Bright Sword: From Northwest Shanxi to Shangganling

Chapter 402 Guangning to give it to Fu Yi? I disagree!

"Commander! We've received a telegram from headquarters!"

Xu Wu caught up with Chen Chengxing's Willis on horseback.

"Fu Yi has suddenly appeared outside Ningbei City with two cavalry divisions and has already launched an attack!"

"Just as I expected!" Chen Chengxing nodded. "What else did the boss say?"

"The telegram didn't say anything else, it just told the Second Detachment to be careful."

"Commander, how about we send the cavalry regiment ahead to provide support in Ningbei?" Xu Wu suggested.

"It's too late." Chen Chengxing shook his head.

"Based on the speed comparison between cavalry and infantry, Fu Yi's infantry should be in the Daqinggou area now, more than 50 kilometers away from Ningbeibei."

"Even if Fu Yi manages to take Ningbei, he will be blocked again at Langwogou. We can arrive before Fu Yi takes Langwogou."

Although the cavalry regiment's weapons consisted mainly of semi-automatic rifles, submachine guns, and light machine guns.

However, the current cavalry regiment has less than a thousand men in total.

Fu Yi's two cavalry divisions must have possessed both light and heavy weapons.

If infantry support is inadequate, relying solely on cavalry regiments is insufficient and cannot change the course of the battlefield.

"Pass on my order: the troops should speed up and leave everything except for weapons, ammunition, and three days' worth of rations by the roadside, to be collected by the logistics unit."

The Second Detachment is still more than 60 kilometers away from Ningbei, but Chen Chengxing did not try to outrun Fu Yi's infantry.

If they fight it out, the other side isn't much better.

Chen Chengxing's goal was to reach Ningbei before Fu Yi's cavalry broke through Langwogou.

As the second detachment abandoned its supplies and marched at full speed, Fu Yi had already launched a strong attack on Ningbei.

Although an infantry regiment was reinforced in Ningbei County, there were also some local troops.

However, they only managed to hold out against Fu Yi's strong offensive for a day.

Subsequently, due to heavy losses, they were forced to withdraw from Ningbei County.

The only remaining line of defense in northern Guangning is Langwogou.

Thirty-five kilometers past Langwogou lies the Guangning city wall.

Just as everyone in the G Army was focused on the Second Detachment, Chiang Kai-shek also received a telegram from Fu Yi.

Upon seeing the telegram, Chiang Kai-shek was furious.

"With a formidable enemy at hand, this Fu Yi actually dares to steal the credit!"

In Chiang Kai-shek's view, the Central Army's offensive was in full swing.

Although the front line had not advanced much at this point, it had already inflicted heavy casualties on the G army.

Once the G army is defeated, we can advance unstoppable and reach the walls of Guangning.

"Chairman, we absolutely cannot give Guangning to Fu Yi!" Chen Chengbo said solemnly.

Guangning's location is too important; without Guangning, Pingdu and Jingu would be unstable.

"While the Central Army was engaged in a fierce battle with the G Army on the eastern front, Fu Yi outmaneuvered the G Army's rear, thus reaping our benefits."

"Once Fu Yi takes over Guangning, it will probably be even more difficult to control in the future."

Upon hearing Chen Chengbo's words, Chiang Kai-shek also realized the seriousness of the matter.

However, he doesn't have any good solutions right now.

Fu Yi's troops have already captured Ningbei and are now advancing towards Guangning.

Even if I disagree, Fu Yi probably won't listen to me.

After sighing, Chiang Kai-shek looked at Guo Gui, wanting to hear her opinion.

"Guo Gui, what are your thoughts?"

“Chairman, in my opinion, it would be better to simply assign Guangning to the Twelfth War Zone,” Guo Gui suggested.

This statement stunned everyone.

“We never wanted to give Guangning to Fu Yi in the first place. Now that he’s trying to take it from us, are we just going to give it to him?” Chen Chengbo was very puzzled.

Wouldn't this boost Fu Yi's morale and diminish the Chairman's prestige?

Chiang Kai-shek did not speak, but gestured for Guo Gui to continue, wanting to hear what insightful opinions Guo Gui had.

“Chairman, Chief of the General Staff, whether we like it or not, Fu Yi is faster than Sun Fanglu.”

"If nothing unexpected happens, Guangning will definitely fall into Fu Yi's hands."

“Since we can’t stop him, I think we should just give him Guangning and let him take it over legitimately.”

"That's perfect, it can also ease our relations with the United States," Guo Gui explained.

Previously, a ceasefire agreement was finally signed with the mediation of the United States.

Not long after, Chiang Kai-shek openly broke the agreement, which was tantamount to throwing the US face on the ground and stepping on it.

Moreover, the United States is very worried about Soviet intervention, which could very likely lead to a direct confrontation between the two countries.

Upon hearing "the United States," Chiang Kai-shek nodded: "Guo Gui, what you said makes a lot of sense."

"Our main enemy right now is the G Party, and we must unite all forces to deal with the G Party."

"As for Guangning, let's retreat in order to advance and let Fu Yi have it."

"This also serves as a way to tell the Americans that Zhangjiakou was not the doing of our Central Army, but rather Fu Yi's own initiative."

If he could, Chiang Kai-shek would not want to offend Marshall.

The Central Army still relies on US aid for weapons and ammunition. If the US is offended, even a slight delay could cause serious problems.

Moreover, bringing Fu Yi into the game can also balance the power of the Guangxi clique under Li Delin of the Beiping Army.

A love triangle is always the most stable relationship.

