The Iron-Blooded Army of Beacon Fire

Chapter 38 Enemy Night 2
Half an hour later, in the combat command post of the Di Detachment located in Yongxing Village, the squadron captains of each squadron under the Di Detachment and the main officers of the detachment headquarters gathered in one room.

In the slightly crowded room, several Chinese oil lamps and standard military-style portable electric lamps without electricity illuminated the large-scale combat map on the table.

The backbone of the Di Detachment is the original No. 16 Garrison Brigade of the Kwantung Army, which is well-equipped. This time, the Di Detachment was formed based on this brigade and entered Shanxi to fight. It only has four subordinate infantry squadrons, as well as heavy machine guns and infantry artillery. , one squadron each of light armored vehicles, which can be said to be a strong force.

"Reporting to the leader of the detachment, after our First Squadron raided an enemy infantry battalion-level marching column, we found that all the enemy troops retreated towards Yanzhuang. According to reconnaissance, Yanzhuang is a large village surrounded by tall brick and earth mixed walls. There is a large doorway on the front, through which a chariot can be driven in. There are two small doorways on the side, through which only two people can pass side by side. The Chinese army's marching column that was attacked by our squadron today was about a battalion in strength, and I defeated it. Then they retreated to Yanzhuang, where about a company of enemy troops built a field position in front of the main entrance of Yanzhuang in a defensive posture."

Captain Liao Jiuxiong, captain of the First Squadron of the Di Detachment, reported to everyone the basic situation of Yanzhuang.

"Thank you for your hard work, Mr. Liao. With one squadron, you defeated an infantry battalion of the Central Army of the Chinese Army with only minor casualties. You killed nearly a hundred enemy soldiers. It was a beautiful battle. It was like the autumn wind sweeping away fallen leaves. It was enough to demonstrate the martial virtue of the imperial army. Of course. , this is also due to the heavy armored vehicles reinforced by the brigade. Your squadron has launched an attack on the outskirts of Yanzhuang, so how is the fighting situation?"

Lia Jiuxiong bowed his head and said with a look of shame: "I'm sorry, sir! Our squadron's attack was unsuccessful. After the enemy retreated to Yanzhuang, they built fortifications in front of the village gate. In the afternoon, our regiment shelled Yanzhuang. , I launched an assault on the enemy's position, but failed. Unfortunately, I was almost there. The assaulting infantry fired at the enemy from the front. The infantry on the flanks used grenades to kill the enemy's light machine gun position, and they were about to break through. At that time, the enemy suddenly opened fire and jumped out of the trench to launch a counterattack..."

Tsubujiagui waved his hand: "Victory and defeat are commonplace in military affairs! There is no need to blame yourself. After all, our enemy is the Central Army of the Chinese Army. From the battle that raided their marching column in the morning, we can see that we have overestimated their combat effectiveness, but , after all, they are the elite troops of the Chinese government and always have a certain degree of combat effectiveness. The results of your No. [-] Squadron's sudden attack on the enemy's marching column today are brilliant enough. Besides, you can't be considered defeated. In the afternoon, the artillery of the regiment fired urgently at Yanzhuang. The attack was carried out in a hurry, and there was no bombardment of the enemy's field positions in front of them. Your No. [-] Squadron has acted as a forward for continuous operations since the Yuanping attack. A tentative assault is nothing, so don't blame yourself too much, Mr. Liao!"

Tsubutsu Takaki changed the topic: "Adjutant Uno, please report to everyone the latest orders of the Corps and the enemy's situation!"

Shuichi Uno took out a few still-warm messages and read them under the dim light: "According to the latest report from the Corps, the friendly Fifth Division will be responsible for attacking the breakthrough of the central position and the eastern position of Xinkou, and our Corps will be responsible for attacking Xinkou. Enemy on the west side!”

Then, Uno Shuichi pointed to the large-scale terrain map on the table. This field map was much more detailed than the map in the hands of the Chinese army.

