Age of Rebirth

According to the terrain conditions of his own brigade's defense, the effect of laying minefields did not need to be said by the commander of the first regiment, Hasbagen, and was soon tested on the battlefield. Major General Wang Qingshan, commander of the First Mechanized Brigade of the Outer Mongolia Field Corps, not only Not only let one regiment, but let all four regiments of the brigade handle it in this way. In front of the blocking position of the first brigade, not only the first brigade has more than 6000 soldiers, one brigade belongs to the heavy artillery regiment, and one "Thunderbolt" "The rocket artillery battalion, as well as hundreds of artillery pieces belonging to the artillery battalion of each regiment, and tens of thousands of landmines.

The night is deserted, the evening wind in August blows through the long trees and miscellaneous forests, bringing the leaves rustling, groups of figures, in the night, like illusory phantoms, coming from a distance, the sound of heavy footsteps, the broken night The tranquility, the breakout operation of the Third Army of the Ximan Kwantung Army was very smooth, so smooth that Lieutenant General Tosa, the commander of the Third Army, felt a little unreal and illusory!

The four divisions of the Third Army were divided into four groups. After [-] o'clock that night, they marched towards the south of the encirclement with a tragic and desperate momentum. The army headquarters acted on the left. An hour later, the battlefield was completely silent, and two hours later, it was still deadly silent. The expected blocking fire and gunfire did not appear.

Until we entered the edge of the Nuluerhu Mountain Range, and then we really entered the mountainous area, still—still there were no independent divisions, blocking them, as if surrounding more than 40 independent divisions of the Kwantung Army , They all fell asleep, and it seemed that they all disappeared overnight!

Looking at the undulating mountains of Nurulhu Mountain stretching towards the sky like waves in the dark night, Lieutenant General Tosa took a deep breath, feeling an ominous heaviness in his heart. He absolutely did not believe it, and surrounded Ximan Kwantung Army troops, more than ten days of independent division soldiers.Let more than 40 imperial soldiers escape in this way, then there is only one possibility for the third army to break through so smoothly.A bigger trap is not far ahead, waiting for him!

The vanguard has already entered the mountainous area. Lieutenant General Tosa ordered the accompanying radio station to immediately contact Lieutenant General Terajima Shinzo, the commander of the Fifth Army who served as the rear guard, and the commanders of the three armies on the left and right flanks to inquire about the situation of the breakout, more than 40 The soldiers moved together, but there was no sound of gunfire.This in itself is extremely abnormal!

Soon, I got an answer that none of the troops that broke out were intercepted by the independent division troops.In the three directions of east, west, and north, it was found that a large number of independent division troops were approaching, but they kept out of the distance of the exchange of fire. They seemed to have no intention of attacking, but were just monitoring and following them from a distance.

After reading the telegram, Lieutenant General Tosa frowned.The troops of the Independent Division put on such a posture and shrunk the encirclement from three directions. How should I put it, it was like driving a flock of sheep in the predetermined direction, which was very unfortunate.The more than 40 Kwantung Army soldiers in Ximan are this flock of sheep.

By now, even idiots will understand that the independent divisions outside the encirclement.It is intentional to let go of the opening in the south, and intends to drive all the Kwantung Army troops in the Ximan area into the Qilaotu Mountain and Nuluerhu Mountain Mountains. A huge trap lies ahead.

However, the commander of the independent division did not seem to hide his intention to fight, otherwise, he should have blocked the third army that had broken through to a certain extent, "Is it a hole or a pocket!" Lieutenant General Tosa laughed at himself, with a strong Even if you know that there is a big pocket in front of you, you still have to bite the bullet and get into it. This is the sadness, the sadness of not being able to control your own destiny.

It is impossible to turn around now. The original defensive position is probably occupied by the independent divisions in the east, north, and west directions at this moment." The situation of our troops breaking through!" Just when Lieutenant General Tosa felt as if he was frying, a confidential staff officer came to report.

Lieutenant General Tosa was no longer in the mood to smile bitterly, "Call back to the commander-in-chief. Our third army's breakout operation went very smoothly. The striker has already entered the edge of the Nuluerhu Mountain. It has been more than four hours since the start of the breakout." Time, without any resistance from the Independent Division, the staff can be sure that the Independent Division has set up a huge trap in the mountainous area leading to western Liaoning!"

"The purpose is to drive our Kwantung Army troops in the Ximan area into the mountainous area, then encircle them, and finally gather and annihilate them. The staff department believes that this breakout operation has no possibility of success at all. The enemy's attempt has been judged. Continue It is really unwise to carry out the order of the headquarters to break out of the siege in the west of Liaoning!"

"Therefore, the Ministry of Staff suggested that our Kwantung Army troops in the Ximan area should use the army as a unit to disperse and break through from all directions, and try to tear apart the encirclement of the independent division troops as much as possible. Perhaps, only in this way can there be a chance of survival!"

