Bright Sword: From Northwest Shanxi to Shangganling

Chapter 434 Thousand Years of Killing
"Captain Chen, you've arrived just in time!" Xie Siling gripped Chen Chengxing's hand tightly.

After being ambushed by a small unit of the 74th Reorganized Division, An Dong was very nervous, after all, Huaiyin had only recently fallen.

According to his estimate, reinforcements would not arrive until after dawn.

This night will be the saddest time for him.

But to everyone's surprise, the Second Detachment arrived at the battlefield before the 74th Division could launch its attack.

With the entry of the two forces, not only did the 74th Division retreat its lines, but the enemy troops inside the city were also wiped out, and the critical situation was reversed.

"Not at all, not at all. If it weren't for the fierce resistance of the K and L columns, my second detachment wouldn't have had the opportunity to provide support," Chen Chengxing said politely.

"Based on the speed, the B and J columns will arrive at the battlefield before noon tomorrow. What are your thoughts on the next steps, Xie Siling?"

"Zhang Zhonglin is extremely arrogant; he will never admit defeat so easily."

"The 74th Reorganized Division will definitely launch another general offensive tomorrow," Xie Siling said.

“Madness is great, I love madmen the most,” Chen Chengxing laughed.

When you encounter someone who turns and runs away, it's really difficult to handle them.

After all, the Second Route Army is no longer the same guerrilla force that used to conquer the world with just a rifle.

"Let the 74th Reorganized Division run rampant during the day tomorrow, and then teach them a lesson at night!" Chen Chengxing said.

"Okay, it's decided then." Xie Siling nodded.

"Your Second Detachment has traveled for so long, take a rest first, and leave the battlefield to the K Column."

"No problem." Chen Chengxing nodded.

Although the two branches have special abilities that make them run faster, their stamina consumption is not reduced.

Otherwise, they wouldn't have stopped the attack so easily.

The next day, just as dawn broke, Zhang Zhonglin chose to send his entire army forward.

"Pass on my order: all units of the 74th Division shall launch the attack as planned."

"Bring out all the artillery! I refuse to believe the G army can stop us!"

"yes!".
Under the cover of more than a dozen aircraft and a large number of artillery pieces, the 51st and 57th Reorganized Brigades launched a fierce attack on Andong from the south and the 58th Brigade from the west.

However, with the support of the second force, the 74th Reorganized Division fought all day but still failed to capture the abandoned Yellow River dike.

"So many artillery pieces, which unit is this? Could it be that Second Unit or something?"

Zhang Zhonglin put down his binoculars, his brows furrowed.

He also has 120mm heavy mortars. Although they don't have as long range as mountain guns, their destructive power is extremely strong.

Moreover, the opposing G army had set up artillery positions behind the city walls, making it impossible for the 74th Division's artillery to counterattack.

Aircraft can be countered, but the G army's artillery positions were dispersed and concealed, making it difficult to spot aircraft when they were circling at high altitudes.

"Today, both the western and southern fronts were simultaneously attacked by heavy mortars, and in considerable numbers. These two mortars must have arrived," Wei Zhenwen analyzed.

According to intelligence from the Ministry of National Defense, although the G Army produced 120mm and 150mm mortars, they were mainly used by the G Army forces in Shanxi and Northeast China.

Even if the G army in East China were to receive reinforcements, it would be impossible for them to acquire dozens of weapons at once.

The one that has so many artillery pieces now must be this second unit that was transferred from southwestern Shandong.

"Good, just in time! I want to see what kind of expression the G Army will have after we take down these two!" Zhang Zhonglin said confidently.

"Chief of Staff Wei, relay my order: halt the offensive, strengthen defenses, and prevent a night attack by the G army!" Zhang Zhonglin commanded.

According to his understanding, this second unit clearly had a lot of artillery, but its favorite activity was night raids.

In the past, the two Kuomintang troops that were annihilated were basically wiped out at night.

Although the 74th Division was equally adept at night combat, it could not fully utilize its American-equipped firepower advantage in night battles.

"yes!".
Standing on the city wall of Andong, watching the sun about to set below the horizon, Chen Chengxing smiled and said:

"The 74th Reorganized Division didn't move during the day, but at night, we can move."

Columns B and J have reached the north bank of the Yangshui River and rested for an afternoon.

Although their combat strength was not fully restored, it was still sufficient to complete the attack on the 74th Reorganized Division.

"Xu Wu, order all teams to proceed with the operation as planned after nightfall!" Chen Chengxing commanded.

In response to the counterattack by the 74th Reorganized Division, Xie Siling has reported to the Field Command, and the Field Command has approved the action plan.

According to the plan, the B and J columns would cross the Yangshui River and attack the reorganized 58th Brigade from the north and south.

The two teams, Team 1 and Team 2, set off from the west gate and the south gate respectively, to attack the beachhead of the 74th Division.

In addition to these two forces, Chen Chengxing also came up with an extra trump card.

Team 2 of 3 withdrew eastward from the Andong front line. After making a large detour, they will cross the abandoned Yellow River and advance into Shunheji.

Then deliver a devastating blow to the 74th Reorganized Division.

Based on intelligence, Chen Chengxing judged that the headquarters of the 74th Reorganized Division should be located in Qinggong Town.

Of course, due to the longer distance caused by the detour, Chen Chengxing estimated that the third team would not arrive until the evening of the second day.

However, once the 3rd team advanced to Shunheji, the 74th Reorganized Division no longer dared to launch such a large-scale attack.

At night, the troops launched their attack as planned.