Just as Chiang Kai-shek considered Guangning as his prize and was preparing to use it as leverage to balance the various factions through political maneuvering.

Chen Chengxing's Second Detachment has already marched rapidly to Ningbei, preparing to deal with Fu Yi, who came uninvited, on behalf of Chairman Chang.

"Impossible, absolutely impossible!" "How could the G army have arrived so quickly?"

When Fu Yi received the call from the Ningbei team, his jaw almost dropped.

My trick of secretly crossing the Chencang pass was already perfect; how could anyone have seen through it!
"Sir! It's absolutely true! However, the main force of the G army didn't attack the city; instead, they turned south, seemingly heading towards you!"

The cavalry regiment commander who remained in Ningbei was unable to express his feelings at this moment.

I felt both uneasy and secretly pleased.

"How could this be? How could this be!" Fu Yi's face was extremely pale.

The G army numbered over 20,000, while their own cavalry numbered only a few thousand.

Meanwhile, his main force, the 35th Army, was still 20 kilometers away from Ningbei.

Even if the 35th Army were to march at full speed, it would be impossible for it to arrive before the G Army entered the battlefield.

"Sir, we should immediately cease our attack and seize advantageous terrain."

"The 35th Army is right behind us. As long as we don't panic, this G Army can't change anything."

“We can completely wipe out this G army before continuing our advance into Guangning, which can also be considered as waiting for the 35th Army.”

After hearing Deng Yu's words, Fu Yi took a few deep breaths and gradually calmed down.

Yes, we still have the advantage on the battlefield. As long as the 35th Army arrives, we can still take Guangning.

Moreover, it can also kill two birds with one stone and eliminate another main force of the G army.

"Immediately order the front line to halt the attack and seize those high grounds on the left!" Fu Yi ordered.

"yes!".
With Fu Yi's troops withdrawing from the battlefield, the defending forces at Langwogou finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"Damn it, this is too dangerous. If the enemy continues their attack for another half hour, we will be completely wiped out."

"There's always a way out. I think reinforcements have arrived, but I don't know which unit they are or how many there are. We must be careful not to get ambushed by the enemy."

Two hours later, under everyone's watchful eyes, the Second Detachment arrived at the battlefield.

"Huh? Fu Yi is planning to take over the Second Detachment as well?"

Seeing the enemy troops who had set up positions on several hilltops, Chen Chengxing immediately guessed Fu Yi's idea.

"If it were the 35th Army here, I might give them a second glance. How dare two mere cavalry divisions go up against the Second Army?"

"Xu Wu, assemble the heavy mortars from each unit and construct the artillery position. I want to treat Commander Fu to a steel-clad meat soup!"

Because this was a field battle, Chen Chengxing used all the limited trucks to transport heavy mortars and shells, and didn't bring a single mountain gun.

"Yes!"

Because the troops had just arrived and the telephones had not yet been set up, Xu Wu immediately arranged for a messenger to ride a horse to relay the order.

Half an hour later, the artillery position was completed.

"Let the artillery positions give the enemy a little appetizer. The 207th and 209th Regiments should get ready. After the shelling stops, attack the two hills on the enemy's front."

The operations staff officer on the phone immediately relayed Chen Chengxing's orders.

"Commander's order: Fire!"

The artillerymen, who had already completed calibration, immediately waved their small flags.

"5 rapid shots!"

"put!"

"Boom!" "Boom!"
The two frontline hilltops of the enemy forces were engulfed in an explosion, with dirt flying everywhere.

Although Fu Yi's two cavalry divisions also carried mortars, they were all 82mm caliber and were no match for the firepower of the Second Detachment.

To prevent the only artillery pieces from being destroyed, Fu Yi could only grit his teeth and watch helplessly as the front lines were bombed.

A dozen minutes later, seeing that the G army's artillery fire had ceased and the infantry had begun their charge, Fu Yi immediately gave the order:
"Mortars, prepare to support the front lines at any time!"

There were so many heavy mortars, and there was no one else besides the Second Detachment.

Fu Yi was very clear about the combat capabilities of the second detachment.

Despite understanding the situation clearly, Fu Yi felt immense pressure when the moment arrived.

When he was defending Taiyuan, the pressure from the Itagaki Division was not this great.

The second detachment launched only a few probing attacks before launching a coordinated infantry-artillery attack and taking control of the front lines.

"Damn it, are all the people on the front lines useless?!"

"Men! Charge with the entire army! Even if it's hand-to-hand combat, we must crush the G army!"

Fu Yi snatched a submachine gun from a guard and prepared to lead the charge.

"Sir! Sir! Let me go!" The battalion commander of the guard battalion suddenly hugged Fu Yi.

Guns have no eyes; who knows if you'll be killed by a stray bullet once you're on the front lines?

At this moment, anyone could die, but Commander Fu could not.

Fu Yi struggled for a moment but couldn't break free, so he reluctantly returned the submachine gun to the guard next to him.

"No matter the cost, we must drive the G army out!"

"Please rest assured, sir!"

The battalion commander saluted and waved his hand: "Brothers! Follow me!"

The soldiers of the guard battalion and everyone else in the command post who was not required to stay behind all followed.

Seeing Fu Yi's entire army pressing forward, Chen Chengxing put down his binoculars.

"Fu Yi is in a panic; he's even abandoning the reserve team."

"Xu Wu, pass on my order: send Team 1 to support Team 3."

"Since the enemy wants to fight hand-to-hand, let them know what it means to show off your skills in front of Guan Yu."

"Yes!"

(End of this chapter)