Gao Jiu looked at Wang Jindong curiously, not knowing what the important reason he said was.

Wang Jindong continued: "The Ninth War Zone invites you to participate in the formulation of the combat plan. You'd better not participate in this matter.

The interior of the Ninth War Zone was very complicated, including the Central Army, the Gui Army in Guangxi, the Yunnan Army in Yunnan, the Shaanxi Army in Shaanxi, the Sichuan Army and the Northeast Army in Sichuan. They were all nominally under the management of the Ninth War Zone, but in fact they all had their own plans.

Brother Gao, you said that our 41st Army, including my newly formed 187th Division, does not listen to the mobilization of the Ninth War Zone. Unless there is coordination from the senior central army, the Ninth War Zone cannot command us at all. In addition, most of the troops have relatively weak combat power and cannot withstand the Japanese attack.

In this case, the combat plan is almost useless. If you participate in the formulation of the combat plan, no matter how good the combat plan is, it will be difficult to implement. Once something goes wrong, they will definitely shirk responsibility, and then you will be a ready-made scapegoat.

You have provided relevant information before the war and made significant contributions to the Wuhan battle. This matter should be stopped as soon as possible, and don’t get involved in the subsequent matters.”

Chief of Staff Liu said: "Yes, Brother Gao, you are a hero of anti-Japanese war. If you are regarded as a scapegoat, it will be a great blow to the morale of the anti-Japanese war and civilians across the country. If you still stay in southwestern Shandong to attack the Japanese army, you will be able to achieve excellent results and inspire the fighting spirit of the anti-Japanese war and civilians. Therefore, my opinion is the same as the teacher. I hope Brother Gao, you will stay in southwestern Shandong."

Wang Zhankui also agreed with their opinions. He was questioned by the observation group and the press group last time because of his previous identity. He still resented himself to this day. He said: "Jiu Ye, we have made contributions to the anti-Japanese war by doing things well in southwestern Shandong. We went to Wuhan to deal with those people with so many scruples. It is hard and not thankful, so why bother asking for trouble?"

Gao Jiu also saw this issue very clearly. He also knew that although he had provided information about the Wuhan Battle before the war, the strength of the Japanese army and the national army was very different. Even if he knew the Japanese army's troops deployment and combat intentions, the outcome of the Wuhan Battle would not change significantly.

However, in the Wuhan Battle, there were several very important nodes, such as the Japanese army finally broke through the Xiaojieling defense line of the Ninth War Zone, crossed the Dabie Mountains and headed straight to Wuhan, resulting in the final failure of the Wuhan Battle. Gao Jiu hopes to remind the Kuomintang army that strengthening defense in some key areas may not necessarily change the outcome of the entire Wuhan Battle, but it can kill and injure the Japanese army more and improve the situation of the War of Resistance Against Japan after the Wuhan Battle.

He said: "What you said makes sense, but I still have to go to Wuhan. I personally have a lot of things to go to Wuhan to solve. Your reminders are very helpful to me. After I go there, I will not speak on the overall situation and provide them with some reference opinions in local areas and specific battlefields."

Wang Jindong, Chief of Staff Liu and Wang Zhankui both knew that Gao Jiu was a smart person. Since they had reminded Gao Jiu, Gao Jiu still insisted on going to Wuhan, so they couldn't say anything else.

However, Wang Jindong hopes that Gao Jiu will help them blow up the Lanxi River Bridge before going to Wuhan.

Gao Jiu agreed to Wang Jindong's request. Everyone studied it for a while and decided to start the action tonight.

Then, Gao Jiu sent a telegram to the Ninth War Zone, asking them to arrange a plane to Nanyang Airport the day after tomorrow to pick them up to Wuhan.

Last time, Wang Jindong, Gao Jiu and others attacked the prisoner-of-war camp and captured the Lanxi River Bridge. The Japanese army learned this lesson and increased the troops defending the Lanxi River Bridge to a strengthening squadron. They invested a lot of manpower and material resources. They built solid fortifications on both sides of the bridge and equipped with radio stations. They could notify the 108th Regiment of the 37th Division of the Japanese garrison in Henan to provide support at any time. The 108th Regiment had a fast mobile force, and reinforcements could arrive at the Lanxi River Bridge within two hours.

