The Iron-Blooded Army of Beacon Fire

Chapter 186 Encirclement and Annihilation Plan

Killing a war criminal in history gave He Wei a greater sense of accomplishment than annihilating all the enemies. The family heirloom sword of Takeshi Noda also became He Wei's trophy.

Noda Takeshi is a beast through and through, but his family sword is still very good. He Wei naturally took it for his own use and gave it to Tao Heiwa for safekeeping. He killed two war criminals among a hundred people but one of them was killed by He Wei. He Wei was thinking about it. Are you trying to find a way to find an opportunity to get rid of another guy named Toshiaki Mukai?

Shortly after the heads were chopped off, the battlefield was cleaned up and the results of the battle were tallied up. This battle of annihilation lasted for less than half an hour and completely wiped out the 7th Infantry Squadron of the 3rd Infantry Battalion of the 9th Infantry Regiment of the 16th Division. All, as well as a heavy machine gun squad of the heavy machine gun squadron of the third battalion and a small baggage team of the third battalion, a total of more than 200 people.

Among them were two lieutenant officers and three second lieutenant officers. One hundred and eight intact Type 38 rifles, four crooked light machine guns, and three Type 89 50mm grenades were seized.

In addition, two baggage carts of ammunition, two baggage carts of dry bread, mules, and nine war horses were also seized.

He Wei ordered the troops to move the captured equipment and supplies to the fields on both sides of the road. The troops did the same. They had no choice but to attack the Japanese planes too severely.

Soon, the highway where the fight had been fought just now returned to silence. The special agent battalions and Cantonese infantry companies that participated in the battle were all hidden in bunkers on both sides. The chief officers of each company were also called together by He Wei to annihilate the Japanese army. The infantry squadron is nothing, the next action is more important.

In the traffic trench, He Wei, several infantry company commanders, artillery company commander Chen Xinsheng, spy platoon leader Yang Biao, communications platoon leader Sun Xisheng, and the company commander of the Guangdong Army were all wearing tree branches to conceal themselves, listening attentively to communications platoon leader Sun Xi The telegram just received by the Holy Reporter.

"According to the report from Commander Ye of the 66th Army, the enemy has made full contact with our Nanjing outer garrison and is fiercely attacking the 74th Army guarding the Chunhua line. Chief of Staff Situ Fei of the 160th Division reported, This morning, more than ten Japanese planes dropped bombs from the air on the main position of the 160th Division, with little loss. Another first-line sentry intercepted and killed three Japanese skirmishers twenty minutes ago."

"Battal Commander, that's all."

Sun Xisheng put away the telegram, and as soon as he finished speaking, as if to match the content of the telegram, a continuous burst of muffled explosions of artillery shells came from the direction of Chunhua, and He Wei took aim in the distance. At a glance, it seemed that the Japanese troops attacking the Chunhua front line had fully deployed and began a full-scale attack on the 74th Army guarding there.

"If you have any ideas about our camp's next move, please tell us."

He Wei said.

"Battal Commander, the Japanese attack on the front line of Tangshan has not yet begun. We have just defeated a squadron of the Japanese army. The morale of the brothers is strong. It is better to continue to advance and search forward. Maybe we can also defeat one of his squadrons."

Hu Zhaowu, commander of the third infantry company, said cheerfully, with great momentum. He wanted to move forward boldly and charge forward bravely.

"I don't think it's possible. We have the upper hand in an ambush, and look at the formation of the Japanese marching. The sentry in front has his gun on his shoulder, laughing and joking all the way. A reinforced infantry squadron does not follow the drill. The combat search formation is conducting a combat readiness march, which is more loose than a brigade preparation march, but if you encounter serious Japanese who are not slacking off, it will be difficult to deal with. I think we should be more conservative, build fortifications on the spot, and observe the situation."

Fang Jing, commander of the second infantry company, said.

Fu Chen, deputy battalion commander of the special agent battalion and commander of the first infantry company, and Chen Xinsheng, commander of the artillery company, also expressed their opinions in turn. Chen Xinsheng supported Hu Zhaowu's view and believed that the attack should continue and find opportunities to beat the Japanese army.

Fu Chen, on the other hand, tended to Fang Jing's conservative point of view, believing that the spy camp might suffer losses if it came into contact with the Japanese troops who were on high alert, and believed that they should stay put. For a while, both sides held their own opinions and had their own reasons. As for the Guangdong man The infantry company commander of the army automatically became invisible and did not express any opinions.

