Age of Rebirth

As the spearhead of this offensive force, the First Brigade of the Corps directly under it is already at the forefront. Although there are only two mechanized regiments with a strength of nearly 9000 people, the two tank regiments accompanying the attack, one heavy artillery regiment and one self-propelled artillery regiment A "Thunder" rocket artillery battalion, plus two artillery battalions belonging to the regiment, and aviation air fire support that can be called at any time. ,

The armored group assault capability and the ferocity of heavy equipment firepower are more than the two brigades of the Japanese army. It is no problem to take down Royhill City, which is only guarded by more than 4000 Japanese troops. Moreover, Liu Hongzhang is really serious. He didn't pay attention to the more than [-] Japanese troops. His goal was the main force of the retreating Japanese army, Royhill City. It was just a convenient battle during the pursuit.

Liu Chenglin, chief of staff of the brigade, hesitated and reminded: "Brigade commander, our brigade is at the forefront of the offensive force. Now, we have pursued for about [-] kilometers. According to the command of the headquarters, we should withdraw immediately or stop the pursuit. , stand by!"

"The city of Royhill is more than 30 kilometers ahead, but it has broken through the command's regulations to pursue the depth. Also, the command has repeatedly emphasized in the order that the little devil's retreat this time is to lure the enemy into the depths. I am afraid that the more than 4000 little devils in Royhill City are used to lure us to continue chasing, and there should be an attempt to encircle them with heavy troops!"

"I know, otherwise, if the little devils retreated across the board, why would they leave more than 4000 people waiting to die alone? They are so stupid to even lay the bait!" Liu Hongzhang said nonchalantly, "Cheng Lin, the little devils want to catch me Liu Hongzhang, I'm afraid it won't be that easy."

"We are a fast-tracking column, all marching mechanized. We pounce on and swallow these more than 4000 little devils. Then, we retreat quickly. If we want to fight or leave, we take the initiative. Tell me, are the little devils staring? Surrounded by heavy troops, I see the opportunity, maybe I will bite him again!"

"Brigade Commander, that's really what you're analyzing, what about the fight?" Liu Chenglin was obviously agitated.

"Fight!" Liu Hongzhang said without hesitation: "Cheng Lin, the commander ordered the brigade headquarters. The troops were divided into two groups and attacked from the south and the west at the same time. The heavy artillery regiment and the self-propelled artillery regiment, as well as two tanks The regiments are all placed in the southern direction of the frontal attack, and the attacking troops are required to end the battle within five hours!" This includes the time for the march of more than 30 kilometers, and the time left for the troops to resolve the battle.That is about four hours.

"Then how to report to the headquarters?" This is the question that Liu Chenglin is most concerned about. The brigade commander's decision violates the order!

"Stupid!" Liu Hongzhang said: "On the way to pursue the Japanese army, our army was suddenly counterattacked by the Japanese army in the direction of Royhill. The Japanese army was far inferior to our army. Therefore, the first brigade quickly pursued the column. This part of the Japanese army is all wiped out, and the battle is going on fiercely!"

"That's okay too?" Liu Chenglin looked at the brigade commander's big mouth.It is really admirable to say that the active attack is an encounter.

"Why not!" Liu Hongzhang said with a smile: "The situation on the battlefield changes rapidly. What can't happen! Come on, don't just stand there and give orders!"

In the city of Royhill, the regiment headquarters of the 130th Fifth Regiment of the Japanese Army, Colonel Kobayashi Yokono, was worried. He looked at the military map on the wall. He knew that his regiment had been left in Roych by the brigade commander, Major General Inoue. Your purpose and destiny are definitely not good.

The entire division and even all the Imperial Army troops on the battlefield in central Australia are retreating crazily, trying to get rid of the chasing China Independent Division troops. They have a reinforced wing of more than 4000 people, relying on Royhill's city defense Fortifications, can stop this torrent?

Anyway, Colonel Kobayashi didn't believe it, but the military order was like a mountain. The order of the commander of the Inoue brigade was to ask the 140th Fifth Regiment to stick to Royhill for 24 hours. As for why, the brigade commander Inoue didn't say, and Kobayashi Dazuo didn't dare to ask. Anyway, he understood that the 130th Fifth Regiment was like a piece of fat exposed to the eyes of wolves!

Mr. Kobayashi was worried. His alliance was more than 100 kilometers away from the main force of the division. Royhill has now become an isolated stronghold. Once the independent division of China launches an attack, it will be difficult for a long time. As for any reinforcements, one day and one night, is it so easy to defend? Now, the only hope is that the Chinese troops will not pursue so fast, so as to give themselves time to breathe.

"Report to the regiment leader, the search squadron discovered through reconnaissance that the China Independent Division was found in the area of ​​Houdichi Spring, more than [-] kilometers south of Royhill!" A staff officer came in and reported, completely smashing Kobayashi's luck.

"It's still coming, it's coming so fast!" Colonel Kobayashi sighed, "Are you clear about the enemy's strength and equipment?"

