The Iron-Blooded Army of Beacon Fire

Chapter 328 Attack and Confrontation

Two days later, in the open space on the back side of Banbi Mountain, more than 300 officers and soldiers of the newly established advancing column gathered urgently early in the morning and stood solemnly in the hot and humid morning light, waiting for He Wei's final lecture before the attack.

After two days of emergency preparation, the advancing column responsible for the forward search and warning mission has been organized.

This advancing column consisted of a mounted infantry company, an elite cavalry platoon, a radio communications squad, and a health ambulance squad.

Among them, the backbone of the horse-riding infantry company is the officers and soldiers who can ride horses in the special agent company directly under the assault corps. A group of veterans who can ride horses are selected from other units of the assault corps to supplement them, making up the establishment of an infantry company of the assault corps. Yang Biao, lieutenant commander of the special agent company, is the leader of the team.

The officers and soldiers of the elite cavalry platoon were selected from the cavalry company under Ma Ji's command. There is also a communication squad responsible for long-distance communication tasks and a health rescue squad responsible for first aid tasks.

In addition, He Wei also assigned a special force composed of ten former Japanese officers and soldiers who were captured during the Jinling Defense Battle to this advancing column.

Standing on a small earthen mound, He Wei nodded slightly as he watched more than 300 officers and soldiers in various costumes standing in awe, holding their horses.

The more than 300 officers and soldiers in front of them all changed into the clothes of ordinary people at this time. Some were wearing coarse cloth mandarins, some were wearing patched shabby long gowns, and some were wearing coarse cloth and native clothes without sleeves, and some were wearing They wear small melon-skin caps or coarse cloth turbans, and wear cloth shoes and straw sandals on their feet. They are all dressed up as ordinary farmers.

If you don't look at the sophisticated weapons and saddles on the horses of these officers and soldiers, and just look at their clothing, these more than 300 brothers are more like a merchant caravan or a roving folk horse bandit team.

Although the uniforms of the officers and soldiers were simple, the equipment and firepower of the advancing column were very powerful.

Among them, the weapons, equipment and firepower of the mounted infantry company are completely in accordance with the current infantry company unit of the Assault Corps. The automatic firearms carried include nine Czech light machine guns, three mg34 general-purpose machine guns, and six Brandt mm The equipment quantities of mortars and other firearms are also in accordance with the organizational standards of the infantry company of the Assault Corps.

The elite cavalry platoon supported by Ma Ji was also equipped with new weapons and equipment from the assault group's inventory. Each cavalry was issued a Czech VZ24 rifle, a Mauser twenty-shot pistol and an MP28 submachine gun, making this cavalry platoon fully armed. Teeth possess extremely powerful melee assault firepower.

In order to increase the mobility and sustained combat capabilities of the advancing column, not only all the horses of Ma Ji's cavalry company were allocated to the advancing column, He Wei also applied to Li Yannian, commander of the Eleventh Army Corps, for a supplementary batch of cavalry horses and pack carriers. A draft horse for supplies.

Li Yannian did not have any decent cavalry troops under his command, but in order to make He Wei work hard for him, he still transferred a group of horses from the cavalry company directly under his ninth division to He Wei. In this kind of hard work, After collecting together, He Wei finally equipped nearly 400 war horses and pack horses for the advancing column.

He Wei looked at the advancing column, nodded, and said to Zhao Zhanhai, the commander of the advancing column beside him: "Well done, your advancing column is not only the forward of the headquarters, but also an extraordinary force. You are a cavalry student." , I won’t say any more, but I’ll send you a message: move forward boldly, be flexible, and keep in touch frequently.”

Zhao Zhanhai, dressed as a hawker, stood at attention and replied: "Captain, don't worry, I understand!"

"Have you brought enough ammunition and food? Are you still short of anything?"

"Captain, there is no shortage. The food supplies we brought are enough. Director Li Youcai also got us a batch of biscuits and cans, and cash was also distributed. When we get to the front, it will be enough whether we bring it ourselves or buy it on the spot. use."

"That's good."

He Wei patted Zhao Zhanhai on the shoulder and was about to start lecturing him when he saw a man with a sinister look on his face sneaking over with a smile and flatteringly said to He Wei: "Sir, our special operations team is ready for battle!"

After saying that, the man smiled at Zhao Zhanhai who was standing next to He Wei, nodded and said: "Hello, Captain Zhao, hello, Captain Zhao."

Zhao Zhanhai immediately took a few steps back in disgust and said dissatisfied: "Captain Liu, this is the Chinese army. In our military system, there are no captains, only captains. Please adjust your wording."

"Yes! Captain Zhao!"

Captain Liu who came to He Wei to be a good boy was none other than the former Japanese army second lieutenant officer Kanjiro Nishi who was captured by He Wei during the Battle of Jinling and was later renamed Liu Lu by He Wei.

