Sword of Light: Humanoid Self-Propelled Artillery

Chapter 189 Supporting Tashan
Just as the General Headquarters adopted the Third Field Army's suggestion to cross the river, the Fourth Field Army's commander, after careful consideration, finally decided to attack Jinzhou.

However, just as the Fourth Field Army was preparing to attack Jinzhou, the Third Field Army launched its own attack in September.

And this began with the attack on Jinan. Lao Zi naturally knew that Jinan was going to be attacked. After all, the large-scale mobilization of hundreds of thousands of troops was different from the mobilization of Wang Gensheng's small-scale elite troops of a few hundred or a thousand. It was impossible to keep it a secret.

Meanwhile, Lao Zi was determined to protect Jinan at all costs; Jinan absolutely could not be lost! You must know that Jinan was not only the main base of Shan Dong, but also an important gateway to protect Hua Bei.

On Laoji's side, there are nine official garrisons, five security brigades, and tens of thousands of special forces soldiers, totaling 110,000 men. In addition, there are 162 fighter jets and 42 bombers supporting them. Their defenses are as solid as iron.

Moreover, there were 170,000 reinforcements surrounding the area, meaning that a total of 280,000 troops were mobilized to protect this old man from Jinan.

Despite the large number of troops guarding the line, the Third Field Army successfully broke through it in just eight days. Even more interestingly, halfway through the battle, Wu Huawen suddenly defected, causing the enemy army to crumble instantly.

It's important to understand that Jinan's geographical location is quite strategic, practically a natural defense line. To the north lies the Yellow River, with its swift currents; to the south stands Mount Tai, majestic and imposing. Just this terrain alone makes it clear that attacking this place would be extremely difficult, not to mention the thousands upon thousands of reinforced concrete fortresses built there.

Furthermore, the old man has put in a great deal of effort over the years, building numerous fortified towers, trenches, and reinforced concrete defenses, making them appear impregnable. However, their weakest point is actually hidden inside, making it difficult to detect.

The so-called "defense system" appeared quite sturdy on the surface, but in reality, the layout of the inner and outer city walls was rather complicated, making it an ideal target for the relief army to conquer one by one.

Especially those defensive points located in the surrounding areas, although they are well-prepared, can easily be cut off from communication and surrounded if one is not careful.

The "pincer attack" tactic used by Sanye was precisely because he seized this opportunity. On the surface, he was attacking the city, but in reality, he was quietly weakening the enemy's foundation.

Before long, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) spotted the enemy's weaknesses. Their defenses appeared strong, but in reality, the connections between the outer outposts were poor; each fortification was like an isolated point, making them particularly easy to breach. Therefore, the East China Field Army decided to concentrate its forces and eliminate these "thorns in the side" first.

On September 16th, the attacking army launched a silent assault, their target being Changqing County, southwest of Jinan. Although this county was only an outer defensive line, its relatively flat terrain and weak garrison made it the first place chosen for capture. As dawn broke, the relief troops swiftly surrounded Changqing.

Amidst the thunderous roar of artillery fire, one after another, holes were blasted into the fortresses of Changqing. The Nationalist soldiers hastily launched a counterattack, but it was too late. Within hours, Changqing had fallen, and the People's Liberation Army had easily secured its first victory with minimal cost.

With the fall of Changqing, Lao Ming's western defenses were completely exposed. The western troops of the relief army seized the opportunity and advanced rapidly, capturing important places such as Qihe and Shuangshantou in one fell swoop. The battlefield quickly extended to the outskirts of the city.

The forces attacking from the east were equally determined, breaking through the barriers of Maoling Mountain and advancing towards the outer city. They employed a two-front strategy, like two sharp knives, separating the outer outposts of the Laoji army and preventing them from supporting each other. This made Laoji's entire defensive system extremely vulnerable, seemingly on the verge of collapse.

Thus, the battle entered its second phase, with both sides locked in fierce fighting. However, it's worth mentioning an "internal conflict" that occurred on the night of the 19th, which completely changed the course of the battle.

Wu Huawen, a "tough guy general" whom Lao Zi had once particularly favored, was originally tasked with defending the important area in the western suburbs. On the night of the 19th, as the attacks from the relief army intensified, Wu Huawen simply surrendered with his soldiers.

This action directly disrupted the defensive layout of the Lao Jing army and greatly boosted the morale of the Jiefang army.

Then, the front lines erupted into chaos. The troops on the west side immediately sprang into action, widening the gap in the attack. By early morning on the 20th, the relief forces had captured that crucial point southwest of the commercial port, and were getting closer and closer to the outer city.

And from the 20th onwards, the street fighting truly began. This commercial port area was the stronghold of the Kuomintang garrison and their last line of defense. The People's Liberation Army's artillery fire was incredibly fierce, and they engaged in fierce battles with the Kuomintang army at several key positions, fighting back and forth relentlessly.

On the battlefield, from the command post to the train station and the factory area, everywhere was engulfed in flames. Soldiers moved quickly among the ruins, dismantling enemy hideouts and clearing debris from the battlefield.

By the 22nd, the defending troops outside the city were exhausted. Seeing this, Wang Yaowu hurriedly withdrew the remaining forces back into the inner city, intending to make one last desperate attempt against the high walls and surrounding moat. The People's Liberation Army reacted quickly, immediately changing their tactics and concentrating all their forces to launch a decisive attack on the inner city.

On the evening of the 24th, the battle was almost over. Wang Yaowu knew in his heart that defeat was inevitable and there was no way to turn the tide. So he ordered his men to retreat in several groups, while he himself changed into civilian clothes and tried to sneak out of the city by blending in with the civilians.

Unexpectedly, he was eventually recognized by the militia and arrested, which marked the complete end of the battle.

Although the Jinan Campaign was ultimately won by the Liberation Army, the sacrifices made behind the scenes are truly heartbreaking. More than 20,000 soldiers lost their lives in this battle, writing a glorious chapter in the history of the Liberation Army with their lives and blood.

From a broader perspective, this battle demonstrates that the Liberation Army has shifted its focus from encircling rural areas to attacking cities, and has become adept at fighting tough battles.

After Jinan was captured, Lao Jing realized that their strategy of "defending the big cities to the death" was simply no match for the fierce offensive of the relief army. This victory greatly boosted the morale of the Third Field Army soldiers and laid a good foundation for the subsequent Huaihai Campaign.

At the same time, such a great victory gave the Fourth Field Army more confidence in its offensive against Jinzhou in October.

Just as Wang was looking at the newspaper reporting the victory, the commander-in-chief gave Wang Gensheng a battle order.

This order was not a detailed command, but rather instructed Wang Gensheng to delay the Lao Ji ships' support for the Tashan battlefield as much as possible, within his capabilities.

(End of this chapter)