Bright Sword: From Northwest Shanxi to Shangganling

Chapter 355 Encirclement and Reinforcements, But Where Are the Reinforcements?
When Sun Desheng killed the troublemaking Jin-Sui Army, various large forces had already begun to assemble in the direction of Chongqing.

Inside the field command post, General Liu convened another operational meeting.

"The walls of Chongqing are high and easy to defend, making them difficult to attack. If we launch a strong attack, it will be very disadvantageous for us."

"What are your thoughts on the battle plan?"

Mr. Liu already had an idea in mind, but he wanted to hear everyone's opinions again.

The commanders of the several columns remained silent, instead turning their gazes to their subordinates.

The battlefield situation has changed, so we need to train our subordinates' tactical command abilities.

We can't let them limit their focus to their original small plot of land.

Cheng Zhiqiang, who had just taken over as commander of the 386th Brigade, spoke first:
"We have sufficient troops now, with four columns, so we can take it even if we have to force it."

"Stop talking nonsense." As soon as Cheng Zhiqiang finished speaking, Li Yunlong immediately expressed a different opinion.

"The city wall of Chongqing is ten meters high! How many lives would have to be sacrificed to save it?"

“Blind Cheng, this is not the time to play around,” Li Yunlong said.

The situation is different now than during the War of Resistance against Japan.

Based on its organizational structure, the Eighth Route Army was divided into field armies, independent divisions, and militia.

The independent divisions mainly undertake tasks such as guerrilla warfare, containment, and supporting offensive operations, while the militia primarily focuses on logistical tasks.

Only field armies are the main force participating in field battles.

However, the various units have not yet completed their reorganization, and their main combat forces are insufficient.

If we fight to the death in Chongqing, the casualties of the troops will definitely be significant.

This is just the beginning; if there are too many casualties, development will be slow.

"Then tell me, what should we do?" Cheng Zhiqiang said.

If Cheng Zhiqiang were to fight a direct battle, he would have no problem at all.

However, he was still a little unaccustomed to devising tactical plans.

After all, he had just taken over the position of brigade commander.

"I haven't decided yet," Li Yunlong said casually.

He used to rely mainly on guerrilla warfare, fighting passive battles; now he's taking the initiative.

"If you ask me, we should use the old method: lure the snake out of its hole," Chen Chengxing said from the side.

"Let's use a strategy of besieging the enemy's stronghold and attacking their reinforcements!"

Encirclement and annihilation of reinforcements is their specialty, and it's suitable to use it here as well.

The Chongqing defense perimeter is composed of several cities.

If the Jin-Sui Army wanted to hold Chongqing, it could not allow the surrounding counties to fall.

"What if the Jin-Sui Army doesn't provide support?" General Liu asked.

"Then let's fight," Chen Chengxing said.

"If the Jin-Sui Army can hold back, then we'll take down the surrounding counties one by one and see what they do then."

"Hmm, not bad!" General Manager Liu nodded.

He had already discussed the plan of besieging the enemy stronghold and attacking reinforcements with the political commissar.

This is the optimal solution at present.

Although they now have heavy artillery, they cannot form a combat force in a short period of time.

Unless they are willing to use Japanese prisoners of war in the war.

But this could cause unnecessary disputes.

The best outcome for the troops would be to annihilate the Jin-Sui Army in open battle.

"Do you have any other ideas?" General Manager Liu then looked at the others.

"No." Everyone shook their heads.

The Jin-Sui Army is now defending the city, and they have no better option than besieging the city and attacking reinforcements.

"Then it's settled. Concentrate our forces and firepower to surround the outer county towns and lure the Jin-Sui Army from Chongqing out to reinforce us."

"Then use the ambushing positions to wipe out their reinforcements."

"Gradually weaken the Jin-Sui Army's strength, and finally defeat them one by one."

After speaking, General Manager Liu glanced at everyone, his gaze lingering on Chen Chengxing for a moment, but then quickly moved away.

