Sword: Heart of Iron

Chapter 26 The So-Called Active Attack Plan
Fanzhi.

Second War Zone Command.

Chief of Staff Chu Xichun held a baton and pointed at the battle map on the wall and talked freely.

"At present, the Yanmen Pass, Ruyuekou and Pingxingguan defense lines are all impregnable. The Japanese invaders will not be able to break through our positions in a short period of time."

Yan Laoxi sat on one side, pulling his mustache, listening and nodding in agreement.

"The men of Shanxi fought passionately against the Japanese invaders, which was a great contribution to the country!"

Chu Xichun's lips curled up slightly: "It is all because of the Marshal's good command and the concerted efforts of my colleagues that we have the current situation of the war of resistance."

As soon as he finished speaking, many senior military officers in the conference room smiled at each other and began to praise each other.

It seems as if the reason we were able to resist the Japanese invasion was all thanks to the contributions of these people.

After some boasting, the meeting continued.

Chu Xichun weighed his baton and drew a circle around Pingxingguan.

"There is currently a troop in the area on standby."

"It's the 115th Division of the Eighth Route Army."

"The 115th Division was stationed here in August, and even when the Japanese army began to attack Pingxingguan, they did not expose their target."

"The idea given by our staff is to formulate an active offensive plan, with the troops stationed at the entrance of the regiment city delaying the invading enemy."

"Send a force north to cut off the Japanese army's route to Hunyuan"

"Another unit will cooperate with the 115th Division to annihilate the Japanese troops in the Caijiayu area!"

Old Yan nodded slowly, agreeing with the plan in his heart.

At first he wanted to deploy the Eighth Route Army to the front battlefield to serve as a filling-in force.

The reasons are nothing more than those few.

But the leaders of the Eighth Route Army firmly denied this combat plan and proposed to go behind enemy lines to fight guerrilla warfare.

Yan Laoxi tried to persuade him several times but to no avail.

In the end, the 115th Division had to be deployed in the area east of Pingxingguan.

Seeing Yan Laoxi nod, the other senior military officers echoed him.

The combat resolution was passed so quickly.

The meeting was over and a group of officers slowly walked out of the conference room. Chu Xichun was the last one. Just as he was about to walk out the door, Yan Laoxi suddenly called him from behind.

"Haruha."

Chu Xichun immediately turned around and closed the door: "Marshal!"

Yan Laoxi looked around and saw that there was no one around. The doors and windows were closed, so he slowly asked, "Where is Guo Zongfen's Second Reserve Army going now?"

Chu Xichun immediately replied: "They are already resting in the big tent."

Yan Laoxi nodded, feeling very satisfied: "Tell Gao Guizi at Tuanchengkou to prepare the Second Army to set off immediately to support Tuanchengkou."

Chu Xichun frowned, but didn't say anything.

Gao Guizi’s 17th Army is the number of the Central Army.

Yan Laoxi turned around and faced Chu Xichun with his back. "At the same time, inform the 115th Division of the Eighth Route Army that Guo Zongfen will lead the Second Reserve Army to participate in the ambush against the devils."

After hearing this, Chu Xichun's brows slowly relaxed.

He lowered his voice and said, "I understand!"

……

After fighting for most of the day, the Japanese army launched four large-scale attacks in succession, supported by air support.

Under the air-ground integrated combat system, the 1st Brigade suffered heavy losses, with more than 700 casualties throughout the day, but fortunately they finally held their position.

The battle plan proposed by Zhao Fangyuan was executed quite well.

Wang Feng keenly predicted the route that the Japanese army would take to advance covertly by looking at the battle map in advance, and set up an ambush there in advance.

After the Japanese troops who had made a flanking move engaged in a battle with the defenders on the position, Zhao Fangyuan acted decisively and attacked quickly.

One company hits the head, one company hits the body, and one company finishes the tail.

In this battle alone, more than two hundred Japanese devils were killed.

The Japanese commander was so scared that he dared not make any more flanking maneuvers for two or three hours and could only temporarily focus his main attack on the front line.

The setting sun is like blood, and the red flag is like a painting.

The air was filled with a strong smell of blood and gunpowder.

The flag still stands there motionless.

