At eight o'clock in the evening, the battlefield finally became completely peaceful.
The officers and soldiers of the 26th Division who had been hiding in the artillery caves for a whole day were finally able to come out. No one cared about the dust all over their bodies, and it didn't matter that they could not even recognize a group of men, but their nostrils and mouths were full of dust.
The smell of earth is really unbearable.
Bonfires were lit everywhere in the trenches, not only to illuminate the dark night, but also to drive away the coolness brought by the river wind!
Because the Japanese army had massed heavy troops at Fenglingdu on the other side of the river, in order to prevent the Japanese army from sneaking across at night, not only were several large searchlights continuously shining on the center of the river, but the number of soldiers patrolling the river bank was increased to two infantry companies per squad.
For ten consecutive days, more than 4,000 people in the brigade lived in cold trenches.
The loess soil in Shaanxi Province is dry and solid, so the trenches are built deep enough. From dozens of meters away, only light and shadow can be seen vaguely. There is no need to worry that the Japanese army will use these fixed-point bombardments.
The soldiers of the 26th Division who survived the war cursed and looked sad in their eyes.
After all, the losses in today's battle were not small. At least a dozen people from each infantry company died, and bandaged soldiers could be seen everywhere.
But in fact, the mood was quite high, because they not only repelled a wave of Japanese attacks, but also killed no less than a thousand Japanese invaders. This was for the officers and soldiers of the infantry brigade who had been fighting the Japanese for nearly half a year.
It is said that it is definitely an unprecedented achievement.
Two infantry companies had gone to collect the trophies on the river beach after the Japanese army stopped shelling more than an hour ago.
Ordinary soldiers don't care how many guns and ammunition they capture, they only care about how many Japanese troops they kill.
However, according to colleagues who returned to the position, the river beach was littered with Japanese wreckage, but there was no way to make detailed statistics because the Japanese artillery had errors and many shells landed on the edge of the river beach, resulting in many wreckage pieces being broken into pieces and even weapons and equipment passing through.
It's hard to estimate. In such artillery fire, many rifles, grenade launchers, and light machine guns were also blown to pieces.
After a final count, it was found that there were more than 110 intact corpses on the river beach, dozens more lying face down in the river, and more than 100 intact pieces of various weapons and equipment.
This is obviously a disappointing figure. Anyone knows that the Japanese army will never retreat if they only lose so many manpower. However, many Japanese troops have sunk into the roaring Yellow River. Now the devil knows where these ghosts were washed away by the river water.
The military regulations of the 46th Army are very strict, and there must be sufficient evidence to determine the performance. This will undoubtedly be disappointing.
However, a military order came from the division headquarters, commending the entire brigade and the Sichuan Army's new regiment that promptly supported the front line. The achievement was also deemed to have killed 1,000 Japanese troops and would be reported to the theater. In addition, 20 fat pigs were urgently purchased from the people in Tongguan in the rear.
Kill them and give extra meals to all the officers and soldiers on the front line.
Although 20 fat pigs weigh only three to four thousand kilograms of meat, and each of the tens of thousands of Chinese officers and soldiers may only get two or three pieces of meat in their bowls, but this is also a big deal for the soldiers who have hardly seen meat for a month.
A sumptuous dinner.
The faces of all the soldiers were filled with happiness. Each infantryman was exempted from sending out the necessary guard posts. The rest of the soldiers were sitting around the warm campfire, some smoking cigarettes, and others bragging about their proud conquests.
!
Females are the most eternal topic for male creatures.
The young soldiers who had never touched a woman's hand were drooling with envy as they listened to the veterans' shameless bragging.
In short, at this moment, there is no lack of quality. The Chinese soldiers who won and survived used these to ease their fear of death and confrontation.
Until that mouthful of fat meat is eaten in the stomach, although it is just boiled meat with a little salt, it is so fragrant that it can make people swallow their tongue, and it feels happier than anything else.
The performance of the Sichuan Army's new regiment was also recognized by the 26th Division Headquarters, and 4,500 people were treated as an infantry brigade and given 1,100 kilograms of meat.
