Bright Sword: From Northwest Shanxi to Shangganling

Chapter 196 The New Regiment will guide the direction of our bombardment

"Captain, we have investigated the situation clearly. The main forces of the Japanese are concentrated in front of Cangyun Ridge, and the forces on the two wings are relatively weak.

In addition, judging from the sound, the Japanese artillery positions should be located in the Wangjiazhuang area.

But the Japs had machine gun positions at various passes, so we couldn't get close enough for reconnaissance."

Ma Zhiyuan reported the situation discovered by the reconnaissance platoon and marked it on the map.

"Have you found the Japanese headquarters?" Chen Chengxing asked.

"We didn't find anything. The Japanese sentries have been pushed to the periphery. It is not easy for us to get close." Ma Zhiyuan explained.

In order to avoid alerting the enemy, the soldiers of the reconnaissance platoon did not act rashly, but just tried to observe from the periphery with binoculars.

"I understand." Chen Chengxing nodded, and then his eyes turned to the map drawn by Ma Zhiyuan.

Afterwards, Chen Chengxing drew an arc on the map based on the location of the New Second Regiment.

Wang Chengzhu used a mortar to destroy the Sakata Regiment Command Post after advancing 500 meters. The maximum range of the Type 20 mortar is 2850 meters.

However, mortars are usually fired within 70%-80% of the maximum distance. Considering the accuracy, Wang Chengzhu uses it more at a distance of 2000-2300.

In other words, Nobutsu Sakata should be about 2.5-3 kilometers away from the main peak of Cangyun Ridge, and he should be able to see the position of the New st Regiment on Cangyun Ridge.

After this screening, there are only a few places left.

"I estimate that the Japanese headquarters is located on one of these hills. As long as we can take down the Japanese headquarters, the Japanese will inevitably fall into chaos for a period of time. By then, no matter which direction the New 1st Regiment retreats, the Japanese will not be able to react." Chen Chengxing said, pointing to the circle on the map.

Although if a commander is killed in war, officers will take his place in order, but this cannot be a seamless connection. During the time when the Japanese confirm Sakata Nobutsu's status, each unit will be fighting on its own.

Looking at the three circles on the map, Xu Wu said helplessly: "Captain, even if we know that the Japanese are on these three hills, we can't be sure. If the raid is wrong, it will be a waste of effort, and the assault troops will be surrounded by the Japanese."

"There's no need to rush. Someone will show us the way." Chen Chengxing said with a smile.

These three hills are not in the same direction, but as long as Li Yunlong moves, Sakata Nobutsu's position can be determined based on his movements.

"Artillery Platoon 1! Move the mountain artillery to Xieguanling and prepare for the bombardment! The Guard Company will follow Artillery Platoon 1."

"Telephone squad, make sure the connection between the regiment headquarters and the 1st artillery platoon is not lost."

"Xu Wu, you lead the first and second battalions forward to Xiaohuangzhuang. When you hear the gunfire, immediately attack the enemy's flank. At the same time, send a company of troops to launch a surprise attack on the enemy's artillery position."

"Also, you must be careful not to advance alone. When you see three red flares, withdraw from the battle immediately." Chen Chengxing gave orders one after another.

"Yes!" Everyone answered, and then they started to act.
But before leaving, Xu Wu hesitated for a moment, and said, "Captain, the 358th Regiment of the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army is in Chengfeng Town. Should we leave a few more people behind in case they have any evil intentions?"

Less than a month had passed since the friction between the Eighth Route Army and the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army, and Xu Wu was really worried.

"Don't worry. We have no grudge against the 358th Regiment. They won't risk the world's condemnation to attack us." If it were any other unit, Chen Chengxing would really not be able to guarantee it, but Chen Chengxing from the 358th Regiment was not worried.

Besides, even if they really wanted to try, the strength of a battalion of the New Second Regiment was enough to fight them.

Chu Yunfei is indeed a good man, but Chen Chengxing of the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army looks down on him.

An old warlord force without ideas is at best second-rate, not even as good as the Central Army, which at least has the ideological armament of the Three Principles of the People.

When Xu Wu heard Chen Chengxing say that the New 358nd Regiment and the th Regiment did not celebrate the festival, he hesitated for a moment, but finally turned around and left.

I don’t know where the logistics department got the more than 300 guns.