There were several large burnt holes on the flag, and it looked old and torn, with a little blood on it, but it still fluttered in the wind.

The fiery red sunset shone on the flag, and Wang Feng couldn't help but think of a line of lyrics - The flag of the Republic is stained with my blood!

Wang Feng walked slowly to the position where the regiment was stationed. The soil was originally yellow-brown, but after being stained with large amounts of blood, it looked a little dark red.

The soldiers huddled in the trenches below immediately stood up.

"Brigade Commander!"

"Brigade Commander!"

Wang Feng pressed his hands down and said, "Brothers, please sit down. You have been fighting for a whole day. Take the time to rest!"

Glancing at the faces of the soldiers below, each one looked a little immature, and after a day of fighting, they were all covered in dust and dirt.

Although his appearance has not changed, his eyes give people the feeling that he has completely transformed, revealing an unprecedented firmness.

It turns out that the battlefield is the best training ground!
"Master, Master, why are you here?"

Zhang Hu led the guards and ran over quickly, holding a revolver in his hand.

"Why? Since I'm fine, can't I come and see your position, Captain Zhang?"

Wang Feng couldn't help but joke.

He was really satisfied with Zhang Hu's performance today. Although he lacked some skills in combat command, he already had the qualities to become a general.

Zhang Hu grinned: "Captain, please stop making fun of me..."

Wang Feng smiled calmly: "Okay, let me tell you something serious."

"How many rounds of ammunition do you have left?"

Zhang Hu was stunned and scratched his head: "About 150,000 rounds."

"What's wrong, Brigade Commander?"

Wang Feng didn't say anything, but started calculating secretly in his mind.

You wouldn't know until you see it. When the war broke out, the entire brigade had more than 500,000 rounds of bullets. I thought if we used them sparingly, it would be enough to fight the next battle.

Unexpectedly, nearly 100,000 rounds were consumed on the first day of the war alone.

Just as Wang Feng was lost in thought, Zhao Fangyuan came running over: "Captain!"

"General Gao Guizi called and invited you to his headquarters. He said he had something important to discuss."

Wang Feng took the telegram and glanced at it briefly.

It doesn't say what to do specifically, but it can be seen from the text that the matter is urgent and cannot be delayed.

Zhao Fangyuan was a little worried: "Captain, do you want to?"

Wang Feng waved his hand: "You're overthinking. The nation is in crisis and we are all colleagues in the same trench."

Based on the course of history, he could guess most of the information in the telegram.

It is very likely related to the Battle of Pingxingguan.

Sure enough, when Wang Feng rushed to the 17th Army Headquarters, Gao Guizi had already simulated the situation countless times on the sand table.

"Brigade Commander Wang, you are here."

"Come and see, this is the latest telegram from Commander Yan."

Wang Feng looked suspicious. He took the telegram and glanced at it, and immediately found the clue.

"General Gao, Commander Yan said to send the Second Reserve Army to support the regiment at Chengkou to buy time for an active attack behind enemy lines?"

Gao Guizi nodded: "Yes, Commander Yan has already given a clear answer, I believe he will not go back on his word."

Wang Feng sighed deeply.

Just looking at this telegram, there is something very strange.

Yan Laoxi first said that he would send Guo Zongfen's Second Reserve Army to garrison Tuanchengkou, and then said that he would send an army to start from the left wing of Tuanchengkou to attack the Japanese army together with the 115th Division of the Eighth Route Army.

But in the end, the Second Army was the only one left.

The 17th Army has the number of the Central Army on its head.

I'm afraid that Yan Laoxi made promises to both sides, and in the end the Second Reserve Army did not go anywhere and stayed in the rear obediently.

Even if we take a step back, if the Second Reserve Army really came to support Tuanchengkou, in history, the 17th Army would probably not have voluntarily abandoned the Tuanchengkou position because of running out of ammunition and food.

Wang Feng hesitated again and again, but still reminded: "General Gao, I'm afraid the reinforcements will not come."

After all, his 17st Temporary Brigade and Gao Guizi's th Army are now on the same boat, and the saying "prosperity together, suffering together" is no joke.

"Now we still need to save ammunition and prepare for a long battle."

(End of this chapter)