Chapter 246: Everyone opposes the battle plan
After the various discussions about the exercise were over, the four of them took out the map and began to discuss plans on how to attack Ping'an County.
Kong Jie took out the map left by the brigade commander and asked Ding Wei and Qin Yangming to help hang it on the wall.
"If you ask me, the sandbox is more convenient."
Looking at the map hanging on the wall, Li Yunlong stood beside it, peeling peanuts and commenting on the map.
"Okay, Li Yunlong, you are still picky.
The brigade commander had a lot of trouble getting this map. It's good enough to have a map, but you still want a sand table.
The sand table of Fu'an County has not been made yet, and you also want the sand table of Ping'an County. Given the terrain of Ping'an County, it will take at least half a month to make the sand table.
After waiting for half a month, the day lily had gone cold.
To use your words, eating shit is not as good as eating hot food."
"Hey, Ding Wei, when did you become so eloquent?"
"After following our Captain Li for so long, it's hard not to be good at talking."
"If you ask me, this is the saying that those who are close to vermilion will be red, and those who are close to ink will be black."
"Then why hasn't Lao Li learned anything from Lao Zhao after following him for so long?"
"Of course, it must be that the commander's ink is too dark, and our Political Commissar Zhao can't stand it.
"Haven't you seen that Political Commissar Zhao is still a bitch now? He keeps saying it all the time. When he first came to the Independent Regiment, how polite was Political Commissar Zhao? He was so gentle and refined, but now he is a rough man."
"Hahaha, there's nothing wrong with what Xiao Qin said. Li Yunlong, you have a fierce personality. Xiao Qin used to be such an honest child, but after following you for such a long time, he has turned into a little rascal."
"If you ask me, Li Yunlong is an old fox, and now Xiao Qin is a little fox, very cunning."
"What does it have to do with me if Xiao Qin becomes a bad person?
The brigade commander is more cunning than me. Xiao Qin obviously learned from the brigade commander. "
"Alright, alright, hurry up and put up the map and see how to attack Ping'an County. Lao Li, stop eating and come over to help me get the nails up."
"I'm just checking to see if the map is hanging straight. Wait, where is the nail?"
"In my pocket."
"Hey!"
"No, it's really in my pocket. I can't free my hands!"
As the four people were chatting and laughing, a complete map of Ping'an County and a part of the Shuiquan area was hung on the wall.
"Lao Li, Xiao Qin, you two are better at map assignments, so I'll leave it to you."
"OK, no problem."
"Hehe, when it comes to map assignments, except for Xiao Qin, I, Li Yunlong, think I'm the best among us. Thinking back to the past..."
"Don't think about the past. It's a waste of time. Let's get started."
"Xiao Qin, tell me your thoughts first."
"Okay, then I'll make a fool of myself."
After listening to Ding Wei's words, he glanced at Li Yunlong and Kong Jie, and when he saw that they had no objection, he took a bamboo pole from Kong Jie.
"My idea is simple: divide the work and attack at the same time."
“Our goal is simple, which is to take over Ping’an County.
If it were me, I would let the Vanguard Regiment and the New Second Regiment enter the Ping'an area first.
The Vanguard Regiment and the New Second Regiment will send troops to destroy all the bridges and roads in the entire Ping'an County. In order to speed up the destruction, we can use a large amount of explosives for direct blasting.
Then send troops to occupy various passes in Ping'an County and prepare for blocking the enemy.
The New 1st Regiment and the Independent Regiment first attacked the Dongzhang River stronghold. After crossing the river, they launched an attack on the Zhangzhuang stronghold at the fastest speed.
If the Japanese in Ping'an County come out to support the Zhangzhuang stronghold, then we will surround the stronghold and attack the reinforcements, slowly wearing down the defenders inside Ping'an County.
If the Japanese inside Ping'an County do not come out, then we will find a suitable opportunity and have the independent regiment lead the attack. We will be able to capture the Zhangzhuang stronghold in a maximum of one hour.
At that time, the New 1st Regiment will be responsible for taking over the blocking position, and the New 2nd Regiment will be responsible for blocking the Japanese reinforcements from other directions.
Then the independent regiment and the vanguard regiment were responsible for the main attack on the county seat of Ping'an County.
The vanguard regiment was led by Captain Li, who was in charge of the overall command, while I led the special forces team into Ping'an County in advance.
In addition, we will conduct reconnaissance of the internal areas of Ping'an County in advance, giving priority to finding out the locations of the Japanese's arsenals, barracks, granaries and other important areas, and marking them.
When we launch the attack on Ping'an County, we will directly let the artillery conduct long-range bombardment outside the city to blow up these important areas.
