allendalepharm Page 31
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Our army is determined to recapture Laoshan.
Since 79, Laoshan has been a historical issue. After the self-defense counterattack, the Vietnamese army sent troops to occupy the Laoshan area.
They utilized the complex terrain to construct numerous tunnels, trenches, bunkers, and hiding places, along with various barbed wire fences, traps, and anti-infantry trenches.
At the Laoshan position, the Vietnamese army set up a large number of warning minefields and mixed minefields, and at the same time formed a dense crossfire configuration within the defensive positions, turning Laoshan into a solid field defense base.
Laoshan's geographical location is extremely important, as it lies on the border between my country and the West Bank.
If Laoshan is subdued, the main border passages and ports can be controlled to the east, and key points in the Koulingshan area can be monitored to the west.
Looking south, one can overlook a 27-kilometer stretch of enemy territory, and looking north, one can see a vast area within our own borders extending 25 kilometers.
This is a strategically important location situated at the crossroads of the four cardinal directions.
Therefore, the leaders of the Southwest Military Region recognized the importance of this strategic location.
After a year of preparation, the final decision was finally made at this moment.
We must, absolutely must, recapture Laoshan.
If we don't reclaim Laoshan, we will have no face to face the Party and the people again.
122th Regiment Headquarters.
When Fang Zhenhua returned from the division headquarters again, Liu Xudong, Yue Jun, and Lei Kaihua surrounded him, asking him questions one after another.
"Commander, how's it going? Have they decided where our regiment should attack?"
"Commander, all the soldiers in the regiment are ready for battle and are just waiting for the order to charge into the battlefield."
Looking at his comrades, Fang Zhenhua let out a long sigh of relief.
"It's been decided from above. Our regiment will be responsible for coordinated operations to attack the main peak of Laoshan."
"What? Not the main attack?"
Upon hearing Fang Zhenhua's words, Liu Xudong couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.
The difference between a primary offensive and a coordinated offensive is significant.
Fang Zhenhua waved his hand, signaling Liu Xudong not to say anything more, and then he walked to the front of the map.
"Everyone, please take a look."
Liu Xudong and the others also came to the map. After glancing at it, they focused their attention on Fang Zhenhua.
Clearly, they wanted to see what Fang Zhenhua had to say.
"Gentlemen, judging from the enemy and our position on the map, even if we take the main peak of Laoshan, it will not be absolutely safe for our army. If we want to completely reverse the defensive situation, there is still one place that we must capture."
As soon as Fang Zhenhua finished speaking, Lei Kaihua immediately added a sentence.
"Dongshan, Balihe?"
Fang Zhenhua glanced at Lei Kaihua with an appreciative look and slowly nodded.
"Balihe East Mountain is a strategic location, echoing Laoshan. Although our regiment did not capture the main attack on Laoshan, the division headquarters has decided to assign the main attack on Balihe East Mountain to our regiment."
"Therefore, in the upcoming battle, our regiment has two combat missions: first, to assist our brother units in capturing the main peak of Laoshan as quickly as possible; and second, to launch a major attack on the eastern mountain of Balihe."
"Comrades, the eastern mountain of Balihe is steep, with seven high points lined up in a row. The middle one is towering, and the two ends gradually slope down to the north and south. The western side is as steep as if cut by a knife, while the eastern side is slightly gentler, but the difference in elevation still reaches 200-300 meters."
"Moreover, in the frontal depth area, apart from Hill 34 which is larger, the other hills are extremely narrow, and the mountains are covered with dense jungles and intertwined vines, which greatly affects the field of vision and troop movement."
"So comrades, the next nut to crack is the East Mountain of Balihe. For our regiment, this battle will be a tough one!"
As the regimental commander, Fang Zhenhua thoroughly analyzed the terrain and topography of the entire Dongshan area.
After listening, Liu Xudong glanced at the map again and finally nodded.
"This battle won't be easy!"
"What I just described was only the terrain and environment; I haven't even mentioned the enemy's operational deployment. They've been operating in Dongshan for so many years, and their fortifications, minefields, and both overt and covert firepower must be extremely comprehensive. So, for our regiment, it must be fraught with danger."
"Commander, I don't think we should launch a direct attack! If we rush in headlong, we'll suffer heavy casualties."
"Chief of Staff Lei is right."
Yue Jun agreed with Lei Kaihua's words, and Fang Zhenhua nodded as well.
"I already have ideas about Dongshan's offensive, but now is not the time to say them."
In fact, Fang Zhenhua's tactics are very simple, just five words.
Artillery, blow it up!
He wanted to prepare a pot of iron-clad meat soup for the enemy on the battlefield of Balihe Dongshan. Clearly, Fang Zhenhua also suffered from a fear of insufficient firepower.
On April 2, our army launched an intensive artillery attack on the Laoshan area, which lasted for 26 days.
On the 28th, Fang Zhenhua's 122nd Regiment began to cooperate with other units to attack the main peak of Laoshan.
After more than five hours of attack, the main peak of Laoshan was successfully captured.
Meanwhile, in the frontline command post, Fang Zhenhua received a call from the division headquarters.
"Hey! Commander Fang, where is your regiment located right now?"
"Commander, we have successfully captured the main peak of Laoshan Mountain."
"Alright, this afternoon your regiment will send two battalions to advance towards Balihe East Mountain. You must capture more than ten high grounds under enemy control."
"Please rest assured, Commander, our regiment will definitely complete the combat mission."
After speaking with his division commander, Fang Zhenhua immediately called Huang Xing'an of the First Battalion and Chang Shaole of the Second Battalion.
He ordered his two battalions to advance towards Dongshan at all costs and to capture all the enemy's high ground along the way.
