Newborn 1927

Chapter 238 Feint to the East, Attack in the West

Li Fuxing immediately reported the situation to Yang Jiefang. Yang Jiefang sneered, "The dragon chariot has become like Tang Sanzang's flesh, with all sorts of mountain spirits and sea monsters wanting a bite. Commander Wu, what do you suggest we do?"

Wu Zhichen replied, "All the monsters that wanted to eat Tang Sanzang's flesh were eventually either killed or captured. Don't worry, Commander! Although the Third Cavalry Division is not as elite as the First Cavalry Division, dealing with a few bandits is no problem."

Yang Jiefang warned, "The first wave alone had over a thousand bandits, and we don't know how many more will follow. We must not be careless!"

Wu Zhichen agreed and immediately drafted a telegram. He ordered all troops along the railway line to move out immediately and converge on Longche. Centered on Longche, they were to establish defensive positions on advantageous terrain to hold off the approaching bandits. He also ordered the artillery battalion to send a mountain artillery company as reinforcement. The remaining cavalry regiment and artillery remained in their barracks on standby. Baotou City and the horse breeding farm also needed to be protected, so they dared not make any rash moves for the time being.

Fu Zuoyi said, "Commander, if Baotou's troops are insufficient, we can send the 73rd Division from Guihua to reinforce them."

Yang Jiefang remained noncommittal, turning to look at Wu Zhichen. His meaning was clear: he wanted Wu Zhichen to make the decision.

The defenses within Baotou were actually quite strong. The Baotou Garrison Brigade, established on the fifteenth of the month, numbered over five thousand. Wu Zhichen selected three thousand men, and the remainder were reorganized into a police battalion and a security regiment, all under the command of the fifteenth. Add to that the guard battalion brought by Yang Jiefang. With the help of the sturdy city walls, defending Baotou shouldn't be a problem. The real issue was the horse farm and the industrial zone under construction outside the city, which also required close protection. The bandits, unaware of the difficulties of construction, were incredibly destructive.

Wu Zhichen spoke up, "How about we send some troops over to help defend the horse farm? The bandits are called bandits because they are very interested in fine horses." The cavalry division and the horse farm are located southwest of Baotou, while the Baotou industrial zone is to the north. The industrial zone is unlikely to be attacked, but the horse farm is a different story.

These words reminded Yang Jiefang. He remembered that back in Chahar, all the Mongol tribes, including Prince De, had a strong interest in fine horses. After all, they were a people who rode on horseback; it would be abnormal if they weren't interested in good breeds. Yang Jiefang nodded and turned to look at Fu Zuoyi.

Fu Zuoyi understood and said, "Then send the 210th Brigade to Baotou and temporarily station it at the horse farm." The 73rd Division consisted of the 210th Brigade and the 211th Brigade.

Yang Jiefang said, "Then I'll trouble the brothers of the 210th Brigade to make the trip." This meant he agreed to Fu Zuoyi's suggestion.

Fu Zuoyi immediately drafted a telegram and, through the communications department's radio, issued an order to the 210th Brigade stationed in Guihua. He instructed them to requisition a train on the spot and rush to Baotou as quickly as possible. The two places were only a little over 100 kilometers apart; if they traveled quickly, they could arrive before dark.

The three men then studied the map, quietly awaiting news, and the atmosphere in the command post grew tense. Yang Jiefang patted Wu Zhichen on the shoulder and said, "Commander Wu, just two days ago we were saying that your 3rd Cavalry Division wouldn't have any combat missions. Those words are still ringing in our ears, and now we have to deploy your division. I really feel bad about it!"

Wu Zhichen replied, "Commander, you once said that an army only fights and prepares to fight; there is no such thing as being fully prepared. Aren't they just some lowly bandits? If they hadn't come, I would have preferred to go and spar with them. This battle will be more beneficial for the Third Cavalry Division's future training and development. A truly iron-blooded army is always forged in battle."

Wu Zhichen's realization greatly pleased Yang Jiefang. He believed that after this battle, the Third Cavalry Division would be truly formed.

Because it was impossible to determine in advance where the enemy would attack Longche, Wu Zhichen distributed his troops evenly along the railway line when deploying them. At this time, they rushed towards Laoyanghao, where Longche was located, from both the north and south along the railway line.

Coincidentally, although the bandits wanted to attack the imperial carriage, they didn't have a precise location. They only knew the carriage was on the railway, but cavalry patrolled the line, preventing them from setting up a large-scale ambush in advance. Lacking unified command and with poor communication, they each headed towards the railway along their own routes. Whoever encountered the carriage was responsible for intercepting it and then notifying the other bandits to attack together.

Therefore, both sides were heading towards Laoyanghao when they encountered each other halfway. The PLA's 3rd Cavalry Division wore uniforms, while the bandits' attire was a motley collection. Upon meeting, it was immediately clear whether they were friend or foe. Without a word, they immediately began fighting, simultaneously closing in on Laoyanghao.

