Age of Conquest Reborn

Chapter 498: Taking risks

The mountain defense line defended by Wan Fulin's 7th Brigade was violently attacked by the superior force of the Japanese army. The defenders suffered excessive casualties. The first line of defense was broken through by the Japanese army. Wan Fulin's troops were forced to retreat to the second line of defense. They struggled

support.

The critical situation in the Dashan defense line directly threatened the success or failure of the entire Texas campaign. If the troops defending in a dotted line were to break through from one point and open a gap, then the entire defense line would very likely collapse. Liu Tiehan's

Due to limited strength, the East Point troops did not have a deep defense system. It was like an egg shell. When a hole was cracked, the yolk and white all flowed out.

Facing the critical situation in the mountains, Liu Tiehan had no troops to support him. Wan Fulin's 7th Brigade could not support it for long before the Japanese troops would swarm over like sharks smelling blood.

Liu Tiehan could only take a chance. His plan was based on the original Korean Fuju Air Force at Jinan Airport. The specific point was that the 7th Brigade would withdraw from the defensive position after holding the second line of defense for five hours.

Let the Japanese troops in,

Then, all the fighter planes of the Air Force carried out coverage bombings on the Japanese troops. Feng Kai of the 9th East Point Brigade and Chen Guozhu of the 10th Brigade who arrived later, together with Wan Fulin of the 7th Brigade, launched a counterattack against the Japanese troops wedged in the defense line.

Surround them and annihilate them on the spot.

This is a bold and risky plan. If the air force cannot reach the combat area on time, if Wan Fulin's 7th brigade cannot support for five hours, if Feng Kai's 9th brigade and Chen Guozhu's 10th brigade cannot arrive at the rendezvous point on time,

, as long as any situation occurs, the Texas defense line will be breached.

Therefore, when Liu Tiehan's plan was proposed, Zhao Yuhe did not speak for a long time. He also knew that the commander-in-chief's plan was the only way to solve the crisis in the direction of the mountain. However, all the conditions were based on

On a necessary basis, the risk is too great.

Without too much time to hesitate, Wan Fulin's second line of defense was under fierce attack by the Japanese army, and the Japanese army pressed forward across the entire line. The battlefield was filled with cannons and killing sounds, and all the brigades in the East Point were locked in a bitter battle.

Liu Tiehan picked up the phone and spoke directly to Xu Anbang, captain of the Air Force. He only asked one question: within a fixed range of about five kilometers wide and eight kilometers long, could all the aircraft of the Air Force be fully loaded with ammunition?

In this area, Liu Tiehan's tone was extremely serious, and Xu Anbang felt nervous.

After all, this was the first time he received a combat mission assigned by a new commander. After discussing with several squadron leaders for a while, he assured Liu Tiehan that it could be completely covered. If there was no Japanese aircraft attack, a second bombing could even be carried out. This would be enough.

Now, what Liu Tiehan wanted was this sentence. He told Xu Anbang with certainty that there would not be a Japanese aircraft in the sky in North China. Xu Anbang clearly felt relaxed.

Xu Anbang knew the hard truth. With the various types of aircraft he had cobbled together, he would only be a living target when encountering Japanese fighter jets. Since the commander-in-chief was so sure, the rest of the work would be easier to do.

During the discussion between Xu Anbang and the others, Liu Tiehan never put down the phone. He was worried that if this method did not work, he would have to retreat across the board and establish a new line of defense on the south bank of the Yellow River. As for whether he could successfully escape the pursuit of the Japanese army.

, had enough time to establish a firm foothold. To be honest, he had no confidence at all. The only thing he could count on was the troops of the four brigades that were rushing in.

He ordered Xu Anbang's aviation team to take all the things that could fly into the sky. Five hours later, they must rush to the direction of the mountain. He would establish ground-to-air contact and instruct the planes to bomb the target area. In a word, everything that could explode would be destroyed.

Throwing it on the Japanese's heads, the key point is to maximize the bombing effect.

He also ordered the 9th and 10th brigades to rush to the mountainous areas within five hours. Those who had delayed the fighter planes should come forward to see them. Feng Kaihe and Chen Guozhu, who received the order, showed embarrassment and they were eager to jump in immediately.

During the battle, the troops have already left Jinan, but if they forcefully march from Jinan to Dashan, it will take a day and a half of the night. Now, the commander-in-chief requires three hours to arrive, which is simply impossible.

Liu Tiehan knew what they meant and came up with an idea. He immediately requisitioned civilian vehicles in and around Jinan City. The troops of the two brigades were converted to mechanized marches. They could arrive within five hours.

People were in high spirits at that time. Please rest assured, Commander-in-Chief, and promise to arrive at the designated area on time within five hours. Everything has been arranged and everything that needs to be done has been done. The only thing left is to wait for the results.

Dashan, the second line of defense of Wan Fulin's 7th Brigade defensive position, has a front that is more than ten kilometers wide, and is under continuous artillery fire. The Japanese army launches non-stop attacks in units of regiments. On several occasions, the Japanese army has already invaded the position and was captured by the second

The soldiers of the 7th Brigade fought out with red eyes. The front of the position was covered with Japanese corpses. In the trenches, the remains of fallen soldiers could be seen everywhere.

