Bright Sword: From Northwest Shanxi to Shangganling

Chapter 449 We thought of the same thing

On the outer perimeter of Langya, Chen Chengxing looked at the bustling scene and felt a sense of感慨 (gan3kai3, a complex emotion encompassing both feelings and reflection).

With such popular support, how can we not win?

In the Langya area, apart from some who were organizing the evacuation of the masses, the remaining local armed forces were cooperating with various groups to build positions.

Moreover, once Chen Chengxing constructed the defenses, he established three lines of defense, each more than twenty miles apart.

The momentum on these three positions was particularly strong, with a total number of personnel exceeding the main force of the East China Field Army.

The scene was truly spectacular, with gongs and drums resounding, firecrackers exploding, red flags waving, and crowds of people everywhere.

Along the marching route, there was a tea station every seven or eight miles, where anyone could drink whenever they wanted.

In addition, tens of thousands of students spontaneously formed a comfort and propaganda team, and even the children's corps stood guard at various checkpoints.

At the same time, Chen Chengxing also ordered the engineering corps to build a large number of barracks and earthen stoves.

This created the illusion that the main force of the East China Field Army was actively preparing for battle.

However, at this time, the main force of the East China Field Army had already quietly withdrawn from Langya under the surveillance of the Kuomintang's aircraft, and was rushing northward.

Moreover, local armed forces impersonated the main force and marched towards Yanzhou, setting up pontoon bridges on the canal and collecting boats at the Yellow River ferry crossing.

This move further convinced Chen Chengbo that the main force of the G army was preparing for a decisive battle.

The pontoon bridge was a backup plan that the G army had prepared for themselves. If they were defeated, they would immediately retreat westward and join up with the G army's Nakano.

However, just as the Guo army on the southern front was speeding up with great joy, Wang Yaowen in Quancheng was the first to sense that something was wrong.

"The decisive battle at Langya was a certain death for the G army. I could see that, so why couldn't the ** see it?"

As for whether the G army can fight, the answer is definitely yes.

The key point is that the G army has never fought a dull battle.

"Commander, do you mean the G Army is using a smokescreen?"

"No mistake!" Wang Yaowen affirmed.

"We just don't know what the G army is planning right now."

However, looking at the map, Wang Yaowen felt his eyelids twitching.

"It's too dangerous. The positions of the 73rd Army and the 46th Army are too dangerous."

The 73rd Army has advanced to Yingmu, and the 46th Army has even reached Pingyang. Now only the 12th Army is in Fenggao, which seems relatively safe.

Once the G army moves north, my 70,000 men simply cannot contend with the G army's 200,000-strong force.

“Send a telegram to Pengcheng, requesting that the 73rd Army withdraw to Zishui and the 46th Army retreat to Yingmou.”

The 73rd Army is a veteran unit of the Second Pacification Zone; if something happens to them, they won't be able to handle it.

However, to Wang Yaowen's disappointment, Chen Chengbo immediately rejected his idea of ​​retreating.

In Chen Chengbo's view, the main force of the G army has appeared, and now is the perfect time to encircle them.

If the 73rd and 46th Armies retreat, wouldn't all our efforts be in vain?

At the same time, Chang Ruiyuan once again played an important role in preventing Wang Yaowen from outwardly complying while inwardly opposing him.

He issued orders directly to the 73rd and 46th Armies in the name of the Supreme Command.

They were not allowed to retreat even a single step, and were forced to hold their ground in Yingmu and Pingyang.

Chang Ruiyuan's idea was excellent. The 73rd Army and the 46th Army were now like two nails, firmly driven behind the main force of the G Army.

He planned to use the 73rd and 46th Armies to annihilate the East China Field Army in the Yimeng Mountains.

Chang Ruiyuan's idea was surprisingly consistent with Hua Dongye's.

Both sides began to exert their efforts towards the same goal.

"Commander, we have received a report from the front lines that the vanguard of the Guo army has reached the first line of defense."

"Hehe...it seems Zhang Zhonglin has arrived," Chen Chengxing said with a smile.

"Oh? Commander-in-Chief, how did you know it was the 74th Reorganized Division that came?" Chu Yunfei asked curiously.

The Kuomintang army on the southern front numbered in the hundreds of thousands, with nearly twenty reorganized divisions. How could they be sure that the one that came was the 74th Reorganized Division?
“No one else would be this dedicated,” Chen Chengxing said.

"Give the order to have the local troops withdraw from the battlefield and for each unit to move into its respective positions according to plan."

"Tell each branch not to forget their identities!"

"yes!".
In a direct field battle, there was no room for local troops to maneuver; they could not withstand the heavy firepower of the Nationalist army and had to retreat to the second line.

However, this would cause a mismatch in the number of people on the front lines.

Therefore, Chen Chengxing specifically ordered each unit to make many friendly army flags, with each detachment corresponding to a column.

Inside the headquarters of the 74th Reorganized Division, Zhang Zhonglin looked at the intelligence gathered by the reconnaissance troops and felt something was amiss.

"Why did the G army retreat so quickly this time?" Zhang Zhonglin frowned.

"The enemy retreated to the outskirts of Langya in an instant and built three lines of defense in such a short time. They were clearly prepared."

"G Army was clearly prepared, so why was their pincer attack plan able to be implemented so smoothly?"

In Zhang Zhonglin's view, this is a completely contradictory matter.

"Commander, no matter what tricks the G Army is playing, as long as Li Xianzhu's troops on the northern front arrive, the 300,000 troops on both sides can immediately encircle Langya."

When Wei Zhenwen mentioned Li Xianzhou, Zhang Zhonglin scoffed.

