The Iron-Blooded Army of Beacon Fire

Chapter 318 Target: Half the Mountain!

Two days after receiving the combat order to the front line of Banbi Mountain in Tianjia Town, the assault force set off on time according to the time specified in the order of the Central Military Commission, taking the lead to move towards Hankou to await shipping. '

In order to speed up the march of the assault force, the Military Commission ordered the Wuhan Garrison Command to mobilize more than two hundred vehicles to transport the assault force from Hanyang to Hankou before the assault force set off.

Therefore, shortly after leaving the camp, the officers and soldiers of the assault corps switched to truck maneuvers near the highway. The entire assault corps, which consisted of more than 4,500 officers and soldiers and a large amount of food baggage, took just over half a day to complete the task. Through motorized transportation, they all arrived at Hankou Pier.

On the evening of July 4, 1938, Hankou Pier.

Waves of fishy river wind blew, and He Wei held his binoculars high and scanned around the dock.

Ships, barges, trestles, warehouses and various port facilities occupied his field of vision. Looking along the river bank, he saw densely packed docks everywhere from near, to far, and to the river beach at the end of the line of sight. trestle.

The river is like a long yellow dragon, meandering with amazing vitality under the afterglow of the setting sun.

On the river, steam whistles sounded from time to time, and although the number of sailing ships could not be called dotted due to the Japanese bombing during the war, they were still numerous.

On the river beaches and piers, hawkers selling food, strong men carrying goods and men pulling fiber can be seen everywhere. If it were not during the war, it would be called a unique and exquisite style.

He Wei put down the telescope and asked Tao Heiwa, the messenger next to him: "Heiwa, go ask Director Wang how the troops are arranged."

"Yes!"

Tao Heiwa, who had been promoted to corporal, took a step forward and was about to run away. At this time, the chief of staff Wang Yuanling and several staff officers also rushed over and said: "Captain, someone from the Wuhan Garrison Command is here. "

He Wei helped up Wang Yuanling, who almost fell, and said, "What's wrong? Speak slowly."

Wang Yuanling breathlessly said: "Someone from the Garrison Command informed me that the original plan was to sail to transport our regiment at six o'clock in the evening, but there seems to be something wrong with the Garrison Command's plan. I'm afraid the ship will be sailing at least an hour later! ”

He Wei's face changed greatly: "What did these people do! They can't even formulate a shipping plan. The battle situation on the front line is urgent, and every second is crucial in mobilizing troops and generals in the rear. If it is an hour late in the back, the battle in the front may not be successful." What’s it like?”

Wang Yuanling frowned and said slowly: "Captain, I guess they are also considering safety. Japanese planes bomb and shoot along the river from time to time. I guess the fleet is afraid of being bombed, so they deliberately set the sailing time to Delay, by the way, Commander-in-Chief, the officer sent by the Security Command is still waiting, saying that he wants to inform our department of the war situation and the next deployment plan. "

Although He Wei was dissatisfied with this kind of shipping plan that changed from day to day, Wang Yuanling also made sense. The Japanese army had an absolute advantage in air control. Ships sailing on the Yangtze River would face Japanese air attacks at any time and at any time. From this perspective, Look, it’s understandable that the Assault Corps’ shipping plan suddenly changed.

He Wei could only shake his head and sighed: "Have the troops settled down?"

Wang Yuanling nodded: "We have organized meals in company units. The troops are resting in the warehouse, and ammunition and supplies have also been moved into the warehouse."

"Okay then, let's go and see what military information the Wuhan Security Command has to report!"

He Wei and the others immediately turned around and walked towards the warehouse behind the pier.

Since the late Qing Dynasty, Hankou Wharf has been an important waterway along the Wuhan river. Relying on the golden waterway of the Yangtze River, shipping and commerce have been extremely developed. There are more than a dozen large and spacious warehouses near the wharf.

Now, these large warehouses used to handle goods have become temporary locations for the commando force.

More than 4,000 officers and soldiers stationed in the warehouse, took off their backpacks, set up their guns and rested.

Various ammunition boxes, grain, supplies, mountain artillery, mortars, tank defense guns, mules and horses and other supplies filled the warehouse.

Soon, under the leadership of Wang Yuanling, He Wei met an officer sent by the Wuhan Security Command. The visitor was a colonel from the Wuhan Security Command and several liaison staff members.

