According to Shanzi's request, Yumei is responsible for selecting cultural workers. The hospital and the heads of the three departments will cooperate. The cultural team will be formally established tomorrow.
When the meeting was about to end, Shanzi suddenly asked the director of the munitions department. There were several telephones in the warehouse.
The Director of Munitions replied: There are about six more.
Shanzi then instructed Zhao Danian to send some manpower in the afternoon to install a telephone for each of positions 1 to 4.
After the meeting, Shanzi and Yumei were left at the regiment headquarters by Zhao Danian.
Zhao Danian said: "Political Commissar Jiang, if the art team only talks and sings, it will not be difficult. Musicians will not be a problem. If it is acting, who will be the choreographer."
Yumei smiled and replied: "These are not problems. I believe that the art team is confident and capable. They will definitely produce the best show."
Shanzi went on to say that before the second defense war started, the art team concentrated on arranging programs. There was only one requirement. Every program should make the audience applaud.
Yumei once again promised that she would never let the leaders down or let the comrades down.
Zhao Danian glanced at his watch at this time. It was almost noon.
At this moment, Xiaoru hurriedly walked into the regiment headquarters: "Captain, why did you put me in the second echelon?"
Shanzi pretended to be stunned and asked Xiaoru: "Who said that?"
Xiaoru said: "I have been in Xiaomei's office all the time. I just heard what Xiaomei said."
Yumei said: "Ru Han, your work unit is the regiment headquarters. According to the order of this battle, you should be assigned to the second echelon."
Xiaoru was neither sullen nor angry. Her tone remained calm: "No one needs to explain. Please agree to a request."
Zhao Danian asked: "What are the requirements?"
Xiaoru continued: "Give me a light machine gun. I promise to shoot down a plane. If you don't agree, no matter the air defense team or each company, Ru Han will come in and out at will. Unless she is locked up."
Shanzi asked: "What if the enemy doesn't send planes or doesn't fly at low altitudes?"
Xiaoru smiled and replied: "Didn't you just say that? No matter the air defense team or each company, Ruhan can come and go at will. Unless she is locked up."
Upon hearing that Xiaoru was cheating, Yumei looked at Zhao Danian. Zhao Danian turned his attention to Shanzi again.
Shanzi scratched his face and finally came out with one word: "Okay."
Xiaoru quickly raised her chest and performed a solemn military salute: "Thank you leaders."
After the salute was completed, Xiaoru walked out of the regiment headquarters with a smile on her face.
Looking at Xiaoru's back, Yumei said: "Zikai, deputy commander of Zhao, Xiaoru is worthy of being outstanding regardless of his performance or talent. I suggest that he be given a formal position as soon as possible."
Shanzi thought about it for a long time and finally choked out a sentence: Let's deal with Xiaoru's organization first.
6
Three days later, at six o'clock in the evening, more than 2,500 Japanese soldiers outside Linshui City divided into two groups. They set off from the north and south camps of the Tianyuan brigade and marched towards Qiaonan.
Both groups of Japanese troops came from the Second Brigade of Lingjun Mountain.
At the same time, more than 1,500 Japanese and puppet troops marched out of Linshui City from the east gate.
In this team, all the Japanese troops came from the Tahara Brigade. There were eight squadrons in total. The accompanying puppet troops were all from the Linshui Guard Corps.
In order to facilitate concealment and rapid march, both armies had no baggage vehicles. All were carried on the shoulders of individual soldiers. They carried some supplies, weapons and ammunition. The only weapons were rifles, light machine guns and grenade launchers.
At midnight, eight Japanese squadrons and four companies of the security regiment in Qiaonan, with a total of more than 1,500 people, drove out from the south gate of the county to meet up with the artillery brigade waiting outside the city.
This artillery unit comes from the Zhouzhuang Division Artillery Regiment. There are more than 500 Japanese troops. They arrived in Qiaonan two days ago and are stationed at the Chiling Japanese Squadron. 12 mules and horses pull 12 Type 41 mountain guns.
The Type 41 mountain gun has a caliber of 74 mm and a range of 6,300 meters. It is one of the main artillery pieces of the Japanese invaders. It is also the best type of artillery to suppress the opponent's firepower. It is equipped with many artillery regiments belonging to field divisions.
Due to the light weight of the gun body, only 725 kilograms, two soldiers can push the mountain gun around. Because of this excellent maneuverability, the Type 41 mountain gun is suitable for use in various terrains.
The reason why the Japanese army traveled thousands of miles to attack the Independent Regiment this time was to dispatch artillery with a longer range from Zhouzhuang. The purpose is obvious. That is to stay away from the Independent Regiment's camp to prevent another sneak attack by the Independent Regiment.
After the two teams met, the troops took a detour and headed southwest.
As the deputy commander-in-chief of the second attack on the independent regiment, Ando rode a bay-red horse and walked at the junction of the infantry and artillery teams.
As the deputy head of the security team, Zhu Zihui also raised a group of bay-red horses to walk behind Ando.
At this point, the Japanese army's second attack on the Independence Regiment officially began. There were more than 5,000 front-line troops.
Drawing on the lessons learned from the premature exposure of the independent regiment in the first attack, the second attack plan first stipulated that the vanguard troops would march at night and sneak into the combat area at night.
In addition, the plan specifically stipulates that the marching route must be detoured. Once discovered by passers-by, it may also cause misjudgment.
At 5:30 in the morning, after a long journey of nearly 12 hours, the army on the West Route finally arrived about 40 kilometers away from Quanquanling Ridge. They stopped and camped in three mountains and forests.
At the same time, the northern army marched to about 30 kilometers away from Quanquan Ridge. They divided into two routes and camped between two wilderness woodlands.
At six o'clock in the evening, the Linshui General Headquarters received a telegram from the vanguard.
The leading troops are now approaching 40 kilometers away from Quanquan Ridge. According to the combat plan, the independent regiment will be surrounded before five o'clock in the morning.
This time to attack the independent regiment, the commander-in-chief is still the division chief of staff, Major General Ishii. Tahara and Ando still serve as the deputy commander-in-chief.
After reading the telegram, Ishii personally used the walkie-talkie to issue instructions. He ordered the tank troops to set off immediately and arrive at the designated combat position before seven o'clock in the morning.
After receiving the order, two tank squadrons were stationed at the Nantan Military Camp outside Linshui City. A total of 20 Type 97 medium tanks rumbled out of the camp.
This tank unit comes from the Yandu Independent Task Force Brigade. It is dispatched by the Shandong District Headquarters. It arrived in Linshui City three days ago.
The Type 97 medium tank is 5.516 meters long, 2.33 meters wide and 2.23 meters high. It weighs 15.3 tons and has a crew of 4. The main weapon is a Type 97 short-barreled artillery. It carries 120 rounds of ammunition.
The auxiliary weapons are two Type 97 machine guns with a carrying capacity of 4035 rounds. One of them is a front-mounted machine gun. The other one is installed at the rear of the turret.
In terms of operation, the Type 97 tank has a maximum speed of 38 kilometers per hour and a maximum range of 210 kilometers.
Because of its superior firepower and maneuverability, the Type 97 medium tank was commonly equipped with the Japanese army that invaded China. It was the most successful model equipped by the Japanese army during World War II.
After issuing the order, the members of the general headquarters took four jeeps, led 20 baggage trucks, 50 baggage carriages, and a logistics support team of more than 300 people and drove out of the military camp and went straight to the east gate of Linshui.