Grab ahead of the three regiments and occupy Zhou Hunyuan, the important town of Shuicheng. In the face of the two-sided attack launched by the independent division, he still felt a little helpless. And the order given by Xue Yue to stick to it, he also couldn't fail to obey it.

After arranging heavy guards at some important intersections in the town, Zhou Hunyuan was also anxiously waiting for the Guizhou Army Reorganization Division to come to the aid from the Liupan direction. If this division can arrive, he will have a lot more available troops at his disposal.

At least in Zhou Hunyuan's opinion, it will not be so aggrieved to only defend and not attack. It's just that when this reorganized division of the Qianjun army successfully arrived at Steep Basket. Looking at these Qian troops who came to help urgently, Zhou Hunyuan had an urge to scold his mother.

There were more than 6,000 reinforcements, but most of them carried only weapons and little ammunition. As for the food that Zhou Hunyuan expected, he didn't see it at all. This means that he has more than 6,000 mouths to eat.

Looking at this hard-working division commander, Zhou Hunyuan forcibly suppressed the anger in his heart and asked, "Master Hu, when you came out of Liupan, did you only carry these materials?" ”

'Report to the General! When we came out, we had a lot of ammunition and food with us. It was only after receiving a telegram from General Xue that in order to come and join the general as soon as possible, we put the baggage troops in the back, and the main force rushed to support with light equipment. ’

The meaning of these words was obvious, he didn't bring the food and ammunition that Zhou Hun Yuan was looking forward to, but more to carry out Xue Yue's order to rush to the aid of Qiao Qing as soon as possible. But in fact, this division commander Hu knew that his baggage troops were afraid of being finished.

Looking at the division commander in front of him, who seemed to be very loyal, Zhou Hunyuan was afraid that he wanted to jump on the other party with a shot, but he still suppressed his temper and said: "It's hard work Master Hu!" You've worked hard all the way, so find a place to rest in the town first, and wait for my orders. ”

'Yes, General! It's just that the brothers have been on the road for so long, can they arrange for the troops to have a meal and drink hot soup? ’

Faced with Master Hu's very 'reasonable' request, Zhou Hunyuan could only grit his teeth and say, "Okay, I will order the logistics troops to prepare food for you." Go down and rest first! ”

When this division commander Hu left the temporary headquarters, Zhou Hunyuan couldn't help but scold: "These guys who are greedy for life and afraid of death! Knowing that I was short of food and supplies, I didn't even bring their supplies when I came to help! ”

At this time, the officer in charge of intelligence smiled bitterly: "General, it's not that they don't want to bring supplies, but they can't bring them at all." The 2nd Regiment of the Independent Division, which sent small units to pursue all the way, suffered heavy losses in their baggage troops.

I wanted to come here because I was afraid that they would be surrounded by the Red Army, so I desperately rushed to join us. At present, the situation is very unfavorable for us, and the three main regiments of the Red Army have formed an encirclement around the steep basket! ”

'Where is the Eighty-Sixth Division?' ’

'I just passed through Lang Dai, and if they want to come, it will take at least three days or so! The mountain roads here are really not suitable for large armies to walk. And our reinforcements from the direction of Pu'an, if they want to arrive, they are afraid that it will take longer. ’

In that case, we have to hold out for three days? ’

'Yes! But our food is only enough for one day at most. Six thousand more mouths put more pressure on our food! General, do you think you can send troops to the nearby cottage to collect grain? ’

In the vicinity of Qiaoqing, there are also many ethnic minorities. The cottages where these ethnic minorities gather still have a certain amount of food reserves. But the consequences of going there to collect grain are still very unpredictable.

In these days, everyone knows the truth that food is precious. If you want to grab the food of these ethnic minority villages, you must be prepared to fight each other to the death. After all, everyone knows that these people are fierce!

Even if he was aware of the consequences, Zhou Hunyuan still said: "Wait first!" Let's see how many supplies the Air Force can send us tomorrow. I don't want to poke this hornet's nest if it's not necessary. These people are very difficult to entangle. ”

Seeing that Zhou Hunyuan didn't want to forcibly requisition grain, the intelligence officer didn't persuade him much. In fact, he did not recommend such a forcible requisition of grain unless it was absolutely necessary.

And at this time, the reconnaissance battalion of the independent division also returned smoothly. Seeing Li Xiangdong, who had returned safely, He Zhengdao also smiled and said: "Xiangdong, it's hard work!" Let you do it like this, in less than ten days and half a month, Zhou Hunyuan's materials don't want to be sent to the steep basket. ”

'It's okay! Division commander, what tasks are there next, assigned to our reconnaissance battalion? ’

'Eat first, get rest!' Tomorrow morning, you will move with me! ’

'Yes, Commander! ’

Hearing that He Zhengdao would lead them to act again tomorrow, Li Xiangdong also seemed very happy. And a night's rest is also very important for the soldiers of the reconnaissance battalion who have just returned.