Of course Tang Tuanzuo was not stingy, he threw everything into a big pot and cooked it for the new recruits to eat.
Unlike the officers and soldiers of the 26th Division at the forefront, the Sichuan Army's new regiment basically achieved the miracle of zero battle losses in this wave.
The Japanese command later realized that the Chinese might have hidden their heavy firepower points behind the enemy before resorting to the "beyond shooting" trick. After the forced crossing failed, the Chinese heavy artillery group also extended its artillery fire to the rear of the 26th Division's position.
But it was basically a Xia Jiba fight with no goal at all.
When the Japanese boats that crossed the river evacuated and could no longer pursue, Tang Dao had the machine gunners hiding in the pits quickly evacuate with heavy machine guns to the simple trenches that had been dug on the back of the mountain.
This wave of heavy artillery attacks by the Japanese heavy artillery group was destined to be a waste of ammunition and an additional source of income for the local people.
The shells' warheads are all made of medium-carbon steel with extremely high strength and hardness. If such fragments were made into knives, they would be extremely powerful.
In the past, the people of Tongguan, who had lost their source of livelihood, risked their lives to pick up these shell fragments on the battlefield, and then sold them to vendors for payment, miraculously supporting themselves.
The Japanese army did not harvest any lives during this operation, but they gave a lot of small money to the people of Tongguan.
The reason why there are basically zero casualties is because recruits are recruits. During the crazy shooting, there were still some unlucky kids who were either burned by the flying hot bullet casings or fell in a hurry during the retreat.
Come on, the most serious one even had his foot injured by a falling heavy machine gun.
The broken foot did not make the young man who had just turned 20 cry in pain, but the good-natured jokes of a bunch of noobs made the unlucky recruit break his defense.
The battle report of the Sichuan Army's new regiment losing 0 people and injuring 28 people reached Tang Dao. Tang Dao scratched his head in distress, frowned, and added 10 to each of these two numbers.
I've seen people who underreport their losses, but those who try their best to overpay like a certain group member are definitely scorpions - the only one who can do this.
To use Tang Tuanzuo's words, no matter how you put it, you have to give face to a certain theater commander, otherwise he will feel distressed when he sees this battle report and replenishes the ammunition he has promised.
Stingy old man: Old man, my heart has been broken for a long time. You, Mr. Tang, should stop being so hypocritical!
By the time dinner was over, it was already half past nine.
Tang Dao, who had eaten and drank enough, finally met the guest he had been waiting for.
"Captain Tang, I'm here to apologize to you. If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I really wouldn't have known that the battle could be fought like this!" The brigade commander, a major general with thick eyebrows and big eyes and neat short hair, said simply when he saw Tang Dao.
He explained the purpose of his visit neatly. "Moreover, your army's firepower is so sophisticated that Hu has never seen it before in his life."
How could this person who was promoted to major general and brigade commander at the age of less than 40 not be aware of today's battle situation?
The Japanese artillery fire was fierce, but the explosion of the cannon from a mile behind him was like thunder.
If it weren't for the veteran soldier's firm mind, he almost wouldn't have thought that the main force of the Japanese army was coming behind him at that moment.
If it hadn't been for the large number of heavy machine guns and mortars from the Sichuan Army's new regiment participating in the battle, he might not have had the chance to say these words today.
The appearance of the legendary 'Beyond Shooting' can naturally be explained by the seemingly useless large pit and the smoke rising all over the mountain.
It is certain that Tang Dao and his new regiment are no longer weaklings and brainless. The Major General Brigadier is a straight-tempered native of Shaanxi Province. He knows that he is wrong and will never cover it up just because he is a general, but he apologizes.
At the same time, I was still a little unconvinced.
If his infantry brigade had so many heavy machine guns and mortars, he might be able to do this kind of thing.
"Commander Hu, you are out of touch when you say this. If it weren't for the brothers in your unit who were risking their lives in front of us, my new regiment would have not even had 90 heavy machine guns, let alone 900, and I'm afraid there would be no chance today!" Tang
Dao still had a great impression of the brigade commander, a major general who was determined enough to fight, so he was naturally very polite.
