Bright Sword: From Northwest Shanxi to Shangganling

Chapter 501 Commander, Chairman's Orders
"Okay, okay, I understand!" After putting down the walkie-talkie, Wei Xiang, the chief of staff of the 7th Army Corps, looked rather grim.

"What's wrong?" Huang Huanran asked casually.

"The Third Pacification District has rebelled!"

Upon hearing of the rebellion in the San Sui District, Huang Huanran's expression immediately changed.

This means that the G army in the north can advance unimpeded and reach the Longhai Railway.

"The first blow of the Huaihai Campaign is likely to land on our heads."

Looking at the railway bridge that was still crowded and slowly passing through, Huang Huan then regretted it and slapped his forehead.

"Oh dear, why am I so stupid? During the two days I waited for the 44th Army in Xin'an Town, I actually forgot to build a few pontoon bridges over the canal."

According to the original plan, the Seventh Army Corps could cross the river smoothly even without building a pontoon bridge.

However, the large number of merchants and landlords accompanying the troops directly slowed down the entire army's movement.

Moreover, a large number of these people are front men for various high-ranking officials, and he cannot and dare not turn them aside.

"chief of staff."

"Pass on my order: the 44th Division of the 100th Army shall establish a blocking position to hold off the G Army, and the main force shall cross the river immediately!"

"Tell the supervisory team that anyone who dares to delay at this time will be executed on the spot!"

Huang Huanran dared not offend everyone, but he was willing to kill one or two people who were causing trouble, in order to save everyone's lives.

At this time, sporadic artillery fire could be heard from the north and east of the 7th Army Corps, indicating that the G Army had arrived nearby.

Faced with such a tense situation, the 63rd Army, which was at the very back of the 7th Army Corps, said it was unwilling to squeeze in here, since it was impossible to squeeze through anyway.

Therefore, Ma Zhang, the commander of the 63rd Army, decided to lead the 63rd Army south along the canal and cross the river at Yaowan.

Just after the Third Pacification Zone determined the time for the uprising, the Central Committee ordered the Central Plains Field Army and the East China Field Army to launch a fierce attack on the north, west and east of Pengcheng at the same time.

The attacked Guo army units all sent urgent appeals to Pengcheng.

Meanwhile, Huang Huanran's Seventh Army Corps was still slowly crossing the river.

"Commander, the G Army is launching a multi-pronged attack, which should include both supporting and main offensive maneuvers."

"However, the reports from various departments are very serious, and it is impossible to determine the location of the main force of the G army in a short period of time."

"Is there even a need to judge? They're all the main force!" Liu Jingfu affirmed.

"Immediately send a telegram to the Ministry of National Defense: According to intelligence, the main force of the G Army is everywhere near Pengcheng."

"yes!".
Just then, news reached Pengcheng.

"Commander! Something terrible has happened! He Jifeng and Zhang Shutang of the Third Pacification Zone have rebelled!"

"What?!" Liu Jingfu was now completely taken aback.

Although we were attacked from all sides before, that was the outer perimeter.

However, with the uprising of the entire Third Pacification Zone Corps, a huge gap appeared in the northern defense line of Pengcheng, and the G Army's advance was about to reach the outskirts of Pengcheng.

Liu Jingfu, without consulting the Ministry of National Defense, issued the order directly.

"Immediately issue my order: all mobile corps in the Central Plains region must retreat to Pengcheng at full speed!"

At this time, Pengcheng only had two armies. Liu Jingfu felt it was not safe. If the G army were to attack from the side, Pengcheng might be lost.

Just as Liu Jingfu ordered a full-speed retreat, Huang Huanran had just led the Siling Corps across the canal.

He was rushing anxiously to Li Bingwen's silencing department.

"Li Siling, He Jifeng, and Zhang Shutang have betrayed us. The defense line around Jiawang and Taierzhuang has disappeared. The G army may move south at any time to cut off the Longhai Railway."

"But the main force of the Seventh Army Corps has not yet crossed the river, and we have no troops that we can mobilize."

"I would like to ask you to hold off the G army on the Longhai Railway for two days. Once my main force has crossed the river, we can retreat back to Pengcheng together."

Huang Huanran knew very well that his only hope now was that Li Bingwen would guard the road from Nianxu back to Pengcheng for him.

