AWB Chapter 153 The Northern Expeditionary Army's Probing Attack!
Chapter 153 The Northern Expeditionary Army's Probing Attack!
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Current total funds: £8,532,678
Current sphere of influence: Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Shanghai, Anhui, and Fujian provinces
Current troop strength: One Guards Division, eight fully equipped German-trained divisions (including one motorized infantry division), four centrally reorganized divisions, the Tax Police Corps, the Wusongkou Fortress, the Shanghai Independent Fleet, and a submarine fleet.
Current industries: Ma'anshan Coal-Steel Complex (annual production of 50 tons of special steel), Jiangnan Shipyard, Fuzhou Mawei Shipyard
Current technologies: sulfonamide mass production line, Krupp artillery technology, submarine manufacturing technology
January 6th, 9 AM.
Quzhou, Zhejiang, the outer defense line.
He Maofeng stood in the makeshift command post, holding a cup of tea that had gone cold. His eyes were bloodshot, but his spirits were unusually high.
"Commander," the adjutant strode in, "report from the forward observation post: a vanguard regiment of the Northern Expeditionary Army, approximately 2,500 men, is moving towards our positions, about two kilometers away."
He Maofeng put down his teacup, a slight smile playing on his lips.
"It's finally here."
He put on his military overcoat and strode out of the command post. The sky outside was still pitch black, broken only by the occasional chirping of insects in the distance.
"Pass down the order: everyone to your positions. Remember the young marshal's command: do not launch a preemptive attack. Wait until they are within firing range before unleashing a fierce barrage."
"Yes!"
At the same time, Liu Deshan, commander of the vanguard regiment of the Northern Expeditionary Army, rode on his horse, his face full of confidence.
He was a graduate of the first class of the Whampoa Military Academy and followed Chiang Kai-shek on the Northern Expedition for many years, achieving numerous military exploits. At this time, he was able to become the commander of the main force regiment of the Northern Expedition. Moreover, the National Revolutionary Army and Chen's army had different organizational structures. A normal regiment only had about 1,500 to 2,000 people. His regiment could be regarded as an reinforced regiment, which shows his extraordinary ability.
"Commander," the chief of staff rode forward, "that's the Chen family army's defensive line ahead. Should we send out scouts to find out what's going on?"
Liu Deshan waved his hand: "No need. The Chen family army is nothing but local rich men from Jiangsu and Zhejiang. They think they can fight just because they have some money and bought some foreign guns and cannons. Their soldiers are all show and no substance; they can't withstand real combat."
He glanced back at the 2,500 officers and soldiers behind him. These soldiers were elite troops who had fought in the Eastern Expedition from Guangzhou, then the Northern Expedition, and had fought their way all the way from Jiangxi. They had crushed the Jiangxi warlord's troops and were in high spirits.
"Brothers!" Liu Deshan shouted, "Quzhou is just ahead! Take Quzhou, and Hangzhou will be in the blink of an eye! Charge with me!"
The soldiers shouted in unison and charged toward Chen's army's position with their rifles in hand.
The Northern Expeditionary Army's offensive was fierce, and the soldiers of the vanguard regiment advanced rapidly in skirmish lines under the dim light of dawn.
However, they were unaware that He Maofeng had already laid a trap behind a thicket of bushes 300 meters ahead.
"Five hundred meters."
"Three hundred meters."
The forward observers whispered the distance.
He Maofeng raised his binoculars, watching the Northern Expeditionary Army soldiers draw closer. He could see the expressions on their faces—a belief in certain victory, a disdain for ordinary warlord troops.
Unfortunately, they were wrong.
Big mistakes.
The silence of Chen Jiajun, like their battle record, speaks for itself.
"Two hundred meters."
He Maofeng put down his binoculars and said calmly, "Fire."
No sooner had he finished speaking than deafening gunfire erupted across the entire front line.
The MG34 machine guns unleashed a torrent of fire from all directions, sweeping across the charging Northern Expeditionary Army like a torrential rain. At the same time, the 75mm field guns of the German-equipped divisions also began to unleash their power, their shells landing precisely in the ranks of the Northern Expeditionary Army, exploding into a bloody mess.
Liu Deshan was charging forward when he suddenly heard a burst of gunfire ahead. He paused for a moment, then a disdainful smile appeared on his face.
"Machine guns? Chen's army has machine guns too?" he shouted. "Don't be afraid! Their machine guns can't hit their targets!"
The next second, however, a soldier next to him was shot in the chest and fell backward. Immediately afterward, another soldier's head was blown off, and blood splattered all over Liu Deshan's face.
The smile on Liu Deshan's face froze instantly.
What kind of firepower density is this?
He stared wide-eyed at the scene before him, completely dumbfounded.
On the German-equipped division's positions, MG34 machine guns formed a crossfire network, bullets sweeping across the Northern Expeditionary Army ranks like wheat being cut down. Chargers fell in droves, some riddled with bullets before they even had a chance to pull the trigger.
Even more frightening, several armored vehicles suddenly emerged from their concealed positions on the flanks, their engines roaring deafeningly.
"Armored monsters!" a Northern Expeditionary Army soldier cried out in terror. "They have armored monsters!"
