I am helping

As we all know, there are three powerful generals in the Shandong Provincial Military Region: Liang Daya, Zhang Fengzi, and Mao Houzi.

These three generals were all veteran revolutionaries. They joined the Red Army in their early years, experienced the 25,000-mile Long March, and then reorganized into the Eighth Route Army to fight the Japanese invaders.

The 16th Heavy Armored Combined Battalion of the New st Regiment, which led the rotation battle this time, was Liang Daya's unit.

Since the new 1st regiment needs to be reorganized, it is urgently in need of deputy regimental-level cadres.

This places very high demands on the deputy regimental-level cadres of the new regiment.

He must have strong tactical command capabilities, rich experience in leading troops, a tough style, and be a regimental-level cadre capable of leading a division.

Therefore, the headquarters considered allocating capable generals from various divisions and military regions to the New 1st Regiment. Liang Daya, a tiger general of the Shandong Provincial Military Region, appeared on the list.

At the very beginning, Deputy Commander Liang refused to be the deputy commander of the New 1st Regiment.

Because Deputy Commander Liang had just been transferred from the post of commander of the New Fourth Army Independent Brigade to the Shandong Provincial Military Region to serve as the commander of the 13th Regiment.

Being demoted from a brigade commander to a regiment commander is already a demotion. To be demoted to a deputy regiment commander, isn't that a demotion of two levels in a row?

However, the expansion of the troops brought many new problems.

After the troops were reorganized, Deputy Commander Liang finally felt what surprise meant and what it meant to be really good.

Because the business in the North China Campaign earned a large number of wheeled armored vehicles, each heavy combined battalion added a new armored battalion on the basis of 8 battalions.

"How is the army preparing?"

There is also 1 tank battalion, 1 heavy artillery battalion, 1 air defense battalion, 1 transportation support battalion, 1 reconnaissance battalion, and 1 combat support battalion.

This is the rise of light and the rise of darkness.

Deputy Head Liang said loudly with a confident tone: "Then I, Liang Daya, will reserve one of the Five Tiger Generals first!"

Of course, the equipment of the newly formed combined battalion was what really made Deputy Commander Liang feel what surprise and excitement were.

After saying this, the Chief of Staff looked at his watch again and said:

Each heavy-armored combined battalion of the new regiment has an experienced political commissar and chief of staff, as well as some young combat staff.

Facing Xing Zhiguo's gaze, Deputy Head Liang straightened his body and looked sharp:
"But now I am the Tiger General of the New Regiment!"

In addition, infantry battalions are also equipped with a large number of wheeled and half-track armored vehicles.

In addition, all the mules and horses of the transportation support battalion were replaced with Jiefang brand trucks.

"Report, the troops are ready and can attack at any time."

Deputy Regiment Commander Liang saluted and turned to walk out.

There are too many new recruits, the technical arms are unskilled and lack practical experience, so they are currently unable to unleash the maximum power of these heavy equipment.

With heavy equipment and unparalleled firepower, Deputy Commander Liang was full of confidence: "If my newly formed 16th Heavy Armored Battalion can't perform well in this battle, I'm not Liang Daya! Watch our newly formed 16th Battalion take over the Lion Rock position!"

When had he ever been so rich?
With the heavy-armored combined battalion under his command, it would be no problem for him to defeat 10 independent brigades of the New Fourth Army.

Although he served as the deputy commander of the New 1st Regiment, he was able to command a heavy combined battalion, which was equivalent to a division's troops, and was roughly equivalent to a division commander.

"Okay!" Xing Zhiguo nodded, "Then I'll wait for your good news at the regiment headquarters."

If you don’t know, you might think that Liang Daya had made some mistake.

But at this time, Deputy Head Liang was full of confidence.

Xing Zhiguo said, "In addition to you, Deputy Commander Liang, our New 1st Regiment has more than 20 deputy commanders and political commissars. They are all transferred from various brother units like you. They are all brave enough to fight. They are all experienced in many battles, but they are not easy to deal with."

New infantry, new drivers, and new tank soldiers and artillerymen fresh out of tank school and artillery school.

Moreover, he followed the principle of preferring to be the head of a chicken rather than the tail of a phoenix, so he would rather be a full-time position. It would be better to be a regiment commander in the Shandong Provincial Military Region than to be the deputy commander of the New First Regiment.

The infantry battalion is equipped with a variety of semi-automatic, fully automatic and large-caliber heavy machine guns, anti-tank guns, 75mm mountain guns and 60mm and 82mm mortars.

"You can't just brag about your own strength, and you can't just push a train." Xing Zhiguo smiled slightly, "Everyone says that our new regiment already has the Eight Vajra Kings, and there are just five more positions for the Five Tiger Generals."