If all goes well, after the Seventh Army Corps crosses the river, both he and Li Bingwen's army corps will be able to withdraw safely back to Pengcheng.

However, Li Bingwen's reply came as a complete shock.

“Official Huang, please forgive me for being powerless to help.” Li Bingwen shook his head.

"I have received orders from the commander-in-chief that the 13th Army Corps must immediately retreat to Pengcheng. Military orders cannot be disobeyed, and I will set off tonight."

Upon hearing Li Bingwen's words, Huang Huanran became extremely anxious: "Li Siling, two days! Just two days!"

"As long as we unite, the G army will absolutely not be able to attack us!"

Combining the 7th and 13th Corps, their forces numbered 160,000 to 170,000, making it difficult for the G Army to easily defeat them.

"Officer Huang, military orders are inviolable. If there is nothing else, please excuse me." With that, Li Bingwen left the Siling Department.

Watching Li Bingwen's departing figure, Huang Huanran's mood plummeted.

On the way back to the Siling Department, Huang Huanran didn't say a word.

In fact, Li Bingwen's actions were even more extreme than his words.

Not only did he not intend to provide any assistance, but he also put in tremendous effort, and the 13th Army Corps returned to Pengcheng in just one day.

Li Bingwen's lightning-fast retreat created a huge military vacuum in eastern Pengcheng.

Upon learning that Li Bingwen had run so fast, Huang Huanran nearly spat out blood.

"Chief of Staff, immediately send troops to occupy Bayiji! Even if everyone dies, we must hold it!"

The Eight Righteousness Group is now the lifeblood of the Seventh Army Corps. Without the Eight Righteousness Group, he can forget about returning to Pengcheng.

The G Army had long since thoroughly understood Chang Ruiyuan's temperament.

For the sake of the 44th Army, Huang Huanran has already been sacrificed. As long as Huang Huanran is held tightly, Chang Ruiyuan will send even more.

Therefore, apart from the C and N columns, which were responsible for the feint attack on Pengcheng, all units of the East China Field Army received the exact same mission.

"Catch up with Huang Huanran!" The key to the troops blocking Huang Huanran lay with the J Column and the Second General Staff on the west bank of the canal.

Both the Central Committee and the East China Field Army were extremely anxious.

While the deputy chief of staff of the field headquarters was sending a telegram to the corps headquarters, requesting that they quickly move south to the Longhai Railway with all their might, the commanders were already making direct phone calls to the front-line troops.

"At all costs, take over Hachigoku! At all costs, take over Hachigoku!"

"Anyone who neglects their duty will be court-martialed!"

Inside the headquarters, Chen Chengxing immediately issued the order to seize Bayiji.

"The armored battalion will lead the way and rush to Bayiji at top speed. The rest of the troops, march at full speed!"

"No matter if it's windy or rainy, or if a plane lays eggs overhead, we can't stop for a moment. We must get ahead of Huang Huanran!"

With leaders at all levels in such a hurry, the soldiers below naturally dared not rest for even a moment.

No one cared about eating, day or night, or the roar of the Kuomintang planes overhead; they just kept running south.

As the fastest-moving armored battalion, Zhou Weiguo led two armored vehicle companies and three armored truck companies to the front.

Upon entering the Bayiji area, Zhou Weiguo immediately received a radio report from the frontline reconnaissance team.

"Battalion Commander, enemy forces have been spotted ahead; it should be a division!"

Inside the armored vehicle, Zhou Weiguo immediately issued the combat order: "All troops deploy in combat formation!"

Just as Zhou Weiguo spotted the enemy, the reconnaissance unit of the 44th Division of the 100th Army, the vanguard of the Guo Army, also spotted the armored battalion.

"The G Army arrived way too fast!" Liu Hesheng, commander of the 44th Division, exclaimed, his expression changing.

Although not many G troops have been discovered so far, he doesn't believe that only a small number of G troops have arrived; the main force will probably arrive soon.

"Pass on my order: the 130th Regiment will seize advantageous terrain and repel the G Army!"

"Send jeeps and get all the bazookas to the 130th Regiment!"

"yes!".
"Boom!" "Boom!"
The vanguard of both sides immediately clashed at the Eight Righteousnesses Assembly.

