Rise From Eight Hundred

As a transportation hub from Songjiang and Jinshanwei to Kunshan.

Baihegang Bridge is not only the last retreat for more than 30,000 defenders in Songjiang to Kunshan, but also the only passage for people who want to leave Songjiang area to Kunshan and then to Jinling.

In recent days, tens of thousands of people have evacuated through this place.

Since entering the defense line of Baihegang Bridge, the four camps finally understood why Lieutenant Generals Wu and Guo were so cautious before leaving, and even handed over six Oerlikon machine guns to them.

Because not only they knew that this was the last retreat and had to defend it, but the Japanese army also knew it.

However, due to the obstruction of Songjiang City, their main force and all heavy equipment were in front of Songjiang City. Without the support of heavy equipment, the Japanese army did not dare to send battalion-level troops to enter the battlefield still under the control of the Chinese army.

There are hundreds of thousands of Chinese troops in the west of Shanghai, which is only a few dozen miles away from Baihegang. Any infantry brigade can swallow up more than a thousand people who dare to go deep alone.

But this does not mean that they turned a blind eye to the Baihegang Bridge, a transportation hub. On the 7th, the weather was bad and it was drizzling, so Japanese planes could not take off. But when the weather cleared up on the 8th, several Japanese reconnaissance planes appeared in the sky and circled over Baihegang.

Lei Xiong, who was already resolute and courageous, certainly would not indulge them. In order to find the Chinese defense positions hidden at both ends of the bridge, two of them lowered their altitude to 600 meters and fired at the three air defense positions hidden at the north and south ends of the bridge at the same time.

This is a typical triangular air defense position, consisting of three Oerlikon machine guns and nine heavy machine guns with extended brackets for upward shooting.

This was Lei Xiong's own invention. Before leaving, Tang Dao told him that the focus of Baihegang's defense was air defense rather than ground defense.

Unless Yanagawa Heisuke goes crazy and sends a light infantry battalion to risk entering the battlefield, as long as Lei Xiong leads the four-line camp and the two infantry companies of the 43rd Army and the 67th Army to hold their positions, the Huxi side will never mind giving the Japanese a slap in the face before leaving.

Not only can they easily take the merit, but more importantly, if they want to retreat, everything depends on how long Songjiang can hold out. If they just let the light troops sent by the Japanese army cut off the retreat of the Songjiang defenders, then the Songjiang defenders will retreat in anger and let the 10th Army's 100,000 troops march straight in. Isn't it forcing themselves to a dead end?

As for the Japanese army, as long as they dare to continue to increase their troops, the Chinese side will also not mind eating more.

After three months of fighting in Songhu, the Japanese army's powerful combat power is well known, but at least 70% of the reason is that they have artillery of various calibers, large and small. A Japanese army without heavy firepower support is not afraid of the Chinese army that has been fighting on the front line for months, even if they still have air superiority.

This is also the main reason why Wu and Guo did not have a lot of troops, although they sent the four-line battalion they thought was the most elite to guard the rear.

What the Chinese can think of, the Japanese can also think of. Penetrating into the enemy's rear to attack important enemy targets is the most commonly used method of the Japanese army. They can penetrate dozens of kilometers and deploy large troops, but they don't have the courage.

Of course, the Japanese army will not blow up the only passage to Kunshan from the north unless it is absolutely necessary.

Not only does it take time to build a pontoon bridge, but the big guys of the artillery brigade weigh several tons or even more than ten tons.

Therefore, since the appearance of the Japanese reconnaissance aircraft, their tactics are almost ready to come out, using bombers to kill a large number of defenders, and then attacking with small-scale ground forces.

It can not only undermine the confidence of the Songjiang defenders but also gain control of the bridge, providing conditions for their next attack on the left wing of Shanghai West.

In the past, they did this and succeeded.

As a result, the 67th Army, which had suffered heavy losses in the Songjiang defense battle, retreated to this time and found that the bridge had fallen. Under no circumstances, tens of thousands of troops had to abandon all heavy equipment and jump into the cold Suzhou River in late autumn.

In the end, under the strafing of Japanese aircraft, the 67th Army, which had originally retained its structure, was completely disintegrated, including the lieutenant general, and about 6,000 people were missing or killed.

However, in this time and space, Tang Dao came, how could the Chinese defenders repeat the same mistakes?

Although he could not personally garrison on the important passage of Baihegang Bridge, the Lei Xiong he chose was the most suitable commander for this battle, no one else.

