Outside the city of Mangshi, more than 20 armored vehicles were quietly parked in the open field, and soldiers of the chariot battalion were holding tools to overhaul several vehicles emitting black smoke.

In the battle just now, the tank battalion was destroyed by the Japanese during the assault, and the ensuing street fighting also allowed the crazy imps to knock out two of them with a suicide attack.

The tank battalion lost five armored vehicles one after another, and in addition to this, the remaining armored vehicle hulls were also damaged to varying degrees.

"How's it going?"

"Battalion commander, there are three combat vehicles with broken tracks, and the brothers are repairing them, but the No. 13 and No. 20 cars can't catch fire, it seems that the engine has failed, and we can't get it ...... for the time being."

Yuan Li frowned tightly and asked casually, "Isn't the Qiu kidnapper of the Third Company able to repair engines?" Why don't you go to him? "He, he's touched Lao Maozi's tank, and he won't do this German thing." The soldier replied with a sad face. "Sixth, how does this Garand feel with the scope?"

At this time, Liao Mingyu was still in the camp to test his marksmanship with Zhang Liu, and now a lot of miscellaneous things have been unlocked in the system warehouse, including the scopes of many rifles.

For the two people with the best marksmanship in the whole division, it is natural to personally test the performance of each rifle as a sniper rifle.

"Bursts are good, and if you miss the first shot, you can quickly make up for the next shot, but it doesn't suit me."

Zhang Liu played with Garland with a scope and gave a very pertinent evaluation, he was not very interested in this weapon with strong burst fire ability but slightly inferior accuracy.

"It's pretty good, I think it's a good fit for me." The sheep egg next to him immediately took over the conversation, and he felt that Garand with the mirror was completely a weapon tailored for him.

"This gun is a little floating at more than 300 meters, and the accuracy is not as good as 98k, aren't you kid just greedy for a burst advantage to make up for the lack of marksmanship, think I don't know?"

Zhang Liu reprimanded unceremoniously, and after speaking, he also rewarded the sheep with a brain meltdown: "Tell you to study hard, don't think about something vain all day, you know no." ”

"Ouch, I know Brother Zhang..."The sheep egg covered his head and cried bitterly, and was debunked by his master on the spot, which made him blush a little.

Liao Mingyu smiled secretly, and just as he was about to say something, suddenly a soldier ran over and reported that he had received a call from Wei Lihuang and asked him to go to the headquarters immediately.

Commander Wei's order Liao Mingyu didn't dare to slack off, and took Ding Xiaoer out of the door with a hello. Then again, it was only a possibility to ask him to go at this time, and the people of the 200th division had arrived.

As expected, when he walked to the headquarters office, there was also a majestic figure standing in front of Wei Lihuang, and said in a loud and powerful voice: "Chief Wei! The commander of the 200th Division, Gao Jiren, reports to you! ”

"Mingyu has also arrived?" Wei Lihuang glanced at Liao Mingyu at the door, and stood up with a smile: "Let me introduce you, this is Gao Jiren, the commander of the 200th Division." ”

Liao Mingyu hurriedly stepped forward and politely stretched out his right hand: "Senior Gao, please take care of me when we meet for the first time." ”

"Oh, hello, I also heard from the commander-in-chief, your honor of the third division is not simple, you are from Huangpu and there is no one in Dizou."

Gao Jiren, who was burly and had a big square face, also stretched out his hand to shake him, and politely greeted him in a Shaanxi dialect.

"Hehe, the senior praised it."

Liao Mingyu was a little relieved, it seems that this senior master has a good attitude towards himself, and he has to cooperate with others to fight later, so he must first lay a good foundation for a good relationship.

Gao Jiren is a cadet of the fourth phase of the Whampoa Military Academy and a graduate of the third phase of the higher education class of the Central Military Academy, and his qualifications are relatively old.

Moreover, most of the officers of the early 200th Division from division, regiment level to company platoon were graduates after the second phase of Huangpu, which is also the reason why Gaoji people have a certain impression of Liao Mingyu.

Although Wei Lihuang handed over the command of the 200th Division to Liao Mingyu, the latter did not dare to expect that this unit would listen to him entirely, as long as the other side did not stumble and could cooperate well with the combat operation, then thank God.

"Okay, don't talk about polite words yet, Senior Commander, let's introduce the basic situation of the 200th Division first." Wei Lihuang, who was pragmatic first, waved his hand to interrupt their greetings.

"Yes!"

Gao Jiren immediately replied: "At present, after a year of supplementary training, the 200th Division has reorganized a tank regiment, a tank regiment and a mechanized infantry regiment, plus a light infantry regiment, totaling more than 12,000.

