Under the expectant gazes of both sides, dozens of armor-piercing shells fired from 88mm anti-aircraft guns severely hit more than a dozen Panzer IV tanks.

Dazzling flames soared into the sky and completely swallowed up the dozen tanks.

When the dazzling firelight dispersed along with the smoke, it was discovered that the hit Panzer IV tank began to emit thick smoke. It was obvious that the 80mm thick vertical front armor of the Panzer IV tank could not withstand the fierce fire of the 88 anti-aircraft gun.

shelling.

There is a piece of data that Zhang Xinghan does not know, that is, during World War II, the 76mm tank gun of the American tank Sherman could penetrate the vertical armor of the Panzer IV tank at a distance of two thousand meters.

Not to mention the German anti-aircraft gun with a caliber of 88mm, and at such a close distance of one thousand meters, even if the Soviet T3485 tank comes, it may not be able to withstand it, so the destruction of the No. 4 tank is inevitable

the result.

Seeing that his own tanks were destroyed, Zhang Xinghan looked gloomy and immediately ordered: "Order the troops to stop attacking immediately and all No. 4 tanks to retreat."

Guo Zhong and others knew that Zhang Xinghan was in a bad mood, so they quickly accepted the order and left.

Not long after, the order was conveyed, and the officers and soldiers of the attacking troops who were charging with no fear of death immediately turned around and evacuated the battlefield like a tide.

Zhang Lingfu did not order to take advantage of the situation to counterattack. He was aware of the firepower of the Northeastern Border Guards, so he had the upper hand in the first confrontation, but he did not dare to overdo it.

"Brother Lingfu, the Northeastern Army's anti-aircraft artillery is so powerful. It killed more than a dozen of their tanks. Haha, what a pleasure!" Wang Yaowu laughed excitedly.

"Master, now is not the time to be happy. Such a small defeat has not damaged Zhang Xinghan's vitality at all. I am worried that he will incur aerial firepower retaliation from the Northeast Army!" Zhang Lingfu said worriedly.

Wang Yaowu suddenly realized it and said in shock: "Oh, brother Lingfu, if you didn't tell me, I would have almost forgotten. When someone comes, order the anti-aircraft guns and anti-aircraft machine guns to be moved immediately!"

Wang Yaowu finished his words, and before the adjutant could carry out his execution, Zhang Lingfu hurriedly stopped him and said: "Wait a minute, Master, you must not evacuate the anti-aircraft guns and anti-aircraft machine guns from the positions outside the city gates at this time, otherwise we will be unable to resist the Northeast Army.

The charge of the tank group."

"What should we do? Wouldn't it be bad if Zhang Xinghan really recruited the air force?" Wang Yaowu was in a dilemma.

Zhang Lingfu patiently said: "Master, have you forgotten that these anti-aircraft guns and anti-aircraft machine guns are themselves used for air defense. Using them flat against infantry and armored tanks is a tactic invented by Zhang Xinghan."

Speaking of this, Zhang Lingfu couldn't help but admire Zhang Xinghan. Who is this person? He neither went to Huangpu nor was he born in Baoding. He just stayed in the Northeast Lecture Hall for a year and a half. How could he have such a thought in his mind?

What about the many unheard of and unseen forward tactics and ideas?

"Lingfu means to use these anti-aircraft guns and anti-aircraft machine guns for air defense?" Wang Yaowu obviously lacked confidence.

"Yes, if the Northeast Army Air Force attacks, use air defense. If they attack again, use it to suppress their tanks and attacking troops." Zhang Lingfu said.

………………

Zhang Lingfu's guess was correct. After returning to the headquarters, Zhang Xinghan was a little angry and said angrily to Guo Zhong: "Zhongzi, send electricity to Gao Zhihang immediately and send bombers to me to kill Zhang Lingfu's air defense position."

"Yes." Guo Zhong took the order and left immediately without delaying.

"Chief, Zhang Lingfu has already prepared. He will use the captured anti-aircraft guns and anti-aircraft machine guns of our army to capture Puyang in a hurry. Do we need to change the battle plan?" Liu Jianguo was a little ashamed, but he made suggestions out of his duty as a subordinate.

.

"No need, I will not give up until Puyang is captured and Zhang Lingfu is captured alive." Zhang Xinghan said this with a bit of anger. Ever since he led his troops to participate in the September 18th Incident war, there have been hundreds of battles, large and small, and no one has ever done it again and again.

Let your own attack frustrate.

He couldn't help but be angry, but he didn't completely lose his mind. Subconsciously, he was waiting for the success of the airborne brigade's surprise attack.

Before the results of the airborne brigade's surprise attack came out, he was going to compete with Zhang Lingfu in Puyang. With his advantages in advanced weapons of many arms, Zhang Xinghan couldn't defeat Zhang Lingfu even if he didn't believe it.

Guo Zhong left and returned quickly and said to Zhang Xinghan: "Maintenance, we have contacted the Air Force. A bomber squadron has taken off from Peiping and is heading towards Puyang. It is expected to arrive in about half an hour."

"Well, very good." Zhang Xinghan said solemnly: "Concentrate all the tanks and artillery, cooperate with the air force, and bombard the garrison positions at the west gate, especially the artillery positions in the rear, and strive to destroy all the anti-aircraft guns.

Kill them all!"

"Yes." Guo Zhong, Liu Jianguo and others stepped forward and responded.

More than thirty minutes later, about fourteen or five **-17 Flying Fortress bombers roared in from the northeast of Puyang City.

Zhang Lingfu's air defense observation post deployed at the outdoor defense position in the north of the city was the first to discover it and quickly fired a signal flare to warn.

