"An urgent message from Commander Dai of the Second Army."
The confidential staff officer stood at the door of the empty command room and handed the message to Chief of Staff Zhang Dingfan.
Zhang Dingfan took the message and nodded. He turned and walked towards the former enemy commander Bai Chongxi who was immersed in writing a battle plan behind the big table by the window. He suddenly stopped halfway and read the message in his hand again and took a deep breath:
"Brother Jiansheng, Dai Xipeng (named by Dai Yue) called. After the An Yi Regiment, which was rushing to rescue, suddenly launched an attack, the two armies fought with their backs and counterattacked. They attacked from both sides with the An Yi Regiment on the east side of the battlefield, and worked together to defeat the powerful enemy.
During the heavy siege, more than 900 enemies were annihilated, more than 600 were captured, and more than 1,000 long and short guns were captured. The 17th and 18th regiments of the 6th Division took advantage of the victory and pursued it, occupying Wenchang Town north of Chun'an and occupying the town in one fell swoop.
Take it and keep it."
Bai Chongxi looked at the gilded Western clock on the table. The time was 11:20 in the morning. He turned his head in surprise and asked: "When will the battle start? When will it end?"
"There is no initiation time in the message. The end time of the battle is 10:35."
"What? It ended at ten thirty-five?"
Bai Chongxi stood up in shock, took the message from Zhang Dingfan and read it carefully: "... At 10:50, An Yi led his troops back to Jiande from the waterway... What a fast speed! It seems that An Yi fought very hard
Smartly, we did not launch a fierce attack as soon as we entered the battlefield as we expected, but cleverly drove the enemy to flee north, thereby lifting the siege of the two armies in one fell swoop. Otherwise, the battle would never have ended so early.
There are more than 14,000 officers and soldiers in the two divisions of the enemy's Fifth Army, plus more than 3,000 people in the enemy's 19th Division. These more than 17,000 people are not just paper. They can be connected even if they are lined up one meter apart.
Seventeen kilometers away, I am sure that the enemy must have fallen into An Yi's trick. Otherwise, they could have deployed two regiments from the reserve to block An Yi's troops in the battle.
Outside the field, free up your hands to attack the two divisions of the Second Army that are fighting the last battle in the encirclement. It won't take long to eliminate the more than 7,000 soldiers of the Second Army who are isolated and helpless and have run out of ammunition and food. The only way for An Yi's troops to escape is to avoid being advantaged.
The troops were wiped out, but now the enemy has fled without fighting. This An Yi is brave, resourceful, and courageous!"
Zhang Dingfan sat down opposite Bai Chongxi and admired sincerely: "The young are better than the old! Looking at all the units of the First Army, no one in the younger generation can surpass them. Such talents are really rare."
Bai Chongxi put down the message and sat down slowly: "Don't talk about the younger generation, if you include all the teachers, generals and schools in front of you, and compare them with An Yi, it's clear who is better. It's just that An Yi is still young and has a lower position.
It was just buried intentionally or unintentionally. As far as this battle is concerned, it happened suddenly and ended quietly. If ordinary people don't look into it deeply, they won't understand it at all.
If you have any doubts, you can announce at the meeting in the afternoon that the siege of the two armies has been resolved. How many generals can see the mystery? But this battle allowed me to see another side of An Yi, that is this
People never stick to the rules, they are more self-aware, and they can relax and judge the situation. Compared with the Nanchang Battle a few months ago, they have improved by more than one level, and the future generations will be formidable!"
Zhang Dingfan nodded in admiration: "With the An Yi regiment's outstanding performance, it should be put to good use in the upcoming battle of Tonglu. If used well, it can be as good as a division."
Bai Chongxi smiled slightly: "We must use him, but this time we don't need to go over Liu Jingfu and use him directly, otherwise An Yi's exquisite heart will definitely see the clues. This time we let Liu Jingfu use him,
Justified.
It's time for An Yi's troops to take a short break after trekking for days. Then let him and Liu Jingfu's second division take on the task of frontal attack. The rest of the missions of roundabout raids, outflanking and division should be left to other divisions.
Take it on your shoulders."
"Wonderful! Haha..."
Zhang Dingfan thought about it for a moment, understood what his old classmate meant, and couldn't help but admire him.
There are many sentries outside Baisha Camp on the river bank in the south of Jiande City, and the security is tight. Four captured steamboats and 20 large wooden boats that have just arrived from the Xinan River Estuary are close to the dock. More than ten hired crew members are guarding Gu Changfeng’s fourth camp.
