Age of Rebirth

Chapter 740: Niuxin Mountain Battlefield

The bloody Liuguhe blockade ended on the sixth day. The arrival of the six cavalry brigades allowed Tang Qiuli to deploy the next battle plan. The main point of this plan was to set up an ambush on the powerful terrain around Niuxin Mountain in Shanhaiguan The position, using the 10,000+ troops retreated from Liuguhe, is the left wing, and the eleven field infantry brigades and artillery brigades that arrived later are the right wing, forming a huge ambush circle, and putting all the troops of the Kwantung Army going south, This is the only way for the Kwantung Army to pass through Shanhaiguan.

At the beginning of the plan, Feng Jiwu strongly opposed it. It was too risky. Although the troops of the Kwantung Army went south after six days of consumption, at least there were still about 33 to 34 troops. The troops withdrawn from Liuguhe, After six days of combat consumption, there was a lot of downsizing, and with the reinforcements, the total strength was only about 26. Facing the Kwantung Army troops far surpassing their own, could such an encirclement swallow the Japanese army?

There is a saying in the military book: "Ten times to wipe out, five times to surround." With less than 8 or [-] Japanese troops, they fought an ambush and encirclement war. The encirclement circle was not much thicker than a layer of paper. Shanhaiguan is approaching the outskirts of Tianjin, Tang Qiusheng and Liu Tiehan's troops will be taken from the rear, and the entire North China campaign will be a failure.

What's more, during the second Pingjin campaign, Niuxinshan was the chosen battlefield to fight against the Itagaki Division. Can the commander of the Kwantung Army who suffered a loss be fooled again? "Using troops will never return." In one place, ambushing the Japanese army twice is a big taboo for military strategists. What if the Kwantung Army's southward troops continue to come?Do you still have troops to stop and aid? [

Therefore, Feng Jiwu resolutely opposed such an adventurous plan. He believed that it would not be a problem to block the Kwantung Army for another seven or eight days by using Liuguhe's existing position and the experience gained in a few days. Although the casualties of the troops would increase, it was safe. , if the reinforcements are brought up, the Kwantung Army will not even think about crossing the Shanhaiguan Pass in this life. It will be easy for the Kwantung Army to return to the front line of Jinzhou with a few counterattacks.

Tang Qiuli was very happy with Feng Jiwu's outspokenness. This shows that senior commanders at the level of independent divisions and corps no longer blindly obey, have the ability to think independently, and can express their opinions. He is a general who stands alone, and cannot personally intervene and intervene in everything.

But Tang Qiuli was very sure. What he caught was the troops of the Kwantung Army going south, eager to enter the pass in order to break the siege of Tianjin and complete the strategic attempt to eliminate or severely damage the independent division troops in the Pingjin Plain. Today, during the day, the Kwantung Army The crazy attack of the troops is even more proof of this point. The battle report from the front line in Tianjin also gave the reason. The Japanese army in Tianjin has been compressed to the core position. Suspected that there was an ambush in Niuxin Mountain, relying on his superiority in strength, he would also run into it.

Moreover, Tang Qiuli did not intend to wipe out more than 30 troops of the Kwantung Army in this battle. As long as they are severely injured, the goal of the campaign will be achieved. The six cavalry brigades in the spring, intercepted at Dahongluo Mountain in the northwest of Jinzhou, and three fierce punches. And confidence, heading south again?

This is much more effective than fighting in positions at Liuguhe, paying a large number of casualties every day, using the blood and lives of the soldiers to stop the Kwantung Army from going south, and it can eliminate the vital forces of the Kwantung Army to the greatest extent. Adventure is a risk, and the odds of winning are extremely high. Big, as long as the first punch is hard enough and fierce enough, I don’t know how many ambushes there are, and coupled with the shadow of the Itagaki division being wiped out, the first reaction to the ambushed Kwantung Army troops is to retreat, and they will fight for it. The last two fists created opportunities. This battle must be fought. The commander of the Kwantung Army did not dare to go south easily. Tang Qiuli was full of confidence and determination.

He finally persuaded Feng Jiwu, and Feng Jiwu put forward many detailed suggestions on the plan, and only then did the military meeting tonight, in the howling sea wind, the two were silent for a long time, "Jiwu, we must grasp the time to leave the battle , don’t let the Japanese army get entangled,” Tang Qiuli warned, this is an extremely dangerous task, and he doesn’t want Feng Jiwu to be in any danger.

Feng Jiwu didn't take it too seriously, he had fought many vicious and tough battles, and he was used to it, so he probably couldn't bear the mood and atmosphere of parting. He left quickly and went to check the preparations of various troops. Tang Qiuli was the only one left in the room. As the space became more and more empty, he called in the communication staff officer, "Send a telegram to ask whether the reinforcement Shanhaiguan troops have arrived at the designated location?" After a while, the staff officer came back and reported that the troops had arrived at the front line of Niuxin Mountain and were waiting for the division commander's order.