The defenders' anti-aircraft artillery and anti-aircraft machine gun positions quickly became busy. However, at this moment, the Northeast Army's artillery position opposite the west gate suddenly opened fire.

With the cooperation of the tank division's artillery, dozens of artillery shells of different calibers roared down from the sky with long tail flames.

"Boom, boom, boom...boom..." The violent explosion filled the air with smoke and fire. Several defenders who were running back and forth preparing for air defense fell on the spot in a pool of blood.

Immediately afterwards, more than a dozen Flying Fortress bombers came under the cover of the clouds and dropped aerial bombs weighing hundreds of kilograms.

In the violent explosion that shook the earth and the mountains, the entire west gate of Puyang became a sea of ​​fire.

Some of the defenders were swallowed up by the fire without even being able to scream in agony. Some were hit by the raging shrapnel and lay wailing in a pool of blood. Some were burned by the fire and kept rolling on the ground.

The pitiful screams were terrifying.

This kind of bombing and explosion lasted for about ten minutes. Due to the rapid arrival of the air force and the lack of experience of the defenders in manipulating anti-aircraft guns and anti-aircraft machine guns, it was okay to lay them flat and use them as machine guns. But for real anti-aircraft and aircraft use, it would not be possible.

Same.

Therefore, Zhang Lingfu's dozen anti-aircraft guns and machine guns deployed outside the west gate failed to cause any substantial damage to the incoming Flying Fortress bombers, and were almost destroyed.

After the bombing, the Northeastern Army, which had been waiting for a long time, immediately launched another fierce charge towards the west gate.

This time they lost their anti-aircraft guns and anti-aircraft machine guns, and the defenders were unable to stop the advance of Northeast Army tanks.

Seeing that the first trench was broken through by the Northeastern Army without any effort, the entire Ximenwai field defense position was in danger of collapse.

Wang Yaowu was anxious and said: "Lingfu, what should we do? You should think of a way quickly."

Although Zhang Lingfu didn't show it clearly, the anxiety in his eyes and the frown on his brows all showed that he was very nervous and worried at the moment.

After pondering for a while, Zhang Lingfu said: "Master, it's almost time. It's time for the death squads to go out and kill the Northeastern Army's tanks at all costs."

"Do you want to join the death squad?" Wang Yaowu said with a look of intolerance on his face. The death squad is a method of losing both sides and will not be used unless it is absolutely necessary.

But when he saw the tanks of the Northeastern Army outside the city, they were advancing rapidly as if they were entering uninhabited territory. Many Central Military Officers and soldiers were suppressed by their powerful firepower, unable to raise their heads, and the casualties continued to increase.

Wang Yaowu finally nodded and said: "Okay, immediately order the death squads to attack me immediately."

……………………

Jincheng, known as Zezhou in ancient times, has been the gateway to Henan in the Central Plains since ancient times. It is also known as Fengtai, Danchuan and Zezhou Prefecture. It is known as "Pinghan in the Central Plains and Xiongzhen in southern Hebei".

It is located at the southeastern boundary of Henan and Shanxi [5], bordering Xinxiang, Jiyuan, Qinyang, Boai, Jiaozuo and other counties in Henan to the east and south.

It connects with Yuncheng and Linfen in the west, and borders Changzhi in the north. It is backed by the Yellow River and faces Zhengzhou, the capital of Henan Province, the ancient capital Kaifeng, and Luoyang across the river [1]. In the northeast, it overlooks the ancient capital Anyang and Handan, Hebei Province. It is the thoroughfare between Henan, Hebei, and Shanxi provinces.

Important place.

The Dan River and the Qin River flow vertically into Henan, becoming an important watershed between the Northern Henan Plain and the Zezhou Basin. Forty-five miles south of Jincheng is Xiongguan, named Tianjingguan, also known as Taihangguan, Xiongdingguan, and the three wells in front of the pass.

unfathomable spring

It is named because it is the most important pass on the border between Henan and Shanxi and one of the Eight Passes of Taihang. It guards the important passage between Henan and Shanxi and is the only traffic artery from Henan to Shanxi. Now, when Shanxi cannot be defended, the Shanxi-Sui army retreats south to the Central Plains.

The only way out.

Zhang Xinghan's goal this time with his lone army was Jincheng and Tianjing Pass. If there was no airborne brigade, then if Zhang Xinghan wanted to capture Jincheng, he must first capture Tianjing Pass, an important pass.

In ancient times, Tianjing Pass, located in the southernmost part of the Taihang Mountains, was a key point between the north and the south. It has been a battleground for military strategists since ancient times. Due to the steepness of Taihang, entering Tianjing Pass was a high pass. Needless to say, it is important.

But now that the Northeastern Army has airborne troops, the strategic pass that cannot be crossed by one man and ten thousand men during the Cold War has become a decoration.

As long as the airborne brigade can take Jincheng by surprise, then Tianjing Pass will be in the bag.

After receiving Zhang Xinghan's urgent military order, Wang Longxiang immediately took off from Dalian with the help of the air force. After nearly two hours of flight, he finally arrived in the airspace around Jincheng when the battle in Puyang was at its most intense.

Under the guidance of Secret Service agents lurking in Jincheng and other places, the airborne brigade began its airborne landing.

Countless umbrella flowers fall from the sky, dazzling and dazzling.

Half an hour later, the airborne brigade all landed safely, and quickly passed the radio and gathered around Wang Longxiang's location.

"Captain, the troops have been assembled, please give instructions." A squadron leader came to Wang Longxiang and said.
Chapter completed!