Under the supervision of officers and soldiers from the machine gun company, the ship's machinery was intensively maintained.
The hall on the first floor of the Chinese-style building in the center of the military camp was bustling with activity. An Yi and more than a dozen brothers were milling around the ocean gold bars that had just been counted and packed into rows of ammunition boxes. Everyone's eyes were green and they were not tired.
"Due to the large quantity and wide variety, my subordinates converted the cash, gold bars, gold and silver products, and 272 boxes of opium into a large ocean. The total amount was about 2.75 million yuan. Among them, 1.66 million yuan
One hundred and fifty kilograms of high-quality opium and tobacco, calculated at two and eighty-five yuan per current supply price, is 216,000 yuan; gold and silver products, calculated by weight, are approximately 920,000 yuan. The rest are cash and gold bars.
It’s easy to calculate, but... there are too many and it’s difficult to keep them!”
Shi Lejun led twenty brothers from the munitions unit to do the inventory for more than four hours. They were so busy that they were sweating profusely and did not even bother to eat dinner.
The brothers laughed loudly after hearing this. Mu Zhuiyi, who had robbed two major opium dens in Chun'an City, was very excited. He alone led a company of brothers to rob more than 210,000 yuan of opium and tobacco, and then from two opium dens.
More than 300,000 yuan in cigarette money and a pure gold statue of Guan Gong were confiscated in the museum. If An Yi hadn't reminded him, all the brothers would have gone to rob the big house.
Forgetting the two major opium dens in the city, Xia Jian was even more excited. Not only did he lead his troops to rob six officials and wealthy households, but he also took back more than 120 good horses from the homes of these officials and wealthy households.
In spite of the strict military discipline, several young and beautiful women would be put into sacks and carried back as trophies by this energetic guy.
Ye Cheng sighed with regret: "Our battalion also disarmed the servants of several wealthy families and officials, conducted thorough searches, and obtained more than 370 shell guns and other various pistols. We have handed over the weapons.
It’s a pity that so many antiques, calligraphy and paintings were left behind, and the jades and porcelain were not brought back. I feel so sad! If I had brought them back and sold them at a discount, I’m afraid I could still get hundreds of thousands more yuan.”
"Seeing that you usually like these things, I paid attention to them. Before retreating, I saw that there was still time, so I took a platoon brother and ran to three houses in a row. I brought back two sacks of ancient books, calligraphy and paintings. Those jades and ceramics were all fragile and I didn't pack them.
, but I have no research on ancient calligraphy and painting, so I don’t know if they are valuable, so I threw them all next to the pile of pockets on the back of the door. Take a look." Yang Fei pointed to the back of the door on the left and said to Ye Cheng with a smile.
As soon as Ye Cheng heard this, he immediately ran towards the pile of broken bags. When he found two bulging sacks, he immediately asked someone to help them carry them out. How could he still be as elegant as usual in his anxious look? This caused a burst of laughter from the brothers.
.
"Report to the captain, urgent call from division headquarters!"
Zhan Huanqi hurriedly walked into the heavily guarded lobby and handed the message to An Yi with both hands.
An Yi took the message and approached the hanging lantern, read it carefully and loudly ordered: "Old Ding, you lead the brothers in the security company and Le Jun's munitions unit to immediately seal all the money and opium boxes tightly, and then
Carry it to the munitions section and store it, and then send a platoon of brothers to the munitions section. From now on, we will protect you every step of the way and we will not leave you!"
"Yes!" Ding Zhicheng turned and left.
"Xia Jian?"
"arrive!"
An Yi solemnly warned: "You should return to the headquarters immediately to prepare for breaking out of camp. Take all the horses you captured today to transport ammunition and baggage. Move to the third battalion station in the north before twelve o'clock tonight. I will instruct Chen Zhibiao to lead the troops for you.
Prepare the barracks and arrive no matter how tired you are
Let's rest there. We will continue to rest tomorrow without any drills or training. The war is coming soon. We must let the brothers eat well and sleep well, and don't be reluctant to spend money. From now on until the end of the Tonglu War, we must ensure logistical supply and ensure every meal.
There needs to be enough oil and water.”
"clear!"
Xia Jian saluted and left.
Ye Cheng had dropped everything and came to An Yi: "Does our camp have any arrangements?"
An Yi shook his head: "No need for the time being, you can stay and have a meeting to discuss it together."
"yes."
