Many times, a combat idea only needs a reminder to open up the mind. Hong Linfeng is such a person.
The frown that had been furrowed just now immediately relaxed, and an expression of enlightenment appeared on his face.
He had seen through the thoughts in Li Hao's mind and immediately asked: "If the Japs divide their troops and station them outside Laiyuan City, we will first eat their troops stationed outside the city, and then attack Laiyuan City. This is similar to defeating them one by one."
Li Hao nodded and continued: "One more thing: we have an advantage that even the little devils in Laiyuan City don't have!"
"Heavy artillery!" Hong Linfeng shouted, his reaction speed was very fast, and a smile appeared on his face as he suddenly understood, as if he had seen the scene of the garrison taking over Laiyuan City, and continued.
"We can take advantage of our heavy artillery and use artillery shells to destroy the Japanese troops stationed outside the city at the minimum cost."
"It's the same when attacking a city. Try to use artillery shells to kill the Japanese."
"After our pre-war evacuation, the Laiyuan City occupied by the Japs is an empty city. We don't have to worry about accidentally injuring civilians during the siege. We can use heavy artillery on a large scale."
"Before the war, we had stockpiled more than a thousand heavy artillery shells. Including those captured in two battles, there were more than two thousand shells in total. All of them were smashed into Laiyuan City. They would definitely severely damage the little Japs inside and cover the infantry to capture Laiyuan City.
"
Li Hao continued: "If nothing else, this attack will bring us an unexpected gain."
"If I remember correctly, the garrison has not captured a large number of puppet soldiers for a long time."
"As soon as the retreating troops from several surrounding counties arrive, the number of puppet troops in Laiyuan City will exceed 5,000. In Japanese style, they will definitely be arranged to guard the outside of the city, while our own people guard the safest place inside the city."
"These puppet troops were all drawn from other parts of North China by the Japanese army, and their combat effectiveness is pretty good. If we can capture a large number of prisoners, they can fill the gap in the main force without having to draw guerrillas who have only undergone simple training, which will greatly reduce the workload."
According to the pressure of local troop sources.”
Outside Datong City, densely packed Japanese and puppet troops swarmed toward the Datong City Wall like locusts.
Behind the attacking troops, dozens of mountain field guns were arranged in three rows, filled with smoke, roaring continuously, and fired shells towards the city.
"Weng buzzing..." Three planes came to the battlefield and roared towards the city.
Amidst the ear-piercing screams, three bombs detached from the fuselage and smashed into the city.
"Boom, boom..." Amidst the explosive sound that shook the earth and the mountains, firelight splashed and gunpowder smoke filled the air.
The defenders stationed at the top of the city, the sandbags, logs, and bricks and stones piled up on the city wall were blown up into the sky like toys, and finally smashed into the inside and outside of the city wall.
"Woooooooooooo...boom..."
The second plane began to drop bombs, and three bombs hit the city wall again and exploded. The smoke and flying dust covered the city wall so tightly that nothing could be seen.
Suddenly, a "rumbling..." sound of collapse sounded on the battlefield. The ancient city wall failed to withstand the continuous bombardment of artillery shells and aerial bombs and collapsed.
In the thick and diffuse smoke, a hole more than twenty meters long appeared in the middle of the city wall.
Datong, which had been guarding for a day and a night, finally opened its arms to the Japanese and puppet troops.
The division commander stood at the command post's lookout with a smile on his face, very satisfied with the battle situation in front of him.
He put down his telescope, glanced at the equally excited subordinates around him, and began to give orders.
"The artillery concentrated all its artillery to attack the gap in the city wall. After five minutes, the artillery fire was extended to attack the defenders who wanted to block the gap."
"The Sixth Infantry Battalion made an assault, and the tank squadron provided cover. It entered Datong through the gap."
"The Lichuan Regiment is ready for an assault. When the Sixth Battalion enters the city, they set off and charge into the city through the gap. They quickly eliminate the remaining enemies and occupy Datong."
