Chapter 231 Xin County North and South Blocking Operation
The Little Japanese Army in Mongolia and the First Army respectively sent troops to advance towards Xin County. Do they want to launch a revenge operation?
As far as the Yue Army was concerned, they suffered heavy losses in Xin County that time, and two Major Generals alone were killed.
With such casualties, they will definitely not give up easily.
The First Army has 20,000 troops, and the Mongolian Army has dispatched 4,000 troops.
More than 20,000 troops entered from the north and south. Once they entered Xin County, the consequences would be disastrous.
The troops currently staying on the defensive in Xin County are requesting the 358th Regiment, which is a strengthened regiment.
They have four infantry battalions, one cavalry battalion, one artillery battalion, and a reconnaissance platoon directly under them.
At full strength, the 358th Regiment can have about 4,000 troops.
After continuous fighting, their total strength was over 3,000.
Moreover, the Zhangwu Cavalry Battalion was unable to muster combat effectiveness.
After Chen Ziyun received reports from Chu Yunfei one after another, he immediately adjusted his deployment.
The current time is around 10 noon in September or October, and there is still a lot of time before the system is required to stick to midnight in the county.
According to the marching speed of the Moon Army troops, the mobile combat troops stationed in the Mongolian army in the north can arrive at Xin County at three or four o'clock in the afternoon at the latest.
If you rely on the county town for defense, it is very likely that you will be bitten by the Moon Army troops and fall into a full siege.
Therefore, Chen Ziyun rushed to arrange the Zhangwu Cavalry Battalion and the artillery battalion troops to defend the Hutuo River NA area in the north.
This force did not seek to rely on the Hutuo River for defense, but tried to block the Mongolian troops stationed on the north bank of the Hutuo River.
Chu Yu's Seventh Battalion troops will advance to the defense of Xinkou Town to ensure that they can support operations at any time.
Hundreds of troops from the baggage company directly under the brigade headquarters were transferred to the county by Chen Ziyun to assume the task of county defense.
The system requires that the county seat be defended until midnight in October, as long as the county seat is under military control.
Chen Ziyun's intention was very clear when he arranged for the heavy company to be responsible for the defense of Xinxian County. He would not allow the Yue army to advance to the county seat for combat.
The 2nd Battalion, 3rd Battalion, 4th Battalion, and the reconnaissance platoon, otherwise commanded by Chen Ziyun, will directly advance to the front-line defenses of Baizi Mountain and Wohu Mountain.
"All ministries strive to stop the Moon Army outside the county before midnight."
"When necessary, each department can quickly move to the front lines of Hesuo Town and Qicun Town."
"In addition, when evacuating the battlefield, be sure to set up minefields to slow down the advancement of the Moon Army."
"Contact the guard company troops and ask them to prepare. They are ready to join the battle at any time."
"Their combat goal is to hold back the Moon Army troops as much as possible and defend the county seat of Xinxian County until midnight!"
Chen Ziyun's face was serious, and he personally gave the battle order.
At 11 o'clock in the afternoon, all units of the 358th Regiment immediately mobilized and they quickly advanced towards different areas.
After arriving at the designated area, each battalion immediately deployed actively.
The main force of the regiment set up defensive positions on the front lines of Baizi Mountain and Wohu Mountain, and they were ready to hold on.
Three infantry battalions set up defense lines east of Chen Ziyun's personal command.
At the same time, Chen Ziyun also personally led people to set up minefields on the only way to Xin County.
Even though there was not much time left, Chen Ziyun led his troops to dig anti-tank trenches.
It is worth mentioning that the Eighth Route Army in Xin County saw the 358th Regiment deploying for combat operations, and they actively cooperated.
Many people were mobilized and went to work together.
By one o'clock in the morning, the only way to enter Xinxian County was, and anti-tank trenches successfully appeared.
Chen Ziyun was filled with emotion when he looked at the sweaty people evacuated from the east under the leadership of local troops.
At that moment, he truly realized whether the people are invincible!
If you rely on the troops, such anti-tank trenches will never be dug outside a short period of time.
Ten minutes later, a motor began to roar from the south.
After a while, armored vehicles began to appear in Chen Ziyun's telescope.
Is this the reinforced armored force of the First Army? Do they have tanks and armored vehicles?
Those armored units, I wonder if they come from the North China Front Army Headquarters and the units directly under the First Army Headquarters.
During the entire war, the armored troops of the Bu Nao Japs could only show off their power on the battlefield outside the customs.
Even when fighting the Soviet army outside the customs, their so-called tanks and armored vehicles were simply vulnerable.
Jin Province is an area that the Yuan army has long occupied, and most of it is an occupied area.
The little devils never thought that the troops of the Jinsui Army could pose much of a threat to them.