During the Battle of Jinling, this person was instigated by He Wei using special means to join He Wei's command. In the Battle of Jinling, it was this person who led the way that allowed He Wei to successfully lead his troops deep behind enemy lines and successfully kill the enemy. "Uncle the Emperor."

After the establishment of the Assault Corps, Liu Lu and his nine surrendered Japanese prisoners were also organized into the Assault Corps' Rangers by He Wei and attached to the staff of the Assault Corps. Liu Lu was also awarded the title of the Chinese Army by He Wei. Rank of Lieutenant.

Now, the advancing column is about to search forward and serve as the vanguard. There is a possibility of contact with the enemy at any time. This special force composed of former Japanese officers and soldiers also has a place to be used. It is logical that He Wei incorporated it into the battle sequence of the advancing column. .

He Wei squinted his eyes and looked at Liu Lu, and said: "Well, that's right, follow Captain Zhao and work hard. This advance column has a certain guerrilla nature in this operation. It is the time when your Rangers are establishing their merits. If your Rangers For those who have made contributions in this battle, I will not be stingy with rewards. If you serve well, subsidize and reward them, they will be greatly rewarded. "

Liu Lu bowed repeatedly and said: "Understood! Sir! Understood! I will serve you to the death."

Although Liu Lu had a flattering look on his face, there was nothing false in his eyes. Liu Lu and his Rangers had already wholeheartedly planned to be loyal to He Wei.

Not to mention that He Wei has photos of these former Japanese officers and soldiers making all kinds of disrespectful and insulting actions towards the Japanese Emperor and the Japanese flag, which are enough to be used as a handle against them. Even they themselves feel that they are in the Chinese army. Serving in the service is more comfortable and nourishing than living in the Japanese army.

Take Liu Lu as an example. In the Japanese army, he was just a second lieutenant who was not from the Army Non-Commissioned Officer School. His salary was meager and his living conditions were not very good. He was often bullied and beaten by superior officers and officers from the Army Non-Commissioned Officer School. The risks involved in combat were Also huge.

After joining He Wei, Liu Lu's military rank was promoted to lieutenant. Although this lieutenant was a "black official" appointed by He Wei at will, his salary was paid as usual, and he had meat every meal on weekdays. Jianxun's daily treatment and salary are more than a little bit better than those of the Japanese army.

Although the Chinese officers and soldiers of the Assault Corps looked down upon this group of Japanese prisoners and gave the Rangers many rolls of their eyes, scoldings, and teasing, no one started to beat them. In short, for the Japanese prisoners of war, compared with their previous lives in the Japanese Army, the life here in the Commando Corps was not a paradise, but it was still much more comfortable.

There is no way to run, and they are in the comfort zone. The mentality of these Rangers has long since completely changed to serving Wei Wei wholeheartedly.

"Okay, Captain Liu, I'm very optimistic about you. We're going to leave soon. Come back to the team!"

"Yes!"

Liu Lu bowed to He Wei, stood at attention solemnly, and then ran back to the Rangers.

After Liu Lu moved away, the smile on He Wei's face remained unchanged, and he said to Zhao Zhanhai: "Zhanhai, you don't have to be so resentful towards these Rangers. If you use these people well, they will definitely play a big role on the battlefield. , you can use them boldly.”

Zhao Zhanhai said: "Captain, I understand the truth, but when I think that these people were Japanese soldiers, I feel uncomfortable. I always feel that they are enemies."

He Wei shook his head and said: "Be careful when you should be careful, and use it well when you should use it. Remember, if these two or five boys are used well, they will play a greater role than a battalion or a regiment. Japan People use traitors and puppet troops are not easy to use. We still have to learn from the Japanese on this point. Let me tell you the truth, these people in the Rangers have something in my hands. They don't dare to rebel easily. They ran back to the Japanese army, and I am absolutely sure that they will not survive, so don't worry. "

Zhao Zhanhai savored what He Wei said, thought for a moment and said: "Captain, I understand that when it's time to use the Rangers, I will definitely choose the opportunity to use them."

Immediately, after Zhao Zhanhai saluted He Wei, he got on his horse and rode back to the advancing column. He Wei stood on the small soil bag and lectured loudly to the troops who were about to attack: "Brothers, I saw I am very pleased to see such a magnificent military appearance today. Without further ado, I know that some of your brothers are from the Assault Corps, and some are brothers under Brigadier Ma. No matter which unit the brothers belonged to before, they are all in the column now. One member, this operation is a forward search and warning operation for our Banbishan Garrison Command. It plays a vital role in the future operations of our main force. I hope all brothers will be careful on the battlefield and fight the enemy bravely. , Those who have merit on the battlefield will be heavily rewarded, and those who have made mistakes will be severely punished. I am waiting for your good news here! "

After saying that, He Wei nodded to Zhao Zhanhai who was standing on the horse in the distance, waved his hand and shouted: "Attack!"

