Bright Sword: From Northwest Shanxi to Shangganling

Chapter 413 Taking the Enemy General's Head Amidst a Sea of ​​Troops

After daybreak, the 45th Division, which had been harassed all night, vented its anger on the G Army's position in Denglou Village.

First, the planes and artillery bombarded the area, and then the infantry immediately began their charge.

At the same time, Qiu Feng launched another surprise attack.

The 46th Division of the Fifth Army also did not take the highway, but instead detoured from Shalou and Wanjiazhuang, north of Guanyinji, to the north of Guzhen.

The 316th Regiment of the 15th Brigade, which was defending Wanjiazhuang, also found itself in a tough battle.

Moreover, since the 46th Division had no intention of launching a direct assault, its tanks and heavy artillery were all deployed to the attack.

The 316th Regiment suffered platoon after platoon sacrifices, with many battalion and company-level officers falling on the front lines.

However, despite the heavy casualties suffered by the 316th Regiment, the 46th Division never managed to break through the defensive line.

This greatly shocked Qiu Feng, who was behind them.

"Damn it, how come the American-equipped troops can't beat the local Eighth Route Army?"

"Pass on my order! The troops will rest for one day, and all officers must give a thorough self-criticism!"

Just as the D column was embroiled in a fierce battle, the General Command saw that the time was ripe and decided to launch a joint attack on the 11th Division on the southern front.

"The commander's orders have been issued. Tonight, the C column will be the supporting force, and the second column will be the main attacker."

A brigade of the C column will attack Shuanglou and Lijiatang from the due north.

Two teams were tasked with flanking Shuanglou and Lijiatang to besiege Caojiaji!

According to intelligence gathered, the vanguard of the 11th Reorganized Division has already advanced to this area.

"Due to the limited battlefield area, only two regiments can participate in the attack this time."

Upon hearing Chen Chengxing's words, the people below immediately raised their hands high.

"This battle, Team 1 will take it!"

"Bullshit! Everything good happens to your team?"

When we fought the 3rd Division, my 3rd Company was initially just fed mosquitoes, and later, when we were surrounded, we didn't get any hard battles either!
Anyway, my team 3 will take on the main attack mission!
"Hey, we're all comrades, there's no need for this. It doesn't matter who leads the attack, right?"

"Come on, Lao Chu, you'd better shut up. We all know each other!"
"Your team, Team 4, had the toughest battles before, do you want to steal them now?"

Chu Yunfei has been a member of the Second Team for many years.

Everyone knows that this kid looks righteous, but he's actually more cunning than any of them.

Damn it, scholars are all cunning and scheming.
The group first worked together to eliminate the four teams, and then they started arguing.

"I'll take the lead!"

"I'll hit! I'll hit!"
"Alright, alright, stop shouting, it's giving me a headache!" Luo Ping said, stopping him.

"Old Chen, you'd better give the order quickly."

The vanguard of the 11th Division consisted of only half a regiment, and any of the units could easily be wiped out.

"Then let's send Team 3," Chen Chengxing said after thinking for a moment.

"Thank you, Captain! Thank you, Captain!" Qin Sheng smiled so hard his back teeth were showing.

"Qin Sheng, don't be so happy yet. Let me make this clear first," Chen Chengxing waved his hand.

"The enemy will definitely counterattack after dawn, which means you only have one night. If you can't annihilate them..."

"Just twist my head off!" Qin Sheng said, patting his chest.

That night, after the attack began.

Team 3, 207th Regiment, was responsible for the main attack on Caojiaji.

The 209th Regiment split into two, attacking Zhangjia Hutong on the east side of Caojiaji and Caijialanzi on the west side respectively.

However, the situation on the battlefield surprised everyone.

Apart from the 207th Regiment encountering enemy troops at Caojiaji, all other units, including the C Column, came up empty-handed.

Furthermore, the number of enemy troops encountered by the 207th Regiment at Caojiaji did not match the intelligence gathered.

The opposing team doesn't even have half a regiment; at most, it's just a battalion.

Even so, the battalion commander of the 209th Regiment who captured Caijialanzi looked on with envy as he listened to the sounds of gunfire and artillery fire at Caojiaji.

News of the attack on Caojiaji was immediately relayed back to the headquarters of the 11th Division in Fengzhen.

"Commander, just as you predicted, the G Army has launched an attack," said Xiao Rui, Chief of Staff of the 11th Division.