Just when Zhou Hunyuan's troops began to feel that this time was very long. Behind the position of a regiment, the mountain artillery battalion, which was ready for artillery bombardment, was also waiting for Wang Tianlin's order.

Seeing that everything was ready, Wang Tianlin looked at the defensive position of the Central Army in front of him, and said in a timely manner: "Let's start shelling!" ”

'Yes, Chief of Staff! ’

Even if the level of these artillery is not as high as the level of Zhu Definition. However, the soldiers who were temporarily transferred to the artillery battalion knew that this was an opportunity for Wang Tianlin to give them live-fire training. There are not many opportunities like this for them!

With the roar of a mountain cannon, listen to the sound of artillery fire coming from ahead. The Central Army, which was guarding the defensive position, immediately said in a panic: "Concealment, artillery bombardment!" Hurry up and hide, the Red Army has opened fire! ”

Zhou Hunyuan, who was paying attention to the battle at the command headquarters, heard the fierce shelling sound from the front position, and said with some surprise: "What's the matter?" Separate divisions, has the general offensive begun? ”

'I don't know! I've sent someone to check on the situation! Listening to this artillery sound, I am afraid that we will all fall into the hands of the independent division in the mountain artillery battalion. Damn it! The 761st Regiment didn't know that it blew up those mountain artillery! ’

The chief of staff who accompanied Zhou Hunyuan, when he heard the rumbling shelling, guessed that this was the firepower of a mountain artillery battalion. And the independent division did not have such a ferocious firepower configuration at all, most likely their mountain artillery battalion was captured.

It's too late to call for air support. Not to mention, the previous time there was a little bit of Shuangbao, those air forces were a little frightened of the independent division. The bombers did not dare to come to the battlefield to support the operation at will.

If a few more planes are laid down for the independent division, Chairman Chiang is afraid that he will also scold his mother at that time. In these years, the planes of the Central Army can also be said to be one less than one, and it is difficult to replenish them!

Looking at the enemy position caught in the artillery fire, Zhang Cheng, the commander of the first regiment, said in a timely manner: "Chief of staff, did you let the first battalion rush up and occupy that position?" ”

'Nope! Today is not the time for the main attack! If the first battalion occupied that mountain, Zhou Hunyuan would definitely fight to get it back. There's no need to die with them. Tomorrow is the beginning of our real general offensive! ’

I had already received a telegram from He Zhengdao before, saying that tonight, including the three regiments, the three main regiments were all recuperating and ready for tomorrow's general attack. As for when the general offensive will be, it will depend on what He Zhengdao's actions will achieve.

When the communications corps sent to the front-line positions to inquire about the situation returned, they informed that a battalion guarding the front-line positions had suffered more than half of the casualties in the shelling. Zhou Hunyuan also felt that this kind of consumption made him feel a little painful.

And the chief of staff said in a timely manner: "Military seat, do you want that division commander Hu to send a regiment over to replace it?" ”

'Forget it! Let's wait for tomorrow! Count on them, but I'm afraid they won't be useful! Let a regiment and send an additional main battalion to change the guard. That position must be in our hands. ’

It is clear that the chief of staff's suggestion is to preserve the strength of the Central Army. But Zhou Hunyuan felt that these Qianjun were unreliable. Send them up, and at night the independent division launches a night attack, and they are afraid that they will not be able to withstand it.

When they were calculating the Guizhou army divisions that came to help, these Guizhou troops who were galloping all the way to the steep line, it seemed that the dinner prepared for them by the Central Army turned out to be some rice porridge. Many soldiers think, how can this rice porridge fill their stomachs?

Many regiment commanders immediately complained to Division Commander Hu: "Division, the Central Army is too bullying, right?" Are we here to support them? Brothers, after such a long journey, you eat this kind of thing, so you have enough to eat? ”

As a result, Master Hu also said helplessly: "Okay!" Tell your brothers, bear with me! Who called people the Central Army? And their supplies are not enough. Hopefully, tomorrow, the Air Force will be able to drop more food.

Otherwise, we didn't wait for the reinforcements to arrive, but I was afraid that we would all starve to death. After going down, let everyone complain less. Hurry up and go to bed after eating! If you can't sleep, I'll go to the front to fight the Red Army later. ”

The phrase 'fight the Red Army' immediately deflated these disgruntled regiment commanders. If the Red Army had been so easy to fight, they would not have lost their baggage and come here in such a mess.

It's just that for many ordinary soldiers of the Qianjun Army, after driving for such a long time, they originally hoped to be able to eat a full meal. I didn't think about it, but I drank it hot, but it was still thin. How can this little rice porridge be full?

Compared with the complaints of these soldiers of the Guizhou Army, the main force of the three regiments of the independent division began to rest after eating a full meal. Even if they didn't receive a specific battle order, many soldiers knew that they were going to fight a tough battle when they saw that there was meat for dinner.

If you don't launch a general attack at night, you think that tomorrow will launch a general attack. And a good meal tonight is also for them to accumulate some strength, and after going into battle tomorrow, they can kill the enemy bravely!