So when the war started, many heavy weapons have been gradually transferred and left.
I want to know that in 1937, almost all divisions participating in the war in North China could be equipped with large-caliber howitzers.
The First Army and the Front Army also have heavy artillery brigades and other units.
By now, those heavy artillery units have almost all been mobilized and left.
Although the tank troops were retained, most of what they had were Type 95 tanks and armored vehicles.
At this time, the Moon Army armored forces advancing from Yangqu to the Xinxian area had many vehicles of various types.
They have twenty-four tanks and thirty-six armored vehicles.
Among those vehicles, there were four Type 97 tanks, twenty Type 95 tanks, twelve Type 92 armored vehicles, and twenty-four Type 91 armored vehicles.
"Leader, they... they have so many tanks and armored vehicles, they... how should they do this?"
"The artillery battalion artillery is fighting in the north, and the mortars they are equipped with are simply impossible to mishandle them."
"Guanzu, please allow them to break through forcefully. There is no way for them to intercept."
Some officers also saw the Lunar Army armored troops, and their faces inevitably became a little panicked.
"Why panic? They have set up minefields and anti-tank trenches. They won't be able to escape for a while."
"Our troops are on the high ground. Can those vehicles drive to the high ground?"
"If you see it, then the Yuan Army's Type 95 tanks, thin-skinned toys, and steel-core bullets from heavy machine guns at close range can penetrate their armor."
Chen Ziyun put down the telescope and said with a serious expression on his face.
The performance of those officers made him very dissatisfied.
After all, officers are not relied upon by soldiers. Any actions of officers on the battlefield will have a great impact on the soldiers.
"No, regimental seat." Seeing Chen Ziyun's displeasure, the officers rushed to answer.
Does Chen Ziyun have great prestige in the 48th Independent Brigade?
Especially now, although his position as infantry and artillery commander has very little formal definition of authority.
But in the entire 48th Independent Brigade, everyone knows that Chen Ziyun is second only to Chu Yunfei.
Even if Fang Ligong, the chief of staff of the brigade, was not there, it would be worse than Chen Ziyun.
Chen Ziyun's words stabilized the morale of the army, and the three infantry battalions were ready for battle.
The Bunyue Army was also very cautious. When they discovered that there were trenches on the road ahead, all vehicles immediately stopped coming eastward.
Not long after, a dozen cavalrymen accompanying the armored troops quickly advanced forward.
Before the cavalrymen in Bu Nao had time to get close to the minefields and anti-tank trenches, they were attacked by fire from the high ground.
Intense bullets were fired one after another, and a Yuejun cavalry fell from his horse to the east in an instant.
The clear sound of the Type 38 rifle rang out, breaking the silence in the Crouching Mountain area.
Seeing the situation ahead, the armored troops of the Moon Army hurriedly began to retreat. Apparently they knew whether the troops fighting in Xin County had anti-tank weapons.
After evacuating to a certain distance, the turrets of each tank began to rotate.
The 37MM tank gun of the Type 95 tank and the 47MM tank gun of the Type 97 tank were misaimed at the high ground.
The grenades were fired one after another, and they were fired directly towards the high ground. Were they carrying out demonstration artillery fire?
There were mortars on the high ground, and Chen Ziyun completely ignored the Moon Army armored troops.
The troops on both sides temporarily formed a standoff, and the Japanese troops did not dare to advance rashly.
They need to wait for the follow-up infantry to arrive to assist them in the battle.
The four infantry regiments behind the armored forces are definitely not advancing that fast. It will take some time for them to get there.
At around two o'clock in the morning, the infantrymen who had set out too far away had not yet reached the battlefield of Crouching Tiger Mountain.
The reinforcements of the Mongolian army stationed in Buluo quickly advanced to the area north of the Hutuo River.
Whether Tanaka Shinichi, the chief of staff of the Major General of the Garrison in Mongolia, could have done anything wrong in his battles, just because it affected his operations, could he have done anything?
The previous arrangements for the Mongolian troops to rush to Xin County to aid were completely not arranged by him.
However, the troops commanded by Harada Kenzo came to Xin County and suffered a devastating blow. Even the commander of the major general, Harada Kenzo, was killed.
Tanaka Shinichi was so angry that he personally commanded the reinforcements to join the battle.
He planned to carry out a revenge attack in Xin County, thereby completely annihilating all the Jinsui Army and the Eighth Route Army.
When he reached the Hutuo River, he began to arrange his troops to cross the river quickly.
After a hundred little Japanese cavalry crossed the river directly, they prepared to search the south bank to ensure that there were no ambush troops on the south bank.
When the cavalry arrived at the Hutuo River, the machine gun company directly under the cavalry battalion on the south bank took the lead in opening fire.