Many of the soldiers in the newly formed combined battalions, including the newly formed 16th Heavy Armored Battalion, are new recruits.

In the past, whether it was the Red Army or the Eighth Route Army, many battles were fought by the weak defeating the strong.

"In about ten minutes, our air support will arrive and provide air support to the enemy positions on Jiguan Mountain and Shizi Mountain."

Deputy Regiment Commander Liang raised his telescope, glanced at the Japanese position in the distance, and asked.

Uniform gray new uniforms, uniform steel helmets, uniform new semi-automatic weapons, uniform new machine guns; sufficient ammunition, sufficient food, sufficient logistical supplies; completely different from the previous situation of the Eighth Route Army.

Each tank battalion added 12 tanks and was equipped with 36 tanks. Each heavy artillery battalion was equipped with 24 122mm howitzers. The air defense battalion was equipped with various 20mm machine guns and 37mm anti-aircraft guns. In addition to being used for air defense, they could also be used to shoot at the Japanese infantry.

The newly formed 16th Heavy Armored Combined Battalion has two infantry battalions, each with more than 2 people.

The political commissar and the chief of staff came forward upon seeing this.

Now with such powerful equipment and firepower, what kind of enemy can't be defeated?
"Yes."

When Deputy Commander Liang first took a helicopter to Peking with Zhang Dabiao, he was a little shocked.

In terms of firepower and mobility, it was not only satisfactory, but also made Deputy Commander Liang feel surrounded by a deep sense of happiness.

……

However, he only agreed after the division commander of the Shandong Provincial Military Region told him about the deputy commander of the New 1st Regiment.

Not long after, Deputy Commander Liang returned to the headquarters of the newly formed 16th Heavy Armored Battalion.

"Then, the artillery unit of our heavy armored battalion and the 7th Heavy Artillery Battalion of our brother unit simultaneously bombarded the enemy positions."

"After half an hour of shelling, our tanks and infantry units continued to move forward and captured the enemy's positions."

When Deputy Captain Liang heard words like air support, heavy artillery and tanks, his eyes became hot.

When he was the brigade commander of the New Fourth Army Independent Brigade and was fighting against the Japanese, he received air support from the 2nd Flying Regiment of the Eighth Route Army Headquarters.

In that battle, thanks to the air support, the brigade he led faced off against the attack of an infantry regiment of the Japanese and inflicted considerable casualties on them.

If his independent brigade had the equipment of the New 1st Regiment, he could have defeated the Japanese regiment without air support, and even had a chance to wipe it out completely.

Deputy Captain Liang nodded and waited patiently.

Ten minutes later, a buzzing sound was indeed heard in the sky.

Deputy Regiment Commander Liang, the political commissar, the chief of staff and the combat staff hurriedly raised their binoculars and looked up at the sky.

About 15 fighter planes and 25 bombers appeared in the sky.

As soon as these fighters and bombers appeared, they flew straight towards the Japanese Jiguana Mountain and Shizi Mountain positions.

Soon, the Eighth Route Army fighters and bombers entered the dive route.

In an instant, red bullet chains rose from the Japanese positions on Jiguana Mountain and Shizi Mountain and wrapped around the diving fighters and bombers.

This is an interception fire network composed of the Japanese and puppet army's light and heavy machine guns and a small number of 20mm anti-aircraft guns.

But unfortunately, the anti-aircraft firepower of the Japanese and puppet troops was too weak to stop the bombing.

However, the Japanese and puppet troops were shooting into the sky, so the Eighth Route Army pilots did not dare to fly the plane too low for fear of being hit by the Japanese anti-aircraft fire.

As fighter planes and bombers flew past, dense aerial bombs and incendiary bombs fell simultaneously on the positions of the Japanese and puppet troops.

"Boom boom boom..."

An earth-shattering explosion suddenly sounded, turning the Japanese and puppet army positions on Jiguana Mountain and Shizi Mountain into a sea of ​​fire.

After the explosions of aerial bombs and napalm bombs, the anti-aircraft firepower of the Japanese and puppet troops suddenly became sparse.

Then, the fighters and bombers came back and licked the positions of the Japanese and puppet troops several times before they flew away with satisfaction.

In the headquarters of the Eighth Route Army's newly formed 16th Battalion, Deputy Commander Liang, the political commissar, and the staff officers who were watching this scene all had happy expressions on their faces.

Except for a small number of people who were promoted from the New 1st Regiment, most of them were transferred from brother units to the New 1st Regiment.

In actual combat, this was the first time many officers had seen such a spectacular scene.

With this kind of firepower, I'm afraid there aren't many survivors on the Japanese position?
But this is not over yet, wait until the plane leaves.

