The Iron-Blooded Army of Beacon Fire

Chapter 327 Advance the column
Faced with the current critical battle situation, He Wei made a decisive decision to take the initiative.

After the meeting, the cadres of the major and above of the assault corps and the chiefs of each section of the staff were gathered in the war room in the command post. Ma Ji, commander of the 385th brigade, and Lei Zhongwei, captain of the naval artillery team, were also gathered by He Wei Stay and prepare to discuss the specific deployment of the proactive plan.

A second lieutenant staff officer of the Assault Corps unfolded an exquisite military map on the table. Chief of Staff Wang Yuanling pointed at the map and introduced: "This is a large-scale map. What is marked on the map is more than ten kilometers along the river from Fuchikou. The topography of this map took a long time to complete, but the level of detail is quite good, so it can be used as a reference. Please take a closer look.”

Everyone gathered in front of the map. He Wei nodded, compared it with his right hand, and said: "The purpose of this proactive attack is to warn in advance. Firstly, it is to rush forward to detect the Japanese attacking troops on land. Secondly, it is to attack the Japanese troops along the river." The Japanese warships are carrying out reconnaissance and early warning. According to my plan, our department will send a small and capable force to carry out this task. However, we still need your opinions and collective efforts as to what the next step should be."

Fu Chen, commander of the 1st Infantry Battalion of the Assault Corps, said: "Captain, if you take the initiative to attack, it is necessary to send an advancing force. However, in my opinion, the size of this advancing force should not be too large, otherwise Once there are larger losses, it will be detrimental to our unit’s future defensive operations.”

"Well, I will consider Battalion Commander Fu's opinion. If other people have any opinions, including the size of the attack force, the strength of the troops and the equipment of firearms, please feel free to speak freely."

As soon as he finished speaking, He Wei noticed a captain standing behind Wang Yuanling. This man had been hesitant to speak since he entered the war room.

Seeing this, He Wei asked curiously: "Chief Zhao, if you have any ideas, please tell me."

When the captain officer whom He Wei called Section Chief Zhao heard He Wei call him to speak, he stood up slightly nervously and licked the scar at the corner of his mouth. The war room suddenly became quiet, and everyone stared in surprise. Look at this Captain Zhao.

This Captain Zhao is named Zhao Zhanhai. He is currently the chief of the Combat Training Section of the Assault Corps Staff Office. Like He Wei, he is from the Northeast. After graduating from Fengtian Junior High School, he was admitted to the Cavalry Department of the Northeast Army Lecture Hall due to his poor family background. .

At the time of the September 18th Incident, Zhao Zhanhai was serving as a probationary officer with the rank of corporal in the cavalry company directly under the 7th Independent Brigade of the Northeastern Army stationed in Beidaying.

On the night of the incident, the Japanese army launched a sneak attack on the 7th Independent Brigade of the Northeastern Army stationed at Beida Camp. The 7th Brigade was suddenly attacked. All units rushed to fight, causing chaos and heavy losses. All the officers of Zhao Zhanhai's company were killed. Under such circumstances, the officers and soldiers of the company successfully resisted the Japanese attack.

During the breakout stage of the 7th Brigade, Zhao Zhanhai took the lead and led the rest of the cavalry company directly under the 7th Brigade to attack forward. Using sabers and lances to clear the way, he split the Japanese defense line blocking the 7th Brigade's retreat and opened the way for the 7th Brigade to attack. The breakout route out of Beidaying.

Shortly after the Northeast Army retreated into the pass, the entire Northeast fell, and the Northeast Military Academy fell into the hands of the enemy. Zhao Zhanhai, like many students studying at the Northeast Military Academy, had not yet graduated from this military academy. Instead, the military academy first It fell into the hands of the Japanese!
Zhao Zhanhai also became a student of the Jiangwu Hall who lost his diploma due to the interruption of his studies due to the war.

