Chapter 26 Chapter 26

Heng Shanyong's wishful thinking is: the east of Hengyang is the Xiangjiang River, and it is difficult to cross it by force; there is steaming water in the north, so it is not easy to attack.Therefore, he decided to place the main force on the southwest sides.The two sides in the southwest are hilly highlands. If you occupy these highlands, Hengyang will be under your control.At that time, if the officers and soldiers of the 10th Army do not break through, they will be wiped out in the triangle between the Xiangjiang River and Zhengshui. From June 23 to 26, Heng Shanyong ordered the 68th Division and the 116th Division to quickly break through the defense line of the Leishui National Army and solve the outposts on the east bank of the Xiangjiang River, the airport and the urban area on the east bank as soon as possible. fighting everywhere.On the one hand, they took advantage of the momentum at Dongyangdu on the upper reaches of the Xiangjiang River 30 miles away from Hengyang, crossed the Xiangjiang River by force, moved the main force to the main city of Hengyang on the west bank of the Xiangjiang River, and swooped towards Hengyang from the southwest.At the same time, the Independent Fifth Brigade was ordered to break through the blockade of the 8th Regiment of the 3rd Division of the 10th Army in Hengshan, and quickly advance to the northwest of Hengyang.

Fang Xianjue confronted each other with two main divisions, the 10th Division defending the main position - the line from West Bus Station to Xiangjiang Bridge; the 3rd Division defending the line from West Bus Station to Jushendu; The line from Shiguzui to Taizi Wharf of the Xiangjiang defense line; the temporary 54th Division (actually only one battalion) guards the line from Taizi Wharf to Xiangjiang Bridge in the city. The heroic defense of Hengyang began. In order to boost morale and facilitate command, Fang Xianjue deliberately set up the general command post in the Xianggui Road Bureau on Wuguiling in the southern suburbs of Hengyang, only 300 meters away from the front line.The Japanese army rushed to his command post several times, but he still commanded the battle calmly.His performance played a role in stabilizing the emotions of subordinate officers and soldiers.Seeing that the commander was so calm, the officers and soldiers also calmed down.

The first phase of the Japanese offensive officially launched on June 26.Tingbing Mountain and Gaoling near the West Railway Station became the primary targets of the Japanese attack.Tingbing Mountain and Gaoling are the defensive positions of the 30th Regiment of the 10th Division of the National Army Reserve, and the Jiangxi Guild Hall and Wuguiling on the Linjiang Highland reached the outpost security positions, respectively stationed a company and a platoon of troops. At dawn on June 27, two divisions and one brigade of the Japanese army, attached to the 122nd Field Artillery Regiment, with a total of more than 60 mountain artillery pieces, stormed Hengyang City at the same time. The battle was expected to be resolved within a day. pole.At this time, the strategic deployment of the Japanese army's encirclement of Hengyang had been fully completed, and the deployment of troops, weapons and equipment from all sides had been in place, and all troops were tense up like clockwork catapults.Naturally, the 10th Division of the National Army's 10th Army Reserve was the first to bear the brunt.I saw that the enemy's infantry and artillery coordinated and land and air cooperated to launch an unprecedentedly violent offensive.The enemy guns attacked continuously, and the enemy planes continued to bomb and drop a large number of incendiary bombs.There was a sea of ​​fire in Hengyang city and on the defenders' positions, and the fire in the city could not be controlled for several days.

In the battle of capturing Changsha, the Japanese army took a big advantage by bypassing the west bank of the Xiangjiang River and directly taking Yuelu Mountain.Some of the Japanese troops who besieged Hengyang also came from the west bank of the Xiangjiang River. They thought that they wanted to take it lightly like they were attacking Changsha.The Japanese army chose its focus and boldly advanced, first attacking the Jiangxi Guild Hall of the 30th Regiment of the 10th Preparatory Division in the southwest of the city, Wuguiling, and the front-line positions of the 29th Regiment Tiger Nest.The Japanese army rushed all the way from the Xinqiang River in northern Hunan, and it was unstoppable; in the battle of the first attack on Hengyang, they even used the tactics of crowds and swarmed up.However, several charges failed, but they still did not want to repent. They restrained their arrogance, attacked frequently, and repeatedly fell into the superior fire net of the ingeniously constructed fortifications of the 10th Army.The more you feel like this, the more confused you feel, the more you lose your point, and cause more casualties.

