noffsinger Chapter 260: Laiyuan Battle 1
Chapter 260: Laiyuan Battle 1
Given the Japanese's revengeful mentality, there must be a reason why they were so tolerant of Gu Changfeng.
First, Duanmu Chengzi's intelligence network was investigated for several months and then reported to the Mei Agency headquarters for confirmation.
Finally, we got the specific data of Gu Changfeng's unit, and the truth was revealed.
After getting the information, Shibuya Takashi finally knew why he was defeated. It turned out that this army had caused serious losses to the Imperial Division long before the Battle of Nanjing.
After much deliberation, Shibuya Takaharu finally decided to ask for help and sent secret spies into Gaojia Town to closely monitor the movements of this army.
Therefore, it is not that Shibuya Takaharu does not want to take action in advance, but that he dares not to, and it takes time to mobilize troops.
On the afternoon of September 16, the operation was ready.
The team first met at Gaojia Town and then marched towards Laiyuan City.
The next day, the other two groups left the team and headed towards the target point.
Gu Changfeng led the fifth and sixth battalions, the special forces and the artillery company from the front. The ten military vehicles came into play at this time, as a large number of artillery shells and bullets were placed on the vehicles.
This was his first large-scale operation, so he felt a little nervous.
Zhao Ziqing might have noticed something was wrong with Gu Changfeng, and couldn't help but ask, "Changfeng, what are you worried about?"
Gu Changfeng shook his head, thought for a moment and said:
"The devils in Lingqiu City are so strange. They knew we were in Gaojia Town, but they didn't make any move. They didn't even support Laiyuan City. This doesn't make sense."
Considering the population base of Gaojia Town, it is normal for the Japanese to infiltrate a few people.
What's more, they were a large-scale operation involving several thousand people, so it was impossible for them not to know that they were attacking Laiyuan.
Zhao Ziqing smiled and said, "With our strength, even if the Japanese mobilize a division, we will still be able to fight."
"What can Lingqiu's half-crippled brigade do? They should be praying that we don't go."
Gu Changfeng twitched his lips and said with a wry smile: "I'm not afraid of this, but I'm mainly worried about the Japanese attacking Gaojia Town."
Now that Gaojia Town is his base camp, he must not give the Japanese any opportunity, otherwise it will be really troublesome.
He had just thought of this question. What if?
Zhao Ziqing agreed with this and said after thinking for a while:
"Since we have heavy artillery here, it doesn't matter whether the special forces go or not. Why don't we sneak back to Gaojia Town to defend it later?"
"Well," Gu Changfeng nodded slightly and said, "Let's arrange it this way. You will go back secretly later and guard the forest and the entrance."
"I'm afraid the Japanese won't take the usual route. If a large Japanese force breaks into Gaojia Town, we'll be in trouble."
Zhao Ziqing said directly: "I will keep an eye on them. With the special forces here, even if the Japanese attack Gaojia Town, we can delay them until you can come to support them."
After the two of them finished their discussion, Gu Changfeng felt relieved.
Half an hour later, the special forces team broke away from the team and disappeared into the mountains and forests.
Everyone was used to the special forces' elusive appearances and continued on their journey as usual.
At night, Laiyuan City.
Wu Xinchun sat in the command center looking at the telegram in his hand, then put the note in the fire.
They have always been cautious about the secret telegrams from the Mei Agency and will not keep any of them after reading them.
"Kawabe-kun, the Chinese are coming, get your troops ready!"
At this time, their military strength in Laiyuan, plus more than 5000 military police, was about people.
In addition to the brigade destroyed by Gu Changfeng, the Eighth Route Army has not been idle recently, and has been looking for trouble to sweep away small groups of Japanese devils in various villages.
After fighting for several months, the Japanese collected a lot of food, so their troops were naturally not as many as before.
Hebian Sanshilang looked a little nervous. Both of them only found out today that the Chinese in Gaojia Town would attack Laiyuan.
Based on the information they received, Laiyuan City’s military strength was simply unable to withstand the attack.
"Kawabe-kun, the division has sent a brigade to support us, and there will be a flying squadron tomorrow, so don't worry too much."
