7.119 Rush across the canal

"Quick! Fast! Run forward! ”

Kang Jinyuan, who was standing on the river beach, kept reminding the officers and soldiers who ran in front of him in a low voice. After the engineering units of the 25th Army www.biquge.info erected the deck of the improvised pontoon bridge, the reinforcements began to cross the river. The officers and men of the brigade rushed from the trenches on the south bank to the river beach and then crossed the pontoon bridge with weapons and ammunition on their shoulders, and in less than 10 minutes, more than half of the officers and men of the 1st Battalion of the 188th Division, which were at the forefront, had already passed. At this rate, it would only take an hour at most, and the three infantry battalions led by Kang Jinyuan would all reach the other side of the canal. Then the improvised pontoon bridge on the riverside will be dismantled by the sappers again, and the thick black brown rope will sink to the bottom.

Kang Jinyuan turned his head to look at the several mortar positions set up by the pontoon bridge, which would immediately return fire if the troops crossing the river were attacked, and the gunners crouching behind the mortars made Kang Jinyuan feel a little relieved.

The river crossing seems to be going very well......

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On the north bank of the canal, Kuwata Sadazo Nakasa, who had received a report from the scouts, rushed to the observation point of the 10th Wing at Zhuangnan, Taierzhuang.

A stone house with a roof torn off by a cannonball collapsed on the edge of the wall, and the observation point was set over the ruins shrouded in the shadow of the wall. Standing here, through the gap in the city wall, you can clearly see the canal outside the south gate, but it is not easy to find. I have to admit that the Japanese scouts of the 10th Wing chose a wonderful position.

Kuwata Sadazo Nakasa raised his binoculars and began to observe the surface of the canal. The clouds in the sky were thick tonight, which had a serious impact on Kuwata's vision, but with the faint starlight, Kuwata Sadanakasa could see clearly the pontoon bridge on the river and the Chinese troops rushing on the pontoon.

With the explanations of several scouts, Kuwata Sadazo Nakasa finally figured out how the pontoon bridge came out of thin air. For the Chinese's whimsical "design", Kuwata Sadazo Nakasa felt very admired!

"Cunning Shina people! How can you come up with such a solution! No wonder the reconnaissance planes have never been able to find a bridge over the river! We were all deceived! ”

The enemy's swearing is the best praise for you, and if Song Lianshan of the 25th Group Army Engineer Regiment can hear this "evaluation" of Kuwata Zhensan, Commander Song will be very happy.

"Immediately inform the artillery of the wing and ask them to move all the mountain artillery and mortars here, these live targets on the river are simply a battle merit for the artillerymen! I'm going to cut off the passage for the Chinese army to reinforce Taierzhuang! ”

In view of the existence of Chinese troops in the south of Taierzhuang, in order to avoid the situation that the heralds were intercepted and killed, Sangtian Zhensan Zhongzuo sent five heralds at one time! He wanted to make sure that the artillery commander could get the order to come with the artillery as soon as possible!

"Asakura Shaosa! Prepare your brigade for an attack, my plan is this, there are artillery in charge of the Chinese army on the pontoon, and the Chinese army that goes ashore will be handed over to your brigade, I hope that none of these Chinese people will enter Taierzhuang alive! ”

After the herald left, Kuwata Sadazo Nakasa began to command his infantry to carry out the operation, and the troops he brought to Nancheng this time were the first brigade led by Asakura Shosa. After several days of bloody fighting, there are less than 600 infantry brigades left, a reduction of more than one-third, but it is already the largest remaining of the three infantry brigades under the 10th Wing.

The 10th Wing had already suffered more than a thousand casualties in the battle to capture Taierzhuang. This corresponds to the loss of the strength of one and a half infantry brigades.

Asakura was lying on his stomach at this moment, and by using a telescope to observe the north bank, Asakura believed that the total number of Chinese troops who had crossed the canal was about three or four hundred.

Asakura Shaosa also noticed a detail, that is, staying on the north bank, these Chinese soldiers were wearing German-style steel helmets. Based on the experience gained from previous battles with the Chinese army, the Wuhan government will only equip the most elite units of the Central Army with such imported steel helmets, which means that the troops crossing the river are the elite of the Central Army.

