At this time, the sky was already dark, and the independent detachment arrived near Fengle Station again after more than ten hours of long march under the cover of night.
Thanks to the previous destruction of the Ping-Han Railway, the independent detachment's march south was not noticed by the Japanese army.
Xiang Ying, political commissar of the 28th Regiment, had been waiting at Fengle Station for a long time. When he saw the large troops arriving, he hurriedly greeted them.
"Captain Zhou, political commissar Zhao!" Xiang Ying stepped forward and gave a military salute.
Zhou Weihan nodded, and then said: "Where are the Japanese reinforcements?"
"According to reports from comrades of the independent guerrilla detachment, the brothers sent a small force to blow up a section of the railway from Qi County to Tangyin. At this time, the Japanese troops were still in Qi County!" Xiang Yinghui reported.
"That means the Japanese army won't be able to reach Anyang before noon?"
"It's like this. The straight-line distance from Qixian County to Anyang is nearly 130 miles. Many of the railways have been damaged before. The Japanese army may have to reach the south bank of Zhanghe River on foot!"
Just after the Eighth Route Army Headquarters received a section of the Japanese Thirty-fifth Division and took a military train to go north along the Ping-Han Railway, the boss immediately ordered an independent guerrilla detachment to destroy the railway along the way.
The Japanese army set out from Xinxiang, passed through Ji County, Qi County, Tangyin, and finally arrived in Anyang.
Two days before this, the independent guerrilla detachment had destroyed the railways on both sides of the north and south sides of Anyang Station. In order to provide effective support to Zhou Weihan's independent detachment and delay the march of the Japanese army, the independent guerrilla detachment once again attacked Qi County on the Pinghan-Hankou Railway.
Duan launched a surprise attack, causing the Japanese army's transportation route to the north to be paralyzed.
"Political Commissar, you stay and organize the troops, I will go to the forward position to take a look first!" Zhou Weihan said.
Zhou Weihan was not in a hurry for the troops to deploy quickly. First, Zhou Weihan was not familiar with the surrounding terrain. Second, the preliminary preparations were arranged by Ding Wei and Wang Yigong. It was only right that they must contact each other.
Ding Wei was very bold and set up the regimental headquarters of the 28th Regiment at the bridgehead stronghold north of the Zhanghe Bridge.
Within the regiment.
A map is spread out on the table, and the map is full of marks.
"Old Wang, your ability in map homework is quite good. You really showed me your skills!" Ding Wei had to admit at this time that Wang Yigong, who graduated from Huangpu, still has some abilities.
"Let me tell you, this is nothing. Surveying and mapping are basic skills. Among the students in the same period as me in Huangpu, I can only be regarded as an above-average level. A senior from the third period of Huangpu is really good. A piece of chalk on the blackboard
I can draw a map of the entire Hunan!" Wang Yigong said very modestly, but with an unconcealable smile on his face.
Ding Wei smiled after hearing this: "Come on, I'll give you a few compliments, and you even did it!"
Unexpectedly, Zhou Weihan pushed in the door at this time and said loudly: "Wang Yigong is not bragging. The senior student of the third phase of Huangpu he said was Director Yang of the logistics department of the headquarters. He was a great figure back then!"
Ding Wei and Wang Yigong got up quickly when they saw Zhou Weihan arriving.
"Everyone, sit down and tell us how the preparations are going!" Zhou Weihan waved his hand and said.
"They are all on this map, let Commander Wang say it!" Although Ding Wei was appointed as the commander of this battle by Zhou Weihan, he was not greedy for credit.
Wang Yigong was not polite and said directly: "Detachment leader, during the whole day yesterday, we sent out several small units, with the assistance of comrades from the independent guerrilla detachment, to explore the surrounding terrain!"