Then I took the special forces team to create chaos inside the county town and attract as many Japanese as possible.
Captain Li can lead his troops to launch an attack on Ping'an County from this side.
Although Ping'an County has city walls, they are all old walls and not built entirely with bricks. Only the outer layer is bricks, and the middle is just rammed earth.
You can concentrate a large number of artillery to bombard a point on the city wall. It is not necessary to enter the city through the city gate. There is a barbican behind the city gate, so entering the city through the city gate is not a wise choice.
With our artillery shell reserves, we can use them to open a hole in the city wall. As long as the wall is blown down, the large army can easily enter the city.
Moreover, our special forces can provide accurate coordinates to the large forces inside the city and guide the artillery outside to carry out precise bombardment on the county seat of Ping'an County.
If everything goes well, we can take over the entire Ping'an County in one night.
When the time comes and the remaining enemies in Ping'an County are eliminated, the Independent Regiment and the Vanguard Regiment can go to support the New 1st and New 2nd Regiments which are responsible for blocking the enemy.
The Japanese can either fight to the death with the idea of starting a war early, or they can just accept that Ping'an County is taken back by us and leave."
Listening to Qin Yangming's battle plan, Ding Wei and Kong Jie looked at each other.
Ding Wei spoke first to comment.
"Xiao Qin's combat equipment is relatively good.
But what I am confused about is, Xiao Qin, how can you be sure that the independent regiment can capture the Zhangzhuang stronghold within an hour?
If the independent regiment fails to take down the Zhangzhuang stronghold within an hour, once we launch an attack on the Zhangzhuang stronghold, the Japanese will surely be able to guess that we are going to attack Ping'an County. At that time, the 11th Brigade in Shuiquan can directly move south along the highway. Even if we let the vanguard regiment block it, it will require at least a battalion of troops.
If they fail to stop the enemy, once the Japanese reinforcements from Luyang, Taigu and Taiyuan areas arrive, the Vanguard Regiment and the New Second Regiment will likely face the risk of being attacked from three sides.
If the Japanese invaders from Taigu or Taiyuan come in, the Vanguard Regiment and the New Second Regiment will be at risk of being surrounded by them."
After Ding Wei finished expressing his doubts, Kong Jie also nodded: "Yes, Xiao Qin, although the independent regiment is strong in combat, it may not be able to capture the Zhangzhuang stronghold in an hour, even at its strongest.
Aren't you exaggerating a bit? It's a bit unrealistic."
Ding Wei and Kong Jie obviously disagreed with Qin Yangming's battle plan and thought it was simply impossible.
If the Zhangzhuang stronghold cannot be captured within an hour, the New Second Regiment and the Vanguard Regiment that entered Ping'an County in advance will face the risk of being surrounded.
If any accident happened to the Vanguard Regiment and the New Second Regiment, especially the Vanguard Regiment, if the entire army was wiped out, it would be a major blow to the Taihang Military Region.
It was a major blow to the entire Eighth Route Army.
The strength of the Vanguard Regiment ranks among the top in the entire Eighth Route Army.
If we were surrounded and annihilated by the Japanese, the losses would be huge.
Qin Yangming did not speak while listening to what Ding Wei and Kong Jie said. Li Yunlong spoke directly to them.
"The independent regiment has the strength to capture the Zhangzhuang stronghold within an hour!"
After listening to Li Yunlong's words, Ding Wei and Kong Jie raised questions again.
"I say, Lao Li, can you please stop sticking green onions in your pig nose? Why are you pretending?
Do you really think the independent regiment is invincible? This is no joke.
If the vanguard regiment is completely wiped out, the brigade commander will not be able to bear the responsibility.
Could you please stop making trouble?
Yes, I admit that the chili powder bombs developed by the logistics department are very effective, but it does not mean that we can take down the large-scale stronghold of Zhangzhuang within an hour with the chili powder bombs. "
"Yes, Lao Li, this is not the time to act on impulse. We know that it won't be long before there is a big battle between us and the Japanese. If the vanguard group is wiped out by the Japanese at this critical moment,
Not to mention other losses, how much of a blow could the annihilation of the vanguard regiment alone have on the overall morale of the Eighth Route Army?
If we can capture Zhangzhuang stronghold within three hours, not to mention one hour, then I have no objection to Xiao Qin's battle plan.
But this is obviously impossible.
Although what Lao Ding said was unpleasant to hear, it was also true, and the truth is unpleasant to hear. "
"Old Li, I still maintain my opinion. I am not targeting Xiao Qin, nor do I look down on your independent group.
