Age of Rebirth

Chapter 430 Rekindling the Flames of War

This is not the first time Tang Qiuli disobeyed orders on the battlefield. He reported to the Military Commission and the old man after the Battle of Pingjin in North China, which caused a lot of criticism. Fortunately, he won the victory and inspired the confidence and courage of the people. The old man also cheered for him. I am happy with my record, otherwise, the end will be miserable.

On the eve of the Battle of Songhu, regardless of the old man's disapproval, four infantry brigades, one artillery brigade, and one air defense brigade of the Sulu Mobile Corps were sent into Shanghai's urban area first. This time, the old man still disagreed with his deployment, and Tang Qiuli still proceeded according to the original plan. This time, how will the old man and the leaders of the Military Commission react?

Tang Qiuli didn't have any more thoughts to think about these things. As long as Shanghai can keep the temporary affairs, the Japanese army's butcher's knife can't reach Nanjing. , The strength of the troops at hand is stretched, and the main force of the Central Army is far away. Once Shanghai is lost, what will he do to make up for it?Therefore, Brother Qiusheng's 14 Sulu Mobile Corps is his biggest bargaining chip in Shanghai. How to use it depends on the needs of the battle. As for the old man's thoughts, he can't take it into account.

In response to the Japanese government's statement on August [-], which was full of lies and distorted truth, the Nationalist government responded accordingly by issuing a highly targeted "Statement of Self-Defense and Anti-Japanese War" on August [-], declaring that "China is determined to Do not give up any part of the territory. In case of invasion, the only way to respond is to exercise the natural right of self-defense, and all citizens also take it as their duty to defend the country, even if the territory is stained with blood, they will not hesitate.” [

The statement expressed the government's attitude towards Japan's military offensive, and it was Chairman Jiang's attitude since the July [-]th Incident that he was truly determined to fight the Japanese to the end. The Japanese plot against the Shanghai area made him extremely vigilant.

At [-]:[-] p.m. on August [-], the Tenth Group Army (i.e., the Sulu Mobile Corps of the Independent Division), with two infantry brigades and one artillery brigade, under the command of Chief of Staff Chang Feng, attacked the Japanese navy and land forces guarding Hongqiao. A team of more than [-] people launched an attack. At this time, Tang Qiusheng, the commander of the corps, had already led the rest of the troops to the Hangzhou Bay area, actively building fortifications, and preparing to face the invading enemy.

At the beginning of the battle, the progress of the troops was not smooth. Hongqiao was a stronghold operated by the Japanese army for many years. There were a large number of solid fortifications and anti-cannon shelters. The open space, the attacking troops, without any obstacles to use, were all exposed to the ferocious firepower of the Japanese Marine Corps. The Japanese army defended here by virtue of the danger, hoarding a large amount of medicine, food and drinking water, claiming that they would stick to it for a year The above is no problem.

The first battalion of the third regiment of the first brigade, which was responsible for the main offensive task, was tightly pressed in place by the Japanese firepower, unable to move. The battalion commander's eyes were burning with anger. In front of him were the remains of dozens of soldiers. It was hit by Japanese machine guns at the beginning of the attack, and the troops had to retreat. The first attack failed and dozens of soldiers were killed.

The artillery battalion in the regiment rushed over to support, dozens of [-]-type infantry artillery and mortars blasted violently, the Japanese stronghold was dusty, bricks and tiles were flying, and the fire was shining. The soldiers yelled happily. , The shelling stopped, the smoke cleared, and the Japanese stronghold was dead silent, without a sound.

The battalion commander waved his hand, and the soldiers of the whole battalion rushed up like a tide. Suddenly, the dead Japanese army stronghold was revived, emitting fire like poisonous snakes. A large area fell, and the soldiers quickly lay down. However, in the open area that was blocked, they still became the target of the Japanese army's shooting, and the Japanese army's mortars also began to shell.

The young bodies of the soldiers on the open ground were blasted into the air from time to time, turning into a rain of blood flying all over the sky. The battalion commander ordered the trumpeters to blow the retreat call. However, how could they retreat under the heavy rainstorm of the Japanese army? After getting down, the artillery battalion of the regiment saw that something was wrong, and quickly suppressed artillery fire. With the help of the billowing smoke and the temporary blocking of the Japanese army's sight, the first battalion finally withdrew.

However, more than 800 soldiers in a battalion were able to come back alive, but more than 600 people were mostly injured. There were more than [-] young soldiers lying on the land of Great Shanghai forever, their blood was stained red The ground below, perhaps, next spring, will grow brilliant wildflowers.

In the two attacks, more than two-thirds of the first battalion and the third regiment of the first brigade suffered casualties, and the establishment was disabled. Less than an hour after the general offensive began, the left arm of the first battalion commander was hit by a quilt, and blood soaked the sleeve of the military uniform. Ticking on the ground along his wrist, he didn't care about it. He violently drove away the health worker who was about to bandage him, grabbed a few grenades and was about to rush forward, but was hugged tightly by two guards, and he cried loudly. , more than 600 fighters, the time is gone in the blink of an eye.

