After receiving the latest order from the headquarters, the brigade commander and political commissar of the vanguard brigade, as well as Lin Zhiqiang, looked at each other and knew that the most critical moment had finally arrived. But for them, even though they were mentally prepared, even in the
In the past few days, they have already done countless deductions on the map. But how to fight this battle, the three of them still don't have much idea.
The vanguard brigade currently only has one and a half regiments of troops. Even if all the agency personnel are sent to the front-line combat units, the actual troops will not be able to make up the strength of two regiments. With such a small amount of troops, it will take more than four infantry brigades of the Japanese army.
, under the attack of two mixed brigades of the puppet Manchu Army and two cavalry regiments, it is not enough to defend the entire vast mountainous area north of Weichang County.
Facing the map and pondering for a long time, the brigade commander gritted his teeth and said to the political commissar and Lin Zhiqiang beside him: "Judging from the strength of the Japanese and puppet troops and the possible main attack direction, the key target of the Japanese army should be Weichang County where we are located and beyond.
There is only one reason for the northern zone, because our place is closest to Keshiketeng Banner. As long as they break through us, the Japanese and puppet troops can directly cut off the road from Keshiketeng Banner to Paddock."
"Although we don't need to worry about the Japanese and puppet troops in Weichang County at the moment and let the Sixth Brigade take charge. But the lack of troops on hand is our biggest headache at the moment. In the entire mountainous area in the north of Weichang, one of our brigade has only one and a half regiments.
Responsible, a little too thin."
"Judging from the strength of the Japanese and puppet troops revealed by the limited intelligence we currently have, although we have built some fortifications, it is definitely not possible to rely solely on defensive methods. Moreover, with such a huge disparity in strength, we cannot launch a full-line defense.
"
"Now it seems that the best defense method is to adopt mobile defense tactics. One part will fight back step by step, and the other part will penetrate into the flanks of the Japanese and puppet troops, looking for fighter planes on the flanks of the Japanese army. If you can take a bite, it will be a bite, and contain some
of the Japanese and puppet troops to reduce the pressure on frontal defense as much as possible."
"I heard that the wolves in the Northeast live in packs, but I don't know if you have seen the wolves in North China, especially in the Beiyue Mountains. The population in the Beiyue Mountains is much larger than that in the Northeast, so there are very few there.
There are wolves. All the wolves there are lone wolves, so there is no way to swarm them when hunting."
"Then what do they do with their prey? They don't swarm upon the prey like the wolves in the Northeast. Instead, after discovering the prey, they stare at you from the side and wait for you to be the most relaxed and careless.
It pounces on you and bites you at the most lethal place."
"The defense line assigned to us by the headquarters is so long, and the terrain is extremely complex. Under such circumstances, we do not have enough troops on hand, and a hard top is definitely not possible. Using this kind of frontal defense, combined with side assault tactics,
It’s more in line with our current situation.”
"Old Lin, I see it like this. The political commissar and I are leading a group from the front to use some of the existing defenses that you have repaired in the past three days to fight against the attacking Japanese and puppet troops from the front. I will assign you two of the most organized troops from the first group.
The completed company will be given to you as well, and the brigade guard company will be given to you, and you will lead it to look for fighter planes from the flanks to disperse and contain the Japanese and puppet troops as much as possible."
Regarding the brigade commander's decision, Lin Zhiqiang looked at the map carefully, but shook his head and said: "Brigadier, this roundabout force is still under your command. You are much more familiar with this kind of tactics than I am. The roundabout force is under your command
In my hands, it will play more roles. I will lead the three regiments and stay in front to resist the frontal offensive of the Japanese and puppet troops."
"Brigade Commander, I understand how you feel. But you and the political commissar are the military and political leaders of the entire brigade, and your position should be in a more important place. If I die, our brigade will only lose a chief of staff, but the brain will still be there.
.But if something goes wrong with you, it will be the most dangerous for our brigade."
"I don't want the brigade guard company. You transfer me a company from the first regiment, and give me the brigade engineering company. In this way, I have six companies of troops on hand, plus the mountain artillery company attached to the headquarters, and a forced
The artillery battery, plus two rapid-fire cannons, and give me all the mines transferred from the headquarters, I think one to three days should be enough."
"You take a mortar company reinforced by the headquarters, an infantry artillery company, and the remaining two rapid-fire cannons of the flat-fire artillery company, and a main force from the north to take advantage of the favorable opportunity that the Japanese army's frontal deployment has not yet been completed to attack the Japanese flank.
Secrets lurk in the mountains."
"Don't fight them head-on, use guerrilla tactics, fight them and leave. Try to use small groups of Japanese and puppet troops as opponents, and cut off the Japanese army's transportation and supply lines from Chifeng to the paddock as the main goal. We have few people.
, we don’t have the capital to fight them head-on. We can’t leave the few remaining troops in our brigade in the paddock.”
At this point, Lin Zhiqiang waved his hand to the brigade commander who insisted on his opinion and said: "Brigade commander, don't insist anymore. When it comes to mountain mobile warfare and guerrilla warfare, you have more experience than me. In this kind of positional defense warfare, I am resisting.
I have experienced more during the relationship, and I have more experience than you."
"And I presided over the construction of all the defensive positions of our brigade. I know which ones are suitable for artillery defense, where they are suitable for heavy machine gun bunkers, and where they are suitable for artillery placement. I am more familiar with these defensive positions than you are. This matter
Let’s just let the matter be settled as it is.”
