"The 21st Division advanced eastward along the north bank of the Qujiang River, successfully passed Sutang and Fangjiaqiao, and has now reached the north bank of Anren Town for a short rest."

Zhan Huanqi, commander of the communications company, held the information transmitted back by the guard company and the communications company, and assumed the role of an intelligence staff officer.

"The forward battalions of the 4th and 5th regiments of our division have reached Anren Town, and there has been no resistance along the way; The 6th Regiment was located in the village of Anpu, four kilometres behind, and was moving at full speed. ”

"Another: Due to the muddy roads after the snow, the artillery battalion of our division could no longer advance to Anrenwei. The artillery battalion of the 21st Division on the north bank also encountered a corresponding situation and left the artillery battalion in Gaojia Town on the north bank. Zhan Huanqi finished reporting and quietly waited for An Yi's order.

An Yi in front of the map thought for a while, glanced at the watch on his wrist It was already 4:45 in the morning, turned his head and ordered: "Huanqi, order Wu Liheng, deputy of the guard company, to lead the fifth and sixth platoons to set off immediately, and must guard the Anren Bridge connecting the north and south banks of the Qujiang River. ”

"Yes!"

Zhan Huanqi walked to the telephone on the right and rang the phone.

A hurried sound of horses' hooves came into the house, and the herald of the division headquarters quickly dismounted and entered the house, saluted and took out Liu Zhi's handwritten message: "Divisional order: The model battalion of the Reading Force Regiment immediately went to Anren Town to stand by." To give...... The chief of staff asked me to bring you a message to ensure the safety of Quzhou City. ”

An Yi took the edict, motioned to the orderly to bring a cup of tea, and after reading the edict, he handed it to Yang Bin beside him, and turned to the twenty-eight-year-old major herald who graduated from the fourth phase of the engineer communication department and asked with a smile: "Old Dong, why don't you pull the telephone line to Quzhou City?" ”

"You think I don't want to? I rode for two hours to get to you, and I was tired, but I didn't have enough men! Twenty kilometers from Anren Town to here, the road is crooked and muddy, and most of the sides are rocky mountains. It would be nice to be able to ensure telephone communication between the division headquarters and the regiments at the front! ”

The short and sturdy old Dong took the warm tea and drank it in a big gulp, and he was tired of riding a horse for twenty kilometers at night.

An Yi brought him a stool, took out a cigarette and handed it to him: "Let's rest for a while...... Lao Dong, when you came, had the Fourth and Fifth Regiments already set off to the east? ”

Lao Dong put down his cup, lit a cigarette and sat down: "As soon as the sixth regiment arrives, it will all set off, and the 21st Division on the north bank will march east at the same time, and it is expected to contact the enemy in an hour." The three main regiments scrambled one by one, and the formation was chaotic...... Xiao Yi, what do you think of this battle? I always feel a little empty in my heart, and I guess I am tired from not sleeping for two days and two nights. ”

"Report!"

Gu Lao Er pushed open the door and hurriedly entered, bringing in a cold wind, which instantly filled the room with a cold atmosphere: "My company went out to find about a thousand troops stationed in the area from Tashan Hall to Yaojia Village on the north bank of the Qujiang River, six kilometers southwest of Lanxi City, and it was impossible to know the number of the unit. Another: Ding Zhicheng's detachment urgently reported that there was a large area of fire at the eastern foot of the Mouse Mountain south of Youbu, which stretched for more than a kilometer, and it was suspected that it was a bonfire lit by the enemy to protect against the cold. This information was reported to the division headquarters stationed in Anren Town, but the division headquarters believed that this was a small support force of the enemy and had little impact on the overall situation. ”

An Yi and the brothers were taken aback, and this information finally partially confirmed An Yi and Ye Cheng's concerns.