More than 16 artillery pieces from the newly formed 7th Battalion and the 200th Howitzer Battalion began firing at the positions of the Japanese and puppet troops.

boom boom boom…

On the Japanese and puppet army positions, violent explosions suddenly sounded, densely packed and continuous, like a battery of artillery.

at the same time.

In the Japanese headquarters.

A group of Japanese officers also raised their binoculars and looked at the Lion Mountain and Jiguan Mountain positions where the Japanese puppet army was being bombarded.

“八路的此次炮击中，有60毫米迫击炮、82毫米迫击炮、75毫米山炮和新式122毫米榴弹炮，没有105毫米榴弹炮。”

Colonel Kumagawa, commander of the 1st Field Artillery Regiment, showed his expertise and said in a deep voice:
"It seems that the New 105st Regiment of the Eighth Route Army has phased out the old 122mm howitzers and replaced them with new mm howitzers."

"The new 122mm howitzer is the most important artillery for the Soviet divisional support." "Compared with the old German 105mm howitzer, the new Eighth Route Army howitzer is more powerful, has a longer range, and is more accurate..."

Although the Eighth Route Army's 122mm howitzers had been equipped for more than half a year.

However, it had only appeared on the battlefield for a few months, so the Japanese used to call this artillery of the Eighth Route Army a new howitzer.

This howitzer became the main heavy artillery firepower of the New 1st Regiment and also became the lingering nightmare of the Japanese.

The expression of Yamamoto Ikki, the Chief of Staff of the First Army who was commanding the front line, gradually became solemn.

The equipment of the Eighth Route Army was getting better and better, but the equipment of the Locust Army remained stagnant.

If Yamamoto Ikki were the locust, he would definitely arrest and execute all those old and rigid-minded officials in charge of producing military equipment!

"How are the troops preparing?"

Yamamoto Ikki asked in a deep voice.

Today, Yamamoto Ikki set up a pocket formation, preparing to launch a powerful attack on the Eighth Route Army.

Colonel Miyauchi Yoshio, commander of the 57th Infantry Regiment, replied: "Reporting to the Chief of Staff, all troops are ready and are waiting for the Eighth Route Army to come in."

眼下第1师团下辖3个步兵联队，分别是第1联队、第49联队和第57联队。

"Yoshi!"

Yamamoto Ikki nodded, his expression cold and fierce.

The Eighth Route Army attacked Lion Rock and Cockscomb Mountain in turns. Did they think the locust army would not fight back?

I have to say that Yamamoto Kazuki is quite capable.

While other Japanese officers were racking their brains over how to defend, he was the only one planning how to ambush.

Yamamoto Ikki personally formulated an ambush plan with his staff, obtained the consent of Nakazawa Mitsuo and a number of division commanders, mobilized elite regiments from various divisions to participate in the operation, and personally went to the front line to command.

……

After half an hour of shelling, the Japanese positions had been plowed several times and no intact fortifications could be seen.

At this moment, the artillery fire of the Eighth Route Army gradually weakened until it disappeared completely.

The Eighth Route Army dispatched 12 tanks, 24 armored vehicles, and two companies of infantry to attack the Japanese on the Jiguana Mountain Heights.

On the other side of Lion Rock, Deputy Regiment Commander Liang also sent a company of troops to launch a feint attack under the guidance of several tanks and armored vehicles.

The Japanese and puppet troops kept coming out of the anti-artillery holes and tunnels and entering the devastated positions.

On the battlefield, there were corpses and fragments of the Japanese and puppet soldiers everywhere.

The tanks, armored vehicles and infantry of the Eighth Route Army had not yet approached, and the guns and artillery had not yet opened fire at full force. Only sporadic gunshots and artillery fire were heard.

Amid the smoke, the entire battlefield was filled with the solemn atmosphere of the impending war.

Jiguana Mountain and Shizishan Mountain are located in the southeast of Chengde, about 15 kilometers away from Chengde City.

Two high grounds lie across the southeast of Chengde, blocking the road leading to Chengde, which is one of the only ways to reach Chengde.

The Eighth Route Army's attack was slow. When they were only about 250 meters away from the Japanese and puppet army's position, the Japanese and puppet army had already prepared for battle.

But when they were about 250 meters away from the Japanese puppet army's position.

The tanks and armored vehicles of the Eighth Route Army suddenly stopped, and all the soldiers attacking the Eighth Route Army fell to the ground and covered their ears.

"what's the situation?"

Just as the Japanese and puppet troops were stunned, the sound of dense artillery shells whistling suddenly rang out in the sky.

In an instant, the Japanese and puppet troops on the two positions were instantly shrouded in smoke and fire.

……

"Our gun positions are firing."

In the Eighth Route Army Command Post.

Looking at the endless artillery shells falling on the two Japanese heights and the surrounding Japanese positions, the chief of staff said.

