Bright Sword: From Northwest Shanxi to Shangganling

Chapter 485: Even if it costs the 89th Division, we must take down Chen Chengxing's regiment.
"Commander, good news. Qu Jieming has stopped moving in the Xiangyi area and is now at least forty kilometers away from Qiu Feng."

"Great! This is the forty kilometers we've been waiting for!" The commander stood up excitedly.

Forty kilometers is not a very long distance; it is exactly the distance that a regular army unit would cover in a day, and a forced march could cover it in just half a day.

Without preparation, it would be difficult for a large force to complete its infiltration before the gap closes, let alone establish an effective blocking position.

However, this time Qu Jieming was facing the well-prepared G army.

"I order the assault troops to launch a full-scale attack on Qu Jiemei immediately!"

"Sir, the locations of Qu Jieming's 75th Division and the new 21st Brigade are currently unknown, isn't that right?"

The commander waved his hand, interrupting the deputy chief of staff: "Put into battle immediately! Attack and investigate simultaneously!"

"Advance across the battlefield, infiltrate and divide, and swiftly complete the tactical encirclement!"

"yes!".
With a command from the field commander, the six columns of the assault corps launched a fierce attack on the various positions of Qu Jiemei.

"Commander! Commander! The G Army has launched a fierce attack on us!"

The chief of staff banged on the door loudly.

Qu Jieming, who had just gotten out of bed, heard the cannon fire, but was somewhat skeptical.

"Impossible! Absolutely impossible!"

"Commander! All this artillery fire, near and far, is aimed at our corps!"

He got up and went to the window. Looking at the fierce artillery fire that was about to illuminate the night and listening to the deafening roar of the cannons, Qu Jiemei was still very puzzled.

"Damn it, wasn't the G Army's summer target Qiu Feng? Why are they coming after me?"

"What kind of crazy thing is the G army up to?"

"Let's go outside and take a look."

Qu Jieming took down the military uniform hanging on the wall, put it on, and came to the position with the chief of staff.

Seeing the G army outside, which had already begun a fierce charge, Qu Jieming suddenly woke up.

"Damn it! The G army is really coming for us!"

"Quickly! Retreat your troops!"

"Commander, it's too late. The 72nd Division, the 75th Division, and the New 21st Brigade, and even Longwangdian, where the Corps Headquarters is located, have all been pinned down by the G Army and cannot escape."

"The G army is really ruthless. They're planning to tear us to pieces and encircle us!" Qu Jiemei's face was even darker than the sky.

"Commander, Qiu Bingtuan is very close to us, he won't abandon us."

“Yes, yes, he shouldn’t have left them unrescued!” Qu Jieming nodded repeatedly.

"I want to ask him for help myself. Bring me the phone!"

"Report, all the telephone lines have been destroyed," the operations staff officer immediately reported.

"Walkie-talkie!"

“Qiu’s army is 40 kilometers away from us, and the radio frequency is not within our range.”

"Damn it!" If he could go back in time, Qu Jieming would want to slap himself twice.

The chief of staff suggested, "Commander, why don't we send a telegram instead?"

Qu Jieming thought for a moment and then shook her head.

He hadn't told Qiu Feng about stopping without permission.

If Qiu Feng had known that it was his actions that caused such a large gap between them, he wouldn't have tried to save her in the first place.

“If he sends a telegram at this time, Qiu Feng won’t even look at it.”

"Let's ask Old Master Jinling for help," Qu Jieming sighed. "The Chairman won't stand idly by."

"Commander, we have another way out," suggested the commander of the 75th Division. "While the G Army is still establishing its foothold, we can organize a breakout."

The G army has just launched its attack. Although it has carried out a fierce artillery bombardment, the troops still have sufficient combat effectiveness. If they choose to break out, there should not be much of a problem.

Upon hearing the suggestion to break out, Qu Jieming hesitated for a moment, but ultimately decided to hold on.

Mawangdian is a large town surrounded by sturdy walls, with open plains outside, making it easy to defend and difficult to attack.

He also had four tanks and hundreds of artillery pieces of various types, and his ammunition was plentiful.

“Ma Wangdian still has tens of thousands of troops. With their superior weaponry, it won’t be easy for the G army to wipe us out.”

"As long as Qiu Feng's army arrives, the two armies working together will surely be able to defeat or even annihilate the G army."

"Order the troops to repair the fortifications. Tell the 72nd Division, the 75th Division, and the New 21st Brigade to hold on as well, as reinforcements will arrive soon."

