Rise From Eight Hundred

The combat effectiveness of the First Division was not to be underestimated. Seeing that their baggage train station was being bombarded, the artillery regiment also set up 12 150mm heavy artillery and fired back in the direction of Zishan under the guidance of the balloon observers who rose in the rear.

More than 40 kilograms of shells burst into terrible flowers on the top of Zishan Mountain, and the whole mountain seemed to be trembling!

However, the Japanese army's retaliatory artillery fire caused almost no damage to the personnel of the Four-Line Regiment.

Firstly, because the distance between the two sides was more than 13 kilometers, even if the weather was clear and the visibility was good, the Japanese observers in the sky could not accurately locate the artillery positions of the Four-Line Regiment hidden in the dense forests of the col;

Secondly, after a year of careful construction, the Four-Line Regiment's defense line in the Zishan area was basically divided into two layers: ground trenches and underground tunnels.

This was the battlefield experience of the Tang Dao borrowed from the battle of the Five Sacred Mountains in the past time and space.

In order to dig these tunnels, the young and strong men in Zishan area almost did not participate in farm work this year. Instead, they were paid 100 kilograms of food per person per month and worked day and night in Zishan under the leadership of the Sihang Regiment's engineering company.

Not counting the soldiers of the Sihang Regiment, the young and strong men in Zishan area alone were as high as 30,000 people!

The excavated earth, in the words of Wang Gongyu, who was personally responsible for the logistics work: the excavated earth can be piled up again. The main peak of Zishan.

You know, Zishan belongs to the remnant of Taihang Mountain, with an area of ​​more than 20 square kilometers. The main peak of Zishan is 4 meters high, the highest point in Handan City.

And the headquarters of Tang Dao is in the underground tunnel on the main peak of Zishan, Zifeng!

Although the Japanese 150 heavy artillery is powerful enough, it is still too small for the underground tunnel that goes nearly 15 meters deep underground.

At that time, Tang Dao was standing on the Zifeng position, in a fortification covered by dense forests, covered with a layer of green camouflage net on the surface, and with nearly one-meter thick reinforced concrete, holding a telescope and looking quietly into the distance.

Zishan is very famous in Handan. During the Warring States Period, Zhao She, a general of the State of Zhao, fought against the invasion of the Qin army and made outstanding contributions. He was given the title of Mafu Jun. After his death, he was buried in Zishan, so it was renamed Mafu Mountain.

Standing on Zishan, the highest peak, you can overlook the mountains. On the north side of the mountain, the mountains are like "a group of hills piled up like snails"; on the south side of the mountain, the hills are undulating and stretch for dozens of miles.

Whenever the sun sets in the west, the sun shines on Zifeng, dyeing Zifeng golden. From a distance, it looks like wearing a golden helmet, overlooking the northwest, the two Ming Rivers in the south and north, sparkling and golden. The two rivers converge at the foot of the mountain, and then turn to the north and east. This is the "Zifeng Sunset", which was once one of the top ten landscapes in Handan.

It was not the first time that Tang Dao stood here and overlooked the mountains. Although the beautiful scenery was always there, he would still feel comfortable. He would even take the initiative to ask Xia Dayu for a camera, take a few photos, and send them back to Tan Tai Mingyue who could not come to Zishan.

As long as I have you in my heart, even if you are thousands of miles away, you will travel with me. Although Tang Tuanzuo may look a bit straight, he is actually a bit romantic in his bones.

But this time, what stayed in his eyes was no longer the magnificent mountains and rivers, but the war!

Duo Tianjun was also desperate this time, and actually used a half division of nearly 40,000 people as the main attack. The 10th Division, which had been defeated, was just a helper.

The Ji'nan Division currently has nearly 30,000 main forces. Although it is not a sure win to deal with a 10th Division, it is not a big problem to report it, not to mention that there are two heads of the 921st Division who have arrived in Xingtai to lead it personally.

On the battlefield in southern Hebei, the only thing that Tang Dao was concerned about was an infantry platoon trapped in Hanjiazhai, but that was too far away. The Sihang Regiment, which had already withdrawn its main force to deal with the main attack of the Japanese army, was out of reach. As strong as Tang Dao was, he could only temporarily put aside his concerns and focus all his attention on the main battlefield that was about to start.

The crazy retaliatory fire of the Japanese 150 howitzers was still continuing, and the nearest explosion point was less than 300 meters away from the fortifications where Tang Dao was located!