Knowing that there is a trap ahead, and insisting on jumping in, it is more pathetic than an idiot. Lieutenant General Tosa decided to state his opinion to the commander-in-chief, General Nanjiro, and use each army as an independent unit to disperse the encirclement. Maybe the loss of troops It will be very serious, but there is always a chance to break out of the encirclement. This is what breakout warfare is like. The more chaotic the battlefield, the greater the chance of survival. Five armies are blooming in all directions, which is much better than being driven into a trap!

General Nanjiro, who was still at the headquarters of the Kwantung Army in Fengtian, quickly called back, but the content of the telegram made Lieutenant General Tosa's hands and feet cold, "Commander Tosa, I must solemnly tell you that the orders of the headquarters cannot be delayed or changed. Even if there is a trap set by the independent division troops, the Imperial Kwantung Army troops in the Ximan area should rush over without hesitation, there is no other way!"

"Any hesitation and hesitation will bring serious and dangerous consequences to the troops. It is your responsibility to win or lose the interim supreme commander of the Ximan Kwantung Army, let alone lead to the entire breakout operation because of your hesitation and hesitation. Don't worry about casualties, only resolutely implement the orders of the headquarters!"

Lieutenant General Tosa felt as if he was about to vomit blood. He knew it was a trap, but he rushed forward without hesitation. I really don’t know whether it was bravery or stupidity. Probably, throwing himself into a trap and moths flying into the flames is what he looks like. ?

"Order the Fourth Army on the left to follow behind us, and the troops on the right and the rear Fifth Army to advance on our right!" Lieutenant General Tosa said to the chief of staff, with too much helplessness and sadness in his tone.

At the headquarters of the Outer Mongolia Field Corps, Sun Zhenbang communicated with Yuan Jinghao, the commander of the North China Field Corps. "Commander Yuan, is there any abnormal behavior in the direction of your regiment?" He asked very leisurely.

"Commander Sun, the little devil seems to have sensed our intentions and has deployed a lot of troops in the rear. However, the main force is still heading towards the Qilaotu Mountain and Nuluerhu Mountains. According to the division's order, our corps has not yet Do it!" Yuan Jinghao said loudly.

"Hahaha!" Sun Zhenbang laughed, "Commander Yuan, the situation here is similar, even if the little devil knows, let's prepare a big bag for him in front, these bastards can't turn back now, now the little devil The devil is sticking his hands in his eyes, he has to turn if he turns, or he has to turn if he doesn't turn! The master's trick is brilliant, and it is indeed much more beneficial to wipe out the enemy in the mountains than the original encirclement circle!"

"Boom! Boom! Boom!" Finally, a series of explosions broke the tranquility of the night, and clusters of flames erupted in the direction of the advance guard of the Third Army, "Huh? Are you finally here?" Tosa Naka Jiang turned suspicious eyes, he didn't understand, if the avant-garde troops entered the trap of the independent division, then the trap would appear very shallow, at least, should they continue to go deeper into the hinterland of the mountain?

"Report to the commander, the [-]th Division of the Vanguard reported that the troops have encountered a minefield and are currently clearing mines!" The combat staff officer quickly ran over to report.

"Minefield!" Lieutenant General Tosa murmured to himself, "Why is there a minefield? Besides, the vanguard troops have just entered the mountain area, and everything is not in line with the routine? Could it be that the independent division troops who set traps in the front mountain area , There are not many troops, and we need to rely on minefields to slow down the marching speed of the troops, mobilize more troops for the commander, and buy enough time?"

Lieutenant General Tosa's eyes suddenly brightened, and he thought of this possibility, but he couldn't believe it. If it was true, then the commander of the independent division on the Ximan battlefield was definitely not a qualified general, "No! No! The cunning Chinese people would never make such a clumsy mistake!" Immediately afterwards, he denied his own judgment, and was surrounded for more than ten days, and there was no possibility of any luck.

At about 40 o'clock in the morning, more than [-] Kwantung Army soldiers in the Ximan area finally entered Qilaotushan and Nuluerhushan Mountains. After receiving the report, Sun Zhenbang and Yuan Jinghao immediately reported to the troops following the Kwantung Army , issued an order to attack, "All brigades, immediately use the most ferocious actions to annihilate the Kwantung Army troops in the rear, and then block their retreat and complete the final encirclement!"

In the early morning of this ordinary day, it was finally no longer quiet. The battle first started in front of the southern blocking force positions. When countless soldiers of the Kwantung Army appeared in front of the soldiers along several ravines, it meant, In Qilaotushan Mountain and Nuluerhushan Mountain, the large pockets prepared for Ximan's more than 40 Kwantung Army were tightened!

Countless heavy artillery shells, with tail flames that were brighter than the dawn light, flew towards them whistling, and smashed into the marching ranks of the soldiers of the Kwantung Army. , In the light of the fire, there are the bodies of Kwantung Army soldiers flying around, stirring up the silent mountainous area.

The blocking troops all chose the same method of attack, using fierce artillery fire to create an insurmountable wall of fire. After the first round of artillery shells exploded among the soldiers, Lieutenant General Tosa gave the commander-in-chief, General Nanjiro, a shot. He sent a very short telegram, "Report from the staff department, we got into the pockets of the independent division troops!"

(To be continued)