Chapter 041: The Battle of Xiguan (9)

  From Zhaiya in the southeast of Jing County to Luocheng in the northwest of Tongdao Creek, although there is a road, it is also a mountain dirt road. On the map, the straight-line distance is very close, but walking is not that easy.

  The 63rd Division of Xiang received the order to reinforce the 62nd Division of Xiang at 5:40 pm. At the time of receiving the order, the troops were divided into two parts, stationed in Zhaiya and Yanmenpu, with the task of preventing the Red Army from going north to Jingzhou and then marching to western Hunan.

  The 28th Army commander and the pursuit army's 41st chapter, with a surprise attack on Zhong's brigade position, many positions have been breached, and Zhong's brigade is holding out in Beishan Village and the main peak to the east. Wang's brigade has advanced to Xigou, encountering enemy resistance. Where is Chen's division? Why is its advance slow? If Chen's division's slow action causes a change on the battlefield, will military law be ignored?"

  "Take another look, is the telegram signed by the commander of the 28th Army of the National Revolutionary Army, Zhang Jingyao, or our 63rd Division? Besides, we may not be able to wipe out all the Red Bandits. What if they defeat the 62nd Division and run away?"

  Chen Guangzhong, although a bandit by origin, was not low in intelligence. He understood that if Liu Jianxu and He Jian wanted to find a scapegoat, they would not choose their fellow student from the Baoding Military Academy, Zhang Liangji, nor would they use the 16th Division of the 3rd Brigade's 6th Regiment as a sacrificial lamb. Obviously, Chen Guangzhong himself and his own 63rd Division were more suitable for this role. Moreover, the Red Bandits were not so easy to kill; they were not ordinary troublemakers who could be killed at will. If they couldn't be killed, wouldn't Chen Guangzhong become the scapegoat?

  Chen Guangzhong turned his horse's head around and shouted while running: "Pass on my order, the whole division will advance in light gear at a quick pace."

  The villagers of Luocheng Village in their dreams did not expect that the god of death would pass by them like this.

  In front of Xikou Village, soldiers from three battalions and a company of heavy machine guns were building fortifications.

  Liu Yimin, Cai Zhong and Liu Jianli walked over to see a cadre from the Third Battalion with a big knife on his back arguing with a cadre from the heavy machine gun company. Liu Yimin asked what was going on and it turned out that the cadre from the Third Battalion thought the position of the heavy machine gun was not right, it should be further back and higher. Because the opposite field had an arc shape, the current position was too low, and bullets were easily shot into the ground.

  Liu Yimin carefully observed that what the cadre said was indeed correct, and asked him how he had figured it out. The cadre replied that he had studied surveying and could draw maps.

  Before Liu Yimin could ask again, Chief of Staff Liu Jianli asked him to tell his detailed situation. It turned out that this cadre was a deputy platoon leader in the third battalion, named Liu Lizi, from Xiangxiang, Hunan Province. He had attended Dongshan Primary School and County Girls' Middle School, and his family were tailors. Apart from being able to draw maps, he had also studied urban planning and could paint fine brushwork paintings. Influenced by his teacher while in school, he went to join the Red Army. During battles, he loved using a mountain-opening knife, and there were already over a dozen white devils who had died under his blade.

  Liu Jian directly asked Liu Yimin for instructions and wanted to transfer Liu Licheng to the advisory department.

  Liu Yimin replied that it was possible, and after the battle, he would report to the staff headquarters. Then Liu Yimin asked Wei Xiufeng, the commander of the heavy machine gun battalion who had arrived in a hurry, whether there were any other soldiers who could use the heavy machine guns besides the existing shooters and deputy shooters. Wei Xiufeng reported that there were, and now the heavy machine gun battalion was equipped with one heavy machine gun per squad, for two reasons: first, the number of heavy machine guns was not enough, and second, considering the physical strength of the soldiers, because during long-distance marches, they needed to take turns carrying the machine guns.

