The Iron-Blooded Army of Beacon Fire

Chapter 28 The Lion's Big Opening

"One, two, start!"

"One, two, start!"

In Yanzhuangnan, accompanied by the sound of neat chants, a group of gunners wearing M35 helmets and hanging Army Armored Corps chest badges, under the command of sergeants, pushed the two German-made PAK37 37mm guns that had just been decoupled and covered with gun jackets. The wooden chariot defended the cannon. The gunners carefully pushed the cannon into the village along the slope at the entrance of Yanzhuang. The soldiers pulled the mules, ammunition and artillery cart behind.

Behind them, there were five horse-drawn carts from the tenth division's baggage barracks. Three carts were filled with dark green ammunition boxes, and another cart was loaded with various items such as empty sandbags and Trees, logs and other materials for building fortifications, and another cart was filled with food, including millet, pickles, steamed buns and so-called moon cakes that were ridiculously big and hard like bricks.

After He Wei made a phone call, Chen Munong issued an order to stick to Yanzhuang. The promised tank defense artillery platoon was delivered together with a batch of construction materials and supplementary ammunition, including 82 Chiang Kai-shek rifles and Czech light machine guns. The [-] light-point bullets used, there are also [-] rounds of [-]-heavy-point bullets put into ammunition bags and good ammunition boxes, which are for heavy machine guns, and there are also [-] rounds of [-]mm pistol bullets, three One hundred Gong-made long-handled grenades, thirty rounds of Ning-made [-]mm mortar shells and ten filled heavy machine gun cooling water buckets.

For direct troops like the 14th Division, there is no shortage of these [-]-caliber rifle ammunition, and the [-]-caliber mortar shells are also sufficient, so it is quite a pleasure to replenish them. Now the replenishments are all from the No. [-] Army entering Shanxi A large amount of ammunition is carried by itself.

Even if the [-]th Army's own ammunition is used up, there will be arms transport trains from Taiyuan to Xinkou on the Tongpu Line every day, loaded with either ammunition and arms replenished by the central government or arms produced by the Taiyuan Arsenal. Generally, There is really no shortage of ammunition.

Along with these supplies came the acting battalion commander of the second battalion. The former battalion commander Ding Guangyu had already been sent to the main position of Dabaishui along with all the severely wounded soldiers in the battalion in the name of "battle wounds." Naturally, the regiment had to send someone to act as agent. battalion commander.

The acting battalion commander, Major Chen Zhen, is in his 30s. He was originally a major of the 57th Regiment. He never went to a military school and was a soldier. He worked as a private officer all the way up. He used to be an infantry company of the 57rd Battalion of the 57th Regiment. Commander, he was recently promoted to Major of the [-]th Regiment.

Chen Zhen has a lot of experience in the army. The biggest feature is the scar on his forehead. After Chen Zhen arrived at Yanzhuang, he quickly summoned all the officers of the battalion at the battalion headquarters to re-establish the command hierarchy. However, when it came to summoning officers, the ones who came were basically Platoon commander, the four company commanders of the second battalion, two were dead, one was seriously injured and the other was slightly injured. Only the sixth company commander Fu Chen was still in Yanzhuang. The remaining officers were all platoon commanders, so we simply recognized them. , scar-faced Chen Zhen ordered the officers to return to their positions with a dark face.

However, Chen Zhen left He Wei alone in the surprised eyes of everyone. He was just a platoon leader. This small platoon leader was "explained" to him personally by the brigade commander Chen MuNong, and he should pay special attention to communicating with him. According to Chen MuNong It is said that the platoon leader of the second battalion on the front line led a platoon of people to repel an attack by the Japanese army.

Chen Zhen was a little disapproving at first, thinking that he might be bragging. After all, he was just a second lieutenant who had just graduated from the military academy. However, when the brigade commander Chen Zhen was given instructions in person, he spoke highly of the platoon leader and showed some appreciation. And it seemed that the person on the phone with the regiment headquarters was also the platoon leader, so things must not be that simple.

He Wei is also a freshmen of the Central Military Academy. He is a Huangpu student wearing a yellow mandarin jacket. In the Central Military Academy, he is better than a graduate of the Heipu Military Academy like Chen Zhen (Heipu refers to officers who came from the Central Military Academy and those who did not come from the Central Military Academy. (a joking nickname) was born with an extra aura, but Chen Zhen still felt that he should follow Chen Mu Nong's order and communicate with He Wei alone.

Inside the headquarters of the [-]nd Battalion, the acting battalion commander Chen Zhen frowned and had a headache. Only when he arrived at Yanzhuang did he realize how miserable the situation of the [-]nd Battalion was. The mess was worse than he expected. The four company commanders were now Only one was there. The commanders of the fourth and fifth companies were killed. The commander of the heavy machine gun company was wounded and evacuated. A heavy machine gun company originally had six Type [-] heavy machine guns, but when the whole battalion was marching in the morning, the entire battalion was destroyed. The Japanese army raided, and one platoon's heavy machine guns were not unloaded on the pack horse. Two heavy machine guns were lost before a single shot was fired. Thanks to He Wei's time travel and rebirth, he was able to pick up one.The two infantry companies, No. [-] and No. [-], both suffered more than half of their casualties. The current combatants of the two companies combined barely made up a little more than one infantry company. The only infantry company that was considered complete was Fu Chen's sixth company.

