Chapter 65 Chapter 65: Coordinating Reinforcements

On the afternoon of August 2, the headquarters of the 62nd Army.Commander Huang Tao paced back and forth at the military headquarters, anxiously waiting for news that the frontline troops would contact the 10th Army. "Reporting to the military seat, there are thousands of Japanese troops heading south from the vicinity of Sitang on the Hunan-Guizhou Railway, along the telephone line between our army's Tanzishan and the military headquarters, and advancing rapidly towards the location of our military headquarters. Residents on both sides of the road fled south one after another. Situation It is very critical, please make an early decision!" The 62nd Army Reconnaissance Brigade reported.Huang Tao received the report and immediately decided: "Except for a part of the 157th Division (less than 1 regiment) to continue to monitor the enemy in Yumu Mountain, the main force will shift to the west to meet the enemy; The regiment turned around and attacked the Japanese army marching westward to ensure the safety of the military headquarters; the frontline command post of the military headquarters was transferred to the direction of Tieguanpu before dusk to continue commanding operations."

In the middle of the night on August 2, the 453rd and 471st regiments resolutely broke away from the Japanese army near Hengyang West Railway Station and hurried back.But before reaching Yumu Mountain, the Japanese army surrounding the 62nd Army had already arrived at Tieguanpu, and the troops directly under the military headquarters and the 157th Division had started a life-and-death struggle with the Japanese army.At this time, Huang Tao received another call from Director Lin Wei of the commissioned attendant: "The commissioned urgent call: order the 62nd Army to make persistent efforts and continue to advance towards Hengyang. The 10th Army has already telegraphed an assault to the southwest of Hengyang to meet your troops entering the city." , attack both inside and outside to achieve the purpose of breaking the encirclement of the Japanese army..." "Report to Junzuo: Our army is about to be encircled by the enemy, and now the whole army is in fierce battle with the superior enemy. The battle line has changed from south to north, and changed from east to west , The three regiments attacking the outskirts of Hengyang have already attacked southwest, not only supporting the security of the military headquarters, but also protecting itself from being surrounded by the enemy... Hey, hello, our military headquarters has lost telephone contact with the 151st Division, and the situation is extremely critical !"

At this time, Commander Lin of the 151st Division saw no response from the staff officer sent to contact the military headquarters for several hours.Knowing that the army headquarters was attacked by the enemy, the situation changed, and the division headquarters was urgently ordered to turn from the front line to the southern end of Yumu Mountain. At dawn on August 3, the 151st Division found that the highland on the left had been occupied by the Japanese army, and it was difficult to return.The Japanese army lurked in the mountains and dense forests only 200 meters apart, and launched a surprise attack on the 151st Division with intensive machine gun fire.Major General Yu Ziwu, the deputy commander of the 151st Division, Lin Zhao, the deputy commander, and many guards were killed immediately.Commander Lin immediately ordered the search company of the division headquarters to attack the enemy.However, the Japanese army waited for work with leisure, was condescending, and had superior equipment. The company should have a charge, and more than half of the casualties were lost, so they had to retreat to the foot of the mountain.In the crisis, fortunately, the 453rd and 471st regiments arrived in time and immediately seized the southeast highlands to start a fierce battle with the Japanese army.

One part of the Japanese army fought fiercely with the 157th Division in Tieguanpu, and the other part detoured to the area south of Tieguanpu to the rear of the 62nd Army in an attempt to encircle and attack.The rear service units of the 62nd Army fell into chaos for a while. Fortunately, the 451st Regiment of the 151st Division, which was transferred back from Hongqiao, rushed to support them, and they repelled the Japanese army and prevented the entire army from being encircled by the Japanese army. At nightfall, the commander of the 62nd Army, Huang Tao, with a beard and a scumbag, lost a lot of weight, and was dictating orders to Chief of Staff Zhang: "First, the whole army quickly adjusts its posture, and the direction of attack is changed from east to west to south. In the north, the main force of the army occupied the mountains around Ma'anshan, Jianfengshan, and Tieguanpu. 2. Because the enemies of Baihepu and Tanzishan had fled to Hengyang, they ordered the 1st Battalion and the 1st Battalion of the 451st Regiment to stay in the above two places to monitor the Japanese army. The 3rd Battalion of the 469th Regiment quickly returned to construction. 3. On the one hand, additional troops were sent to the grain storage place 100 miles away from the war zone to transport food; .”