Although he was out of school, Zhao Zhanhai was appreciated by Wang Yizhe, commander of the 7th Independent Brigade of the Northeast Army, for his excellent performance on the night of September 18th. He was promoted to the rank of second lieutenant platoon leader of the cavalry company directly under the 7th Independent Brigade, and later promoted to lieutenant staff officer of the brigade headquarters. .

After the Independent Seventh Brigade was reorganized into the Army's 107th Division, Zhao Zhanhai was sent to the cavalry unit of the Marshal's Guard reorganized from the Commander-in-Chief's Guards Headquarters of the Northeast Frontier Army with a letter of recommendation.

Later, this bodyguard of Marshal Zhang Xiaoliuzi was reorganized into the 105th Division, the most elite unit of the Northeast Army. This division was the most elite unit of the Northeast Army. Zhang Xiaoliuzi's personal guard was directly composed of three infantry brigades and nine infantry brigades. An infantry regiment, the size of the troops directly under it is also far larger than that of ordinary troops. It has jurisdiction over directly affiliated cavalry regiments, artillery battalions, automobile teams, anti-aircraft artillery battalions, communications battalions, guard companies and other units.

After Zhao Zhanhai was transferred to the 105th Division, he served as the captain company commander of the cavalry regiment directly under the division. Although the subsequent Jehol War of Resistance ended with the defeat of the Northeast Army troops again. However, Zhao Zhanhai performed bravely in the battle. During the battle, he commanded his cavalry company to eat up a Japanese infantry squad in a melee. He also killed a Japanese captain officer with his saber, which became the complete defeat of the Rehe War. A rare highlight.

Zhao Zhanhai was also appreciated by Marshal Zhang Xiaoliuzi.

After the Anti-Japanese War in Rehe, the Central Military Academy began to recruit military students and officer training course students from the Northeastern exile students and Northeastern Army troops. Zhao Zhanhai took the initiative to apply for the examination. After passing the examination, he was directly transferred to the Central Military Academy after passing the examination. In the ninth phase of the Military Academy, he entered the system of the direct troops of the Central Military Academy, obtained a diploma from the Huangpu Military Academy, put on a yellow jacket, and became a Huangpu student.

After entering the Central Military Academy, Zhao Zhanhai, who originally studied cavalry, took the initiative to study infantry in order to master the knowledge of other military subjects, and his grades during school were also very good.

After graduating from the Central Military Academy, Zhao Zhanhai was unable to return to the original army because the various units of the Northeast Army had been annexed and disintegrated. So he simply started from scratch and was re-appointed as an officer with the rank of second lieutenant. He was also selected to study in the staff class of the Army University. , while studying at Army University, he also met Wang Yuanling, now the chief of staff of the assault corps.

Because of his relationship with Wang Yuanling, Zhao Zhanhai joined Wang Yuanling in the Military Command Department after graduation. When Wang Yuanling was transferred to the Wuhan Branch of the Central Military Academy, he also transferred to the Wuhan Branch with him as a lieutenant tactics instructor, and taught tactics for both cavalry and infantry. course.

Later, Wang Yuanling joined the Assault Corps. Zhao Zhanhai, who wanted to serve in the front-line combat force, naturally took this opportunity to join the Assault Corps and was promoted to the third section of the Assault Corps Staff Office, that is, the combat section. Captain Section Chief.

He also showed extremely high professional abilities and professional qualities when performing various combat training tasks of the Assault Corps. He Wei was also excellent in both academic and academic disciplines. He had both military school education and practical experience, and was a fellow countryman with himself. The officer Yi was deeply impressed.

Although Zhao Zhanhai performed extremely well as the chief of the Combat Training Section, he has always longed to participate in actual combat and fight the Japanese with real swords and guns. After all, he narrowly escaped death on September 18th and fought bloody battles in Rehe. His experience and the grief of the fall of his hometown made him have an extremely deep hatred for the Japanese.

