Chapter 50: The Battle of Nanling Blockade (Part 2)

  "I agree with Old Huang's opinion, let's build a blocking fort on the top of the mountain. Not only should we dig the trenches as deep as possible, but also make use of the terrain to build several hidden forts. In addition, apart from the anti-artillery caves mentioned by Old Huang, we can also dig out several communication trenches between the trenches and the back of the mountain. If the enemy shells us, we'll retreat along the communication trenches to the back of the mountain; if the enemy attacks, we'll immediately return to our positions and engage in battle. This way, we can minimize the threat of the enemy's artillery fire..." Zhang Hua said, expressing his own thoughts.

  "Dig a traffic trench? Battalion Commander, this is really a good idea. This way, the soldiers won't be afraid of the Jin-Sui Army's artillery fire." Zhang Hua had just finished speaking when Instructor Xu Bin couldn't help but praise him.

  "Ah, this is a good idea. With the communication trench, not only can we minimize the threat of enemy artillery fire, but more importantly, we can dispatch reinforcement troops in a timely manner along the trench. This is indeed a win-win situation, Battalion Commander, you can give the order now..." Deputy Battalion Commander Guo Chengzhu also said excitedly.

  "Alright, since you all agree, I'll assign the tasks. Old Xu, take the 1st and 2nd companies to the high ground on the opposite side to build a blocking position. Old Guo, take the 3rd company, new recruit company, and logistics company to here to build a blocking position. Old Huang, you're in charge of distributing ammunition to each position. Do you all understand your tasks?" Zhang Hua nodded and commanded.

  "Yes, Battalion Commander..."

  "Alright, in half an hour, we'll start taking action. I'll lead a few squads to the nearby woods to chop down some logs and bring them back to reinforce our position. Meanwhile, we plan to build two bunkers at the front of each high ground, forming crossfire, to give a warm welcome to the Jin-Sui army that has come from afar." Zhang Hua ordered.

  Soon, the warriors who had a good meal, under the leadership of their respective commanders, picked up the captured engineer's shovel and began to build defensive works on the two hills. At the same time, in order not to let the enemy vanguard regiment discover anything unusual, all the mud dug out was carried by the soldiers to the back side of the high ground. Even the newly dug blocking position was quickly camouflaged with thatch by the soldiers, and there was no sign of digging at all.

  Finally, after a night of busy work, the two trenches on the high ground were completed. At the same time, the two bunkers built under Zhang Hua's personal command were also piled up. Looking at the two bunkers in front of him with a thickness of almost one meter, Zhang Hua believed that except for the Jinwei army soldiers using explosive packs to blast them, otherwise, their mountain cannons would not cause any harm to the two bunkers.

  "Report to the battalion commander, all fortifications have been completed and reinforced with original wood, absolutely able to withstand enemy howitzer and mountain artillery fire..." Just as Zhang Hua was admiring the two bunkers in front of him, Instructor Xu Bin ran up to him covered in mud to report.

  "Alright, the warriors have worked hard. Order the warriors to rest on the spot and have breakfast immediately. Also, order all company commanders and platoon leaders to come to a meeting to deploy specific combat tasks." Zhang Hua nodded and ordered.

  "Yes, Battalion Commander... I'll go and pass on the orders..."

  In less than half an hour, a dozen or so soldiers had gathered around Zhang Hua's side, munching on steamed buns and discussing the battle they would face today.

  "Comrades, I won't waste words, let's get straight to the point and assign specific combat tasks to each company. First Company, Second Company will be led by the instructor, defending the high ground on the left wing of the highway. Third Company, New Soldier Company will be led by the deputy regimental commander, defending this high ground under our feet. The requirement is that the two high grounds must cooperate closely and try to inflict maximum casualties on the enemy's living forces. The Logistics Company, Rear Service Department will be led by the deputy instructor, providing ammunition supplements to the two positions at any time. Two heavy machine guns from the Heavy Machine Gun Platoon will be deployed to the two bunkers, and the remaining two squads will serve as reserve troops, not allowed to engage without my order. The Artillery Platoon will find a favorable terrain to build an artillery position, but is prohibited from opening fire without my order. The Cavalry Platoon is responsible for transmitting messages, while the Scout Platoon, Guard Platoon, and Sniper Platoon's tasks will be assigned later. Do you all understand your tasks?" Zhang Hua loudly commanded the company commanders.

  "Understood..." everyone replied in unison.

  "Alright, now let Instructor Xu give everyone a pep talk before the battle..." Zhang Hua nodded and gestured to Instructor Xu Bin beside him.