"Your Excellency, Wing Commander, rest assured! My brigade will definitely be able to drive all these people into the canal! There is no doubt about the outcome of the victory! What I'm worried about now is the efficiency of the artillery! ”

Kuwata Sadazo Nakasa turned his head and gave Asakura a smile of encouragement, and although Kuwata Sadazo Nakasa himself was a little pessimistic about the prospects of this fight, it did not prevent him from continuing to fight. Who wouldn't like a brave subordinate like Asakura Shaosa?

"Mixi! Asakura Shaosa! I look forward to your action! On the artillerymen's side, I'll push them! You don't have to worry! In fact, if it weren't for the complete destruction of this pontoon bridge, I would have given you the authorization to attack a long time ago! After all, the power of Type 92 infantry guns and grenadiers is limited, and you don't want the Chinese army on the north bank to continue to get reinforcements from the south bank after the war, right? ”

Listening to Kuwata Sadazo Nakasa's explanation, Asakura Shaosa couldn't help but pout. In Asakura Shaosa's view, although Taierzhuang is not big, it is still a battlefield after all, and Asakura Shaozo believes that it is impossible for the artillery unit to reach Zhuangnan soon.

The Chinese army crossed the river very quickly, and if the artillery arrived in half an hour, the Chinese army on the north bank could have exceeded a thousand! Then the Asakura brigade would have to pay double the price.

"Your Excellency, as time goes by, there will be more and more Chinese troops passing through the canal! And it's very likely that the people of Shonai will send troops to meet them! If the number of targets exceeds the total strength of my brigade by more than twice the total strength, it will be even more difficult to solve! It's better to take the beach now, and then block the bridge deck with machine-gun fire! In this way, unless the people of China put on their wings, they should not think of coming to the north bank of the canal! ”

Asakura Shaosa's proposal was very tempting, and Kuwata Sadazo Nakasa was immediately moved and had the intention of changing the battle plan.

"Your Excellency, Wing Commander! Make a decision! There are more and more people in China on the North Shore! It is not an easy task to mobilize artillery across the entire Zhuangzi, and perhaps the Chinese army in the Zhuangnai will find out! We don't have to take any chances! ”

Asakura Shaosa saw that Kuwata Sadazo Nakasa's heart was shaking, so he poured another scoop of oil on the fire! After calculating the pros and cons of the two sets of tactics in his heart, Kuwata Sadazo Nakasa decided to choose Asakura Shaosa's tactics!

"Alright! Asakura Shaosa! Let's get started! However, while the infantry is attacking, you should still concentrate your brigade's infantry guns and grenadiers to shoot at the pontoon! Even if you can't blow up the target, it's good to interfere with the rhythm of the people crossing the river! ”

The additional request made by Kuwata Sadazo Nakasa is not a problem at all in the eyes of Asakura Shaosa, even if Kuwata Sadazo Nakasa does not mention it, Asakura Shosa will ask infantry artillery and grenadiers to cover the pontoon bridge! Asakura Shosa hopes to solve the battle in the shortest possible time, so the entire firepower of the 1st Brigade must be used!

"Command! All infantry guns and grenadiers shoot at the pontoon at close range! Set up two machine-gun emplacements above the city walls to suppress the river beach! All on the bayonet! ”

Asakura Shaosa, who had been authorized to attack, was a little excited, and the third brigade hiding behind the city wall immediately adjusted the attack arrangement, and the Type 92 infantry gun placed at the back was dragged up the city wall, and the Type 92 heavy machine gun position was quickly built, and after everything was arranged, Asakura Shaosa ordered the attack!

The Type 92 infantry guns were the first to fire, and the shells whistling out of the breeches set off several water columns on the canal, and the splashes hit the Chinese officers and soldiers on the pontoon.

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"It's shelling! Spread out! Don't get together! ”

After hearing the explosion, Battalion Commander Zhu of the 188th Division immediately ordered the officers and men who had already reached the north bank to disperse. Dense crowds are the favorite targets for artillery, and only dispersed can reduce losses received in shelling.

The officers and soldiers of the 188th Division, who were originally assembled, immediately exploded and scattered on the river beach outside the south gate of Taierzhuang, all the people hugged the weapons in their hands and looked around, they must immediately find the position where the Japanese artillery fired and then launched a counterattack, if the devil artillery is allowed to bombard like this, the troops on the pontoon bridge do not know how many casualties will be killed!

