In addition, the Japanese army meat bullets that were holding Molotov cocktails or strapped with grenades from time to time and desperately drilling under the tank made Chen Hanzhang almost at a loss. Anti-infantry mines, mortars, and machine-gun fire in fortification groups connected to anti-tank trenches by the Japanese limited the movement of the infantry.

The movement of the infantry was quite restricted, and it was impossible to eliminate the anti-tank mines, which posed the greatest threat to the tanks, and it was impossible to erect and open passages for the tanks to pass through the anti-tank trenches. It is also impossible to provide infantry cover for tanks and remove the threat of Japanese meat bullets and anti-tank artillery during the battle.

Especially those 37 flat-fire guns and rapid-fire guns that were lying in ambush on the other side of the anti-tank trench, waiting for the tank to expose the worst defensive chassis in order to take the opportunity to sneak attack, so these anti-tank guns, along with those crazy meat bullets, still need to be cleaned up by the infantry.

Tanks that could not access the Guò minefield and anti-tank trenches, in turn, could not provide cover for the infantry, and could only provide close fire support for the infantry outside the Japanese minefields and on the other side of the anti-tank trenches. In such a situation, it is not surprising that the speed of the attack of the troops can be faster, especially when the number of infantry to carry out the attack is insufficient, but it is only because there are many objective reasons for the delay in the battle, but it is just as Guo Bingxun judged. For a person with strong self-esteem like Chen Hanzhang, he can't do things like complaining to his superiors. Even on hard bones, he will gnaw a little bit with his teeth.

Fortunately, although the progress was slower, the casualties were also larger, especially the consumption of shells was much higher than expected. But now that the troops have taken the Bayantala line, the Japanese army has smashed a hole in the triangular hard walnut with countless reinforced concrete and trenches.

The most important thing was that the main force of the 18th Division, which had caught up after two days of rest, had recovered its vitality. It also took over the main force of the 3rd Division, which was transferred to the direction of Kailu, and replaced the 8th Regiment of the 3rd Division, which had suffered heavy losses in the battle of Bayantara, and had already forced its way across the Xiliao River under the cover of artillery. The motorized infantry regiment of the armored brigade has been coordinated by two tank battalions and cut off the road link between Kailu and Tongliao.

The cavalry brigade, on the other hand, took advantage of its small logistical dependence and flexible mobility to bypass the fortified area of the Japanese army in Tongliao. After capturing Shuangliao, it entered the Horqin Sandy Land south of Shuangliao and cut off the Datong railway line. As long as Kailu, which is close to the Alu Korqin Banner, is taken, the entire Tongliao battlefield will be completely connected with the Linxi battlefield.

Although the goal is already close at hand, it is still unknown to Chen Hanzhang when it will be finally completed. The capture of the Bayantala line was nothing more than a breakthrough of the entire Japanese army located on both sides of the West Liao River, from Kailu in the west to the confluence of the West Liao River and the East Liao River in the east.

When can he really take Kailu and form a pincer offensive with Wang Guangyu's department in Linxi, or go straight to the east to Changtu and Kangping, for him to truly achieve the strategic goal. As for the moment, in Chen Hanzhang's view, it is only the first step of completing the entire strategic intent.

Putting down the telegram in his hand, Chen Hanzhang's face looked quite solemn. He knew the telegram sent by Wang Guangyu before. But I didn't expect the progress on his side to be so great. Compared to now, my progress is too slow. This is not a matter of competitiveness, and it is a key issue related to the entire situation in the West Manchurian war.

Chen Hanzhang walked to the observation port, raised his binoculars to look at the troops of the 18th Division who were forcibly crossing the Xiliao River, and was silent for a long time to Liu Yanlai, chief of staff of the armored corps, and Wang Jun, commander of the 18th Division: "Your 18th Division must speed up its actions, and the two regiments must all cross the Xiliao River before midnight tonight, and they will be equipped with the 4th Armored Battalion, a company of armored brigade armor, and an armored car platoon to seize Shuangbaozi and Kongjiawobao in the northwest of Tongliao, and form a pincer offensive against Tongliao County." ”

"Order the second battalion of the armored brigade, the second teaching company, plus the motorized infantry regiment of the armored brigade, two companies of the brigade's self-propelled artillery battalion, and one one-two-two rocket artillery company. Concentrate troops to seize the front line of Zhanggutai, Sankeshu, and Guanyinhao, and cut off the connection between Tongliao and Kailu. ”

"Whether the Japanese army in Tongliao is considering Kailu, or the Japanese army in Kailu is moving closer to Tongliao, they will nail me there like a nail. At the same time, with two infantry battalions and a tank company, along the road from Tongliao to Kailu, in cooperation with the Kailu frontal attack force, launched an attack in the direction of Kailu County. ”

"Order the 7th Regiment of the 3rd Division, a reinforced battalion of the 8th Regiment downsized, together with a tank company of the 1st Battalion and 3rd Battalion of the Armored Brigade to turn around and attack in the direction of Kailu. Be sure to cut off the connection between Kailu and Naiman Banner tomorrow morning. And concentrate troops to form an encirclement posture for Kailu County. All units should concentrate their sappers on clearing anti-tank mines, opening up anti-tank trenches and opening up passages, so as to create conditions for the movement of tank troops. ”

"I don't care if they concentrate artillery bombardment or adopt the method of continuous blasting by sappers, those hateful earthen walls in front of the Japanese anti-tank trenches must be cleared for me. Otherwise, these earthen walls and the Japanese anti-tank fire hiding on the opposite side would be too much of a threat to the armored forces. ”