After He Wei met with a few people and briefly introduced each other, the colonel Gao Shen pulled He Wei and Wang Yuanling to a table, took out a large-scale combat map and spread it on the table, and then said: "Captain He, the Military Commission has ordered our Wuhan Garrison Command to be responsible for the transportation of your department. The ship originally planned to transport your department was delayed for some reason. The war situation on the front line is urgent. The Military Commission attaches great importance to your department. Therefore, Wuhan The garrison headquarters specially sent us to report the battle situation on the front line to your department.”

He Wei said solemnly: "Sir, please speak."

The colonel nodded, pointed at the map and said: "Currently, the Japanese army has set out from Anhui Province to attack Jiangbei. Huangmei and Guangji counties are located at the junction of Hubei, Anhui and Jiangxi provinces. They are important waterways. The Tianjia Town Fortress Group in Guangji is also an important Yangtze River fortress. The Chairman of the Standing Committee once said that the Tianjia Town and Fu Fortresses are the key to our main positions in the Dabie Mountains and northern Jiangxi. They are the pivot of the battle in the fifth and ninth theaters and the barrier of Wuhan. , our army must defend it, with the determination to live and die with the fortress, actively prepare, and hold on for a long time to benefit the overall situation. "

"Looking at the overall situation, Huangmei Guangji is outside the Tianjia Town fortress, and the Tianjia Town fortress group is the core of Huang Guang's defense. If Huang Guang is lost, Tianjia Town will be lost, and if Tianjia Town falls into the enemy's hands first, Huang Guang will lose The day is at stake. If Huang Guangyu and Tianjiazhen are lost, Wuhan will also be in danger. Our army has mobilized heavy troops and is preparing to deploy at least two armies to guard Huang Guang. "

After listening to the high-ranking officer talking eloquently, He Wei suddenly asked: "Excuse me, sir, what troops are deployed on the front line of Huangmei and Guangji? But they have already started fighting?"

Gao Shen shook his head: "There has not been a large-scale engagement of fire yet, but the Japanese army is ready to move. It is said that several armies of the Guangxi army are deployed on the Huangguang front line." He Wei felt quite helpless towards this boastful Gao Shen. The person came up and talked about the overall strategy. He talked for a long time but basically didn't give out any useful information for the commando team.

He Wei asked him a question, and the answer he gave seemed to be ambiguous. At a glance, it was obvious that he was the kind of office officer who was good at talking.

He Wei nodded and said patiently, "Sir, please tell me about the deployment of our assault team."

The colonel coughed lightly, smiled awkwardly and then continued: "Captain He, it's like this. According to the original plan, although your department is preparing to guard Banbi Mountain on the other side of the Tianjia Town Fortress, the Japanese army's actions before were not obvious, so in the original plan The plan is for your troops to disembark at Tianjia Town, follow the specific arrangements of Commander Li Yan of the 11th Army Corps, and wait until everything is ready before crossing the river and entering the defensive position at Banbi Mountain."

"But today the Japanese army has already taken action outside Huangguang. In the morning, enemy planes began bombing along the river again. The bombing was so violent that even a naval gunboat was sunk on the river near Tianjia Town. The Military Commission estimates that the enemy is likely to There is a big move, so I have slightly modified your transportation plan and are preparing to let your troops disembark directly at Banbi Mountain and enter the fortress position to serve as a garrison. "

He Wei frowned after hearing this. He was not familiar with the specific situation on the front line of Banbi Mountain.

According to He Wei's expected plan, when the troops arrived at their destination by boat, they would not disembark immediately and enter the Banbishan position. Instead, they would land in a safe place first and wait until they established a command relationship with the 11th Army Corps to understand the specific situation. , make all preparations steadily before entering the predetermined position.

If this is what the senior counselor said, it would be too hasty to directly drive the troops to the reserve position on Banbi Mountain.

Moreover, Banbi Mountain is located on the south bank of the Yangtze River. Does He Wei know that the Japanese are not only making an attack posture in the north of the Yangtze River, but are also preparing to launch a large-scale attack on the south bank of the Yangtze River. Although He Wei has not heard that the war in the south of the Yangtze River has a tendency to expand, after all Also in danger.

After the advance plan was revised, the assault force had to disembark directly on the south bank. He Wei remembered that it seemed that the national army had not deployed many troops on the south bank of the Yangtze River opposite Tianjia Town, or even very few.

If the Assault Corps really ran into the Japanese when they disembarked from the ship, their mother would be pinned down on the river beach and beaten by the Japanese. The consequences would be disastrous. He Wei would never dare to gamble with the lives of thousands of members of the Assault Corps. .

