Chapter 2: Cross Currents (13a)

A fierce battle is imminent. It is true that this is not the time to clean up military discipline. Fang Guoqiang sighed helplessly. Hesitantly nodded. Before coming to Blackstone Guerrillas. He had heard of the proud achievements of the Blackstone guerrillas in his military division. I thought I was there. You can make a big show and do a career. Who would have thought that hearing is better than seeing it. What I saw this night. But it's unbelievable.

Is it true that the Blackstone guerrillas reported their previous records have no water? A team that is so lax in organizational discipline. How is it possible to create so much brilliance.. Think about the kind of orders and prohibitions you see in the troops directly under the central government. Think of the kind of order that the Ninety-Third Regiment showed when it was in session. Think about the chaos and excitement of the guerrilla meeting just now. Fang Guoqiang suddenly felt confused in his heart. But. He couldn't find anyone to help him guide him. This is not a school. If you have any questions, you can discuss them openly with your classmates. This is also not a military division. Any dispute can be submitted to the superior for arbitration and resolution. Over here. He is a commissar. Things about the organization and the direction of the development of the team. It's all his responsibility. If he himself is guilty of confusion. Just count on someone else who understands.

Until the team starts to regroup. Fang Guoqiang still can't get out of the loss and confusion. Zhang Songling saw that his face was haggard. I thought he was overtired because of the continuous rush. So he called over the deputy old man of the first squadron. The latter was ordered to accompany the commissar to the artillery position. Responsible for coordinating and communicating with the artillery company of the 93rd Regiment. Then he gave advice to Xiao Yu and Xiao Chang, the two soldiers who had just been assigned to Fang Guoqiang as guards. Ordered them to be sure to protect the safety of the commissar. Finally, he gently patted Guoqiang's shoulder below. Jumped on horseback.

Such a careful and considerate arrangement. Let Fang Guoqiang be embarrassed. I feel a little better in my heart." Maybe what I saw earlier was superficial!" Sighed quietly. He comforted himself in his heart." Let's take a closer look. It's a bit hasty to jump to conclusions now."

With a brain of fog. He was under the guidance of Lao Hou. Walked to the artillery position of the 93rd Regiment. The 93rd Regiment has been undergoing political training together with other Fu Zuoyi's descendants since 38. Political work cadres have been sent down to the platoon level. Therefore, the departments are no strangers to the position of political commissar. They all respected Fang Guoqiang as a big cadre of the guerrillas. Especially the commander of the artillery company, Sun Yunqi. He even specially tuned a high-powered Soviet-made telescope. Used when the Supplying Commander "commands" a battle. (Note 1)

In front of outsiders. Of course, Fang Guoqiang can't do any more preoccupations. Quickly smiled and said some words of thanks. Then I half-pushed and half-plugged the telescope on the spot. Standing on a specially created observation post at an artillery position. Examine the entire battlefield situation.

Spring dawns late in the north. It's almost six o'clock. Due east, there is still not the slightest sign of whitening. Opposite. Because the moon has set in the west. It's getting darker and darker. Only when the flare suddenly lights up. to see the outline of the hill not far ahead. Unknown wild trees are swaying by the night wind. Like the beating shadows of the devils.

Most of the flares were fired by the Japanese who were entrenched on the top of the mountain. Occasionally, a few came from the National Revolutionary Army that surrounded the top of the hill. This all night. Although there were no large-scale firefights. But neither the offensive nor the defending sides dared to let their guard down. Occasionally, I hear the wind blowing somewhere. It's flare and tracer greeting. lest one side launch a sneak attack under the cover of night. Hit yourself off guard.

"So well guarded. Is it possible for Zhang Fatzi's plan to be realized?" Looking at the ghostly mountaintop in the lens. Fang Guoqiang felt that his lips slowly began to dry. The heart is also slowly moving towards the throat and eyes. When the guerrillas in Jizhong. He had never participated in a battle on such a large scale. A whole squadron of Japanese invaders. And a reinforced squadron armed to the teeth . Ninety-third regiment in the first day of battle. More than 300 people were killed and wounded. None of them were able to break into the opposing position one step. Zhang Fatzi took about 60 cavalrymen with him. Could it be a miracle? What did he rely on to break through the net of fire woven by light and heavy machine guns. Why did he cross one death trap after another in the darkness...

There was a cacophony of mechanical friction under his feet. Like a sharp knife. It kept tormenting his eardrums. It was the sound of the Soviet-made 76-mm mountain artillery when it began to prepare for battle. Very noisy. This artillery inherited the consistent characteristics of Soviet-made weapons. Bulky and sturdy. The lethality is huge. The effective firing range is up to more than eight thousand meters. Far more than the Kodama squadron equipped with the Type 92 and Type 97. It is said that in previous battles. He once suppressed the latter to the point that he could not exert any power at all.

"Cheer me up. The little devil has been blown up by us during the day. But I'm sure there's a life-saving guy or two hiding somewhere." against their own records. Sun Yunqi, the commander of the artillery company, was also very proud. With a bit of ostentatious tone. Shout at your subordinates." The head of the regiment said. After the discovery. Destroy it immediately. You don't have to ask anyone."

"Yes." Four artillery groups responded at the same time. Each warrior had an undisguised smug look on his face.