At this time, Li Yunlong on Cangyun Ridge had seen through the telescope that the Japanese were erecting an antenna on a hill not far away. This meant that the Japanese radio station was there, which meant that the Japanese command center was right under his nose.

Seeing Sakata Nobutsu being so arrogant, Li Yunlong laughed and said, "This is God's help. You bastard can't run away!"

Then Li Yunlong turned around and ordered, "Huzi, go get Wang Chengzhu for me!"

"Yes!"

A few minutes later, Wang Chengzhu came running over panting.

"Captain, are you looking for me?"

"Come, do you see that shack on the hillside? Can your cannon reach it?" Li Yunlong asked, pointing at the hilltop where Nobutsu Sakata was.

Wang Chengzhu quickly raised his thumb to measure the distance: "Captain, the distance is too far, it's out of range."

The shack was about 3000 meters away from the position of the New 20st Regiment. Even if he was very capable, the Type mortar in his hand could not reach that shack.

Hearing that it was out of range, Li Yunlong said with some regret: "The shack must be the headquarters of the Japanese. Sakata is a cunning old Japanese. The headquarters is far enough forward, but it is out of our range. It would be better if we still have the mountain artillery."

However, Li Yunlong also knew that if he had mountain artillery, the Japanese would definitely not push their headquarters so far forward. Now Sakata Nobutsu was bullying him, Li Yunlong, because he had no artillery.

"Zhu Zi, can you find a way to kill him?" Li Yunlong asked. This was a godsend opportunity for the New 1st Regiment.

Wang Chengzhu thought about his own ability, looked at the shack on the hillside, thought for a while and said, "Captain, advance 500 meters, go!"

"Okay! I'll take you to the 500-meter position!" Li Yunlong said affirmatively. He really didn't want to give up this opportunity that was right in front of him.

"Captain, as long as we can get there, we will complete the mission!" Wang Chengzhu patted his chest and promised, but then he changed the subject and whispered: "But, Captain, we only have two shells left."

"What did you say?!" Li Yunlong's eyes widened immediately.

"Fuck you! You loser! Why don't you save money?!"

When they were at Laoyeling, Li Yunlong originally wanted to ask Chen Chengxing for some mortar shells, but after a night battle, the New Second Regiment had almost used up all their shells. In addition, they were also given a Type 41 mountain gun and hundreds of shells, so Li Yunlong did not ask for any more.

Who would have thought that now the mountain artillery is gone and the mortar shells are about to run out.

Hearing Li Yunlong scolding him, Wang Chengzhu felt very aggrieved: "Captain, you have to speak according to your conscience! When the Japanese came up just now, you were the one who shouted the loudest!

"Zhu Zi! Take out that heavy machine gun for me!" "Zhu Zi! Are you blind? Blow up that grenade launcher for me!" "That's what you said, right? You think I wasted it!"

Hearing Wang Chengzhu getting more and more excited, Li Yunlong's face turned black. Who had ever complained like this in front of him? !

"You're complaining again!" Li Yunlong said angrily.

Seeing Li Yunlong's dark face, Wang Chengzhu didn't dare to say anything more, for he was afraid of being beaten.

Seeing Wang Chengzhu admitting defeat, Li Yunlong's expression immediately changed and he began to laugh: "How about this, Zhuzi, after the battle, I will reward you with half a pound of sweet potato stew, Dadao brand, how about it?"

Dadao brand liquor is the product of the Xinertuan. Because the potato harvest has not yet arrived, the Xinertuan's distillery uses wilted old sweet potatoes to make liquor.

As for the cigarettes of the New Second Regiment, they were also of the Dadao brand.

The last time he went to cooperate with the New Second Regiment in combat, although Li Yunlong did not ask for artillery shells, he did buy some wine and cigarettes at cost price when he returned from Dayun Mountain.

Hearing that there was wine to drink, Wang Chengzhu suddenly became energetic again. He liked to have a drink when he had nothing to do.

Seeing Wang Chengzhu grinning, Li Yunlong added: "Don't be so quick to show your teeth. Let me be frank with you. If you can't destroy the Japanese headquarters with two shells, not only will your sweet potatoes be burned, but I will also have to punish you! Do you hear me?!" It is not so easy to advance these 2 meters. If he misses the target after suffering casualties, he will faint on the spot.

"I guarantee to complete the mission!" Wang Chengzhu was confident in his ability. As long as he advanced 500 meters, two artillery shells would definitely be able to destroy the Japanese command post.