The 51st and 57th brigades fared relatively well; although they lost their beachhead positions, they only suffered the loss of one battalion.

However, the 58th Brigade suffered a major setback. First, it was hit by two artillery barrages, and then it was attacked from the north and south by more than 58 troops from the B and J columns.

Although the 58th Brigade ultimately held its position, it suffered very heavy casualties.

"Commander, the G Army has received new reinforcements. We are now in a rather forward position, and the entire 58th Brigade is sandwiched between the G Army."

"Should we temporarily retreat, regroup with the 28th Division and the 171st Division, and then make further plans?" Wei Zhenwen suggested.

"Retreat? You're telling me the 74th Division retreated?!" Zhang Zhonglin said with displeasure, "The entire 74th Division has never retreated!"

"Back then at Wanjialing, the 58th Division was reduced to less than 500 men, but they did not retreat an inch!"

"Commander, that's not what I meant."

"Alright! Stop talking!" Zhang Zhonglin waved his hand, interrupting Wei Zhenwen.

"Go and relay the order to the 192nd Brigade to abandon Jiaoling and immediately move to the front line in Andong!"

Zhang Zhonglin decided to go all in with his entire force.

"Yes!" Wei Zhenwen had no choice but to step back.

The 74th Reorganized Division held out for one night under the multi-pronged attack of the G Army.

The next morning, Zhang Zhonglin personally went to the front line to supervise the battle.

The two sides repeatedly fought for control of the three dikes along the abandoned Yellow River.

However, despite all the hardships, the 74th Division only managed to capture the first section of the dike, and then could not push it any further.

By evening, the 192nd Brigade was the first to lose its temper.

Dai Liwei, the chief of staff of the 192nd Brigade, returned to the brigade headquarters from the front line looking disheveled.

"Commander, we can't fight any longer. If we continue fighting alongside the 74th Division, the 192nd Brigade will be wiped out first!"

In just one day, the 192nd Brigade had already suffered two thousand casualties, all of whom were front-line troops.

"How could I not know! But Commander Zhang will not agree to our retreat!" said Fan Yifeng, commander of the 192nd Brigade, helplessly.

Zhang Zhonglin's character was known to everyone in Guo Jun.

Once he made up his mind, no one except the Chairman could change it.

"Commander, we are the 28th Division, not Zhang Zhonglin's 74th Division! Why should we risk our lives for Zhang Zhonglin's merits?"

“Even if the 192nd Brigade sacrifices its life to capture Andong, we probably won’t get any credit,” Dai Liwei said with a bitter face.

Upon hearing Dai Liwei's words, Fan Yifeng clearly hesitated, for what Dai Liwei said was absolutely true.

After thinking for a moment, Fan Yifeng finally decided to retreat.

"Let's go! Let's retreat to Shunheji!"

"Once we reach Shunheji, send a telegram to the 74th Division headquarters!" Fan Yifeng ordered.

"The commander is wise! I'll go and call the brothers right away!" Dai Liwei hurriedly ran out.

By the time Zhang Zhonglin received the telegram, the 192nd Brigade had already arrived at Shunheji.

"Useless!" Zhang Zhonglin was so angry that he crumpled the telegram into a ball and threw it on the ground.

Zhang Zhonglin never expected that the 192nd Brigade could reach the G Army's positions.

However, he needs cannon fodder to draw the G army's firepower and create opportunities for the 74th Division.

"Commander, the 192nd Brigade has retreated to Shunheji and probably won't be going to the front lines again. Our forces are somewhat insufficient," Wei Zhenwen said.

With the 192nd Brigade withdrawing from the battlefield, the ratio of enemy to friendly forces became three to one, making it difficult for the reorganized 74th Division to launch a powerful attack.

"Although we are outnumbered, the G army is also short of strong teeth. At most, we will end up in a stalemate," Li Yunliang said.

"Even in a standoff along the river, our 74th Division has the advantage of artillery, which can inflict continuous casualties on the G army."

“Yes, Yunliang is right.” Zhang Zhonglin nodded.

“We are confronting the G army here. Let the 28th and 171st Divisions speed up. Once they arrive on the battlefield, it will be the end for the G army.”

Seeing that Zhang Zhonglin was unwilling to retreat and coordinate with the other troops, Wei Zhenwen had no choice but to shut his mouth.

However, the 74th Division has the advantage in firepower and supplies, so even in a stalemate, it can maintain the upper hand.

Having decided to proceed with the standoff, Zhang Zhonglin immediately began to adjust his strategy.

Except for Wuzhuang, the bridgehead, all other troops of the 74th Division on the north bank of the abandoned Yellow River were withdrawn to the south bank.

Just as the 74th Division was adjusting its layout, the 2nd Detachment 3rd Team also crossed the abandoned Yellow River and arrived near Shunheji.

"Captain, something's wrong. There's more than one company in Shunheji," the scout reported upon returning.

When they set off from Andong, the intelligence gathered by the reconnaissance company indicated that Shunheji only had one reinforced company of soldiers.

Although we haven't figured out exactly how many people there are yet, it's definitely not comparable to a company, or even a regiment.

"The 74th Division reacted so quickly? I hadn't even shown any killing intent yet, and they had already laid out their plans?" Qin Sheng frowned.

The sudden change in Shunheji surprised him.

"Captain, what should we do? Should we continue fighting?" Lin Zhifeng asked.

"Fight! Of course we have to fight!" Qin Sheng nodded. "But we need to plan how to fight from now on."

If it were just a company, the main force could simply push forward, but now the enemy has several thousand people, so it's not that simple.

(End of this chapter)