"Wait for Li Xianzhu to arrive? It's still a long way off. These ragtag people are no good."

"Commander, in my opinion, we should launch a general offensive as soon as possible and take Langya first."

“With the fall of Langya, the morale of the G army will inevitably collapse,” Li Yunliang suggested from the side.

“No.” Zhang Zhonglin disagreed with Li Yunliang’s suggestion. “The deployment of the G Army’s main force is currently unclear. The most urgent task is to find out the positions of their various columns.”

"Then find the weak points, break through them in one fell swoop, and take Langya."

"Yunliang, send orders to all units, instructing them to divide their forces and launch attacks from multiple points."

"Firstly, to probe the location of the main force of the G army, and secondly, to find the weak points in the enemy's defenses."

"yes!".
Following Zhang Zhonglin's orders, the various regiments of the reorganized 74th Division dispatched multiple company and platoon-level units to attack.

However, Zhang Zhonglin's probing only made him more puzzled.

"Report! Commander, my attacking troops have all been blocked by the main force of the East China Field Army."

"Which units are involved?" Zhang Zhonglin asked immediately.

"Currently known units include the E Column, K Column, J Column, and Chen Chengxing's troops."

"Just as expected, the G Army has deployed its most powerful troops," Li Yunliang said excitedly from the side.

Unlike Li Yunliang's excitement, Zhang Zhonglin was completely baffled.

"The G army has deployed all its main forces here?"

"How is this possible? Hasn't the G army always been fighting mobile warfare? Why the sudden change in tactics?"

Whether it's the Kuomintang army, the Communist army, or even foreign armies, the troops responsible for blocking attacks are second-line units; the real main force is meant for field battles.

Why did the G army suddenly field its most capable main forces this time?
"Commander, even if the G Army wanted to fight a mobile war, they can't now. We're advancing step by step; where can they move?"

"That's possible." Zhang Zhonglin nodded.

Just then, another staff officer ran over.

"Report, Commander, the electronic intelligence unit has intercepted a call from the G Army."

"What did he say?" Zhang Zhonglin immediately perked up.

"It was Chen Chengxing who took the initiative to call the K column, saying that he wanted to join forces with the K column to launch an attack, annihilate the 74th Division outside Langya City, and capture you, the division commander, alive."

"Haha...hahahaha," Zhang Zhonglin felt a bit like he didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

"That bumpkin Chen Chengxing dares to disregard me, Zhang Zhonglin?"

"A defeated foe thinks he can wipe out my 74th Division by joining forces with the K-Column? What a joke!"

"Yunliang, order the troops to launch a general offensive! The target is Chen Chengxing's troops!"

Zhang Zhonglin tapped the command stick on the map.

“Commander, launching a general offensive now is somewhat risky. Should we wait for the northern troops to arrive before making a decision?” Wei Zhenwen immediately suggested.

The troops on the northern front did not arrive, and only the 74th Division, the vanguard, arrived on the southern front.

With the 74th Division facing the main force of the G Army, they would absolutely not gain any advantage.

"Adventure? Not adventurous at all!"

"The more banners the G army raises, the more it shows they are bluffing!" Zhang Zhonglin asserted.

“Li Yaozong and his men probably believed the G army’s rhetoric and were too scared to come up.”

"I'm not Li Yaozong. My mind is made up. I'll take care of Chen Chengxing first!"

"Pass on my order: the entire 74th Division is to advance and launch a full-scale attack on Chen Chengxing!"

"yes!".
With the support of aircraft, the 74th Reorganized Division launched a general offensive against the 21st Detachment, which was bearing the banner of the Second Independent Combined Arms Brigade.

"Boom!" "Boom!"
Airplanes and artillery bombarded the positions of the 21 units relentlessly.

Chen Chengxing's mouth watered at the sight of the armored vehicles and heavy artillery Zhang Zhonglin had dispatched.

If he had that kind of equipment, he'd dare to attack Nanjing.

"The enemy is coming up. Tell Xu Wu to go all out and beat Zhang Zhonglin to a pulp!"

"yes!".
When the 74th Reorganized Division and the 21st Detachment were locked in fierce combat, the sound of infantry could be barely heard on the battlefield; the main force deployed by both sides was artillery.

Only during lulls in the artillery truce could the roar of light and heavy machine guns be heard.

"Chen Chengxing's troops have been reorganized. Before, when they were in Andong, they were somewhat disorganized, but now they look like a standard infantry division."

Zhang Zhonglin's expression wasn't good; the G Army was making progress a bit too fast.

Last year, the other side was like a makeshift operation, but now it feels like an elite force.

Knowing that a single brigade couldn't take the position, Zhang Zhonglin made a tough decision and transferred the mountain artillery battalions from the other two brigades.

At the same time, Zhang Zhonglin also ordered each of them to send an infantry regiment to provide support.

With Zhang Zhonglin transferring all the artillery from the reorganized 74th Division, the artillery positions of 21 units were suppressed.

The battlefield situation began to tilt in favor of the 74th Reorganized Division.

"Commander, Unit 21 requests fire support!"

Xu Wu knew that Chen Chengxing had such a rocket artillery company.

Although we don't know how powerful this thing is, so many cannon barrels are enough to equip the 74th Division and a pot.

“It’s not the right time yet,” Chen Chengxing shook his head.

“We still have plenty of time. Send an order to Xu Wu to abandon the front line and retreat.”

The 21st Regiment has been fighting the 74th Reorganized Division for most of the day and can now retreat to the second line of defense.

There are currently three lines of defense around Langya, plus the defenses of Langya City. Even if we abandon one line a day, we have more than enough time.

(End of this chapter)