Bright Sword: From Northwest Shanxi to Shangganling

Chapter 455 I will pray for them myself.

Upon receiving the order, the 77th Division did not hesitate and immediately headed south to return to its unit.

However, the fluctuating advances and retreats over the past few days have shaken the morale of the other troops.

Therefore, both the 46th and 73rd Armies moved very slowly, not to mention the 12th Army, which didn't move at all.

Upon learning that the situation had changed again, Noji immediately took action.

B and N columns immediately moved northward in concealment, preparing to first eliminate the 77th Division and use this battle as a signal to start the war.

Once the 77th Division entered the encirclement, the B and N columns immediately launched a fierce attack.

In an instant, the individual radio waves from each unit covered the entire skies over southern Shandong.

Guo Jun finally confirmed the movements of the East China Field Army.

Upon learning that the 77th Division was surrounded, Li Xianzhu did not hesitate and immediately ordered the 193rd Division to provide support, and sent telegrams requesting assistance to Quancheng and Pengcheng.

However, as soon as the 193rd Division stepped out, they saw the G Army surrounding them, and then they retreated back to Yingmu without looking back.

Chen Chengbo of Pengcheng's expression changed repeatedly as he read the telegram requesting assistance from Li Xianzhou.

Now that the main force of the G army in Yingmu and Pingyang has appeared, it's obvious that Li Xianzhu is in trouble.

Originally, the 73rd Army of the East China Field Army was to be trapped in the Yimeng Mountains and annihilate it, but now it has fallen into the pocket of the G Army.

"I regret not listening to Wang Yaowen and falling into the G army's trap," Chen Chengbo sighed as he put down the telegram.

"Chief, there's no need to blame yourself. After all, this was the Chairman's idea," the adjutant beside him advised.

"What do you know! Even if it's the Chairman's will, won't the final blame still fall on me, Chen Chengbo?!"

"Don't you know the old man's temper?"

Just as Chen Chengbo finished speaking, the phone next to him rang.

Looking at the ringing phone, Chen Chengbo sighed helplessly: "Chairman Chiang is always so timely."

As soon as he answered the phone, Chang Ruiyuan's troubles immediately flew from Nanjing to Pengcheng.

"Chengbo, you are utterly incompetent!"

"The main force of the G army suddenly appeared in the Yingmu area, and you were completely unaware of it?! What's going on?!"

Chang Ruiyuan's words made Chen Chengbo so angry he wanted to curse.

Wang Yaowen had clearly ordered his troops to stop advancing south and begin withdrawing their forces.

It was you, Chairman Chiang Kai-shek, who intervened and directly ordered the troops to continue south, carrying out the so-called pincer attack tactic.

Now that Li Xianzhu has fallen into the G army's encirclement, he's turning around and accusing me, Chen Chengbo, again?

I have never seen such a shameless person!
Even though Chen Chengbo had a million curses running through his mind, he still took the blame and shouldered the responsibility.

"I have failed the Chairman's trust, and I am to blame," Chen Chengbo said with a guilty expression over the phone.

Chang Ruiyuan was very satisfied to see that Chen Chengbo had taken the blame for the poor command.

After asking a few questions in a pretentious manner, Chang Ruiyuan said:

“The G army is cunning, but you can’t be entirely blamed. You can only blame Li Xianzhu for his bad luck.”

"Uncle Cheng, what are your plans now?"

Upon hearing Chang Ruiyuan's words, Chen Cheng immediately said, "Chairman, I have already ordered Li Xianzhou's troops to break through to Zhoukou in the north immediately."

“Retreating in front of the enemy is disadvantageous to our army, but since you have already ordered a northward retreat, let’s do it that way. However, we must pay special attention to the safety of the rear and flanks.”

"I will pray to God to ensure their safe evacuation."

Seeing Chen Chengbo looking somewhat dazed after hanging up the phone, the adjutant next to him asked:

"Chief of Staff, what does the Chairman mean?"

"Chairman? The Chairman means he will pray to God for protection."