The brothers looked nervously at An Yi, who was pacing back and forth, Ye Cheng thought for a moment and took a step forward: "Xiao Yi, leave it to me here, I have sent eight reconnaissance teams to go out to the left and right twenty kilometers to guard, Quzhou City is no problem, even if you retreat 10,000 steps back and be attacked and besieged by the enemy, there are no 5,000 men and horses and heavy artillery to attack the city, don't want to get a little benefit in my hands." ”

An Yi finally made up his mind: "I can't wait any longer!" Ji Nan, you immediately lead the model battalion to Anren Town to report to the division, pull away all the pack horses of the second battalion, put the ammunition and heavy machine guns on horseback, and advance as fast as possible! ”

"Yes!"

Yin Jinan saluted and turned to leave.

An Yi turned to his beard: "You take the companies directly under the regiment headquarters to set off, you don't need to enter Anren Town, stop advancing when you reach Anren Bridge, two kilometers west of the town, and stay in place to wait and see what happens." ”

"Understood!"

"Lao Yang, you and Zhibiao led the third battalion across the Jiangbei and went straight to Gaojia Town, where the artillery battalion of the 21st Division is located, and persuaded them to establish artillery positions as much as possible and be ready for artillery support at all times."

After An Yi finished speaking, he walked to the map and pointed to Baishigang, about four kilometers northwest of Gaojia Town: "As long as you occupy this commanding height, you can block the north bank of the Qujiang River to the south, and you can block the east-west passage of Zhougong Lake to the north. ”

Yang Bin nodded: "I think of a piece, no matter how difficult it is, I will send three battalions of machine gun companies to climb up, as long as there are eight heavy machine guns and six mortars, I can hold the east and west main roads on the north bank for at least five hours, and it will be difficult for a long time." ”

An Yi said: "I will be responsible for the delivery of ammunition for you, and if you really need it, you will have to withstand it for ten hours." ”

"Understood, when I arrived in Gaojia Town, I immediately ordered the engineer company to climb the Baishigang to build fortifications, not afraid of ten thousand, just in case! I'm leaving. Yang Bin took the adjutant salute and said goodbye.

An Yi turned to Xia Jian, who was waiting anxiously: "You go back to the camp quickly, leave all the heavy machine gunners and ammunition of your machine gun company, and assist the second battalion to defend the city, and the rest of the troops will bring enough ammunition and grenades, and I will set off with your first battalion." Remember, the newly formed Mountain Company is led by you, and you will act when the opportunity arises. ”

"Yes!"

Xia Jian, who originally thought that he had no fight, was happy now, and left with a smile on his face.

The regiment headquarters became deserted, leaving only An Yi, Ye Cheng and Qu Muchen as the three chief officers and a few staff officers of the regiment headquarters, Lao Dong looked at all this in surprise, and was deeply disturbed by An Yi's mobilization of troops without an order: "Xiao Yi, you are doing this against the order!" ”

An Yi smiled and shook his head: "You go back quickly, I believe that when you return to the division headquarters twenty kilometers to the east, the division seat will make the same decision as me...... Xiao Du, grab a few hot buns from the stove by the door...... Bring it, Lao Dong, I don't dare to leave you for breakfast, for this possible change, our reading group made more than 30,000 steamed buns overnight, otherwise you won't be able to eat if you really fight, you must be hungry, take it. ”

Lao Dong stuffed a bag of hot meat buns into his wide pocket, sighed and patted An Yi's arm, turned around and went out a few steps to turn over and get on the horse, galloping away with fluttering snowflakes.

An Yi returned to the large map again and discussed nervously with Ye Cheng and Qu Muchen.

Thirty minutes later, An Yi tightened his leggings and draped them neatly, took his special rifle from the newly transferred seventeen-year-old herald Xiao Du, opened the bolt and checked it for a moment, and carried it on his back with pity, leaving the warm regiment headquarters under the farewell of Ye Cheng and Qu Muchen, and walking towards the cold and windy camp gate.

When he arrived at the gate of the camp and looked up, he found that it was not the original guard Ma Zhiyuan who helped him bring the little black horse, but Shen Fengdao, who had not seen him for many years, An Yi stopped and looked him up and down curiously.

Shen Fengdao's face was calm, without any embarrassment, the serial uniform of the second class was very decent on his tall and toned body, but there was a Colt 1911 military pistol that only a lieutenant of the Reading Regiment was qualified to wear around his waist.