At the headquarters of the garrison regiment, Zhou Liang hurriedly walked in with a serious look on his face.
"Commander, political commissar, this is a clear telegram that the radio station just received. Datong City was captured by the Japanese. The entire defenders were destroyed. Some were destroyed by the Japanese and puppet troops, and some were captured."
"What was supposed to come has come!" Wang Hong replied with a long sigh.
"Captain, we can't wait any longer. We must hurry up and capture Laiyuan City. The little devil doesn't have much time left for us."
"After capturing Datong, the Japanese army will definitely divide its forces to capture several surrounding counties, and then establish a new occupied area with Datong as the center."
"Once they have established a foothold in Datong and digested the results of the battle, they will definitely send troops eastward and, together with the garrison in Laiyuan City, continue to attack and sweep us away."
Li Hao thought for a moment and then began to issue an order: "Send a telegram to the First Battalion and report the situation to them immediately. The more detailed the better."
"The reconnaissance company and intelligence department should seize the time to find out the latest deployment of Japanese troops in Laiyuan City."
In less than half an hour, a call back from Battalion 1 arrived.
After reading the telegram, Wang Hong's face darkened: "Captain, the situation in Datong is very bad."
"The first battalion reported that their reconnaissance platoon has been active in the combat area and is aware of the entire battle process."
"The Japanese and puppet troops moved too fast, and they were also covered by aircraft and tanks. Many Jinsui troops were raided before they had time to prepare for battle. They died and were captured."
"They judged that the Japanese army captured more than 10,000 garrison troops in Datong, and also seized a large amount of wealth."
"According to the usual practice, these more than 10,000 prisoners will either be reorganized by the Japanese into the Imperial Association Army and let us Chinese fight the Chinese so that they can reap the benefits, or else they will be sent to the coal mines to work as absentees and mine for free."
"In addition, there are more than 2,400 Jinsui troops who have withdrawn to our base area, including one deputy division commander and two regiment commanders, as well as 129 officers above the platoon, and the rest are ordinary soldiers and squad leaders."
"Batalion Commander He asked for instructions whether to send them away from the base area through the mountain road to return to the team."
"Okay!" Li Hao replied without thinking: "Forging a good relationship with the Jinsui Army will definitely be useful in the future."
"In addition, tell He Jun to strengthen his vigilance, send more scouts in the direction of Datong, closely monitor the little devil's every move, and report any situation immediately."
"Next, our focus is to capture Laiyuan City, and the direction of Datong must remain stable."
At the Japanese brigade headquarters in Laiyuan City, the brigade commander was very excited.
I just received a telegram from the Front Army Headquarters: In another half month, the main force that captured Datong will be able to completely control it, reorganize the prisoners, form the Imperial Association Army, and then divide the troops to march eastward, and attack the garrison from front to back with me.
Annihilate them all.
The deputy chief of staff of the brigade suddenly spoke up and reminded.
"General, according to the investigation, the main force of the garrison shows signs of moving towards Laiyuan City."
"They definitely want to continue attacking Laiyuan City and pull out the nail we have stuck in their hinterland."
"The imperial army's joint sweep against them will not begin until half a month later, so we must defend Laiyuan City for at least half a month to prevent the garrison from taking advantage of us."
The excitement on the brigade leader's face disappeared, and his face returned to seriousness. He looked at the Laiyuan city defense map and fell into deep thought.
"The only thing that can threaten us in the garrison is heavy artillery." Two minutes later, the brigade commander suddenly spoke.
"We don't have heavy artillery. When faced with their heavy artillery attack, we don't even have a chance to fight back. We can only be beaten passively."
"As long as we get rid of this threat, I'm not afraid of the garrison coming to kill us."
"Maybe we can use offensive and defensive battles to consume a lot of the garrison's already small number of troops."
The first update is delivered today! Please subscribe! Please vote monthly! Please collect!