Today, He Wei's proposal to take the initiative was a great opportunity to participate in actual combat, so he boldly said: "Everyone, looking at the terrain from Fuchikou to Jiujiang, it is mostly a network of lakes, hills, fields and hills. After capturing Jiujiang, the Japanese army will definitely attack the front line of Banbishan and Tianjia Town where the headquarters is located. The Japanese army's equipment is heavy and it is difficult to move. Therefore, the troops dispatched by our army must be mobile and flexible. "

"I personally think that our department should mobilize a group of elite officers and soldiers to form an attack force, equipped with powerful close-combat automatic firearms, all replaced by civilian clothes, and horses as mobile tools, equipped with radio stations, signal guns and other communication equipment. If conditions permit, the light mortars, general-purpose machine guns and sabers currently equipped by our assault corps should also be equipped. With such a mobile force composed of elite officers and soldiers and sophisticated weapons, it can advance quickly and attack in the direction of the enemy. Advancing more than ten kilometers or even dozens of kilometers, whether it is against enemies on land or enemy ships on the surface, it is enough to perform reconnaissance and surveillance, and it is enough to serve as a forward security force for our unit. "

Before He Wei could speak, Wang Yuanling frowned, coughed twice and said: "Chief Zhao's idea is good. The attack force mentioned by Section Chief Zhao can be supplied by our headquarters in terms of weapons and manpower. It’s not a problem, but I’m afraid we won’t be able to get these horses together. We are all infantry troops, and the horses in each battalion are all pack horses for pulling cannons. Pack horses and cavalry horses are two different things, and they cannot be used as charge horses. ah."

Ma Ji, commander of the 385th Brigade, looked at Wang Yuanling with a smile and said: "Haha, Director Wang doesn't have to worry about this. Before setting off, our 385th Brigade was reinforced by the cavalry company of our division. The cavalry company of my division has about two hundred horses. If you need war horses, I can help, and I can also help with some men. "

"It's great to have brigade commander Ma to help. If the required troops and horses are still not enough, we can also ask Commander Li Yannian for help." Wang Yuanling nodded to Ma Ji. After solving the material problem, Wang Yuanling Obviously he agreed with Zhao Zhanhai's combat proposal.

Immediately, everyone in the war room looked at He Wei, who had been silent.

He Wei actually quite agreed with the tactics proposed by Zhao Zhanhai, and after thinking about it briefly, he said: "What Section Chief Zhao said makes sense. Our department should take the initiative and send out a powerful and fast mobile force. It is very appropriate to use automatic firearms as attack means, radio stations and signal guns as communication means, and horses as means of maneuver to conduct alert and reconnaissance against Japanese warships along the river and incoming ground troops."

"I agree with Section Chief Zhao, but I would like to add a few points. This proactive advancing force has nothing to say to the Japanese surface ships going up the river. If you find a Japanese ship, report it immediately. Never expose it to the enemy. In front of the Japanese warships, the shells fired by the naval guns exploded into pieces. We couldn't afford it. But for the Japanese ground troops, this advancing force must not only carry out reconnaissance missions, but also have a certain attack power. If it is carried out on land, When encountering the Japanese army during the search mission, this advancing team must have the resilience to be in constant contact with the Japanese army and have the ability to capture the Japanese army. If they encounter a small Japanese army, they can kill them directly if they are sure to do so. The large troops must be able to stick to them, keep an eye on them, and report the movements of the Japanese troops to our Banbishan garrison headquarters at any time and at any time."

"When necessary, we can also actively move to the Japanese army's flanks, track the enemy's flanks, and harass the Japanese army."

Seeing that He Wei had issued the supplementary order so firmly, Chief of Staff Wang Yuanling knew that He Wei had agreed, so he asked: "Captain, look at the specific organization and main body of this advancing force, who will be the main force?" How about taking charge of the army?”

