Bright Sword: From Northwest Shanxi to Shangganling

Chapter 394 Bloodletting Therapy
"That damn Liu Wanfang, does he even know how to fight?!"

"Two cavalry divisions, retreated in less than an hour?!"

Sun Wanjiu looked at the telegram in his hand and almost jumped up.

If Liu Wanfang were in front of him, Sun Wanjiu would definitely give him a good beating.

If you can't beat them, fine, but at least nail them to the three ridges.

What does it mean to give up the three ridges to the G army?
According to the previous plan, after the main force of the Provisional 3rd Army led the G Army to Sandaoji, the task of ambush would be handed over to the Provisional 3rd Army.

The 4th and 5th Cavalry Divisions were tasked with pursuing and killing the G army as it retreated.

But now that Liu Wanfang and his men have retreated, it's not a big deal, let alone ambushing or chasing them.

The three ridges were directly strangled by the G army, and the Provisional 3rd Army was instantly isolated.

"Commander, if the Deputy Commander cannot send reinforcements, the 3rd Provisional Army is likely in grave danger," warned Wang Zanchen, commander of the 10th Division.

At Zhuozishan, there is only one way to retreat westward, and even if the main force of the Provisional 3rd Army wanted to make a detour, there was no way to retreat.

"Send a telegram to Commander Fu immediately, requesting troop support!" Sun Wanjiu ordered his staff officer without hesitation.

Using the existing fortifications, the 3rd Provisional Army can hold out, but the longer it drags on, the more dangerous it will be.

"Yes!"

The staff officer who had delivered the telegram ran back down the stairs.

Suicheng.

Before receiving the telegram requesting assistance from the Provisional 3rd Army, Fu Yi had already received a telegram informing him that Sandaoji had been captured by the G Army.

He considered a million possibilities, but he never expected the G army to send troops deep behind enemy lines.

With the three ridges occupied, the situation instantly reversed.

Even if the Provisional 3rd Army wanted to withdraw, it wouldn't be so easy now.

"Si Jin, how did the G army know that our army had set up an ambush at Sandao Ridge?" Deng Yu said from the side.

Why would the G army continue to advance dozens of miles west to Sandaoji when they had already set up a blocking position in Fuzhuang?
"Brother Deng, don't say anything that is detrimental to unity."

Fu Yi interrupted Deng Yu's attempt to continue.

Although Fu Yi also had his doubts, these were turbulent times.

Even if it's necessary to investigate the mole, it must be done secretly.

If this matter were to be publicized, it would likely cause widespread panic.

After all, during the War of Resistance against Japan, many people in the Twelfth War Zone had contact with the Chinese army.

Deng Yu realized what was happening and immediately changed his words.

"Sir, the Provisional 3rd Army is requesting reinforcements. Should we send troops to recapture Sandao Ridge and support Zhuozi Mountain?"

After thinking for a moment, Fu Yi said, "Send out the 101st Division and reinforce them with a mountain artillery battalion."

"After recapturing Sandaoji, the 101st Division continued to advance towards Fuzhuang to support the withdrawal of the Provisional 3rd Army."

The 10th and 17th Divisions of the Provisional 3rd Army are currently stationed at Zhuozishan.

Although these two divisions were formed later, they are still the main forces of the 12th War Zone.

Once these two divisions are annihilated, it will have a significant impact on the 12th War Zone.

"I'll go make a call." Deng Yu got up and walked towards the door.

Fu Yi sat on the sofa, looking out the window with a frown.

As evening approached, outside Table Mountain City.

The second detachment began to advance.

"Report! Teams 1 and 3 have arrived at their designated positions!"

"Let them launch their attack," Chen Chengxing ordered.

Following the orders of the General Headquarters, the Second Detachment took over the offensive on the east and north sides of Zhuozi Mountain.

However, before the official siege, the bunkers and fortifications surrounding Table Mountain must be removed first.

Upon receiving the order, the heavy mortar battalions of the 1st and 3rd teams, taking advantage of the last rays of sunlight, began shelling the enemy's exposed fortifications.

"Boom!" "Boom!"
The deafening explosions caused all the KMT soldiers who were hit to gradually turn pale.

Previously, the G army mainly used 82mm mortars or Type 92 infantry guns.

Only two 75mm mountain guns appeared on the entire battlefield; and fewer than ten 120mm mortars were used in total.

But now, the Second Detachment has made a move, and it's a full twenty-four gates!
Including the G army in other directions, the enemy's heavy artillery numbers have far exceeded those of the Provisional 3rd Army.

At the top of the Zhuozishan Command Headquarters, Sun Wanjiu looked at the endless explosions and fireballs outside, his face very grim.

Previously, I only knew that the Second Detachment of the G Army was strong in combat, and I had also heard that the Second Detachment had heavy mortars.

But he didn't expect the number to be so large.

This far exceeds the number of heavy mortars in the hands of other G armies.

"What the hell is the G Army high command doing? Why aren't they distributing all these artillery pieces to other units?"

Sun Wanjiu began to speak out for the other units of the G Army.

If these heavy artillery pieces were distributed to other places, wouldn't he be spared from being attacked?
"Commander, now is not the time to talk about these things. I think the fortifications outside the city won't hold out for long," Wang Zanchen said.

It will be dark in about ten minutes, at which point the G army's artillery should stop firing.

However, Wang Zanchen did not believe that the garrison outside the city could withstand the attack of the G army.

Putting aside the Second Detachment, the other G Army units are also formidable in combat.

They experienced it this afternoon.

"The fortifications outside the city cannot be abandoned!" Sun Wanjiu said resolutely.

"The 10th Division is responsible for the western and southern positions, and the 17th Division is responsible for the eastern and northern positions."

