Age of Conquest Reborn

From a brigade commander of the 29th Corps to commanding a temporarily formed corps with more than 80,000 people in five brigades, and shouldering an extremely arduous task, Jing Zhanqi's mind has always been sober. He has never put this into perspective.

The Western Manchurian Blockade was viewed as an easy battle.

The more than 80,000 men of the Western Manchuria Interceptor Corps had to face the more than 400,000 withdrawn Kwantung Army troops. The huge gap in strength meant that this interception battle was destined to be arduous and bloody. Moreover, Jing Zhanqi knew that he was commanding

The Western Manchuria Blockade Corps was a temporarily formed force that played a supporting role in the Western Manchuria Blockade War, buying enough time for the Outer Mongolia Field Corps that was about to start moving south.

But Jing Zhanqi cherished this opportunity very much and sent a telegram to the division commander to reassure the division commander. At the same time, he also expressed his determination. In fact, he knew how big the difficulties he was facing now!

First of all, we must capture Siping. Siping is not an unknown county. On the map of Northeast China, Siping's geographical location is very unique and important. It is almost between Fengtian and Xinjing, and is the transportation artery connecting Jilin and Liaoning provinces.

, like an iron gate, stretches across the county, with railways and highways running through the county in the direction of Xinjing. It is known as the southwest gateway to Xinjing and is one of the dozen counties where the Kwantung Army focused on fortifications in the northeast.

Historically, this city has also been a battleground for military strategists. When the Kuomintang and the Communist Party faced each other for the future and destiny of the country, the later famous marshal of the Chinese Communist Party and the famous general of the national army fought several bloody battles here.

, a total of more than 100,000 soldiers from both the Kuomintang and the Communist Party fell here, making it famous throughout the world. To this day, it is still called the Hero City.

However, the situation faced by Jing Zhanqi is not very bad. At this time, the Kwantung Army's garrison strength in Siping City is not very large. According to intelligence, there is only a strengthened Siping garrison and a gendarmerie brigade, plus the Manchuria

Although the country only has one division of troops, Siping's city defenses are very strong. After many years of operation by the Kwantung Army, a complete defense system has been formed.

If there is enough time, Jing Zhanqi will not think that capturing Siping is a huge problem for a city like Siping with complete fortifications but empty troops. There are tanks and heavy artillery, and air fire support can be called for, but now, what is missing

It is time. On the one hand, the troops must set up defenses on the east bank of the Dongliao River. They must also seize Shuangliao and connect the starting points of the two ends of the blockade line. On the other hand, there cannot be many troops to attack Siping.

Therefore, the troops used by Jingzhan Banner to capture Siping only consisted of one regiment and one battalion. In terms of the number of troops, it was even smaller than the Kwantung Army and Manchukuo soldiers in Siping City, but this was already Jingzhan Banner.

The limit of the troops that the flag can use.

The five main brigades, plus the artillery and armor units, total more than 80,000 people, which seems to be a lot, but if it is to be distributed between Siping and Shuangliao, the blocking line of more than 90 kilometers seems to be stretched.

, if Siping alone is captured, at least a brigade of troops will be needed to defend it.

Jing Zhanqi gathered his thoughts and looked ahead. Under the July sunshine, Siping looked like a dead city. Fortifications composed of barbed wire fences, bunkers and reinforced concrete, like a long snake, tightly surrounded Siping.

In the middle, although the sound of artillery in the direction of Western Manchuria could not be heard for the time being, Jing Zhanqi knew from the battle situation report from the division commander that more than 400,000 Kwantung Army soldiers were rushing over crazily like the ebbing sea water.

"Chief of Staff, convey my order. The first regiment and brigade are directly under the engineering battalion, the armored corps, two tank regiments, and a heavy artillery regiment will form a siege force. Immediately launch an attack on Siping. Tell the commander of the first regiment that I only have six of them.

In an hour's time, Siping must be taken. How to fight? Let the siege troops study and decide on their own. Have the troops heading towards Shuangliao arrived at their position now?" Jing Zhanqi put down his telescope and asked Wang Xujiang, the brigade chief of staff.

Wang Xujiang was a very capable chief of staff. He first conveyed the brigade commander's orders over the phone, and then answered the question, "Brigadier Commander, I went to the door thirty minutes ago to send a telegram to inquire about the progress of the troops. Our regiment's No. 1

The Second Brigade has arrived at Shuangliao and is preparing to attack. The rest of the troops are deploying and building fortifications. However, there is a bad situation. Commander Xu Ting of the Second Brigade said in the telegram that from his current position, he can already hear

Faint sound of gunfire!"

"What?" Jing Zhanqi's expression finally changed. The sound of artillery could be heard in the direction of Shuangliao, which meant that the retreating Kwantung Army troops would not be more than 20 kilometers away from Shuangliao.

The second brigade, which was blocking the attack from the Liao direction, had to capture Shuangliao on the one hand, and block the swarming Kwantung Army troops on the other. The troops were deployed. I'm afraid they didn't even have fortifications. The situation was not good!

Jing Zhanqi thought for a while and said: "Chief of Staff, order the third brigade to send a regiment of troops, carrying a full set of equipment, to strengthen the direction of Shuangliao, under the command of the second brigade commander Xu Tingzhi. In addition, direct the power generation to the division

Call for help and ask for air fire support, otherwise, with our current strength, we will not be able to stop the little Japs who are bent on escaping!"