The 7th Brigade had reached the point where it was running out of gas. Liu Tiehan's judgment was absolutely correct. The gap in the mountain defense line was like a wound in the entire Texas defense line. The Japanese army smelled the smell of blood and kept adding troops in this direction, fighting five times.

God, it was so difficult to drill a hole in this iron plate. How could we not try our best to expand the hole? The Japanese commander also threw the reserve team of the last division into the direction of the mountain.

After five days of bloody fighting, more than 20,000 Japs were killed. He also suffered more than 6,000 casualties, nearly one-half. However, the number of Japs was not small. They fought back a group. Before they could take a breath, the Japs launched a new attack.

Fortunately, during training in Shaanxi, they changed

Equipped with a large number of Somi submachine guns, they played an incomparable role in close combat and ensured the firepower advantage. More than half of the Japanese were killed within a hundred meters in front of the trench. Otherwise, I really don’t know the outcome.

What is it like?

There was another fierce shelling. The second line of defense of the 7th Brigade had been overturned several times by the Japanese artillery fire. The anti-gun holes built before the war tried their best to preserve the safety of the troops. Standing in the command post,

Wan Fulin, who was concentrating on observing the battlefield situation, withdrew his gaze, coughed a few times, exhaled the choking smoke in his lungs, and sat on the ground tiredly.

He had not slept for several days. His eyes were bloodshot and he had a long stubble. His Major General uniform was covered with dust. There were several bullet holes and clothes cut by shrapnel, revealing his shirt that had turned gray and the bandages on his body.

It has turned into an earthy gray color, and blood has solidified on it.

This was the fiercest battle that Wan Fulin had fought in his life. Facing the remains of his men, his heart was numb. There were too many comrades who fell beside him. Familiar faces appeared with each shell.

A bullet disappeared in front of his eyes, and there was only deep hatred for the little devil in his heart.

Wan Fulin was not afraid of death. He was only worried about his own defense line. He looked like the sun was frozen in the sky. He wished he could kick the sun down the mountain. After dark, the Japs would no longer attack, and he and the soldiers could take a breather.

, the commander-in-chief did not approve his plan to organize a death squad to counterattack at night to recapture the first line of defense.

Instead, he ordered himself. After holding on for another five hours, the entire brigade retreated ten kilometers. The general headquarters had new combat deployments. He didn't understand. Didn't he have to give up his position? Only his own area of ​​the entire defense line was lost.

If the position is not recaptured, how can the 7th Brigade raise its head in front of other fraternal troops?

Does the commander-in-chief think that the 7th Brigade is no longer able to hold the mountain defense line and wants other troops to take over his defense area? Wan Fulin analyzed Liu Tiehan's order more than once and felt extremely uncomfortable. He didn't need anything else, as long as he gave it more

With the strength of his two regiments, the little devil can't even think about taking another step forward, and can even regain the lost position.

However, despite his several calls for reinforcements, the commander-in-chief did not send any reinforcements. Perhaps, there was fierce fighting on all fronts, and the commander-in-chief really had no troops to send. He was anxious and angry, cursing the little devil, and was commanding.

The troops were circling back and forth, and the Japanese shelling stopped.

Wan Fulin threw away all thoughts, grabbed the submachine gun, and rushed out of the headquarters like a gust of wind. The guards quickly put on the helmets of the brigade commander. The little devils were about to charge again. These guys looking for death were screaming with their heads on their heads.

The flying bullets went directly to the forward position. Fortunately, after a few days, the soldiers had almost figured out the tricks of the Japs.

As soon as the Japanese bombardment stopped, knowing that the Japs were about to charge again, the soldiers rushed out of the shelters and bomb-proof holes. They seized the time and hastily repaired the fortifications that had been changed by the bombing. They clenched their guns and stared at

In the open space ahead, the figures of Japanese soldiers appeared on the horizon like ghosts.

This time, the Japanese attack was more ferocious than any other time. They were finally repulsed, and hundreds of soldiers were killed. Looking at the time, it was already the five hours required by the commander-in-chief. Wan Fulin issued a retreat order. He finally

After taking a look at the defense line soaked in the blood of his comrades, he saw how many soldiers had fallen here and just gave up. His heart was full of unwillingness and was in severe pain like tearing.

Not long after the 7th Brigade withdrew, the Japanese army launched another fierce attack. After the shelling, groups of Japanese soldiers rushed up howling. Without the intensive bullets, the Chinese defenders' positions were deserted. For several days,

, the Japanese troops who suffered so much in the mountains and suffered heavy casualties could hardly believe their eyes. Those Chinese soldiers who dared to fight the tanks were defeated like this?

There were cheers on the position, and the blood-red military flags were raised. Knowing that the mountain defense line had finally been broken through, the Japanese commander was overjoyed and ordered the troops in this direction to rush forward quickly along the gap. The attacking troops continued to expand their results and

Tear the breach wide and hold on to the breach to provide flank cover for the following troops.

The Japanese commander had to deal with the squadron that had made him suffer so much, and attacked him from both front and back. In order to increase the assault force and complete the plan, all the troops who were resting and recuperating also joined the attack. A large number of Japanese follow-up troops

, like a turbid wave, rushing in along this gap.

(To be continued)