For the Japanese puppet army stationed in Mengcheng, they have been in a relatively tense state of combat readiness for the past few days. Earlier, the city of Haozhou was recovered, and the Japanese puppet army in Mengcheng planned to send reinforcements, but before they could set off, they received a telegram canceling the order.

The deliberate preparation but the temporary cancellation really made the officers and men on standby somewhat dissatisfied. And the assembly and disbandment during the day made these officers and soldiers feel that the above commanders changed their orders every day, which was obviously just a pastime for them.

If this kind of 'wolf is coming' happens a few more times, it is indeed very easy to arouse the disgust of officers and men at the grassroots level. If it weren't for the fact that the Japanese army had always been very disciplined, I was afraid that when the team was disbanded during the day, some soldiers would be bored.

Hu Biao, who sneaked into the city, learned of these situations and said with a smile: "It seems that the little devil here does not want to send troops, but has received an order from a higher commander not to send troops to reinforce, for fear of being met with the same fate as other Japanese troops."

Judging from the deployment of the Japanese puppet army in the city, the little devil should still be very vigilant. Perhaps the little devil already knows that it is impossible to recapture the two county towns that we have recovered only by sending reinforcements from the surrounding cities.

Looking at this frame, the little devils should know that our appetite is far greater than they think. If Mengcheng is recovered by us again, I am afraid that the little devils around will become more passive. It's just a pity that they don't have time! ”

If the Japanese army in Mengcheng was given some more time, the Japanese army on the Suzhou side would inevitably send reinforcements. Once the Japanese army in Mengcheng increased, even if a sneak attack was adopted, Hu Biao would need to pay a greater price if he wanted to recover it.

On the other hand, after taking Vortex City, he immediately rushed to Mengcheng non-stop, also to avoid any accidents. Even if the Japanese army on the Suzhou side draws reinforcements, it is believed that it will take a little time. Rushing for time is the purpose of Hu Biao's trip.

Compared with the previously recovered Haozhou and Vortex City, the geographical location of Mengcheng, where the task force is located at this moment, is more important. At present, the Bengbu area, which is under the control of the Japanese army, is also the area where Hu Biao must raid and destroy it next.

Only by disrupting the situation in Anhui Province will the pressure on Su Province, where Hu Biao's troops are located, be reduced several times. Moreover, even if the Battle of Wuhan ends in the future, it is believed that Anhui Province will become an area where the two countries will continue to fight each other.

If the Fifth Theater can advance the defensive line to the Bengbu line, it will also pose a huge threat to the Japanese army. In order to deal with this threat, the Japanese army had to draw more troops from the nearest Soviet province to fight and garrison.

It seemed that the abandonment of these county towns was actually relieved of the pressure on their own troops in the Soviet Province. The fewer Japanese troops stationed in Soviet Province, the more relaxed the development environment of the armed forces behind enemy lines under Hu Biao's command.

Regarding these plans, Hu Biao did not disclose them to the Fifth War Zone and the Eighth Route Army. Even if Hu Biao said it, he was afraid that the troops of these two sides would not dare to easily advance into the territory of Soviet Province. Moreover, it is not only Hu Biao's troops that can profit.

At this moment, the New Fourth Army, which is conducting armed operations behind enemy lines in Anhui Province and Soviet Province, is sure to be happy to see the Japanese army pay attention to the matter of dealing with the erosion of the Fifth Theater. In the face of the strong counterattack of the little devils, any side of the anti-war forces will be worried.

Finding out the deployment of the Japanese army in Mengcheng, Hu Biao also said directly: "It's still the same old rule, the special second company is responsible for blocking the Japanese puppet army that may return for reinforcements, and the rest of the troops cooperate with me to storm the headquarters of the little devil in the barracks."

When the battle on the side of the barracks starts, the special second company must dispatch elite troops to penetrate the gate of the city where the little devils are stationed, and receive the independent regiment outside the city into the city. I hope tonight's battle can end before dawn! ”

"Yes, detachment leader!"

Similar to this kind of siege warfare, Hu Biao and the combat team members of the task force have fought many times. Each division of labor, at the right time, to give the defenders a fatal blow. Cooperate with other friendly units to end the battle as quickly as possible.

If the Japanese army stationed in Mengcheng had an integrated brigade at this moment, Hu Biao would have to pay a certain price if he wanted to sneak attack. It's a pity that the Japanese army in the entire Mongolian city added up to only half a brigade, and the rest were puppet troops.

In fact, the Japanese army stationed half a brigade in a county town can be regarded as the Japanese army attaches great importance to this county seat. Replaced by some unimportant county seats, the little devils often only garrison one squadron, and then reorganize some puppet armies to cooperate with them to defend the city.

Relying on the fortifications of the city, the little devils can also deal with the siege battles that may be launched by the anti-Japanese army. The anti-Japanese war troops, who lacked heavy weapons, wanted to take down the county towns where the little devils were stationed, and it was difficult to take down these counties unless they adopted the tactics of crowds.

When all the members of the task force were in place, Sun Weimin, who had arrived outside Mengcheng with Hu Biao, looked at the city wall not far away, raised his hand and said: "Notify the artillery detachment to shell on time in five minutes." Order a battalion and a company, prepare for a feint! ”

"Yes, Captain!"

According to the attack time agreed with Hu Biao earlier, Sun Weimin and his combat troops have also been waiting quietly. While waiting, Sun Weimin was also worried about gunshots coming from the city, which meant that Hu Biao and his party were exposed.