Fang Xianjue not only went to the front line to direct the battle, but also went to the front line to condolences to the front line officers and soldiers during the battle.After a fierce battle, Liu Xianzhou, the second lieutenant platoon leader of the Special Service Battalion of the 10th Army, followed Commander Fang Xianjue, and accompanied by Commander Ge Xiancai, came to the Zhangjiashan position to inspect the front-line positions.General Ge Xiancai said loudly to the officers and soldiers guarding the position: "Brothers, the army commander has come to visit us in person at the forward position! Everyone applauds to welcome and express our thanks!" Get high.Ge Xiancai went on to say: "The combat command post of the military headquarters is at Wuguiling on our side and rear; the military seat is right next to us to direct the battle. Listen to me, and beat me hard! Whoever is afraid of death and retreats, whoever It’s not that I am preparing the soldiers of the 10th Division! Do you have the confidence to fight this battle resolutely?” “Yes!” The officers and soldiers replied firmly and forcefully in unison.Fang Xianjue pointed to machine gunner Luo Bingwu's machine gun bunker and laughed: "Brothers fought well! In front of our position is the enemy's grave!"

Gaoling is a small hill between the two strongholds of Zhangjiashan and Fengshuling. There is only one platoon of defenders stationed there, and the distance between the two strongholds is about 400 meters.The Japanese commander thought that Gaoling was a small isolated stronghold, which could be easily obtained by a charge.After occupying Gaoling, the firepower of Zhangjiashan and Fengshushan can be restrained and dispersed, and the two positions can be conquered by launching a charge.Unexpectedly, when more than a hundred Japanese soldiers rushed to the Gaoling position, they were blown up and down by the preset minefields; With the flanking firepower from the two strongholds, most of the attacking Japanese soldiers were wiped out, and only a few escaped back.

The Japanese army then concentrated artillery bombardment on the two highlands.The defenders fired back immediately.This kind of artillery battle was stalemate for a long time, one after another, as dense as a shower.Amidst the heavy artillery fire, the Japanese army launched several charges.The officers and soldiers of the national army seemed to have been drilled out of the ashes, but the fire net was still tightly woven without attenuation.The Japanese army was still unable to approach, and only scattered soldiers remained in the charge ranks.The artillery fire resumed the bombardment, and it started again and again until night fell.Most of the obstacles on Gaoling and Tingbing Mountain were blown away, and one-third of the bunkers were destroyed.There are 200 at the foot of Gaoling Mountain, and more than 400 in the area around Tingbing Mountain.The Japanese army believed that the highlands in the southwestern part of Hengyang were like the Yuelu Mountain in Changsha, and they could restrain Hengyang after they captured it.Moreover, the two highlands of Gaoling and Tingbingshan are actually less than 50 meters high, and there is no precipitous trend. It is absolutely unexpected that they will encounter such a big setback.

