Age of Rebirth

Chapter 540 Three Battle of Xuzhou ([-])

Zhang Zizhong's worries are unreasonable. Shangqiu is flat and almost dangerous. The Sulu Garrison Regiment reorganized from the 29th Army is not only inferior to the main forces of the Independent Division in terms of combat quality and firepower equipment. Su Jingfeng's troops were also slightly inferior.

This is the level that Tang Qiuli ordered Zhang Quan to reach after several supplements. The troops have been fighting, and Tang Qiuli did not spare time to change this situation. Therefore, the Sulu Garrison Corps blocked the Japanese army in Shangqiu for two days He was full of worry. Su Jingfeng's death made Tang Qiuli not want to suffer any more blows. Being outnumbered had always been the fighting method he avoided as much as possible.

However, in his hands, there are no other troops to take on this task. Li Zongren's troops will not be fully in place until the afternoon of December [-]th. Before that, Zhang Zizhong's troops can only be used to block Shangqiu. Deploy calmly and gain enough time.

Tang Qiuli considered for a long time, and decided to send a telegram to Zhang Zizhong. It was this telegram that made Zhang Zizhong feel vaguely unhappy. The Sulu Garrison Corps can withdraw from Shangqiu after dark on December [-], and the remaining blocking tasks will be completed by the five brigades of deputy division commander Tang Qiuli. [

In addition, Tang Qiuli also specially reminded Zhang Zizhong to learn from Kaifeng's lessons and prevent small groups of Japanese troops from infiltrating behind the defense line, causing casualties to the command organization. Next possible action time.

Only then did Zhang Zizhong understand why Su Jingfeng, who had been in touch with him for the past few days, suddenly cut off the news. From the report, he also clearly grasped the situation of the battle. No later than the morning of the [-]th, the vanguard of the Japanese army will arrive at the outskirts of Shangqiu.

As a passionate soldier, Zhang Zizhong saw worry from the teacher's telegram. Although it was well-intentioned, it also had an element of care. This made him feel uncomfortable. That unit was willing to let the supreme commander take care of it. This battle is good, and the actual battle results prove it. Although the 29th Army does not have as many cannons as other troops, it also has a lot of passionate men.

He knew what his decision meant. Perhaps, the old 29th Army would be wiped out in this battle. Kaifeng was an example. The Yellow River Henan Defense Corps suffered half of the casualties, and the 29th Army would not fall below this ratio. It is to fight positional blocking warfare, which is conducive to giving full play to the firepower advantage of the Japanese army.

Therefore, he took a look at all the terrain of Shangqiu in person, and based on the experience of the Kaifeng blockade, he also adopted layers of blockage on the periphery. After killing the Japanese army, he shrank his troops and carried out street fighting in the urban area. After doing everything, Zhang Zizhong did not relax much. What made him feel at ease was that the five brigades led by deputy division commander Tang Qiusheng, with a strength of more than 7 troops, had already formed a third line of defense in Xiao County, Anhui, behind him.

On the morning of December [-]th, in the wilderness west of Shangqiu, there was billowing smoke and dust, and the roar of motors. The vanguard of the Japanese army appeared in Zhang Zizhong's binoculars. Isotani Rensuke still adopted the tactic of tank troops as the lead and infantry following. I don't believe that the squadron will still adopt the tactics on the outskirts of Kaifeng, concentrating artillery fire to destroy most of the tanks.

However, just to be on the safe side, he ordered the artillery unit to march in a fighting posture to ensure that they could go into battle at any time. He also ordered Yamazaki to change the way of advancing in several routes, adopting the method of advancing in two routes and increasing the distance between the chariots. The Japanese army who received the order Artillery commander, almost going crazy, what kind of bullshit order is the commander?

Artillery soldiers march in a fighting posture, and they can't get their guns into the barrel. Let's go with the cannons?After searching through the marching regulations of the armies of various countries, there was no such whimsical order. He had no choice but to compromise and ordered some light artillery to follow the tanks to provide artillery support at any time. As for the heavy artillery towed by eight mules and horses, they could only At the end of the marching sequence, let's talk about the battle.

Zhang Zizhong's army does not have the capital of Su Jingfeng's army. He has three artillery regiments, but they are all light artillery. There is a heavy artillery that overturned the tank, but none of them. However, Zhang Zizhong has his own way of fighting. He ordered the troops, In front of the first defensive position, a large number of anti-tank trenches were dug.

The top is camouflaged with wood, and it is impossible to see that the bottom is a deadly trap, and explosives are buried in the trench, as long as the little devil's tank plunges into it, keeping these iron turtles flying into the sky, at least it can delay the tank's attack Mobility and breakthrough capabilities.

Yamazaki commanded the tanks to advance in two ways. This time, he was more careful and ordered the leading tanks to stop after a certain distance. They fired guns and machine guns to conduct fire reconnaissance. After reaching the outskirts of Shangqiu, Yamazaki breathed a sigh of relief. This time, he was not attacked by intensive artillery fire from the Chinese army.