In the end, everyone looked at He Wei, and in the end it was He Wei who made the final decision.

He Wei recalled the entire battle that had just annihilated the Japanese army in his mind, and suddenly remembered the Japanese soldier who desperately fired the flares. It seemed that there were three flares in total, including two red flares and one green flare. Doubt, this is a signal flare for reinforcements. If we follow this line of thinking, there must be a Japanese brigade in the follow-up. As for the size of this brigade, He Wei does not know.

However, those that can use a squadron as the forward are usually infantry regiments. Just like the infantry regiments of the national army, reinforced infantry companies are usually used when attacking forward or searching for power.

Thinking of this, He Wei suddenly wanted to fight another large-scale annihilation battle, but he quickly regained his composure. In fact, with the current strength of the special agent battalion, it was already the limit to annihilate the reinforced infantry squadron, and this had to be borrowed. The Japanese army underestimated the enemy's advantage.

For example, when He Wei crippled the 16th Regiment at Xinkou, it was also because the fighting style was to hold positions and rely entirely on hard work.

In fact, if this Japanese squadron is in a field battle, it will be several times more difficult for the special agent battalion to annihilate them all. An annihilation war is something like this, especially when the two sides are in a field battle and put on a show of grandeur. The annihilation battle was really difficult to fight, so He Wei planned to find out the situation first before making the next decision.

After thinking for a while, He Wei decided to adopt a more compromise and stable plan and said: "What you said all makes sense. The whole battalion's sudden advance is too aggressive, and staying in place is a bit dull. In this way, the Guangdong brothers will help to seize the captured weapons." Weapons and baggage will be sent back. After you retreat, you will return to your own units. Our brothers from the secret service battalion will hide in place. Pay special attention to air defense. The secret service platoon will follow me. The communications platoon will set up a radio for me. I'm planning to."

"Battal Commander, are you going to take the spy platoon out for reconnaissance and search? This is not possible, it is too dangerous."

He Wei was interrupted by Fu Chen with a frown before he finished speaking. There was both blame and concern in his tone. He Wei smiled at Fu Chen. He knew that this was the concern of his old company commander for him.

"I plan to take the secret agent platoon and the radio station to go out alone to search. This kind of work cannot be done by large troops. It must be done by small troops. The secret agent platoon is just right. It has many close combat firearms. If it encounters a lone Japanese soldier, it will be easy to do it. If we suddenly encounter Japanese troops at the squadron level, it’s not certain who will suffer. If we encounter a large group of Japanese troops, we can run away before they spread out, so we can rest assured.”

He Wei smiled, but said in a tone that could not be refused. Seeing this, Fu Chen just sighed lightly and said nothing more.

"Platoon Commander Sun, please inform Commander Ye of the 66th Army and Chief of Staff Situ of the 160th Division about the situation of our recent battle. In addition, inform Chief of Staff Situ and call our special agent battalion tank company who is on standby in the rear. , the attached tank defense artillery platoon, and the strengthened mountain artillery company attached to the Sixty-sixth Army were ready for battle and ready to attack at any time. They also sent a request to Chief of Staff Situ of the 160th Division, hoping that he would try his best to spare an infantry regiment to do this. Good battle preparation."

"clear."

Communications platoon leader Sun Xisheng said.

"While I'm not here, each company will be well hidden and on strict guard, and will be under the command of Deputy Battalion Commander Fu."

After He Wei made arrangements and temporarily handed over the command of the troops to Fu Chen, the whole battalion immediately began to take action. The infantry company of the Guangdong Army that came with the special agent battalion pulled back several carts of loot with satisfaction. The other officers and soldiers of the special agent battalion were waiting behind them. The sides of the road were covered with various branches, blades of grass and other coverts in foxholes and traffic trenches.

He Wei, with Yang Biao's special agent platoon, dozens of officers and soldiers wearing tactical vests and covered with branches and leaves, and a radio communication team from the communication platoon, secretly moved away from the road and began to advance forward.

While He Wei was setting up everything, a Japanese brigade was also marching on the road nearly fourteen kilometers away from the spy camp. This Japanese brigade was the infantry of the Ninth Regiment that was eaten by He Wei. The main force of the 3rd Infantry Battalion to which the 7th Squadron belongs.

Nearly a thousand officers and soldiers of the main force of the Third Brigade marched in an orderly manner. The villages on both sides of the road were ignited with raging fires and billowing smoke. Some Japanese soldiers walked out of the villages in twos and threes, and many Chinese soldiers they encountered on the march. Just like the village, this small village was skillfully turned into a living hell by the Japanese troops of the third brigade.

