Traveling through 1937, I came to fight against the Kwantung Army

North of Wilder City,

Sidaogang Village,

Second Column Headquarters,

The house was filled with smoke.

Everyone's expressions were very relaxed.

After three expeditions to the south of the Yangtze River and four expeditions to protect Linjiang,

The number of Northeast Democratic Alliance troops has exceeded 60, while the strength of the Kuomintang army has dropped to 50.

The problem is that it's not just the number of people.

As the Mulan Arsenal began to supply weapons in large quantities, the Eastern Alliance's troops quickly began to gain an advantage in equipment. Now even the newly formed regiments are equipped with at least two infantry guns, company-level grenade launchers, and mortars. The only thing they lack is training and experience.

The main forces, the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 6th columns, have begun to be equipped with automatic rifles, Browning machine guns and Panzerfausts in large quantities. Each mountain artillery regiment has four guns, and the division generally also has a field artillery regiment!

As the main force of the Kuomintang army suffered repeated heavy losses, a large number of able-bodied men were brought in to make up the numbers, and its combat effectiveness continued to decline!

As one grows stronger, the other shrinks, and the gap between the two sides is getting bigger and bigger!

Commander Liu of the 2nd Column looked at the relaxed division commanders and political commissars, and couldn't help but feel a little worried. He said seriously,

"Comrades, after reconnaissance, we found that the enemy defending Huaide includes a reinforced regiment of the New First Army and a security regiment, with a total of 5000 people! Although we have an absolute advantage in terms of manpower, I hope everyone will pay attention to this battle. Today we have inspected the terrain of Huaide. In fact, Huaide is not easy to fight. If we are not careful, there will be heavy casualties!"

Huaide City is located on a hillside with a high terrain. It is about two and a half kilometers long and one kilometer wide. It has two main streets and most of the houses are made of brick and tile. The surrounding area is flat and open, easy to defend and difficult to attack, and the enemy had already set up defenses: a moat around the city, four meters wide and three meters deep, which is difficult to cross; permanent reinforced concrete fortifications are built on the four to five-meter-high earth walls, with a combination of large and small bunkers, both light and dark; outside the moat, there are dense obstacles such as roof-shaped barbed wire, stakes, minefields, etc., with no way out.

The commanders of the Eastern Alliance columns all like to calculate the cost-effectiveness.

Because the No. 1 leader of the headquarters has this characteristic, which has been there since the Red Army’s Long March, that is, he never fights a battle where he will suffer a loss.

He is extremely cautious and never willing to take risks, and this is actually true for Yin Xinjun as well!

Commander Liu continued,

"First, let's talk about how we should attack Wilder this time?"

Commander Chen of the 4th Division said first,

"Huide is surrounded by open areas, so it is indeed difficult to attack. This time, the headquarters has dispatched two more mountain artillery regiments. I suggest that all artillery pieces from various units be withdrawn and concentrated on attacking one point!"

The commander of the 1st Independent Division said,

"According to reconnaissance, there is only a natural ditch in the southwest corner of the city that extends from our side to the city. Although the end of the ditch is more than a hundred meters away from the city wall, this is the only terrain that can be used. I suggest that the main attack direction is here. After the artillery fire attacks the city wall, it will be extended immediately. The main attacking troops will immediately go up and control a breakthrough! At the same time, in order to avoid heavy casualties, it is still necessary to assault at night!"

Ding Shan fell into deep thought. He was thinking about the instructions his master had given him before they set out. The purpose of sending them to the battle was to take advantage of their equipment, so that other troops would bleed less and win at a smaller cost!

"Deputy Commander Ding, what do you think?" a kind voice sounded.

Ding Shan was stunned for a moment before he realized that he was being called. He immediately stood up.

Commander Liu smiled and pressed his hand down, saying,

"Sit down and talk. There's no need to be restrained. You are the reinforcement sent by the headquarters to help us. I also want to hear any good suggestions you have!"

Ding Shan was a little nervous. After all, the whole room was filled with leaders at the division level and above. He took a deep breath, calmed himself down, and said,

"Leaders, I have also looked at the terrain of Huaide. No matter which unit attacks, huge casualties are inevitable.

This time we brought two 150mm Grizzly assault guns, six 75mm Type 30 assault guns, and more than armored vehicles.

My opinion is that we should give the task of breaking through the city defense to our troops. The flatter the terrain, the more advantageous it is for our equipment. There is a saying that strength can defeat skill. Modern warfare is all about firepower. Our firepower advantage can completely crush the enemy and win at a lower cost. I am fully confident of this! It may just take a longer time!"

Several division commanders present all had touched expressions on their faces. There was no officer who did not cherish the lives of his soldiers. Ding Shan took the initiative to volunteer, wanting to take on the responsibility of sacrificing the battle himself.

Commander Liu said thoughtfully,

"I think we are not afraid of wasting time. Our combat purpose is to annihilate the enemy in large numbers. According to Deputy Commander Ding's opinion, we can change the siege to a siege. Now, my deployment is as follows. The Fourth Division will cooperate with the Mulan Military Sub-district troops to attack the city. The Fifth Division, the Sixth Division, and the Independent First Division will rush to Ershilibao, southeast of Huaide, to build positions and ambush the enemy troops that may reinforce from Siping!"

Everyone responded in unison,

"Yes!"

Mulan Arsenal,

In the heat treatment workshop,

Tank tracks are neatly arranged on the conveyor belt. These tracks are all forged from manganese steel.

The blazing fire burned in the heating furnace, emitting blazing light and rolling heat waves. The workers were wearing high-temperature resistant protective clothing, looking focused and serious.

The track parts were slowly fed into the heating furnace, the temperature inside the furnace continued to rise, and the metal surface gradually turned red. The numbers on the dashboard kept jumping, monitoring the precise changes in temperature and time.

When the predetermined heating temperature and time are reached, the track is quickly transferred to the quenching tank. The quenching medium boils instantly, emitting a large amount of steam and making a "hissing" sound.

Afterwards, the quenched crawler tracks are sent to the tempering furnace for tempering in a relatively mild environment. The light from the furnace is reflected on the faces of the workers through the observation window. They always pay attention to the changes of the crawler tracks to ensure that every link meets the process requirements.

The whole workshop is filled with the unique smell of metal heating and cooling. The roar of machines, the boiling sound of the medium and the commands of the workers are intertwined, forming a tense and orderly scene of track heat treatment.

After Zhao Taihua accompanied Yin Xinjun to inspect the eleven workshops of the tank, he excitedly reported,

"The Panzer IV and the half-track armored transport vehicle have 60% of their parts completed so they can roll off the production line on September st this year!"

Yin Xinjun said,

"Old Zhao, on the battlefield, the soldiers feel safe only when they lean on these iron lumps!"

He was thinking about the brutal Tashan Battle next year, where there was no strategic location to defend. So, he decided to build an iron line of defense!

Harbin Airport,

A Kuomintang B24 bomber cut through the sky and roared towards Harbin Airport.

In the air, two ME262 fighter jets were flying nervously alongside to provide escort!

At the airport, a group of people were eagerly waiting, with tension and anticipation intertwined on everyone's face. The roar of the plane came from far away and was deafening.

When the huge B24 bomber landed steadily on the runway, it raised a cloud of dust. The propeller gradually stopped turning, the door slowly opened, and five Kuomintang pilots walked off the plane with firm steps.

The third head of the headquarters went up with Zhang Wenjiu to greet them.

"Welcome! Welcome back to the people's ranks!"