"Yes!"

After Qu Jieming issued the order to hold the line, the troops immediately began digging trenches, and the houses inside the wall were demolished to build fortifications with doors and wooden boxes.

In Jinling, Yu Liangzhen rushed over to report: "Chairman, the Jiemei Division of the Yudong District is besieged in the Mawangdian area of ​​Xiangyi, and the situation is extremely critical."

Upon hearing Yu Liangzhen's report, Chang Ruiyuan felt that Qu Shounian was exaggerating and did not believe it at all.

"Don't be overly sensitive or jump to conclusions. Is the situation actually true?"

"Chairman, what General Qu said is all true. The G Army is currently infiltrating and encircling, and it is indeed a real battle."

Upon hearing Yu Liangzhen's confident assertion, Chang Ruiyuan immediately said, "We cannot allow another Zou Yunzhang to emerge in eastern Henan!"

"Order Qiu Feng to go east, Hu Ziqi to go north, east of east." Chang Ruiyuan couldn't think of any troops that could provide support from the east.

Yu Liangzhen quickly reminded him, "Uh, Chairman, Huang Huanran's 25th Division, the Third Rapid Column, and the Second Traffic Police Brigade are in Lanling, preparing to reinforce Yanzhou."

"Forget about going to Yanzhou." Chang Ruiyuan decisively changed his order: "Form these three units into a corps, with Huang Huanran as the corps commander, and immediately turn west to reinforce Mawangdian!"

"Yes!"

Thinking that the three armies would form a counter-encirclement against the main force of the G army, Chang Ruiyuan couldn't help but laugh.

"Hehehe. The G army won by luck in Bianliang, but they were greedy and did not escape. They came back to surrender."

"Great! Haha, I welcome that."

“I have been to Xiangyi and Yongqiu. The sand is loose and the soil is soft, so it is impossible to build solid fortifications.”

"The plains of eastern Henan are the best battlefield for our mechanized forces to annihilate the G army!"

"Whether it's a battle here or a battle there, I don't think it's as good as the battle on the Yellow River flood battlefield."

"This is the battlefield where the main force of the G Army was buried!"

"Liangzhen, tell all the commanders that Qu Jieming has been saved, and the whole situation is over. If anything happens to Qu Jieming, I will execute him according to his rank!" "Yes, sir!"

"Sir, the enemy's reinforcements have moved out from all directions." The deputy chief of staff handed over the intelligence.

The leader took it and glanced at it: "Just as we imagined."

"The Second General Corps will coordinate with the Nth Column to block Qiu Feng, Huang Huanran on the east side will be dealt with by the Shandong Corps, and the Central Field Army will block Hu Ziqi and Zhang Yishan on the south side."

"They can buy enough time for the Jiemei Corps in the annihilation zone."

"Sending a telegram to the Central Committee and Nakano demonstrates my unwavering resolve."

"Yes!"

On the western front, the Second General Staff and the N Column were positioned in the north and south respectively. The N Column was responsible for dealing with the reorganized 83rd Division, while the Second General Staff was responsible for dealing with Qiu Feng.

The two sides engaged in fierce fighting along a front stretching over ten kilometers, with their respective artillery exerting full force and shells raining down like raindrops.

Along this front line stretching over ten kilometers, Donglinggang was the site of the fiercest fighting.

As soon as the battle began, the Fifth Army's artillery and aircraft turned the Donglinggang position into a sea of ​​fire.

"The artillery has finished firing; now it's our turn." Huang Xiangfu, commander of the 89th Division of the Fifth Army, put down his binoculars and turned to give the order:
"Order the tanks to lead the attack, with the 598th and 599th Regiments providing support, and launch a pincer attack!"

"yes!".
On the Donglinggang position, Li Chishui led three infantry battalions and a directly subordinate anti-tank artillery company to hold the line.

"The enemy is coming! Anti-tank guns, fire at any time!" Li Chishui shouted as he turned around upon seeing the Guo army tanks appear.

The RPG's range was too short, and at this point, it was impossible for Li Chishui to place the Guo army within 150 meters or even 100 meters to fight.

"Boom!" "Boom!"
"Da da da".
Both sides began firing their various cannons continuously, and light and heavy machine guns also started firing.

The 89th Division lived up to its reputation as an elite unit, with assault teams falling one after another, but the fierce offensive never stopped.

Under the cover of aircraft, artillery, and tanks, the enemy repeatedly approached the front-line positions.

However, with the support of artillery, Li Chishui was able to drive the enemy down time and time again.

