As the deputy commander of the Western Manchuria Theater Command, Yuan Jinghao must consider the overall situation of the battlefield when considering the problem. This is not because, in the southern part of the Nuruerhu Mountain area, the blocking troops are mainly Sun Zhenbang's troops, but some scruples.
Sun Zhenbang's eyes flickered, but he didn't speak in a hurry. He knew that Yuan Jinghao hadn't finished speaking yet.
Yuan Jinghao continued: "Now the blocking battle in the southern mountainous area can no longer be judged according to the conventional rules. The Kwantung Army's attack can be launched at any time and anywhere. Four brigades of 78,000 people will go up and hand over the positions. It will definitely be a hectic time. At this time, the final It is easy to cause problems. At present, what the troops urgently need is artillery shells. If reinforcements are needed, the reinforcements will not be placed on the front line. Commander Sun, these are my opinions! "
Sun Zhenbang grinned and said: "I thought of it together with me. I didn't even look at the time. It was so easy to hand over the positions and re-divide the blocking area. We still need to increase the number of troops. Just as Commander Yuan said, from now on Move four brigades on the left and right wings and establish a second blocking line fifteen kilometers behind the current blocking position. First, we will be prepared for any danger. Second, we can send troops to reinforce the tight areas on the front line at any time and move the theater command headquarters Tell Han Guangqi about your decision!¡±
Sun Zhenbang looked at Jing Zhanqi, his face became serious, and said: "Chief of Staff Jing, order the theater joint service department to replenish all types of artillery shells for all blocking forces in the southern mountainous area before eight o'clock tomorrow morning, enough for more than five days. , and replace the damaged artillery. If the task cannot be completed, I will kill the director of the Joint Logistics Department!" His tone was a bit vicious.
Jing Zhanqi said in embarrassment: "Commander, are the orders too harsh? Now, the artillery shells of the blocking troops in the southern mountainous areas can still last for more than a day. As you know, they are all mountainous areas with rugged and narrow roads. It is impossible to Trucks are used on a large scale, and most of the ammunition needs to be transported by manpower. The shortage of artillery shells for the troops is a big deal, but not a critical matter! "
Sun Zhenbang fell silent, and Yuan Jinghao also said: "Commander Sun, you are in a hurry! We are in a mountainous area with inconvenient transportation. The work of the Joint Logistics Department is not easy. It supports two corps in the theater with nearly one million troops. It is so busy every day that the sky is dark. Yes, Chief of Staff Jing is right, it¡¯s a big deal but not an urgent matter!¡±
"Well, the time will be extended to six o'clock tomorrow afternoon. If we can't complete the task of replenishing artillery shells and equipment, I will still shoot the leaders of the Joint Logistics Department!" Sun Zhenbang also knew that he was a little impatient, so he took a step back and said .
Jing Zhanqi went out to send a telegram. Sun Zhenbang frowned and said thoughtfully: "Commander Yuan. After fighting for a whole day, I also saw some clues. The Kwantung Army troops in the encirclement, but the Mongolian language used artillery and other Heavy equipment! Logically speaking, they are all elite troops of the Kwantung Army. It is impossible that they do not have heavy equipment such as artillery. But why have they not been used in such a strong and oppressive attack by our army? !¡±
Yuan Jinghao was also thinking. "There are two possibilities. One is that during the breakout, the heavy equipment was discarded. As you know, after entering the mountainous area, the heavy equipment will become a burden to the Kwantung Army troops. The other possibility is that the Kwantung Army commander The strategy is to concentrate the most powerful artillery fire in a certain direction, and use a sudden bombardment to open a hole in our blocking position in the southern mountains!"
"No matter what the possibility is, we have to guard against the Kwantung Army using this move. The final pressure will still fall on the blocking forces in the southern mountainous area. The theater command should remind Han Guangqi to pay attention to this!"
"I agree!" Sun Zhenbang said simply, "Combat Staff Officer, please send a telegram to Deputy Chief of Staff Han immediately to remind him to pay attention to the artillery of the Kwantung Army!"
"In addition, we should communicate with the aviation force about whether we can send out night-flying bombers. If it is as you judge, the little devil is cheating, just blow him up!" Sun Zhenbang said to Yuan Jinghao fiercely.
"I agree, it's better for me to send a telegram to Liu Cuigang and Le Yiqin to ask for support!" Yuan Jinghao said with a smile.
In the southern part of the Nuruerhu Mountains, the blocking position of the West Manchu Combat Group, the defense area of ??the First Brigade of the Outer Mongolia Field Corps, Colonel Han Guangqi, Chief of Staff of the Corps and Deputy Chief of Staff of the Theater, led a guard company and drove overnight to the Headquarters of the First Brigade. , when counting the casualties of the troops today, Han Guangqi was also shocked when he saw the casualties of the First Brigade. As the chief of staff of the Corps, he knew the combat effectiveness of the First Brigade and the fierceness of the brigade commander Wang Qingshan too well!
In one day's battle, the First Brigade suffered more than 2,300 casualties. There must be a reason. At that time, Han Guangqi was on the position of the 14th Brigade of the North China Field Corps. He could hear Wang Qingshan's brigade dozens of kilometers away. In the direction of blocking the attack, the sound of artillery was loud, and gunpowder smoke filled half of the sky. The fighting was more fierce than that of the brigade. He was still worried. After sending the telegram to the theater headquarters,?, then he came overnight.