"It has 12 T26 tanks, 6 American Sherman tanks, 33 Soviet-made Ba-6 armored vehicles, and 50 trucks. Because of the urgency of time, the heavy firepower was not replenished, and now there is only one anti-aircraft artillery battalion in the whole division, with 24 anti-aircraft guns of 37 calibers. ”

Speaking of this, Gaoji people are also a little ashamed in their hearts, at the peak of the division, there were nearly 300 tanks and armored vehicles of various types, and there were heavy weapons such as 150mm and 122mm howitzers, and now the weapons and equipment of the whole division are really shabby.

Today's 200th Division is not so much an armored division as a mechanized infantry division equipped with tanks and combat vehicles, and the proportion of armor in the entire army is too low.

Liao Mingyu also sighed secretly, the situation is basically consistent with history, after the defeat of the first Burma campaign in 42, the heavily damaged 200 divisions were hidden until 44 years, and for various reasons there was not much supplementation on it, just retaining a shelf of armored troops.

In the later reorganization, the 5th Army was reorganized, and most of the armored units of the 200th Division became units directly under the army, and the division was reorganized into 200 brigades, becoming a light infantry brigade with American weapons, and finally was completely annihilated in eastern Henan in 49 years......

However, fortunately, the 200th Division is still on the shelf, and it also has a certain degree of mechanization, and the most important thing is that the more than 2,600 experienced battlefield veterans who returned from Burma are still in the ranks.

Even though most of the division is now new recruits and there is not much armored strength, the combat experience and individual quality of the more than 2,000 veterans should not be underestimated, and this is what Liao Mingyu values most.

"Well, originally your Chief Qiu did not agree to the scheduling, but now the situation is special, and it is also helpless for the smooth progress of Bao Tengchong's counterattack."

Wei Lihuang glanced at the two people in front of him, and solemnly admonished in a louder voice: "The task of blocking the 18th Division is arduous, and the two of you must cooperate sincerely, and you must not be distracted and let the enemy take advantage of the loophole!" ”

"Yes!"

"Understood!"

Wei Lihuang snorted, but his eyebrows still didn't stretch, he was a little worried that the young and vigorous Liao Mingyu would not be able to suppress the old Gao Jiren.

"Division Commander Gao may not know that just two days ago, the armored battalion under the Honor Third Division successfully took Mangshi with the cooperation of an infantry regiment, annihilating more than 900 Japanese troops, while losing less than a company."

"Oh? So powerful? Brother Liao is also so good at the command of armored forces? ”

Gao Jiren was shocked, he knew that Wei Lihuang had always been a man of his word and never adulterated, and the news he heard from the latter's mouth was very credible.

In addition, the "popular" Liao Mingyu was in the limelight during this time, and almost all military operations in western Yunnan were related to him, and his record was called a strong one.

The upright and fierce Gaoji people have always admired people who can fight, and when they heard this, they immediately felt respect.

"Hehe, everywhere, it's all the brothers under him who are capable, speaking of which, my tank battalion commander Yuan Li also served as a battalion commander in the 200th Division before, I don't know if my senior brother remembers this person." Liao Mingyu replied with a smile.

Yuan Li...... The young boy of the 1152nd regiment? Gao Jiren exclaimed, stared at Liao Mingyu in disbelief, and hurriedly asked, "Is he still alive?" ”

"Well, they're still alive,......" Liao Mingyu slowly told Yuan Li what happened to them.

When the 200th Division retreated from Savage Mountain, the division commander General Dai was seriously wounded and died, and Gao Jiren succeeded as the division commander and led the remaining team to continue to retreat, but was caught up by the Japanese army when passing through the border Wan Town.

The remnants of the demoralized 200th Division had no guns or guns, and most of their weapons and equipment were completely lost, so they could only continue to flee eastward.

But the Japanese who were in hot pursuit, clung to the tail of the troops like a dog's skin plaster, and rushed over from time to time to take a bite. Yuan Li and his entourage were ordered to attack the Japanese army with the few remaining guns to cover the safe evacuation of the large army.

The Gaoji people had a very profound impact on the stubborn and brave young battalion commander, and if it weren't for their sacrifice of life and death, I am afraid that more officers and soldiers of the 200th Division would have been bitten to death by the little devils.

"Bao said, the 200 division owes you a favor! I thank you for all my babies! ”

Gao Jiren said proudly, and he was about to bow to Liao Mingyu, who hurriedly stepped forward to hold him up.