"90 Ting" Major General Brigade Commander just couldn't think of it for a long time.
At that time, the German Arms Reorganizer was considered the most elite force in China. The firepower configuration of 6 heavy machine guns in an infantry battalion and 18 heavy machine guns in a regiment was enough to make other friendly forces drool.
The 46th Army can also be regarded as the central army. Its firepower configuration is slightly weaker. An infantry battalion is equipped with 5 heavy machine guns. An infantry brigade has a total of 30 machine guns. The entire 26th Division has 72. It is already the main force in the 10th Theater. The elite.
elites, otherwise they would not be able to garrison a portal-level defense area like Tongguan.
But Tang Dao's mouth was 90 times, which was more than the entire 26th Division. It was really infuriating that people were more powerful than people.
Originally, this number sounded a bit showy at first, but Tang Dao's eyes were extremely sincere, especially since Tang Dao's words were predicated on affirming his own infantry brigade. It would be difficult for the major general brigade commander to feel dissatisfied.
Heart.
Only envy!
"Hey! Brigadier Hu, there's no need to mention the origins of these 90 heavy machine guns, but you don't need to be envious either.
When our new regiment arrives in the second theater in the future, it will be dispersed and organized into various units in the theater, and these equipment will naturally disappear.
What is even more distressing is that once there is any battle damage, Tang will try his best to make up some excuses for my theater commander. Every time he thinks of this, Tang is also very sad!" Tang Dao asked the major general with a smile.
The brigade commander took his seat.
It was said that they were seated, but in fact, it was just two wooden stakes placed under a huge rock that Tang Dao used as a temporary regimental headquarters. There were many fresh burrs on them. If the military uniform was not strong, it would most likely pierce the buttocks.
Normally, the brigade commander, a major general with enough field experience, would rather sit on a cold stone than sit on such a dangerous thing, but now because of Tang Dao's joke, his imagination suddenly started to wander.
The major general and brigade commander seemed to completely ignore these.
"Deputy Chief of Staff Tang, why do you bother to make up excuses? You report the battle damage, and I, the commander of the army, division and brigade of the Tongguan Defense Zone, will sign and certify it for you." After thinking about it, the major general brigade commander looked "upright"
”.
"For example, today we repelled a strong attack by the Japanese army that invested at least 5,000 troops. Because the Japanese army used 280MM heavy artillery and 150MM heavy artillery to bombard it for a whole day, our division and your troops braved the Japanese artillery fire and fought back bravely to repel it. Your troops lost heavy machine guns.
The firepower is as high as 40 guns, no, 50 guns, and the soldiers in our defense area can see it."
If Tang Dao hadn't known that this man had only just found out that the new regiment was equipped with 90 heavy machine guns, he would have almost believed the 'nonsense' he said with such a righteous face. This shows that this big man is falsely reporting battle losses.
This is definitely not the first time the brigade commander has done this.
Otherwise, how can you make such nonsense and still be so natural?
But, he is smart enough!
Just like writing an article, Tang Dao just wrote a wedge, and this smart man wrote the story for you and even solved the ending.
Everyone has desires, some for wealth, some for sex, and some for fame, and human nature has always been three-dimensional and multi-faceted, and no one can exist on just one side.
Even Tang Dao himself has his own dark side. For example, he wanted to have sex with his fiancée before he gave evidence. Although he always struggled to succeed, it was obviously not his strong willpower that stopped him, but someone else.
The 'old artist' who has been squatting in the Four Lines Group and not leaving makes his future son-in-law always feel that there is a pair of eyes staring at him. He has many evil intentions, but after all, he is not brave enough.
Especially in such an emergency period, it is impossible for Tang Dao to raise everyone's moral standards to the same level.
Just like he could tolerate an old gambler like Lao Abacus who opened the book in the army in his spare time, and tolerated some Sichuan soldiers smoking tobacco. It was indeed a bad habit that must be changed sooner or later, but Tang Dao didn't completely beat him to death with a stick.