"Okay, order the troops participating in the war to immediately enter the right wing of Niuxin Mountain, deploy according to the original plan, and build fortifications overnight. All troops must do a good job of camouflage and concealment. All air defense troops, in the airspace around Niuxin Mountain, arrange tight air defense firepower. If There is a Japanese aircraft entering the ambush airspace, and I will be held accountable, and the entire air force should enter a state of first-level combat readiness," Tang Qiuli ordered, seeing that it was already midnight outside, and it was quiet outside, and the retreating troops were already on the way , I should go too, and go to Niuxin Mountain to command the ambush campaign against the troops of the Kwantung Army going south.

In fact, he still has a faint worry in his heart. What if the Kwantung Army's follow-up troops to the south come later?Originally, he was fighting for more with less, even if a division of the Japanese army came, he would not be able to bear it. It is a trivial matter to break the belly, but if he was beaten and surrounded, half of his family fortune would be handed over here. Jiwu was right to be worried.

Taking advantage of the night, several vehicles turned off their headlights, and after driving in the dark for a period of time, they turned on their lights until they could not be seen by the Japanese army. In the bright beams of light, groups of soldiers sprinted past solemnly. No head or tail could be seen, but no noise could be heard. Cars with large-caliber artillery turned off their lights, and only the sound of motors could be heard, speeding towards Niuxin Mountain in the night.

After turning around the foot of a mountain, a few soldiers wearing armbands appeared on the opposite side, waving small flags in their hands, and stopped Tang Qiuli's convoy. A major ran over and opened the door without waiting for the guards to ask. He lowered his voice and said viciously: "You are looking for death? Vehicles are not allowed to turn on the lights when marching. Haven't you received the order from the Corps Headquarters? Those in the army, report the serial number and show the ID card!"

Sitting in the front seat, the captain of the special guard who was personally protecting him was about to lose his temper when Tang Qiuli stabbed him and realized that the entire marching team, only his convoy was marching with bright headlights on, violating discipline, look Come on, Feng Jiwu's confidentiality work is in place, and it's hard for these auto soldiers. It's the darkest time, and they are so orderly. 10,000+ people retreat at night without any chaos.

The major turned on the flashlight, looked at the certificate, and was taken aback. The division commander of the special guard of the division's security brigade is the division commander's personal guard. Could it be that the division commander is in this car?Looking over, there was only a blurry figure. Tang Qiuli turned his face away long ago, turned up the collar of his windbreaker to cover half of his face, and violated the night marching discipline in front of his subordinates.

Although he was muttering in his heart, the major pondered for a moment, and he still wrote down the squad leader's unit number and name, etc., with a businesslike posture, and let him go after a few warnings. The squad leader in the front row muttered, He felt a little resentful. As the teacher's personal guard, he was not only highly regarded and respected, but those major generals and brigadiers greeted him when they saw him, but he was reprimanded by a young lieutenant colonel. Besides, he himself It's the rank of lieutenant colonel.

Tang Qiuli frowned slightly, but said with a smile: "Why, you feel uncomfortable?" The captain of the secret service team stuck out his tongue and heard the teasing meaning in the teacher's words, but he didn't dare to mutter anymore. At about four o'clock in the morning, they arrived at the Niuxinshan command post. All the brigade commanders of the troops directly under the division headquarters were waiting. After listening to the report, they were very satisfied. The troops responsible for the ambush on the right wing of Niuxinshan were all ready.

Only the troops withdrawn from the direction of Liuguhe made Tang Qiu very anxious. So far, only three brigades have reached the designated position. The rest of the troops are still on the way. Slow, too slow. Before dawn, we need to build a position and camouflage. There are too many preparations to be made for 10,000+ troops. He ordered: "Send a telegram to the Liuguhe retreating troops. At [-] o'clock in the morning, all must enter the preset position on the left wing of Niuxinshan , At ten o'clock in the morning, all preparations for the ambush must be completed!" There is no way to feel distressed, the time is too tight.

The brigade commanders all returned to their respective troops, and the staff officers also went down to the troops. Tang Qiuli was the only one left in the headquarters. For some reason, since Mei Ting and Mei Xue left, he often felt lonely. Maybe it's because I'm used to the days when the Mei sisters are by my side, or because I'm not used to not having a woman by my side. Mei Xue has only been away for two days, and it seems like a long time has passed. Arriving in Dingbian safely, thinking about people was uncomfortable, he shook his head mockingly.

The sky was gradually brightening, and all the troops withdrawn from the direction of Liugu River had all arrived at the designated positions, and they were busy building fortifications. Facing the cool morning breeze, Tang Qiuli climbed to the main peak of Niuxin Mountain. The rugged mountain road was lined with green trees and grass. , with crystal dew, wetted his trousers, a shallow stream meandered at the foot of the mountain, a burst of refreshing coolness revived his mind, and his slightly dizzy mind regained clarity.

Looking down at the foot, there is mist and mist, and a road winds and stretches among the mountains. This is the ambush battlefield I chose to bury the Kwantung Army. Looking at the direction of Suizhong, among the clouds and mist, I can vaguely hear "rumbling" The sound of cannons made my heart tighten. Feng Jiwu and the Kwantung Army exchanged fire. [

(To be continued)