In response to Cao Hui's suggestion, He Fangnian raised his telescope and looked towards the south of the Yangtze River, then shook his head and said: "This building cannot be blown up yet. We now have air superiority and bombers. If the superiors want to blow up this building, The bridge had already been blown up directly by aviation. With such an obvious target here, there is no problem in destroying them by aviation alone."
"But Lao Cao, look at the entire bridge and its surroundings, there are no traces of bombing. Even if our aviation bombing skills are not up to par, we can't miss even a single bomb, even if the little devils are deployed on both sides of the bridge. There are a few anti-aircraft guns, but even their few anti-aircraft guns cannot protect the entire bridge so tightly. Not a single bomb has been hit. I think the bridge where the headquarters is now has not been completely destroyed. It should be used when preparing to go south."
"Once the bridge is blown up, the Japanese army will have no choice but to cross the river if they counterattack, but it will be difficult for us to cross the river, especially now that the Songhua River is in flood season, and all the ferries on the river are not detained by the Japanese and puppet troops. When we reach the south of the Yangtze River, it is a plain again, with not many trees. After blowing up the bridge, it will be equally difficult for our army to go south, especially in terms of logistics."
"But Lao Cao, what you said makes sense. If there is no railway bridge, according to the current water situation of the Songhua River, it will be greatly difficult for the Japanese army to counterattack Tao Laizhao. In this way, we will not blow up the bridge first, but we will have to do it It’s good to be prepared to blow up the bridge if necessary.”
"Send a company to demolish one-third of the upper rails on the bridge deck and lay mines on the remaining rails. Without the rails, the threat to us from the Japs' armored trains will be greatly reduced. At the same time, the two bridge piers in the middle will be Explosives are placed below to prepare for blowing up the bridge as a last resort."
After saying that, He Fangren leaned down and clicked on the map and said: "Old Cao, my idea is to use the Wujiatun line in the south of the Yangtze River as a forward warning position, and put up a reinforced 12mm caliber machine gun, a recoilless rifle, and a 60-mm cannon. One company and one company serve as the most advanced position of the entire army."
"Although the Wujiatun line is flat and there is no danger to defend, it is the only way for the Japanese army to cross the bridge. As long as the Wujiatun line is defended, it will not be that easy for the Japanese army to use the railway bridge to quickly recapture the Taolaizhao line. Although there is It is easy to attack but difficult to attack. Our army's rocket launcher group and wild mountain artillery group deployed in Jiangbei can provide fire support at any time."
"Take the two prominent points of Daqingshan and Majiatun on both the east and west wings of Tao Laizhao as the key defensive areas on the left and right flanks, and use Shirengou and Xujia shack as the second-line positions. The main force of our regiment is deployed at these two points with Tao Laizhao. Build fortifications between Laizhao and Zhao as the main position."
"At the same time, a warning position was set up along the line from Hejiatun to Taipingling. A battalion and a 82nd mortar company were deployed to block the Japanese troops in Yushu. At the same time, we ensured the safety of our left wing. Place a reinforced platoon on each of the two key points in Chagou."
"Currently, our army has an absolute advantage on the battlefield in Fuyu. The main forces deployed by the 28th Division in Qianguo and Fuyu are already too busy to take care of themselves. I'm afraid we don't have the energy to worry about the Tao Laizhao front line. Our focus now should be on Jiangnan. Dehui and the Japanese troops in Yushu on the left wing."
"But as for Yushu, the main force of our division is encircling and annihilating the 26th Regiment of the 7th Division. This 26th Regiment, which is currently unable to defend itself, may have the intention but not the strength to recapture Tao Laizhao, so We will focus our defense on the Japanese troops in Dehui, Jiangnan."
Regarding He Fangnen's deployment plan, Cao Hui shook his head and said: "Lao He, you are a military commander. How to deploy defense is your business. According to regulations, I should not interfere, but I have no objection to other deployments. Over at Wujiatun, are you thinking about it?"
"Wujiatun is isolated in the south of the Yangtze River. There are neither our other troops nor our tactical support points around it. What role can we put a company there? Even if there is artillery support from deep in the north of the Yangtze River, this company The hysteresis effect it can have in Jiangnan is also quite limited."
"Lao He, we have artillery, and the Japanese also have artillery. And the Japanese not only have mountain artillery, but also large-caliber howitzers. Judging from the current reinforcements given to us by the headquarters and the artillery attached to our division, most of them are 75-mm mountain artillery. Cannons and 120mm heavy mortars are still somewhat disadvantaged in terms of range compared with the Japanese heavy artillery. Even the 107 rocket launcher has intensive firepower, but its range is only more than 8,000 meters, which is not comparable to the Japanese heavy artillery. Confrontation will still lead to some disadvantages."
"The only connection between them and the main force in the south of the Yangtze River is the Songhua River Railway Bridge. Once the Japanese army blocks the Songhua River Bridge with long-range artillery fire, it will be easy to cut off the connection between Wujiatun and Jiangbei. Our company will be alone. , this company not only became the meat we sent to the Japanese army, but also dispersed our own troops, which were not sufficient in the first place."