Even more terrible than the casualties was that the pontoon bridge was blown up by Japanese artillery fire! Once this possibility becomes a reality, these hundreds of people standing on the north bank of the canal will become the last reinforcements for the defenders in Taierzhuang!

Do you have to rely on them and the remnants of Chi Fengcheng's men to defend Taierzhuang? Suspend!

"It's broken! Exposed! ”

Kang Jinyuan from the south bank shouted, then rushed behind one of the nearest mortars and asked the shooter:

"What kind of cannon does the devil use? Where is the gun emplacement? ”

The shooter replied loudly: "Camp, the splash from the explosion is small!" It should be small-caliber artillery, mostly grenadiers or infantry guns! The grenadier canisters of the devils are not far away! The gun emplacements should be around the north shore. Wait for them to fire a few more shots and maybe find out! ”

Kang Jinyuan was most worried that the devils had already discovered the existence of the crossing bridge, once the Japanese artillery set to shoot Zhu Yuan, and then use heavy artillery to cover the pontoon bridge, then the only way to enter Taierzhuang would be cut off! If the Chifeng City in the village does not get reinforcements, it will be impossible to survive tomorrow daytime!

"How many more shots? What if the pontoon bridge is blown up? Hurry up and find the devil's gun position, and then carry out a counterattack! Operator! You stay here! Once the location of the Japanese artillery position was obtained, it was reported to the artillery regiment of the general assembly! We need heavy artillery support now! ”

After Kang Jinyuan arranged the task of artillery, he rushed to the mouth of the pontoon bridge with the sand platoon commander, at this time the Japanese artillery fire had become dense, and on the river beach on the north bank, the dense bullets drew a line of fire in the air, which was the infantry of the 188th Division firing at the Japanese machine gun position!

It seems that the situation is even worse than imagined! The Japanese not only shelled the pontoon bridge, but also set up machine-gun positions on the north bank! All this shows that the Japanese army came prepared, and by no means inadvertently discovered the river crossing operation of the 25th Army! Next, it is estimated that the devil's infantry will attack the officers and soldiers of the 188th Division on the river beach! Tonight, Kang Jinyuan's troops are like getting into the pockets prepared by the devils in advance!

"Quick! Faster! Rush over! Rush to the other side! One in the past counts as one! Hurry! ”

Kang Jinyuan did not let the reinforcements stop the river crossing operation, on the contrary, he also asked the troops to speed up the pace! The most important thing at the moment is Taierzhuang! Even if the reinforcements lost half of their men and horses in the Japanese shelling, as long as the remaining half of the troops could enter Taierzhuang, it would be a huge boost to Chifeng City!

Whether Taierzhuang can hold it or not directly affects the overall situation of the entire battle! Reinforcements can't be stopped!

When the officers and soldiers of the last company of the battalion of the 188th Division stepped on the pontoon bridge, it was Kang Jinyuan's turn to be the 1st battalion, as the commander of the 1st battalion, Kang Jinyuan was the first to rush onto the pontoon bridge, and the officers and soldiers of the 1st battalion followed!

The Japanese troops on the north bank were already in full swing at this time, and the grenadiers and Type 92 infantry guns set off huge water columns one after another around the pontoon bridge, and the air waves and the river water falling from the sky made the pontoon bridge shake violently, and Kang Jinyuan was struggling to advance on the bridge deck, and his whole body was soaked. From time to time, he pulled up the soldiers who had fallen on the bridge deck and ordered them to move on.

Some soldiers were forced out of fire by the shelling of the devils, and actually stopped moving forward and stood on the shaking pontoon bridge to raise their guns to shoot back.

"Who told you to shoot back? Such a distance! It's night again! Do you have a rifle in your hand to reach the target? Stop shooting now! Run forward! Or jump into the river! Get out of the way! ”

Kang Jin-won's roar brought the soldiers back to their senses, and they finally realized how stupid their actions were! With such a distance and such a shooting environment, what results can be exchanged for in addition to wasting bullets? It's just adding to the chaos!

After advancing for a distance, Kang Jinyuan saw several soldiers dragging several corpses on the shaking bridge in front of him, and it was an excellent quality to not let go of his fallen comrades, but also where to score!

The devils have already started to strafe the bridge deck with heavy machine guns, and although this kind of ultra-long-range shooting has no accuracy at all, a bullet will kill you if it hits you! Any attempt to block the passage of the bridge deck at the moment is a death! Kang Jin-won will never allow his soldiers to die because of this!

