Chapter 63: Flanking from Behind

  Second War Zone Command Center

  Tight security guards have been deployed all around, and the surrounding areas have been tightly secured.

  The staff inside were busy, constantly transmitting various command documents.

  The Japanese army's mobilization of heavy troops in Chahar had already been analyzed by the staff.

  "Lan Yun, the Japanese army has assembled an elite division in Chahar to carry out a sweep. They have already clashed with Yang Junran's troops. According to intelligence, Yang Junran plans to defend the county seat to the death." Yan Xishan's face was full of surprise, and since receiving the intelligence, he had been somewhat incredulous.

  Not to mention that Yang Junran had only one division, even if Yang Junran had an army, in Yan Xishan's view, it was impossible to resist a Japanese elite division.

  The Chief of Staff of the Second War Zone, General Zhu Guang, furrowed his brow tightly upon hearing this.

  He couldn't believe it either, Yang Junran actually dared to engage in a positional battle with the Japanese army.

  "General Yan, judging from the current situation, Yang Junran's troops are probably the only ones that can still fight, but they won't be able to hold out for more than three days and may be completely annihilated by the Japanese army. My suggestion is to immediately order Yang Junran to lead his troops in a breakout and preserve their strength. This troop is very important to us, as it can not only pin down the Japanese army's forces in Chahar but also serve as an important force on the outer perimeter of Shanxi. As long as we have this force, we won't have to worry about the Japanese army surrounding Shanxi." Zhu Xiangguang said to Yan Xishan while looking at the map.

  Yan Xishan walked slowly for a few steps, his face showing some doubt.

  He already knew that the Chairman had directly allocated the military pay and personnel replenishment of Yang Junran's troops to the Military Affairs Department, and he also understood the Chairman's intention.

  The second war zone itself also needs such a force.

  As Zhu Ziqing said, Yang Junruan's troops survived in Chahar with a hundred benefits and no harm.

  However, if Yang Junran's troops were completely annihilated by the Japanese army, Shanxi not only lacked external support but also lost a general. After all, Yang Junran's previous military achievements had attracted much attention from the Second War Zone, and even the Military Affairs Department had prioritized replenishing a batch of weapons and ammunition.

  After walking several steps, Yan Xishan seemed to have made up his mind.

  Standing in front of the map, he said to Zhu Guang: "Lan Xiu younger brother, immediately send a telegram to Yang Junran, let them abandon some heavy weapons and equipment, preserve their own strength, and break through immediately. In addition, you will withdraw part of the weapons and ammunition from the war zone military supply department to prepare for replenishment to Yang Junran."

  "Yes." Zhu Xiang Guang quickly saluted and ran outwards.

  At this moment, Yang Junran had led the Second Brigade and the Cavalry Regiment's troops to slowly approach the Japanese army's position.

  The only ones stationed here are a battalion of the 4th Division of the Japanese Army, responsible for rearguard duties.

  Of course, in front of this large team, there is also a logistics support brigade, which jointly undertakes the defense mission.

  Hesitation over discrimination against logistics soldiers, these logistics soldiers are basically assigned to the front line of the position, and behind them are infantry battalions.

  Such a deployment allows infantry to supervise the logistics soldiers in combat, and for the infantry behind them to have the right to shoot and kill any logistics soldiers who retreat without permission.

  Dozens of trucks were deployed around the headquarters of the 8th Division, with light and heavy machine guns on top that had not been dismantled. In case something unexpected happened in the battle, at least these trucks and tanks could cover the division commander to break through a bloody road.

  "Commander, an urgent telegram from Chief of Staff Fang Hanqin, sent by the Commander-in-Chief of the Second War Zone." A communication soldier quickly ran over and said to Yang Junran on horseback.

  Yang Junran took over the telegram and looked at it, but his eyebrows were tightly furrowed.

  "Tell Chief of Staff Fang to refuse the Second War Zone's order and seal off this telegram." Yang Junran replied swiftly.

  The signal soldier was stunned for a moment, saluted and walked towards the back.

  Yang Junran was worried that once the officers and soldiers received the order to retreat from the Second War Zone, the military morale would become unstable.

  It's now a matter of life and death, no unexpected things can happen.

  Qin Litian looked at Yang Junran beside him, he had already heard the order to seal off the telegram content, so naturally he wouldn't ask anything.

  "Reporting to the commander, we have discovered a Japanese military position ahead. There are three layers of fortifications, including machine gun and artillery positions." The scout ran over and saluted, saying.

  Yang Junran jumped off his war horse and said to Qin Litian beside him: "Immediately gather several battalion commanders, quickly convene a combat meeting."

  Qin Litian bowed and ran over to one side.

  In less than a moment, six battalion commanders rushed over.

  Yang Junran then drew a rough deployment map of the Japanese army on the ground based on the scout's tip.