"Old Shen, why don't you act with the Tiger Head's guard company?" An Yi asked.

Shen Fengdao replied calmly: "The subordinates strictly obeyed the orders of the company commander, and set off with the regiment commander in this battle. Second Lieutenant Ma Zhiyuan, the regiment commander's guard, was ordered by Deputy Hu Tuan to return to the third platoon of the teaching company and follow the deputy platoon commander, Lieutenant Dou Fang, to carry out reconnaissance tasks, and his guard duties were taken over by his subordinates. ”

"Li Fuqiang, the deputy captain of the teaching team, was ordered by Captain Qu to lead the team to report!" Li Fuqiang, who had just been promoted to captain and deputy captain of the teaching team, led an eight-member sniper team to arrive.

An Yi returned a salute: "Okay, get on the horse and go!" ”

Eleven war horses rushed out of the east gate and turned into the camp of the first battalion of the Reading Regiment on the left side of the road, Xia Jian led more than 580 brothers who were already ready to go, and with An Yi's order, this army with the fastest legs and feet and amazing endurance drove out of the camp in an orderly manner and marched eastward at a medium speed.

At 7 o'clock in the morning, the "Tanglan Campaign" (Tangxi-Lanxi) launched by the Second Column of the Eastern Route Army of the Revolutionary Army officially began, and more than 27,000 officers and men of the First Army of the Revolutionary Army on both sides of the Qujiang River launched a fierce attack on the enemy defending Longyou.

After bursts of mortar fire, the high-spirited officers and men of the revolutionary army shouted the slogan "Long live the revolution" and rushed to the enemy's position like a tide.

The enemy, under the light and heavy machine-gun fire all over the position, wasted a lot of effort to suppress the fierce charge of the revolutionary army 100 meters in front of the formation, and the two sides immediately launched a fierce exchange of fire, and the vast land covered with snow was suddenly filled with gunsmoke, covering the sky, and a body with heavy overlapping corpses lay on the cold earth, and the pools of blood soon turned into cold snow crystals.

At 9:45 a.m., An Yi, who rushed to Anren Bridge, had not yet dismounted, and saw the herald Lao Dong running on horseback again.

"Xiao Yi, you kid is amazing, you really let you win, I don't have to run another twenty kilometers to give you an order, give ...... The division seat asked you to lead two battalions to be stationed on both sides of the bridgehead, waiting for orders at any time. ”

An Yi took the order, folded it and put it in his chest pocket after reading it, and buttoned it: "Old Dong, you can rest for a while, my communication company has begun to set up communication lines, and in an hour I will be able to talk to the division headquarters three kilometers to the east, and then you won't need to run tired and tired." ”

"You save your energy, I estimate that the division headquarters is going to move forward again, I have to rush back as soon as possible, damn! Lao Tzu wants to finish the battle quickly and sleep well now......" Lao Dong turned the horse's head weakly and was about to leave.

An Yi hurriedly stepped forward and stopped Lao Dong: "What did you just say?" The division headquarters moved forward? So fast ahead? ”

"It's that fast! Your worries and worries are all useless, the 21st Division brothers on the north bank took the lead in breaking the enemy defense line, and the enemy army has all wavered and has begun to flee, it is estimated that at this time, the vanguard of our division has already entered Longyou County to pursue the victory, haha! Xiao Yi, all the exploits this time were snatched away by those domineering senior brothers, you just stay as honest as me! Don't be serious, let's say Fang Chang, we will have a chance in the future, let's go! Lao Dong waved his horsewhip and quickly went east under the escort of two guards.

An Yi looked at Lao Dong's back in dismay, how could he never have imagined that the enemy army would abandon Longyou County, could it be that the enemy's rout all the way was really a plan for the arrogant soldiers? After a slight hesitation, An Yi turned over and dismounted, and ordered the herald to immediately gather Yang Bin, Hu Zi and the battalion commanders to discuss together.

