Chapter 58: The Battle of Changde (5)

  At night, Xue Yue led his troops to camp on the road 60 miles away from Taoyuan. Thinking of today's marching speed, Xue Yue couldn't help but curse. The Communist Army had blocked their way four times in one day, not only failing to wipe out the enemy, but also losing a regiment of his own troops. Although for him, one regiment was not a big deal, how could he not be angry when they had marched only 60 miles in a day? If they continued like this, how many more days would it take to reach Changde?!

  At the same time, the political commissar was also counting today's battle results. Although there were no spoils of war, after a day of fighting, only a dozen or so men from his own division had been killed in action, while inflicting losses of nearly half a battalion on the enemy. It should be noted that the ammunition of the Seventh Army Division was quite abundant, and even if they continued to fight for another week, there would be no shortage.

  Back to Changde's siege war, the remaining 300 people of the first camp had already climbed onto the city wall and were attacking both sides to expand the gap.

  "Captain, it's all over! The Communist army has climbed up the city wall. My entire company of brothers has been wiped out!" A remaining company commander ran over, crying and said.

  "Damn it, what are you crying for? If we lose this position, we'll all be beheaded. Brothers, follow me and charge forward, drive them away, or else we'll all die. Brothers, charge!" The battalion commander roared loudly, standing up first.

  "Battalion commander, battalion commander, a company of enemy troops is rushing over from within the city and are about to climb up onto the city wall." The communications officer rushed over.

  "First company, second company, follow me, block the enemy, third company continues to expand the gap, let the second and third battalions come up immediately for reinforcements." The battalion commander was the first to charge down the city wall with his submachine gun. Two companies of 200 men followed him into battle.

  Liu Yingchang led the troops to charge to the street corner and built a simple blocking position with several sandbags on this road. Looking at the swarming enemy army, facing the bullets like rain, not a single soldier retreated.

  "Fire!" 200 rifles, submachine guns and light machine guns fired simultaneously, sweeping the enemy 200 meters away in an instant. "Take cover." The enemy regiment commander was the first to fall to the ground, setting up a light machine gun to start firing. As the two sides continued to exchange fire, the casualties of the First Battalion began to increase, with soldiers constantly falling down, and the soldiers behind immediately filling in, making the firepower of the First Battalion never weakened.

  Of course, the enemy's casualties were greater. After all, a battalion had built simple fortifications, while an entire regiment of enemy soldiers lay flat on the ground. "Quickly, quickly go ask the division commander for reinforcements and tell him that the Communist army has entered the city. We are fighting back and need troops to be sent immediately." The regimental commander yelled at an aide beside him.

  "Commander, the 1st Battalion reports that the Communist Army has entered the city from the south gate. The 1st Battalion is currently engaging in a blocking action at the street corner and requests reinforcements." The chief of staff said repeatedly, panting heavily.

  "What's going on? So quickly... I'm going to shoot a regimental commander, chief of staff. How many reserve troops do we have left?" The division commander was anxiously sweating profusely.

  "Sir, we have a security battalion, the 6th Regiment, a logistics battalion and two artillery companies on standby." The chief of staff said hastily.

  "Order the Sixth Regiment, one battalion and two artillery companies to reinforce the First Regiment. We must wipe out all the Communist troops that have entered the city. Go quickly." The division commander was exhausted and sat down on a stool with his eyes closed.

  "A battalion commander, how are you now?" asked a regimental commander of the Second Battalion who had just caught up, seeing the battalion commander's face covered with gunpowder.

  "The enemy's resistance is very fierce, my first battalion has already lost more than half of its men. Now the first battalion is facing off against an entire enemy regiment, with heavy casualties." The battalion commander shouted loudly, and tears could be seen in the corners of his eyes.

  "Second company, go! First company, switch with them! Third company commander, bring your third company and open the city gate for me!" The regimental commander shouted loudly, looking at the exhausted eyes of the first company commander.

  At this time, the enemy army was also in a precarious situation, and one battalion had already suffered casualties. "Order the second battalion to build a blocking position 200 meters behind us, quickly, the remaining people continue to block the enemy with me, we will hold on for ten minutes." The regiment commander ordered immediately.

  With the arrival of the second battalion's reinforcements, they also brought two heavy machine guns for the enemy to defend the city. The firepower on the side of the 7th Army was immediately strengthened unprecedentedly, and the firepower of the remaining two battalions of the enemy was quickly suppressed. "Regiment Commander, the blocking position has been constructed, let's retreat quickly, the Communist army's firepower is too strong." The second battalion commander ran over and shouted loudly to the enemy regiment commander.

  "The troops retreated and fell back behind the blocking position," the regimental commander shouted loudly.

  Seeing the enemy army wanting to retreat, Captain Ma immediately reacted that the enemy was going to run. "Comrades, charge! The enemy is running away." The soldiers of the two battalions were instantly boosted in morale, raised their guns and shot while chasing after them.

  Suddenly, a defensive line made of sandbags appeared in front of me, and two flames shot towards me. "Get down, retreat, full retreat!" A battalion commander shouted loudly, but it was too late. When we retreated to our previous position, looking around, countless bodies of our own people lay on the 200-meter road. After counting, 85 people were killed in action.

  "Order the troops to build a defensive line on the spot and do not allow them to charge," said the regimental commander, who then ran towards the city gate that had just been opened.

  "Reporting to the Legion Commander, it seems that our troops are being blocked." The staff officer next to him said in a low voice.

  Liu Hua listened carefully to the regimental commander's report. "Regimental Commander, you punish me, it was my fault that caused such a big loss to the troops, you punish me." The regimental commander lowered his head.

  "Director Wang, record the order: The Second Battalion will enter the city immediately. The First Battalion will be replaced and rest. After the Second Battalion enters the city, continue to consolidate the position and prevent the enemy from launching a night attack tonight. The First Battalion will withdraw from the county town for rest. Send reports to Division Commander Sun Xingbang and Division Commander Wang Nanhu, asking them to increase the intensity of the attack on the city and attract the attention of the enemy forces. Rest tonight and continue attacking tomorrow. Order the artillery battalion to transport mountain guns into the city to assist in the attack. Pass on the order!"

  "Yes, Commander." The aide saluted and walked out.

  "Commander Li, don't be disheartened. Today's defeat is not your fault. If I were in your shoes, I would have ordered the troops to attack as well. Go back! The casualties of the First Regiment are too heavy today. After withdrawing from the city, you must rest and regroup properly. Tomorrow, I still need the First Regiment to lead the main assault. Do you have confidence?" Liu Hua looked at Commander Wang, who was hanging his head in shame.

  "Report to the Legion Commander, one team has resolutely completed the mission."

  "Alright, let's head back and get some rest." After saying that, Liu Hua looked at the map in front of him again.

  "Commander, the Communist army has stopped its attack. The regiment commander is leading the remaining men to build a blocking position at the street corner and is now in a standoff with the Communist army." The chief of staff said with a sigh of relief.

  "All right, tell the team leader to guard the position well and let the sixth team build several blocking positions behind the first team. Also, send a report to the commander-in-chief and urge him again." After finishing speaking, he closed his eyes and enjoyed the peace for a while.