"Oh, Master Gao can't help it! We don't have this in the team. ”

"Huh? Brother Liao is right! We have the rules of the army. After speaking, Gao Jiren took two steps back, stood up straight, and solemnly saluted Liao Mingyu.

"This..."

Liao Mingyu was made to cry and laugh, but he had a good impression of this fast-talking and straightforward northwest man.

"Hehe, it's good that you're a tall brute, you're still so reckless." Wei Lihuang was also amused by his behavior, and couldn't help but smile.

"Commander, one yard is one yard, he saved the people of the 200th Division, he is the benefactor of my 200th Division, I didn't say it, this time on the battlefield, Gao will never disobey the yang and the yin."

Hearing his statement, Wei Lihuang nodded with satisfaction, and immediately ordered seriously:

"Okay, you're almost familiar with it, and you have to sum up the operational guidelines behind it."

"This blocking battle is very important, I decided to form the Longling Defense Corps, in addition to the two of you, there is also a 5,000-person supplementary brigade will be incorporated into it, a total of more than 30,000 people, temporarily by Liao Mingyu as the commander-in-chief, must block all the Japanese support troops in the west of Longling for half a step without retreating, do you hear clearly!?"

"Understood!" The two replied in unison.

Liao Mingyu's heart was shocked, Wei Lihuang's trust made him very grateful, it was impossible to command so many people to fight for the first time, it was impossible not to be excited, but no matter what, this time he could finally throw off his arms and do a big job.

……

Two days later, Liao Mingyu returned to Longling to take charge of the overall situation, and the final adjustment of the troops was also coming to an end.

In addition to the original establishment, the three main regiments have added an artillery battalion and a baggage battalion, thus raising the firepower and logistical support of each unit to a higher level.

At the same time, the divisional artillery regiment was also strengthened, and Li Jie's anti-aircraft artillery battalion was also incorporated into it.

Caliber is justice, the firepower ratio of 24 105 howitzers and 12 155 howitzers is very terrifying, plus 16 Bofors 40mm anti-aircraft guns with an amazing rate of fire and direct or flat fire, in terms of division-level heavy firepower alone, the little devil is beyond reach.

Even if the artillery wing of the 18th Division comes, it will only be beaten, Liao Mingyu wants to know what kind of expression and mentality they will have when they are baptized by the justice of the artillery regiment? Hehe, it's really exciting.

The time came to September 4th, one day before the expeditionary force's full-scale counteroffensive, and all the troops had basically moved to the corresponding positions, just waiting for Wei Lihuang's order.

According to the pre-plan, Liao Mingyu arranged the main battlefield in Mangshi, and the flat terrain allowed the huge troops of the Honor Third Division to be fully deployed.

Including the later Gaoji people were full of praise after seeing the terrain here, this is an ideal battlefield tailored for armored forces.

From the map, there are three ways to enter the Mangshi Plain from the west, but there is only one way to go east to Longling through Mangshi, and that is to follow the Yunnan-Burma Highway, otherwise you can only take a detour through the mountains and jungles like a monkey.

Obviously, it is impossible for the little devils to be monkeys, and they have a lot of heavy equipment, so they cannot march flexibly, unless they abandon a large amount of baggage and supplies and raid lightly.

After all, several Japanese troops in western Yunnan had been completely annihilated by the Chinese, and all this had to be taken seriously by the commander of the 18th Division.

Liao Mingyu gave up his intention to build a defensive line at the three intersections into Mangshi, and he arranged the main position on a high ground near the east, where Xing Fuquan's second main force was stationed.

All the heavy guns of the artillery regiment were placed 2 kilometers behind the high ground, and the wide field of view allowed them to cover any corner of the battlefield anytime and anywhere.

The main position spread out in a semi-circular shape to the west along the highlands, which were bordered by steep peaks on one side and a lush woods on the other.

The Japanese would either attack from the front, or by a detour through the woods on the left, or by a detour from the bottom of the hill on the right, regardless of the defenders of the heights.

However, at the edge of the forest was Chen Jize's third regiment and chariot battalion to defend here, while Long Wenwen's first regiment was arranged behind the second regiment to act as a reserve and at the same time support the right flank at any time.

The open ground at the foot of the peak on the right was not fortified, because the terrain was very flat and unobstructed, and it was completely exposed to enemy fire, and the pressure on the defense here was too great, and there would be very heavy losses.

However, it is not easy for the little devils to break through the defense line from here, which is only about a kilometer away from the high ground defended by the second regiment, and in the same way, the artillery regiment in the rear of the third division can also cover the fire in an instant.

It seems that this place is like a hole in the entire defense line, but it may be the key to victory in this battle, it is only up to the Japanese to get into this hole.

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