Intensive bombs fell from the sky. After the fierce battle, the remaining dozen or so residential buildings in Mafangzhuang were destroyed in the fierce explosions.
On the hot ground, corpses of both enemy and enemy officers and soldiers were everywhere. Zheng Dazhang, who was covered in blood and hundreds of cavalrymen from the 9th Cavalry Division, passed through the thick smoke screen amid the shouts of the commander Jestili, and flew quickly through the falling mud and rocks.
Escape.
The soldiers of the 113th Brigade of the 38th Division were all lying in the trenches left by the 68th Division of the Anjia Army. The officers and soldiers who had no time to rush into the trenches rushed towards the still smoking bomb craters. More than 60 Japanese
Thousands of bombs dropped by fighter planes exploded the battlefield for miles around into flames and filled the sky with mud and rocks. The ground shook like an earthquake under the bombings one after another.
In the bomb crater near the river bank, Zhang Zizhong pushed away the guards, stood up on his knees, and looked up at the Japanese aircraft roaring in the sky. He had no time to wipe away the smoke from his face and the mud on his forehead, and spat out a mouthful of saliva full of sand.
Move two steps, throw yourself on the edge of the big crater, look southward through the heavy smoke, see the hot air
There was almost a burning smell and a strong smell of blood. The vast position was covered with corpses. Six or seven field artillery pieces abandoned by the Japanese army were staggered here and there. On the ground stained red by blood, there were corpses everywhere.
Japanese military standard weapons were scattered around, but not a single body of Anjia officers and soldiers wearing camouflage uniforms was left behind.
After the hordes of Japanese aircraft wreaked havoc, they gradually moved away. More than 3,000 soldiers of the 38th Division on the ground raised their heads one after another. Liu Zhenlan, commander of the 113th Brigade, and An Kemin, commander of the special agent group, quickly moved to Zhang Zizhong and lay down on his left and right sides.
Looking at the battlefield riddled with holes and filled with flames, I sighed repeatedly.
"Master, we made a profit in this battle. We killed at least a thousand of the enemy. The weapons and ammunition on the ground are enough for us to equip another regiment. After so many years, this time we fought the most happily. If it weren't for our lack of troops,
, we will never let those thousands of Japanese troops break through the blocking position in the northeast and escape." An Kemin, who had turned into a big-faced man, was extremely excited.
Zhang Zizhong stood up and jumped out of the crater. Seeing that his officers and soldiers had rushed out of the trenches and bunkers and started cleaning the battlefield, he praised Liu Zhenlan with satisfaction:
"Zhenlan, you did a good job. The battalion commanders of each regiment took the initiative to seize the time to clean the battlefield, keep it in order and move quickly, which is very good!"
The mighty and strong Liu Zhenlan took off his military cap and quickly wiped away the sweat. His dark face was full of regret: "Hey! Master, it's a pity that we chased in a hurry and only brought one brigade and more than 5,000 brothers from the special agent group. If we had more on hand,
one
With one brigade, we can retain all the fleeing enemies, and attack them from the north and south with the pursuing Anjia Army armored brigade. We will definitely be able to annihilate the three or four thousand frightened little ***, and maybe even capture one or two.
What a pity for the general!"
Zhang Zizhong looked up at the smoke that covered the sky and sighed: "It's not easy for us to dispatch more than five thousand troops. Originally I was very angry at An's army for not saving them, but now I know that they didn't move because
I have already planned to set up this trap, what a big deal!
"Whether it is strategy or combat effectiveness, we are not as good as others. Look, miles around have become scorched earth, with at least six to seven thousand Japanese corpses left densely packed. There are rifles, grenade launchers and crooked-neck machine guns dropped by the Japanese army everywhere.
There were also seven or eight field guns and a dozen damaged trucks. This battle was fierce!
"The 68th Division of Li Jinlong of the Anjia Army had less than 20,000 men. Facing the fierce attack of two Japanese divisions, it lasted for six hours. You can imagine how much damage they suffered in the battle. We almost picked it up off the shelf.
Be content."
Liu Zhenlan nodded frequently: "What the master said is that in this blocking battle, we have consumed more than a thousand brothers in the face of the panicked Japanese army who just ran for their lives. I am afraid that more than half of the 68th Division has been lost in the battle."