The scorching air wave blew past the rectangular observation port of the fortifications, and the trunks of miscellaneous trees as thick as arms could not withstand the huge force and broke one after another!

A trace of worry flashed across the face of the 4th Battalion Commander Shangguan Yun, who was accompanying him. It is better to be safe than sorry. If a 150 howitzer shell really fell on the fortifications, Tang Tuanzuo, the highest commander of the Zishan War Zone, would be written off. In fact, this battle had already lost 90% before it even started.

"The Type 96 150mm howitzer used by the Japanese army is praised by the Japanese army as one of the most modern and powerful artillery, but in my opinion, it is just a general among short men." Tang Dao put down the telescope and turned back calmly.

"I asked Pang Dahai to expose part of the artillery strength from the beginning. The main purpose is not to deter the Japanese, but to let our army see that after having good enough fortifications, the Japanese artillery fire is only enough to tickle us."

Tang Dao's words are not without reason to look down on the Japanese. Compared with the heavy firepower projected by the American cowboys that the Chinese soldiers faced in the ice battle ten years later, the current heavy firepower of the Japanese army is like a country bumpkin from Somalia comparing financial resources with Miss Laura. They are completely two dimensions.

You know, in the Battle of the Five Sacred Mountains that lasted for 43 days, the American cowboys fired 1.97 million artillery shells, and the frequency of shells falling once reached six per second. The intensity of the artillery fire far exceeded the highest level of firepower density during World War II. Even the nearby soil was loosened to a depth of several meters, and the top of the mountain was collapsed by dozens of centimeters. There were dozens of bullet casings in a handful of soil.

Under such fierce artillery fire, it was impossible for anyone to survive. However, in order to cope with this absolute suppression of firepower, the wise Chinese soldiers, led by then Deputy Commander Brigade Commander Cheng, began to build tunnel fortifications extensively, building more than 7,700 tunnel fortifications on the front line and on both wings, as well as 3,420 kilometers of sheltered open-air trenches.

The 15th Army, which was responsible for building tunnel fortifications on Wusheng Mountain at the time, put forward the "seven defenses" requirements for its fortifications: air defense, artillery defense, poison defense, rain defense, moisture defense, fire defense, and cold defense. Strive to "break through the belly of the mountain to build the Great Wall, and dig out the ridge to make my home feel at ease."

In order to ensure that these tunnel fortifications can meet the combat requirements, the thickness of the top of all tunnels must be at least 30 meters, and even the protection thickness of the tunnel entrance must be at least 12 to 15 meters, the width must reach 1.2 meters, and there must be at least two entrances and exits.

Outside the tunnel, the corresponding trenches, communication trenches, anti-tank trenches, firearms bunkers and other field fortifications should also be available.

In the Zishan area defense fortifications designed and built by Tang Dao himself, although the thickness did not reach the standard of 30 meters to defend against ground-penetrating bombs, the length and width were still exceeded.

Tang Dao even hollowed out a hill in the core area of ​​Zishan as a base for ammunition, food, and field hospitals. In order to prevent the Japanese army from blocking the frontier positions with aircraft and artillery, the base has four exits, and uses a 3-meter-deep and 3-meter-wide trench as a communication trench to reach the frontier positions.

There are even temporary shelters in the communication trenches. Not to mention the Japanese artillery fire, even if Japanese aircraft find these communication trenches and shoot or bomb them, personnel and supplies can temporarily avoid them.

This is also the experience learned from the fact that the logistics supply line was blocked by artillery fire by American cowboys in the Battle of Wusheng Mountain, resulting in the fact that sending an apple to the front line could be a meritorious service.

After seeing the tunnels and trenches designed and built by Tang Dao, Brigade Commander Cheng, who arrived at Zishan two months ago, once sighed: "Facing such a position, if it were my 683 Brigade, I would most likely disobey military orders and refuse to attack. This is not a war, but suicide for all the officers and soldiers of the brigade. Perhaps only if most of the main forces of my 921 Division are gathered here, plus the full heavy firepower support of your Four-line Regiment, I will have the confidence to conquer this position, but then, I must be prepared to be half-crippled!

I can only say that your Tang Dao was really born to defeat the Japanese, and I don’t know that the unlucky division will run into your iron plate."

"That’s right! I can be regarded as stealing my skills, so don’t ask me for tuition!" Brigade Commander Cheng joked with Tang Dao at that time, holding various fortification drawings drawn by Tang Dao.