"Go and get ready." Li Yunlong waved his hand.

"Yes!"

In Chengfeng Town, Chu Yunfei was on the roof, paying attention to the situation in Cangyunling. The troops of the 358th Regiment had also entered combat status.

At this time, Fang Ligong climbed up from below and prepared to report the situation of the front-line reconnaissance to Chu Yunfei.

"Commander, this time the Eighth Route Army has run into a tough opponent. This is the Sakata Regiment of the 4th Brigade of the Japanese Army."

"Sakata Corps? It's true that we always meet on a narrow road. We have fought with them before." Chu Yunfei's face was not very good. It was obvious that he did not gain any benefit from the previous fight.

"Yes, that old devil Sakata is not easy to deal with. During the Battle of Xinkou, one of Sakata's regiments defeated two divisions of the Central Army. When our regiment fought with him on the road, we suffered nearly 2 casualties in just one hour. If we had not retreated quickly, the 300th Regiment would have been wiped out by him." Fang Ligong still feels a little scared when he talks about it now.

Although the 358th Regiment was not a reinforced regiment of 5000 people at the time of the Battle of Xinkou, it was a reinforced regiment of 2000 people equipped with complete light and heavy weapons and a mortar company.

As a result, nearly 1/4 of the front-line infantry suffered casualties in just one hour, which was already a horrific number of casualties.

If the fighting continues, the front-line infantry will be wiped out in two hours at most. Without the cover of the front-line infantry, the heavy weapons troops will not even have the slightest chance of resistance.

"The Eighth Route Army is in trouble this time." Chu Yunfei sighed.

With the equipment and ammunition that the Eighth Route Army has, it would be very dangerous if they were to engage in a head-on battle with the Sakata Regiment.

"By the way, which unit is the Eighth Route Army in Cangyunling?" Chu Yunfei asked.

"Oh, the Eighth Route Army in Cangyunling is the 129st Regiment of the 2th Division and the 3nd and rd Regiments of the st Column of the New Army. The forward observation post said that the st Column seems to have a tendency to retreat. The Eighth Route Army may be trying to break out to the north."

"But what's strange is that traces of the Eighth Route Army also appeared in Mayao Village and Xiaohuangzhuang," said Fang Ligong.

"Mayao Village? That's on the Japanese's flank. How could the Eighth Route Army suddenly appear there?" Chu Yunfei asked with some confusion.

Mayao Village is close to Chengfeng Town and is considered to be the sphere of influence of the 358th Regiment, so the movements of the New Second Regiment would be discovered by them.

"Judging from the movements of the Eighth Route Army in Cangyunling, they are trying to break out to the north; but judging from the appearance of the Eighth Route Army in Mayao Village, they seem to be planning a fight with the Japanese. I really can't figure out what the Eighth Route Army means." Fang Ligong was puzzled.

The various actions of the Eighth Route Army looked like they were schizophrenic. Fang Ligong said he had never seen such a style of fighting.

"Which unit is the Eighth Route Army that appeared in Mayao Village?" Chu Yunfei asked. The Eighth Route Army's thoughts can be seen from their troop configuration.

"It's not clear yet, but the forward observation post said that they found that the Eighth Route Army in Mayao Village and Xiaohuangzhuang was very well-equipped, so they inferred that it was most likely the New Second Regiment in Dayun Mountain." Fang Ligong explained.

Among all the troops in northwest Shanxi, the equipment of the New Second Regiment was second to none, only slightly inferior to that of the 358th Regiment.

"The New Second Regiment? If it is really the New Second Regiment, then the Eighth Route Army definitely did not break out to the north!" Chu Yunfei said firmly.

It is absolutely impossible for such an elite force to be sent to launch a feint attack.

"Commander, are you saying that the Eighth Route Army is really going to confront the Sakata Regiment head-on?" Fang Ligong said in surprise.

"Haha. That's hard to say. I think there's nothing the Eighth Route Army dares not do." Chu Yunfei said.

The 358th Regiment had never had a direct confrontation with the Eighth Route Army, so Chu Yunfei and Fang Ligong were not very familiar with the Eighth Route Army's combat effectiveness.

If Chen Chengxing hadn't known that the Japanese were maneuvering here from all directions, he would have really planned to join forces with the New 1st Regiment to wipe out the Sakata Regiment.

