Bright Sword: From Northwest Shanxi to Shangganling

Chapter 513 Role reversal
On the other hand, after Huang Huanran's army was annihilated, the Ministry of National Defense and Liu Jingfu were angry, but in fact they were relieved.

This can be considered as relieving the Guo army of a huge burden. Next, they only need to consider how to escape the 400,000 troops in Pengcheng.

With time running out, the Ministry of National Defense quickly came up with a solution.

"Chairman, this is the Ministry of National Defense's next step plan." Guo Gui presented the plan to Chang Ruiyuan.

"The Du Guangting Group in Pengcheng and the Huang Peiwu, Li Yishou, and Liu Ziliang Corps on the southern front will advance from the north and south, with the opening of the Jinpu Railway as the top priority."

Chang Ruiyuan took the plan and asked as he flipped through it, "The 12th Army Corps is surrounded. What are the Ministry of National Defense's plans?"

"Chairman, according to Minister He and Chief of General Staff Gu's deductions, once the Pengcheng troops move south, the siege of the 12th Army Corps will be lifted immediately."

"The Central Plains G Army currently surrounding the 12th Army Corps only has a little over 100,000 men."

"Mm." Chang Ruiyuan nodded.

The 300,000-strong army in Pengcheng was precisely the source of Chang Ruiyuan's confidence.

If the Central Plains army continues to refuse to retreat in the face of the southward-moving army, then it should be annihilated directly.

This was a simple matter for the 300,000 elite troops of the Guo army in Pengcheng.

"I agree to this plan. Let's carry it out."

Du Guangting's group on the northern front and Li and Liu's army groups on the southern front are currently fighting against the East China G Army on the Jinpu Railway. They only need to clarify their objectives.

As for how to deal with Huang Peiwu, who was already surrounded, that was not on Chang Ruiyuan's mind.

Regardless of which side breaks through the G army's resistance, Huang Peiwu will naturally be relieved of the siege.

Outside Pengcheng, looking at the order to march south in his hand, Qiu Feng started cursing again.

"Damn it! What kind of war is this? We're still fighting the G army right now."

"What? You want me to perform two tasks at the same time?"

"They won't be satisfied until they've completely destroyed me!"

Chief of Staff Li Hanping, standing to the side, said somewhat helplessly, "Chief of Staff, this is, after all, an order from Chief of Staff Liu."

Qiu Feng waved his hand, interrupting Li Hanping: "General Manager Liu? He doesn't know anything!"

Despite his cursing, Qiu Feng ultimately dared not openly disobey the order.

"Pass on my order: the 74th Army shall move south to cooperate with Sun Yunliang's army group in launching an offensive."

"Tell them to be careful, don't get themselves into trouble!"

Qiu Feng knew very well what kind of person Sun Yunliang was. If the 74th Army was stubborn, they might be used as pawns.

"yes!".
However, contrary to Qiu Feng's expectations, Sun Yunliang, who received the order to advance from both the north and south, showed unprecedented motivation this time.

"Open up a retreat route to the south, excellent! This order is excellent!"

Sun Yunliang said that this order was exactly what he wanted to do, and he had wanted to run away for a long time.

"Chief of the Orders, Chief of Staff Liu has finally given the right order this time," said Chief of Staff Qi Liangcai with a smile.

“Him? How could that be?” Sun Yunliang said dismissively.
"When the main force of the G Army, more than a dozen columns, went south, they did not allow Huang Huanran to immediately go west to assemble in Pengcheng, but instead asked him to cover the 44th Army."

"To sacrifice five armies for the sake of one army, do you think such a person can make the right decision?"

Sun Yunliang had long been dissatisfied with Liu Jingfu.

"But no matter whose orders it is, we need to hurry."

"The G army is currently reorganizing and deploying. If we hesitate any longer, we will only be able to sit and wait for our doom in the future."

Sun Yunliang knew all too well how quickly Guo Jun's plans could change.

"Pass on my order: the entire army is to launch a full-scale attack immediately! Bring out all firepower!"

"yes!".
This time, the two main forces of the Guo army responsible for the southward advance switched roles.