The most difficult thing to blow up the Lanxi River Bridge is that the main pier is extremely strong and requires a large amount of explosives to destroy it. Although Gao Jiu has conducted a field investigation and learned about the structure of the pier, it will take a long time to destroy the pier guards of the pier and send people down from the bridge to place explosives on the pier.

In other words, it is almost impossible to eliminate the enemy guarding the bridge within two hours, install explosives, evacuate personnel, and detonate. This series of headaches, Wang Jindong and others cannot solve, so they hope that Gao Jiu will complete this task. As for how to complete it, Wang Jindong and others believe that Gao Jiu will definitely have a solution.

After research, Wang Jindong and others handed over this mission to Wang Zhankui's new 24th Regiment, and strengthened them to give them an artillery company.

After discussing with Wang Zhankui, Gao Jiu and Wang Zhankui decided to set off at midnight. The artillery troops used car maneuvers, and the rest rode horses to the Lanxi River Bridge and launched an attack on the Lanxi River Bridge early tomorrow morning.

After formulating the combat plan, Wang Zhankui will implement the rest. Gao Jiu came to the guest room and enjoyed the world of two people before the war with Xiao Yatong.

Xiao Yatong has always been concerned about Gao Jiu. Since Gao Jiu killed a Japanese officer and fled Jinan City last year, she has experienced days of worry and fear. Later, Gao Jiu appeared in Jinan City again, which has turned upside down in Jinan City. Xiao Yatong has experienced days of fear many times. Now she is used to it, and knows that since she has chosen an anti-Japanese warrior like Gao Jiu, she must learn to accept the fact that he wants to go to the battlefield to fight bloody battles.

Xiao Yatong did not dissuade Gao Jiu and even said something to remind him to be careful and safe. These words had no practical significance, but would make the atmosphere tense. In order to allow Gao Jiu to relax wholeheartedly, Xiao Yatong only picked up some relaxed topics to talk and laugh with Gao Jiu, allowing Gao Jiu to enjoy the rare warm time before the war.

Gao Jiu likes Xiao Yatong's wisdom and freedom and generosity very much. He thinks this is the real tacit understanding and spiritual communication.

In the evening, they visited the Drum Tower and then went to a restaurant to eat local specialties.

After dinner, Gao Jiu had to go to Linchuan Town in advance. He knew that although Xiao Yatong was very calm, he knew that after he left, she would be worried about him and unable to sleep all night. In order to avoid her loneliness, Gao Jiu specially found Wang Jindong and found several novels from him, so that Xiao Yatong could pass the lonely time.

Xiao Yatong also enjoys Gao Jiu's considerateness very much. The reason why she likes Gao Jiu before was because over the years, she has become accustomed to Gao Jiu's care.

As a famous socialite who is eye-catching, the people who pursue Xiao Yatong are like crucian carp. At that time, Xiao Yatong and Gao Jiu did not have the consciousness of love. She had had a brief relationship with those suitors. However, subconsciously, she could not feel the tacit understanding of spiritual communication. This feeling can only be felt when Gao Jiu is by his side. This is also the basis for the love between them.

Xiao Yatong took the book handed over by Gao Jiu and smiled sweetly.

Gao Jiu said goodbye and was about to leave. Xiao Yatong couldn't help but say, "Take good care of yourself."

Gao Jiu looked at her lovingly, reached out and gently stroked her hair.

Xiao Yatong took the opportunity to hold Gao Jiu's big hand and gently pressed it on her fair cheek.

At this moment, Gao Jiu felt that the world was so beautiful. He hoped that he could attack the Japanese invaders hard, expel them as soon as possible, and fully enjoy their peaceful and peaceful happy time.

At midnight, Gao Jiu and Wang Zhankui were in the same car, taking the cavalry battalion and the intensified artillery company, heading towards the Lanxi River Bridge.

At 5 a.m. Gao Jiu and others arrived two thousand meters away from the Lanxi River Bridge, and the troops stopped moving forward.

Gao Jiu, Wang Zhankui, the company commander of the artillery company and the main officers of the cavalry battalion went to the Lanxi River Bridge for reconnaissance.

It was just dawn and looked gray. Wang Zhankui could only vaguely see the black outline of the bridge, but Gao Jiu was already recording it with his laptop. Even if Gao Jiu's eyes did not use infrared functions, his night vision ability was still much higher than that of ordinary people.

