Glorious Mission 1937

Chapter 280: Praying Mantis Catching Cicadas

On December 12th, at dawn, Liu Enmao's No.10 army buried pots and cooked food. Before seven o'clock, the army crossed the Wenyu River and began to march towards Gujiao.According to the plan of Commander-in-Chief Sun Weiru Sun, the 15th Army will lead the way as the forward of the whole army, and Li Jiayu's 15th Army will serve as the central army, following 47 miles behind the 15th Army, and he himself will lead the 30th Army. The 38th Army followed the 47th Army with a distance of 30 miles.

There are more than 6 people in the three armies separated by less than [-] miles. No matter which army is in danger, the other two armies can rescue them in time without worrying about being gathered and wiped out by the enemy.

At 10:30 in the morning, the No.15 army had passed the retreat ditch and was about to enter Wangxiangtai.Speaking of the 15th Army, it can be regarded as a miracle in the national army. The predecessor of this army was bandits and stubborn armed forces in the western Henan area of ​​Henan, also known as the "Zhensong Army".During the first Northern Expedition of the National Revolutionary Army, the "Zhensong Army" took refuge in the Northwest Army.In the Central Plains War, the "Zhensong Army" rebelled from the Northwest Army and joined Chiang Kai-shek, and was incorporated into the 1th Route Army of the 2nd Army. In May 11, the 1930th Route Army was renamed the Army, with Liu Maoen as its commander, and it still consisted of three divisions.

但是在中原大战后，老蒋该军进行整编，原所辖第65、第66、第67师合并编成第64、第65师。分别以刘镇华、刘茂恩任师长。[

After the outbreak of the Anti-Japanese War, Liu Maoen led the army from the Macheng area of ​​Hubei to the front line of North China to cover the transfer of the army retreating from Datong, Shanxi and the evacuation of supplies from the military station.In October of the same year, the army was temporarily stationed in Huo County, Shanxi Province, and participated in the Battle of Xinkou.

Because it was compiled by bandits, although the years have changed, some traditions have been handed down, including some practices that belong to bandits marching.

"Military seat. In front is Wangxiang Terrace, and if you go further in, you will find a stretch of ravines. The terrain is very dangerous." Liu Zhenhua, the commander of the 64th Division, said.

Liu Enmao took out the map and looked at it and said: "This broken map is really bad. If we follow the instructions on it, the little devil's map will be better for us to sleep in Dashan tonight."

"That's right, the little devil's map is much more accurate than ours. It's incomparable." Liu Zhenhua said with a sigh.

It has to be said that the maps used in one's own country are not as good as those drawn by the invaders.

"Let's not talk about that, it's our old rule not to enter the mountain, but I'm afraid it won't work if you don't go in today. It's still the old rule, send a sharp knife company to go in, and fire scouts to clear the way. Make sure it's safe before leaving." Liu Enmao ordered.

"Yes, I'll make arrangements now!" Liu Zhenhua said.

In a mountain depression three kilometers away from the entrance of Wangxiangtai, an infantry regiment of the 108th Division of the Japanese Army lay quietly on the ground, not daring to make a sound.

And Liushuyan, less than five kilometers northwest of Wangxiangtai, is the headquarters of the 108th Division of the Japanese Army.

"Your Excellency, Head of the Reporting Division, Frontier is calling!"

"Read!"

"Hayi, Commander Takaki called to say that the Chinese army has arrived at the entrance of Wangxiangtai. Its strength is one Chinese army, about 2 people. However, the Chinese commander was extremely cautious and did not enter the mountain immediately. An infantry company is investigating, and the main force is currently stationed outside the mountain." The telegraph soldier read aloud.

"Yo Xi, Your Excellency, Commander, is very predictable. The Chinese people are indeed very cautious. Order the troops to stay where they are, and don't let the Chinese people see their flaws. As long as they enter the pockets we set up, they will die." Dead." Lieutenant General Xia Yuan Xiong Mi grinned.

"Hay!"

Since the Japanese army's camouflage was very good, and most of the troops were ambushed on the top or behind the mountain, the sharp knife company of the 15th Army also carried out careful investigation, and even conducted fire reconnaissance on the mountain.But nothing abnormal was found.

After receiving the report from the Sharp Knife Company, Liu Enmao lowered his guard slightly and ordered the troops to divide into two groups immediately, with Liu Zhenhua commanding the 64th Division.From Lianyingzhai, pass Longwangmiaogou and Liushuyan, and go straight to Malan Town.The other route was directed by him personally, from Wangxiangtai to Laoyagou, through the East and West Gaota Mountains, and finally joined forces with Liu Zhenhua in Malan Town.In this way, he can quickly pass through this mountainous area. Liu Enmao always feels a little nervous in this mountainous area.

"Nani, are the Chinese troops divided?" Lieutenant General Xiong Mi was extremely furious after receiving the report from the forward observation post.

He had sent people to conduct a detailed investigation of this mountainous area before, and he knew that there were several ravines in this mountainous area that could lead directly to Malan Town, the gateway of Gujiao.But only the road from Laowangmiaogou to Liushuyan is the most suitable for large troops to march. The other roads are bumpy, and the mountain roads are very steep, so the marching speed of large troops is very slow.Coupled with the limited force, Xiayuan Xiongmi judged that the Chinese army would definitely take the road of Longwangmiaogou, so he put all the main force here. [

The Chief of Staff of the 108th Division, Suzuki Toshiyuki, frowned and asked: "Your Excellency, what should we do now, the Chinese people have divided their troops, should we continue?"

