On the south bank of the Sejingge River, in Sun Zhenbang's headquarters, Sun Zhenbang was looking at the casualty figures and ammunition consumption statistics from the Operations Section.

In the more than two hours of fighting, the forward blocking troops of the Outer Mongolian border guards suffered more than 1,200 casualties, of which more than 400 were killed during the second rapid artillery attack by the Soviet troops, more than 220 mortars were lost, more than 300 casualties were suffered by the two artillery brigades, and 35 artillery pieces of various calibers were damaged.

Among them, the number of soldiers killed in battle was more than 900, and what made Sun Zhenbang unacceptable was that except for more than 400 mortars and more than 100 artillerymen, who died under the fire of the Soviet army, the rest of the soldiers who died were because the anti-artillery hole could not withstand the fierce bombardment of the Soviet artillery fire, and after being blown up, they suffocated to death inside, and the number of officers and soldiers who died in this way alone reached more than 400.

And the casualties of the Soviet army, according to Sun Zhenbang's own observation, but more than 2,000 people, he set the ratio of casualties between the enemy and us as one to one, this is not the result he is satisfied with, the position of the resistance war, the attacking side, pay a large number of casualties, is a normal phenomenon, unless the strength and firepower are extremely asymmetrical, although the actual situation of the battlefield, it is true, however, Sun Zhenbang believes that he occupies a favorable terrain, a Sejingge River, worthy of 30,000 soldiers, therefore, the first round is like this, he is very dissatisfied.

The only thing that made him feel confident was that because the pre-war preparations were very sufficient, the consumption of various ammunition was less than one-tenth, and with these ammunition, the Soviet army could be dragged here for four or five days.

Sun Zhenbang closed the casualty and ammunition consumption statistics table, rubbed his swollen temples, and his tone was full of exhaustion. He said to the chief of the operations section: "Immediately report the casualties and the battle situation to the division commander, and at the same time, add these few words to the telegram, and our Outer Mongolian border guards are confident that they will be able to block the Soviet army on the defense line of the Sejingge River for more than five days." ”

After sitting silently for a while, his mind turned to the battlefield again, according to the routine. After the first Soviet attack was repulsed, it was impossible to launch a second attack without an hour of preparation, and this short time should be used to come up with an effective solution to the Soviet artillery bombardment.

With the existing two artillery brigades. Don't even think about a hard-nosed artillery battle with the Soviet army. It took only fifteen minutes to fire. More than 300 casualties were inflicted, and 35 artillery pieces of various calibers were damaged. There weren't a few artillery pieces available.

The only place where you can use your brains is the anti-artillery holes and shelters of the forward troops, however, how to solve the Soviet artillery fire. What about the killing and wounding of soldiers in anti-artillery holes?

Sun Zhenbang's gaze fell on the map, from the south bank of the Sejingge River, but five miles away, there are several rocky mountains within a radius of more than ten kilometers, although the altitude is not large, but it is also the only terrain that can be used, it is in the anticline of the direction of the Soviet artillery bombardment, it is the blind spot of the Soviet artillery fire, called over a staff officer, and said: "Convey my order to the forward troops, all troops, immediately reduce the forward strength to one-half, and the rest of the troops, immediately withdraw to the chaotic stone mountain behind the position." ”

"In the order, it is necessary to emphasize this point, withdraw the troops to the Troubled Stone Mountain, dig anti-artillery holes, starting this evening, all units must start digging the communication trenches leading to the forward positions in the Troubled Stone Mountain, all earthwork must be completed before 7 o'clock tomorrow morning, and order the 1st Artillery Brigade and the 2nd Artillery Brigade to disperse their positions and build a few more reserve positions with regiments as units."

Sun Zhenbang knew how difficult his order was for the troops, that is, from the rocky mountains to the forward positions, the five-mile-long communication trenches needed at least four, otherwise, it would be impossible to quickly transport troops and ammunition supplies to the forward positions, this was a huge amount of work, there was no machinery, and they could only rely on the soldiers to dig out a shovel and a pickaxe within 24 hours. To be exact, there is no construction at all during the day, only at night, and the time that can be used is only a dozen hours.

But he can only be ruthless, otherwise, after a few days of fierce fighting, how many dirt anti-artillery holes and shelters are left to protect the role of Soviet artillery fire, and if you can't get it right, you will have to bury too many officers and soldiers alive, Sun Zhenbang would rather the soldiers sweat more than let them die like that, moreover, there is no communication trench to connect the forward positions, after the Soviet artillery fire is extended, the troops that reinforce it will not become a live target, and the casualties will be greater.

Sun Zhenbang slapped his head with remorse, "You said, when you first came to the Se Gehe River to set up defenses, why didn't you think of this, what a mistake!" Big mistake! "The division commander is right, the relatively comfortable living environment in Outer Mongolia in the past few years has indeed worn out a lot of his fighting instincts and keen sense of the battlefield environment.

