It was summer. Under the scorching sun, a long line of dogs were rolling up.

This is not an ordinary team, but an armored force, officially named "Second Independent Armored Brigade." Commander Bai Lang.

This armored unit spread from fifty miles south of Xiuyan. Its mission was to pursue a Japanese army that broke through and cooperate with the 6th Army to eliminate the remnants of the Japanese army that fled in panic.

Just at noon yesterday, Xiuyan was captured by the First Army commanded by Zhou Daogang, while the Japanese troops that were originally huddled in Xiuyan City quickly retreated south until they stopped the independent armored brigade, which was bound by Wushilipu.

Under such circumstances, the Japanese commander had to issue an order to defend on the spot, preparing to establish a defensive position based on Wushilipu. While resisting stubbornly, the Japanese army in the direction of Lushun and Gaiping were requested to assist the Japanese army through the radio station.

However, before the reinforcements arrived, the Japanese army in Wushilipu could only rely on themselves. Xiaowushilipu was just a small town. Nearly 7,000 Japanese troops who escaped from Xiuyan used this as a stronghold and prepared to fight with the surrounding Zhongzhao team. This was a trapped beast.

Zhou Daogang, the commander of the Eastern Road Column, was shocked to see the Japanese attempt, so the order he issued to the Independent Armored Brigade was to "block with all his might" to wait for the infantry encirclement to close.

The Japanese army, who were forced to a dead end, became very crazy. Although they lost almost most of the heavy munitions, the Japanese army still fought fiercely with the Chinese team on field fortifications, but this only temporarily delayed their destruction. When the Chinese 6th Army launched a general attack at dawn, the battle of Wushilipu quickly ended, and the Japanese defense line was broken, and officers and soldiers were either killed in battle or captured.

However, this battle did not achieve the goal of complete annihilation. Taking advantage of the dark and high winds late last night, about 3,000 Japanese troops tore a hole from the defense line of the Zhongzhao team in the east, then fled and ran downstream along the Ocean River.

The whereabouts of the more than 3,000 Japanese troops were quickly controlled by the East Column. So Zhou Daogang gave the order. After replenishing oil and ammunition, the Independent Armored Brigade, which had just finished the battle, quickly deviated in reverse and advanced towards the battle of the attack.

The Japanese army could run downstream along the valley of the Ocean River, but the armored troops could not. In order to maximize the degree of tank swing, Bai Lang, commander of the Independent Armored Brigade, decided to return to Huangqi Fort from the avenue connecting Huangqi Fort and Xiuyan. He tried to stop the retreating Japanese troops there and waited for the 6th Army troops to come and encircle.

For the Independent Armored Brigade, this is not an easy task. The defense power of Huangqi Fort is weak and easy to be taken by the Japanese army. Since Bai Lang led the Independent Armored Brigade to start the roundabout encirclement mission, Huangqi Fort's defense was handed over to the Revolutionary Guards who arrived there and then were far less combat effectiveness than regular troops. Therefore, while advancing towards Huangqi Fort, Bai Lang had to repeatedly urge the tanks and armored vehicles behind to follow.

It is easy to say that armored vehicles are of very fast level, but the tanks are far less voyage than armored vehicles. However, the tanks are thick in armor and have strong firepower. The armored brigade cannot lose the tank. Only armored cars are sent back to Huangqi Castle. In this way, the movement of the entire independent armored brigade has been seriously affected.

It is almost noon now, and the vanguard of the Armored Brigade has arrived at the suburbs of Huangqi Fort, and the Huangqi Fort in front is quiet. The Japanese army has obviously not arrived yet. Bai Lang breathed a sigh of relief and commanded the troops to continue to advance towards Huangqi Fort.

Tanks, armored cars, trucks, heavy carriages, and many vehicles were storming and dusty. Before entering Huangqi Fortress, they had already been in the traffic of the Revolutionary Guards defending Huangqi Fortress. By 1:00 noon, Bai Lang had already led the armored brigade to the outer positions of Huangqi Fortress, waiting for the Japanese troops to come.

In fact, before the Armored Brigade rushed back to Huangqi Fort, the Revolutionary Guards guarding here had received a notice from the East Road Column Command that all the troops had entered their respective positions and were actually in a state of preparation for war, just waiting for the Japanese army to come.