Lei Xiong's individual combat power is second only to Tang Dao in the Four-line Camp. He is bold and resolute in character and is an extremely excellent infantry commander. However, his main job is fire support. He has his own theory on concentrated fire attack on opponents.

On the night when Lei Xiong arrived at Baihe Port, he built the positions on both ends and wings of Baihe Port into positions mainly for air defense, and transformed all heavy machine guns into long brackets with the ability to shoot upward at the sky.

There are three main air defense positions, two of which are located on the north side of the bridge and one is located on the south side of the bridge. Each air defense position is basically equipped with two Oerlikon machine guns and three heavy machine guns, and an infantry platoon is also equipped to establish field positions around to prevent sneak attacks by small Japanese troops that sneak in.

Such a triangular air defense position centered on the bridge can deal with Japanese fighter planes entering from any direction. If the fighter plane happens to arrive above the bridge, it will completely enter the central airspace of the crossfire attack, and he will be unlucky.

As for just a few reconnaissance planes, Lei Xiong would certainly not use all his anti-aircraft firepower at once.

The three Oerlikon machine guns and nine heavy machine guns used were enough to give the Japanese reconnaissance aircraft a good drink in the 600-meter area.

Just as the Japanese Tenth Army did not expect that the Songjiang defenders had dozens of artillery pieces, the Japanese naval reconnaissance planes that took off from the aircraft carrier never thought that the Chinese local bunnies who had lost air supremacy would also deploy anti-aircraft guns on both wings of the bridge.

The altitude of 600 meters is enough for them to avoid the light and heavy machine gun bullets fired in vain by ground troops. This should be the idea of ​​the Japanese reconnaissance aircraft pilots.

So, I got beaten.

In particular, a reconnaissance plane looked at the Chinese people crawling on the bridge who were frightened by the fighter planes. It grinned ferociously and moved from south to north, from high altitude to medium and low altitude. It planned to use its airborne machine gun to shoot at the bridge deck to watch the bloody scenes. Flying in full bloom.

What was waiting for him was a barrage sprayed by a 20mm anti-aircraft gun with three Maxim heavy machine guns.

The Japanese pilot, who was almost scared to death, frantically raised the nose of the plane and flew over the bridge at an altitude of 800 meters, finally escaping a fatal disaster.

But before the cold sweat on his forehead had time to dry, the two anti-aircraft positions deployed on the north bank also opened fire one after another.

At this time, the reconnaissance plane in the center of the crossfire was relieved. The plane, which had been hit by dozens of bullets, dragged black smoke and crashed six kilometers away from the bridge.

There are no white umbrellas of parachutes in the sky. In order to save weight and fuel, Japanese fighter planes are not equipped with armored shields in the cockpit. The 7.92mm bullet of the Maxim heavy machine gun can easily penetrate the aircraft even if it is fired upward at a height of 800 meters. bottom.

The Japanese soldiers whose eyes were fixed by the crazy bullets expanded to the shape of a cup were killed long before the plane crashed.

During the day on the 8th, two Japanese reconnaissance planes became the trophies of the Sixing Battalion.

Until the Japanese navy became angry and sent a group of twelve bombers, rushing to the bridge aggressively.

Lei Xiongcai ordered that all air defense positions be put into concealment. As long as the Japanese did not go crazy and blow up the bridge, they would not open fire.

All positions on the ground have been camouflaged for a long time, and the air defense positions are basically located in dense forests. As long as the Japanese aircraft do not drop to the 500-meter area, the target will never be found.

Of course the Japanese naval aviation is not stupid. The loss of two reconnaissance planes in succession has already proved that the Chinese have anti-aircraft guns. If they lower the altitude, aren't they taking the initiative to kill people?

But hovering in the sky, objects on the ground are as small as ants. Even if they are equipped with telescopes, they still cannot see clearly the real area of ​​the Chinese position hidden in the woods and camouflaged with branches.

Until they vent their anger.

A large number of Chinese refugees had already been evacuated by the soldiers and hid in the wilderness, but many were still discovered by Japanese planes.

After circling for several times and still unable to find its target, the Japanese plane actually dropped bombs on the people in the wilderness.

Lei Xiong, who was hiding in the tunnel, had red eyes.

To fight or not to fight, he needs to make a choice.

The aerial bombs dropped by twelve Japanese bombers may make him lose the ability to counterattack in the air. If the Japanese bomb the bridge, tens of thousands of Songjiang defenders will have no way out.

If he doesn't fight, the Japanese fighter planes will kill his compatriots unscrupulously in front of him.

That's a shame for a soldier.

No matter which one you choose, it is extremely difficult.