Immediately afterwards, the 130th Regiment of the Guo Army, taking advantage of its numerical superiority, began to outflank and encircle the enemy.

"Battalion Commander, the enemy is approaching from behind!"

"Order the three-step company to hold off the enemy!" Zhou Weiguo immediately ordered.

The armored battalion has already taken advantage of its speed to enter Bayi Village, so we can't let the enemy take it too.

Once the armored battalion has established a foothold, the follow-up troops can encircle the Guo army.

Liu Hesheng naturally understood this principle as well.

Therefore, the Guo army's attack was extremely fierce, with wave after wave of group assaults, and the subsequent 131st Regiment also rushed forward frantically.

"Commander, the armored battalion reports that they have made contact with the enemy. The enemy's 44th Division is launching a three-pronged attack on Bayiji."

"You're courting death!" Chen Chengxing ordered, "Have the 21st, 22nd, and 23rd detachments surround Bayiji, and the 24th detachment cut off Bayiji's connection with Nianxu!"

"yes!".
As the 2nd General Headquarters, which had been advancing at breakneck speed, completed its encirclement of the 44th Division while the 44th Division had encircled the armored battalion, it also completed its encirclement of the 44th Division.

At this time, the Second General Corps had been marching for more than 36 hours, while the 44th Division had just crossed the river and rushed over.

Both sides were exhausted and their formations were scattered.

"Immediately send a telegram to the field headquarters: Our army has surrounded the enemy's 44th Division at Bayiji and successfully cut off Huang Huanran's retreat route to Pengcheng!"

At this time, the main force of the Seventh Army Corps had just arrived in the Nianxu area.

Upon hearing that the vanguard troops had been surrounded in Bayiji, Huang Huanran hurriedly convened a military meeting.

"The 44th Division reports that they have been surrounded by the G Army at Bayiji. What is your opinion?"

"Lord Siren, at this point, there's nothing more to say. It's best to continue advancing westward."

The main force of the East China Field Army is right behind us. If we don't run now, we're just waiting to die.

"I agree with Commander Li's opinion. Although the G army has appeared in Bayiji, I estimate that it is not the main force. Let's attack Pengcheng first. It's good to get closer."

The only exception was Liu Zhen, commander of the 64th Army: "Nianxu has a lot of fortifications built by Li Bingwen. It would be a pity not to fight the G Army here."

Upon hearing Liu Zhen's words, everyone turned to look at him.

The 63rd and 64th Armies are indeed from the same place. First, the 63rd Army planned to defend Yaowan to the death, and now the 64th Army plans to defend Nianxu to the death.

Just as Huang Huanran was hesitating, the Ministry of National Defense made the decision for him.

"Officer, the Ministry of National Defense has received an order from the Chairman."

"The Battle of Pengcheng is a matter of life and death for the Party and the country. We can only succeed and cannot afford to fail. Our troops have the advantage in terrain, fortifications and manpower. Victory is assured. The Seventh Army Corps is to resist on the spot."

"May this inspire our soldiers to strive for complete victory!"

"Gentlemen, since the Ministry of National Defense has already issued the order, we no longer need to discuss this." Huang Huanran stood up and went to the map.

“There are already a lot of fortifications in the twenty-odd villages around Nianwei, but our troop strength far exceeds that of the 13th Army Corps, so after each unit enters the position, it must immediately step up the repair work.”

Even after deducting the 63rd Army and the 44th Division, the 7th Army Corps still had 70,000 to 80,000 men.

Subsequently, Huang Huanran began to set up defenses, preparing to hold the position at Nianwei and await reinforcements.

As for the 44th Division, Huang Huanran had no intention of leaving the fortifications to engage the G Army in open battle, so he could only order them to break out.

Upon learning that the main force of the Seventh Army Corps had stopped at Nianxu, Liu Hesheng couldn't help but curse.

We told them to risk their lives to seize the Eight Righteousnesses, even if it meant their deaths, but you didn't even come.

What's the point of stealing this Eight Righteous Men Collection?

As Huang Huanran stopped, troops from all sides immediately surrounded him.

The next day, the various units of the East China Field Army arrived at their designated positions as planned, completing the encirclement of the 7th Army Corps.

(End of this chapter)