Ten minutes later, An Yi opened the folder and read Liu Zhi's call, then put forward his requests and opinions:
"This is the telegram sent to us by the division commander before setting off from Lanxi. It told us that the Fourth Regiment, as the vanguard, had arrived at Lanxi at four o'clock in the afternoon and would arrive at our place at about three o'clock in the morning. So I asked Xia Jian's third battalion to prepare for them.
Vacate the barracks. In addition, Lao Qu, you will send a company of brothers from the training team tomorrow morning to drive away all the county magistrates in the county government offices in the city. Don't worry about whether they have joined the revolution or not, and free up the county government offices for the division headquarters.
Lao Ye, your second battalion has no influence in the tea garden. It will live there if the supply is sufficient. Before the operation, we will requisition civilian ships and sail down the river to join the other battalions soon. There is no need to move the Baisha Camp where our regiment headquarters is located. Tomorrow five
When the Sixth Regiment arrives, just arrange for them to be stationed in the Xiaya Town area in the north. I don't understand it now.
What is surprising is that most of the regiments in our division are untrained recruits. Our regiment has also traveled hundreds of miles to support the Second Army due to the rapid march for days. At this moment, it is in an extremely exhausted state. Why did the former enemy headquarters arrange for our division to undertake the frontal attack?
To attack a difficult task, let the 22nd Division, which is recharged, assist in the attack? It should be the other way around, let’s see..."
An Yi walked to the large hanging map: "Yangchun Bridge, 9.5 kilometers north of our Xiaya Town, is the enemy's heavily guarded front exit point, Meicheng is 8 kilometers to the east, and Sandu is 15 kilometers to the east.
They are each other's horns, each guarding the
The intersection of Xin'an River, Fuchun River and Lanjiang River. The west bank of the intersection of the three rivers is Meicheng, and the east bank is Sandu. These three important towns are located on the north bank of the Xin'an River from west to east, and are closely connected to the water and land transportation routes leading to Tonglu.
, which is also heavily defended by the enemy.
Among the three important towns, Yangchunqiao Town, which our army faces, is the most important. As long as our army breaks through Yangchunqiao, which is surrounded by mountains on both sides and has a natural barrier, it will be equivalent to clearing the last obstacle to attack Tonglu and defeating Tonglu.
urban housing
Under the overlooking view of our army, it also cut off the retreat route of the enemies of Meicheng. Therefore, I believe that the most difficult task on the entire line is the Yangchun Bridge facing our Second Division, not Sandu directly north of the First Division, let alone the Second Division.
Fenshui Town faced by the army.
There are no less than 10,000 enemy defenders on the passes on the east and west sides of Yangchun Bridge. With the current equipment and combat power of our division, how can it be possible for our division to rush through the passage between the east and west passes, which is only 2.8 kilometers wide and 4.6 kilometers long?
The reason why you sent us a telegram to inform us of the mission is to let us brainstorm and come up with more solutions. But in the face of such a situation, what can we think of? Isn't this forcing us to hit the edge of the knife? "
Yang Bin nodded: "Yes, except for these two limited passages, the area south of Tonglu is full of high mountains and inaccessible dense forests. There is no way to go, let alone the waterway. As long as a few people are placed in front of the narrow part of the river.
gun,
It will make you never come back. The task assigned to our division is quite difficult. I wonder what tasks the other divisions and the friendly forces on the left and right will undertake? It is difficult to respond before knowing the direction of attack of other armies.
Make accurate judgments.”
"It can basically be judged."
Ye Cheng stood up and walked to the map: "Look, everyone, there are only three roads to attack Tonglu from south to north. These three roads are all sandwiched between mountains and hills that stretch for hundreds of miles. The other areas are all high mountains and dense forests that cannot be walked, so no matter what
In which direction will all the friendly forces attack? The middle road we are facing
Yangchun Bridge must be captured at all dangerous passes. It is the shortest road to Tonglu and the most strategic key point. Therefore, I think that the masters and others have also seen this and are helpless and unsure, so they hurriedly
Please send us a telegram so that we can prepare in advance.
From my point of view, we cannot avoid this battle no matter what. As Xiaoyi said just now, the entire Second Division is mostly untrained recruits. In addition to letting our independent regiment go up to attack the fort, the division
What better choice can the leader and the chief of staff have? Therefore, this battle is imperative. If we don’t find a way, what will greet us will be a terrible situation where the entire army will be destroyed in a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood!"
Upon hearing these warning words, the brothers once again focused their attention on the map. After reading it, they all sighed sadly.