Xiaowu Mountain is a highland over 100 meters high, and it is also the core position of the 33rd Division of the Japanese Army.
In order to knock down the arrogance of the Japanese army in one fell swoop, Gao Hongming, Brigadier Chen and Tang Huaiyuan decided to send out the first, second and third battalions of the Liantai Militia, the first artillery battalion and the independent regiment led by Li Yunlong and Ding Weixin's first regiment.
With more than 10,000 troops, under the cover of three bomber squadrons and two fighter squadrons, they launched a comprehensive counterattack against the 33rd Division.
Not only that, the Eighth Route Army in Gaojiazhuang and the Third Army in Guojialing also had to launch feint attacks at the same time to contain the Japanese forces.
In Gao Hongming's words, it is to concentrate on annihilating part of the enemy's effective forces, striving to cripple the 33rd Division, and letting the Japanese completely feel the pain. For this goal, it is worth paying a certain price of casualties.
"...horses in short clothes leave the country gate, trumpets sound... praying for death in battle. Facing a powerful enemy, a man standing tall and indomitable, he is only willing to sacrifice for his country in his life, and his head is thrown lightly..." came from the trenches
The hoarse singing voice attracted Wu Chengfeng's attention.
I don’t know when this song became popular in the Liantai Militia. At first, it was only sung by soldiers in the guard camp. However, due to its generous and tragic lyrics and melody, it soon became popular among the entire group, so that
Now all the soldiers of the Liantai Militia can sing a few lines.
"Pray to die in battle... pray to die in battle..."
Wu Chengfeng's eyes turned around in the trench, looking at the young figures one after another. He sighed inwardly. After this battle, he didn't know how many brothers would stay on this land forever.
"Wipe the blood when you are injured, wrap yourself up after death, move forward bravely, and don't forget your duty!"
As he drank the song, Wu Chengfeng seemed to have returned to the scene when he was in the Northwest Army. At that time, the various warlords in China had become a pot of porridge in the Central Plains. At that time, he was still a big-headed soldier, following his superiors to fight against the Central Army today.
He fought with Fengjun, and the day after tomorrow he fought with Jinsui Army. The fight made everyone confused.
In the end, I couldn't stand it any more, so I returned to my hometown and worked as a nursing home for the Gao family. After the master was killed by the Japanese, he followed the young master to fight the Japanese.
"If I die in the war, I wonder how much pension my family will receive. It seems to be five hundred or eight hundred oceans?"
Just when Wu Chengfeng was a little dazed, the first company commander walked up to him and whispered: "Sir, you haven't rested all day. There is still some time before launching the attack. Can you find a place to relax for a while?"
"No." Wu Chengfeng waved his hand, "I can't sleep at this time, otherwise I will lose the battle in a daze later, and the team will have to skin me."
As he spoke, Wu Chengfeng felt tired, his back ached, and his head was a little dizzy. The mountains and clouds in the sky were spinning constantly. Wu Chengfeng had not slept since he received the order to counterattack.
"Sir, you'd better go to the back and rest!" Seeing the bloodshot eyes in the officer's eyes, the company commander whispered again. He was really worried about Wu Chengfeng's health. After all, he was about to run four, and he had no physical strength or energy at all.
There is no way to compare with young people.
The concern of his subordinates did not make Wu Chengfeng change his mind.
"No, you go and have a rest, gather enough energy and work hard to knock down Xiao Wushan!"
"Sir, it's not like you don't know my physical strength. I'm still so young, so this fatigue is nothing. With just an order, we will definitely be able to take down Xiao Wushan." As he said this, he shook his body for a long time and made a gesture.
Extraordinarily relaxed and without fatigue...
In the temporary joint headquarters of Yangping Town, Chief of Staff Chi Yaohui pointed at the sand table with a Western stick and said, "...According to the information obtained from aerial reconnaissance, the flying brigade carried out bombings on Xiaowushan and the 33rd Division.
It is undoubtedly very effective.
According to our estimates, our bombing caused the Japanese army to lose at least 50% of the food, weapons and ammunition stored in the reserve. In particular, the effect of the incendiary bombs we dropped was very obvious. The number of wounded Japanese soldiers increased sharply these days.
Our scouts who lurked behind enemy lines reported that the Japanese army had begun to clear out some severely burned wounded at designated locations. This showed that their medicines were seriously insufficient. Judging from this information, the combat effectiveness of the 33rd Division had been severely reduced.
So I think it’s time to launch a general attack!”
As soon as Chi Yaohui finished speaking, a staff officer wearing a blue-gray military uniform asked: "I would like to ask Chief of Staff Chi, do you think we can eat the Japanese 33rd Division? If we can, how can we eat it?"
How much will it cost in terms of casualties? Once our casualties are too great, will we be able to withstand the Japanese counterattack?"
These three consecutive questions also made everyone present look particularly solemn.
This is also the most worrying issue in everyone's mind. After all, this counterattack plan is too radical. If the attack does not go smoothly, there will be big trouble.
Chi Yaohui shook his head: "I can only tell you that I am not sure about the three questions you raised."
"Then why did you make such a radical plan?" The staff officer had a trace of dissatisfaction and anger on his face. In his opinion, if anything went wrong in this plan, disaster would be waiting for them.
"Let me answer this question."
Gao Hongming's voice sounded from the side. He walked to Chi Yaohui and looked at the staff officer and said slowly: "First of all, Staff Chi made this plan under my instructions. At the same time, this plan was also approved by Commander Tang and Chen.
The brigade commander agreed, and as a staff officer, what you have to do now is to execute the order, not to question it.
In addition, to answer your question, I quote a Western proverb: On the battlefield, anything you do may get you shot, of course, even if you do nothing, it will be the same."
"Hahaha……"
Gao Hongming's words made the staff officers in the operations hall burst into laughter, and the originally tense atmosphere became relaxed.
Brigadier Chen and Tang Huaiyuan were also made to smile. It was also a skill to relax the tense atmosphere before the war.
"What I want to say is..."
Gao Hongming's voice continued: "Before formulating this plan, Commander Tang and Brigade Commander Chen and I discussed that if the casualties in this attack could be controlled within 6,000 people, in exchange for the total annihilation of the 33rd Division
If the regiment is annihilated, then the casualties are worth it.
Our ancestors also have an old saying, it is better to cut off one finger than to hurt ten of them. These days, the Japanese are constantly attacking us from three directions. Isn't it because they are emboldened and think that we dare not launch a counterattack against them?
In this case, let's not be polite, let's just compete to see whose fist is stronger. Even if we can't completely wipe out the 33rd Division, we still have to bite off a piece of his flesh to let the Japanese know that we are not easy to mess with."