War of Resistance

Chapter 468 Picking up?

While General Toshiichi Terauchi, commander of the North China Front Army of the Japanese Army, was discussing with his Chief of Staff Naozaburo Okabe how to further expand the campaign, the battlefield in Yi County was rarely quiet.

The remaining main force of the Japanese army retreated in Yi County is building a line of defense in Jiuding Mountain and Yi County City, and it seems that there is a move to defend Yi County to wait for reinforcements.

On the same day, the enemies in Taierzhuang were basically wiped out. The Central Executive Committee of the Kuomintang sent a telegram to encourage Commander Li Zongren, and rewarded the soldiers who contributed.

The day before this, that is, on April [-]th, the enemy army was defeated. The five armies under Cao Fulin's Intercept Corps of the National Army went south along Jinpu Road and arrived at Lincheng and the north side of Zaozhuang. The enemy's retreat was blocked.

It was also on April [-]th that Wang Mingzhang, the commander of the [-]nd Division of the Army, died in the Battle of Teng County.

However, to everyone's surprise, Zhang Zhen's [-]th Division did not reach the narrow crossing east of Guoqizi Mountain as planned, but encountered trouble in the villages on the Jinshan Temple line west of Baishan Mountain.

The Japanese army did not have the opportunity to enter Zhangshan, but it does not mean that the Japanese army did not rush into other places.

After the enemy of Taierzhuang was ordered to retreat, the troops fled quickly in several groups. Among them, the main force fled towards Yi County and Zhangshan. The troops are not weak, at least 4000 people, especially the artillery has the most abundant ammunition reserves.

As a result, these Japanese troops, relying on their excellent equipment and surviving combat effectiveness, launched a counterattack against Zhang Zhenzhi's [-]th Division, aiming to defeat Zhang Zhen's troops.

At dawn on April [-], the Japanese army first bombed the village west of Baishan twice with three planes, and then launched a fierce attack on the [-]th Division of Zhang Zhen who had entered here with very fierce artillery fire.

From dawn to dusk, the Japanese army fired nearly [-] shells at the position of the [-]th Division. After a day-long bombardment, the Japanese army began to launch a fierce attack on the left flank of Baishan with two brigades. The situation is very fierce for a while.

Since the Second Army and the No.80 Fifth Army were tasked with quickly chasing the enemy, Tang Enbo assigned the two artillery battalions of the No.20 Army to Zhang Zhen's department under the urgent situation. One each of the Wusheng Heavy Artillery Battalion and the 75mm Field Artillery Battalion are responsible for carrying them forward.

However, in the face of such ferocious artillery fire from the Japanese army, the howitzer battalion and field artillery battalion temporarily attached to Zhang Zhen's department could not exert their power at all, and were suppressed by the Japanese army.

Therefore, Zhang Zhen, the commander of the [-]th Division, could only grit his teeth and stiffen his teeth, and at the same time sent a report to Tang Enbo, asking for instructions.

Tang Enbo also knew that Zhang Zhen's [-]th Division was related to whether he could build a defense line east of Guoqizi Mountain, so he could only ask Li Zongren for help.

After all, the enemy of Yi County is the most important thing. Although the strength of the enemy of Baishan is not too large, they must not be allowed to join the enemy of Yi County, otherwise it will be very troublesome.

If the enemy in Yi County can be completely wiped out, it will be another great victory for the troops in the fifth theater, so both Li Zongren and Tang Enbo have set their sights on Yi County.

After receiving the order, Li Zongren, the commander-in-chief of the fifth war zone, also looked embarrassed. It seemed that the troops in the vicinity had been transferred almost. Is it true that troops should be transferred from Yi County to cover the gap of the [-]th Division?

After thinking about it, Li Zongren hesitated.

"Brother Yan Mou, you are also an old man in the Fifth War Zone. In your opinion, which unit is the most suitable to mobilize, I couldn't think of which unit to mobilize for a while. The siege of Yi County The troops are all capable of fighting well, and it is not suitable to transfer any one." Li Zongren looked at the chief of staff Xu Zuyi next to him.

At this time, neither Bai Chongxi nor Cheng Qian, the commander of the first theater who came from the first theater to assist in the command, was no longer around. The usual Li Zongren was decisive.

After thinking for a while, Xu Zuyi said: "Brother Delin, in my opinion, it is better to mobilize troops that are better at defending to block the hole of Zhang Zhen's [-]th Division, and we must not let the enemy hold back the advance of this division. Pace. I remember that Tang Enbo transferred the howitzer battalion and the mountain artillery battalion of his army to Zhang Zhen's [-]th Division yesterday. The other things are not important, the important thing is the two artillerymen of Tang Enbo's army The battalion must be delivered to the front line of Yi County as quickly as possible."

"Brother Yan Mou is interested in this defensive unit, which one is it referring to? Could it be the first regiment directly under Zhang Tianhai's third theater?" Li Zongren asked with a smile.

"No, the good steel directly under the first regiment in the third war zone can't be wasted. It must be used wisely. My idea is to transfer part of Sun Lianzhong's second army to the village west of Baishan To take over the position of the [-]th Division. If the situation permits, a division under Sun Lianzhong's command or another brigade can be sent to the position of the [-]th Division. After all, the [-]th Division has strengthened a heavy artillery battalion In addition, a Shanpao battalion is struggling to deal with it, if it is not strengthened properly, I am afraid there will be trouble here." Xu Zuyi said in a deep voice.

"How do you plan to use Zhang Tianhai's regiment? His regiment is an elite force, and they can be used as an independent brigade. I want to hear your opinion." Li Zongren said with a serious face.

"If it were me, I would arrange for them to guard the west of Yi County. This would be regarded as taking over the position of Sun Lianzhong's Second Army. The positions of the two troops transferred from here will be filled." As he said, Xu Zuyi changed the subject and said: "Speaking of Zhang Tianhai, didn't he apply for a marriage? I have to help him officiate the wedding when I have time. I can be regarded as a witness! Wait for him to fight It's over, that's it."

"It seems that you still value this kid Zhang Tianhai. Your idea is right, so let's implement it like this! Tang Enbo's equipment is really good, but compared to the precision of the first regiment directly under the third theater, I think It’s still not close. You are the person here who knows Zhang Tianhai the most. Since you value him so much, you can order someone to come up with a battle plan in a while! I’ll wait for your good news. As for Zhang Tianhai’s marriage, let him Prepare yourself, if he can win the battle on the front line, not only you will go to help witness the marriage, but I will also go. This can be regarded as giving him enough face. In the battle of LY, he really fought very well. I do have some uneasy conscience in my heart." Li Zongren said half-jokingly.

"Well, it is said that he married Zheng Boqu's daughter. This guy is so lucky!" Xu Zuyi smiled and said, "Okay, I won't say anything else, I will go and carry out your orders first!"

"Go, go!" Li Zongren waved his hands.

……

PS: Today's second update is sent, the missing updates are finally completed, it's not easy, good night everyone.

(End of this chapter)