After issuing the order, there was a big question mark in Jing Zhanqi's mind, "Did the North China Field Corps, which has more than 400,000 troops, not entangle the Kwantung Army in Western Manchuria on the line from Ihuta to Dalin? What if?

Commander Yuan was bolder and concentrated five or six brigades and two tank brigades, desperately penetrated the retreating Kwantung Army troops in depth, quickly rushed to the Shuangliao area, and jointly blocked the attack, and his own pressure would be reduced a lot

!”

Of course, this is just Jing Zhanqi's personal good wish. He does not think that he is better than the division commander who commanded an army of millions, or the commander of the North China Field Corps, Yuan Jinghao. Yuan Jinghao's troops did not do this, which must be reasonable and practical.

difficulty.

In fact, Yuan Jinghao, who commanded more than 400,000 troops of the North China Field Corps to pursue and defeat the fierce Kwantung Army, had considered such a tactic, but no matter how he argued, he was not completely sure. The most likely possibility was that the assault troops would

Falling into the counter-encirclement of the Kwantung Army, a pursuit battle will turn into an encirclement and counter-encirclement war, and the battlefield will become a mess, disrupting the overall campaign deployment. Take risks!

After receiving the telegram from Jingzhanqi at the frontline headquarters of the Independent Division in Kailu, eastern Mongolia, division commander Tang Qiuli simply said, "Jingzhanqi has lived up to his high expectations. The Western Manchuria campaign can have the expected outcome. The two Kwantung Army

The large and heavy military group has been blocked in our preset area, okay!"

Ge Zhenzhuang, director of the division's staff department, said worriedly: "Commander, the current battle situation in western Liaoning has basically been fixed and there is no change. The initiative is in our hands. However, what I am worried about is the battle situation in Western Manchuria. Western Manchuria

The speed of the Kwantung Army's retreat is beyond our imagination!"

"The original battle plan planned by the division commander was for the North China Field Corps to use superior ground and air firepower to continuously consume the Kwantung Army's effective strength during the offensive process, thereby delaying it in the predetermined area. However, the current situation is that the Kwantung Army

military

There is no intention to block the attack, and they are bent on retreating quickly. The Battle of Baolong Mountain is a special case. In this way, huge pressure will be concentrated on the line from Siping to Shuangliao to prevent the Kwantung Army from retreating to Xinjing. The five brigades of the West Manchu Interceptor Corps

On the troops!"

"There is a huge disparity in strength. The Siping and Shuangliao blocking lines are more than 90 kilometers long, and there is no dangerous terrain to use. The Jingzhan Banner Corps also marched long distances and deployed defenses in a hurry. The Outer Mongolia Field Corps took five days at the fastest.

It will take five nights to arrive. The Western Manchurian Interceptor Corps must block the crazy attack of the Kwantung Army, which is more than five times its strength. I'm worried...!"

Ge Zhenzhuang did not say anything further, but Tang Qiuli knew what he wanted to say, "Director Ge, you are right to worry. The situation on the battlefield in Western Manchuria has changed. In this way, Liu Cuigang and Le Yiqin, who command the aviation force, will be deployed on the battlefield in western Liaoning.

All aviation forces have been invested in the Western Manchuria battlefield, especially the air fire support for the Western Manchurian Interceptor Corps on the line from Siping to Shuangliao must be maintained uninterrupted!"

"It is impossible for Han Tie to draw out troops. The only help our division can give Jing Zhanqi is aircraft. When you reply to the telegram to Jing Zhanqi, you have to explain this. He only needs to persist for five days.

, the Outer Mongolia Field Corps will definitely arrive in five days!"

Before Ge Zhenzhuang could go out, Colonel Chen Feng, director of the Division's Communications Division, hurried in, "Division Commander, I received an urgent telegram from Jing Zhanqi, acting commander of the Western Manchurian Interceptor Corps. Our Second Brigade of the Western Manchurian Interceptor Corps has arrived.

At the time of Shuangliao, the sound of artillery on the west bank of the Dongliao River could already be heard, and subsequent reconnaissance proved that there were at least three divisions of the Kwantung Army troops less than 20 kilometers away from Shuangliao!"

"And our second brigade is making preparations to attack Shuangliao. There are only two brigades of our blocking troops in the Shuangliao direction. I am afraid that they will not be able to block the attack of the Kwantung Army troops of three divisions. In view of this, I request the division commander,

Mobilize the aviation bomber group to provide air fire support for our unit!"

"Jing Zhanqi has a clear mind! It's rare!" Tang Qiuli sighed and said, "Let's combine the two replies and send them together. In reply to Jing Zhanqi, the division commander agreed to the request of the Western Manchuria Interceptor Corps, and the aviation unit will

You provide all-weather uninterrupted air fire support. In addition, you told Jing Zhanqi in the telegram that you must be mentally prepared to lose half of your troops. The West Manchurian blockade will be a cruel and bloody battle!"

After Chen Feng recorded the order, he hurriedly left. Tang Qiuli was silent for a while and asked: "Director Ge, has the direct-affiliated corps not reached the scheduled attack position yet? If the directly-affiliated corps does not take action, Sun Zhenbang's troops cannot move either!"

Ge Zhenzhuang replied: "Division commander, an hour ago, Chief of Staff Zhao sent a telegram that it will take about two and a half hours for the directly affiliated corps to reach the scheduled attack position. The Outer Mongolia Field Corps has made all preparations. The division

Do you want to send a telegram to urge Chief of Staff Zhao to launch an attack in advance?"

(To be continued)