"Push the corpse into the river! Can't clog the bridge deck! Execute the command! ”

This time, Kang Jinyuan's roar did not have any effect, and the soldiers who dragged the corpses of their companions did not even look back, still walking on the shaking bridge, it seems that the corpses they were dragging were their friends before their deaths.

Kang Jinyuan rushed up with several soldiers of the 1st Battalion, and then began to snatch the bodies of the dead soldiers, and the enraged officers and soldiers of the 188th Division raised their guns at Kang Jinyuan!

"Sir! I don't care what you say! You must drag the bones of my countrymen to the shore! I can't let him feed the fish and shrimp! If only someone wouldn't let me do that! Don't blame Lao Tzu for being unkind! ”

The red eyeballs showed that these soldiers had lost their minds, and the officers and soldiers behind Kang Jinyuan just wanted to go up and suppress these soldiers of the 188th Division by force, but they were stopped by Kang Jinyuan with his hand!

Kang Jinyuan raised his right hand and grabbed the muzzle of the opponent's gun and put it on his head, and the officers and soldiers of the 1st Battalion next to him were startled by Kang Jinyuan's actions! This is equivalent to putting your life in the hands of the other party! The soldiers of the 188th Division holding guns only had a finger, and Kang Jinyuan, the commander of the reinforcements, would die!

"The dead are your countrymen! What about the living? Take a good look at the people on the bridge behind you! Is it necessary to have more people buried with you in order for your conscience to be better? Will your fellow countrymen be happy? Shoot the fucking kind! If you don't shoot, you will carry out the order! ”

The arm of the soldier holding the gun trembled, obviously experiencing psychological torment, Kang Jinyuan had no time to wait for the other party to wake up, he directly pushed away the soldier with the gun, picked up the corpse on the ground, walked to the bridge and put it down. While doing this, Kang Jinyuan muttered: "Brothers, I, Kang Jinyuan, can't stand you!" If I could go back to the post-war period, I would definitely come to this canal to keep a wake for you! If I die on the battlefield, I will pay back what I owe you in the next life......"

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"Boom!" "Boom!"

An 82 mm mortar shell fell on the ramparts, followed by the second, the third!

Due to the low altitude of the Type 92 infantry gun and the fact that there was no fire or sound when it was fired, the mortar shooters on the south bank could only vent their anger on the Japanese machine-gun positions. After several Type 92 heavy machine guns on the city wall were suppressed by the artillery fire of the Chinese army, the officers and soldiers of the 188th Division on the river beach on the north bank suddenly relaxed a lot, and Battalion Commander Zhu took the opportunity to lead his officers and soldiers to rush to the south gate of Taierzhuang, and then turned on the radio to call the 31st Division in the village,

As long as they could enter the fortifications of Shonai, the Japanese firepower would not be enough. It is definitely an unwise choice to fight with the Japanese army in the open field when you have no idea what the Japanese army is about! What's more, now that the Japanese army is in the dark, and Battalion Commander Zhu is in the light, this battle will be even more impossible to fight!

"Noko give! Advance! ”

It was at this time that Asakura Shosa's third brigade began to attack the river beach on the north bank! A large number of Japanese troops came out from behind the collapsed city walls, cold bayonets in their hands!

Kang Jinyuan, commander of the 1st Battalion, who had just rushed to the river beach from the pontoon bridge, hurriedly commanded the officers and men who had gone ashore to block the Japanese army, and he knew very well that once the Japanese army seized the mouth of the pontoon bridge on the north bank, it would be a disaster for the officers and soldiers on the pontoon bridge!

He had to block the Japanese troops in front!

Battalion Commander Zhu, who rushed to the south gate, saw that the Japanese army had launched an attack on the pontoon bridge, and the main force of the 1st Battalion had not yet come ashore, so he had to take his officers and men to launch a fierce attack on the Japanese flank, hoping to delay the Japanese offensive!

A large number of Chinese and Japanese soldiers collided together, and then started a fight! At this time, the reinforcements of the 25th Army rushed to the north bank of about 600 officers and soldiers, which was about the same as the total number of Asakura's brigade, as long as the pontoon bridge was not blown up, they would continue to get reinforcements, Kang Jinyuan commanded the soldiers to meet the battle while praying in his heart that the Japanese heavy artillery would not appear, so that his subordinates could come more. (To be continued.) )