  "The artillery battalion and machine gun battalion quickly occupied the surrounding high ground, covering the infantry's attack. The second brigade took two battalions as the vanguard, with one battalion making a flanking maneuver from the side, and another battalion serving as the reserve. As for the cavalry regiment, send an orderly to inform them to prepare for battle, once the Japanese cavalry comes to reinforce, they must take care of the Japanese cavalry." Yang Junran quickly gave orders.

  The officers did not have any opinions either, and they saluted directly before leaving to make their own preparations.

  On the battlefield, the logistics soldiers were actually quite comfortable.

  Many Japanese logistics soldiers have begun to rest, after all, they had been busy for a whole night, and these logistics soldiers were somewhat tired.

  In the Japanese army, there is a saying: "Quartermasters are not soldiers."

  These porters were at the very bottom of the military hierarchy.

  Even a platoon leader of infantry can loudly scold the battalion commander of logistics troops.

  Just as these porters were resting, shells from afar suddenly came pouring in.

  The shells exploded above the position, and some of the Japanese pack troops were hit.

  A small number of soldiers quickly picked up their weapons and began to be on guard.

  Most of the heavy troops had already begun to get mixed up.

  These porters have not received strict military training, otherwise they would not be here as porters.

  The infantry battalion behind was quickly alerted, with row upon row of light and heavy machine guns ready to fire.

  The shelling continued, and in the distance, Chinese troops had appeared before the eyes of Japanese officers and men.

  Gradually, the various battalions of the assault troops began to prepare their infantry guns and mortars to strike at the exposed Japanese firepower points, covering the charge of the troops.

  Three heavy machine guns have been set up two hundred meters away from the position, continuously firing at the Japanese position.

  The warriors held their weapons and slowly approached the Japanese army's position.

  The artillerymen were firing wildly.

  However, they had no way to stop the warriors' footsteps. The reason was very simple: apart from a small number of Type 44 rifles, they didn't have any light or heavy machine guns at all.

  "Come on, brothers, let's charge!" Yang Junran, who led the troops himself, didn't understand why the Japanese army wasn't using machine guns to fire, but looking at the distance of less than 200 meters, Yang Junran was clear that as long as his troops made a concerted effort to charge over, they would likely win.

  The light machine guns of each company fired rapidly and followed the soldiers as they charged.

  The infantry battalion behind then began to use its two infantry guns and twelve heavy machine guns to open fire.

  A dozen warriors didn't notice and were hit by machine gun bullets instead.

  Even Yang Junran himself, if it weren't for a nearby soldier pushing him away, would very likely have become one of the sacrificed officers and soldiers.

  The fifty-four mortars of the two battalions fired rapidly, and the mini-grenades were thrown at the Japanese infantry artillery and heavy machine guns.

  Although the power of the mini grenade was not great, due to the large number of reasons, it also suppressed the firepower of the Japanese army.

  Taking advantage of the opportunity that the Japanese army did not shoot, the warriors quickly threw hand grenades and started carrying bayonets, launching a charge.

  The distance from the trenches is getting closer and closer, a small number of logistics soldiers are quickly fleeing to the rear position.

  The artillery battalion behind also began to implement firepower strikes on the Japanese army's second line of defense, suppressing various firepower points of the Japanese army.

  The warriors have charged into the Japanese army's trenches. Yang Junran quickly took out his shotgun and started firing.

  Soldiers armed with light machine guns charged forward, rapidly firing in bursts and shooting down the Japanese officers and soldiers one by one.

  The warriors have already unfolded a bayonet fight with Japanese officers and soldiers on the trench, these logistics soldiers are obviously not opponents.

  In addition to Yang Junran and other officers' handguns, the bayonet fight clearly showed that the National Army had the upper hand.

  The Japanese infantry behind began to open fire.

  Whether it was the Japanese army's porter or the warrior of the vanguard division, someone was hit by the Japanese machine gun and fell to the ground.

  "Quick, take cover!" Yang Junran shouted loudly.

  The heavy machine guns and grenade launchers that followed hastily afterwards were set up in the trenches to suppress the Japanese firepower.

  The heavily armed soldiers took advantage of this opportunity and quickly ran towards the second line of defense.

  "Qin Litian, order the troops to occupy their positions immediately," Yang Junran shouted at Qin Litian in the distance.

  "Yes, sir." Qin Litian shouted and hastily deployed his troops to occupy various positions.

  The headquarters of the Japanese Eighth Division.

  Maeda Tomosaburou's face was filled with anger. He had never thought that the Chinese troops would stab him in the back.

  "Commander, the Chinese troops have already occupied the first line of defense and it's highly likely that they will take down the second line of defense. If that happens, our position here will be in danger." Staff Officer Kobayashi Kakutaro rushed in to report on the situation outside.

  Maeda Toshisada furrowed his brow, hesitated for a moment, and said: "Immediately send a telegram to the 4th Brigade, have them dispatch the 31st Regiment to reinforce this place. Order the 4th Cavalry Brigade to mobilize all cavalry units at once, and thoroughly discipline that Chinese army."

  "Hello, Commander." Kojirō Tarō bowed and walked out towards the outside.