"Platoon Commander He, Brigadier Chen has told me to communicate more with you. The brigade commander's order is to stick to the existing position at Yanzhuang. I heard that this is also what you strongly suggested. Guiying, what about your response to the Yanzhuang position? What do you think about defense? Speak boldly!"

Chen Zhen asked, as if he was taking a test to see how good He Wei was. At the same time, he was also thinking about how to stick to Yanzhuang. In fact, Chen Zhen was in a good mood now.

To be honest, compared to being attached to a major regiment, where he was busy with various chores at the regiment headquarters every day, copying and sending battle reports and telegrams, and arranging training tasks, he, a rough man who came out as a top soldier, preferred to lead troops on the front line. If it were not for the military The law stipulates that when an officer is promoted from company commander to battalion commander, he must have the experience of being attached to a regiment, so that he will not take the blame himself.

Chen Zhen had a big scar on his forehead. He had been in the army for many years. He was dark and tall. Although he didn't say anything harsh, he really looked like he was vicious and difficult to get along with. He Wei stood at attention and said angrily: "The report is attached to the regiment of Chen. I believe that considering the actual situation of our battalion, the first thing is to reorganize the team. The company commanders of the [-]th and [-]th companies died for their country. The actual strength of the two companies is only more than that of the first company, less than four platoons. We I believe that the two companies should be combined into one infantry company first to facilitate command, and a small number of soldiers from the [-]th and [-]th companies should be transferred to supplement the [-]th company. My platoon is in the [-]th company, which is the most complete infantry company in the battalion. This An infantry company is responsible for the defense task on the front of the Yanzhuang position. We have just repelled an attack by the Japanese army, and there are still gaps that need to be replenished urgently."

"It is again necessary to reinforce the fortifications and make anti-tank preparations. Combat anti-tank artillery must be immediately deployed on the front line to build firing positions. Infantry fortifications must also be strengthened to the extent that they can be reinforced. At the same time, the same needs to be done in Yanzhuang. For fortifications, the fourth and fifth companies can be deployed in Zhuangzi, using private houses and houses to prepare for street fighting and guard the flanks of Zhuangzi. Once the front is lost and the Japanese army invades Zhuangli, they can launch a counterattack in time and drive them out of Zhuangzi. .”

Chen Zhen nodded to He Wei and praised in his heart. This person is indeed quite insightful. In fact, although some of the points mentioned by He Wei are applicable and realistic, in fact, most battalion and company commanders who have experienced battlefield experience can think of it. Chen Zhen's own defensive plan basically followed this approach, but He Wei was just a second lieutenant who had just graduated and had never fought in many battles. It was not easy for the platoon leader to have such insight even after he had not been working for a long time. The remaining four or five companies are organized into one company to streamline the command system and enhance combat effectiveness. It is a simple method that is commonly used in combat, but generally only officers with combat experience and experience can think of it.

"He Wei, that's right. I have some knowledge. Time is tight. I need to reorganize the [-]th and [-]th companies and the heavy machine gun company in the village. I don't have time to go to the position in front of you to see the terrain. The brigade commander specifically mentioned it to me before I came here. You, I think very highly of you, otherwise I would not have left you alone beyond your company commander. After all, you are lucky, you got a combat defense artillery platoon with just a phone call, and you can still be with the brigade commander. Sign up and let the brigade commander remember you as a platoon leader, but the brigade commander's importance is not in vain. The equipment of the main position is handed over to your company, and the tank defense artillery platoon is also under the command of your company. Specifically, you and You company, please coordinate. It is noon now. If the Japanese army cannot attack, I will visit your positions in the evening. You must be vigilant about the enemy. I hope you will not disappoint the brigade commander's expectations. If the position is poorly constructed, I will still be rude. Be careful, I will remove your platoon leader and give me a rifle to use as a fucking combat soldier!"

"Yes, thanks to the kindness of the brigade commander, Commander Chen has pointed it out. Sir, you are really flattering." He Wei stood at attention and said with a hesitant look on his face. Chen Zhen saw that he was hesitant to speak and said.

Chen Zhen curled his lips: "Absolute praise? What do you mean? You Huangpu students should learn from our graduates from Heipu Military Academy. Soldiers should improve their prose and speak more so that others can understand." If so, what? Are you afraid of being the leader? Are you scared?"

He Wei slowly lowered his head and said: "Sir, no, I just have a merciless request. Our company is facing the enemy directly outside the village. The battle pressure is high. We need to replenish ammunition and a large amount of construction materials... This The [-]nd mortar platoon in the battalion had better be strengthened to the company's position, otherwise it will not be able to exert its firepower in Zhuangzi. Uh, also, in order to facilitate smooth communication, it is best to ask the regiment for assistance. In our company The camp has set up a field phone for the camp headquarters to facilitate direct contact with you. Now I don’t even have a phone, so I don’t have time to report anything that happens.…”

Chen Zhen suddenly hissed, took a breath, squinted at He Wei with a big black face, smiled and cursed: "Damn it, no wonder the brigade commander can remember you, dare to fight against artillery, and now you want soldiers, want to We need ammunition, equipment, mortars and telephones. We even asked you to do the work of the battalion commander. With your lion-like energy and posture, people who don’t know better think that you are the regiment attache and I am the platoon leader. Chief, I think you’ll be able to ask for a damn mountain cannon tomorrow, most people really don’t dare to ask for it like you!”

(End of this chapter)