Tang Dao was secretly laughing in his heart. Most of his drawings were copied from the masterpiece of this person 12 years later. Who knew that the master of digging tunnels would learn from his grandson in advance.

It can only be said that even if the timeline was temporarily confused because of his little butterfly that traveled through time, God used cause and effect to make it whole again.

It is so magical!

"The Japanese artillery is not a concern. The only thing I am worried about is how many bombers the Japanese army will use this time. The Japanese Army Aviation, which has suffered losses, will not take it lightly this time." Shangguan Yun also nodded, with a cloud flashing across his face.

Air control is currently the only shortcoming of the Four-Line Regiment!

Even though the Four-Line Regiment Air Defense Battalion now has the most advanced 40mm anti-aircraft gun on the Chinese battlefield, it can only be passive defense and lacks the ability to actively attack.

"There is nothing perfect in this world. If our fighter planes are stronger than the Japanese, I'm afraid it won't be one or two Japanese army divisions that will come to deal with us, but the entire Japanese North China Front Army." Tang Dao shook his head and said.

"What my Four-Line Regiment has to do now is to kill more Japanese devils before the Japanese fully react. When they wake up and come to deal with us with all their strength, we and our friendly forces will no longer be just small seedlings, but big trees that can withstand strong winds and rainstorms."

What Tang Dao said is actually the change in the perception of the 80th Army in the Japanese in the past time and space.

In the early days of the war, although the 80th Army had severely attacked the Japanese army in Pingxingguan and southeastern Shanxi, the casualties caused to the Japanese army were only about a thousand people, and its main combat method was to shoot and change places, and suddenly attack you in guerrilla warfare.

The Japanese army, which was used to fighting in large groups, did not take the "Tuba" seriously at all. It was not until the large-scale counterattack against the Japanese army and the fight against capitulationism that the Japanese realized that the Tuba, whom they looked down upon, actually had hundreds of thousands of troops, enough to fight a large-scale battle with them in North China.

Therefore, the Japanese North China Front Army changed its westward strategy to first eliminate the 80th Army, which had become a force to be reckoned with, but it was a little late at this time, and the spark had already formed a trend that could set the prairie on fire.

In the following five years, the Japanese North China Front Army not only failed to complete its own strategy, but by the end of the war, their biggest concern even had a million troops. Even if Japan did not surrender, the Japanese North China Front Army could not defeat it.

The Four-Line Regiment is currently at this stage. Tang Dao knows that perhaps this is the only chance left for the Four-Line Regiment.

After this battle, it was a foregone conclusion that Duo Tianjun, a guy with great ambitions but little talent, would leave office. Koji Okamura, who was about to take over, was not an easy guy to deal with. Once he adjusted his strategic focus in time, and with the beginning of the Pacific War, Western powers began to confront each other one after another. Japan declared war and the concession fell. It was no longer possible for the Four Troops to obtain various supplies from Jincheng.

The hard days of the Fourth Army Group and the Eightyth Army Group are about to come.

"Yes! The strength of our regiment is limited by the establishment. It is still a little too small. I don't know what the people in Shancheng think. You, regiment leader, have made such great achievements in battle, but you have been standing still for the past two years." Shangguan Yun couldn't bear it. Zhu frowned.

The war has been going on for more than two years, and countless generals have been promoted because of their heroic fighting.

Let alone talking about the distance, just speaking of good relations with Tang Dao, the two generals Guo and Wu were promoted to army lieutenant generals with the rank of generals, and General Zhang of the 59th Army not only held the rank of generals, but also became Commander-in-Chief of the Right Wing Corps of the Fifth Theater and Commander-in-Chief of the 33rd Group Army. Even Commander Xie, who had just joined the Ninth Theater for a year, became the commander of the independent brigade directly under the Ninth Theater two years ago and was successfully promoted to major general.

Compared with them, Tang Dao's starting point was lower, but in terms of military prowess, it was unmatched. However, he was stuck at the critical moment of being a colonel in the army and could not make any progress. This made it difficult for him to stay in the army for many years. Shangguan Yun was puzzled.

"Brother Shangguan, do you know why humans choose to use dogs as housekeepers instead of raising ligers, tigers, jackals and leopards? Is it because their appetites are too big to raise?" Tang Dao smiled slightly and asked Shangguan Yun.

"Of course not. Ligers, tigers, wolves, and leopards are wild and difficult to tame, and they may eat their masters!" Shangguan Yun replied casually.

