Cross the Songhu battlefield and rise to become the most powerful warlord

697 Artillery Fire

However, Gu Zhutong also knew that this cooperation with Ye Qingshan allowed them to take over northern Guangdong at a very low cost.

Their Tenth Army has already gained a great advantage.

If at this moment, I were to propose to Ye Qingshan that the Tenth Army should also participate in the attack on Yangcheng.

That's a bit unkind.

Gu Zhutong decided to wait and see.

If later, Ye Qingshan’s 89th Army’s attack on Yangcheng fails and they need support from their Tenth Army Group.

At that time, they will send troops south to cooperate with Ye Qingshan to capture Yangcheng.

That's suitable.

After the war, if they wanted to get a piece of the pie from Yangcheng, Ye Qingshan couldn't say anything.

"OK then."

When Commander Liu saw that Gu Zhutong did not give in, he knew that he could not say more.

Indeed, let’s take over northern Guangdong first and eat this piece of fat meat before we talk about other things.

In early April, the Tenth Army left southwestern Fujian and headed straight for northern Guangdong.

At the same time, at the 89th Army's front-line command post at the border of Fujian and Vietnam, Deputy Commander Wu Hongguang received Ye Qingshan's order to attack.

I knew the time had come.

"Send a message to the New 19st and New rd Divisions to launch an attack tonight on the outskirts of the Japanese th Mixed Brigade in eastern Guangdong.

Seize the Japanese positions from Meizhou to Lianhua Mountain and compress the Japanese 19th Mixed Brigade to the Chaozhou area.

The New 2nd Division marched overnight and infiltrated the Chacheng area, capturing and holding the place.

If the Japanese 104th Division in Yangcheng sent troops to rescue eastern Guangdong.

Their mission is to stop the enemy's reinforcements and not allow any enemy to reach Chaozhou."

Wu Hongguang quickly gave the order.

They have been staying in the mountainous area on the border between Fujian and Guangdong for three or four days, and the soldiers have almost rested.

Just waiting for Ye Qingshan's attack order.

At this moment, the three main divisions of the 89th Army were all gearing up to fight the first battle in the counterattack against Guangdong Province.

Moreover, this first battle was no small fight. The goal was to wipe out a mixed brigade of more than 8,000 Japanese soldiers.

If the local puppet troops are included, there are almost 15,000 people.

But that's not a big deal.

Officers at all levels of the 89th Army were not only not afraid, but even a little excited.

This is because they have a greater advantage in military strength. The 89th Army has nearly troops in this counterattack in Guangdong Province.

If it were any other National Army unit, even with more than 50,000 men, they wouldn't be able to defeat such a mixed brigade of the Japanese.

But they are the 89th Army, Ye Qingshan’s troops.

Using the few to defeat the many, and wiping out an entire mixed brigade of the Japanese, that’s just the appetizer!

The staple food is still in Yangcheng.

As the attack order was issued, the three main divisions of the 89th Army took quick action.

On the evening of April 2, a Japanese regiment stationed on the northern Meizhou front line was suddenly subjected to heavy artillery fire.

"Mixi, mixi, quickly connect me to the brigade headquarters.

Yes, we were suddenly attacked by the Chinese army and the artillery fire was very fierce.

Well, we must hold on...

Misi Misi..."

"Baga, the telephone line was blown down."

In Meizhou City, Major Yamada, commander of the 19rd Independent Infantry Battalion of the 93th Mixed Brigade of the Japanese, was shouting into the phone in frustration.

Ask for help from the commander of the Japanese 19th Mixed Brigade who was far away in Chaozhou.

Boom boom boom!

The sound of artillery outside the city was deafening, and the Japanese captain was frightened.

"Baga, this is a complete set of heavy artillery with a caliber of 150mm or above.

This is definitely not the artillery that ordinary Chinese troops can possess.

The Chinese Tenth Army is coming?"

When the Japanese captain heard the roar of the 155mm howitzers outside, the first thing he thought of was Liu Jianxu's Tenth Army.

Because this is the main force of the National Army that is closest to Meizhou.

Apart from this unit, the Japanese captain really couldn't think of any other Kuomintang unit nearby that could have such fierce artillery fire.

Whoosh whoosh!

And more intense artillery attacks are yet to come.

Soon, accompanied by unique whistling sounds coming from outside the city, fireworks appeared in the sky.

Immediately afterwards, the Japanese military camps and positions turned into a sea of ​​fire.

The firepower coverage of two rocket artillery regiments made the Japanese in the coverage area feel desperate.

"Baga, this is impossible.

Even the 10th Chinese Army cannot have so many rocket launchers.

Could it be...could it be..."

The Japanese captain thought of a more terrifying possibility.

"Quick, send a telegram to the brigade commander."

Not long after, the commander of the Japanese brigade in Chaozhou received a new telegram from the Japanese battalion commander.

At this moment, in the headquarters of the 19th Mixed Brigade of the Chaozhou devils, the sound of telegraphs and telephones kept ringing.

Because, at this moment, it was not only the Japanese defenders in Meizhou who called the Japanese 19th Mixed Brigade Command to report.

There were also urgent requests for help from the Japanese from many strategic locations such as Lianhuashan Pass and Shantou Port.

The three main divisions of the 89th Army attacked simultaneously from multiple directions.

"What? It wasn't the Chinese Tenth Army that attacked us.

Could it be Ye Qingshan’s 89th Army?

Damn, this guy Yamada is crazy, how could he be Ye Qingshan’s 89th Army.

At this moment, Ye Qingshan's 89th Army was still fighting with the 102nd Division in northern Jiangxi.

How could he possibly come to our eastern Guangdong?

It’s just complete nonsense.”

Major General Kondo Shinpachi, commander of the Japanese 19th Mixed Brigade, tore up the telegram in his hand and roared angrily.

He didn't believe the telegram from his captain at all.

"Do you really think that Ye Qingshan is a god?

How could he, with only the 89th Army under his command, be capable of attacking northern Jiangxi and eastern Guangdong at the same time?

Tell that idiot Yamada to defend Meizhou.

Otherwise, he will serve your majesty faithfully."

Meizhou is an important barrier for Chaozhou in the north, and the Japanese must defend it.

But at the same time, the 89th Army was determined to capture such an important position as soon as possible.

In order to capture Meizhou tonight, Deputy Commander Wu directly mobilized two rocket artillery regiments and a 155mm heavy artillery regiment to provide artillery support for the attacking New st Division.

This does not include the various other mountain artillery, mortars and other small-caliber support artillery owned by the New 1st Division.

With such fierce firepower, it is no wonder that the Japanese captain of the 93rd Battalion was so desperate.

Just one night, wait until dawn.

The Japanese 93rd Battalion had almost lost all the defensive positions outside Meizhou City.

The few hundred remaining Japanese soldiers retreated into Meizhou city, preparing for a final fight.

It’s not that they don’t want to transfer in, it’s that they don’t even have the opportunity to transfer in.

They have been surrounded.

"Send one last telegram to the Brigade Commander.

Tell him that the Chinese army that attacked us this time was definitely not the Tenth Army Group of Fujian Province.

Most likely it is Ye Qingshan’s 89th Army.

I have never seen such heavy fire and such a fierce attack...

In this battle, our 93rd Battalion has already turned into a hopeless situation. We will fight to the death for the Empire and His Majesty!"