"Count it from you. How far is it from the position of the little devils.. If you find the devil's firepower. Probably how long will it take to destroy it.." Fang Guoqiang listened with some envy. Lean over. Very humbly asked Sun Yunqi for advice. Soviet aid to China was handed over to the Chongqing government for distribution. In the hands of the Eighth Route Legion-level unit. But there is no such powerful weapon of suppression.

"It's hard to say." Sun Yunqi thought about it. Very realistic." If you find the devil's Type 92 infantry gun. All four guns on my side launched a counterattack at the same time. The results will be received in about five minutes. If it's a heavy machine gun or the kind of ninety-seven that can be carried on your shoulder at any time. It's more troublesome. Basically didn't wait for me to turn the muzzle of the gun over. They don't know where they're going."

"Then ......" Fang Guoqiang's heart tightened again when he heard it. Hesitated for a moment. Keep asking. Kodama squadron in hand. How much artillery is left . I mean, all artillery counts.."

"Ninety-two should have been eliminated by us." Sun Yunqi raised his head. Laugh and respond." Yesterday we started fighting the little devils. is on flat ground. After the artillery achieved an overwhelming superiority. Only then did he force the Kodama squadron up the mountain step by step. I found the wreckage of two infantry guns on the battlefield . There shouldn't be a third door. After all, it's just a reinforced squadron on the other side. It can't be better than the little devil's brigade equipment."

"What about the Type 97 small steel cannon. Do you think the devil has anything in his hands?" Fang Guoqiang nodded. Then I asked uneasily.

The infantry guns of the Japanese were generally only equipped at the brigade level. The Kodama squadron is a reinforced squadron. is barely enough to equip the qualifications of the ninety-two style. This. Fang Guoqiang is also very clear. However. Lightweight and flexible ninety-seven style. It is non-standard equipment. This caliber eighty-one mm infantry curved gun. The barrel weighs only more than twenty kilograms. Very portable. Various combat units of the Japanese army. Up to infantry wings, down to squadrons and even squads. can appear in it.

"Judging by the daytime fights. At least more than four doors. In the end, it was destroyed or not. I don't know very well either. Anyway. I didn't find the corpse of this cannon on the battlefield." Sun Yunqi slowly frowned. Respond in a low voice.

Fang Guoqiang's heart continued to tighten. There was a blackness in front of my eyes. Brave the Japanese machine-gun blockade to launch a charge. It's enough to test the team. I actually have to face the indiscriminate bombardment of small steel cannons at the same time. This Zhang Fat Man. He really thought he was still alive in the Middle Ages. With cavalry, you can conquer the world?

"But Chief Fang can rest assured. The first few rounds. I'll plow the devil's position first. I promise not to let the little devils take the lead." Sun Yunqi was keenly aware of Fang Guoqiang's nervousness. Smiled. Whisper comfort.

A spicy feeling of rela once again swelled up on Guoqiang's face. Woke him up quickly. What am I doing? How can you be embarrassed in front of the Kuomintang officers.. I'm worried about the use of it again. Said to be here to coordinate communication. I have an opinion. Are the artillerymen really willing to listen to me?!

The answer is obvious. Sun Yunqi was very polite to him. But they will not let an outsider point the fingers. changed Fang Guoqiang's own and the other party. It's the same. The atmosphere around us suddenly became awkward. The grinding sound of the gunner's wheel as it turns. It's also getting more and more tooth-sore. I don't want to continue with what I said before. Fang Guoqiang smiled and nodded at Sun Yun's starting point. The telescope in his hand turned to the dark hill not far away. The dawn is near. The outline of the mountain slowly becomes clear in the night. The wild trees that were crooked by the wind slowly appeared. There is also a clutter of bushes and ugly and weird stones. Suddenly. On the edge of a wooded field. He faintly saw a group of slowly moving objects. It's Zhang Fat They. The silhouette of a man is not so big. Only a war horse would have such a conspicuous body size. Luckily, they were on the lower side of the woods. Not found out by the little devils. Sky.. How could the queue of Zhang Fatzi be so long. Didn't he take only sixty men with him? How it seems to fill the whole forest. Sky. Where did he get so many war horses...

No one could answer the question in his mind. All of a sudden. The general assault began without warning. The four Soviet-made mountain cannons at their feet let out a deafening roar. Place the Japanese position on the top of the hill facing the muzzle. Exploded red. Gravel flying.

Note 1: After the Battle of Taiyuan. General Fu Zuoyi, in view of the fact that the soldiers of the Jin Sui Army have a heart to serve the country. The actual combat effectiveness does not match the enthusiasm of the Anti-Japanese War. It was decided to refer to the experience of the construction of the Eighth Route Army. Reorganize the troops. The Political Work Committee of the Northern Route Army was specially established. Self-appointed Director. And at all levels of the department are specially set up political work departments. Advocate equality between officers and soldiers. Positive measures such as economic openness to boost morale. Good results have been obtained. At the end of 1939, Fu was forced to end all cooperation with the Eighth Route Army under pressure, but the relationship between the two sides was basically good throughout the Anti-Japanese War.

Note 2: Early days of the Anti-Japanese War. The Soviet Union in order to prevent Japan from attacking itself. It once gave a large amount of arms aid to the national government. Among them, there are more than 1,600 artillery pieces of various types.