Before they were happy enough, the dozens of tanks in front of them suddenly fell into the deep ditch with their buttocks in the sky. Yamazaki's heart flickered, and he screamed inwardly. Going to wait to be beaten, he quickly ordered the tank regiment to retreat immediately. As for the tanks in the trenches, they could only ask for blessings, and there was nothing they could do to help them.

Yamazaki’s words came true. A series of loud noises and clouds of gunpowder smoke rose into the sky. The Japanese tanks that fell into the trench were blown up into flames and black smoke. However, he couldn't escape the light and heavy machine gun fire from the forward position, typing and the flames all over his body fell down one after another.

There was an unlucky Japanese tank, which happened to plunge into the explosives, and was immediately turned upside down by the huge explosive force. As for the Japanese tank soldiers inside, they had no choice but to admit that they were unlucky. Immediately, the explosives in the tank were detonated by high temperature and died The explosives tore the Japanese tanks to pieces, with broken tracks and bent barrels flying all over the ground.

Finally, Yamazaki was more careful, so that he did not lose more tanks. If he had followed the multi-way approach, Zhang Zizhong could have reimbursed more than half of the Japanese tanks, and the Japanese artillery following behind immediately established a position. The cannon roared and flew towards the first blocking position of the Sulu Garrison Corps.

The battle started like this. Isoya Rensuke, who heard the battle report ahead, covered his head with his hands, and almost fainted from the pain. Here again, that Chinese devil, how many troops are there on the road leading to Xuzhou? Waiting for myself, if Shangqiu fights for another three days, Xuzhou fights for another three days is still unknown, Tang Qiuli mobilizes troops to surround him, his first army will be very dangerous!

It's also strange. The dispatched army headquarters reported that Tang Qiuli's troops were fighting against the imperial army on various battlefields. In Henan, there is no longer the main force of the independent division. But what is he facing? Multiple troops formed multiple blocking lines of defense?

Isotani Rensuke couldn't figure it out, but he understood one thing. Shangqiu had to fight like Kaifeng. The Japanese army stopped and began to organize an attack. The old method was to launch a violent shelling first. He must be in the open area outside Shangqiu to wipe out most of the strength of the squadron on the opposite side. He doesn't want to fight anymore, and the street fighting in Kaifeng city makes him sweat when he thinks about it.

Zhang Zizhong had prepared for a long time, and the Japanese army's offensive routine was well known. After killing dozens of Japanese tanks, he immediately ordered the troops to withdraw from the first line of defense. The troops took some casualties. [

After the Japanese artillery fire was extended, the troops quickly returned to their positions, just in time to meet the first wave of attacks. Immediately, there were fireworks around Shangqiu, and the sound of guns was loud. After hearing the news of the setback of the Yamazaki Chariot Team, they immediately knew that this time, they had encountered a difficult opponent again.

After five o'clock in the afternoon, Zhang Zizhong ordered the troops to abandon the unrecognizable first line of defense and switch to the second line of defense. After the Japanese occupied the first line of defense, they did not stop, and then began to attack. The result was the same. , was beaten badly again, and stopped at the second line of defense.

According to Zhang Zizhong's plan, the fortifications on the periphery of Shangqiu should at least stop the Japanese army until tomorrow morning. His strength is about 1 more than that of the Yellow River and Henan Defense Corps. Therefore, he made a plan for a large defense system in depth. Four perimeter lines of defense.

The biggest advantage of this style of play is that it can avoid sticking to one position as much as possible, and is heavily killed by the superior artillery fire of the Japanese army. When it gets dark, the second line of defense is still in the hands of the Sulu Garrison Corps. Watching the night gradually shroud Rensuke Isoya let out a long sigh and ordered the troops to stop the attack and consolidate the existing positions.

The plan to enter Shangqiu before dark fell through. From the familiar fighting style, Isotani Rensuke saw the shadow of Kaifeng's independent division troops blocking him. It was found that the firepower of this unit was not as good as that of the independent division in Kaifeng, at least there was no artillery.

When Isoya Rensuke commanded the troops to storm Zhang Zizhong's defense line in Shangqiu, he didn't know that the cavalry regiment he sent out as a suspect, Yingzuo, was in a disaster.

The Tongbatu Cavalry Second Brigade roared out from the Taihang Mountains, with swift movements, arrived at the designated position before the Japanese cavalry arrived in Gongyi, and then set up an ambush circle in the Mengjin area west of Gongyi, waiting for Ying Zuo to come forward Come to die.

After all the troops were ready, he immediately telegraphed to the division that the second cavalry brigade had completed its combat deployment. The division commander Tang Qiuli's reply was only ten words: "Total annihilation, so that one person slips through the net." Tong Batu's eyelids twitched. The call back came with a ruthless vigor.

Use a cavalry brigade to deal with the Japanese army, a cavalry regiment and an infantry brigade, and adopt a sudden attack. If you can't win, you might as well cut your neck with a saber. The key is to prevent a Japanese soldier from running away. This is difficult. The Japanese army The big ocean horses in his hands are faster than his own war horses. Tong Batu used his brains, how can he complete the command of the teacher?

(To be continued)