  Since there were shooters, Liu Yimin immediately ordered that the 12 heavy machine guns captured from Wang Yuying's brigade be added to the Heavy Machine Gun Company, and the 12 heavy machine guns captured from Zhong Guangren's brigade be distributed among the Second, Third, and other companies. The 108 light machine guns captured from Wang Yuying's and Zhong Guangren's brigades, except for the 48 taken by the Engineer Battalion and the First Company of the New Soldier Battalion, were allocated to the six combat battalions' firepower support companies at a standard of 10 per battalion.

  After inspecting the positions of the 3rd Battalion and the heavy machine gun company, Liu Yimin felt that he had made a mistake. The Hunan 63rd Division was different from other troops, they didn't have any rules in battle, they might charge forward like bandits, which would make the 3rd Battalion's forces too thin. After all, there were 8,000 enemy soldiers, if they broke through the 3rd Battalion's position and entered Xigou Village, it would be an international joke. Thinking again about the weak forces of the 2nd and 4th Battalions which were responsible for the flanking attack. He ordered Liu Jianbiao to immediately join the 6th Battalion with the 2nd Battalion's position which was too open; ordered the engineer battalion to withdraw back to the 3rd Battalion's command, to strengthen the frontal blocking position; ordered the whole team of the communication platoon, reconnaissance platoon, political department and staff department to mobilize, to cooperate with the new soldier company cadres to guard the prisoners, to free up 200 people from the new soldier company to be commanded by Li Qing, to pretend to be Tao Guang's troops defending Beishan Village and the mountain; ordered the cavalry company to be the whole team's reserve.

  Liu Yimin had just adjusted his troops when the observation post on the mountain reported that the enemy had already passed through Huabian Village and was rushing towards Xikou.

  After passing through Huabi Village, the distance to Xigou is no longer far away. The sound of gunfire in the direction of Xigou can be heard clearly one after another. In front of us is a section of canyon, although the mountain is not high and the canyon is not long, Chen Guangzhong still ordered the troops to stop and send a regiment to scout ahead. If there is no situation, the main force will follow up. Then he ordered the radio station to open, contact Tao Guang, Wang Yuying's brigade, and the 16th division, report the position of the troops, and ask about the battle situation.

  Tao Guang quickly wired back, saying that he had seen the torches of the 63rd Division's troops on the mountain top, urging the 63rd Division to swiftly attack north of Xikou and cut off the Red Bandits' rear route.

  Wang Yuying replied that the Red Bandits had surrounded the 62nd Division headquarters on a hill east of Beishan Village in the northern part of Xikou, and his unit was attacking the high ground along the highway at the northern end of Xikou, striving to break through the connection with the division headquarters. They were currently engaged in fierce fighting with the enemy and requested that the 63rd Division provide rapid reinforcements.

  The troops are taking the mountain road from Lin Kou to Xi Kou, which is very difficult to walk. More than 20 people have fallen to their deaths. We are now about 6 kilometers away from Xi Kou and are speeding up our advance.

  Advance scouts report that they have safely traversed the canyon and have caught sight of Xigou Village, with distant sounds of battle faintly visible on the northern mountain peaks.

  Chen Guangzhong was finally at ease and ordered his troops to advance quickly.

  It really was nothing, and the troops safely passed through the canyon. Chen Guangzhong stood at the entrance of the valley, under the night sky, the creek mouth was dark and black, without a single light, couldn't see clearly. However, the situation of the battle on the mountain top at the north end of the creek mouth could be vaguely seen, the mountain top with torches must be the one defended by the 62nd Division's Zhong Brigade, the torches must be used to prevent sneak attacks; a string of torches on the highway at the west entrance, should be Wang Yuying's troops attacking, estimated that Wang Yuying was taking advantage of the Red Army having no artillery, couldn't hit him, so he dared to use torches to illuminate the attack route for his soldiers.

  Chen Guangzhong rode his horse to the front of the troops and shouted loudly, "Brothers, do you see the creek mouth in front?"