"Only you would dare to do this. If a large number of shells fall on the heads of your soldiers, the consequences will be disastrous."

The political commissar looked into the distance, put down the telescope on his chest, and worried for the soldiers on the front line.

The Eighth Route Army's tanks, armored vehicles, and infantry were already 250 meters away from the Japanese front-line positions.

This distance is very dangerous, especially under the concentrated bombardment of more than 200 artillery pieces, it is easier to accidentally injure your comrades.

"We must believe in the quality of our artillery."

The chief of staff and the political commissar were so nervous that their hearts were in their throats. Deputy Head Liang looked calm as usual, but his eyes were still murderous as always:
"In war, we must take the enemy by surprise. When our brother troops were fighting in rotation a few days ago, I had already figured out the enemy's tactics, so today I'm going to give them a big one!"

After all, he is a battle-hardened general. A few days ago, when the brother troops attacked the enemy's heights.

Deputy Regiment Commander Liang was not idle. In addition to ordering the artillery to fire when the infantry and tank armored units attacked the Japanese.

He also prepared another big gift for the devils.

Without his extraordinary brains and tactical command abilities, he wouldn't have survived until now.

The Japanese built many anti-artillery holes and tunnels on the battlefield.

Many of the Eighth Route Army's artillery shells were wasted.

For Deputy Regiment Commander Liang, who was commanding such a wealthy army to fight the Japanese for the first time, he felt really distressed.

Like Li Yunlong and his men, he fought against the National Army for ten years and against the Japanese for several years, and was tired of being poor.

But the difference between Li Yunlong and him is that Li Yunlong has long been accustomed to this kind of rich war, while Deputy Captain Liang is still a little uncomfortable.

Therefore, in the battles in the previous few days, Deputy Regiment Commander Liang keenly grasped the weaknesses of the Japanese and puppet troops.

That is, after the Eighth Route Army's artillery fire covered the area, the Japanese and puppet troops would immediately enter the positions from tunnels and anti-artillery holes.

This is the best time for the Eighth Route Army's artillery to fire.

According to the Eighth Route Army's advancing speed, its tanks and infantry should be about 150 meters away from the Japanese front-line positions at this time.

At a distance of 150 meters, the artillery of the Eighth Route Army would definitely injure quite a few of their own comrades by covering the Japanese positions with artillery fire.

However, Deputy Regiment Commander Liang specifically ordered the infantry and tanks to deliberately slow down their advance.

At this distance, although the shells may accidentally injure our own people, the cost-effectiveness is very high.

Moreover, after careful observation by Deputy Regiment Commander Liang in the past few days, he found that although many of the artillerymen in the artillery unit were recruits, their artillery fire was still relatively accurate, and most of the shells could hit the enemy's positions. If it were entirely made up of rookie artillerymen, Deputy Regiment Commander Liang would not dare to give the order to do so.

After five minutes of shelling.

The Japanese and puppet army's positions were plowed again.

This time, without the cover of tunnels and anti-artillery holes, the Japanese and puppet troops on the position suffered heavy casualties.

In the mud, sand and gravel, in addition to shrapnel, there were also various parts of the Japanese and puppet soldiers, which was a horrible sight.

Of course, even with this level of shelling, there will still be Japanese devils and puppet troops who survive. The puppet troops have lost the courage to resist, but the Japanese devils will still resist.

However, there were not many Japanese devils left, and they could not put up any decent resistance.

Before the Japanese reinforcements arrived, the soldiers of the newly formed 16th Heavy Armored Battalion wiped out all the Japanese on the positions and captured the Jiguana Mountain and Shizishan Mountain positions.

……

"Reporting to the Chief of Staff, the positions of Jiguan Mountain and Shizi Mountain have been lost, and all the locust troops defending the positions have been destroyed."

Inside the Japanese command post, a Japanese staff officer reported to Yamamoto Ikki.

"understood."

Yamamoto Ikki nodded, put down the telescope, and remained expressionless throughout.

When the Eighth Route Army launched the second artillery attack, Yamamoto basically guessed the result.

However, the Jiguana Mountain and Shizishan Mountain positions were lost faster than he had imagined.

"Reinforcements are arriving soon. Should we fire on the Lion Mountain and Chicken Crown Mountain positions to recapture these two positions?"

Colonel Kumagawa asked.

These two high grounds can be said to be the gateway to Chengde. Once lost, the Japanese First Army will be in a passive position.

"Order the reinforcements to withdraw immediately and let the Eighth Route Army in."

Yamamoto Ikki's eyes were as sharp as an eagle's, and he gave orders with murderous intent.

"Hi."

All the Japanese officers bowed their heads suddenly. (End of this chapter)