With the Revolutionary Guards and the Armored Brigade, the total strength of China was close to 7,000, while the Japanese army had no more than 3,000 frightened birds at most. China was full of confidence in this blocking battle. Bai Lang was the only thing that was worried about was that the Japanese army changed direction and went elsewhere. In that case, if they wanted to find the Japanese army, they had to wait for the air reconnaissance report of the Air Force.

Bai Lang's worries were unnecessary. At 4:30 in the afternoon, the collapsed Japanese army finally arrived at the suburbs of Huangqi Fort and immediately launched a tentative attack.

"Boom! Boom".

The Japanese attack was signaled by the bombardment of two mountain cannons. Due to the hasty retreat, the number of Japanese cannons was very limited. When these two shells fell into the town, the Japanese artillery positions were immediately counterattacked by Chinese artillery, and soon the Japanese army could only rely on infantry charges.

After Bai Lang returned to Huangqi Fort, he became the city defense commander. This time, he was very steady. He did not personally command the tank troops to counterattack the Japanese positions, but instead took charge of the headquarters, commanding the infantry and armored soldiers step by step to calmly respond. Wherever the battle is fierce, he will transfer the mobile forces to wherever the battle begins. He did not easily use the armored troops. He planned to use the armored forces during counterattacks.

The Japanese army fought a battle of trapped beasts. At the beginning of the battle, it launched a full-scale attack on the western defense line of Huangqi Fort. Although it once wavered some positions of the Revolutionary Guards, it was ultimately unable to break through any defense line and could only withdraw its troops in disgrace.

The Japanese commander had obviously become a frightened bird. When the Chinese defenders in the town were on high alert, they were afraid that they would come to pursue the troops again, so they immediately gave up their attempt to seize the ships of Huangqi Fort and turned around to the southeast, intending to bypass Huangqi Fort.

"Send the order! Armored brigade attack! We will chase wherever the enemy fled!"

Seeing that the Japanese army had turned around and bypassed Huangqi Fort and understood that the Japanese army had lost their fighting spirit, Bai Lang decisively issued an order to attack the armored brigade, and also sent a telegram to the East Road Column Command to report the results of the battle and the whereabouts of the Japanese army. Then, he took a tank full of oil and directed the armored troops to follow the Japanese footprints to the lower reaches of the Ocean River.

Just as Bai Lang commanded the armored troops to pursue the Japanese army, he was far away in Xiuyan's headquarters. The commander of the column Zhou Daogang was also drafting a telegram to the center, and counting the results and the center as soon as possible. A few hours ago, the center had already received news of Xiuyan's conquest. The president even specially shot a special commendation telegram to commend all the soldiers participating in the Xiuyan Battle, and reminded the frontline soldiers to avoid arrogance and impetuousness and to count the results truthfully.

However, before everyone could tell the story, the adjutant walked into the conference room with two telegrams.

"Report! I just received a telegram from Huangqi Fort. The Independent Armored Brigade has successfully blocked the Japanese attack on Huangqi Fort. Now the remnants of the Japanese army are bypassing Huangqi Fort and retreating to the lower reaches of the Ocean River. The Armored Brigade has continued to pursue according to the commander's order. In addition, the Commander's Office just took an urgent telegram and asked the commander to read it in person."

He took the telegram from the commander-in-chief's hall presented by the adjutant. Zhou Daogang frowned and looked for a moment, then placed the telegram on the conference table and glanced at everyone present.

"Everyone, this is the President's order. From now on, the East Road Column of Xiuyan's side will be transferred to a defensive state. Without the general order, you are not allowed to attack without authorization."

Everyone was a little surprised. They were the same as Zhou Daogang, and they were not clear about the strategy of the General Staff to lure the enemy.

"Everyone, since the order has been reached, we don't have to discuss the plan to advance south. Let's arrange defense. In the battle of Xiuyan, the city defense fortifications have been destroyed by our army. Now we have to turn to defense. The first thing is to build fortifications! I order that from now on, everyone, except those on duty in the General Staff, will go to the army to lead the soldiers to build fortifications!"
Chapter completed!