below saluted in unison: "We guarantee to complete the mission!"

Zhang Hu looked around and nodded: "Good job, everyone. We are an elite corps, we have to act like an elite!"

"The commander's order is to do it within 24 hours, so we have to compress the time into 20 hours!"

Eighty kilometers, twenty hours.

Without stopping, the marching speed must be maintained at more than four kilometers per hour.

For the infantry, this can be done by gritting their teeth, but it is not so friendly to the artillery and logistics and baggage troops.

Zhang Hu didn't care about that. The order given by Wang Feng was a death order.

Even if the sky falls, we must absolutely carry it out.

"The meeting is dismissed!"

"Yes!"

After receiving the order, the 1st Red Flag Corps quickly quickened its pace, and all the officers turned to walking, leaving the horses for riding to be sent to the logistics and baggage troops.

The heavy supplies are a bit difficult for one mule or horse to pull, so adding an extra horse makes things much easier.

February 2. First half of the night.

The Fourth Brigade marched ahead of the other troops, galloping across the plains.

The soldiers' leggings had long been soaked by mud, their uniforms were soaked with sweat, and the friction between their soles and the gravel road formed a wave.

The moonlight condensed into frost on the bayonet.

slam-la-

The bullet belt slapped my hips, and from time to time I could hear the officers shouting from the back: "Keep your distance!"

"do not stop!"

Captain Yuan Yelin took out the pocket watch from his chest pocket and looked down at the time.

21:56
Fortunately.

Yuan Yelin breathed a sigh of relief. After the meeting, the Fourth Brigade set off first and has now been marching at full speed for ten hours.

It is more than 30 kilometers away from Linyi.

We should be able to arrive before daybreak.

"Don't fall behind! Hurry up!" Yuan Yelin waved his arms and shouted continuously.

Within these short ten hours, the Third Corps sent four urgent telegrams, and Wang Feng forwarded them all to Zhang Hu without missing a word.

Zhang Hudu forwarded the telegram to the Fourth Brigade.

The situation is urgent.

The Third Corps is in danger. A recent telegram said that the Japanese army launched a large-scale night attack, and the most fierce Japanese soldiers have already broken into the corps command post.

Pang Bingxun, in his sixties, wielded a broadsword and, together with his guards, fought a bloody battle with the Japanese.

"Hurry up! Stop looking around!"

Yuan Yelin took two quick steps and shouted sternly.

2 month 28 day.

The morning light shone on the ruins, and the soldiers climbed out of the ruins with difficulty.

"dinner time!"

"After eating this meal, we will be able to fight the Japanese easily later!"

A cook came staggering over, carrying a shoulder pole with wooden barrels hanging on both ends.

The soldiers, who had been fighting all night, were already starving and immediately surrounded them.

The cook put down his shoulder pole and opened the lid of the wooden barrel, which emanated from an indescribable smell.

It was filled with turbid rotten vegetable soup.

It’s called vegetable soup, but I couldn’t see many vegetable leaves and there was no staple food.

The Second Division has been encircling Linyi for almost a week.

Supplies from outside could not come in, and the army's stored rations had been eaten up, so they could only search for food everywhere in the city.

But even so, the soldiers still had no objection.

Commander Pang holds a high position, yet he eats the same food as them. What else can he complain about?
Just kill a few more devils before you die!

The soldiers who had served the soup returned to the corner, stretched their necks, and drank it all in one gulp.

The rotten vegetable leaf soup is nothing to savor.

If the sand stays in your mouth for too long, you might even feel it irritating your teeth.

The Japanese artillery fire was extremely fierce. The dust raised by the explosion and the debris falling from the ceiling would all fall into the big pot of the kitchen.

After a soldier finished his soup, he took a nap behind a bunker with his rifle in his arms. Not long after he sat down, he suddenly opened his eyes and said, "The devils are coming!"

"There are armored vehicles!"

The soldiers who had not eaten yet immediately threw away the clay bowls in their hands and returned to their battle positions.

