Chapter 23: The Inevitability of Fate
When Wu Bing arrived at the command post, a self-proclaimed merchant from Hubei Hong'an, Liu Yongchao, who was sent by Yin Shangqian, the then magistrate of Anxi County, to contact and negotiate with the Red Army, was personally received by Li Zheng.
Just then Li Zhongwei asked: How many Ma family troops are there in the city?
The Hubei merchant replied truthfully: Now there is only a communication platoon of Ma's army stationed there.
However, at this time, Hubei businessman Liu Yongchao did not know that the enemy's reinforcements had arrived in Anxi County, but his words made the leader of the Left Wing even more determined to attack Anxi County.
When seeing off the merchant who was sent to negotiate, Wu Bing stood outside the 'door'. Li Zheng said: Why didn't you go in?
Wu Bing bowed and said: I just heard you guys discussing something inside so I didn't go in.
"Alright, come on in! I've heard that your way of commanding troops is unique and you have many clever ideas. We'd like to hear your opinions," said Li Zhengwei.
Wu Bing shouted "Yes", and followed several leaders into the house.
As soon as he entered the house, a leader said: Comrade Wu Bing, tell us your thoughts.
Wu Bing looked at the leaders in the room, with a hesitant expression. Several leaders frowned upon seeing this, and then Li Zhengwei said: "Comrade Wu Bing, speak boldly, it's okay if you're wrong."
Wu Bing thought to himself: If I must die, then so be it! If he didn't speak up, many comrades might have died in vain. But if the leaders listened to his opinion, they could avoid unnecessary sacrifices.
After making up his mind, Wu Bing said to several leaders: Leaders, I have decided to give up the attack on Anxi County.
Wu Bing's words shocked several leaders who were present, and one of them asked: Why not give up the attack on Anxi County? Tell us your reasons.
"Yes," said Wu Bing, "I have three reasons for saying that we should give up attacking the city of Anxi County."
The first county magistrate of Anxi, Yin Shangqian, was able to send someone to contact and negotiate with us. Through the enemy's communication team stationed in the city of Anxi County, we could immediately get in touch with Ma Jiajun's army stationed locally. The location of Anxi County is not something that the enemy can easily give up.
They will certainly send a large number of reinforcements to rush to Anxi County.
Secondly, I have inquired about the situation of Anxi County from local people. Although this city is not large in area, its city walls are all built with yellow sticky earth, which is high and thick, easy to defend and difficult to attack.
Thirdly, our army lacks siege weapons and even heavy firepower to suppress the enemy's firepower, which will bring great casualties to our army.
After Wu Bing finished speaking, Cheng Zongdui said beside him: I heard your three reasons, all of which are based on the premise that the enemy's reinforcements have already entered Anxi County. The enemy cannot know our army's route and action plan, let alone reinforce so quickly.
An Xi. After Commander Cheng finished speaking, all the leaders nodded in agreement.
The cavalry of Ma's army in front of us is several times or even dozens of times faster than our army. Rushing to rescue Anxi is also a matter of sighs, Wu Bing explained.
The headquarters fell into a brief silence, and then Li Zhengwei ordered the guard beside him: Send cavalry squadrons to Anxi for reconnaissance.
The guard turned around and went out to pass on the order.
Li Zhengwei turned his head and said to Wu Bing: Alright, Comrade Wu Bing, you can go down and rest first! Let's discuss everything after the scouts return.
"Wu Bing turned around and walked out of the command center, thinking to himself: Now it's up to the chief of the detachment to make a decision."
The reconnaissance team sent out after dark has returned, bringing back not only information but also a person.
The reconnaissance team reported: On the way to investigate in the direction of Anxi, they encountered a small group of enemy cavalry. After retreating, they met a merchant from Hubei who claimed to have spoken with us today and said that he had discovered that the enemy had reinforced Anxi and hurriedly left the city to report the situation to our army.
Several leaders met with this Hubei merchant in person and asked him about the current situation in Anxi County. After hearing his account, they were all shocked and broke out in a cold sweat.
After thorough verification from two aspects of intelligence, Wu Bing's analysis was proven to be correct. If Wu Bing were here, he would definitely have a bitter smile: these are all history, and I also know what will happen in the future but dare not say it, for fear of being considered crazy
Get into the security office.
After research, several leaders decided that the battle in Anxi County could not be fought. If things go wrong, the enemy may have set up an ambush there, just waiting for these people to drill inside. The troops were ordered to move overnight and first moved to a place called Baidunzi northwest of Anxi County.
Local transfer. After a night and a day of marching, the troops finally arrived at Baidunzi before dark on April 25.
When the enemy's reconnaissance troops scouted out Shigong Village, they found that the Red Army had already withdrawn. After interrogating the local people, they learned that the Red Army had retreated northwest after nightfall. The arrogant and reckless enemy speculated that the Red Army was powerless to attack Anxi County Town,
A good opportunity to strike at the Red Army. Immediately dispatching more than 2,000 men in pursuit, hoping to annihilate the Red Army before their eyes.
On April 26, the troops were preparing breakfast when the enemy approached again. Smoke and dust billowed on the Gobi Desert as Ma Bufang's cavalry arrived in succession.
Wu Bing sighed in his heart: History cannot be changed! The last battle of the Western Expedition Army is inevitable, but history has deviated a bit. That is, the current Left Branch Team was originally short of guns and men, but now they have plenty of ammunition and personnel.
The commander of the left battalion issued an urgent order to build simple fortifications, and Wu Bing's three companies were assigned to the front line of the battlefield, coordinating with the first battalion to defend the main battlefield. When all the soldiers were building fortifications, Wu Bing ran alone about 200 meters away from the fortifications
He stopped at the location. He took out several M18A1 US military remote-controlled mines from his backpack and buried them every 50 meters, using fine sand to conceal them. At a distance of 100 meters in front of the position, he buried three domestic-made **jumping mines and set up tripwires before running back.
In the trenches.
When Wu Bing ran back to the formation, Li Ping, who had been staring at him all along, said: What did you run to the front of the formation for?
Wu Bing chuckled and said: Just watch closely! Oh, right, whatever you do, don't let the warriors charge ahead! If they end up bombing their own people, I won't be responsible.
Li Ping didn't quite understand, but Wu Bing always brought her unexpected surprises. After thinking for a moment, she said: I'd better inform the company commander and the others to avoid friendly fire.
Li Ping went to inform the first battalion of the detachment, Wu Bing took out his binoculars and looked at the rolling smoke in front. He saw that the enemy cavalry had already appeared in sight, the arrogant enemy waved their sabers and quickly advanced forward without stopping.
Wu Bing cursed in his heart: You bastards, hurry up and come over, Grandpa has prepared a big meal for you.
He immediately called over the leader of the newly formed sniper squad, Li Ying, and said: Tell your comrades to follow the principles I usually give you. The primary target is to shoot enemy officers and machine gunners to reduce the threat they pose to us.
Yes, and then he turned around and went down to get ready.
Wu Bing then said to the remaining comrades: Everyone get ready with hand grenades, as soon as the enemy charges up, blow the damn thing.