In the center of the team, Major Nosuke Toyama, captain of the 3rd Battalion of the 9th Infantry Regiment, was riding on a war horse. Looking at the main force of the brigade that had completed its rest and was unfolding along both sides of the road, he was heartbroken because the 7th Squadron had lost contact. The slight uneasiness caused was also suppressed. Compared with the commander of the 7th Squadron, who was easily solved by He Wei like a stupid pig, Toyama Nosuke, a major officer who commanded an infantry brigade, was obviously much more qualified.

His Third Battalion is currently the one at the forefront of the Ninth Infantry Regiment's pursuit. Naturally, the infantry brigade that is chasing the front cannot be treated harshly. Captain Katagiri Gorō of the Ninth Infantry Regiment strengthened the radio communication squad for the Third Infantry Battalion. and an artillery squad with two Type 41 mountain guns.

Despite having such strong military and firepower in hand, and basically not encountering any decent resistance along the way, at most they occasionally encountered some defeated Chinese soldiers who were defeated, most of the ammunition consumed along the way was used in Shooting Chinese refugees and burning villages. The current combat formation of the Third Brigade is quite organized. The Eighth Infantry Squadron and the Ninth Infantry Squadron to which it belongs got off the road and launched combat formations on both sides of the road to search forward. On the road, the Third Brigade The brigade headquarters, communications squad, heavy machine gun squadron, infantry artillery squad, wing artillery squad, large and small baggage squads and other heavy firearms units.

On both sides of the road, the Eighth Infantry Squadron and the Ninth Infantry Squadron of the Third Battalion were fully deployed. If He Wei had encountered them, the battle just now would have been very troublesome.

"Adjutant Noda, go find the communications squad leader quickly."

Toyama Nosuke said subconsciously, but he didn't get the answer he deserved. A sergeant said to him: "Captain, Noda-kun took a small luggage team to attack with the 7th Infantry Squadron."

"Oh, I forgot."

After being reminded by the sergeant, Toyamanosuke remembered that Noda-kun, his accustomed adjutant of the brigade, was not with him now because he had a hundred-man killing match with Captain Toshiaki Mukai of the infantry artillery squad directly under the brigade.

And Toyama then thought of the 7th Infantry Squadron that was attacking ahead. He knew nothing about the situation of the 7th Squadron now. He regretted not equipping the 7th Squadron with a radio and lost contact. Toyama couldn't help but feel worried. The situation of the Seventh Squadron: Although the Chinese troops on the road were defeated, they had not yet come into contact with the main force of the Chinese army in Nanjing. If the Seventh Squadron encountered the main force of the Chinese army, the situation would be a bit bad.

Toyama's heart was eventually filled with worries about the 7th Squadron.

As everyone knows, the fate of the Seventh Infantry Squadron has already been doomed.

Because this squadron pursued and looted all the way and was accustomed to fighting with favorable winds, regardless of danger and common sense, the seventh squadron, which served as the vanguard, was too far away from the main force of the brigade. During the battle, Noda Takeshi tried to let him go. The soldiers fired signal flares to ask for help. In fact, this could not save the 7th Squadron from destruction. At such a long distance, the signal flares hitting the sky would not be seen by the main force of the 3rd Brigade.

And even if we see it, when the main reinforcements of the Third Battalion arrive, I am afraid that the day lily will be cold, and the destruction of the Seventh Squadron is doomed.

Of course, this news has not yet been known to Toyama Nosuke, but there has been no news from the 7th Squadron for a long time, and even the messenger cavalry has not been sent, but it inexplicably makes Toyama feel more and more uneasy.

"Command squad leader, go to the 8th and 9th squadrons to give orders and ask them to expand the search area. Be careful."

Toyama Nosuke said.

The command squad leader of the third brigade quickly went down to deliver the order, and the Japanese infantry on both sides of the road also launched an increasingly large search front, and several forward infantry teams also began to advance.

At the same time, four kilometers away from the Third Battalion, He Wei was hiding in the grass on the right side of the road with a group of panting officers and soldiers of the secret service platoon. After rigorous training, all the officers and soldiers of the secret service battalion improved in terms of physical fitness. The combat quality has also been greatly improved. Usually, he has to do three-kilometer running training in light equipment and full equipment every day in the camp. He Wei occasionally does a few five-kilometer running training in full equipment, plus he eats and drinks every day. As a result, the soldiers' physical and combat skills have reached a peak.