  The soldiers laughed and shouted: "We've seen it."

  Chen Guangzhong said: "Do you know what's there? I'll tell you, women and the ocean. The old rules apply, one red bandit ear costs three silver dollars. If you catch a red bandit commander or regimental commander, it's 2,000 big ocean (dollars), and you'll be promoted three ranks. If you catch a female red bandit, they will all be handed over to the battalion commander for disposal."

  The soldiers burst out laughing.

  Chen Guangzhong glared, and the troops immediately fell silent. All that could be heard was his wolf-like voice drifting through the night sky: "I don't distinguish between main attack and feint, whichever unit defeats the Red Bandits first will be the main attacking force. Brothers, charge forward for me, occupy the creek mouth, rush up the mountain, and wipe out the Red Bandits!"

  Enemy 63 Division was like a pack of wolves smelling blood, howling and rushing towards the creek mouth.

  Thousands of people charging forward is very intimidating. In the early winter season, the weather was very dry, and the 63rd Division's troops ran by, kicking up dust that obscured the figures of the Red 18th Regiment's 1st and 5th Battalions descending from the mountain slope. The soldiers held their guns, crouched down, and silently hung back about 200 meters behind the 63rd Division.

  Liu Yimin climbed onto the position of the Third Battalion at the edge of Xigou Village, watching as the 63rd Division crossed over the Yangxu River along the main road and then dispersed their troops, swarming towards Xigou Village. In his heart, he secretly thought it was fortunate that these guys really didn't follow any rules and were rushing forward in a swarm. Fortunately, he had anticipated the bandit-like nature of the 63rd Division and strengthened their firepower and troop strength; otherwise, the Third Battalion might not have been able to hold its ground.

  Closer, closer, a bit closer, a bit faster. Look, the 63rd Division has already charged to within 50 meters, Liu Yimin's shout was loud, and the submachine gun in his hand fired.

  In an instant, the front line of Xiakou Village erupted with 18 heavy machine guns, 76 light machine guns and nearly a thousand rifles and submachine guns firing at once. The intense firepower left the 63rd Division, who were dreaming of women and the ocean, stunned. Those in the front naturally fell to the ground first. The soldiers behind them couldn't react quickly enough and continued to charge forward out of inertia, only to meet the same fate. Soon, the soldiers snapped out of their excitement and realized that a web of firepower was waiting to harvest their lives ahead. They turned around and ran. Chaos erupted as those who had turned around first collided with those still charging behind them. Those running trampled over those who had fallen, and the sounds of shouting, wailing, clashing steel, and the 18th Regiment's gunfire merged into a cacophony that was jarring, chaotic, and unbearable.

  The soldiers of the 63rd Division scattered, and the 18th Artillery Regiment took action. Dozens of shells whistled through the air, heavily pounding the 63rd Division's troops, instantly blowing their infantry groups to smithereens. The 63rd Division was completely routed, with soldiers fleeing in all directions like headless flies.

  The machine guns and mortars of the four camps on the north side started firing, and the Xiang Army soldiers understood that this road was impassable. After leaving behind hundreds of corpses, the soldiers rushed south in a crowded manner, only to be met with the roar of the machine guns of the second and sixth camps. Neither north nor south is feasible, should we retreat? The first and fifth camps had long been hanging behind the 63rd Division, and at the same time as the third camp fired, they quickly formed a scattered blocking line. Mortars, heavy machine guns, light machine guns, submachine guns, and rifles were all waiting in ambush, ready to give the 63rd Division a vivid lesson on how to cut off the enemy's retreat!

  In this way, the Xiang 63rd Division was in the fields in front of Xikou Village, in the dense and impenetrable web of fire woven by the Red 18th Regiment, like a wild boar that had fallen into a hunter's trap, charging left and right, advancing and retreating, howling, struggling, and moaning, slowly exhausting its own vital energy.