"The 5th Army was blocked by the G Army, so there's no reason why the G Army shouldn't be targeting us," said Hu Ziqi, commander of the 11th Division, with a smile.

Upon learning that the Fifth Army had been blocked, Hu Ziqi immediately ordered his troops to slow down their advance.

During the day, they divided their forces and advanced.

At night, they abandoned the relatively isolated and weak outposts on the outskirts and the troops retreated to defend.

His defense was against the G army's strategy of defeating them one by one.

"Commander, should we send reinforcements? If we rely solely on the troops in Caojiaji, they might not be able to hold out."

“No, the main force of the G army hasn’t shown itself yet, so we can’t act rashly.” Hu Ziqi shook his head.

Even if the entire Cao family were wiped out, the loss would only be four or five hundred people.

However, if the reinforcements sent out were ambushed by the G army, the losses would be incalculable.

"Hold the troops in Caojiaji until dawn. Air support will come after dawn."

"The rest of the troops should prepare for defense and avoid a surprise attack by the G army," Hu Ziqi ordered.

"Yes!"

After thinking for a long time, the battalion commander of Caijialanzi felt that this was not the right thing to do.

If you just stand there like an idiot in Caijialanzi all night, wouldn't you just be watching others eat meat?

"Damn it, they were given the title of main attackers, but they didn't catch a single hair! They just watched others fight!" the battalion commander cursed.
"Pass on my order! The entire battalion must assemble immediately! We'll circle around to the south of Caojiaji."

"No matter what, the First Battalion must have some meat today, or at least a bellyful of soup!"

As the First Battalion joined the attack from a flanking position, the troops in Zhangjia Hutong reacted and immediately joined in from the west.

The meat is right there; if you don't grab it, you'll have to watch someone else do.

The defenders of Caojiaji were already struggling to withstand the strong attack from the 207th Regiment.

Once the 209th Regiment joined in, they were no match for the two regiments attacking from all sides.

By the time the sun came out, the battlefield in Caojiaji had been cleaned up.

However, once daytime arrived, the initiative on the battlefield immediately shifted to the 11th Division.

整11师的整11旅31团和整18旅54团，在飞机大炮的掩护下，从左右两翼对曹家集展开了进攻。

Caojiaji was immediately engulfed in flames.
"Captain, the Guo army has very strong firepower, with nearly ten aircraft and more than twenty artillery pieces."

The 1st Battalion of the 209th Regiment on the southern front has suffered heavy casualties; the 2nd Company is down to only two squads. Should we request fire support from the brigade?

"It's not the right time yet," Qin Sheng shook his head.

Others might not know, but the platoon leaders all knew that the mountain artillery regiment was running low on ammunition. Until supplies arrived, it certainly couldn't be used lightly unless in an emergency.

"Here's what we'll do: you send an order to the artillery battalion to send the First Company to Caojiaji to provide fire support if necessary!"

The heavy mortar battalion directly under the 3rd team is also running low on ammunition. If they go all out, the battalion's ammunition won't last a day.

Sending a company to reinforce Caojiaji is already the limit for the three teams.

Although there weren't many shells, the support of heavy mortars helped stabilize the front line at Caojiaji once again.

Even though the Nationalist army's aircraft later bombed the artillery positions, the 11th Division never managed to recapture Caojiaji.

When it got dark, Chen Chengxing put down his binoculars, turned around and gave the order:
"It's finally dark, we've arrived at our home turf!"

"Order Teams 1 and 2 to launch a pincer attack on Jiangzhuang, south of Caojiaji; Team 4 to attack Caomiao and Yanjialou, west of Caojiaji; Team 3 as the general reserve!"

Upon receiving the order, the troops immediately launched the attack as planned.

However, to everyone's surprise, the four teams missed their target again after the battle began.

The enemies who were active in Cao Temple and Yan Family Building during the day have all disappeared without a trace.

In Jiangzhuang, Team 1 and Team 2 encountered an entire enemy brigade.

The 11th Brigade defending Jiangzhuang had very well-constructed fortifications, and they were throwing bullets and shells around like they were free.

"Commander! The 3rd Company has withdrawn again!" Ren Wuliu called the 201st Regiment headquarters.

This was the third major attack launched by his battalion.

But the enemy's firepower was too strong, and they were bombarding the ground with shells.

To avoid excessive casualties, Ren Wuliu had no choice but to order the troops to temporarily retreat.