Li Yunlong's eyes darted around, and he immediately took the initiative to speak:

"Commander-in-Chief, my Independent Brigade is willing to undertake the first offensive mission!"

Although four columns have now been confirmed, the unit designations of the subordinate units have not yet been changed.

Li Yunlong still holds the title of commander of the Independent Brigade.

Upon hearing that Li Yunlong had volunteered, General Liu thought for a moment but did not agree.

"Our first target is Hekou."

"Chen Chengxing, the first battle will be handed over to the Second Independent Detachment."

Although the Independent Brigade was also very strong, among the Eighth Route Army, only the Second Independent Detachment had experience in attacking cities multiple times.

This is the first battle, and President Liu doesn't want any unexpected events to happen.

"Yes! I guarantee I will complete the mission!" Chen Chengxing stood up and replied.

[Side Quest Released: I'll Lead the First Battle.]

Mission Objective: Recapture Chongqing and annihilate the Jin-Sui Army garrison.

[Task Reward: 0-3 Skill Points (depending on contribution).]

Two days later at dawn, the 201st Regiment of the 21st Detachment of the Independent Second Brigade launched the first attack.

"Ninth Company, charge!" Li Chishui put down his binoculars and gave the order to attack.

Upon receiving the order, the 9th Company Commander immediately commanded, "Attack!"

"Heavy machine guns and mortars, prepare!"

The three infantry platoons split into three groups, providing mutual cover for each other and forming an attack formation several hundred meters long.

All three 60mm mortars belonging to the company have been issued to the platoon.

The heavy machine guns and mortars now under the direct command of the 9th Company Commander are those allocated by the battalion.

It has 3 heavy machine guns and 3 82mm mortars.

"Da da da".
The first shot was fired by the vanguard squad's light machine gun.

The sound of gunfire outside the city startled the commander of the Fifth Security Regiment, who was sleeping with his concubine inside the city.

It wasn't that he was particularly professional; he was simply terrified of being attacked by the Eighth Route Army.

He hadn't recovered from the shock of those two short weeks. Startled awake, Gao Feng paused, then realized he was no longer a traitor.

"What's going on? Where did the gunshot come from?!" Gao Feng shouted towards the door.

"Commander, something bad has happened! The G army is attacking from outside the city!" someone ran in to report.

Gao Feng didn't even bother to put on his shoes before yanking open the door.

"What did you say? The G Army?! Why would the G Army come to attack Hekou?"

He's not a traitor anymore, so why are the KMT troops attacking him?

"Commander, I heard that someone went to Xiaojiadian and killed a lot of G Party members," the adjutant at the door explained.

"The G Party is probably here to retaliate now."

"Damn it! Who is it? Why did you provoke them for no reason?!" Gao Feng cursed.

They've only just started to make money, and someone's already sabotaging them?
"Commander, forget about that for now. The G Party's offensive is fierce, and the brothers might not be able to hold on!" the adjutant said.

When the Fifth Security Regiment was relocated to Hekou, Shi Anguo ordered them to strengthen their defensive fortifications.

But Gao Feng clearly didn't take it seriously.

The soldiers of the Fifth Regiment are still relying on the fortifications left by the Japanese to defend themselves.

"Damn it! Tell the brothers to abandon all the outposts outside the city. Retreat back into the city, close the gates tightly, and hold the city!" Gao Feng said through gritted teeth.

The soldiers under his command are the foundation upon which he can establish himself in the KMT government.

Without the army, he's nothing.

"Yes! I'll go and relay the order right away!"

The adjutant hurriedly left.

He and Gao Feng were in the same boat; if the Fifth Regiment suffered heavy casualties, no one would benefit.

After getting dressed, Gao Feng did not rush to the front line, but went to the regimental headquarters instead.

Here is a phone number to contact the Shangyu Command Center.