As soon as several heralds rode away, Ding Zhicheng, the captain of the special detachment, rode a horse and galloped from the southeast, An Yi turned around and looked at under the reminder of Shen Maniac, and when he saw Ding Zhicheng's speed, his face immediately turned pale, and his heart was suddenly full of coldness, as if he was frozen in an instant.

Ding Zhicheng didn't wait to slow down and fly off his horse, rushed out of seven or eight steps to An Yi, and made a deep and urgent report: "About 7,000 enemy troops suddenly appeared in the area of Luoxiang and Shilang Mountain, twelve kilometers south of Longyou, and are rapidly moving towards the county town of Longyou occupied by our army. In addition, three brothers from the second group accidentally encountered the enemy scouts before dusk, and had just returned with wounds, and detected that there were about 4,000 enemy troops in the southeast of Longyou County, slowly driving towards Youbu Town due north...... Boss, it seems that as you and Lao Ye expected, our two divisions are probably in other people's pockets! ”

"It's over! Finished! Meng Zhaoyue, who the dog said, is really fucking ruthless and yin...... What's going on in the north? An Yi, who was covered in cold sweat, asked anxiously.

Ding Zhicheng shook his head: "The tiger head over there is in charge, and it is estimated that he has already made contact with Staff Officer Yang." ”

"Lao Ding, you immediately gather your brothers and retreat to the front line of the bridge to rest, there will be a fierce battle below, you must not go out and risk again!" An Yi admonished in a deep voice.

"Understood!"

An Yi jumped on the horse and shouted: "Xia Jian, Mu reminisces-"

"To—"

"The military situation is urgent, you only have forty minutes, immediately lead your team, quickly go to Zhangcun, four kilometers to the southeast, to build a blocking position, block the passage from south to north for me, you must occupy the commanding heights within a thousand meters of the perimeter, and if you see the enemy, you will hit me hard, and you must not let the enemy take a step forward!" An Yi shouted loudly in pain.

"Yes!"

Xia Jian turned around, Mu Zhaiyi followed, and the two galloped to the front of the three battalion brothers who were resting under the polder, Mu Zhaiyi opened his throat and shouted: "Everyone listen to the order!" Except for the fifth company, come with Lao Tzu-"

Xia Jian waited for the brothers of the four companies to swarm away, jumped off his horse and walked in front of the two hundred brothers of the newly established mountain company: "Brothers, Lao Tzu will go with you to fight a battle and open the store!" If this battle is fought, there will be good food and spicy drinks in the future, if it is not fought well, you should not mix in Lao Tzu's camp, go back where you come from, do you hear? ”

"Hear—"

The well-armed and powerful mountain company brothers replied with a roar.

"Good! Balls! Departure—"

The first battalion had just left, Hu Zi, Gu Changfeng, Yang Bin and Chen Zhibiao rode their horses, and when they saw An Yi, they immediately reported the situation in the north, although the reconnaissance groups complied with An Yi's prior orders and had already submitted the emergency information of the strong enemy on three sides to the headquarters of the 21st Division in advance, but the main forces of the regiments pursuing the victory could not assemble and retreat in a short time, and collided violently with the surging strong enemy, and the fierce battle instantly became a stalemate.

Under the frantic attack of more than 20,000 enemy troops in the three directions of Lanxi, Longhua and Youbu, the 21st Division, which was attacked on three sides, could not withdraw as it wished, so it could only grit its teeth to support.

The main forces of the 2nd Division, which had won successive battles and bravely pursued, were even more miserable, and had been oppressed in an arc by the retreating enemy who had a firm foothold in the front, as well as the sudden appearance of one division after another brigade in Meng Zhaoyue's department, and under the enemy's powerful artillery fire and fierce blows, the exhausted officers and men of the 2nd Division struggled to parry, and were forced to fight on the bank of the Qujiang River little by little, and they could not get out of the retreat.

The Yin Jinan Model Battalion, which received the urgent order, was launching a fierce attack and going all out to break the enemy's encirclement attempt and open a way for the officers and men of the Second Division to escape for their lives.

(To be continued)