"Ordered the cavalry brigade to leave part of the troops to guard the rear, and the main force immediately went north to cooperate with the 18th Division's attack on the Tongliao line. The 9th Regiment of the 3rd Division of Shuangliao was ordered to strengthen a battalion of the 52nd Regiment of the 18th Division, a company of the 3rd Armored Battalion, a mountain artillery company of the 18th Division Artillery Regiment, a 100-mm howitzer company, and a 107th rocket artillery company. Immediately seize the time to repair the fortifications and prepare to block the Japanese reinforcements east of Shuangliao. ”

"Tell the commander and political commissar of the Ninth Regiment that if there are Japanese reinforcements in the area east of Shuangliao, they will stop it at any cost. Even if their entire regiment was exhausted, they would not be able to let the Japanese reinforcements enter the territory of Tongliao. Sue them at any cost, no matter how many Japanese reinforcements come, they must hold on to me. Even if a division comes, they must not take half a step back. ”

"All departments must arrive at their designated locations by 7 a.m. tomorrow. At 10 o'clock in the morning, a general attack was launched on Tongliao and Kailu at the same time. All units should control the rhythm of their own troops' attacks, and should not come up and be hot-headed, but will only attack and rush regardless of it. ”

"We must tell the troops not to fight with the Japanese army one by one, let alone fight in a straight line. The little devils have built such a dense group of fortifications in this triangle, if we gnaw hard one by one, even if it freezes, it may not be able to hit the edge of the county seat. ”

"In the course of the attack, all units must dare to ignore the threat of the enemy forces in the rear, abandon the enemy forces on both flanks, concentrate the main forces, and go straight to the two county towns. Our infantry firepower is definitely superior to that of the Japanese. There are tanks in all sides to cooperate with the operation, and the Japanese army wants to cut off the retreat of our army, how can it be so easy. If the Japanese really got out of their rat holes, it would save us a lot of money. ”

"When attacking and fighting, we should learn the lessons of the previous period. Each unit should send recoilless guns, bazookas and 12-mm anti-aircraft machine guns to each company, and ensure that each platoon has a recoilless gun or bazooka and a fire support group composed of anti-aircraft machine guns. The regiment was reinforced with 14-mm machine guns to the company, and each infantry company was to ensure at least one one. It was really insufficient, and the 23-mm anti-aircraft guns of the division's anti-aircraft artillery battalion were also strengthened to the infantry company. ”

"The tactics of four groups and one team that we usually train don't necessarily have to be used in urban fortifications. In such a situation where the density of Japanese fortifications is so large, isn't it the same as it can be used? What's the matter, if you encounter this situation, you won't fight? ”

"In addition to the Japanese army, many reasons for the slow pace of the offensive were that our own tactics were too rigid. Don't keep looking for objective reasons, let alone put all the blame on the heads of the Japanese army. If we don't make good progress, we must first find ourselves. ”

"Didn't you fight very well when you broke through the banks of the Songhua River? Isn't it a tacit understanding that the multi-arms are cooperating? All kinds of tactics are in place. How come it is that on the battlefields of Tongliao and Kailu, the battlefield conditions are much better, why can't they be used tactically? And armored brigades, there will be no war with more anti-tank trenches? Where are you left behind in your usual training? ”

"The self-propelled artillery battalions, self-propelled anti-aircraft artillery battalions, as well as mechanized infantry regiments and engineer battalions to which they are attached, will they fight field battles with the Japanese army? Who told them that the anti-aircraft artillery battalion could only defend against the air? In order not to take advantage of the long range and strong penetration of anti-aircraft guns, to carry out fire strikes on Japanese fortifications at long distances? ”

"Haven't you already practiced many times how to fight a tough battle and how to break through? When they arrived in Tongliao, they were trapped by several anti-tank trenches and anti-tank mines? Or did you only learn how to strike in groups, and how to cooperate with the tactics of the infantry was left behind? Isn't this a big joke? ”

"We can't afford to delay any longer, and we don't have time to grind down with the Japanese army like this. If the delay is too long, it will affect the implementation of the entire operational plan of the headquarters. You have all seen the contents of this telegram from the third place. This is a disguised warning that we have to speed up. ”

"There is no way, at this time we can only adopt the tactic of forcibly interspersing and penetrating straight into the heart of the enemy. Defeat two county towns, dismantle the enemy's chain of command, cut off their supply sources, and then turn around and clear the remnants of the enemy army behind you. It's a bit risky, but we're going to be able to finish the fight as quickly as possible. ”

After thinking about it, Chen Hanzhang said to Liu Yanlai: "You can find a way to transfer a batch of flamethrowers to the main attack force, and strive to equip each main attack group with as many units as possible." Against these Japanese soldiers who love to drill dog holes, that thing is the best. Since they have built that kennel thicker than the city walls, let's burn them out. ”

Hearing that Chen Hanzhang was going to mobilize a batch of flamethrowers, Liu Yanlai frowned: "Commander, according to the weaponry of our troops, the number of flamethrowers is relatively small. Even for an old unit like the Third Division, one division is equipped with twelve flamethrowers for a chemical defense company. The Eighteenth Division, which was still formed later, was even fewer in number, and was only equipped with six flamethrowers in total. ”

"Of the twelve flamethrowers of the third division, five of them remained in the rear and did not carry them. At this number, even if you count the heavy flamethrowers that are not very suitable for infantry use, the four main assault regiments can only be divided into three on average. The most critical is the thickened gasoline used in the flamethrowers, and we don't have enough of it on hand to ensure that four of them are fully used. ”

"It's okay to say that there were also Japanese fortifications outside the city, but now it is found that they have also built a large number of fortifications from villages and market towns. These fortifications were connected to the houses of the villages and market towns, and we did not even dare to use artillery. If this is sprayed with a flamethrower, the people in it will be finished. There are also two county towns of Kailu and Tongliao, where not all devils are there. ”