Upon receiving the order, Li Fuxing and Wu Liujin immediately began rearranging. Digging trenches was out of the question, but they could set up barbed wire. The dragon wagon had several supply wagons, richly stocked with supplies, including food, clothing, and defensive weapons like barbed wire. They immediately took these out and began driving wooden stakes and laying barbed wire around the wagon.

Before they could finish setting up, the clatter of hooves grew louder as the bandits who had just been driven away returned. The bandit group, originally numbering over a thousand, had grown to no fewer than two thousand riders. This time, they didn't charge all at once. Instead, they dispatched several groups of men, each with about a hundred riders, to attack from different directions. Two groups even circled around the dragon carriage from one end to the other.

The People's Liberation Army (PLA) force numbered over 800 men, under the unified command of Battalion Commander Wu Liujin. However, Li Fuxing also held considerable influence. Li Fuxing suggested that the heavy machine guns on the vehicle roofs provide cover while continuing to lay down the barbed wire. Wu Liujin adopted this suggestion, sending everyone out except for the gun emplacements and artillerymen on the vehicle roofs. A small portion of them were armed and provided cover, while the rest raced against time to lay down the barbed wire.

Due to the distance, the bandits couldn't hit the firing positions on the roof of the vehicle, but they posed a threat to those setting up the barbed wire. They approached, firing as they went, and began exchanging fire with the People's Liberation Army (PLA). The PLA's heavy machine guns and mortars opened fire, quickly suppressing the bandits' firepower. Even so, after a fierce battle, they suffered over a dozen casualties before finally completing the barbed wire. Afterwards, they all withdrew to the wagon. The wagon's sheet metal was very thick, like an armored train, providing excellent protection.

The bandits were blocked by the barbed wire fence; crossing it on horseback was impossible, so they had to dismount and fight. Lacking artillery, their only advantage was their numbers, and they immediately launched a multi-pronged attack on the dragon carriage. But the simple barbed wire fence became an insurmountable barrier. Soon, a pile of corpses lay outside the fence.

Seeing that they had suffered too many casualties, the bandits had no choice but to withdraw from the battle, but they did not choose to leave. Another group of people arrived, increasing their numbers once again.

After receiving the battle report, Wu Zhichen adjusted his tactics. He ordered the troops inside the dragon cart to hold their ground and await reinforcements. He ordered the reinforcements to slow down and assemble on the outer perimeter. His operational intention was clear: to use the dragon cart as bait to keep the bandits occupied. When the time was right, he would launch a full-scale counterattack against the bandits from the outside. In other words, it was a strategy of containing the enemy from the inside while annihilating them from the outside.

He believed that with the fighting strength of the troops inside the dragon carriage, they could hold out for several days even against an attack by tens of thousands of bandits. His requirements were not high; as long as they could hold out until tomorrow, he could crush the bandits outside in one fell swoop. He dared to make this arrangement because Yang Jiefang was not on the dragon carriage.

The troops inside the dragon carriage repelled several attacks by the bandits, but the number of bandits outside not only did not decrease, but actually increased. By evening, they numbered an estimated five or six thousand.

The reinforcements from the perimeter had also completed their assembly as required. However, they were not without enemies; at least an equal number of bandits confronted them. In other words, at least tens of thousands of bandits had joined the fray. It seemed that both overt and covert bandits had come to this vast grassland.

Yang Jiefang and his group could naturally deduce that this was an organized and premeditated military operation. The enemy wasn't just out in the open; they undoubtedly had a backup plan. As of now, the enemy's identity, numbers, and true objectives remained unclear. Since his transmigration, Yang Jiefang had always been scheming against others, and this time it seemed he was the one being schemed against. Therefore, the best course of action was to remain unchanged and wait for the enemy to reveal their final trump card.

At this moment, Fu Zuoyi received a report that the train carrying the 210th Brigade was about to arrive in Baotou. Yang Jiefang said, "The enemy is in the dark while we are in the light. We must hide a unit in the shadows. The 210th Brigade cannot enter the station. Let them get off the train at least 10 kilometers in advance and then walk to the horse farm."

Fu Zuoyi agreed and went to draft the telegram.

Wu Zhichen said, "As long as the 210th Brigade arrives at the horse farm, I will be able to deal with these bandits without any problems."

Yang Jiefang, however, interrupted, saying, "The bandits are the enemy in the open. Although they outnumber us, they are just a rabble. Two cavalry regiments and a mountain artillery company can easily defeat them by breaking through from the outside. The real threat is the enemy that hasn't shown itself yet. You should focus your attention on the enemy lurking in the shadows."

At this point, everyone realized that if another enemy force was lurking in the shadows, they would be waiting for the entire cavalry division to be deployed to rescue Longche. To break the deadlock, they couldn't play by the enemy's plan. The remaining cavalry regiment and two artillery batteries were their last trump card, to be used only in critical moments. Now it was a matter of who would lose patience first, and who would reveal their trump card first, thus putting them at a disadvantage.