He stared at the blood-red eyes, turned around abruptly, and stared angrily at the commander of the artillery battalion. The commander of the artillery battalion bowed his head guiltily. He saw all the tragic scene just now, and blamed himself for his mistake. My heart hurts sharply, even a lump of iron can be blown up with hundreds of cannonballs fired, why are the Japanese devils okay?

The attack was completely blocked. Less than an hour after the start of the general offensive, the casualties of the troops exceeded 300 people, but they did not even get close to the 500-meter range of the Japanese Hongkou fortifications. The slope has been carefully calculated. When the cannon hits it, even a large piece of concrete cannot be blown up. A large part of the explosive force has been skillfully removed.

If the fight continues like this, the two brigades will fill in with 1000 people, and they will not be able to eat the solid fortifications of the Japanese army. The fortifications of the Japanese army were impenetrable and could not be collapsed by bombardment. The thirty-odd heavy artillery of the artillery brigade could not accurately bombard the target due to the limitation of terrain and field of view. What's more, [-] meters away was densely populated residential areas.

what to do?From the direction of Yangshupu, there was intense gunfire. It was General Zhang Zhizhong's Ninth Army, which was besieging over [-] Japanese marines there. This made Chang Feng even more anxious. Commander Tang gave him an order Yes, take the Japanese Hongkou stronghold in five hours, and then support General Zhang Zhizhong's Yangshupu direction to clear the remaining Japanese troops in the urban area.

But now the attack is frustrated and the troops suffer heavy casualties. Chang Feng is also a veteran of the Independent Division. During the Battle of Mudanjiang in the Northeast, he was transferred from an ordinary soldier to the staff office by the then commander Tang Qiuli during the Battle of Mudanjiang. In his career, he has also experienced countless battles and grown into today's senior general, but this is the first time he has encountered a battle where bombing and bombing are ineffective.

As time passed, the sound of gunfire in the direction of Yangshupu became more intense. The Ninth Army did not have any multi-weapons of its own and needed support. The Japanese army in the urban area could not deal with it. The ** team will face an extremely dangerous situation. It is very possible to be attacked by the center and be attacked by both sides.

Several brigade commanders couldn't bear it anymore, and demanded to form a death squad one after another, using the bodies of soldiers to pave a bloody road for the follow-up troops to attack. Of course, Chang Feng couldn't do this, it was called sacrifice, and there were not enough people Those who went in, the troops were exhausted, what should they do to complete the tasks assigned by the commander-in-chief?He was thinking nervously in the headquarters.

Instead of being anxious here, it is better to go to the forward position and have a look on the ground. Chang Feng brought a few brigade commanders and staff officers to the position of the first battalion, third regiment and first battalion. This is the battalion with the most casualties among the main attacking troops. Scarred and scattered all over the charging road, the remains of the soldiers hurt his eyes, and the roar of the first battalion commander hurt his heart even more.

Because I was the supreme commander of the campaign, all the casualties were caused by poor planning. The reconnaissance of the Japanese army's Hongkou stronghold in advance was not careful enough. Qiu Li admired him the most.

In the dark night, the flames spewed out from the Japanese strongholds were like pairs of demonic mocking eyes. Chang Feng gritted his teeth and observed carefully with a telescope. He could see the traces of shelling, but almost all of them were slight Damage, if there is enough time, an artillery brigade can shell continuously at one point for about three days, and it will certainly be able to knock a crack on the Japanese tortoise shell, but time does not allow. [

The comments of several soldiers reminded him that they were talking about shooting Japanese tanks on Baoshan Road. That iron guy is not as hard as the tortoise shell in front of him. Otherwise, our gun will come in handy. Liang, he mobilized all the anti-tank gun units of each brigade to the direction of the first battalion, which was the main direction of attack. If this passage was opened, the Japanese stronghold would lose its effect.

According to Changfeng's layout, 48 anti-tank guns were lined up in front of the firepower point facing the most violent Japanese firepower. It was based on the temporary shooting position built by five soldiers who were killed in battle. The Japanese army probably also discovered it. This crude temporary bunker suddenly appeared in front of the open ground.

Dense light and heavy machine guns came like migratory locusts. The anti-tank gunners killed five people before they fired. The guns were all fired at one hole, where a heavy machine gun of the Japanese army was pouring bullets crazily.

With a bright tail flame in the dark night, the armor-piercing drilled accurately into the hole of the gun, and there was a dull explosion. Immediately afterwards, dozens of meteors scrambled to get in. The heavy machine guns of the Japanese army were dumb at that time. Thick smoke and flames, blasted concrete, big chunks flying up, done, the method worked.

The rest is easy to solve. As long as the artillery fire is concentrated and bombarded along the cracks, the tortoise shell will be smashed piece by piece. As the firepower of the Japanese army becomes dumb, the troops have already entered the charge position. The front is to completely The exterminated Japanese devils.

(To be continued)