If you really agree to launch the attack according to Xiao Qin's plan, there is no doubt that I will immediately send a telegram to the brigade commander and ask him to stop this operation.
Xiao Qin's battle plan is no longer a matter of taking risks. To put it bluntly, this is completely sending the Vanguard Regiment and the New Second Regiment into the mouths of the Japanese. "
Seeing Li Yunlong's face full of approval, he said that the independent regiment could capture the Zhangzhuang stronghold within an hour.
Ding Wei was so angry that he laughed.
Qin Yangming was not clear about this, and one could explain it by saying that he was still young, had fought few major battles, had always been successful, and therefore underestimated the enemy.
But what about you, Li Yunlong?
He is almost thirty years old and has fought in countless battles. He has been promoted to the position of regiment commander.
Qin Yangming doesn't know, but don't you, Li Yunlong, know it either?
How dare you, Li Yunlong, agree to such an unreliable plan?
Do you really think the Japanese are made of mud?
Or do you think that if you can completely wipe out the Japanese Fourth Brigade, the Independent Regiment will be invincible?
We had to take over the Zhangzhuang stronghold within an hour. Even if all four regiments were mobilized, it would be a big question whether we could take over the Zhangzhuang stronghold within an hour.
The Zhangzhuang stronghold is now to their four regiments what Baihuling was to the Japanese invaders.
The Japanese sent an entire brigade to attack Baihu Ridge, but failed to take it.
Now their four regiments are facing the Zhangzhuang stronghold. Even though the Zhangzhuang stronghold does not have the terrain advantage of Baihuling, it has more fortifications, more people, and stronger firepower!
The combined strength of their four regiments is at most equivalent to that of an ordinary Japanese brigade, not even a field brigade.
It might be possible to capture the Zhangzhuang stronghold, but it is absolutely impossible to capture it within an hour.
If they cannot take down the Zhangzhuang stronghold, then the Japanese soldiers in the Zhangzhuang stronghold can dispatch reinforcements at any time to attack their four regiments. At that time, just as Ding Wei just said, the pioneer group that entered the Ping'an County area in advance will directly become the meat in the Japanese pot.
They could be swallowed up by the Japanese at any time.
Ding Wei had already made a plan. If Li Yunlong dared to act recklessly, he would have to stop Li Yunlong even if everyone turned against him. He absolutely could not let Li Yunlong take his troops and follow Qin Yangming to carry out this combat plan.
"In short, I strongly oppose Xiao Qin's battle plan!"
"Yes, I object too. This battle plan is absolutely not acceptable. We must change it."
"Old Li, Xiao Qin's battle plan is really not going to work. Even I can tell that. Don't act so arrogantly."
"Lao Li, we are all old comrades, so please don't be so irritable. If we take down Zhangzhuang in an hour, do you think we still have the headquarters' heavy artillery? Even if we have the headquarters' heavy artillery, we can't take down Zhangzhuang in an hour."
"Yes, Captain, this battle plan is absolutely not feasible. I am also against it."
"Captain Li, the puppet troops in Zhangzhuang were not recruited locally like us. They are from Chahar or North China. They are very powerful and cannot be turned against us.
The Zhangzhuang stronghold was a defensive fortification built by the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army. I have also garrisoned here with my troops before. It is really impossible to take over the Zhangzhuang stronghold in one hour.
There are eight bunkers, all made of reinforced concrete. The 70mm infantry gun can do nothing to them. Even the 75mm mountain gun can only withstand seven or eight shells at close range, and all the shells have to hit the bunkers directly.
There is water and food in the bunkers. Each bunker is stockpiled with at least 3,000 rounds of ammunition. Coupled with the water-cooled Maxim heavy machine gun, it is completely a tank that cannot move.
Some bunkers even have tunnels connecting to the main bunker..."
Not only Ding Wei and Kong Jie opposed Qin Yangming's battle plan, but even Zhao Gang and others who came later also spoke out to oppose Li Yunlong's battle plan.
Even Wu Xiaoguo (the puppet army commander who initially attacked Linyuan County), the deputy commander of the New 1st Regiment, emphasized how solid the Zhangzhuang stronghold was and how powerful its firepower was.
Hearing everyone trying to dissuade him, Li Yunlong slammed the table impatiently.
"What are you shouting about!
I, Li Yunlong, am not a fool. I don’t need you to teach me how to fight!
I, Li Yunlong, have fought for so long and in so many battles. Have any of you ever seen me fight a battle that I was not sure of winning?!"
"Shut the fuck up, everyone! I said I can take down Zhangzhuang in an hour, and I can take down Zhangzhuang in an hour!"
(End of this chapter)