Armored vehicles rampaged, their tracks crushing the bodies of Northern Expeditionary Army soldiers, while MG34 machine guns on their turrets continuously fired, knocking down soldiers who tried to escape one by one.
An armored vehicle charged straight into the Northern Expeditionary Army's assault column, its tracks crushing a soldier's chest. The machine gunner on board calmly turned the turret, bullets lashing out like whips at the fleeing Northern Expeditionary Army soldiers.
"Help! Help!" A Northern Expeditionary Army soldier, cornered by armored vehicles, knelt on the ground, desperately kowtowing, "Don't kill me! Don't kill me!"
However, the armored vehicle did not stop, and its tracks ran over him.
Liu Deshan was trembling all over, and the horsewhip in his hand had already fallen to the ground. His face was deathly pale, his lips were trembling, and he couldn't utter a single word.
This is no ordinary warlord army! This is clearly a well-equipped, modern army!
"Retreat! Retreat now!" he shouted hysterically, turning his horse around to flee.
However, it was too late.
The German-equipped divisions' artillery fire had already blocked their retreat; shells exploded among the crowd, and screams echoed everywhere.
The battle lasted less than fifteen minutes.
As the gunfire gradually subsided, the battlefield was littered with the corpses of Northern Expeditionary Army soldiers and abandoned weapons and equipment. The surviving Northern Expeditionary Army soldiers knelt on the ground, their hands covering their heads, trembling all over.
He Maofeng walked out of the command post, looked at the battlefield in front of him, and nodded in satisfaction.
"Take stock of the spoils."
"Yes, sir!" The adjutant quickly ran to take the count.
A short while later, the adjutant returned to report: "Reporting to the brigade commander, we annihilated over 1,300 enemy soldiers, captured over 1,000, and the remaining enemy troops fled. Our casualties were... 12."
He Maofeng smiled slightly.
"Twelve people. Good, very good."
He walked up to the prisoners and looked at the Northern Expeditionary Army soldiers kneeling on the ground. These soldiers were all pale-faced and trembling, some of them with their trousers soaked with sweat.
"Who's leading this team?" He Maofeng asked.
The prisoners looked at each other, none of them daring to speak.
He Maofeng sneered, "Not going to talk? No problem. Armored battalion, keep pushing forward and capture all the escapees."
"I'll talk! I'll talk!" a soldier cried out in terror, pointing into the distance. "The commander's over there! He's hiding under the horse's belly!"
He Maofeng looked in the direction he pointed and indeed saw a person hiding under a dead warhorse.
"Pull him out."
Two soldiers went over and dragged Liu Deshan out from under the horse's belly. Liu Deshan's face was covered in mud, and he was terrified.
This was a level of firepower he had never seen before!
"You're the commander of this regiment?" He Maofeng looked down at him.
Liu Deshan collapsed to the ground, his lips trembling: "It...it was me..."
He Maofeng sneered, "Weren't you quite arrogant just now? Didn't you even send someone to say you'd take Quzhou in half a day and cut off my dog's head to send to Hangzhou?"
Liu Deshan, his face contorted with grief, cried, "I was wrong... I was wrong..."
"Take him away." He Maofeng waved his hand. "Wait for the young marshal's decision."
He turned and walked back to the command post, picked up the phone.
"Pick me up and take me to Shanghai, to the Chen Mansion."
Shanghai, Chen Mansion.
Chen Zijun was looking at a map in his study when the phone on the table suddenly rang.
"Young Master." Mo Lanzhi picked up the phone, listened for a few moments, and then handed it to Chen Zijun. "It's Commander He's phone."
Chen Zijun answered the phone.
"Young Marshal..."
He Maofeng's voice came through the phone, tinged with excitement, "I've already repelled the vanguard regiment of the Northern Expeditionary Army. Over 1,300 were annihilated, and 1,000 were captured. Our army suffered 12 casualties."
Chen Zijun smiled and said, "Uncle He, well done."
"These Northern Expeditionary Army soldiers were quite fierce at first, becoming arrogant because of their few victories. But as soon as they encountered our firepower, they immediately cowered," He Maofeng said with a smile. "Young Marshal, rest assured, as long as I, He Maofeng, am here, Quzhou is as solid as a rock."
"Okay," Chen Zijun said. "Uncle He, continue to hold the line and don't launch any attacks. When they come again, continue to fight them hard."
"clear!"
Chen Zijun put down the phone and looked out the window.
Mo Lanzhi walked in: "Young Master, after receiving reports of defeat, the Northern Expeditionary Army is urgently mobilizing three divisions to prepare for a general offensive against Quzhou. These three divisions are the absolute main force of the Northern Expeditionary Army."
Chen Zijun sneered: "Three divisions? Let them come."
Moranzhi's expression turned grave. He added, "Furthermore, there's another secret report. Chiang Kai-shek has left Guangzhou and is heading north, seemingly to personally oversee the battle at the front."
Chen Zijun turned around, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.
"Is Chiang Kai-shek coming in person?"
He walked to the map and looked at the border between Jiangxi and Zhejiang.
"Alright, since he's coming, I'll show him what real war is like."
Chen Zijun gave a cold laugh.
"Pass down the order: all German-trained divisions in the army are on high alert. Chiang Kai-shek wants to play games; I'll play a big one with him."