Those who usually slack off are working themselves to the bone this time; those who usually work incredibly hard are slacking off this time.

Desperate, Sun Yunliang didn't waste a moment and led his two troops in a swift and fierce attack.

Sun Yunliang's uncharacteristically fierce attack took the East China Field Army by surprise.

The main force of the East China Field Army was all used to defend against the elite troops of the Kuomintang army, leaving very few troops on Sun Yunliang's front. Caught off guard, several blocking positions on the front line were breached one after another, and Sun Yunliang's troops advanced all the way to the Lijiazhai line.

This is the last line of defense that the East China Field Army has established south of Pengcheng.

Once Sun Yunliang breaks through this point, he can advance unimpeded and head straight for Huang Peiwu's army.

The P column of the East China Field Army was responsible for defending the Lijiazhai line.

The P column was a newly formed column. Before the Huaihai Campaign began, the column had only three regiments with a total of only 5,500 men.

However, despite the vast difference in strength, the soldiers of P column did not intend to let Sun Yunliang continue.

A fierce firefight broke out between the two sides at Lijiazhai. Seeing that the defensive line could not be breached, Sun Yunliang became anxious.

Desperate to escape, Sun Yunliang not only gathered all of the army's dozens of artillery pieces, but also called for air support.

Lijiazhai was subjected to continuous bombing, and within just half an hour, all the houses in Lijiazhai were destroyed.

The command post, located less than 100 meters from the village, was also nearly destroyed.

However, the soldiers of the P column did not retreat an inch. The Guo army charged into the village again and again, only to be driven back each time.

"Officer, the troops have suffered heavy casualties. Should we suspend the attack and wait for reinforcements?" Qi Liangcai looked at the casualty figures in the two military reports below and felt extremely distressed.

Their troops have suffered heavy casualties, and replenishing them won't be so simple. They might end up with no troops at all, just holding onto a unit designation.

“What do you know?!” Sun Yunliang said sternly.

Sun Yunliang had a unique and keen sense for retreat.

Although he didn't know why, Sun Yunliang knew that this was his last chance.

"Pass down the order: attack tonight, without stopping for a moment!"

"Tell the 41st and 47th Armies that anyone who cheats or shirks their duties, regardless of their position, will be handed over to the military court!"

"yes!".
Sun Yunliang commanded his troops without stopping for a moment, with all units launching attacks in shifts.

In just two days, the front-line troops of the P column were almost completely wiped out.

Especially the regiment responsible for defending Lijiazhai, the remaining soldiers were only enough to form a platoon.

"Sir, our unit has suffered heavy casualties. We request reinforcements immediately! Without support, the regiment won't last the night!"

"Commander, you must hold on no matter what! Even holding on for just one more minute is victory!"

After hanging up the phone, Wang Bin, the commander of the P-corps, ordered: "Chief of Staff, send up the guard company, the reconnaissance company, the cultural troupe, and the logistics personnel!"

"Apart from the necessary personnel, everyone else in command is to go to the front lines."

"Tell my comrades, we cannot retreat an inch!"

The Li Family Village defense line is of paramount importance; the Kuomintang army must not be allowed to break through the encirclement before P Zong is completely wiped out.

"Don't worry, Sir, I'll personally take command!" After saying that, the chief of staff led the men he could to the front line.

By using up the last of his possessions, P Zong finally survived another tough night.

By daybreak, Sun Yunliang's troops still hadn't managed to break through Lijiazhai.

By this time, both sides were exhausted from the battle, with P column suffering heavy casualties and Sun Yunliang's casualties exceeding ten thousand.

However, Sun Yunliang still showed no sign of giving up.

"The G army on the other side is finished." Sun Yunliang held up his binoculars and carefully observed the situation in Lijiazhai.

“Starting yesterday, their gunfire changed; it became sparser and the rhythm was off.”

"If I'm not mistaken, the G army must have sent its logistics personnel to the battlefield."

The fact that logistics personnel were deployed to the battlefield indicates that the G army has committed all its resources to the effort.

If we just give him a little push, we can take this position.

"Chief of Staff, it's time to unleash our trump card!"

(End of this chapter)