Han Xing said: "Hurry up and sweep away these devils, and after clearing them, quickly build a fortification circle with Cangfang Village and Gaodazhuang as the center, and continue to meet the airborne follow-up troops."

Yin Zhaoli agreed: "Yes!" "Swiftly carry out the order.

After a while, Pan Xiaoan also sent someone to contact and explain the situation of the Weihe Bridge. After discussing with Liu Zhiyuan, Han Xing quickly dispatched a company of Liu Zhiyuan to take over the security team to guard the bridge and free up the intelligence team so that he could continue to reconnoiter the situation near Lu'an City. At the same time, liaison officers were dispatched to contact the 51st Army of the National Army guarding Lu'an.

The gunfire near Cangfang Village and Gaodazhuang quickly died down. Originally, the devils of these two squads came to fight the front station, that is, to feel the situation in this area, so as to explore the situation for the devil's large army in a roundabout tactical way. Unexpectedly, he met Zhang Xiaosan platoon of the special operations battalion, and as soon as the battle dragged on, he was driven by the paratroopers who paratrooped in the air, took the sheep by hand, and ate the devils of these two squads, and cleared the area north of Lu'an City, which greatly strengthened the security of the area north of Lu'an City.

A little more than two hours later, the second group of parachutes arrived. At this time, the troops of the Southern Expeditionary Army had increased to more than 800 people, Zhang Weihan also came, and Xu Da had become three people in the headquarters. After that, every two hours or so, paratroopers were parachuted.

Han Xing moved the headquarters of the Southern Expeditionary Army forward and moved it to the vicinity of Lu'an City, from which he could see the battle in Lu'an City. The intelligence team also sent information about the battle between the 51st Army and the 10th Division of the Japanese Army in Lu'an City.

The 51st Army of the National Revolutionary Army, originally belonging to the Northeast Army series, was commanded by Yu Xuezhong and Liu Zhonggan, chief of staff. Zhou Guanglie, commander of the 113th Division, and Dou Guangdian, commander of the 337th Brigade, had jurisdiction over the 673rd and 674th regiments. The commander of the 339th Brigade, Meng Xianzhou, has jurisdiction over the 677th and 678th regiments.

The commander of the 114th Division, Mu Zhongheng, the commander of the 340th Brigade, Hu Xianmei, was in charge of the 679th Regiment and the 680th Regiment, and the commander of the 342nd Brigade, Li Yulin, was in charge of the 683rd Regiment and the 684th Regiment.

In April 1938, the army participated in the Battle of Xuzhou, and blocked the southern enemy in the first-line positions of Taodun, Persimmon Shuyuan, and Cailixu near Taierzhuang (in present-day Taierzhuang District and Yicheng District, Zaozhuang City). In May of the same year, after the defeat in the Battle of Xuzhou, the army was ordered to move to the vicinity of Tongshan, occupy the defense fortifications east of Jinpu Road, and cover the retreat of the Lunan Corps. In August, the army was transferred to the front line at the northern foot of Dabie Mountain to participate in the Battle of Wuhan.

The 10th Division of the Japanese Army, also known as the Himeji Division, is a division of the Japanese Army, one of the 17 standing divisions of the Japanese Army before the outbreak of World War II. In mid-August 1937, it landed in Dagu from the Japanese mainland and assembled in Tianjin, and was later incorporated into the 2nd Army.

At this time, the division was composed of the division commander, Lieutenant General Ryosuke Isoya, the chief of staff, the 8th Infantry Brigade (Major General Setakehei), and the 39th Wing (Numata Takazo Osa) and the 40th Wing (Yoshio Nagano). The 33rd Infantry Brigade (Major General Kei Seya) is under the command of the 10th Wing (Chishiba Yaezo Daisa) and the 63rd Wing (Fukuei Mahei Daisa).

The division has one wing each under the jurisdiction of cavalry, artillery, engineer, and baggage, as well as a communications team, a medical team, and a 1-4 field hospital. Temporarily attached to 2 artillery wings, 2 machine gun brigades, 2 armored squadrons. On June 18, 1938, the division commander was changed to Yoshio Shinozuka.