It turned out that the 62nd Army was ordered to advance into Hengyang to relieve the siege. It fought alone for nearly 10 days, and it was 100 miles away from Qiyang, the rear supply station. They had to slaughter war horses or pick wild vegetables and fruits in the fields to survive. Some soldiers were so hungry that they entered houses to kill chickens and pigs without authorization, and the military discipline disappeared.No wonder the common people cursed "scraping the Democratic Party" and "suffering the army".Some officers and soldiers believed that they had made great achievements in the war of resistance, beat and scolded the people, and even pointed their guns at the villagers, which had a very bad influence.Why are the people angry if they don't kill them! "Have you been in touch with the 10th Army?" Army Commander Huang asked. "Not yet?" Chief of Staff Zhang Chen replied. "What's going on? Keep in touch!" Huang Tao said impatiently.

On July 20th, the headquarters of the Tenth Army in Hengyang City. "Military seat, good news! I received a telegram from the Military Commission saying that the 62nd Army has made an all-out attack on Hengyang and has reached the outskirts of the city. I hope that the organizational strength will be outstanding!" Chief of Staff Sun Mingyu reported happily. "Okay! Contact the 62nd Army immediately!" Fang Xianjue said urgently. "Report to the military seat. After contacting the radio station of the 62nd Army, the army has advanced to the Tanzishan area in the southwestern suburb of Hengyang. We agreed to support each other and hope to join forces as soon as possible!" Hearing the report from Chief of Staff Sun Mingyu, Fang Xianjue couldn't help but feel refreshed. "Report, there are gunshots from reinforcements in the direction of Huangchaoling!" The amazing good news was reported from the front, and the officers and soldiers of the military department were all happy. "Hurry up and send someone to meet him!" Peng Gaoshen said eagerly. "Where can anyone be sent?! There is only half of the spy battalion left." Chief of Staff Sun Mingyu said. "Okay then, let's send the secret service battalion!" Commander Fang specially ordered the special secret service battalion of the army to select 150 strong fighters and organize them into five assault platoons, led by Major Cao Huating, the battalion commander of the secret service battalion. , in order to lead them into Hengyang after the round with the 62nd Army. "This operation is related to the fate of the entire army. You have been with me for many years, and I entrust you with this glorious and arduous task. I hope you will complete it well!" Fang Xianjue said to Cao Huating earnestly before departure. "Junzuo, don't worry, I promise to complete the task and never disappoint your expectations!" Cao Huating said firmly.Fang Xianjue grabbed the only half bottle of wine on the table and said, "Come on, let's do it!"

When Cao Huating led his troops out of the encirclement to Wuli Pavilion in the southwest suburb of Hengyang, there was no sign of reinforcements.The 62nd Army has already left, and its whereabouts are unknown.It turned out that the vanguard of the 62nd Army retreated back.what to do?Cao Huating couldn't help feeling sad and happy, happy because he had already led his troops out of the encirclement, and escape was hopeful; sad because he didn't complete the task of supporting the friendly army, and there were still besieged officials and many brothers in the city.Feeling quite uncomfortable, after several conflicts and struggles.In the end, he resolutely led the troops to rush to Hengyang City again on the night of the 21st. "Brothers, I will not stop those who are willing to escape; those who are willing to kill and return to the city, please follow me!" "We are not afraid of death, we are all willing to follow the battalion commander and return to the city!" He rushed to Hengyang city.On the way, they were blocked by the Japanese army, and the troops were surrounded by enemies, and the battle was very cruel and fierce.Battalion Commander Cao was injured in many places, only more than 30 out of 150 people rushed into the city, and the rest died for the country.

The previous time, there was a precedent for a group of troops from the 8th Regiment of the 3rd Division of the 10th Army to break through the siege. Now Cao Ying has only 150 people to break out and enter Hengyang City, which has a huge impact on the morale of the 10th Army. The commando team of 150 people was able to break through the heavy siege of the Japanese army and break out, but why did the many fresh troops on the outskirts of Hengyang who were in charge of breaking the siege marched into Hengyang to break the siege for many days, but couldn't get in?Although Cao Ying did not complete the task of supporting the reinforcements, he was able to return to the city again, which also gave the 10th Army great encouragement and comfort.Commander Fang Xianjue spoke highly of and commended him.

The Hengyang garrison saw that the hope of rescue was shattered again, and they lost another battalion of elites.Everyone stopped talking.In the silence, no one knows when the lovely reinforcements, the hope of relief will come again!