noffsinger Chapter 815 Airborne Landing in Hengyang
Chapter 815 Airborne Landing in Hengyang
When Fang Xianjue heard this, his brows frowned, and the guards around him immediately drew their guns and pointed them at the soldier.
"Who are you? Are you here to persuade us to surrender?"
"What do you mean by persuading you to surrender? I want you to lay down your weapons and leave marks on the ground. Our independent column will soon drop troops here and fight alongside you!"
Fang Xianjue showed a surprised expression. Although the main urban area of Hengyang was in their hands now, the location was relatively small, and airborne landing was very difficult.
"What? Airborne?"
"Yes, our main force is trying its best to advance southwards, but because there is some resistance along the way, and the remaining two divisions of the Japanese plus a brigade, as well as the local garrison troops are ready to resist step by step, the speed will not be too fast.
In order to help you defend Hengyang City, we can only take the risk of establishing an airdrop area in the city, assembling at least one regiment of troops, and defending until the arrival of the large force!
Weather conditions are good tonight, with calm winds, suitable for airdrops."
Fang Xianjue nodded. It was true that airdrop was the only solution at the moment. Apart from that, there was no other solution.
"You can just send a telegram about this, why do you have to arrange it in person?"
"Because this matter is of great importance, if we use the radio, we should take pictures of the Japanese interception and prepare in advance."
"Okay, I'll leave my guards to you!"
Fang Xianqie waved his hand and handed over his guard to the soldier's command.
"Haha, your safety is more important now. So, please lend us your adjutant so that we can move around the city more easily. In addition, our small troop will also enter the city. Please let them pass!"
"No problem. I'll leave my adjutant to you. Feel free to ask him for anything you want. As long as it's beneficial to defending the city, I'll agree to everything!"
"Thank you. Also, please keep this secret, Commander Fang. Except for the officers and soldiers in Hengyang City, it cannot be spread outside, including Chongqing! There are more spies there than here!"
After saying that, he and his adjutant led the Liangshan Commando into the city, lit bonfires around the actual control line of the 10th Army, and connected them into a line, which was the area where they could parachute.
At one o'clock in the morning, the sound of planes roared over Hengyang. The Japanese soldiers looked up and saw newspapers scattered all over the ground by the wind.
"Damn it! It's the enemy's newspapers again. Is their commander crazy? Why is he airdropping newspapers instead of canned food? Can you eat this?"
"Hahaha, maybe they are afraid that the canned food will get into our mouths? Go to sleep!"
About half an hour later, there were bursts of roaring sounds of planes again. This time the Japanese soldiers didn't even raise their heads, because they didn't have to think about what the planes in the sky were dropping.
It's nothing but a newspaper, it has no deterrent effect. Instead of staring at the dark sky, it's better to have a good sleep!
However, they did not notice that the roar of the plane was more persistent this time.
A sky full of white umbrellas floated over Hengyang, and then fell one by one into the city.
At three o'clock in the morning, the 202st Regiment of the nd Airborne Brigade gathered in the city. Monk Wei quickly walked up to Fang Xianjue, who had been waiting for a long time, and saluted.
"Wei Dayong, commander of the 201st Airborne Brigade of the Independent Column, has been ordered to lead a regiment to support Hengyang. Thank you, Commander Fang, for your hard work!"
Fang Xianjue quickly returned the salute. Although he was nominally the head of the previous army, it was a question whether the 10th Army could defeat an airborne brigade even in its heyday. What's more, there were only remnants now and they were short of ammunition. What reason did he have to be proud of?
"Commander Wei, I've finally got you here. I'll listen to you on how to fight this battle!"
"Okay, then I won't be polite! The enemy's attacks in the north, south and west are the most fierce, leave them to us, and I'll trouble Commander Fang to lead the brothers of the Central Army to defend the east!"
Fang Xianjue seemed not to understand Monk Wei's plan, and asked in surprise:
"Commander Wei, are you wrong? You have to defend three sides with one regiment? The weapons and equipment of my 10th Army are not as good as your independent column, but we still have soldiers. Are you just defending the east side?"
There was a hint of dissatisfaction in Fang Xianjue's tone, as if he was being looked down upon.
"Haha, Commander Fang has been defending Hengyang for many days, and the officers and soldiers are tired. How about this, you defend the east, and if there are surplus troops, rest first and use them as a reserve force. In case we can't hold on, you can send the reserve force to support us, how do you think?"
Although Fang Xianjue was unhappy, he had no choice but to accept it. He had just said that he would follow his orders. Could he go back on his word now?
"Okay, if any of us fails to hold on, I will come uninvited. I hope you will forgive me then, Commander Wei!"
"Okay, this time we brought some of your ammunition and compressed biscuits, which have been handed over to your people. Please distribute them as soon as possible and replenish them as soon as possible.
If possible, we will push forward today and establish a larger airdrop area to ensure that more supplies and personnel can be airdropped in!"
After Monk Wei finished speaking, he led his troops to the positions in the north, west and south, and ordered the artillery battalion to set up positions in the middle of Hengyang City.
Since the 107mm rocket launcher was equipped, all the artillery battalions of the 201st Regiment of his st Airborne Brigade have been replaced with rocket launchers. This thing is light in weight and has strong firepower. It is a weapon specially customized for airborne troops.
The battalion had thirty 107mm rocket launchers and more than a thousand air-dropped rockets, enough for three salvos.
At dawn, Wei Heshang's troops had built defensive fortifications and were waiting for the Japanese to arrive.
And in the streets and alleys of Chongqing, the voice of Pingshun Radio was heard again.
“Our station reports that yesterday the Independent Column accepted the order of the Military Commission and the request of people from all walks of life represented by Mr. Li Zongren to go south to fight the war.
We captured Xinyang yesterday and are continuing to advance southward. We will soon cross the Yangtze River, recapture Changsha, and relieve Hengyang.
I hope all citizens will continue to support the war of resistance and use all the strength of the country to fight the Japanese invaders to the end! "
Cheers broke out again on the streets of Chongqing. Compared with the previous sniper attack on a senior Japanese officer, this was a real attack and had achieved actual results.
However, some people with ulterior motives in the crowd began to spread rumors, saying that the Independent Column did not directly support Hengyang and Changsha, but attacked Hankou, Yichang, Jiujiang and other places. The anti-Japanese war was fake and the grabbing of territory was real.
Although this statement was totally untenable from a military point of view, some people ignored it, began to waver, and started to criticize the Independent Column.
What's worse, they even went to the door of the Independent Column's Chongqing Office and hung banners to express their protest.
Li Muzhi originally thought that those people holding banners were spies and was ready to laugh it off, but he never expected that there were some progressive young people among them.
At this moment he realized what it meant to be simple-minded and to have a patriotic heart without any support.