"Sir, as you said, our army has deployed heavy troops on the north bank of the Yangtze River. I don't know what the situation is in the south of the Yangtze River. With all due respect, our unit is currently in emergency transportation. The battle situation is changing day by day. Banbishan is on the south bank of the Yangtze River. , if our troops disembark directly near Banbi Mountain after emergency transportation, the situation will be very bad if they encounter the Japanese army. "

Gao Shen seemed to have noticed He Wei's worries and pointed to the map and said: "Captain He, please rest assured. Not long ago, the 54th Army of the Army under our Wuhan Garrison Command was also assigned to the 11th Army. In the battle sequence, currently, the 18th Division under the 54th Army has arrived at the south bank of the Yangtze River and has stationed itself at the Fuchikou Fortress on the south bank. The Fuchikou Fortress is also a pass and can protect half of the mountain. There was no danger when the troops disembarked at Banbi Mountain."

He Wei didn't reply, just stared at the map.

At this time, Chief of Staff Wang Yuanling said: "It is related to the lives of thousands of officers and soldiers of our assault corps. We have to be careful. Sir, as you said, a division of the 54th Army has already stationed in Fuzhou on the south bank. Chikou Fortress, besides this division, do our troops have any other troops on the south bank? "

Gao Shen thought for a moment and then said: "As for the south bank, I remember that there is also a brigade of the 193rd Division. According to the previous battle report, this brigade is also deployed in the lake network area near Banbi Mountain and can also protect your unit. Disembark safely."

Wang Yuanling felt relieved and said, "That's good, that's good."

He Wei also let out a sigh of relief. No matter what, there are already divisions and brigades near Banbi Mountain. Although the strength of the several corps on the north bank where Tianjia Town is located cannot be compared, he wants to ensure the safety of the assault group. Disembarking and landing should not be a big problem.

Gao Shen smiled again and said: "Haha, please rest assured. Speaking of which, your department is still holding the tank for the 193rd Division."

Wang Yuanling asked curiously: "Oh? Why did you say that?"

"According to the original plan of the Eleventh Army, the garrison at Banbi Mountain will be held by the 193rd Division. In the plan, an infantry brigade from the 193rd Division will be taken out, and a battalion of German heavy howitzers and anti-aircraft weapons will be strengthened to form a new formation. A reinforced brigade was stationed at the Banbishan Fortress. This plan had been planned for a long time. But somehow, the Military Commission suddenly changed the generals, and this was replaced by your commando corps. "

Hearing what Gao Shen said, He Wei thought to himself that the sudden replacement of the Banbishan garrison was probably because the Military Commission was afraid that the scheduled garrison would not be able to handle it, and the Banbishan position was crucial, so it replaced the original troops with the assault corps. garrison.

At the same time, He Wei also keenly captured what Gao Shen said about "German heavy howitzers" and "anti-aircraft weapons," and said: "Sir, you just said that the original garrison strengthened German heavy howitzers and anti-aircraft weapons. Then This time our troops have been assigned to guard Banbi Mountain. I wonder if the increased heavy firepower can still be allocated to our troops?”

Gao Shen said with a smile: "This information is obtained from the telegrams that I forward to the Wuhan Garrison Command and the Military Commission through the Eleventh Army every day. For example, heavy artillery and anti-aircraft weapons are all under the command of the Eleventh Army's battle order. The right of attachment lies with the Eleventh Army Corps. I am not sure how to use it. However, according to the importance of Banbishan Fortress and common sense, if the garrison is temporarily replaced, it should only replace the infantry units and the attached heavy artillery. The heavy firearms will probably remain and be reinforced for the replacement troops. I don’t think Commander He needs to worry about this. "

He Wei nodded, feeling a little more confident. If it was true, as the senior counselor said, that the Eleventh Army had strengthened the garrison at Banbishan with a battalion of heavy howitzers and anti-aircraft weapons, then this battle would be terrible. It's really hard to beat.

With a reinforced battalion of heavy howitzers and a battalion of artillery from the assault corps, he would have two battalions of artillery under his command.

Tsk tsk, this firepower is really not bad.

So, with some expectations, He Wei and Wang Yuanling completed other war situation reports with the colonel and senior counselor, and ordered the staff office of the assault corps to coordinate with the liaison staff of the Wuhan Garrison Command who came with the colonel and senior counselor. After replenishing food and water while transporting along the river, more than 4,000 officers and soldiers of the Assault Corps finally stepped onto the deck of the transport ship at around 7 p.m.

A fleet of twenty-five large and small transport ships sailed majestically downstream in the darkness of night, aiming directly at the half-walled mountain in the fortress group of Tianjia Town, a key pass on the Yangtze River!

(End of this chapter)