He Wei advanced forward and ran for more than ten kilometers. After He Wei ordered to stop advancing, although the officers and soldiers of the secret service platoon were panting, no one fell behind, and no one lay down, and even followed the secret service platoon. The same was true for the officers and soldiers of the advancing communications platoon. All members performed outstandingly during this armed rapid march on the battlefield.

After advancing for more than ten kilometers, He Wei did not continue to advance rashly. He wanted to move forward, not to advance rashly. Going further may be dangerous, so He Wei decisively ordered to hide on the spot.

After hiding in place for more than half an hour, in a simple foxhole, He Wei was holding a telescope to observe into the distance. Suddenly, three soldiers appeared in the telescope. He Wei looked carefully and breathed a sigh of relief. It turned out that they were The soldiers in the special agent platoon wearing steel helmets and new tactical vests were the reconnaissance team he sent out not long ago.

"Battal Commander, Battalion Commander, we are back."

The three soldiers skillfully jumped into the foxhole and climbed to He Wei's side, breathing heavily. A corporal came to He Wei's side and said eagerly: "Batalion Commander, there are Japs, there are Japs ahead." .”

This corporal is a captain of the first infantry squad of the special agent platoon. He is a veteran of the sixth company brought from Xinkou by He Wei. He was originally a superior soldier. After the establishment of the special agent battalion, he was promoted to corporal. Served as the corps leader in the first class.

"What? How many Japs are there? Tell me the damn thing."

Hearing that the corporal said there were Japs, the spy platoon leader Yang Biao became anxious and kept asking the corporal with a red face. He Wei glared at Yang Biao and said, "You are an officer after all. You need to be a bit of an officer." He looks calm in battle and not afraid of the enemy. Take a breath and slowly explain the situation of the Japanese you encountered."

"Battal Commander, we are still three or four kilometers away from us now. I took the brothers in the army to search and reconnoiter along the road. We almost ran into the Japanese. This group of Japanese was different from the one we just fought. They were different. There were a lot of people, I estimate there were thousands of people. The road was full of soldiers and war horses, and the army horses were carrying cannons. They were not like the devils who just walked along the road. The infantry dispersed and searched on both sides of the road. Moving forward, we have also sent out a number of spies in groups of two or three, and I think they will be here soon."

When He Wei heard this, he immediately understood that there might be nearly a thousand people carrying cannons. This was basically the configuration of an infantry brigade, and it was most likely the third brigade of the 7th Infantry Squadron of the 9th Regiment that he had just killed. , now the enemy is coming, time waits for no one, He Wei must make a decision.

There are actually only two options in front of him. First, stop him on the spot, bring up the secret service battalion, and fight to the death with these Japs. Second, adopt flexible tactics to eat or severely injure these Japs.

He Wei chose the second option without even thinking about it. He would never do such a thing as arranging a formation of the secret service battalion to fight the Japanese. It wasn't that he couldn't beat them, but that it was a pointless and futile waste of the secret service battalion. In terms of military strength, his only choice was to adopt flexible tactics to defeat or eat the Japanese army.

The Japanese army is at least the size of an infantry brigade. Although this infantry brigade has probably been eaten up by an infantry squadron, its strength is still not to be underestimated. If you want to achieve the results of encirclement and annihilation, it will be impossible to rely on your own special agent battalion alone. If this is impossible, we must seek help from friendly forces.

Before leaving, He Wei asked Sun Xisheng to send a telegram to the Sixty-sixth Army, requesting the 160th Division under the Sixty-sixth Army to detach an infantry regiment as much as possible, in order to prepare in advance for possible encirclement and annihilation operations, and assign it to the special agent battalion. The tank company, tank defense artillery platoon and the combat defense artillery of the special agent battalion artillery company are also ready to attack at any time.

It can be said that He Wei already has the first move to besiege the enemy, but now there is a problem in front of him, how to attract the Japanese army? How to lure the Japanese army deep into the enemy's territory and trap them?

After pondering for a moment, He Wei's eyes suddenly lit up and he called Tao Heiwa over.

"Hei Wa, did you bring the flare gun and flares?"

Tao Heiwa nodded: "Batalion Commander, I got it."

"What color is the flare you got?"

Tao Heiwa opened the bag on her tactical vest, took out six flares, counted them, and said to He Wei: "Batalion Commander, I took four red flares and two green flares."

He Wei was immediately overjoyed.

"If there is a door, if there is a door, if there is a way, just use flares."

(End of this chapter)