At this time, there was a series of violent explosions two kilometers away to the south, and thick smoke mixed with flames rose into the sky. Zhang Zizhong and others immediately walked quickly to the trenches ahead. Brigadier Liu Zhenlan shouted nervously and asked what was going on.
As they walked into the trench, a colonel commander ran towards him and reported: "Division seat, it's not a battle, nor a plane dropping bombs, it's An Jiajun who blew up his own armored vehicle."
"telescope……"
Zhang Zizhong was puzzled and took the binoculars handed over by his adjutant. He jumped onto the trench and stood looking into the distance. He saw more than 30 armored vehicles two kilometers away, all of which were blown beyond recognition. Anjia officers and soldiers were still carrying out a
He threw the torch onto the overturned and burning chariot, then picked up machine guns and ran towards the waiting military trucks not far away.
Surrounding the burning wreckage of the chariot are huge craters left by aerial bombs. Pieces of weeds and trees that have been dried by the hot air are still burning. On the battlefield under the scorching sun, the air flow is distorted by the high temperature.
, his eyes were full of desolation, Zhang Zizhong thought for a moment and knew
He said that this was the damaged tank that Anjiajun destroyed himself. Not many people knew about this new type of tank developed by Anjiajun's military industrial enterprise. However, Zhang Zizhong was fortunate enough to have observed the Anjiajun armored unit's drills at close range, and
One of the few generals who personally climbed up and tried it twice.
A "Big Leopard" off-road vehicle spray-painted in camouflage colors and covered with camouflage nets appeared in Zhang Zizhong's telescope. Zhang Zizhong did not wait for the reminder from the general beside him, and immediately issued an order: "Go, wave the flag and call me the friendly vehicle.
come over."
The off-road vehicle saw the battle flag waving on the 38th Division position and quickly turned around. Zhang Zizhong quickly organized his troops and led Liu Zhenlan and An Kemin to meet them. The off-road vehicle was soon twenty meters ahead.
When the car came to a stop, Xiao Wu and two deputies jumped out of the car and strode over.
"Xiao Wu, the armored assault brigade directly under the 17th Army, would like to see you!"
Zhang Zizhong returned the gift, greeted him warmly, and held Xiao Wu's outstretched hand tightly: "Brother Xiao, you're so polite! It's been half a year since we last met, and I didn't expect that I would have the opportunity to fight side by side with Brother Xiao.
Brother Zhan Xiao’s armored brigade is invincible and deserves the greatest credit!"
Xiao Wu smiled bitterly, and after meeting Liu Zhenlan and An Kemin, he whispered to Zhang Zizhong:
"Commander Hu and Commander Lu of our army entrusted me to express my heartfelt thanks to the general and the brothers of the 38th Division and the 9th Cavalry Division! Commander Hu asked me to tell the general that brothers of the 38th Division and the 9th Cavalry Division have worked hard. If we can
If you can help us with anything, please speak up, General, and we will do our best."
Zhang Zizhong was deeply moved. The Anjia Army Armored Brigade and tens of thousands of soldiers chased the Japanese troops to Mafangzhuang. Together with the soldiers of the headquarters, they attacked from both sides. They fought extremely bravely. After the battle, the entire army retreated without saying a word. All the Japanese troops on the battlefield were abandoned.
No one touched the supplies. It was obviously the senior leaders of the Anjiajun army who thanked them for sending troops to help in the war.
At this moment, the major general and brigade commander of the elite armored force of the Anjia Army came to visit in person and said such heart-warming and sincere words. How could Zhang Zizhong not be deeply moved? Even Liu Zhenlan, An Kemin and others around Zhang Zizhong could not have imagined that the Anjia Army would meet.
So polite.
"Please, brother, please express my gratitude to Commander Hu, Deputy Commander Zhang, Director Huang and Commander Lu for me! After this battle is over, the Fifth Army Corps will be famous far and wide and will shine through the history. It is extremely admirable!"
Zhang Zizhong admired him from the bottom of his heart. He walked a few steps side by side with Xiao Wu, pointed at the billowing smoke in front of him, and asked, "Brother Xiao's loss is probably not light, right?"
Xiao Wu's expression dimmed: "It's very serious. If the Central Air Force hadn't attacked Tianjin in advance, I'm afraid there would be only a few of the hundreds of armored vehicles and transport vehicles left. From Wuqing to this area, the entire brigade only lost tanks.