  "Comrades, this time's blocking battle, the division commander and political commissar handed it over to our special duty company, I don't need to say, everyone should be clear. That is the division commander, political commissar............" Ten minutes later, the instructor's mobilization speech ended in applause. However, Zhang Hua could see from everyone's confident and proud eyes that the instructor's mobilization still had a great effect.

  "Alright, Wu Tao, Luo Hua-sheng and Wu Zi-jie will stay behind. Everyone else is dismissed. All units must enter their positions before 9:00 AM. If everything goes as planned, the enemy's vanguard brigade will arrive at our ambush position around 10:00 AM." Zhang Hua was extremely satisfied with the instructor's battle mobilization. Seeing the excited and confident crowd, Zhang Hua announced the dismissal order.

  As everyone left one after another, Zhang Hua was left with only Luo Huasheng and the three squad leaders Wu Tao and Wu Zijie.

  "Battalion Commander, all the other companies have received their assignments. Why haven't our three companies been given theirs yet? Please hurry up and give us our assignment so we can make preparations for battle." Said Luo Huasheng, the leader of the scouting company, anxiously as he saw that only three people were left.

  "Wu Tao, Luo Huasheng, Wu Zijie. Your three squads can be said to have the most veterans of our special forces camp and are the most elite troops. Especially the sniper squad, although there are not many people, almost everyone is a godly marksman. Leaving you three behind, there is an extremely important task that needs to be assigned to you, I don't know if you three have the confidence to complete this task." Zhang Huake asked with certainty, looking at the three squad leaders in front of him.

  "Commander, no matter what task, as long as you give the order, we guarantee that we can complete it." After hearing Commander Zhang Hua's question, the three of them were taken aback for a moment, but immediately reacted and replied excitedly.

  "Alright, the specific task is as follows. The main force of the Shanxi-Suiyuan army has more than 8,000 people. If we clash head-on with them, there will inevitably be heavy casualties. Therefore, I have decided to dispatch your three platoons to sneak into the vicinity of the Shanxi-Suiyuan army's main force. After our main force launches a surprise attack, you will continuously harass and raid the Shanxi-Suiyuan army's main force, attacking and then changing positions. In short, you must find ways to use your less-than-100-man force to slow down the enemy's advance as much as possible. If possible, cut off their highway and force the Shanxi-Suiyuan army to divide its forces." Zhang Hua ordered.

  "Company Commander, I understand. It's just like when we used to fight guerrilla warfare in the Soviet Union, hit and run." Wu Tao immediately added after hearing Zhang Hua's order.

  "It can also be said that way, but it's not entirely correct. You have a full range of weapons and equipment in your hands, and there are more than a dozen sharpshooters. With both close-range and long-range attack capabilities. So, you not only need to harass the enemy, but also try to inflict as much damage on the enemy as possible..." Zhang Hua continued.

  "Understood, Captain..." Several people nodded thoughtfully.

  "Alright, apart from this task, you have another mission. Once the Shanxi army starts attacking, if they have an artillery position, think of a way to take it out for me. Of course, if you can capture several mortars that would be best, but if not, just blow them all up. If there's any situation on the road, let the cavalry squad soldiers come back and report to me immediately." Zhang Hua nodded and continued to give orders.

  "Yes, Captain, mission will be accomplished." The three replied in unison.

  "Alright, you can go now. Before departure, go to the logistics unit to find Vice Instructor and replenish sufficient ammunition. Also, be careful on the road and try to minimize casualties as much as possible." Zhang Hua continued to remind them as he watched the three platoon leaders leave.

  As each unit, under the command of its own commander, entered the position, after a night of busy blocking positions, after a burst of noise, finally at 9 o'clock in the morning, slowly quieted down. At this time, looking out over the entire Nanling, except for the autumn wind unique to the north, almost no movement can be seen. And the entire special operations battalion of 500 men was motionless, resting in the trenches, replenishing energy for the afternoon battle.

  Just less than an hour after Zhang Hua closed his eyes, he was woken up by the communication officer Wang Gou Dan.

  "Battalion commander, battalion commander, the vanguard brigade of the enemy has arrived..." Zhang Hua had not yet opened his eyes when he heard the voice of Peng Longfei, the captain of the cavalry squadron.

  "What, the vanguard brigade of the enemy, has arrived so quickly?" Upon hearing the three words "vanguard brigade", Zhang Hua immediately stood up from the trench, grabbed the binoculars that had been placed beside him, and looked out onto the highway.

  "Where is the vanguard regiment? Why isn't there a single person on the highway?" However, through Zhang Hua's binoculars, the entire highway was empty and desolate, with nothing in sight.

  "Commander, how can it be so fast? This is the message just sent by the scouting platoon. The enemy's vanguard brigade is at least four kilometers away now?" Peng Longfei hastily explained to the anxious Commander Zhang Hua.

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