Courtyard House: I Rely on Time-Space Trade to Build a Nation

This precious night belongs to Zhao Ping'an.

He ordered his troops to take turns resting and to intensify the consolidation of their positions, especially to prepare firing positions and assault routes for the approaching heavy artillery and tanks.

More importantly, he dispatched multiple reconnaissance teams equipped with night vision binoculars and thermal imagers, and activated the division's reconnaissance radar.

They conducted continuous reconnaissance throughout the night on the positions of the 35th Army that were facing off.

In the silence of the radio, information such as the enemy's troop deployment, firepower, command post location, and vehicle concentration area was clearly marked little by little on the battle sand table in front of Zhao Ping'an.

A meticulously crafted plan for fire coverage and assault routes is gradually taking shape, thanks to the collective wisdom of dozens of staff officers in the division's general staff.

At 9 p.m., a deep rumble, quite different from that of the truck, came from the earth.

Zhao Dongliang's heavy assault brigade, after a long maneuver, finally arrived at the designated concealed area on the outskirts of the battlefield.

As the last Type 59 tank shut down its engine and its massive steel body disappeared into the night, the balance of power on the new security battlefield had already shifted decisively.

At the division's forward command post, Zhao Ping'an, combining the latest intelligence obtained from nighttime reconnaissance, finalized the attack plan with commanders Zhao Dongliang, Zhou Liang, and others.

"The final assault will begin at 4:12 AM on December 7th." Zhao Ping'an's voice was firm and resolute.

"The main force of the enemy's 35th Army is currently gathered in several villages and surrounding fields about three kilometers west of Xinbaoan. They are in a chaotic period of transition from marching to defense. Their position system is hastily constructed, their troop formations have not been effectively deployed, and they have not built positions overnight. Currently, the troops are exhausted, and their morale is low due to the setbacks during the day and the 'disappearance' of two regiments."

Moreover, according to reliable sources, the 35th Army has not yet received firepower reinforcements. It's said they plan to return to Beiping (Beijing) to re-equip themselves. Therefore, the largest caliber artillery they currently possess should be a few 105mm cannons, with the rest likely being infantry support artillery such as mortars. So, for our Type 59 tanks, this is merely scratching the surface!

Zhao Ping'an pointed to several areas that were highlighted on the sand table as he spoke:

"Zhao Dongliang!"

"Here!" Zhao Guodong's eyes were practically overflowing with a thirst for battle. Armored vehicles were a man's romance, and now that an opportunity was in front of him, how could he not be excited?

"At 4:00 AM sharp, your heavy brigade, with three tank battalions as the vanguard, will, in the darkest hour before dawn, advance in a wedge formation along these two scouted dirt roads, directly into the enemy's core assembly area! Objective: Disrupt their command system and divide their forces!"

"Yes, sir! Mission accomplished!"

"Zhou Liang!"

"arrive!"

"Your motorized infantry brigade, after the tanks have opened the breach, will quickly advance in armored vehicles and trucks to expand the gains, mop up the remaining enemy forces, and clear out the villages!"

"He Jun!"

"arrive!"

"You led the light infantry motorized brigade to provide support and coordination according to the battle plan, take over prisoners, and ensure close coordination between our various units."

"yes!"

"The divisional artillery regiment, based on reconnaissance coordinates, will launch a ten-minute rapid-fire attack at 3:50 AM on enemy artillery positions, suspected command posts, and areas with dense vehicle traffic! Clear the way for the tank assault!"

"All units should turn on their radios at 3:45 to receive final instructions."

In this battle, we must demonstrate the might of our First Armored Division!

We must show the enemy, and our brother units alike, what a modern combined arms assault is!

December 7, 3:50 AM.

In the silent wilderness, a deafening roar suddenly erupted!

Before dawn broke in the east, huge, orange-red fireballs suddenly rose from the direction of the enemy's positions in the west!

The 155mm heavy howitzer shells slammed down with a near-vertical trajectory, each explosion causing the ground to tremble violently and hurling frozen soil, fortification debris, and even human remains into the air.

The 122mm shells were even denser, weaving a deadly net of fire.

The pre-marked enemy artillery positions were instantly submerged, several buildings that appeared to be regimental or battalion command posts collapsed in the flames, and the gathered trucks and jeeps were set ablaze, becoming ground torches illuminating the battlefield.

The 35th Army's 105mm howitzers attempted to return fire, but the response was sporadic and chaotic.

It quickly fell silent amidst the PLA's more intense suppression artillery fire and focused counter-battery operations.

At 4:00 a.m., artillery fire began to extend into enemy territory.

At the same time, the earth shook again.

This time, it came from the front lines of the People's Liberation Army! The deep and intimidating roar of engines grew louder as they approached, and thicker, darker shadows broke through the darkness before dawn and the lingering smoke, appearing in the sight of the terrified Kuomintang soldiers.

That's a Type 59 tank! Its steel hull, proud gun barrel, and wide tracks roll across the frozen ground with unstoppable force!

They did not venture deep into enemy territory alone; behind or to the sides of each tank were wheeled armored vehicles or trucks carrying infantry, with heavy machine guns spitting fire to clear any threats from either side of the tank.

"Tanks...tanks! The Communist army has tanks! So many tanks!" The soldiers of the 35th Army on the defensive line cried out in despair.

The bullets from their rifles and light machine guns only sparked negligible amounts when they hit the front armor of the tank.

The hastily erected defensive fortifications were rendered useless by the well-prepared engineers and the crushing force of the tanks themselves.

The shells from the 37mm and 57mm anti-tank guns occasionally hit, but could only leave a shallow dent or slide off the sloped armor, unable to stop the advance of these steel behemoths.

"Aim at those anti-tank guns! Suppress the infantry with machine guns!" The tank commander's order was relayed through the intercom.

The 100mm main gun roared, and a tank destroyer that had just opened fire in the distance, along with the sandbag fortifications next to it, was blown away.

The coaxial and parallel machine guns sprayed bullets, mowing down hordes of Kuomintang soldiers who tried to approach and throw explosive charges.

The PLA's armored torrent, like a hot knife through butter, easily tore through the hastily established outer defenses of the 35th Army and rapidly penetrated into its heartland.

The Kuomintang troops, now surrounded and cut off, were thrown into utter chaos.

Command at all levels was disrupted, and the soldiers, under the onslaught of the steel monsters and the fierce attacks of the accompanying infantry, either scattered and fled or surrendered in bewilderment.

As dawn broke, the battle had become one-sided.

In the fields and villages west of Xinbaoan, there were abandoned weapons, burning vehicles, and groups of prisoners being led off the battlefield.

The once-elite 35th Army was utterly helpless against the PLA's 1st Armored Division, a new type of combat force completely unfamiliar to them, which combined superior firepower, steel protection, high mobility, and information superiority. They collapsed at the first touch.

Zhao Ping'an stood at the observation post pointed out by the division commander, observing the battlefield through binoculars.

First battle won!