It’s just that the guerrillas in various places are fighting the reinforcements now, so Chen Chengxing doesn’t have that much time.

"Order the forward observation posts to pay close attention to the movements of the Japanese! If the Japanese dare to cross the border, open fire without asking for instructions!" Chu Yunfei said seriously.

If it weren't for the previous friction with the Eighth Route Army, and if Commander Yan was a vengeful person, he would have strictly ordered that no cooperation with the Eighth Route Army in combat was allowed without the written order from the Second War Zone Command.

Chu Yunfei now really wanted to lead the 358th Regiment to rush forward and work together with the Eighth Route Army to wipe out the Sakata Regiment.

"Yes!"

Just as the various units of the New Second Regiment were getting ready and waiting to launch an attack at any time, Li Yunlong on Cangyun Ridge was also preparing to launch an assault.

"Zhang Dabiao, the troops attack forward 500 meters and hold it to buy time for the artillery. As long as we can kill Sakata's headquarters with one shot, the brigade commander will have to treat me to a drink." Li Yunlong held up a telescope and looked at the shack on the hillside in the distance.

This shack is the most important node of the New 1st Regiment. If they take it down, the New 1st Regiment can take advantage of the situation and break through from the front. If they fail to take it down, the New 1st Regiment will suffer heavy losses even if they don't die. At that time, they will have to take the blame at the brigade headquarters.

"Don't worry, Commander. I can't say anything else, but no one in the commando team will exit the battle alive!" Zhang Dabiao said seriously.

"Take the assault team and get ready." Li Yunlong ordered. He felt that the Japanese were about to launch an attack, and this counterattack was the chance for the New 1st Regiment.

"Yes!"

Just as Zhang Dabiao was about to lead the team forward, a communicator ran over.

"Report to the regiment commander. We have just received an order from the military region. The commander ordered that the New 772st Regiment will take turns to cover the retreat and break out from the direction of Yujialing. The New nd Regiment and the nd Regiment will be responsible for covering the retreat of the New st Regiment."

Now the troops of the First Death Column have withdrawn from the direction of Yujialing, but because there is no radio, Brigade Chen does not know that there is only one 772nd Regiment in Yujialing at this time.

"Retreat? The bayonets of the Sakata Regiment are right up to my nose. How dare they think of retreating now?"

"Anyway, we're breaking out, so it doesn't matter which direction we go out from?" Li Yunlong said dissatisfiedly. He also didn't think that Chen Chengxing would honestly provide cover in Yujialing.

"Captain, the direction of Yujialing is indeed the weak point of the Japanese encirclement, and there are the New 772nd Regiment and the nd Regiment to provide cover. We have a better chance of breaking out from there." Zhang Dabiao advised from the side. Breaking out from the direction of Yujialing cannot be said to be a high chance, but it is %, and there will not even be any casualties.

"What do you know? If we retreat, that bastard Sakata will definitely come up to us, and then we will be in an even more passive position." Li Yunlong said.

If the First Death Column is still here, then the New First Regiment will have no problem retreating.

However, the First Death Column had already evacuated, and they did not see the Japanese coming from the two wings. They knew without thinking that the Japanese were advancing to their rear, and if they retreated, they would fall into their trap.

At that time, even if the 772nd Regiment and the New nd Regiment came to rescue them, the New st Regiment would be absolutely no benefit. Instead of passively taking the beating, it is better to take the initiative.

Taking the initiative at least gives you a chance to break through successfully.

"Communicator, report to the headquarters and say that the New 1st Regiment has been engaged in combat with the enemy in the front and cannot withdraw from the battle. In order to cover the brother units and successfully break out of the encirclement, the commander of the New 1st Regiment, Li Yunlong, has decided to lead the entire regiment to attack the enemy, defeat the Sakata Regiment, and break out from the front!" Li Yunlong ordered.

Zhang Dabiao on the side scratched his head and said helplessly: "Captain, what you said makes sense, but you can disobey the orders of your superiors."

Disobeying orders on the battlefield is no small matter and you will lose your head!
After hearing what Zhang Dabiao said, Li Yunlong looked him up and down: "Am I the regiment commander or are you the regiment commander? If the superiors find out, just shoot me! Just follow the order!"

Li Yunlong said that he was very familiar with disobeying orders on the battlefield, and that he was not disobeying orders this time, but just completing his superiors' instructions better.

"Yes!"

(End of this chapter)