Not long after, Gao Jiu handed the notepad to Wang Zhankui. Wang Zhankui leaned over to his eyes and saw the simple picture above.

In the northeast of the bridge, which is on the side where Gao Jiu and others are located, a total of four bunkers were built at the bridge. These bunkers lined up, and there were fortifications piled up with sandbags. They had observed before, but they could not see them now, but they knew that there were many trenches there.

Then, everyone squatted down toward the bridge. In order to avoid exposing the target, they draped their heads with raincoats, turned on the flashlight, and looked at the markings on the simple picture.

Wang Zhankui said, "Master Jiu, how do you think this battle will be fought?"

Gao Jiu originally planned to lead a special forces team to attack the Japanese army from the southwest side of the bridge according to the tactics last time, but this time he only brought Ning Wen, Ning Wu and Li Xiaoshan, and the number was too small. The risk of taking them over was too great. Once they were intercepted on the other side of the river and were besieged by the Japanese army, they would be dead.

Gao Jiu whispered: "My opinion is, didn't we bring four Forbes mountain cannons this time? This time, relying on these four mountain cannons, first take down the bridgehead in front, and then use the cannon's shield to directly push the cannons to attack from the bridge, and use the cannons to destroy the Japanese fortifications on the other side. The Japanese army has no heavy weapons and cannot withstand our attack. We strive to take down the bridge within 40 minutes, and then install explosives in 40 minutes to blow up the bridge before the enemy reinforcements arrive. This time, we will use our cannons to bully these little Japanese."

When the artillery company commander heard that this battle made his artillery company play the protagonist, he was immediately excited. He said confidently: "Don't worry, Master Jiu! The Japanese's steel and concrete bunkers, others can't do anything to them, and they are vulnerable in front of my cannon."

Everyone had no objection to the battle plan, so Wang Zhankui issued a battle order. The troops immediately began to prepare and launched an attack on the Japanese army at 7 o'clock.

It is early in summer, and at 7 o'clock in the morning, it is already bright. The sun shines from the east, and the green weeds spread on the ground like a carpet, and all kinds of wild flowers bloom brilliantly, just like embroidered patterns on the carpet. On the petals, on the grass leaves, the stars of dewdrops shine brightly in the sun, and the wilderness is peaceful and peaceful.

"Dadadadadadada".

"Boom boom boom boom boom." The quiet and beautiful atmosphere in the wilderness was broken by the roar of guns and cannons.

In order to quickly destroy the enemy's defensive positions, Gao Jiu commanded the four Forbes mountain cannons of the artillery company and directly advanced to a distance of only 150 meters from the enemy's position. He aimed at the enemy's bunkers with artillery and fired directly, preparing to quickly destroy the enemy's bunkers.

As for the trenches and the Japanese behind the bunkers piled up with sandbags, they used machine guns to suppress fire and attacked with mortars.

The fierce machine gun fire and the attacks of numerous mortars effectively suppressed the Japanese army hiding in the trenches and behind sandbags, and it was difficult for them to effectively counterattack.

The Japanese army hiding in the bunker began to fight back, and bullets came like wind, making the anti-shields on the cannon jingle.

The artillery company commander personally debugged a cannon. He pointed the gun at an enemy bunker and pulled the cannon rope with confidence.

With a "boom", the shells accurately hit the enemy's bunker. He shouted excitedly: "Good fight! Damn it, let you see how powerful I am!"

However, when the smoke from the shell explosion dissipated, he carefully observed the Japanese bunkers and was stunned.

He saw that although the shells hit the enemy's bunker directly, the enemy's bunker was not destroyed. He couldn't see clearly and seemed to be intact. The artillery company commander was stunned and cursed for a while: "What a damn hell."

Gao Jiu and others were observing the shooting effect of the cannon. Seeing this situation, Gao Jiu couldn't help but frown. He said to Wang Zhankui: "The Japanese bunkers are built too strong, and it seems that it will be difficult to knock them out in a while."

Wang Zhankui said, "I don't believe it anymore. No matter how strong it is, it is nothing more than steel and concrete. If you can't beat it, you can continue to beat it. I don't believe it will beat it."

Wang Zhankui shouted loudly: "Stop fighting."

The artillery company commander didn't believe in evil and ordered the gunners to continue firing at the bunker.