Xieyuan Xiongmi thought for a while and said: "Order the troops to let go of this Chinese army. We will ambush the Chinese army behind, and then go back and destroy this 15th army."

"Leave the 15th Army alone? The Imperial Army is likely to be attacked by the enemy. If the 47th Army of China cannot be quickly eliminated by then, our army will be in an unprecedented battle. Please think twice, Commander Suzuki!" Admiral Suzuki Toshiyuki persuaded.

"Baga, it is very difficult for us to rush out to wipe out this Chinese infantry army now. Once the guns go off, the imperial army may only wipe out one infantry division in China, while the other Chinese troops will slip away quietly. This pair of commanders Your Excellency's strategic deployment poses a deadly threat, so now our only way is to let go of the 15th Chinese Army and ambush the 47th Chinese Army behind. Besides, letting go of the 15th Chinese Army will definitely make the Chinese [-]th Army behind The army relaxes its vigilance. At that time, the effect of the ambush will be unprecedentedly good, as long as one of the armies is eliminated, the remaining two armies are no longer enough to threaten our army, do you understand?" Xiayuan Xiongmi said loudly.

"Hay, I understand!" Colonel Suzuki Toshiyuki said loudly.

What Liu Enmao didn't know was that it was precisely because of his division tactics that his 15th Army escaped a catastrophe. Otherwise, with the powerful forces of a division, a brigade, a tank regiment and two artillery regiments of the Japanese army, they would have wiped out the Japanese army. His motley crew is not a piece of cake.

At one o'clock in the afternoon, Li Jiayu arrived at Wangxiangtai with the 47th Army. Since the 15th Army cleared the way ahead, the 47th Army's guard was very lax. It's that the front didn't even send a security force.

In fact, Li Jiayu cannot be blamed for this. His 47th Army was organized by the Sichuan Army. Originally, the weapons and equipment were poor, and the battle against the Japanese army depended on its superiority in strength, so it was not easy to divide the troops.In addition, the 15th Army cleared the way ahead, so the 47th Army was more at ease.

Soon, the 47th Army entered the Japanese ambush circle.After receiving the report from the forward observation post, Lieutenant General Xiayuan Xiongmi immediately ordered the Japanese 104th Brigade, the First Mountain Artillery Regiment, and the First Field Artillery Regiment in ambushes in Longwangmiaogou to prepare for attack as long as the Chinese army entered the Longwang Miaogou. Miaogou can open fire without asking for instructions.At the same time, Xieyuan Xiongmi ordered the Gaoshu unit that entered the mountain pass to start to make a hole, and the first chariot unit under the Chen family slope in Liushuyan could also act.

The war came suddenly. When the 47th Army stepped on the footsteps of the 15th Division of the 64th Army and passed through Longwangmiaogou, a large number of grenades and explosives fell on the vertical cliffs on both sides. Across the sky, fell into the ranks of the 47th Army.The light and heavy machine guns of the Japanese army ambushing on both sides of the cliff opened fire at the same time, pouring medicine on the Chinese army under the cliff.

"Da da da"

"boom boom"

The sudden explosion stunned the 47th Army, and there were a large number of casualties in the first round.However, Li Jiayu is worthy of being a well-known general in the Sichuan Army, with rich combat experience.

Seeing the sudden blow, Li Jiayu hurriedly shouted loudly: "There is an ambush, the rear team has changed to the front team, retreat! The 178th Division and one regiment stopped the enemy in place, and the other troops stepped back as soon as possible."

However, the Japanese army had been prepared for a long time, and they did not wait for the 178th division to deploy a line of defense. As long as they saw the trend of large-scale formation of the Chinese army, the Japanese army would attack with artillery fire. The headquarters of the 178st regiment of the [-]th Division was hit by Japanese artillery in the chaos. The head of the regiment was killed immediately, the deputy head was seriously injured, and the chief of staff lost both legs.

Seeing that the first regiment of the 178th Division was blocking the attack, Li Jiayu immediately ordered the second regiment of the 178th Division to gather 2 meters away from the first regiment, and then set up simple fortifications.While the other troops retreated, they seized the commanding heights and prevented the Japanese army from pursuing.At the same time, the operator was ordered to immediately send a report to the 500th Army in front and the Fourth Army headquarters in the back for help.

As an experienced commander, Li Jiayu is very aware of the Japanese army's plan. Since the Japanese chose to ambush his 47th Army here, it means that they have made complete preparations. The entrance to the mountain must be heavily guarded by the Japanese army. Rushing out now will only lead to death. Under the attack of the Japanese army, breaking through will only make him die faster.The only way now is to stand firm and wait for reinforcements, waiting for Zhao Shoushan's 38th Army and Liu Enmao's 15th Army to attack the Japanese army back and forth, and then come to a center to bloom, and even possibly counter-annihilate the Japanese army.

But the idea is good, the reality is cruel.At the same time as the rear of the 47th Army, the Japanese artillery fire is also extending. It can be seen that the Japanese army has marked this area in detail, and the artillery is only accurate.The regiment headquarters of two regiments of the five regiments of the 178th Division in the back of the palace have been hit, and several other battalion headquarters have been destroyed. The loss was enormous. (to be continued...)