In July, in order to defend Chongqing and block Sichuan, Chairman Chiang Kai-shek of Chongqing re-established the Sixth War Zone and ordered Chen Cheng to concurrently serve as the commander-in-chief, with jurisdiction over the 29th, 33rd Group Army, 18th Army, Jiang Defense Army and other units.
The main task of the Sixth War Zone is to fight against the Japanese 11th Army in the Yichang area and prevent them from breaking through Yichang and going up the river to attack the capital Chongqing.
The Japanese 11th Army was also exhausted from long battles. Facing the adjustment of China's military strength and subordinates, the Japanese also made some adjustments accordingly.
The Japanese's 13th Division continued to stay in Yichang to confront Chen Cheng's Sixth Theater, while its 4th Division, which was transferred from northeast China to the south, was stationed in Anlu, the 39th Division was stationed in Shashi, and the 18th Independent Mixed Brigade was stationed there.
Yang area.
At this point, the vigorous battle that lasted for several months came to an end, but the battle in Yichang did not stop. The troops of the Sixth Theater and the Japanese 13th Division formed a confrontation on the front line in Yichang.
"Now that the Japs' front is lengthening, our army should not only fight with them in Yichang, but also send troops deep behind enemy lines to conduct harassing operations and contain the enemy."
The main force of the 18th Army under Chen Cheng, the newly appointed commander of the Sixth War Zone, suffered heavy losses in the battle in Yichang, so the first thing he did after taking office was to launch a counterattack against the Japanese.
Because their Sixth War Zone has the important task of defending Chongqing, they dare not risk a large-scale attack, but a small-scale counterattack can still be achieved.
Although the Japanese took advantage of the battle this time and expanded the occupied area, the Chinese *** still controls a vast area east and west of Xianghe River. From Jingmen to the foothills of Dahong Mountain, it is the defense area of the Chinese ***.
Moreover, guerrillas from all sides in the southeast were active in the areas controlled by the Japanese. With their limited military strength, the Japanese could only control areas near major transportation routes, but their control over vast rural areas was weak.
But now the Sixth Theater only needs to send a small number of elite troops deep behind enemy lines and cooperate with the guerrillas remaining in the Japs-controlled areas to cause great trouble to the Japs.
After Chen Cheng, the commander-in-chief of the Sixth War Zone, issued an order, Peng Shan, the former commander of the 18th Army who was about to be transferred to the Hubei Military Region as Chief of Staff, recommended Yang Ling's Lieyan Special Warfare Brigade to Chen Cheng.
Because Yang Ling's Lieyan Special Warfare Brigade fought side by side with their 18th Army in a series of battles in Yichang, Yang Ling's combat effectiveness was obvious to all.
Moreover, Yang Ling and the others were also transferred from the Sulu Theater behind enemy lines and had rich combat experience behind enemy lines. Peng Shan also wanted to introduce Yang Ling and the others to his old commander Chen Cheng before he was transferred.
After all, he knew that he was about to be transferred to the Hubei Military Region as the Chief of Staff, so before he left, he introduced a talent to his old commander as a way of repaying the kindness of Chongqing for interceding for him.
Their 18th Army failed in the battle to rescue Yichang and defend Yichang. Facing the attack of three Japanese divisions, Yichang was lost.
Although the Japanese took the initiative to retreat and recaptured Yichang later, the 18th Army was Chen Cheng's ace unit after all. After such a useless battle, Army Commander Peng Shan had to bear the responsibility for the defeat.
Thinking that Peng Shan was promoted by himself, Chen Cheng, the commander-in-chief of the Sixth War Zone, interceded. Although Peng Shan was exempted from punishment, he had to be transferred from the 18th Army to serve as chief of staff in the Hubei Military District.
Compared to being in charge of an elite unit of the Central Army, being the Chief of Staff in the Hubei Military Administrative Region is a sinecure.
However, the battle in Yichang failed, and the 18th Division under the 18th Army was almost wiped out. In the face of heavy losses, someone had to take responsibility, and Army Commander Peng Shan was the first to bear the brunt, but he also admitted it.
Chen Cheng, the commander-in-chief of the Sixth War Zone, has also heard of Yang Ling's Fierce Flame Special Warfare Brigade, but for a senior general like him who commands hundreds of thousands of troops, he really doesn't know much about a small force like Yang Ling's.
Just heard it.
"That Fierce Flame Special Warfare Brigade from the Sulu War Zone?" Chen Cheng asked.
Peng Shan replied: "It's them. They were originally seconded from the Sulu War Zone by the Fifth War Zone to deal with the Japanese elite troops. In the battle in Yichang, they directly defeated the powerful Japanese elite troops. We also captured
I have a lot of 100-type submachine guns."
"Then they participated in the counterattack against Yichang. I added some manpower to them. They fought bloody battles with the Japs in Jingzhen Mountain for four days, but no one took a step forward. The Japs were very powerful."
Peng Shan also knew that it was definitely not a fluke that such a small force like Yang Ling could perform so well in so many battles.
"I hope, Chief Chen, you can keep them in our Sixth War Zone. If they are used well, they will be a sharp knife and will become a nightmare for the Japanese." Peng Shan spoke highly of Yang Ling's Flame Special Warfare Brigade.
high.
"Where are they now?"
"They are still resting in Yichang. Our Sixth War Zone has just been restored and reset, and their ownership has not yet been determined. Logically speaking, they are still from the Sulu War Zone."
"If their combat effectiveness is really as strong as you say, it is the right time for our Sixth Theater Command to employ people. I will definitely not hesitate to promote them and re-employ them. I will go and talk to the Sulu Theater Command."
Chen Cheng thought for a while and then ordered the chief of staff behind him: "Send the Lieyan Special Warfare Group to the enemy's rear. I want to test them to see if they are truly worthy of their name."
"yes!"
After the chief of staff responded, he immediately strode towards the war room, preparing to assign tasks to Yang Ling and the others.
In the evening, a major staff officer from the Sixth War Zone led a few guards outside the small village where Yang Ling and the others were resting.
But before the major staff officer entered the village, several "savages" suddenly stood up from the roadside and surrounded them with branches covered with weeds.
Facing these people whose faces were smeared with black ash and whose faces could not be seen clearly, and whose bodies were covered with branches and weeds, the guards were pointed at the muzzles of the black holes before they had time to draw their guns.
"Who are you? From that army?"
Huang San, the new team leader of the Lieyan Special Operations Brigade in charge of guarding outside the village, stared at the people coming from the war zone commander's department. He looked them up and down and began to question them.
"We are from the Sixth War Zone, Commander Chen. We are here to find the Lieyan Special Warfare Brigade. Please don't mess around."
When faced with these people dressed like savages and the black muzzles of their guns, the major staff thought they were encountering bandits.
"Where are the documents?"
Lieyan squad leader Huang San did not relax his vigilance and wanted to check his ID.
"Who are you, and why are you checking our IDs?!" The staff major is also a person with status after all, so naturally he doesn't want to be questioned like this.
"Sir, I am Huang San, captain of the Lieyan Special Warfare Brigade. Please cooperate with us, otherwise I'm afraid I will have to arrest you as a spy." Huang San said neither humble nor overbearing.
When they heard that these people in front of them were from the Lieyan Special Warfare Brigade, the major staff officer and several guards also looked at each other. They all said that the Lieyan Special Warfare Brigade was very famous, but who knew that they were dressed like beggars and that they were neither human nor ghosts.