As soon as he finished speaking, Shangguan Yun's face instantly turned ugly. He finally understood what Tang Dao meant.

The person in Shancheng was trying to prevent Tang Dao from becoming powerful, and the core of the reason for his precautions goes without saying clearly.

"Brother Shangguan, the Great Patriotic War will eventually be won, and the Japanese bandits will eventually be driven away by us. But after the war, who can lead our 40 million compatriots to regain the glory of the Han and Tang Dynasties?

Do you think those bureaucracies in mountain cities who have become accustomed to sucking the blood of ordinary people to nourish themselves will become such people? "Tang Dao looked into the distance calmly.

Among the senior officials of the Four-Hand Regiment, Lei Xiong had already communicated with Tang Dao and basically agreed with Tang Dao's opinions. Needless to say, Ye Chenghuan. Gong Shaoxun and Zhuang Shisan were clear-cut and Tang Dao followed suit. Only the one who had been promoted to the Chief of Staff of the Four-Hong Regiment Shangguan Yun has not clearly expressed his thoughts and opinions to Tang Dao.

"But this is wartime after all, and it is a time for unity to communicate with the outside world. Even if, sir, you are closer to the 80th Army, it is because of the common resistance against Japan. I think sir, you can talk to Guo, Zhang or Xue "Sir, please ask the superiors to be accommodating." Shangguan Yun subconsciously avoided Tang Dao's questioning of the decaying high-rise building.

"Haha! It doesn't matter to me personally whether I am promoted or not. If they don't give it, why can't we do it ourselves? We are not afraid of the Japanese, so why are we afraid of those villains who eat nothing?

We will talk about the future later. Now we have to knock Saburo Okabe down first. Does he think he is great just because he is a division commander? "Tang Dao brought the topic back to the battlefield in front of him.

It doesn't matter if Shangguan Yun avoids sensitive topics. Tang Dao respects everyone's choice, and time can give people the most accurate answer!

"I think the Japanese army will first use aircraft and artillery to covertly attack our Zishan regional defense position before launching a ground attack. And the main direction of their attack will definitely be the northwest as a breakthrough point!" Shangguan Yun pointed his finger towards the visible to the naked eye. Minghe, explained his reasons.

"Although there is danger of the Ming River there, it is less than 5 miles away from our main peak position. As long as Okabe Saburo is not blind, he will not sacrifice the near for the far and attack our Zishan position from the rolling hills in the south.

Moreover, the areas just bombarded by the Japanese army were mostly concentrated in the No. 4 and No. 5 Highland areas in the northwest!

Based on Danzao's analysis of the extremely frugal character of the Japanese nation, even if they launch a retaliatory bombardment, they must have the intention of not wasting a single shell. Even if they cannot hit our artillery positions, they will also destroy the area they are about to attack. The surface position is also good! "

"Haha! Brother Shangguan's analysis is very reasonable. Saburo Okabe must not know that his group of stupid artillerymen have exposed his main attack direction." Tang Dao smiled.

"Since the Japanese are willing to let us cross the river and attack, then we will allow them to do so and tell Leng Feng by telegram that the Japanese infantry want to build a bridge to cross the river, so let them build it. When they have crossed half of the people, we will use artillery shells to blow up the bridge again. , I want the remaining half of him to either stare at me on the other side of the river, or fight with my bare buttocks in the spring breeze, it will be so cold. "

Although it is already March, the cold wind in the north is not warm at all. Even if the sun is shining brightly, the temperature is only about seven or eight degrees. If you jump into the cold water river to take a bath and then be blown by the cold wind, That's really cool.

"The Chinese are so despicable!"

Because all the wooden bridges crossing the river were destroyed by Chinese artillery fire, I was forced to take off my military trousers and cross the chest-deep Ming River. I huddled up in the spring breeze like a quail shivering in the cold wind. At that time, the 1st Division of the First Division Major Seiichi Yamashita, commander of the 1st Infantry Battalion of the 501st Infantry Regiment of the Infantry Brigade, cursed the Four Lines Regiment from the depths of his soul.

Really, the low temperature of minus 30 degrees in the three northeastern provinces did not make this army major with a dog-skin hat and a woolen coat feel so cold.

But in Handan, where the peach blossoms were gradually blooming, he felt it.

But this Japanese army major obviously did not realize that the coldness of the flesh is not the real coldness. The blood and flesh flying caused by the fierce artillery fire is the bone-chilling coldness that can solidify the soul.

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