Fourteen vehicles, but after the battle, they were
The Japanese planes destroyed thirty-eight vehicles, with more than two-thirds of the battle damage, and more than 700 soldiers were killed or injured. Alas... To be honest, I am here to say goodbye this time. After I get down, I have to lead my brothers.
Headed south to Bengbu to rest and replenish."
Zhang Zizhong was surprised: "What? Has Brother Xiao been promoted?"
"I just received the telegram an hour ago. My younger brother has been appointed by the Communist Party as Lieutenant General and Deputy Commander of the New Second Army, and concurrently as the Commander of the 102nd Division." Xiao Wu looked around with reluctance in his eyes.
"Congratulations, brother Xiao! Congratulations!"
Zhang Zizhong, Liu Zhenlan and others were surprised and expressed their congratulations repeatedly. Xiao Wu smiled faintly and waved his thanks politely.
"Brother Xiao, do you think the New Second Army will go north? Or go to the front line of Jiangsu and Zhejiang?" The shrewd Zhang Zizhong seemed to have thought of something.
Xiao Wu shook his head: "I really don't know about this. Maybe I can find out more clearly after reporting for duty. According to the order, I will bring all my brothers here, probably to receive new equipment and replenishment of soldiers, as quickly as possible."
degree, reorganize an armored brigade. As for whether to go north in the future, you have to follow the orders of Commander An and Commander Ye Cheng."
Zhang Zizhong nodded thoughtfully: "Is Commander An still in Baoding?"
"I heard that I rushed to the 40th Army and the 53rd Army south of Tianjin early in the morning." Xiao Wu didn't hide anything.
Zhang Zizhong nodded with relief: "Understood! Commander An is so broad-minded. He didn't rush here to condolences his troops at the first time, but rushed to the friendly defense zone two hundred miles away. It's admirable! I think Wan Fulin,
The two generals Pang Bingxun and the soldiers of the two armies will also be inexplicably moved when they see General An."
Xiao Wu smiled: "General, I have heard our Commander An talk about you more than once. He respects you very much."
"Oh? I led my troops to evacuate Tianjin, and he didn't scold me?"
Zhang Zizhong looked at Xiao Wu in disbelief.
Xiao Wu said seriously: "Not only did Commander An not scold him, he actually thought it was the best choice at the time. He said that the 38th Division and the various *** brigades were moving fast and well. If they had not left, they would probably have died.
If the Japanese army suddenly launches an attack, the right thing to do is to annihilate them one by one and escape to dangerous areas to concentrate on defense."
Zhang Zizhong's eyebrows trembled again and again, and after a long while, he sighed longly in front of everyone's gaze: "It's my fault that I'm so angry... Brother Xiao, please tell Commander An for me that the 38th Division is willing to maintain close contact with Commander An, and thank Commander An and
Commander Hu’s strong support for the 38th Division.”
"Okay, I remember..."
"Air raid——"
"The enemy plane is here again - hiding -"
Xiao Wu hurriedly saluted goodbye, ran to the car, jumped on and loudly ordered the car to drive. The SUV passed through a scorched battlefield and sped southward.
The officers and soldiers of the 38th Division who were cleaning the battlefield on the position were in chaos, shouting loudly, rushed into the trenches, and jumped into the craters like dumplings to hide.
Zhang Zizhong and the generals didn't care. They looked at the circling fighter planes in the sky and couldn't help but smile. It turned out that the huge blue sky and white sun emblem on the wings of the plane was extremely eye-catching under the scorching sun. It was a fighter plane of the Central Air Force.
Liu Zhenlan and An Kemin were very embarrassed. They rushed out and shouted angrily at the officers at all levels who could not distinguish the aircraft logo. They ordered the officers to drive out the soldiers under their command, pack up everything, and retreat to Huangcun.
Twenty-five minutes later, before the assembled team could set off, they heard a violent explosion and intensive machine gunfire in the southeastern sky.
Zhang Zizhong turned around and looked around, and found that in the southeast sky, nearly a hundred fighter planes of the Central Air Force were already fighting with dense green Japanese aircraft. The sky was filled with gunpowder smoke, blocking out the sun...