Sun Zhenbang suddenly thought that on the forward position, only half of the troops were left, and the firepower density was not enough, what if the Soviet army increased the strength of the offensive and could not retreat, the troops that withdrew to the rocky mountain could not be reinforced in time under the blockade of the Soviet army's extended artillery fire.

Looking at the watch, there was no time to hesitate too much, the Soviet army stopped attacking, it was almost an hour, it was now 6:50 in the morning, as long as you carried a few more attacks by the Soviet army, you could stay up until the evening, and when the communication trenches were completed, and then the fight started, it would be handy.

The strange thing is that all the troops that should have been evacuated from the front of the border guards have been withdrawn to the rear of the rocky mountain, and by 7:10 a.m., the expected Soviet artillery fire has not moved at all, not only that, not even the sappers who erected the pontoon bridge, have not seen a single one, could it be that the Soviets suffered a loss, and today's attack can end here?

Although Sun Zhenbang very much hoped that this would be the case, and he could afford to spend and delay, he also knew that this was just his own good wish, and the Soviet army was not hurt at all, so he immediately called the commanders of the forward positions and sternly ordered: "Without the order of the command, all the troops will not have to go out of the artillery hole!" ”

Next, it is a tense and boring wait, in fact, Sun Zhenbang would rather the artillery fire of the Soviet army arrive as scheduled, it is better than the dry boil of not being able to judge the movement of the Soviet army!

Kulun, the ground command post of the Northern Flight Group of the Independent Division, Liu Cuigang crossed his hands and sat motionless on his chair, his eight fighter regiments and two bomber regiments were already on the take-off line, ready to take to the air at any time to fight.

According to the battle report of the division commander's temporary headquarters, the battle of the Sejingge River has been fought for more than two hours, just thirty minutes ago, Liu Cuigang called and asked the division commander Tang Qiuli to fight, "Division commander, the Soviet army has begun to attack, and the battle is being lively at this time, I will build yì, the troops will immediately take to the air, and at the critical time, help Lao Sun!" ”

Tang Qiuli just sent Liu Cuigang away with just a few simple words, "What's the hurry, the Soviet army has not yet appeared, remember your mission, supporting ground battles is supplemented, and air supremacy is the main thing!" ”

After speaking, "Let's go" hung up the phone, listening to the blind sound coming from the phone receiver, Liu Cuigang grinned bitterly, yes, then wait! But it tastes too unpleasant.

On the surface, Liu Cuigang was quiet and had the demeanor of a general, but in fact, his heart was so anxious that he was on fire, at this time, Colonel Meng Qingpeng, commander of the Outer Mongolia patrol area of the flight group, hurriedly came in, "Report to the commander, the ground radar station reported that from the two directions of Chita and Barnaoer, the Soviet aircraft group took off, because the distance was too far, it was temporarily impossible to distinguish the type of aircraft, and the number was about two divisions." ”

"The scale of more than 350 planes, the flight direction is the airspace of the Sejingge River, judging from this, it should be a mixed group of fighters and bombers of the Soviet Army, with the purpose of bombing our positions, commander, it's time for us to dispatch!"

Liu Cuigang opened his eyes suddenly, and rushed to the telephone at a speed that surprised Meng Qingpeng, "Division commander, I'm Liu Cuigang, the ground radar station reports, Lao Maozi's group is dispatched!" ”

Tang Qiuli, who was holding the phone, could imagine that Liu Cuigang looked anxious and said, "It's time for you to play, the first battle must be played well!" ”

Liu Cuigang replied with confidence: "Please rest assured, the division commander has eight fighter regiments in the first echelon, nearly more than 500 fighters, and against Lao Maozi's more than 300 mixed aircraft groups, it is still your way of fighting, concentrate superior forces, and fight a war of annihilation!" ”

Putting down the phone, Meng Qingpeng hurriedly said: "Commander, I am familiar with the airspace in this area, I will lead the first echelon, you are on the ground air command, command the air battle, and control the overall situation!" ”

Liu Cuigang glared and said, "What's the matter, grab command with me?" In the first air battle, I don't lead the team, who leads the team, this is the rule of our air force, the south and the north are the same, your task is not light, with a fighter regiment, responsible for covering the bomber formation! ”

Meng Qingpeng grinned and muttered unwillingly: "Yes, I knew that as soon as you came to Outer Mongolia, I had to stand aside, for fear that I would get in the way, and send me to cover and suppress people with power!" ”

Liu Cuigang turned his head sharply and shouted, "What are you muttering?" Don't hurry up and get ready! Delayed rendezvous with the bomber troops, I withdraw you! ”

Meng Qingpeng shrank his neck and quickly slipped out, Liu Cuigang laughed, draped neatly, and ran towards the runway and his fighter.

At 7:20 a.m. on 20 September, Liu Cuigang's eight fighter regiments and two bomber regiments took off into the sky at the same time from several airfields in Outer Mongolia to meet the mixed group of Soviet troops.

(To be continued) (To be continued.) For mobile phone users, please go to read. )