"I have only one request: you must hold out until nightfall tomorrow!"

Commander Fu has sent a telegram that the 101st Division is advancing towards Sandaoji overnight.

If they can capture Sandaoji, they will continue eastward to attack Fuzhuang.

Then the opportunity for the Provisional 3rd Army to retreat will come.

Before that, we must not allow the G army to block the retreat route of the Provisional 3rd Army under any circumstances.

"yes!".
After nightfall, the shelling ceased. The various units then launched their attacks under cover of darkness.

The resistance from the Guo army was fierce, and the bunkers that had not been used before were put into operation one after another.

Chen Chengxing was somewhat surprised as he watched the battle reports being sent over.

"Oh ho, so the Guo army isn't giving up an inch of ground?"

The outer defenses were already dilapidated, but the enemy kept sending more and more people in.

This is completely different from the previous Guo army.

"There's no point in putting up a stubborn resistance in the face of absolute power," Xu Wu said dismissively from the side.

"I think we should have the troops intensify their offensive; we should be able to reach the city walls soon."

The battle reports sent by each unit every half hour showed that their own casualties were not high, but their battle results were significant.

If we intensify our offensive, the enemy will definitely not be able to withstand it.

"No, no rush." ​​Chen Chengxing waved his hand.

If a fierce attack is launched, the Guo army will definitely retreat back into the city.

The current main strategy of the G army is to focus on inflicting casualties, with capturing cities as a secondary objective.

As long as we can take down the Provisional 3rd Army, this Table Mountain will fall without us even having to attack it.

"Tell Team 1 and Team 3 not to rush into a full-scale attack, but to bleed them dry!"

"What we need is a constant stream of support from the Guo army! And the more the better!"

"Yes!"

Xu Wu went to the table next to him and picked up the phone.

"Hello? This is command post! Orders from the detachment commander."

Seeing that the Second Detachment's advance gradually slowed down, Guo Jun, who was in charge of defense, breathed a sigh of relief, even though he didn't know what was going on.

However, he hadn't had a chance to catch his breath for long before Zhu Dachun, the commander of the 17th Division, took another deep breath.

"Damn it, didn't they just say the Second Detachment's offensive had slowed down? Why do they need reinforcements again?!"

Zhu Dachun angrily berated the person on the front lines who had called him.

When the G army launches a fierce attack, you will not be able to stop them.

Now that the offensive has slowed down, you still can't stop it?
"Commander! Commander!"

"The second detachment's offensive has indeed slowed down, but its firepower has not diminished!"

"The enemy's marksmanship is too accurate, just like the elite Japanese soldiers back then. The brothers really can't hold on any longer!"

Cao Zhihao, the commander of the 191st Regiment responsible for forward defense, was almost in tears.

The Second Detachment did slow down its offensive, but its casualties increased rather than decreased.

So far, more than half of the casualties have been suffered.

Including the loss of a battalion he suffered in Xuande, the 191st Regiment now only has one understrength battalion left.

In order to stop the G army's offensive, his regimental direct subordinate units have even been pushed to the front line.

If reinforcements don't come soon, the 191st Regiment really won't be able to hold on.

"Hold on! I'll send reinforcements to you right away!"

"I'm telling you, the position absolutely cannot be lost! Otherwise, you'll be court-martialed!" Zhu Dachun ordered.

After hanging up the phone, Zhu Dachun immediately called the 192nd Regiment.

Zhu Dachun ordered the 192nd Regiment to quickly advance to the front line and replace the 191st Regiment for rest and reorganization.

However, just when Zhu Dachun thought things could be more stable...

Just two hours later, the 192nd Regiment called.

The commander of the 192nd Regiment cried even louder than Cao Zhihao had just cried.

The 191st Regiment lost a battalion on the front line, while the 192nd Regiment had already lost one and a half battalions.

Without support, if we wait another hour, we'll likely lose everything.

Upon hearing the 192nd Regiment's tearful account, Zhu Dachun finally understood what was happening.

The G Army is bleeding the 3rd Provisional Army dry!

"Hold on! You must hold on! I'm calling the commander right now!"

After Zhu Dachun finished speaking, he immediately hung up the phone and called the military headquarters.

"Commander! The G Army is bleeding us dry! If we continue fighting outside the city, the losses will be too great!"

Upon hearing Zhu Dachun's words, Sun Wanjiu immediately interrupted him.

"Commander An! Don't worry about what the G Army is doing! Your mission is only one: hold the front line!"

Sun Wanjiu wasn't a greenhorn; he had already analyzed it from the sounds of gunfire and battle reports.

The opposing second team's plan is definitely to wear down the enemy first before launching a strong attack.

But Sun Wanjiu couldn't care less about that now; what he needed was a way out for the Provisional 3rd Army.

After hanging up the phone, Sun Wanjiu thought for a moment but still couldn't sit still.

Sun Wanjiu ordered someone to send a telegram to the 101st Division to inquire about their progress.

Ten minutes later, Sun Wanjiu's hands trembled slightly as he read the telegram reply from the 101st Division.

"The 101st Division still hasn't captured the Three Ridges?!"

He didn't believe a word the telegram said about having the upper hand and only suffering minor casualties.

If they had the upper hand, why didn't the 101st Division advance any further?
The casualties are probably not a small gain, but a huge loss!
"Someone! Go and summon Wang Zanchen, commander of the 10th Division, and Zhu Dachun, commander of the 17th Division!"

"Yes!"

A staff officer stood up to prepare to arrange for a messenger.

"Wait!" Sun Wanjiu suddenly changed his mind.

"Just call him Wang Zanchen."

"Yes!"

(End of this chapter)