  In a field 60 meters north of the small bridge over the Yangtze River, there was an inconspicuous pile of straw. Who would have thought that under the straw pile was a pit that could hold two people? At this moment, a sniper squad from the Red 18th Regiment was hiding here.

  Wang Shangwu is from Changde, Hunan Province, 21 years old this year. He was a hunter and a secular disciple of Shaolin Temple. When Liu Yimin formed the Red 34th Regiment's sharpshooter squad in Xinwan, he was one of its members. After going through several battles in Tongdao, guided by Liu Yimin, and fighting in Gulingtou, Xiaoshui, and Xikou, Wang Shangwu had basically acquired the qualities of a sniper. Now he and his assistant Liu Bin are hiding in their dugout, scanning the battlefield for targets to shoot at.

  Wang Shangwu liked his assistant very much, because Liu Bin's cultural level was high. Some problems that Wang Shangwu couldn't figure out, after talking to Liu Bin, he could quickly explain one, two, three. In fact, Liu Bin's cultural level was indeed high. He was from Changzhou, Jiangsu Province, born into a scholarly family, with a height of 1.75 meters and a fair complexion. Due to contradictions over family property, after reading some Marxist materials, he ran away to join the Red Army. During the Xiaoshui battle, the regiment commander discovered his high shooting level and recommended him to join the sniper squad.

  The 63rd Division on the battlefield collapsed quickly, and the soldiers were completely chaotic, constantly fleeing east and west, constantly being eliminated by bullets and artillery fire. At this time, Liu Bin shouted: "One o'clock direction!"

  Wang Shangwu took a look and saw that at one o'clock, a group of Xiang soldiers were surrounding several officers, who looked like they had been frightened out of their wits and didn't even know whether they were coming or going.

  Wang Shangwu said to Liu Bin: "It looks like a big fish, I'll take the left and you take the right, each of us will shoot one." After that, he stretched out his gun barrel.

  Chen Guangzhong was really frightened at this time. He had never thought that the creek mouth under the night sky would be a pre-arranged fire net, trapping his 63rd division tightly without leaving any gaps. The red bandits were really cunning, and no matter how careful he was, he still fell into their trap. What the hell was Tao Guang's telegram? What the hell was Wang Yuying's telegram? What the hell was the 16th division's telegram? They were all death notices from the King of Hell. It seemed that when fighting against the red bandits, having one or two more minds was not enough, at least you needed to have ten more minds. Liu Jianxu, this guy who thought he was smart, had sent himself and the 63rd division into the ghost gate. This red bandit troop was really strange, they didn't make a sound, purely using machine guns and artillery to greet them, not even giving them a chance to fight hand-to-hand, after the machine guns and artillery, it was just squeezing towards the center, every time about 100 meters away, making you unable to use your strength. Did their bullets and shells cost nothing? When did the red bandits become richer than us?!

  It's all over, everything is over! Who would have thought that I, who made a fortune by killing Reds, would end up being defeated by the Reds. There's nowhere to run, can't see any Reds, but bullets are coming from all directions. Damn it, I've gained some experience, didn't know fighting could be like this!

  Just as Chen Guangzhong was dazed and confused, Wang Shangwu and Liu Bin almost simultaneously pulled the trigger. Chen Guangzhong's guards were looking around, suddenly feeling a heat on their faces, they wiped it with their hands, where did the blood come from? Turning back to look, his chief of staff and advisor had fallen to the ground, soft and limp, with a big hole in their heads, bleeding profusely.

  The guard was so frightened that he jumped up and shouted: "The Master is dead! The Master is dead!"

  The surviving soldiers heard the shout and like a tire with its valve core pulled out, they immediately collapsed.

  The battlefield fell silent, and the lucky survivors of the 63rd Division's soldiers knelt on the ground with their hands raised, waiting to be taken prisoner.

  The torches around lit up, illuminating the night sky bright red. The soldiers of the 18th Red Army held their guns and rushed to the middle of the fields from all sides. The flowing water of Yangxu River accompanied the footsteps of the soldiers, echoing far away in the quiet night.