In fact, there is no fuss.It makes people laugh when they think about it. The Japanese army fought in a very dogmatic way, and everything was carried out according to the rules and regulations.Once started, according to the general offensive regulations of the Japanese army, what kind of rate of fire must be achieved by the artillery shells, and what kind of saturation must be achieved by the barrage on the main offensive position; especially the requirements for the offensive formation are very strict. For example, the first attack formation cannot avoid firepower, or even Crawling forward, you can only straighten your waist and rush forward.The offensive spirit of the Japanese army put more emphasis on deterring the enemy's psychology and paying attention to the spiritual supervision of brave and tenacious soldiers of one's own side.Even in hand-to-hand combat, the bullets in the gun hall must be pushed out before fighting the bayonet.It is estimated that it can avoid accidentally injuring one's own people; in addition, it may further show the so-called invincible Bushido's fighting spirit!In this way, the Japanese army took advantage of the Chinese army whose firepower configuration was only equivalent to one-third of the Japanese army's strength.This was especially true in the early days of the Anti-Japanese War. The Taiyuan Defense War lasted only 3 days, and the Nanjing Defense War lasted only a week with hundreds of thousands of Chinese defenders. After the start of "Operation No. 1", the defense of Xuchang was fought for one day, the defense of Luoyang was fought for only five days, and Changsha City was abandoned after only one day.The Japanese army's siege in China seems to have always carried such an inertia. It has been fighting for 7 years, and neither side has changed much.The walls and fortresses of the defenders are mostly fortifications of the Cold War era, and the artillery firepower is enough to destroy them.However, the unobstructed walls on the tall and thick city walls are often the best shooting range for planes to bomb and shoot in parallel. One dive bombs, turns around and swoops over again, the defenders naturally have nowhere to escape, casualties heavy.Coupled with the tenacious fighting style of the Japanese army, they stepped on the corpses of the dead and swooped fiercely.In this way, cities in China were conquered.Especially in this "Operation No. 1", the fighting spirit of the Japanese army was adjusted to the extreme.In 1944, this was the only place where Bushido could sacrifice his spirit for the glory of conquest.In the Pacific, this Yamato spirit is becoming a stupid and deadly behavior under the powerful firepower of the US military.

The Japanese attack in the southwest of Hengyang entered the capital from the night of June 26th to the morning of the 27th.The bombing and shelling in the dark made the whole city of Hengyang tremble like an overwhelming river.Countless meteors and dragon-like ballistic trajectories pierced the dark night and flew towards the main positions, and the explosive points of the explosion instantly illuminated some highlands as if they were daylight.The intensity of the artillery fire almost plowed these two small hills over and over again. By 3 o'clock in the morning on the 27th, the gunfire in Gaoling gradually subsided.Lieutenant Li Jianchu, the platoon leader, and all soldiers from the 3rd Battalion, 7th Company and 1st Platoon of the 30th Regiment of the Reserve 10th Division were killed.The Japanese occupied Kaolin.The news of Gaoling's fall came just before dawn.Later, on the high ground of the Zhanbing Mountain, the 7th Company of the 30th Regiment’s Advanced Security Force, led by the brave and well-known company commander Captain Zhang Tiantao, after two days and one night of isolated and helpless fighting, withstood the Japanese army again and again. Crazy charge.Under the circumstances of being attacked on all sides and with great disparity between the few and the few, they still fought bloody battles.When only the wounded company commander Zhang and three soldiers were left, the battalion commander Zhou Guoxiang of the 3rd Battalion ordered him to retreat to the main camp. perish together.Seeing that the comrades who had been with him day and night were sacrificed in this way, Battalion Commander Zhou was so angry that he slammed his fist on the trench. The officers and soldiers of the 7th company died heroically.They fulfilled their oath to live and die with the battlefield, and fulfilled their bounden duty as soldiers to protect their homeland and die for the country.

It turned out that the company commander Zhang Tiantao, formerly known as Zhang Deshan, was born in the army from Hebei.When Master Ge Xiancai was the head of the 28th Regiment, he served as the sergeant squad leader of the regiment headquarters' order squad, and was later promoted to company commander with his military exploits. At midnight on June 27, after Zhang Tiantao answered Commander Ge Xiancai's phone call to inquire about the situation of the battle, Commander Ge praised: "Company Commander Zhang, then stick to our army's advancing position on the Tingbing Mountain, blocking the two-day and night-long siege of the Japanese invaders' overwhelmingly superior forces, and killing them." There are many enemies, and you have demonstrated national prestige and military prestige. You are doing a good job, and the division headquarters will send an order to reward you!" "Thank you for your concern. It's just that I'm afraid I won't be scolded by the teacher again, and I won't see the teacher again!" Zhang Lianchang's tone was sad and tragic, and the seven-foot man was already sobbing and choked up.Ge Xiancai said: "Zhang Deshan, you have to listen to me! If the enemy's offensive is too strong, you can give up your stronghold and retreat to the main position. I will call immediately and ask your regiment commander to provide fire cover."