"Not too detailed!" The staff officer replied, "About 9000 to [-] people in a brigade, but there are a lot of heavy artillery and tanks, and the firepower may exceed that of one of our divisions!"

"Baga!" Kobayashi Dazuo felt cold in his heart. This battle is impossible to fight. He is alone and helpless. The enemy's strength is more than twice that of his own, and the firepower is beyond the reach of the alliance. He is equipped with eighteen 75mm guns. The reinforced artillery brigade of caliber mountain guns may not even be enough to fit between the teeth.

"What is the current movement of the Chinese troops?" Kobayashi is concerned about which direction the Chinese independent division troops found will go. If it bypasses the city of Royhill, that is the best result. Of course, it is purely a fluke. Thinking, within hundreds of kilometers, only your own wing defends the city of Royhill. The commanders of those Chinese troops are not blind, can they not see?

"I'm rushing in the direction of Royhill City!" The staff officer's answer shattered Kobayashi's last chance of luck, "Convey my order, and all the regiments will enter the fortifications and prepare for battle. At the same time, the Royhill City If you are attacked by the China Independent Division, report to the head of the Inoue Brigade!"

According to Colonel Kobayashi's deployment, the regiment's only fire support unit, a reinforced mountain artillery brigade, was deployed in the south of Royhill City, not to resist the attack of the Chinese troops, but to give them a lot of support from the first round of shelling. Killing, as for what to do next, my own mountain artillery brigade was also submerged in the rain of bullets from the Chinese artillery!

In the town of Djala in central Australia, where the headquarters of the Australian Army of the Independent Division is located, Tang Qiusheng couldn't help but frown slightly after receiving a telegram from Liu Hongzhang. Among the four-way offensive troops, Liu Hongzhang's brigade was the fastest and most active in pursuit. According to The position they reported before had already reached the regulated range where the pursuit depth should not exceed [-] kilometers. According to the reconnaissance of the reconnaissance plane of the air force, there were not a large number of Japanese troops nearby, so how could there be a battle?

What's more, the current Japanese army is retreating at full speed, luring the enemy to go deep. Why is there still Japanese troops in the direction of Royhill who dare to counterattack, and their strength is far less than that of Liu Hongzhang. Tang Qiusheng doesn't believe it. Hongzhang, he has never been a worry-free master!

"Guanghan, Liu Hongzhang's telegram, don't you find it strange?" Tang Qiusheng asked Yu Guanghan, the chief of staff calmly.

"Hehehe!" Yu Guanghan smiled knowingly, and said, "Deputy commander, on the battlefield, anything can happen. The most likely thing is that there are a small number of Japanese troops defending Royhill. The brigade commander is probably thinking about it, but even if the headquarters gives an order immediately, it will be too late for him to retreat, and I am afraid that everyone is already on it now!"

"This is Liu Hongzhang!" Tang Qiusheng was not angry. Originally, the pursuit depth of [-] kilometers is a theoretical limit. Liu Hongzhang contacted and at the same time sent a telegram to Liu Hongzhang to quickly end the battle, don’t patronize the pleasure, let the Japanese army make dumplings!”

At the same time, General Ito, the commander of the Japanese Australian Front Army, received a report from the Inoue Brigade of the No.40 Fifth Division. His eyes fell on the city of Royhill. The first fish, nearly 9000 soldiers of the China Independence Division, are not many, but they are worth encircling.

General Ito immediately issued an order, ordering all No.40 Fifth Divisions to stop retreating immediately, turn around and return to Royhill City, and the troops on the left and right flanks to outflank each other, and each dispatch a brigade of troops, and the attached artillery units can go to Encirclement in the direction of Royhill City.

In order to encircle Liu Hongzhang's rapid pursuit column with less than 9000 troops, General Ito mobilized a division and two brigades, with a strength of more than 7000 troops. Of course, the troops must fight cautiously.

For a time, the small town of Royhill in central Australia became the focus of the battlefield in central Australia, so much so that it alarmed General Ito, the supreme commander of the Japanese and Australian troops. If Liu Hongzhang knew about the independent division of China, he would be even more excited?

The first brigade of the directly subordinate troops quickly pursued the attack of the column, and the attack was like a thunderbolt. According to the order of the brigade commander Liu Hongzhang, a heavy artillery regiment, a self-propelled artillery regiment, a regiment belonging to the artillery battalion, and a regiment were concentrated in the southern offensive direction. More than a hundred artillery pieces of various calibers formed two artillery groups. Following the command of the commander, groups of artillery shells whizzed and landed on the Japanese positions.

The artillery group of the first brigade, the shelling level is absolutely fierce enough, "Boom! Boom!——Boom!" The loud noise continued, the ground shook, the fire was sparkling, and the smoke and dust were filled. After a series of soil pillars, the Japanese army's position was plunged into a sea of ​​flames, and the pervasive gunpowder smoke soon shrouded the city of Royhill in fear!

Four or ten minutes later, the Japanese position had turned into ruins. Liu Hongzhang put down his binoculars and ordered: "Tanks cover the infantry and start attacking!"

(to be continued) (to be continued...)