He Wei tapped the table with his hand, and after thinking for a moment, he said: "The tentative designation of this advancing force is the advancing detachment. I think it will be based on the special agent company directly under the headquarters' assault corps. All the brothers in this company are with me." From the veterans who fought all the way from Jinling, brothers who can ride horses were selected, and some veteran brothers who were able to ride horses were selected from other units in the entire corps to add them to form a horse-mounted infantry company that uses war horses as a means of maneuver. "

After saying that, He Wei looked at Ma Ji again and said with a smile: "Since Brigadier Ma has a cavalry company, I will not be polite. I will select a platoon of elite cavalry from this company to form the advancing column. As a cavalry assault and reconnaissance force, the company's officers and men's horses that are not participating in this sortie are temporarily transferred and loaned to the mounted infantry company of our assault corps for use. If there is still a shortage of horses, I will contact Commander Li Yannian to second them. "

"In addition, a radio communication squad was taken out from the communication company of our assault corps, and the horse-mounted infantry company adapted from the radio and the special agent company was merged with the elite cavalry platoon of the horse brigade commander to form an advancing column."

"In terms of weapons, my assault team took care of everything. We took out our inventory of equipment. There were plenty of twenty-ring box guns and MP28 submachine guns in our warehouse. We also equipped all the brothers in the cavalry unit under Brigadier Ma."

At this time, Lei Zhongwei, the captain of the naval artillery team, said: "Sir, I request that our naval artillery team send an officer to join this advancing column. Once the Japanese navy warships are discovered upstream of the river, our navy's The officers are here and can help with judgment and handling of the situation.”

He Wei said: "Okay, you can also let the brothers from the navy join in."

"Captain, let's see who will be the commander of this advancing column."

Wang Yuanling asked.

He Wei looked around at the officers attending the meeting, considering who should lead the advancing column.

At this time, Zhao Zhanhai suddenly shouted: "Report!"

He Wei was stunned for a moment and asked his fellow Northeasterner: "What's going on? Is there a problem with Section Chief Zhao?"

Zhao Zhanhai said in a pleading tone: "Captain, please let me command this advancing column."

He Wei thought for a while and said slowly: "You want to lead the advancing column?".

Zhao Zhanhai replied firmly: "Since Zhanhai graduated from Huangpu Military Academy, he has been feeling guilty for not having the opportunity to show off his talents on the battlefield to serve the party and the country, and for not being able to contribute to the recovery of his hometown in Northeast China. I did it when I was in the Northeast Army. I am a cavalryman. I studied infantry at Whampoa Military Academy. I know both infantry and cavalry, and I also know a little bit about mobile warfare. Please give me the opportunity to lead the advancing column, take the initiative to search, and serve as a warning vanguard for our main force. !”

Wang Yuanling frowned and said with some dissatisfaction: "Zhao Zhanhai, if you lead this advancing column, what will happen to the combat training department? Who will handle the combat training business?"

"Director, the staff officers in my department can now take the lead. The combat training department can still operate as usual without me. If I are asked to lead this advance column, I will definitely arrange the business of Corey before arriving. , to ensure that the entire department operates as normal," Zhao Zhanhai said with eager eyes.

He Wei thought for a while, Zhao Zhanhai is really an excellent candidate. He has rich combat experience and received triple education from the Northeast Army Lecture Hall, the Central Military Academy and the Army University. Looking at Zhao Zhanhai's red eye circles, Thinking of the feelings of his fellow countrymen, He Wei readily agreed.

"Okay then, you will be the commander of this advancing column."

Zhao Zhanhai was so excited that he stood up and said loudly: "Zhanhai will never let down the hard work of the captain."

He Wei nodded towards Zhao Zhanhai, suddenly remembered something, and asked Zhao Zhanhai: "Zhanhai, you served in the Northeast Army. I remember that there were many Japanese instructors in the martial arts hall in the Northeast, and the teaching materials were also Japanese standard. Do you speak Japanese?" ?”

"Captain, I can speak some Japanese. The cavalry instructor when I was studying in the Cavalry Section of the Northeast Army Lecture Hall was an active officer of the Japanese Kwantung Army."

He Wei praised: "Good, very good. Our headquarters also has a special team. All the team members are Japanese prisoners of war. If you can speak Japanese, you can bring this group of people with you. It may be of great use. My advancing column will be give it to you."

(End of this chapter)