After two days of fierce fighting, the Guo army failed to advance an inch, and even destroyed seven or eight tanks. However, Li Chishui only had three anti-tank guns left.

The commander of the 598th Regiment watched as the attacking troops retreated again, and helplessly made a phone call to the division headquarters.

"Commander, the G army is too strong, we can't break through."

Hearing his subordinate, Commander G, boast about his superior strength, Huang Xiangfu angrily retorted, "You're talking nonsense! If you keep spouting this rubbish, I'll shoot you."

The Fifth Army is the elite of the Kuomintang army, and the 89th Division is even more so. How could they be stopped by a small place like Donglinggang?

"A small village with fewer than 300 households, and a small hill of a few dozen acres."

"I used dozens of cannons, and your two regiments attacked for two days and two nights, only advancing less than two hundred meters before being pushed back by the G army!"

"I've utterly humiliated myself in Nanjing!"

"Listen to me, you son of a bitch! I need to get past Donglinggang in two hours!"

"Horse riding!"

Just as Huang Xiangfu was cursing into the walkie-talkie, Qiu Feng had already arrived at the front line.

Upon learning that the G Army had launched a general offensive against Qu Jiemei, but that the troops could not advance an inch, Qiu Feng was furious.

"Commander Huang!"

Upon hearing Qiu Feng's voice, Huang Xiangfu instinctively stood at attention: "Yes!"

"Is Donglinggang passable now?!"

"I ordered them to come back in two hours."

Before Huang Xiangfu could finish speaking, Qiu Feng, enraged, slapped him hard across the face.

When Huang Xiangfu stood at attention again after the beating, blood was already flowing from his nose and mouth.

"Hmph, the elite troops of the Guo Army?!"

"I think you're all tofu dregs!"

"An entire division has been fighting a small place like Donglinggang for two days and two nights with absolutely no progress!"

Huang Xiangfu hurriedly explained, "Commander, the blocking force opposite us is the main force of Chen Chengxing's Second Division, consisting of 21 detachments and three battalions."

"Forget about the main force! Don't exaggerate the bandit's strength!"

"Yes!"

However, although Qiu Feng said that, he actually knew the real situation.

The G army placed its most capable commander, the Second General, on the opposite side; their intentions are self-evident.

"Let me tell you, Qu Jieming cried for help, and the old man felt sorry for her and ordered my troops to reinforce Mawangdian."

"Damn it, we can't even get close to him after 10 kilometers! Is Chen Chengxing made of iron?!"

Hearing Chang Ruiyuan urging again, Huang Xiangfu complained, "Reinforcements, reinforcements, rushing east and west, our Fifth Army is practically a fire brigade!"

"Hmph, Zou Yunzhang's wife, Zhou Daixi, complained about me to the old man. Now, Qu Jieming's wife is probably crying to the old man again. I can't afford to offend her!"

Pointing to Donglinggang ahead, Qiu Feng said, "Donglinggang is a crucial point on the Yongxiang and Yongtai highways. Once we pass this point, we can immediately join forces with Qu Jieming!"

"I will order the attack to begin right away!" Huang Xiangfu said, walking to the side and picking up the microphone.

But before Huang Xiangfu could speak, Qiu Feng snatched the microphone away.

"598th, 599th, and 600th Regiments, you three regiments, advance with full force and take Donglinggang immediately! Anyone who hesitates to fight will be beheaded!"

After throwing down the microphone, Qiu Feng looked at Huang Xiangfu and gritted his teeth, saying, "Even if it costs the 89th Division, we will wipe out Chen Chengxing's regiment!"

Huang Xiangfu's expression changed drastically; he could hear the determination in Qiu Feng's voice.

Trading a top-tier division of over 10,000 men for one of Chen Chengxing's regiments is a huge investment.

In order to capture Donglinggang, Qiu Feng not only ordered all three main regiments to be engaged in the battle, but also transferred all the military artillery regiments and tank regiments.

The only five Sherman tanks were also deployed to the front lines.

The M3 anti-tank gun, using specialized armor-piercing rounds, could destroy Stuart light tanks, but it was powerless against the frontal armor of Sherman tanks.

With the remaining three anti-tank guns destroyed one after another, Li Chishui had no choice but to grit his teeth and engage in close combat.

Seeing that the attack was progressing smoothly, Qiu Feng immediately ordered the aircraft and artillery to unleash their full firepower.

Donglinggang was once again covered by artillery fire.
(End of this chapter)