"Yes!"

Zhao Zhanhai became so angry that he drew his saber and waved it, shouting at the officers and soldiers advancing in the column: "Brothers, the time has come to kill the enemy, let's attack!"

In an instant, more than 300 officers and soldiers of the advancing column rode out one after another. Hundreds of military horses stepped on the ground and marched forward. The ground trembled under the horses' hooves, and dust filled the sky. Under He Wei's watch, gradually Leaving Banbi Mountain, we headed towards the line from Fuchikou to Jiujiang.

Looking at the advancing column gradually going away, He Wei raised his arms and made a fist in the air. He knew that the beginning of this fierce battle would definitely be started by the advancing column he sent.

At almost the same moment as the advancing column set off, in the suburbs of Jiujiang, more than 80 kilometers away from Banbi Mountain, a huge Japanese army group was slowly advancing along the suburban road.

This marching team was led by infantry, followed by baggage, cars, cavalry, and artillery, forming a mighty marching team of more than 10,000 people.

The air near the Japanese marching column was filled with the smell of gunpowder smoke, the pungent stench and the smell of blood. Not far away, over Jiujiang City and the nearby villages, columns of black smoke and fiery red plumes were rising into the sky. Flames.

This huge Japanese army marching column is exactly the elite Japanese army - the Botian detachment that has been winning consecutive battles recently.

In the regular establishment of Japanese field forces, there is no such unit as a detachment. A detachment is only a temporary establishment. It is usually temporarily formed by several regiments, service units, or brigades and squadrons. The size is not fixed and can be established at any time. After formation, the unit commander's name is generally used as the temporary number, and the number will also change with the replacement of the commander.

It is not uncommon for Japanese detachments to be active on the Chinese battlefield, such as the Sasaki Detachment and the Kunisaki Detachment, which were beaten into three grandsons by He Wei in the Battle of Jinling, and the Setani Detachment, which was severely damaged by the Chinese army in the recent victory at Taierzhuang. The detachment and the Sakamoto detachment are all temporarily organized detachment units.

However, this Botian detachment is different from the vast number of Japanese field troops from Japan on the Chinese battlefield. It is a Japanese field force originally stationed in Taiwan.

Thanks to the waste of the Manchus, Japan obtained China's treasure island of Taiwan during the Sino-Japanese War of 1898-1895. After the Japanese army occupied Taiwan, in order to suppress the anti-Japanese resistance movement of the people on the island, the Japanese army withdrew the main force of the Japanese army from Taiwan during the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1894. The remaining retired soldiers and some active-duty soldiers of the garrison jointly established the Taiwan Island Garrison, establishing a standing and permanent Japanese military garrison on Taiwan Island. Since then, they have assumed the task of guarding Taiwan Island for decades. Long.

The Battle of Songhu broke out on August 1937, 8. In order to reinforce the Japanese Songhu Dispatch Force, the Japanese army transferred troops from the Taiwan garrison to form a detachment.

By 1938, this detachment was continuously strengthened and became a powerful combat force with two infantry regiments as the backbone and a large number of baggage, artillery, health, automobile and other arms. It is headed by Major General Shigeichi Namada, so it is also called "Namida Detachment."

After the Japanese army's strategic plan to attack Wuhan was put into effect, the Botian detachment was immediately put into the attack on Wuhan, serving as the vanguard of the Japanese army's attack on Wuhan.

The Botian Detachment, a unit that is inferior to the old Japanese field divisions in terms of history and combat record, showed very strong combat effectiveness after the Battle of Wuhan began.

At the beginning of the Battle of Wuhan, the Botian detachment launched a surprise attack on Anqing at an extremely fast speed, firing the first shot of the Japanese attack on Wuhan. After capturing Anqing, the Botian detachment continued to attack along the Yangtze River, captured the Madang Fortress, and repulsed the Japanese army. The 16th Army, 49th Army, then joined the 106th Division and continued to advance, and successively repelled the 64th Army, 43rd Army, and 73rd Army.

A few days ago, the Botian detachment launched another landing operation in Jiujiang, cooperating with the 106th Division, 9th Division and other friendly forces to capture Jiujiang. It can be said that it was a series of battles and victories, and it achieved a very brilliant record.

A few days after capturing Jiujiang, the Japanese army, which had established a foothold on the south bank of the Yangtze River, once again adjusted its strategic deployment. The 106th and 101st divisions targeted Nanchang to attack and advance, while the Botian detachment, which had been victorious in many battles, divided its forces and launched a menacing attack. Changed attack target.

The direction of attack of this mighty Japanese army's Botian detachment march was exactly along the Banbi Mountain line on the south bank of the Yangtze River, which together with Tianjia Town guarded the gateway to Wuhan.

(End of this chapter)