NCCnovel Chapter 428 Cutting off the supply line
Chapter 428 Cutting off the supply line
The cavalry exposed their flank to the enemy, which meant giving up the charge. Seeing that Ma Quanzhong's 10th Cavalry Brigade actually wanted to escape, Li Yunlong immediately picked up his machine gun and stood up to fire. Anyway, these cavalry were busy escaping and posed no threat.
Following suit, the soldiers of the airborne regiment fired their gun barrels until they were red, for fear of letting an enemy escape.
Ten minutes later, the sound of horses neighing could be heard from all over the hillside.
"Commander, we have almost wiped out Ma Quanzhong's cavalry brigade this time. I estimate that only a few dozen horses escaped!"
Li Yunlong led a horse and sat on it.
"All the 201st Airborne Regiment's Airborne Battalion are ready to attack Yao County!"
Duan Peng, the commander of the 202nd Airborne Regiment, didn't get a horse, but how could such a competitive man give up this fighting opportunity just because he didn't have a horse?
"Soldiers of the 202nd Airborne Regiment! This is the first battle since our regiment was founded. Even if we don't have horses, we can't lose! Follow me!"
Fortunately, this hillside is not far from Yao County, only two miles away.
Li Yunlong and his men had just wiped out a company of defenders in the city when Duan Peng followed!
"Duan Peng, your 202nd Airborne Regiment will be responsible for the right wing of Yao County, and I will lead the 201st Airborne Regiment to take charge of the left wing. Remember, we cannot let any enemy pass through Yao County!"
Li Yunlong wanted to strangle Hu Zongnan's lifeline and prevent his troops from getting any supplies.
After all, this is the best way to break the impasse. They have less than 20,000 people to fight against Hu Zongnan's army of more than 100,000, there is no chance of winning!
At this time, the Fifth Armored Division, which used automobile mobility, successfully captured Luochuan and Yichuan.
Since then, traffic between Yan'an and Xi'an has been completely blocked by the independent column.
When Hu Zongnan received the information that the 10th Cavalry Brigade was almost wiped out, his eyes went dark. He could not imagine what kind of Eighth Route Army troops could capture the county seat of Yao County and wipe out the entire cavalry brigade?
"Commander, it is indeed the Eighth Route Army, but this Eighth Route Army is very strange. They have excellent weapons and equipment, strong firepower, and are well-trained!"
"Impossible! The Eighth Route Army only has one brigade in Yan'an, the 359th Brigade in front of us. Where did they find a well-trained and fast-moving force? Did Ma Quanzhong attack rashly?"
"Yes, that's true. Ma Quanzhong saw a small group of Eighth Route Army soldiers and wanted to eat them up, but he fell into their trap!"
Hu Zongnan was so angry that he tore the telegram into pieces and cursed Ma Quanzhong a hundred times in his heart.
"Good-for-nothing! Bastard! Before I left, I told him not to attack without authorization and to protect our transportation lines, but this bastard ignored my words? Where is Ma Quanzhong? I'm going to send him to a military court!"
"Commander, Ma Quanzhong has died in battle!"
When Hu Zongnan heard the news, his anger subsided by half. No matter how angry he was, he couldn't get along with a dead person. He couldn't just whip the corpse, right?
"Fortunately, Yichuan and Luochuan are still in our hands, and supplies can be delivered. Let's make a quick decision!"
Hu Zongnan began to deploy his troops and prepared to send another infantry regiment to charge. After all, he had received a guarantee from Chongqing this morning that no more planes would appear over Nanniwan!
As long as he crosses Nanniwan, Yan'an will be at his feet!
"Commander, urgent message!"
Hu Zongnan didn't even take his eyes off the map and said directly:
"Read!"
"Luochuan and Yichuan sent a telegram saying that they were suddenly attacked by the elite Eighth Route Army. Luochuan and Yichuan have been lost! Our logistics supply lines have been completely cut off!"
The confidence that Hu Zongnan had just built up was completely shattered. He slumped back in his chair, with everything in front of him going dark.
The adjutant pinched Hu Zongnan's Ren Zhong point and poured water into his mouth, which helped him regain some strength, but he still looked like he was drained of energy.
"Elite? Elite? There are elites everywhere. How can the Eighth Route Army have so many elites? I think they are scared by the Eighth Route Army. When they see the children's group members, do they think they see the elites?"
"Commander, could it be that the Independent Column was behind this? After all, the Yongji Yellow River Bridge is relatively close to Yichuan and Luochuan?"
Hu Zongnan's heart skipped a beat. If the independent column really joined the war, it would be troublesome.
Regardless of what the final outcome will be, if tanks and planes are deployed together, their army of more than 100,000 troops that have penetrated deep into Yan'an will be annihilated first.
As to whether it was the Central Army, the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army and the Japanese who jointly wiped out the Independent Column, or whether the Welfare Corps won by using a small force to defeat the enemy, it doesn't make any sense.
After all, only by living can you see the final ending.
At eight o'clock in the morning, the hesitant Hu Zongnan sent a telegram to Chongqing, requesting the latest instructions.
When Peanut saw the telegram, he slammed the table so hard that it shook the earth.
"Damn it! An army of over 100,000 people fought against a brigade, but they couldn't defeat it in one night. I wonder if Hu Zongnan doesn't know how to fight anymore."
"Sir, as far as I know, there are indeed some problems. Commander Hu's logistics supply line has been cut off by the Eighth Route Army! And according to investigation, this group of Eighth Route Army is well-equipped and has very strong combat effectiveness!"
"Don't speak for him! No matter how strong the fighting force is, it is only a force of less than 20,000. Moreover, it is the force behind him. His target is Yan'an, which is his front! As long as Yan'an is taken, the Eighth Route Army behind him will naturally retreat!"
Peanut's words hit the nail on the head. There was indeed only one way left for Hu Zongnan, and that was to take over Yan'an.
However, Hu Zongnan was at the frontline, and the issues he considered were more specific and practical than peanuts. How would the food, drink, defecation and urination of these hundreds of thousands of people be solved? How would the weapons and ammunition be supplied?
"Commander, Chongqing has sent three urgent telegrams, urging us to launch a general attack as soon as possible!"
Hu Zongnan naturally knew that this matter could not be delayed for too long. If it was delayed any further, the people of the country and the world would know about it, and then the pressure from public opinion and the allies would come.
"This is taking a risk! Order the troops to prepare their artillery fire for ten minutes in half an hour, and then immediately launch a general attack. I will personally supervise the battle this time!"
After Hu Zongnan finished speaking, he brought his guard company and the gendarmerie, carrying heavy machine guns, and came behind the infantry regiment that was preparing to charge.
Hu Zongnan ordered his men to bring baskets of silver dollars.
"Brothers, if you take over the Nanniwan position, these are your rewards! If you fail to take over the position, this is your pension!"
After Hu Zongnan finished speaking, the assembled artillery began to pour ammunition towards Nanniwan. Fortunately, Brigade Commander Wang took countermeasures at the suggestion of Wang Ming, otherwise another one-third of the soldiers would have been sacrificed.
"Brothers, rush!"
The huge Central Army rushed towards the Nanniwan position with its body bent.