Wu Zhichen replied, "The young commander is absolutely right! In that case, the remaining cavalry regiment and two artillery companies will remain inactive as reserves. If the enemy doesn't reveal their hand by dawn, then we'll have to let Longche launch a counterattack. We don't need to annihilate many enemies, as long as we can rescue Longche."

After nightfall, the bandits on Longche's side showed no sign of stopping, continuing their attacks in waves. Although the attacks weren't particularly powerful, the frequency was high. Wu Liujin and Li Fuxing discussed the situation and decided to divide their troops into three groups, deploying only one group at a time for ambush. If the bandits managed to get close, they could launch a full counterattack; otherwise, they would take turns resting.

They thought it would continue until dawn, but to their surprise, the bandits stopped attacking in the middle of the night.

After daybreak, Wu Liujin and Li Fuxing carefully observed the situation outside and clearly sensed that the number of bandits had decreased. Within their observable range, there were only about four thousand people. They immediately reported the situation to Yang Jiefang.

Yang Jiefang said, "The 210th Brigade is in position. Now, regardless of whether the bandits have really decreased or it's a ploy to lure us in, let's take them down first."

Wu Zhichen immediately ordered the troops surrounding the dragon carriage to launch a full-scale counterattack. These troops, numbering over three thousand, were supported by twelve mountain guns and quickly routed the enemy in front of them. Ignoring the fleeing bandits, they charged straight towards the dragon carriage and soon engaged the bandits besieging it in battle.

Just then, an urgent telegram arrived from the 210th Brigade—the horse ranch had been attacked by the enemy, numbering four to five thousand, all cavalry. At this point, everyone could naturally guess the enemy's true intentions. Their attack on Longche was merely a ploy to lure the 3rd Cavalry Division away from its post, allowing them to launch a surprise attack on the horse ranch. The ranch's fine breeding horses were their real target. Fortunately, Yang Jiefang wasn't on Longche; otherwise, it would have been difficult for the 3rd Cavalry Division not to be deployed in its entirety.

Now that the enemy has surfaced, there's nothing to fear. Contact was re-established with Long Che, and it was learned that things were progressing well there; rescuing Long Che shouldn't be a problem. Wu Zhichen immediately ordered the reserve force to be deployed to reinforce the horse farm.

Shortly after the reserve force was deployed, scouts reported that a cavalry force of two to three thousand men was charging towards them. Judging from their formation, they must have received professional military training, unlike bandits.

This was clearly an enemy blocking force, as expected, nothing surprising. The reserve artillery battalion immediately chose advantageous terrain to set up cannons, and the cavalry regiment deployed in a fan shape to cover the artillery behind them.

On the vast grasslands, with a wide field of vision, the artillery battalion immediately opened fire as soon as the enemy cavalry came into view. Shells pierced the sky, landing among the horses with sharp whistles. Huge explosions rang out one after another, causing many men and horses to fall. But the enemy showed no sign of stopping, continuing their desperate charge forward.

Although cannons were highly destructive, their limited numbers meant they couldn't completely halt a cavalry charge. When enemy cavalry broke through the artillery barrage, they were met head-on by heavy machine gun fire. The vanguard cavalry were the first to be hit, falling one after another.

The enemy cavalry lacked artillery support, and mounting heavy machine guns on horseback was unsuitable. Although they had guns, they were out of effective firing range, making their efforts futile. Their only option was to charge forward relentlessly, trying to close the distance. But this short distance became a death zone, with men constantly being hit and falling from their horses. Even when they managed to close the gap, they were met with relentless fire from light machine guns and semi-automatic rifles.

The entire battle unfolded much like the Battle of Dolon a while back. The 3rd Cavalry Division, utilizing its superior weaponry, inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy cavalry. As the enemy crumbled under the weight of their losses, the cavalry regiment launched a timely counterattack, pursuing the enemy cavalry to the outskirts of the horse ranch.

The enemy cavalry attacking the horse ranch initially assumed it was poorly defended and could be easily stormed in. However, they soon discovered they had met their match. As is well known, Fu Zuoyi was a renowned general specializing in city defense, and his troops were adept at it. Despite the hasty preparations and lack of resources, the 210th Brigade utilized all available resources to establish defensive positions and successfully withstood the enemy cavalry's attack.

By the time the cavalry arrived, the outcome was already decided. The cavalry escorted the artillery battalion into the horse ranch, where they then constructed artillery positions on advantageous terrain. The horse ranch was vast, and the artillery had a long range. No matter which direction the enemy cavalry attacked from, they could inflict effective damage.

After two probing attacks were repelled, the enemy cavalry decisively chose to retreat. The enemy's retreat was voluntary; they did not suffer a complete rout and still held a numerical advantage. The cavalry regiment only pursued them symbolically for a short distance before returning to the horse ranch.

At the same time, the bandits in the surrounding area were also routed in the direction of the dragon carriage. Two cavalry regiments gave chase without hesitation, sending the bandits fleeing in all directions.