"My suggestion is to blow up the bridge, and the entire army shrinks back to Taolaizhao's front line defense. Lao He, we now seem to be a strengthened regiment, but the defense area we want to be in charge of is from Hejiatun in the east to Lijiatuozi in the west. It is nearly ten kilometers long from east to west and wide. Although the Taolaizhao Railway Bridge is a must-pass for the Japanese army to go north, the Japanese army does not necessarily have to capture this railway bridge to go north."
"As a modern army, the Japanese army also has other equipment for crossing the river. Our defense front is nearly ten kilometers wide. If the Japanese army gives up the fight for the railway bridge and turns to forcible crossing, our military strength is likely to be stretched. At present, Songhua Although the water in the river is large, it is not impossible to cross it by force."
"We believe that the Japanese army can only seize the railway bridge as a passage to the north. This is probably our wishful thinking. Moreover, we not only have to face the enemy, not only the Japanese army in Dehui in the south of the Yangtze River, but also the Yushu in the east and the southwest. The Japanese troops in Nong'an are all targets of our defense."
"We even have to guard against the main force of the 28th Division in Fuyu. Under the siege from three sides by the main force of our army, the troops that may be withdrawn will be unable to support it. And the main force is eager to encircle Fuyu at the moment. The 28th Division in Qianguo With the main force in the situation, it will be difficult to mobilize troops to support us."
"In fact, we have become an isolated force now. In addition to ammunition and supplies, other assistance we can get is very limited. Although the column promised to transfer us a 122 rocket launcher company and a tank company, as well as a 90-type field field Artillery battery, but it is still unknown when these troops will arrive in Taolaizhao."
"Therefore, Lao He, we must be as cautious as possible when deploying. You, the regimental commander, must keep as much reserve force as possible. Lao He, under the current situation where we are surrounded by enemies on three sides, we must deploy a complete infantry company.
You Lao He should carefully consider whether it is appropriate to leave it alone in Jiangnan."
Having said this, Cao Hui looked at the Songhua River in front of him, which was much wider because it was in the flood season. He pondered for a while and then said: "In this case, Lao He, let's not quarrel here. You can give the column a message."
Send a telegram to ask for instructions on whether the bridge needs to be blown up. If the column does not agree to blow up the bridge, it will be carried out according to your deployment."
"When we are at the front, we often do not understand the intentions of our superiors too deeply. It is impossible for our superiors to explain their overall combat intentions in too much detail to our level. Whether the Songhua River Railway Bridge is preserved or not is indeed related to the next step of our army.
operational deployment, but as subordinates we still have limited knowledge of what the superiors’ current true operational intentions are.”
"Whether this bridge should be retained or not, the superiors will consider it more comprehensively. After all, we still don't know what the superiors are thinking about the next battle. I think it is better for us to ask the superiors for instructions, and we
It's also a good opportunity to get a feel for your superiors. At the same time, can you also report your own thoughts to your superiors via telegram?"
"However, before the superiors reply, we should follow your suggestion and remove some of the rails on the bridge and plant explosives on the bridge. This way, no matter what the superiors' reply is, we will not be very passive when the time comes. At the same time,
, we can use the dismantled rails to strengthen our fortifications. This thing is a good thing for repairing fortifications."
"But Lao He, I have to remind you that your considerations are very comprehensive. Regardless of whether the superiors agree with the bombing of the bridge, this railway bridge is the only way for us to go south. If the superiors approve the bombing of the bridge,
, when you execute it, the location must be chosen well, so that the Japanese and puppet troops cannot use the bridge as much as possible, and we must be able to repair it in a short time when needed in the future."
"I don't know much about blasting, but I heard that you, Lao He, are quite good at using explosives because you are a miner. So, I still remind you. After all, judging from the current situation on the battlefield,
, it is only a matter of time before our army captures the entire Buyeo and encircles and annihilates the Japanese 28th Division."
"If the main force goes south to attack Xinjing after the Buyeo War, then this railway bridge will also be a traffic lifeline for us. Don't blow up the bridge. You guys blew it up so much that there wasn't even a pier.
If you stay, the little devil will no longer be usable by then, but it will be quite difficult for us to repair it."
Cao Hui suggested asking for permission. He Fanggen thought about it and finally nodded: "Okay, according to your opinion, report it to the column and ask the column whether it is still necessary to retain the Songhua River Railway Bridge. If the column issues the
I will carry out the order to blow up the bridge."
"As for blowing up the bridge, Lao Cao saves trouble. We don't need to blow up the bridge piers. We just need to place enough explosives on the two middle piers and under the rails. Then the main part of the bridge can be blown away. There will be no bridge in the middle.
, only the bridge piers are left. Even if the bridge is recaptured, it will have to be overhauled if it is to be used."
"It's just that the Kwantung Army has a railway unit dedicated to repairing railways and bridges. Even if we blow up the bridge in the middle, although they can't completely repair the bridge in a short time, there will be no problem in restoring it to traffic. This It's really a bit tricky. It can't be completely blown up, and it can't allow the Japanese to resume passage in a short time. I'm really scratching my head."