"May God bless Li Xianzhu, the deputy commander."

Chen Chengbo was at a loss for what expression to wear.

However, Chen Chengbo was only saying that; in reality, he immediately arranged for a plane to be sent.

He felt he couldn't just let it go like that; Li Xianzhu, as bait, could still be effective.

Soon, a plane took off from Pengcheng.

Just as Chen Chengbo was heading to Jinling, the advance team of 21 dispatched by Chen Chengxing had already arrived at the outskirts of Wenkou Town.

"Captain, Wenkou Town is just ahead. Should we wait for the commander-in-chief?"

"How many troops are there in Wenkou Town?" Xu Wu asked.

"According to the reconnaissance, there is an infantry division, which should be the New 19th Division under the 46th Army, with about 8,000 men."

"Then what are we waiting for?" Xu Wu said dismissively.

The Guo army was a motley crew, lacking even a single mountain cannon; 21 of them could easily defeat them.

Do you really think that just because it's called a detachment, it's a detachment?

"Pass on my order: the mountain artillery battalion and the mortar battalion, prepare for battle."

"Deputy Captain Li, you will lead the First, Second, and Third Battalions to launch feint attacks from the east, west, and north respectively."

"I will lead the rest of the troops to launch a frontal assault."

"I have only one request: take Wenkou Town before the main force arrives!"

"yes!".
Half an hour later, all units were in position, and artillery shells immediately flew toward the enemy.

Although the two artillery battalions of the 21st Division fired all their shells at the southern positions.

However, the number of artillery pieces equipped in each infantry battalion of the Second Army Corps was much greater than that of the artillery pieces in each regiment under the 19th Division.

Although Li Chishui's first, second, and third battalions were feigning an attack, their offensive power was by no means weak.

The 19th Division couldn't distinguish between a feint attack and a main attack.

Faced with such overwhelming firepower, the defending enemy forces quickly gave out.

"Commander, the brothers can't hold on any longer! The G army has already reached our doorstep!" A regimental commander from the front line ran to the division headquarters in a disheveled state.

At this moment, the ceiling of the 19th Division headquarters was shaking so badly that dust kept falling, and everyone inside was covered in dust.

Upon hearing his subordinates' cries, the commander of the 19th Division ordered the radio operator to continue sending messages while simultaneously drawing his pistol and pointing it at the regimental commander.

"Go and supervise the battle!"

"Commander." The regimental commander was almost in tears. If he could have won, would he have come back?

"Are you going or not? If you don't, I'll shoot you right now!"

"Yes!" Left with no other choice, the commander could only turn around and run out again.

As the G army drew ever closer, the commander of the 19th Division gritted his teeth and stamped his foot.

"Everyone! Get out! Get out! If we're going to die, we'll all die together!"

Inspired by their division commander, the men in the division headquarters didn't waste any more words, picked up their weapons, and rushed out.

However, after everyone left, the commander of the 19th Division did not rush out immediately, but quickly changed his clothes.

The radio operator, who was sending a message nearby, was stunned when he saw the division commander, dressed as a soldier and disguised as a wounded soldier, escape through the back window.

When the 21st detachment defeated the enemy and stormed into the 19th Division headquarters, there was only one radio operator left, who was voluntarily squatting there.

As for the commander of the 19th Division, nobody knew where he went.

Just as Xu Wu was feeling regretful and ordered his troops to carefully verify the information, Chen Chengbo's plane landed in Nanjing.

Before Chen Chengbo could even get off the plane, his adjutant told him the news of the fall of Wenkou Town.

This sudden turn of events took Chen Chengbo by surprise: "How could it be so fast? It hasn't even been three hours yet!"

He knew that the G army had already appeared on the outskirts of Wenkou Town when he boarded the plane.

However, Wenkou Town has a division of troops, and Chen Chengbo felt that they could hold out for a day or two, at which point his plan could be implemented smoothly.

Is this the result?

"Go to the Presidential Palace immediately!" Chen Chengbo urged.

At this moment, Chang Ruiyuan was in the church of the presidential residence.