Fortunately, from beginning to end, the city of Mongolia, which had already entered the middle of the night, seemed very quiet. The sentinels who had been walking back and forth on the city walls before seemed to be a lot more relaxed. The artillery detachment left behind by Hu Biao was already ready for the shelling.

In order to avoid the counterattack of the little devil artillery in the city, Hu Biao also reserved four mountain guns for the artillery detachment. The reconnaissance detachment had detected earlier that although the defenders of the city had some artillery, most of them were infantry guns and mortars.

This also means that as long as the little devils in the city dare to carry out artillery counterattacks, these four mountain guns can destroy the artillery positions of the little devils. Even, the little devils in the city are powerless to fight back. After all, mountain artillery has a longer range than infantry artillery!

It is rare to have the opportunity to command such a siege battle, and Sun Weimin also cherishes such an opportunity. For many of the current commanders of the Eighth Route Army, the experience of siege warfare is relatively lacking, and there is an urgent need to accumulate some combat experience.

Although I knew in my heart that it would be difficult for the regimental combat units of the Eighth Route Army to be equipped with so many artillery pieces. can think of Hu Biao's previous promise, Sun Weimin felt that he must fight hard. Once it is ready, the independent regiment will be able to form its own artillery battery.

If he is lucky, perhaps after this battle, his independent regiment will be able to form an artillery battalion. When the time comes, those old comrades-in-arms who are far away in other combat areas will know about it, and they will definitely be envious and jealous!

The battle outside the city was commanded by Sun Weimin, and the artillery operation was handled by the commander of the artillery detachment left behind by Hu Biao. After hearing Sun Weimin's order, the artillerymen who were already in position in the artillery position also quietly waited for the arrival of the shelling moment.

"The gunner is in position! Five rapid fire ready, five, four, three, two, one, put! ”

In the case of artillery operations in the field, it is inevitable that test firing will be carried out. But for tonight's artillery detachment, they only need to aim at the city wall and the targets around the city wall and launch artillery bombardment, as long as they don't shoot shells outside the city.

As for the possible accidental injuries caused during the shelling, the artillery detachment did not feel that there was much of a problem. In the county town where the Japanese army was stationed, the people were forbidden to live around the city wall. The reason for this is also very simple, the little devil is worried about being attacked.

Only when the walls can be seen clearly inside and outside can the defenders on the walls be protected from sneak attacks. This also means that unless the artillery shells are too far off, there is no need to worry too much, and the shells will accidentally injure the people in the city.

Eight mortars, divided into two firing positions, fired the first shells at the defenders on the walls almost at the same time. Looking at the eight shells rising into the air, the rest of the soldiers of the Eighth Route Army who cooperated with the battle were still somewhat envious in their hearts.

As warriors, they naturally know the power of shells. Whether offensive or defensive, whoever gains the advantage in artillery fire will have more advantages on the battlefield. Attacking and defending will also become relatively easy.

When the cannonballs whistled out of the barrels, many Japanese puppet soldiers who were patrolling the city wall looked a little dumbfounded. It seems that he never thought that in the middle of the night, someone would launch a siege battle against Mengcheng.

"Enemy attack! Shelling! Get up! Everyone hurry up and get into combat at once! ”

The sentinels on duty began to shout and shout, and many Japanese puppet soldiers who were resting on the city wall were also awakened by such a loud roar. As the men woke up, eight shells began to hit the ground and exploded.

Just as the Japanese troops hurriedly evaded artillery fire and began to enter the pass on the city wall, the first battalion and one company of the independent regiment, which had been hidden in the shadows, quickly rushed out of the shadows. Under the command of the commander of the first company, the approach of the city wall garrisoned by the Asahi puppet army began.

Seeing the sudden appearance of the Eighth Route Army under the city wall, the Japanese commander in charge of garrisoning the city wall quickly said: "Ready!" Don't let the enemy approach the walls! Eight Gyalu! These damned enemies, where the hell did they come from! ”

The sudden shelling and the troops wearing the uniforms of the Eighth Route Army undoubtedly surprised the little devils on the city wall. When the imp machine gun fired, a company of fighters who tried to get close to the city wall was quickly knocked to the ground.

Seeing this scene, the first company commander quickly said: "Don't huddle together, spread out in battle formation, and look for cover!" ”

Before the attack, the company commander knew that they were attacking at this moment, more to contain the attention of the defenders on the city wall. Let the Japanese puppet army on the city wall not dare to leave easily. And the artillery detachment, taking the opportunity to hit more shells on the city walls.

In particular, the airfield erected on the city wall by the little devils is the key target of the artillery detachment. In the face of round after round of artillery fire, the little devil commander in charge of the defense quickly said: "Receive the garrison, we need artillery support!" ”

A few rounds of shells fell, and the little devil already knew that the artillery used by the enemy outside the city was mortar. Although the power was not very great, the cannonballs were quite accurate, and from time to time the cannonballs accurately fell on the city walls.

The city wall, which is not too large in itself, causes a large number of casualties every time a shell explodes. If the artillery threat outside the city is not addressed, the defenders on the city walls risk paying a heavy price and are unable to stop the approaching enemy outside the city.

At this moment, the Japanese garrison officer in the city, after being awakened by the sound of shelling, quickly realized that there were anti-Japanese troops who took advantage of the night to attack Mengcheng. This obviously somewhat unreasonable situation also made the garrison feel that this night would be very difficult!