"Damn it! Abacus! Go to the artillery company and tell them to move all the gun barrels toward the First Battalion's direction. Begin rapid fire in 5 minutes!"

"Stop immediately when you see the signal flare go off! If you don't see the signal, the shelling must continue!" Li Chishui ordered.

As the number one main force of the second branch, the 201st Regiment absolutely cannot be stopped here.

"Keep going? We don't have that many shells!" Ding Futong said anxiously.

"Then smash them all!"

"Go!" Li Chishui commanded.

Seeing the unyielding Li Chishui, Ding Futong had no choice but to rush to the artillery position immediately.

After Ding Futong left, Li Chishui left the chief of staff to guard the regimental headquarters, while he personally went to the first battalion's position.

"Sweet Potato, gather all the warriors who can still charge! Today I'll lead you through the midst of ten thousand troops to take the enemy general's head!"

"Commander, you're going? No, no!"

"If the deputy commander finds out, he'll eat me alive!" Ren Wuliu shook his head repeatedly.

The 201st Regiment is not in dire straits yet, so there is no reason for the regimental commander to lead the charge.

"Who's the commander of the 201st Regiment? Huh?! Can't you tell the difference between the big and small kings?!"

Li Chishui slapped Ren Wuliu on the head.

"Excuting an order!"

"Yes!"

Left with no other choice, Ren Wuliu could only gather the more than 500 men from the First Battalion who were still capable of charging.

Moments later, the 201st Regiment's six infantry guns and more than a dozen 82mm mortars began to bombard the Guo army's positions.

"Boom!" "Boom!"
The Guo army immediately retreated into the trenches to defend against the artillery, leaving only a few observation posts outside.

"Everyone be quiet, follow me!"

Seeing that the shelling had begun, Li Chishui waved his hand and led his battalion out.

The heavy machine guns of the first battalion were immediately prepared to provide fire support should the assault troops be discovered.

Li Chishui and his group kept their mouths shut the whole time, and even held the water bottle with their hands to avoid making any unnecessary noise.

When they got within 100 meters, the soldiers changed from being bent over to crawling on their hands and knees.

After reaching 30 meters, they entered a low crawl position.

Once he got close enough, Li Chishui fired a signal flare at an angle into the air above the Guo army's position.

"Who fired the signal flare? What does it mean?"

The KMT soldiers crouching in the trenches looked at the slowly descending signal flare with a puzzled expression.

They did not receive any relevant notification.

While the Guo army soldiers were discussing amongst themselves, Li Chishui had already brought his watch to his eyes and started counting down the seconds.

Fifteen seconds later, Li Chishui shouted, "Comrades! Follow me and kill them!"

Fifteen seconds is the time it takes for a mortar shell to leave the barrel and hit the ground.

Upon seeing the signal flare, the artillery positions would immediately cease fire, ensuring that the 1st Battalion wouldn't be hit by their own shells during their charge.

"Kill!"
"G Army! The G Army is coming!"

Guo Jun's observation post saw the dark shadow that suddenly appeared on the ground, and immediately shouted at the top of his lungs and blew the warning whistle.

However, they no longer needed to blow their own horn; all the soldiers, unless they were deaf, heard the shouts of battle.

However, Li Chishui and his men had already crawled within 30 meters of the Guo army's position.

They covered such a short distance that it only took them three seconds to reach the position.

As Guo Jun got up with his rifle, ready to counterattack, the soldiers at the front had already jumped into the trench with bayonets at their sides.

"kill!".
Faced with the G army jumping in, the soldiers of the 11th Division did not flinch at all, and charged forward with their guns in hand.

A brutal melee immediately erupted.

Bayonets, submachine guns, pistols—everyone used whatever they had.

However, after losing their artillery advantage, even the soldiers of the entire 11th Division could not withstand the bayonet charge of the two units.

Not to mention that Li Chishui and his men also have a numerical advantage on this local position.

A dozen minutes later, the Guo army could no longer withstand the casualties and began to retreat.

The partial collapse of Guo Jun's forces could easily trigger a chain reaction.

Even the most elite 11th Division cannot escape this.

However, the officers of the Guo army reacted quickly, and the troops in other areas soon regained their footing.

"Comrades! Follow me and keep fighting! Charge into Jiangzhuang!"

Li Chishui ignored the other Kuomintang positions and instead led a battalion to penetrate the Kuomintang's trenches.

They quickly stormed in from the northeast corner of Jiangzhuang and advanced half a street further in.

(End of this chapter)