He never lies; if he says he will ask God for blessings, he will definitely come to pray.

Soon, Chen Chengbo also arrived at the church.

Seeing Chang Ruiyuan sitting there praying with his eyes closed, Chen Chengbo began to pray for Li Xianzhou's troops at the front.

Once the prayers were over, Chen Chengbo immediately began to flatter him.

"The Chairman's prayer for the frontline soldiers is truly moving."

"Lord Cheng, I also come from a military background. My soldiers are fighting bloody battles on the front lines, but I cannot serve them. I am ashamed."

"You flatter me, Chairman. I am the one who should feel ashamed. I have failed to live up to your expectations."

Chen Chengbo's words were very eloquent, and the rope binding the scapegoat was tightened even more.

However, Chang Ruiyuan knew very well that Chen Chengbo certainly hadn't come back from the front lines specifically to flatter him.

"Uncle Cheng, the situation at the front is urgent. What important matter brings you back to Jinling?" Chang Ruiyuan asked directly.

"Chairman, although the actions of the G Army were somewhat unexpected, as long as the troops on the northern front can hold out for a few more days, our troops on the southern front can advance rapidly."

"At that time, not only will we be able to relieve the siege of Yingmu, but we can also continue to realize our intention to attack from both the north and south, and with an overwhelming force, wipe out the main force of the G army in one fell swoop."

Chen Chengbo was well aware of Chang Ruiyuan's thoughts, so he directly said what he most wanted to hear.

As expected, Chang Ruiyuan fell silent after hearing Chen Chengbo's words.

As the two walked along the road, Chang Ruiyuan pondered.

Li Xianzhou's troops were suddenly surrounded, and whether they could break through was still uncertain.

However, if the plan to attack from both the north and south can continue, it would be a good thing for the Kuomintang army.

"Uncle Cheng, please tell Li Xianzhu to stay calm."

"Given the defenses of Yingmu and Pingyang, the G army won't be able to break through in a short time."

"Then you ordered Tang Keqin's First Army Corps to march north day and night to counter-encircle the G Army."

"Yes!" Having gotten what he wanted, Chen Chengbo finally breathed a sigh of relief.

After leaving the presidential residence, Chen Chengbo did not waste a moment and ordered his adjutant to send a telegram while still in the car.

"Commander-in-Chief, Chen Chengbo has mobilized the entire southern army to advance. The vanguard of the 74th Division, the 58th Brigade, is about to arrive in Mengyin, and is less than 30 kilometers away from Wenkou Town."

"The semi-motorized and semi-mule-powered troops are fast. They can easily travel more than 60 kilometers a day along the highway."

Chen Chengxing was extremely envious; he wished he had that many trucks too.

Soldiers of the 74th Reorganized Division only needed to carry weapons, ammunition, and essential food bags, with an overall load of less than ten kilograms.

Their supply convoy would prepare rest stops ahead of time, so that soldiers could eat, drink and rest as soon as they arrived.

The Second General Staff can only barely manage to tow mountain guns and heavy mortars by trucks. As for the remaining heavy weapons and supplies, they still have to be carried by people and horses.

According to the standards of the East China Field Army, the soldiers' loads were all around 20 kilograms.

However, the Second General Staff Headquarters has a lot of heavy equipment, and the infantry usually need to assist in transporting ammunition. Some soldiers even carry more than 30 kilograms of equipment.

However, Chen Chengxing only thought about it; even if he were given a large number of trucks, he wouldn't have that much fuel.

"Where is the main force of the First Army Corps now?" Luo Ping asked from the side.

"According to intelligence, we should have arrived at Qingtuo Town by now," Chu Yunfei reported.

"Marching thirty kilometers a day, that's quite a feat for the Guo army soldiers," Chen Chengxing said.

"At this rate, the 74th Division will arrive at Wenkou Town tomorrow, and the main force of the First Army Corps will arrive the day after tomorrow or the day after that."

"I think the final offensive is about to begin," Chen Chengxing said solemnly.

(End of this chapter)