nucmednet Chapter 138: Three-Way Siege and March into Bazhou
Chapter 138: Three-Way Siege and March into Bazhou
Du Zongyi was the commander of the 1st Regiment of the Northern Sichuan Revolutionary National Protection Army in Baizhang area. Hu Haisheng, Xue Chen, Li Long, Zhou Kui, Chen Shaozhong, Zhao Rui and Chen Jinhu were the commanders of the 2st, 3nd, 4rd, 5th, 6th and 3000th battalions respectively. There were regular field troops, as well as local garrisons, and the number of direct guards, special services, reconnaissance, artillery teams, machine gun assault teams, engineering teams, logistics teams, women's guards and medical teams were also expanded.
The massive expansion of the team resulted in insufficient training and huge expenses, but there was no way around it. As long as we take Bazhou, we will temporarily stop the rapid expansion and focus on defending the city.
A telegram from Baizhang with clear code did not cause much waves. After all, in those days, hundreds of commanders announced their separation from Beiyang and changed their aides almost every day.
On March 3, Du Chenyu decided to march into Bazhou today.
Order: Hu Haisheng's 1st Battalion will attack from the Enyang direction; Xue Chen and Chen Jinhu's 2nd and 6th Battalions will attack the west of Bazhong from the Zhenziba area. Du Chenyu will lead Zhao Rui and the guard and reconnaissance teams to attack the north gate of Bazhong from north to south, forming a three-pronged siege to ensure victory in one battle.
Early in the morning, the army all flew the red-edged black sun flag, as well as the revolutionary association flag with a yellow background and red wheat ears, hammers, and brush patterns. This was also the first time that the revolutionary association flag was flown.
More than 500 people marched southward in a mighty manner. There was almost no obstruction at any checkpoint along the way. According to intelligence, Guan Yuezhenyun of the Bazhou city defense team had heavily defended the Xuantanzi area, and built fortifications using the narrow terrain on both sides of the Ba River, preparing to block the attack of the Du family army.
They arrived at the designated location that night, but there was no rush to attack. Du Chenyu prepared everything well and rested enough to start the battle the next day.
"Attack..." Du Chenyu gave the order. This kind of positional attack and defense did not require any clever techniques. The only technique was to attack with force.
Without much probing at the beginning, they directly sent out 200 people and began a violent attack. The other side had built defensive stone walls from the riverside to the hillside, with about 150 defenders.
There was a roar of machine gun fire, and the two company commanders led their teams to charge forward. The enemy was in a high position with a good shooting range, so the first wave of attack was very unfavorable and there were heavy casualties, but they did not retreat.
"Sir, I'll go in the second wave," Lei Jianqin was eager to move. After all, the guard team had not fought for almost three months. Now they were strong in men and horses, but there were many new recruits. Most of the original veterans were assigned to a company as squad leaders, but these reinforcements were also selected veterans and military academy students who had been in the army for more than half a year. It felt like more than a hundred people were crying out for help.
"Okay, we'll charge in half an hour, prepare the mortars, and advance within 50 meters. I'll send our entire army forward to break through the first line of defense," said Du Chenyu.
The guards also need the baptism of blood and fire. This is not a children's game. They will all be officers when they go out, and at least squad leaders. They cannot be timid.
"Boom..." After three test firing shells, three more followed.
"Charge...", the front member of the guard team rushed forward holding an iron plate.
In fact, Du Chenyu has a second plan. The three-way division is not the best choice. Bazhou City is surrounded by mountains, which is easy to defend but difficult to attack. It is difficult for us to break through with 500 outer defenses. Even if we break through, there will be considerable casualties. But now the attack must be dispersed. When the attack was frustrated, Du Chenyu decided to implement the second plan.
"Machine gun suppression." Du Chenyu saw that although the opponent's mortar hit a machine gun point, the resistance was still fierce, so he began to send out the machine gun team, ready to make an all-out attack to break through the opponent's first line of defense and force the enemy to retreat to the 2nd Lingshan defense line.
"Da da..." The power of the heavy machine gun is well-deserved and it is always an effective weapon for offense and defense. A hail of bullets hit the enemy's fortifications, stones and dust flew everywhere, and the enemy could hardly raise their heads.
"Brothers, charge!" Zhao Rui's two companies had already retreated, and now another company also dispersed to join the attacking team.
After attacking for half an hour, there were only 100 meters left. As long as they advanced 50 meters, the grenades would be effective and the mortars would provide two rounds of support, so as to take down the first line of defense in one fell swoop and force the enemy to reinforce.
Six shells happened to hit the fortifications of Zheng Zhengzhong on the avenue, and the enemy's last machine gun was instantly silenced. Lei Jianqin braved the artillery support and jumped forward 60 meters in an instant, and the first row of grenades flew out.
The role of offensive weapons is becoming more prominent, and the other side does not dare to show weakness. A row of grenades flew towards the attacking guards. There was deafening artillery fire on both sides of the Ba River. In this narrow area, large troops could not be deployed. Two hundred people were already the limit of the attack. After dodging the opponent's first round of grenades, Lei Jianqin rushed forward again with a gun.
"Ouch..." Only then did he realize that he was injured. A piece of shrapnel hit his back. The severe pain made him stagger. He gritted his teeth and held on, sounding the charge.
Seeing their fortifications destroyed by mortars, the enemy threw grenades and began to retreat.
"Cavalry pursuit", Du Chenyu sent out 20 people from Luo Feng Cavalry Team to pursue the retreating enemy.
It took only one hour to capture the enemy's first line of defense, with more than 40 casualties and one-third of the mortar ammunition consumed. It can be said that the cost outweighed the gain. Du Chenyu had no choice but to show the power of the Du family army in the first battle, so he chose to attack by force.
The logistics team cleaned up the battlefield and the army continued to move south. The pursuit team also encountered an ambush in front and did not choose to attack by force. They moved in a roundabout way on the hillside and arrived at the enemy's second line of defense at the foot of Lingshan at noon. The defense here was tighter, so Du Chenyu did not choose to attack immediately.
This is the Bazhong District City Defense Command located in a blue brick and tile house in Baima. The news that the Du family army is attacking Bazhong from three directions has arrived.
Ever since the commander of the Bazhou City Defense Regiment Chen Menli led the main force to the south for support, the deputy commander Yue Zhenyun gained military control over the Bazhou area. With the support of the Yue family, he quickly accumulated a certain amount of strength. He evacuated the joint defense brigades from Jizhou and Bishan, strengthened the defense of Bazhou, and achieved key defense. He also knew that Jizhou was surrounded by the Du family army and he was unable to resist. When Enyang was attacked by Zheng Qihe, he chose to turn a blind eye and develop his strength with peace of mind. In half a year, he organized 1500 people, appointed himself as commander, and prepared to secede and establish himself as king.
As a result, the Du family did not give him enough time to prepare and launched a three-way siege, shattering his dream of becoming a local emperor.
"Report, the first line of defense on the northern front of Xuantan has been breached, and more than 100 people in the defensive positions have not been able to evacuate the line," Adjutant Yue Zhenyun came in to report.
"How could it be so fast, it's less than half a day." The most solid northern line lost more than 100 people, plus the other two directions have lost 200 people. The Republic of China warlord team would basically collapse if they lost one-third, and basically flee on all fronts if they lost half. Few would stick to the end. Soldiers join the army for the pay. Why do they need money if they don't even have a life? This is the shortcoming of the recruitment system. What's more, all the superiors withhold pay. The combat effectiveness of Yue Zhenyun's garrison team at the pass today can be regarded as the Yue family's good training of troops.