Devil's Army

Chapter 2033 Recapture of Cheqiao

Brigade Commander Daejeon Xiong arranged for his soldiers to prepare to block the devilish forces' attack from the sea.

At this time, the 12th and 15th Brigades of the First Army finished their battle in central Jiangsu and marched north to participate in the attack on Haizhou.

The Japanese army set up the first line of defense at Cheqiao.

Cheqiao is located at the intersection of four regions: central Jiangsu, northern Jiangsu, southern Jiangsu, and northern Jiangsu. It is the dividing line between the Japanese North China Expeditionary Army and the Central China Expeditionary Army.

From central Jiangsu towards Haizhou, Cheqiao is a necessary passage. If an army wants to attack Haizhou, it will inevitably have to pass through here.

The Lujiatan area northwest of the bridge is a key location. The Jianhe River on the south side of the highway has steep banks, deep water, and a rapid current, making it impossible to wade across on foot.

North of the highway is a marshy reed bed about 1 kilometer wide and 2 kilometers long, with deep silt that makes it impossible for people and vehicles to pass, forming a natural choke point.

The bridge is situated on both banks of the Jian River, with five bridges spanning the waterway and a dense network of waterways. This water-rich terrain is unfavorable for the rapid advance of the army.

The Japanese army built a large dike around the Cheqiao stronghold, and also built 53 bunkers along the large and small dikes. The bunkers were 200 meters apart, and their firepower could support each other and they also had hidden bunkers to block the ground.

The New Fourth Army once blocked the Japanese army in central Jiangsu from advancing north to reinforce Cheqiao. Later, after the Northern Jiangsu Campaign came to an end, the Japanese army reoccupied Cheqiao.

The vanguard of the 1st Regiment of the 12th Brigade advanced covertly along the reeds in front of Cheqiao and arrived at Lujiatan.

To facilitate observation, the Japanese army had burned down the entire reed bed and weeds in front of Lujiatang.

The soldiers could no longer approach stealthily and had no choice but to launch a full-scale attack.

The two bunkers closest to the reeds were the first to be destroyed by the rocket troops of the First Army.

Subsequently, when the vanguard of the regiment advanced deeper into Lujiatan, they were met with crossfire from Japanese pillboxes and bunkers.

The First Battalion of the First Regiment launched several attacks, but failed to break through the Japanese army's firepower blockade.

The Japanese bunkers were buried underground, and the battalion's machine guns and rockets could not destroy them.

Under the cover of machine gun fire from the bunkers, the Japanese troops fired down on them from their elevated positions, preventing them from advancing or retreating.

Inspired by the Japanese bunker, the battalion commander ordered the company to continue its attack on the Japanese and draw their fire.

The second, third, and fourth companies took turns digging trenches half a person's height. The soldiers lay prone in the trenches and gradually advanced towards the Japanese army's pillboxes and bunkers.

In order to suppress the Japanese army's bunker fire, the regimental commander also brought in Golden Eagle drones to assist.

The Japanese machine guns inside the bunker had just begun firing when they were immediately attacked by the Golden Eagle 3 drone's air-to-ground missile.

Meanwhile, a battalion of soldiers on the ground steadily advanced, gradually approaching the bunker.

Amid a series of explosions, a rocket unit destroyed Japanese bunkers that had come within firing range.

The Japanese troops guarding Cheqiao lost the support of the bunkers and pillboxes, and were forced to retreat step by step by a regiment of soldiers, retreating into the second line of defense—the Gaogou-Yangkou defense line.

Gaogou and Yangkou are located at the junction of Lianshui, Guannan and Shuyang counties, under the jurisdiction of Lianshui County. They are key locations connecting the two anti-Japanese base areas of Huaihai District and Yancheng District.

Gaogou is located on the south bank of the Nanliutang River, while Yangkou is located on the north bank of the Beiliutang River. The Liutang River is situated in a low-lying area, serving as a natural water barrier. The river not only hindered the rapid advance of the regiment but also acted as a natural defensive line for the Japanese army.

Furthermore, the Japanese army constructed fortifications and firing bunkers on the north bank of the river.

The regiment lacked the means to cross the river, and if they tried to wade across, they would inevitably be subjected to intense gunfire from the Japanese army.