The four Type 92 heavy machine guns of the cannon battery started firing at different positions, and strings of flames spurted out.
Round after round of 7.7MM bullets were fired continuously, and a little Japanese cavalryman instantly fell into the river.
Not long after, the river water began to be dyed red with bright red blood.
After losing more than thirty cavalrymen, the other Lunar cavalrymen quickly withdrew.
Tanaka Shinichi discovered that there were troops blocking the attack on the south bank, and he decisively issued the battle order eastward.
The four cavalry artillery squadrons immediately took action, and the towed cavalry field guns were quickly deployed.
Sixteen 75MM cavalry field guns formed an artillery position, and the black muzzles were aimed at the distance.
Soon, grenade after grenade launched a violent shelling towards the south bank.
But when the Lunar Army artillery shells came over, the four heavy machine guns had already been moved.
Tanaka Shinichi raised the telescope to look at it, with a thoughtful expression on his face.
Did he bring 4,000 troops that time, including cavalry, mechanized infantry, mounted artillery and other troops?
There are 3,000 cavalry troops and mechanized infantry, and the rest are artillery, heavy baggage and other troops.
"The 13th Cavalry Regiment immediately detoured from both sides and quickly broke through to fight on the south bank."
"Independent motorized infantry brigade, directly break through in vehicles."
"Cavalry artillery unit, use all your strength to cover and fight!"
Tanaka Shinichi initially issued the battle order, and he sent the main force out in an attempt to achieve a quick breakthrough.
The Hutuo River is not very deep and can be crossed on foot.
Cavalry and mechanized infantry, whether war horses or vehicles, can also pass through.
Tanaka Shinichi planned to use the mobility of those troops to quickly pass through the Hutuo River and directly fight on the south bank.
He judged that the main force of the Shanxi-Sui Army and other troops in Xin County would not defend at the Hutuo River.
After all, whether the First Army has dispatched about 20,000 troops, Tanaka Shinichi feels that they will definitely concentrate their troops in the south to defend the First Army.
So Tanaka Shinichi arranged for the main force to break through, and he thought it would be easy to win.
After those troops were mobilized, the artillery battalion immediately started firing.
Six Bofors mountain guns and six Type 94 mountain guns continued to fire.
Five Type 94 mountain cannons with detailed firing parameter tables quickly adjusted their angles and fired directly.
The grenades landed accurately on the Moon Army cavalry.
As the explosion sounded, shrapnel quickly spread in all directions.
For a time, gunpowder smoke filled the air and dust flew.
The screams of the war horses and the painful wails of the little devils were heard together.
Other artillery pieces were tested and calibrated, and then immediately carried out effectiveness firing.
Grenades were fired continuously, and the Lunar cavalry and mechanized infantry were hit one after another.
The little Japanese troops who wanted to forcefully cross the river immediately stopped their actions and dispersed to hide.
When Tanaka Shinichi saw that scene, his face became gloomy, and he roared loudly.
"To the east of the Chief of Staff's Pavilion, the artillery of the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army has set up a covering position. They are temporarily unable to lock their position."
"Based on the shelling just now, the wrong side has twelve mountain cannons, and they have strong combat capability."
"That artillery unit is definitely an elite force. Some artillery can accurately hit without having to test fire."
"Chief of Staff Ge Dong, their artillery units need to readjust their positions to avoid being exposed and being destroyed."
A Yuejun major who was commanding the artillery operations ran over in a panic and rushed to report.
Tanaka Shinichi wanted to arrange for the artillery troops to launch a rapid bombardment, but the Japanese artillery troops were unable to carry out the order.
The artillery battalion set up a sheltered position, and the Japanese artillerymen had no idea where they were.
Secondly, the Moon Army artillery positions need to be relocated, otherwise once exposed, they may be hit, resulting in casualties.
Tanaka Shinichi was full of anger, but he had to let the artillery unit make arrangements.
The troops dispatched by the Mongolian Army were blocked at the Hutuo River and were temporarily unable to cross the river.
At Crouching Tiger Mountain, as a large number of Japanese infantrymen arrived one after another, the main force of the 358th Regiment was under greater pressure.
At 3:30 a.m., as the First Army Dong received the combat order, the Little Japanese troops launched a frenzied attack.
The 224th Regiment and the 225th Regiment's six eastern brigades advanced to attack Baizi Mountain and Wohu Mountain respectively.
Behind them, there are artillery pieces of different calibers providing cover.
75MM mountain artillery, field artillery, 70MM infantry artillery, and 37MM rapid-fire artillery.
Various artillery shells continued to hit the high ground, while a large number of little Japanese took turns covering the advance.
(End of chapter)
This chapter has been completed!