Wu Xinchun was in a pretty good mood at this time. Since he knew the arrangements made by the brigade commander, he finally put his mind at ease.
"Your Excellency, the commander of the regiment, I am mainly worried that the brigade will not be able to provide sufficient support," Hebian couldn't help but speak.
Wu Xinchun stood up, walked to the staff officer by the river, and said seriously.
"The warriors of the empire fear no life or death, and do everything for the holy war."
"Since this unit has become a major threat to the division, it must be eliminated."
"Hebian-kun, you also graduated from the Imperial Army School, you should know what to do."
Wu Xinjunyi's words made Hebian feel ashamed. He immediately bowed deeply and shouted loudly: "Everything is for His Majesty the Emperor!"
Wu Xinchun's only task was to defend the city gate and wait for the next instruction.
As his order was issued, Laiyuan City was crowded with people, and more than 2000 puppet troops were mobilized and assigned to garrison the city walls.
The four battalions guarded the four city gates respectively. The hundreds of gendarmes were of little use. They were responsible for guarding the city, and their main responsibility was to protect the safety of the brigade headquarters.
At the North Gate,
The puppet army commander bowed and scraped to the devils, looking servile and fawning.
The puppet soldiers were used to it. They all had similar moral character, so no one should look down on anyone else. Those who were not afraid of death would not serve as dogs for the devils.
The puppet army commander was listening to the devil's instructions, while the puppet soldiers began to exchange information in a low voice.
"Have you heard? Troops will come to attack the city in the early morning."
"Liu Da, who told you that?"
"Translator Zhang said, didn't you see that the imperial army has already started to move and even pulled us out of the camp?"
The puppet soldiers nearby nodded in unison, and then someone asked.
"Do you know who it is? Why is the Imperial Army making such a big move? Could it be those Tubalu?"
"Tubalu? What are you thinking? How dare they come to attack the city?" Liu Da said with contempt.
"Who is that?"
"I heard that it was the army that wiped out a battalion of the Imperial Army before." Liu Da lowered his voice a few degrees.
The puppet soldier next to him suddenly realized what was going on and was about to say something when the puppet army commander Qin Pinghai came over.
Seeing a group of people gathered together talking, he immediately said angrily: "What are you doing together? Don't you have to work?"
When the puppet soldiers saw the expression on the commander's face, they knew that he had suffered a lot from the Japanese, so they dispersed tactfully.
At five o'clock in the morning, after more than thirty hours of marching, Gu Changfeng arrived five kilometers north of Laiyuan on time.
He took out his binoculars and looked towards the dark Laiyuan. He couldn't help but shake his head and said, "The Japs are indeed well prepared."
Normally, guards would be visible on the Japs' walls, and searchlights would be indispensable.
But the current situation was that he saw no light at all in that direction, and it was obvious that the Japanese knew he was coming to attack the city.
But he didn't care. It was difficult to hide the movement of a large force from the Japanese.
"Report to Commander Gu, there is news from the Eighth Route Army that they have arrived at the designated location."
The signalman came forward and reported.
Gu Changfeng smiled and said, "They're not slow either. Ask the others if they've arrived. We'll launch the attack at 5:30 sharp."
"Yes," the signalman agreed and turned around to contact the other two groups.
Gu Changfeng immediately found Lu Daya and told him:
"It seems the Japs are well prepared. Let's bombard the city gates and see if we can capture Laiyuan City as soon as possible."
Lu Daya glanced at the direction of the city gate and said, "I'll have the artillerymen hit as many targets as possible to quickly open a gap."
As one of the main roads from North China to the Central Plains, Laiyuan’s importance is self-evident.
The city gate was naturally very solid, and Lu Daya could not guarantee that a few artillery shells could blow open the city wall. That was unrealistic.
"It's okay. We don't fight this kind of siege battle very often, so it's good to gain experience."
Gu Changfeng was also aware of this. Originally, it would have been the best option for the special forces to sneak into the city, but he was worried about the rear, so he sent them back.
"I will leave a company of soldiers behind later, so please be careful."
Gu Changfeng said this and led the team to continue walking towards the city gate. He had to wait until the city wall collapsed and then directly raid into the city.