Han Xing, Zhang Weihan, and Xu Da looked at the information of both sides repeatedly. Han Xing analyzed: "From the analysis of the number of people alone, the 51st Army is known as an army, but in fact, there are 8 integrated regiments and more than 10,000 people. A division of the Japanese army, in terms of the number of people alone, has 25,000 people. Not to mention that the equipment of the national army is relatively simple, while the Japanese army is a comprehensive unit, and the weapons of the national army cannot be compared. In addition, behind the Japanese army, there is also the 3rd Division as a backup, 51 This battle is more than auspicious! ”

Zhang Weihan was also thinking about this question: "No one can fight this battle, this is the reality of the Battle of Wuhan, the national army is generally superior in terms of strength, and in the local battlefield, why are they all inferior, if they are all like this, this Wuhan Battle is really impossible to fight!" ”

Han Xing thought for a while and said, "I think it is necessary to meet with Yu Xuezhong once and pull a pull, so as to be more conducive to the cooperation of the two armies." What do you think? ”

Zhang Weihan said: "You are right, only when we meet can we be more conducive to the cooperation of the two sides. Besides, we don't know much about Yu Xuezhong, and we really need to get to know each other when we meet. I see, I'm going to go for this mission, right? ”

Han Xing said: "It's more appropriate for me to go, you are the deputy commander, guarding the north of Lu'an, and you also have a heavy responsibility." ”

Zhang Weihan thought about it, nodded in agreement, and specially sent a platoon of Yin Zhaoli's special operations battalion to escort him. Of course, before leaving, Pan Xiaoan of the intelligence team first greeted Yu Xuezhong, and after agreeing, Han Xing immediately led the first company of the special operations battalion, Zhang Xiaosan, to the military headquarters of the 51st Army.

Han Xing deliberately walked very slowly, observing the position of the 51st Army while walking slowly.

The 51st Army built several fortifications around the outside of Lu'an City, and these fortifications cannot be said to be badly repaired, and all of them were dug in accordance with the field requirements of regular operations. How wide and deep the trenches are, between companies and companies, between companies and battalions, and between battalions and regiments, there are all clear regulations, just like a mold is deducted.

Some of the soldiers on the battlefield were resting, some were sorting out their weapons and letters, some were smoking cigarettes, and some were talking about war and family affairs. It seems that they are no longer surprised by the bloody battlefield, and they do not look particularly panicked.

In front of the position, there were lying corpses, some wearing yellow uniforms, obviously the corpses of devils, and some wearing green uniforms, obviously the corpses of the national army. If it weren't for white-knuckle warfare and counterattack warfare, there would not have been so many corpses of national troops in front of the position.

Some of these corpses have begun to decompose and become flies under the August sun, but since the people are dead, those who can be pulled back have been pulled back, and those who cannot be pulled back are indeed too close to the enemy, so they can only be allowed to rot and stink.

No matter how good the fortifications are, they can't withstand the bombardment of aircraft and heavy artillery, and these fortifications on the position have collapsed a lot, some are being repaired, and some can't be repaired, so they don't care about it. Needless to say, the casualties are staggering.

Another attack of the enemy began, as if in the textbooks, first four planes bombarded in turn, and then heavy artillery bombardment, which was bombarded for a long time, and only then about a brigade of devils attacked for a while in front of a position of the 51st Army.

Looking at that frame, it's not really an offense, but a bit tentative.

The military headquarters of the 51st Army is located not far from the front of the position, and the terrain is very hidden, but it can observe the combat shape of the front line in a relatively comprehensive way. Han Xing thought: "It seems that this Yu Xuezhong is not a wine bag and rice bag, greedy and afraid of death. ”

Two more trenches were passed through guò and entered a circular fortification, which was the headquarters of the 51st Army. Yu Xuezhong personally greeted him, held Han Xing's hand tightly and said, "I didn't expect that the Chief of Staff of the Southern Expeditionary Army Han is so young, fortunately!" Fortunately! ”

Han Xing was also looking at this Yu Xuezhong, he was forty-seven or eight years old, medium to high height, big eyes, thick eyebrows, and thin face, although he was a little haggard, but he looked very energetic. Han Xing also complimented him and said: "Your 51st Army is not simple, with such a strong 10th Army in front, it is really a strong army to withstand its attack!" ”