"Hello? This is the commander of the Fifth Regiment of Hekou. I'm looking for the military commander!"

"Yes, it's urgent! Extremely urgent!"

"."

"Commander! Commander, help! The G Army is here!"

"There are quite a few people, at least three or four thousand, and they also have artillery!"

Gao Feng no longer dares to ask for help from the Japanese as readily as he did back then.

Instead, we should be realistic and, at most, exaggerate a little.

The Guo army has quite a few informants, and the higher-ups will soon find out exactly how many enemy troops there are.

Upon hearing Gao Feng's plea for help, Shi Anguo didn't hesitate at all and immediately replied:
"I understand, hang in there."

After hanging up the phone, Gao Feng breathed a sigh of relief.

The distance from Chongqing to Hekou is less than 20 kilometers, and reinforcements can arrive in half a day at most.

The Fifth Regiment, utilizing the city walls' defenses, should have no problem holding out until nightfall.

Just as the Fifth Security Regiment was gritting its teeth and persevering.

The D column, which was lying in ambush on the only road from Chongqing to Hekou, waited from morning till night but didn't see a single person.

"What is the Jin-Sui Army doing? Why isn't it supporting Hekou?" Chen Sijin frowned.

If the Jin-Sui Army doesn't move, wouldn't they just be feeding the mosquitoes for nothing?

"What did the investigators say? Has Chongqing taken any action?" Chen Sijin turned his head and asked.

"They're just constantly reinforcing their defenses; there's no sign of them launching an attack," the chief of staff said.

"It seems Shi Anguo is determined not to leave the cave," Chen Sijin said helplessly.

"Send a telegram to the commander-in-chief today."

"Yes!"

"Leader, we have received a telegram from the General Headquarters. There are no signs of reinforcements from the enemy forces in Chongqing. General Liu has ordered us to take Hekou."

"I see."

Chen Chengxing took the telegram from Xu Wu, glanced at it, and then told him to take it to file it.

“Brother Yunfei, the Jin-Sui Army is your old employer. Tell me, why hasn’t Chongqing taken any action?”

Chen Chengxing looked at Chu Yunfei, who was standing to the side.

“It’s simple, the river mouth isn’t worth the risk for Shi Anguo,” Chu Yunfei said.

He knew Shi Anguo.

To put it nicely, his personality is stable; to put it bluntly, he's cowardly.

For Chongqing, the river mouth is not a core defensive point.

Even if it's lost, it won't have much of an impact.

Shi Anguo would never risk his life for the sake of the river mouth.

"What a pity," Chen Chengxing said with a hint of helplessness.

"Send orders to the artillery positions, commanding the 105mm cannons to fire and destroy the city walls at the river mouth!" Chen Chengxing ordered.

The two 105mm cannons captured by the Second Independent Division were not incorporated into the independent artillery regiment because they were incompatible with other artillery pieces.

This is the only heavy artillery that Chen Chengxing can still mobilize.

Chen Chengxing had to submit a report to mobilize the other heavy artillery, and even the two anti-aircraft guns.

However, Chen Chengxing won't be able to use these two cannons for long. He only has less than 100 shells left, and once they're gone, that's it.

"Boom!" "Boom!"
With each explosion, the soldiers of the Fifth Security Regiment in Hekou City trembled.

Such a powerful explosion must have come from heavy artillery.

What right do they have to be subjected to heavy artillery fire?

"Someone, quickly go find the commander and ask him what to do now!"

The battalion commander of the 5th Security Regiment, who was hiding in the bunker, shouted to the communications soldier next to him.

The city wall at the river mouth can stop one or two shots, but not ten or twenty.

If the city falls, they won't even be considered to have surrendered voluntarily.

Without saying a word, the soldiers on the side ran headlong toward the regimental headquarters in the center of the city.

However, no matter how hard the communications soldier ran, he couldn't find any trace of Gao Feng.

(End of this chapter)