The daytime battle officially began.

Taohuajian Primary School, later known as Linyi Second Experimental Primary School, was where the headquarters of the Third Corps was located.

Pang Bingxun limped towards the battle map. His legs were not in good condition and he was nicknamed "Pang the Cripple". He was seriously injured in the hand-to-hand combat with the Japanese army yesterday and now had difficulty walking.

"Colonel Xu, where are the reinforcements?"

Pang Bingxun looked embarrassed, and after thinking for a long time, he asked.

Two-thirds of the original five regiments had been destroyed, and almost all company and platoon-level officers were killed.

Those who are commanding the battle now are all new officers who have been promoted from the front line.

If reinforcements do not arrive today, the Third Legion will be completely wiped out.

Xu Zuyi remained silent.

He didn't know where the reinforcements were.

When asked, he said it would be soon.

Pang Bingxun slapped his thigh anxiously: "What should I do?"

We really can't hold on any longer.

Xu Zuyi sighed and looked at the wounded soldiers in the school yard, feeling a little sorry for them.

The fact that the Third Corps was able to hold Linyi for such a long time with its small force can be considered an extremely successful defensive battle.

The soldiers under his command were brave and determined to die, and they fought tenaciously against the Japanese invaders.

The annihilation of such a force here is a huge loss for the Fifth War Zone!

"Captain Pang, how many troops are left in the Special Forces Regiment?"

Pang Bingxun thought for a moment and said, "At most, there are only two battalions, which will be deployed 500 meters north of the headquarters as a reserve mobile force."

"Does Staff Officer Xu have a solution?"

Xu Zuyi shook his head.

Once the two battalions exposed their targets, they would be wiped out by the Japanese army in less than half an hour.

Rather than sending them out to die, it is better to keep them in hand to deal with emergencies.

In the midst of sorrow, the gunfire outside seemed to stop.

There was a sound of hurried footsteps, and the signalman saluted: "Sir! Our reinforcements have arrived!"

Pang Bingxun raised his head suddenly, ignoring the wound on his upper leg, and staggered forward two steps: "Have the reinforcements arrived?"

"Where are you now? Which direction did you enter the city from?"

Signalman: "They haven't entered the city yet. The reinforcements are only about a thousand people. This is the letter their scouts sent in!"

letter?

Pang Bingxun took the letter and glanced at it, not worrying about why he didn't send a telegram.

Xu Zuyi also came over upon hearing the sound, and stuck his head out to watch from the side.

At the same time, I was secretly surprised.

In less than a day and a night, they forced a march of eighty kilometers.

Wang Feng’s army is indeed worthy of its reputation and is as powerful as ever!

The text is short and can be summarized in two sentences.

First, the telegram was most likely deciphered by the Japanese army.

Second, Linyi City was surrounded, and the advance support troops crossed the Yishui River and raided the flank of the Japanese army, relieving the pressure on Linyi City's defense by using the strategy of "encircling Wei to save Zhao".

Pang Bingxun was puzzled and looked at Xu Zuyi beside him: "The telegram was deciphered?"

"It shouldn't be!"

Xu Zuyi was not sure either.

The telegram was deciphered, and unless we received accurate information, we would not be able to detect any abnormalities.

It turned out to be the case.

No wonder that after three o'clock in the morning, the telegrams sent either received no response or the responses were vague and contained no valuable information.

"I think there must be some truth in what the friendly forces said."

At the critical moment, Xu Zuyi chose to trust Wang Feng unconditionally.

After all, the hard power is there.

Pang Bingxun nodded: "Notify the brothers below to take the time to rest. The Japanese attack has weakened, and we can breathe a sigh of relief."

No matter what, it’s a good thing that the reinforcements have actually arrived.

Pang Bingxun staggered out of the command post.

He knew human nature well, and wanted to take advantage of this opportunity to visit the front line to comfort the soldiers.

Even if weapons and equipment cannot provide support, spiritual strength can still be provided.

(End of this chapter)