"Master, no need. We are determined to fight to the death, one is to serve the country with all our might, and the other is to repay your love and cultivation over the years, Master. I think it is worth ending your life like this! It is worth it both publically and privately!" "Zhang Deshan, Don't admit death, what will happen in the future?" Ge Xiancai also said emotionally. "Master, listen to me. You know me well. My mother has passed away long ago, and my father has two younger brothers to support me. After I die, I can also accompany and serve my mother. Loyal and good warriors should come from the family of filial sons. Now There are a lot of devil soldiers in front of our position, we can shoot every shot, and we can just kill it!" Zhang Tiantao felt relieved. "Zhang Deshan, I order you to retreat, don't make unnecessary sacrifices!" Ge Xiancai was moved by Company Commander Zhang's patriotic sincerity, but also worried about their safety. "Master, you can help us! The war has just started, we must show momentum and frustrate the devil's spirit, then there is a reason to retreat now. We would rather be stabbed in the chest by the enemy's bayonet than be killed by the devil when we retreat. The bullets shot in from the back. So what if we just withdraw to the main position? Or do we want to fight the devils to the death. Since there are two ways, one result. Why bother to look far away?" Zhang Tiantao has changed his melancholy just now In a bold tone, he said: "Master, we will not die in vain. If one of us dies, the Japanese invaders must be at the bottom three times, five times, eight times and ten times, and we will fight to the last man. One bullet." As he was speaking, he heard someone shouting: "Company commander, hurry up, the devils are coming up!" "Hit me!" "Master seat, the devils are coming up. I have already ordered the brothers to mount the bayonets Yes, everyone is throwing grenades; I still have 60 rounds in my shell gun, and the devil soldiers are waiting for me to call. I hope I can shoot all the bullets before I die... I am going to join the battle... Division seat Take care! I'm going..." There were noises of gunshots and explosions coming from the phone, shouting to kill! "Zhang Deshan, Zhang Deshan..." Ge Xiancai yelled several times, but seeing no one answered, the hand holding the microphone was trembling slightly, and tears filled his eyes. In the early morning of June 28th, the sky was bright, and the frontline headquarters of the 30th regiment. "My seat, I dozed off just now. I dreamed that Company Commander Zhang brought a lot of brothers to my seat to ask for money to buy wine. I don't know if it's bad luck or good luck?" Xu Qiubao, the orderly, said to Xiang Shiying in a daze. . "Oh, what happened?" Xiang Shiying immediately wanted to call the 7th Company: "Hey, Company Commander Zhang, how is your company doing?" However, I’m dead. Now there are only four people left around me...the devils are rushing over again!..." Zhang Tiantao rushed out of the trench to fight the Japanese army before he could finish his sentence or hang up the phone.Xiang Shiying raised his binoculars and looked in the direction of Mount Tingbing.Although the distance was 400 meters, it was clear that the Japanese army was swarming up. Zhang Lianchang and several others fought hard. After killing several Japanese soldiers, they were surrounded by Japanese troops and could not advance or retreat. "Yo Xi, don't shoot, catch the living!" The Japanese officer shouted excitedly.Company Commander Zhang Tiantao and several soldiers of the national army faced the enemy back to back without fear. When the Japanese army approached, they shouted: "Down with Japanese imperialism! Long live the Republic of China! Long live the 10th Army!" A few grenades died together with more than a dozen Japanese troops. This truly tragic scene was deeply engraved in Xiang Shiying's mind.After the war, when Xiang Shiying broke through the encirclement and fled to Lianxian County, Guangdong Province, and stayed at the Lianxian Telecom Office that night, he dreamed that Company Commander Zhang led many soldiers and asked him for money to buy wine.Xiang Tuanfu recalled the dream that the messenger Xu Qiubao told him, and it was surprisingly similar.As soon as Xiang Shiying arrived in Chongqing, he immediately bought a lot of paper money and burned them, silently wishing Company Commander Zhang and the others to return to heaven safely as soon as possible.Since then, I have never had such a dream again.This is a later story.Loyal soul strong soul, really have a spirit!