The first and second battalions fought for a whole afternoon before finally reaching the foot of Dongshan.
When Fang Zhenhua received this battle report from the front-line command post.
He immediately boarded a military vehicle and set off with Lei Kaihua to the front lines.
He also instructed Liu Xudong to make sure that Yue Jun led the Third Battalion to Dongshan as quickly as possible.
Fang Zhenhua went to the front line to encourage the soldiers and to observe the defense situation in Dongshan.
Then decide when to request artillery support from the military.
He's determined to bomb Dongshan in Balihe.
Chapter 45 Artillery Coverage
At the foot of Dongshan Mountain in Balihe, Fang Zhenhua rolled up his sleeves, held binoculars in both hands, and observed the enemy situation on Dongshan Mountain.
The more I looked at his expression, the more serious it became.
Just as predicted, Dongshan is indeed not so easy to conquer.
At this moment, his memories became clearer and clearer. The 1175.4 Hill was known as the Shangganling of the 1980s, which shows how fierce the battle was.
We must bombard them continuously with artillery fire for days and nights.
Blow up the minefield, destroy all the enemy's bunkers, tunnels, and fortifications, and let's see what they can use to defend themselves.
His own soldiers are all his precious treasures.
A monkey's fate is not a matter of fate.
Fang Zhenhua immediately summoned Huang Xing'an and Chang Shaole, and then gave the two battalion commanders some instructions.
"An attack on Dongshan is absolutely forbidden before my orders are given."
Huang Xing'an asked with some doubt.
"Commander, we've already reached the foot of the mountain. Why don't we take this opportunity to seize Dongshan?"
“Look at the network of firepower, both visible and concealed, on this mountain, and then look at the terrain. If we send our soldiers up now, it would be a pointless loss of their lives. This is a cardinal sin in military strategy, and I would never do it.”
After saying that, Fang Zhenhua turned and walked towards the military vehicle. Just as his right foot stepped onto the vehicle, he couldn't help but turn back and continue to give instructions.
"Wait for my command, do you hear me?"
"Yes, Captain."
Huang Xing'an and Chang Shaole saluted Fang Zhenhua. The First and Second Battalions were stationed at the foot of Dongshan Mountain, ready to attack the mountain at any time.
After Fang Zhenhua returned to the command post in a military vehicle, he immediately made a phone call to the military headquarters.
Moreover, the call he made was on the private line of Deputy Army Commander Fang Yingda.
Teacher, please help me.
"Hello! Is this Zhenhua?"
When the call was connected, Fang Yingda's voice came through.
"Teacher, I am Fang Zhenhua."
"Zhenhua, shouldn't you be on the front lines keeping an eye on things right now? How come you have time to call me?"
"Teacher, the student needs your help."
"You little rascal, you never come here unless you need something. Tell me, how do you need my help?"
"Teacher, our regiment is the main force in the attack on Balihe East Mountain. We hope you can allocate some artillery."
As soon as Fang Zhenhua finished speaking, Fang Yingda spoke up on the other end of the phone.
"You want to use artillery fire as well?"
"Hehehe, teacher, I'm just worried about the soldiers. The enemy's defensive positions on the other side of Dongshan are very strong, and the mountains are steep and the roads are dangerous. We can't make unnecessary sacrifices!"
"Alright, you don't need to say any more. Your team has a very important task ahead. You'll be making your debut in 10 days. Whether you can take Dongshan or not will determine the overall victory."
Hearing the busy tone on the other end of the phone, Fang Zhenhua was a little confused. What did the teacher mean by this?
Did they agree or not?
There are only 10 days left before we launch our attack on Dongshan.
At this moment, Fang Zhenhua was caught in a deep dilemma.
But two days later, a huge surprise arrived.
The military region's directly subordinate artillery units and the army's subordinate artillery units, a total of 72 Type 54 122mm howitzers and 80 rocket launchers of various types, gathered at the front line to support Fang Zhenhua.
这些火箭炮当中，包括了81式122mm轮式自行火箭炮、63式130毫米19管火箭炮、和81式107mm轮式自行火箭炮。
The deputy director of the artillery department of the military region was in charge of artillery support.
After meeting Fang Zhenhua, the vice minister only said one sentence.
Deputy Commander Lei and Deputy Army Commander Fang said that you don't need to worry about anything else; you just need to take Dongshan.
Fang Zhenhua only learned after the war ended that Fang Yingda had immediately called Lei Zhen after hanging up the phone.
Because Fang Yingda was worried that the military's artillery force was insufficient, he also had to mobilize the military region's resources.
If we're going to support the students, we have to make it as grand as possible.
The military region assigned 162 artillery pieces of various types to conduct a continuous bombardment of the eastern hills of Balihe for seven days.
We'd rather let nothing grow on Dongshan than raze Dongshan Fortress to the ground.
Dawn on May 8th.
162 artillery pieces launched a comprehensive bombardment of Balihe East Mountain. Fang Zhenhua stood in the command post, observing the bombardment scene through the artillery telescope.
Liu Xudong stood next to him and said with some emotion.
"Old Fang, it really is you! One phone call brought in over 100 artillery pieces, what a spectacular sight!"
Fang Zhenhua's lips curled up slightly.
"Old Liu, do you know what it means to use tactical flanking when you're poor and artillery bombardment when you're rich? If we don't bomb the monkeys until they're turned upside down, is that even a war?"
At the very front of the battle line, the soldiers of the First and Second Battalions watched the artillery bombardment for seven whole days.
Some soldiers couldn't help but joke in private that during those seven days, the entire Dongshan area felt like it was weightless.
It's a miracle that anyone could survive such a massive bombing raid in Balihe Dongshan!
After seven days, the supporting artillery units returned to base, and the 122nd Regiment was needed to perform the show.