Yu Xuezhong shook his head and said, "Don't make fun of your brother, I don't lose my strength when I talk about it." Your Southern Expeditionary Army blew the horn through the crack in the door - the reputation is outside, the first battle of Jinan, occupied the airport, and the first battle of Xuzhou Airport, destroyed more than 100 enemy planes. As soon as I arrived in Lu'an, I defeated the devils who attacked the Weihe Bridge, if it weren't for you, our 51st Army, but there would be no way back to retreat! No, in the vicinity of Cangfang Village and Gaodazhuang, you eliminated the flank enemy of our 51st Army who detoured around, relieved us of flank security, and strengthened our left flank. I've said thank you so much, but you also have to give me a time and a chance! ”

Han Xing was carefully observing Yu Xuezhong, thinking that this person could still be in a relationship, so he had to say: "If you are a good brother, you have all handed over your life in the battlefield. Now the devils are in front of us, and how to defeat these devils in front of us is up to the two of us. We have nothing else in the Southern Expeditionary Army, only more than 5,000 brothers who have the same heart as you, who are willing to join hands with you and work hard to kill the enemy together, what do you think? ”

Yu Xuezhong patted Han Xing's shoulder again and said, "I listen to your accent, like a Shandong person, and I am also a Shandong person." I just like the temperament of Shandong people, straightforward, what to say, never hide it. ”

Han Xing shouted: "I am from Jinan, Shandong, where are you from?" ”

Yu Xuezhong said: "I am a native of Yujiazhuang, Penglai County, Shandong. ”

"It's really a fellow to see a fellow countryman, with tears in his eyes. So what else do we have to say, just say, how to fight this battle, right? Han Xing said excitedly.

Yu Xuezhong happily patted Han Xing's shoulder again, and led Han Xing to a sand table. In front of the sand table, it was already very vivid, and the deployment of troops on both sides and the terrain in which they were located were clearly laid out on the sand table. Yu Xuezhong said: "According to my brother, how should this battle be fought? ”

Han Xing watched in front of the sand table for a full five minutes, remembering in his mind the troops, deployment, and heavy firepower deployment of both sides.

After five minutes, Han Xingcai said: "I have found a problem here, although the field fortifications deployed by the 51st Army outside Lu'an City seem to be very complete, if the Japanese army does not attack from the front of your position, but goes back to another place, inserts into your back, and surrounds you. What do you do? ”

Yu Xuezhong nodded and said, "This is also what I am worried about, if that happens, we will be in a very dangerous situation." However, if we divide our forces to defend the enemy on the flank, we will indeed have more than enough strength but not enough strength. ”

Han Xing nodded and said, "Lu'an City, said to be the north of Dabie Mountain, is actually still a flat land, and there is no danger to be used. Judging from the fact that the Japanese army attacked the Weihe Bridge and made a detour to the vicinity of Cangfang Village and Gaodazhuang last night, the Japanese army actually had the intention of fighting in a big roundabout. Moreover, the Japanese army's consistent style is to fight in a roundabout way, which is their old tactic. ”

Yu Xuezhong nodded and said, "According to my brother, what should we do?" ”

"I think," Han Xing said, "we can only kill and injure a large number of enemies here, but then find favorable terrain and use the Dabie Mountain behind us, the heavy mountain ranges, to block the enemy layer by layer, killing and wounding the enemy." If there is a decisive battle with the enemy here, it is exactly what the Japanese army cannot ask for. ”

Yu Xuezhong frowned again and said: "It is said that a large number of enemy casualties are killed, but in fact, it is us, not the enemy army, who are killed and injured in large quantities. Look at it, the Japanese army is both airplanes and artillery, do we have it, it's good that we have an artillery regiment, but the shells are limited, and we can't fight the devil! ”

Han Xing smiled and said, "Let's let the air force of our Southern Expeditionary Army deal with the planes and artillery of the little devils!" ”

As soon as he heard that the Southern Expeditionary Army could dispatch the air force to deal with the planes and artillery of the little devils, Yu Xuezhong was so excited that he couldn't hug Han Xing and kiss him, and he held Han Xing's hand tightly with both hands and said: "We have always been bombed by the planes of the little devils and hit by the artillery, if the planes of the Southern Expeditionary Army can deal with the planes and artillery of the little devils, then our 51st Army will let the little devils see the power of our Chinese Army!" ”