"According to the reconnaissance information sent by the Corps, data from the aviation reconnaissance and intelligence department show that the main enemy force defending the west side of Xinkou is the No. 14 Army of the Chinese Army's Central Army, and its commander is Lieutenant General Li Mo'an. The enemy's 80th Army The three subordinate divisions are the so-called elite adjustment divisions of the Chinese army. This army fought against the 80th and 85th Divisions in the Pingxi area in August and suffered heavy casualties, including a lot of losses in troops and equipment. Today's battle with What we fought against was the 83th Division of the army. The other two divisions of the army, No. [-] Third Division, No. [-] Fifth Division and an unknown number and unknown number of Jinsui Army also appeared on the battlefield to the west of Xinkou. "Regiment intelligence shows that the main force of the enemy's [-]th Division is setting up defenses on the plain area behind Yanzhuang, Dabaishui, Xiaobaishui, and Lancun. The enemy's [-]th Division and the enemy's [-]rd Division are on the west side of this plain area. The highlands on the front line of Macang, Liuzhuang, Weijiazhuang, and Weijiazhuang are deployed. The task of our regiment is to capture the highlands on the west side, and at the same time defeat the enemy forces in the plains. As long as they are captured, the Chinese army's defense at Xinkou will be over. It will collapse.”

"According to the order of the corps, our corps and the fifth friendly division will launch an attack on the entire Xinkou line tomorrow morning. Our detachment must expel the enemy troops in Yanzhuang tomorrow morning and cooperate with the newly arrived infantry No. 16 regiment to face the front The enemy’s Dabaishui and Xiaobaishui front lines launch an attack!”

The front line of Dabaishui was a fierce attack, and Yanzhuang was "exploded". Just by the difference between these two words, we can see the Japanese army's views on the two important places.

From the topographic point of view, the main defense line of the [-]th Division on this plain area is lined up along the big and small Baishui lines. Yanzhuang where He Wei and the others are stationed is like a nail, far away and protruding from the main position of the [-]th Division. In addition, of course, at least for now, from the perspective of Tsubujia Gui and the officers of the Tsutsumi detachment, this "nail" is rusty and will fall off when touched, so there is no need to take it seriously.

At this time, Di Bujiagui raised his voice and said: "Gentlemen, if you want to capture Shanxi, you must capture Taiyuan first. If you want to capture Taiyuan, you must capture Xinkou first. Although the task of attacking the front of Xinkou is given to the Fifth Division. regiment, but if our Corps can take the lead in making a breakthrough on the Western Front, then the first victory in conquering Xinkou will belong to our Corps, to the Kwantung Army! Commander Shinohara has ordered the Infantry No. 16 Regiment, the fourth tank The brigade is marching towards Yongxing Village at our feet. The main force of the corps will be deployed immediately. It is expected that all of them will arrive tonight. Tomorrow our Di Detachment will advance hand in hand with the [-]th Infantry Regiment. The [-]th Regiment will directly attack the enemy's Xiaobaishui front-line positions. To attack, my detachment must first expel the defeated Chinese troops in Yanzhuang, and then coordinate the attack with the [-]th Regiment to completely defeat the Chinese [-]th Division in the plains!"

"In addition to the [-]th Regiment, the Corps Commander also ordered the Daquan Detachment under the Corps to launch an assault on the enemy highlands on the west side at the same time as our headquarters launched an assault, and launch a full-scale attack on the enemy forces on the western front!"

At this moment, Tsubujiagui's words were particularly heard, and the squadron leaders who were listening to the order were all moved. This group of fanatical militants seemed to have seen the military exploits at their fingertips.

Lia Jiuxiong said a little crazy: "Your Excellency, the detachment leader, please give the task of attacking the Yanzhuang position to our No. [-] Squadron, so that the athletes of my squadron can avenge their shame! Defeat these Chinese defeated soldiers! Play as the forward for the main force of the detachment, Pull out this nail in front of the enemy’s main position!”

(End of this chapter)