Still some distance away from the tent of the First Brigade, Wang Qingshan¡¯s loud voice was heard shouting, ¡°Li Guangye, let me tell you, boy, our brigade suffered more than two thousand casualties, of which more than nine hundred were caused by you. Regiment, please explain to me, the other three regiments were attacked by the Japs with no less intensity than yours, so how come they didn¡¯t suffer as many casualties as you, Li Guangye?¡±
Han Guangqi understood as soon as he heard that Wang Qingshan was questioning several regiment commanders. It seemed that the casualties of the first brigade made the brigade commander with a fiery temperament become furious. "Commander Wang, are you angry with me?" he said. Lifting the tent curtain, he came in and said with a smile.
Seeing Han Guangqi enter the tent covered in dust, Wang Qingshan was startled, but he immediately understood what was going on. He put down the phone and said: "Chief of Staff, my soldiers suffered heavy losses today. Please do your best, Chief of Staff." The brigade commander who came here late at night and suffered so many casualties is the responsibility of me! I am willing to accept any punishment from the theater command! Just announce it if you have any orders!"
For Wang Qingshan, Han Guangqi had absolute respect and understanding. He smiled and waved his hand and said: "Brigadier Wang, I'm not here to punish you. There are no casualties in the war. I just want to understand the situation!"
Wang Qingshan took out a cigarette, handed it to Han Guangqi, lit it himself, and took a fierce puff. The light blue smoke blurred his face. He was silent for a moment, and then said: "Chief of Staff, I, Wang Qingshan, The position is a piece of fat. The little devils are eyeing this place. They think they think highly of me. They bring out two first-class divisions and nearly 60,000 people to attack in turns. For a whole day, my soldiers are not even drunk. A mouthful of water, a meal!¡±
"The artillerymen worked even harder. The barrels of the artillery were all red. No, more than 300 people were sent to the hospital for rescue. However, not an inch of the position was lost. There were tens of thousands of little Japs who fell in front of the position. Man, this is why the First Brigade suffered so many casualties!¡±
"The only problem now is that there are not many artillery shells. I, Wang Qingshan, have also fought in big battles. I fought with Lao Maozi in Outer Mongolia for more than ten days, but I have never seen the artillery shells used up so fast. Thanks to the artillery, we are risking our lives. Otherwise, the casualties of the troops would be even greater than they are now!¡±
Han Guangqi smiled and said, "Don't worry about the artillery shells. I have already sent a telegram to the theater command, requesting that enough artillery shells be supplied to the southern mountain blocking force immediately!"
Wang Qingshan became happy, "Chief of Staff, as long as there are enough artillery shells to reduce troop casualties, I can't guarantee it, but I can guarantee that no matter how many little devils there are, they won't be able to pass through the first brigade's position!"
Just as Han Guangqi was about to inquire about other situations, the on-board radio operator came in and said, "Report to the deputy chief of staff that an emergency telegram has been received from the theater headquarters!"
Han Guangqi received the telegram, and after reading it, he said excitedly: "The theater command has agreed to send four more brigades of reinforcements, but they must deploy defenses fifteen kilometers behind the first blocking position!"
"In this way, the blocking area of ??your first brigade is the key position of the blocking line in the entire southern mountainous area. It can be seen from the crazy attack of the Kwantung Army troops today. After the reinforcements arrive, I will move an entire brigade The troops will be placed behind your first brigade and put under your command. Whatever is lost at the front will be replenished. I say Brigadier Wang, you are commanding two main brigades!"
"In addition, Commander Sun has strictly ordered the Joint Logistics Department that the artillery shells needed by the troops and the replacement of damaged equipment will be in place before six o'clock tomorrow afternoon. You can fight with confidence!"
Wang Qingshan grinned happily and rubbed his hands in excitement. Two brigades, that is eight regiments with nearly 40,000 troops, which is enough for any fight. There is also an extra heavy artillery regiment, a self-propelled artillery regiment and a rocket launcher battalion. Fighting like this The positional blocking battle and the large-caliber heavy artillery are definitely the master's killer weapon!
Just as he was about to say a few words of humility, a radio operator came in and said, "Deputy Chief of Staff, received the second urgent telegram from the theater headquarters!"
"Oh?" Han Guangqi frowned. The two commanders of the theater headquarters had some urgent military matters. They sent two urgent telegrams in a row. Could it be that the Kwantung Army troops in the encirclement did something unusual?
After reading the telegram, Han Guangqi said to Wang Qingshan: "Brigade Commander Wang, the theater headquarters has judged that in the subsequent attack, the Kwantung Army troops may use large-scale artillery fire to bombard our positions, and ordered our southern mountainous blocking troops to , noting this, my opinion is that all troops on the frontline should be evacuated immediately, leaving only a small number of troops to monitor the Kwantung Army! "
"In addition, you need to dig anti-artillery holes on the forward positions overnight. Also, your brigade belongs to the heavy artillery regiment, so you must be mentally prepared for an artillery battle with the Kwantung Army's artillery. By then, there may be less artillery support for the forward positions. A lot!¡±
Wang Qingshan was stunned, how manyThey didn't take it seriously. They fought all day long and didn't see the Japs using large-caliber artillery. At most, they were some Type 92 infantry cannons and mortars. However, they never compromised on executing orders from their superiors.