Faced with Lin Zhiqiang's insistence, the brigade commander finally compromised and did not continue to insist on his opinions. However, the brigade commander insisted on leaving the most complete regiment at present, and he led the three regiments to jump to the outside to fight.
It seems that he has less than six companies to fight against such a large number of Japanese and puppet troops. Even with certain artillery support, it may be difficult for him to hold on for too long.
But regarding the brigade commander's idea, Lin Zhiqiang still did not agree to keep the first group. He did not explain why, but he insisted on leaving only the third group. Faced with Lin Zhiqiang's stubbornness, he knew that there was no time to go because of this
The brigade commander, who had a dispute over the matter, finally chose to compromise.
The war situation was tense and there was no room for them to waste too much time. The plan was roughly finalized, and several people immediately began to execute it separately. After the brigade commander and political commissar left with the group, Lin Zhiqiang commanded the troops to enter quickly. Although due to time constraints,
The construction can only be said to be hasty at best, but in the end it can play a certain concealment role and is ready for battle.
The Japanese and puppet troops that attacked from Chifeng moved very fast. The distance between Chifeng and the paddock was also a bit too close, and the two places could even be said to arrive at dawn and dusk. Lin Zhiqiang had just commanded the troops to enter the position, and the troops from Chifeng to the paddock over there were
There was already dust on the road.
The smoke and dust caused by cars, armored vehicles, tanks, cavalry, and marching brigades can be distinguished from miles away. Looking through the telescope, the marching columns of the Japanese and puppet army brigades are getting clearer and clearer, as well as the several figures hovering above their heads.
Lin Zhiqiang felt a little nervous about the Japanese aircraft. He had fought many battles like this during the Anti-Japanese War, but at that time there was strong artillery support behind him. Here, he could only rely on himself.
Lin Zhiqiang here has just commanded the troops to complete the general defensive deployment. The vanguard of the Japanese and puppet troops starting from Chifeng has already arrived. After discovering that there were troops blocking the front, the Japanese troops were eager to cut off the road from Keshiketeng Banner to Paddock.
The puppet troops did not hesitate at all. They concentrated their artillery fire cover and adopted the tactics of group charge, trying to break through the blockade in front of them in one fell swoop.
Facing the ferocious offensive of the Japanese and puppet troops, Lin Zhiqiang did not resist blindly. He knew that according to the forces he had on hand, even if they were all added together, if he fought blindly, it would not take a day to defeat the six companies.
All the troops will be consumed. The difference in military strength between the two sides is too great. Even if the commanding heights are in one's own hands, the gap in military strength cannot be made up by simple terrain.
Although the brigade commander's experience in regular combat and the use of some technical arms was somewhat lacking, his judgment and analysis of the enemy's situation was still quite accurate. The progress of the battle showed that although not all the troops dispatched by the Japanese and puppet troops were suppressed,
When it comes to the northern front, it is an indisputable fact that the focus of the offensive is on the northern front.
When the battle started in full swing, as the Japanese and puppet troops invested more and more troops, Lin Zhiqiang discovered that the Japanese and puppet troops in front of him consisted of at least two Japanese infantry brigades, one and a half brigades of puppet Manchukuo troops, and a cavalry regiment.
Troop strength. In other words, in this massive sweep operation to the west by the Japanese and puppet troops, at least two-thirds of their troops were deployed on the northern front.
Moreover, the fierceness of the offensive of the Japanese and puppet troops was somewhat beyond his expectation. The fierceness of the artillery fire and the intensity of the offensive were rare in the Northeast. The third regiment was located from Daijiadian to Sandaoyingzi.
Within an hour, more than 300 artillery shells with a caliber of more than 75 mm were dropped on the front-line defensive positions. The hastily built fortifications on the front-line positions were blown into ruins.
If Lin Zhiqiang hadn't deployed his troops on the front-line position with a lighter force in the front and a heavier force in the rear, according to the original arrangement of the third regiment commander to deploy all two companies on the front-line position. After this shelling, the two companies would still have a total of remaining
Only God knows how many people will be next?
Looking at the forward position that was densely covered with shells, the commander of the third regiment clicked his tongue and said: "Good fellow, what kind of medicine did the Japanese take today? It turns out that when we carry out counter-mopping operations, the Japanese usually only use a few mountain cannons. Usually they still use the same method.
Infantry artillery, mortars, and grenade launchers are the main ones.”
"But the damn artillery of the little devil this time, at least two squadrons. The shells hit can't even be counted. If it weren't for your quick reaction, Chief of Staff, the temporary ones we built could only be regarded as bunkers at best.
The fortifications. When one shell falls, my two companies will be completely destroyed."
Lin Zhiqiang, who was holding a telescope and fighting fiercely in front, shook his head at the words of the third regiment commander and said: "Judging from the sound of the cannons, the Japanese put at least one combined artillery brigade on the front line. Among them, there should be only one field artillery squadron."
, in addition to the two mountain artillery squadrons, there is at least one 120mm howitzer squadron. As for infantry guns and mortars, there are at least a dozen."
"The thunderous explosion was the explosion of the Meiji 38-type 120mm howitzer shells equipped by the Japanese. This kind of artillery has a range of only more than 5,000 meters, and has been used in all regular Japanese divisions.
Eliminated. I didn’t expect that I could still encounter them here. Grandma, this is the little devil bullying us because we don’t have artillery with a long range.”