The more he thought about it, the more unwilling he became, Gao Hongming contacted Brigadier Chen on the phone, found out his location, jumped in the jeep, took Dabao and more than a dozen guards to Gaojiazhuang.
Gaojiazhuang is named Zhuangzhuang in name, but it is actually a village built on the mountainside and is famous for its dangerous terrain and rugged roads.
Due to the narrow mountain road, the Willis Jeep could only drive cautiously without being careless, for fear that it would accidentally fall into a ravine hundreds of meters deep.
After bypassing several ridges, Gao Hongming arrived at the defense area of the Independent Regiment. From a distance, he saw countless Eighth Route Army soldiers in gray military uniforms bending over and desperately digging trenches.
"What...are you going to take the initiative?"
After searching for a long time, Gao Hongming finally found Brigadier Chen and explained his intention. The moment he opened his mouth, Brigadier Chen, Li Yunlong, and Zhao Gang were startled.
Brigadier Chen looked at Gao Hongming for a while and then asked: "Do you know that in order to guard against us, the Japanese have placed the Ninth Brigade on the right side, just to guard against us?"
Gao Hongming nodded: "I know."
Li Yunlong also said at the side: "Brother, since you know that the Ninth Brigade is already waiting for us, why do you still jump into that pit? You must know that the Ninth Brigade is the earliest regular brigade established, and it is not an independent mixed group.
The brigade is a half-baked brigade set up to fight guerrillas. Their establishment includes artillery, cavalry, engineers and other troops. Their number is at least seven or eight thousand people. Are you sure you want to touch them?"
Zhao Gang also advised: "Yes, Commander Gao, the Ninth Brigade is a tough opponent. Now they have established a preliminary defensive position. If we insist on launching an attack, let alone whether we can defeat them, we will definitely suffer casualties."
Not small, which will be very detrimental to the subsequent battle.
Don’t forget, the Japanese army still has three divisions rushing here. Once the casualties are too heavy, what can we do to resist them?"
"Of course I know what you said." Gao Hongming pondered for a moment, "I have considered everything you said, but you have only failed to think of our advantages."
"Advantage?" Brigadier Chen and the other three were stunned at the same time.
The impatient Li Yunlong said loudly: "Brother, if you have something to say, just say it and don't be shy."
Seeing the three people looking like two-foot-tall King Kong, Gao Hongming smiled slightly: "You forgot, we have armored troops."
The three of them looked at each other and shouted in unison: "Armored troops?"
"Yes...it's the armored force."
Gao Hongming snorted softly: "The reason why the Thirty-seventh Division dared to attack the Third Army with confidence and boldness was simply because the Ninth Brigade was protecting them on its right wing, and it was also determined that we did not dare to take the initiative to attack them.
We launched an attack, but we just did the opposite.
Don't they think there is nothing we can do against the Ninth Brigade? I just want to show them. My plan is this. In the afternoon, I will order the armored battalion to launch a surprise attack on the Ninth Brigade. By then the two
The artillery battalion will prepare for the artillery fire for half an hour, and if necessary, bomber aircraft can be mobilized for air cover.
Our purpose in this raid is not to occupy the position of the 9th Brigade, but to severely damage its strength so that it cannot pose a threat to our army in the following days."
"I get what you meant now."
Brigadier Chen understood now, "Commander Gao, you are planning to take advantage of the fact that the 37th Division is busy attacking Guojialing and the main force of the Japanese army has not yet arrived, to severely injure the 9th Brigade or eliminate some of its effective forces, so as to
Reduce their threat, right?"
"Absolutely, that's what I think." Gao Hongming gave Brigadier Chen a thumbs up. Talking to smart people saves effort.
Brigadier Chen asked seriously: "Then have you thought about what will happen if the attack does not go smoothly?"
"What could be the consequences?"
Gao Hongming spread his hands and said, "If it's too difficult to fight, can't we just retreat? If the little Japs dare to get out of the trenches, then that's just what we want? Our armored battalion is not a vegetarian. Once the trenches are lost,
Without cover, no matter how many Japs there are, they can only be targets for tanks."
Gao Hongming's words stunned everyone... Yes, how could they forget that they still have dozens of tanks on their side?
Before Brigadier Chen could speak, Li Yunlong slapped his thigh: "Hey...how could I have forgotten Brother Gao's armored battalion! With this thing, if the little devil dares to launch a counterattack, he will die."
Well... now my thoughts are completely opened up.
The group quickly made a decision. Three hours later, at 1:30 noon, the Liantai Militia Group dispatched an armored battalion and two infantry battalions, while the Eighth Route Army dispatched an independent regiment with about 6,000 troops. At the same time,
Launch an attack on the 9th Brigade.
No matter what the battle situation is, you must withdraw from the battlefield before dark and not stay in the battle, because this time the goal is to destroy the enemy's physical strength rather than occupy the enemy's position.
After the discussion, Gao Hongming stood up and left to prepare.
Looking at the Willys jeep disappearing from sight, Brigadier Chen sighed: "No wonder Solon once said, live and learn. The ancients have never deceived me. In the past, our Eighth Route Army could only rely solely on infantry to attack.
After launching the charge, our tactics still remained at relatively crude means such as advancing in concealment and digging tunnels.
So when Commander Gao proposed an attack just now, I subconsciously thought that Commander Gao was too arrogant, but I never thought that I was too passive and just watching the sky, and the Liantai Militia had actually developed the tactics of infantry-tank coordination."
"Yes." Zhao Gang also sighed lightly, but then he said firmly: "But I still firmly believe that in the future our Eighth Route Army will have its own tanks and aircraft, and will also be able to develop its own infantry and tanks for coordinated operations."
Li Yunlong on the side scratched his big head and asked puzzledly: "Brigade commander... the lock you just mentioned... what is the wheel? Why have I never heard of it?"
Brigadier Chen and Zhao Gang couldn't help laughing. Zhao Gang said angrily: "Old Li, this is not a wheel lock...but Sauron...he is a famous reformer in ancient Greece."
Li Yunlong rubbed his nose in embarrassment, "Hey...it turns out you're not Chinese. You should have told me earlier. Okay, I have to prepare for the attack."
After saying that, he stood up, dusted his butt and ran away.
At 13:30 in the afternoon, the originally peaceful position of the Ninth Brigade suddenly erupted with rumbles of artillery. The first and second artillery battalions of the Liantai Militia Group included twelve 155 self-propelled artillery and eighteen M2-type 105mm howitzers.
Thirty artillery pieces suddenly launched a shelling attack on the ninth brigade's position, and a huge explosion resounded across the sky.