Gao Jiu observed carefully and found that after the shell hit the bunker, although it did not blow up the bunker, it could at least blow up a foot of cement. He also became confident and said, "Brother Zhan Kui, what you said makes sense. If you continue to fight like this, the Japanese bunker will be destroyed in a while."

At this moment, the sharp whistling sound of mortar shells came from the sky.

In this battle, Gao Jiu and others made an empiricist mistake and did not fully understand their enemies and be close to their own people. They did not expect that the Japanese bunkers were built so strong that on the side facing Gao Jiu and others, the thickness of the Japanese bunkers' steel and concrete was nearly 1 meter.

Gao Jiu and others originally thought they could quickly destroy the enemy's bunkers, so they dared to push the cannons to such a close distance. Unexpectedly, they could not catch them for a while, but instead were bombarded by Japanese mortars and grenade launchers.

The Japanese artillery and grenade launchers were well trained. After a brief test firing, they soon hit the vicinity of the National Army's artillery.

A mortar shell exploded next to a cannon, overturning the cannon, and a platoon leader and three soldiers were killed on the spot.

"No, let the artillery retreat quickly." Gao Jiu shouted hurriedly.

Wang Zhankui also hurriedly shouted: "Battle me hard and suppress the enemy's firepower."

The cavalry battalion brought 24 mortars, and the gunners opened fire and kept firing the shells at the Japanese positions, effectively suppressing the Japanese firepower. However, the Japanese artillery and grenade launchers hid in the trenches and still fired from time to time, posing a great threat to the artillery of the Kuomintang.

The artillery company commander hurriedly directed the artillerymen, tied the artillery behind the war horses that had been prepared, drove the war horses to pull the cannons, and quickly retreated.

At the beginning of the battle, the army was not good. Not only did it not destroy the enemy's bunker, but it also lost a mountain cannon and killed four artillery soldiers.

Wang Zhankui said anxiously: "Jiu Master, I didn't expect that this is the case. The Japanese must have asked for help. If this continues, the bridge will not be able to be defeated."

Gao Jiu also thought that the original plan was impossible to complete the task. He thought carefully and said, "You are here to keep suppressing the enemy's firepower with mortars and machine guns. I'll find a way."

In order to avoid artillery casualties, the artillery retreated to a distance of 500 meters from the enemy's position.

The artillery company commander was very depressed and sat on a cannonball box, took off his hat and fanned it there. The temperature was not high at this time. He ran down in a hurry, and was furious in his heart and sweated a lot.

The artillery soldiers were also sitting on the ground, and they were too lazy to even set up cannons.

Gao Jiu came over and walked over. Seeing the artillery soldiers, he was not angry and encouraged them and said, "Brothers! Get up, put up the cannons, and then bomb the Japanese. I don't believe that I can't kill them."

The artillery company commander said weakly: "Jiu Master, what else can you hit? At such a close distance, it will not work directly to the Japanese bunker. At such a long distance, it is difficult to hit the enemy bunker directly. The shells explode next to the bunker. It would be like tickling others, wasting shells in vain."

Gao Jiu smiled faintly and said, "That's not necessarily. Just put the cannons up for me."

The artillery soldiers respected Gao Jiu very much. They cheered up and executed Gao Jiu's orders and set up the cannons again.

Gao Jiu came to a cannon, observed there for a while, and personally adjusted the ruler and direction of the cannon. He said, "Recharge."

An artilleryman pulled the bolt and loaded a shell into it. Gao Jiu grabbed the rope. Seeing that he was about to fire, everyone hurriedly covered their ears.

Gao Jiu pulled his hand and with a "boom", a fire flashed out of the muzzle, and then a stream of smoke was sprayed out, and a shell tore through the air and flew toward the enemy's position.

The artillery saw a cloud of smoke rising from the enemy's bunker, and it was obvious that the shells hit the enemy's bunker.

The artillery company commander shouted excitedly: "Justice Jiu is mighty!"

Gao Jiu said, "Brothers! You can fire together as you follow the command."

Gao Jiu adjusted the remaining three artillery pieces one by one and said to the artillery company commander: "You continue to command."

The artillery company commander had confidence and directed the gunners to load the artillery battle. He waved the small flag in his hand and issued a loud shooting order: "Prepare, release."
To be continued...