"Our current location is the Zhanghe Bridge in the south of Ci County. There are three suitable geographical locations for crossing the river. One is the mouth of the small river in the southwest of Ci County. However, the north bank here is Qijialing, the defense area of our fourth regiment, and the south bank is
In Lin County, where the New Fifth Army of the Nationalist Army is located, Commander Ding and I speculate that the Japanese army will not take this route, and at the same time, it also blocks the Japanese army's attempt to detour to the west!"
Zhou Weihan nodded after hearing this and motioned for Wang Yigong to continue speaking.
"Thirty miles to the east, at the corner of the Zhang River, the bank is narrow and there is a stone bridge across the river. However, the stone bridge is only about one meter wide and can only allow two people to pass!"
"The last place is the current Zhanghe River Bridge. Although the bridge was bombed, the river flow here is gentle. In addition, in order to stabilize the foundation of the Zhanghe River Bridge, the Japanese army artificially transformed the terrain on both sides of the bank. The walls are clear and the terrain is relatively hard.
The Japanese army could have crossed the river by boat along the bridge piers on both sides!"
"The rest of the area either has fast currents and dense reefs, or the soil on both sides is soft, mostly wetlands and swamps, and densely covered with reeds and weeds, making it unsuitable for landing!"
"How are the forces of your two regiments distributed?" Zhou Weihan asked.
At this time, Ding Wei answered: "The first and second battalions of the Fourth Regiment are commanded by Gao Zhiheng and are deployed at Shiqiao. The third battalion of the Fourth Regiment and the three battalions of our 28th Regiment are deployed on the north bank of the Zhanghe Bridge. At the same time, the brothers of the independent guerrilla detachment
The army will have a large force to harass the Japanese army from behind!"
"The Japanese army does not know that the main force of our army is ambushing here, and is eager to go north for reinforcements. Crossing the river along the Zhanghe Bridge is the fastest plan. Moreover, the Japanese army in Anyang wandered on the south bank yesterday, and they must have come to choose a place to cross the river for reconnaissance!"
"Of course the stone bridge has not been blown up. The Japanese army has two infantry brigades. If we can induce them to divide their troops, it would be a good idea!" Ding Wei finally said.
"There are one regiment and two regiment with me this time, about two thousand people, plus an artillery battalion. How do you want to arrange it?" Zhou Weihan said immediately.
Ding Wei and Wang Yigong looked at each other: "Actually, the Zhanghe Bridge is not suitable for blocking. The river bank suitable for landing is only 1.5 kilometers. This will make our army's position too long and the depth of the position small!"
"I have set up three positions on the north bank. Two battalions are deployed in the first position, and four battalions of light machine guns are concentrated here. The other two positions have one battalion each!"
"In addition, on the Zhanghe Bridge, I deployed a guard company, plus four heavy machine guns, to use the height advantage to shoot at the Japanese troops."
Zhou Weihan nodded, just as Ding Wei said, the Zhanghe Bridge is indeed not suitable for blocking, as it will distract troops too much.
And on the way from Fengle Station, Zhou Weihan also observed that the terrain on both sides of the railway was relatively flat, which was suitable for armored assault.
Zhou Weihan took a deep breath and said: "Then let's play it big. I'll let all the light machine guns of the first and second regiments be deployed in the first position. In addition, I will remove the guard company on the bridge. I will ask Jing Dagang to move the first group.
The regiment's heavy machine guns are deployed on the bridge, the remaining soldiers of the first regiment add the first three positions, and the second regiment acts as a reserve!"
"Ha, in this way, the firepower has been greatly strengthened. Under a sudden attack, it is enough for the little devil to drink a pot!" Wang Yigong said with a smile.
"Don't tell me, when did our Eighth Route Army ever fight such a rich battle!" Ding Wei knew the firepower configuration of the independent detachment.
"We must effectively kill the Japanese army as soon as possible, and at the same time use the depth of the position to consume the Japanese army's effective strength. I also specially prepared a surprise for the Japanese army!" Zhou Weihan finally said