.
Because he needs to unite all the people who can be united, and he needs the Chinese people who will fight the Japanese army to the end! You can't want his present, but you have to erase all his past.
The same goes for this major general brigadier with a 'glorious' past.
"That's okay, Brigadier Hu. We can be considered brothers who have fought side by side in life and death, so we just open the skylight and tell the truth. Just tell me what I need to pay!" Tang Dao smiled slightly.
"20 heavy machine guns and 100,000 rounds of ammunition!" The major general brigade commander's eyes were shining at that moment.
"This" Tang Dao hesitated slightly.
"Deputy Chief of Staff Tang, please rest assured that these heavy machine guns will be equipped with our 26th Division. During this period, due to the fierce artillery fire of the Japanese army, our division has lost at least half of its heavy weapons. The replenishment of military supplies promised by the theater headquarters has not yet been completed."
It's in place and complete." Seeing Tang Dao's attitude, the major general brigade commander explained almost humbly.
"If there are real difficulties, half of the quantity I mentioned is fine." The fire in the Major General's eyes gradually extinguished, and his voice became weak.
There is no way, a penny is too much for a heroic man, and he wants to get help from others. Even if he is as valuable as an army major general, he has to bow his head in front of Tang Dao, an army colonel who is one level lower than him.
But obviously, he misunderstood Tang Dao's hesitation.
"I can provide 30 heavy machine guns and 150,000 rounds of ammunition to your army!"
"That's a gentleman's words that are hard to catch up with!" Tang Dao's words were like the sound of nature, which made the Major General Brigadier jump up from the wooden stake. He looked at Tang Dao with surprise, for fear that Tang Dao would regret it.
"Tang never tells lies!" Tang Dao smiled brightly.
"However, in addition to the help Brigadier Hu promised, I also want to ask Brigadier Hu for some help!"
"You said, let alone a few people, just for these 30 heavy machine guns, even if you ask Hu to bring you a basin to get water to wash your feet, I will admit it." The major general brigade commander almost died in excitement.
It's hard to say anything like a tiger or a wolf when recommending oneself as a pillow.
"I want the most proficient in water-based security platoon brothers from your brigade's security battalion and a demolition squad to be temporarily dispatched to me. In addition, I also need Brigadier Hu to help me find two fishermen who have escaped from Fenglingdu Town across the street and are familiar with the terrain.
Three sheepskin rafts.”
"That's no problem!" Upon hearing this request, the Major General brigade commander naturally agreed without hesitation.
It was only temporarily assigned to Tang Dao, but it was not permanently assigned to him. Moreover, as Tang Dao was the deputy chief of staff of the defense zone, it was only normal for Tang Dao to have a guard platoon to protect him.
"I will arrange personnel and supplies for you tomorrow morning!"
"It's too late. I need all the personnel and materials to be in place before 11 o'clock." Tang Dao shook his head and pointed to the opposite side. "Today during the day, the Japanese heavy artillery was firing very hard, and the white smoke was visible for miles away.
Then tonight I will let him not only smoke but also set me on fire."
"What do you mean?" the major general brigade commander was suddenly stunned.
"They say it's a dark night with a dark moon and high winds, but I think today's weather is just right for the occasion!"
The bright smile on Tang Dao's face remained unchanged, but the murderous look in his eyes was colder and biting than the mountain wind in December.
.............
PS: Today is the Mid-Autumn Festival. I wish all book friends a happy holiday and family reunion!
Fengyue also went back to spend the holidays with her parents today and took them out for a walk. It was raining all the time in Xiangyang and she couldn't go anywhere else. She just went to the mall to buy a coat for her old mother that she had long admired. Her son went shopping with her to make the old lady happy.
No, I kept introducing to the waiter that this is my son, who came with me to the mall, and just barely said the words "this is my baby". Feng Yue bared her teeth and smiled at the 30-year-old waitress very calmly!
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This chapter has been completed!