The expeditionary force began to dominate Southeast Asia by recruiting defeated soldiers

Chapter 206: Enter Tengchong City and Eat Pork and Scallion Dumplings

Hundreds of Japanese soldiers who escaped from various positions outside the city and the remaining Japanese soldiers in the city were organized into a battalion of more than a thousand Japanese soldiers by Colonel Ito Masayoshi, commander of the 113th Regiment, who tried to resist stubbornly by relying on the walls and fortresses of Tengchong County.

In order to completely defeat the Japanese, the Expeditionary Force and the Anmin Army did not take a post-war rest, but took advantage of the situation to directly attack Tengchong County, giving Ito Masayoshi no chance to reorganize the defense.

Major Li Mingcheng's battalion had suffered some casualties after the fierce fighting in the previous few weeks, but he still asked the regimental commander for the qualification to lead the attack.

On January 22, before dawn, Li Mingcheng carried out the final reorganization before the attack in the southeast corner of Tengchong County.

"Report to the battalion commander, the battalion should have 1150 people present, but the actual number is 1067." The deputy battalion commander saluted first and reported.

"Very good, at ease." Li Mingcheng returned the greeting.

"I will lead the 1st Company to break in first, and Lao Qian, you will lead the 2nd and 3rd Companies as the reserve. When I lead the 1st Company to open a breakthrough, you will follow immediately." Li Mingcheng picked up the oil lamp, took out the map board, and began to give instructions.

Although Li Mingcheng was born into a poor family, he became General Yang's personal guard at the age of 14. Later, he attended elementary school. After joining the Anmin Army and making meritorious service, he was trained in the cadre training corps organized by Zhang Chi for three months.

Therefore, when he led his troops to fight, he not only had the fearless style of the Northwest Army, but also had the well-organized and strict style of a professional.

"The weapons company's bazooka and flamethrower teams will be reinforced to the 1st Company. The remaining anti-aircraft guns, mortars, and anti-tank guns will be deployed outside the city with Old Song. We'll decide whether to advance based on the situation."

"As for the transport company, just stay at the departure point." Li Mingcheng looked at the deputy battalion commander, Lao Qian, "Do you think there's any problem?"

"You are the main officer, you should be in charge of the central army." Deputy Battalion Commander Lao Qian advised, "Let me lead the first wave of the charge later."

Li Mingcheng shook his head. "Who knows what tricks the devils have in store for us. As the battalion commander, I must always be at the forefront to be able to respond flexibly and coordinate with all the other units. You don't have to compete with me for the money, Old Qian."

After a few arguments, Li Mingcheng remained firm in his attitude and the deputy battalion commander finally had to compromise.

So Li Mingcheng led his troops into the starting position in the dark.

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Not long after dawn, Li Mingcheng in the trench heard the faint roar of an engine in the air. He knew that it was his own air force coming to support.

Sure enough, not long after, countless black spots appeared in the northwest sky.

Li Mingcheng on the ground watched the black spots circle in the sky and then launched an attack.

The silhouettes of the F4U fighter and SB2C dive bomber were reflected on Li Mingcheng's retina.

As they dived, the planes became larger and clearer, and the roar of their engines and the sound of their propellers stirring the air became louder and louder.

Li Mingcheng quickly put his eyes to the artillery mirror. He saw that the anti-aircraft machine guns deployed by the Japanese in the city were weakly firing several rains of bullets into the air, trying to prevent our planes from diving.

However, the several machine guns that were being washed were quickly suppressed by the diving F4U fighters' strafing, and then the SB2C dive bombers dropped 1000-pound bombs accurately.

"Boom, boom, boom!" A series of explosions were heard.

Li Mingcheng hurriedly turned the objective lens of the artillery scope and looked towards the city wall.

"Okay!"

Seeing this, he couldn't help but growl and clenched his fists excitedly.

In Li Mingcheng's vision, Tengchong City was already shrouded in explosions and smoke, with black smoke and billowing flames everywhere. That was the "masterpiece" of the air force brothers after they dropped the bombs.

The bombs dropped by the air force brothers blew a huge gap in the corner building and the southwest corner of the city, and the southern city wall also collapsed in many places.

The brick and stone bunker on the southwest corner of the city wall was half collapsed, and black smoke was rising.

Li Mingcheng couldn't help but look up at the sky and waved excitedly to express his inner gratitude.

After all, the most important and bloodiest battle in the siege was breaking through the city walls, which was completed by his air force brothers. This saved him a lot of casualties. How could he not be grateful?

"Boss, look, there are new planes coming." A soldier next to him reminded, pointing to the sky.

"Oh, these are planes I've never seen before." Li Mingcheng looked up and noticed several fighter planes flying low.

The circular "Hua" badge on the wings indicates that they are still their own aircraft.

"This plane is a bit ugly." Unlike other common streamlined, slender and elegant planes, Li Mingcheng felt that this new plane was fat and round, like a thick cigar specially provided to officers, or a thicker Coke bottle.

The soldiers laughed and said, "Boss, this plane must have been modified from a can borrowed from the kitchen!"

-----

In the sky, 36 P-47D fighter jets (pictured by the author) that Zhang Chi had only recently developed and purchased from the system roared past in groups of three.

The aircraft earned the nickname "Milk Bottle" among the White Eagle Army for its round fuselage.

"This is Cream Hole, calling everyone, prepare to enter the bombing route."

Following the order from the leader, 36 P-47 fighters circled and prepared to launch an attack on the Japanese fortifications in Tengchong County.

这批P-47战斗机虽然外形不佳，但得益于发动机的凶猛动力以及坚固的机身，其不仅在机翼内装备了8挺12.7mm重机枪，还额外下挂了2枚1000磅1枚500磅炸弹。

In addition to the three bombs, there were also 10 127mm air-launched rockets mounted on the wings.

So under Li Mingcheng's watchful eyes, 36 P-47 fighter planes entered the bombing route and began to exert their lethality.

Several 1000-pound bombs fell from the sky with a sharp whistling sound, heading straight for the fortifications where the Japanese were hiding.

The rockets that followed drew streaks of flames in the sky and crashed into the city one after another, creating thick smoke and sea of ​​fire.

"Qiu Shizi, this air raid is too fierce. I estimate that these stupid Japanese devils will be finished without any shelling." Li Mingcheng looked at the scene in front of him, feeling shocked and excited.

-----

Of course, the agreed-upon bombardment would not be canceled at the last minute. After the plane returned, the heavy artillery group of the Anmin Army conducted another hour of artillery preparation on the Japanese in Tengchong City.

Then Bai Minghui's order for the general attack was transmitted via radio and landline.

The four Sherman 105mm gun tanks assigned to Li Mingcheng's battalion were the first to rush out of the starting position and launched an attack on Tengchong County.

"Brothers, follow me!" Li Mingcheng picked up his carbine and led the 1st Company out of the trench. Using tanks as cover, they launched an attack on the gap in the city wall.

The company commander of the 1st Company held an M3 submachine gun and muttered in frustration, "Boss, you stole my job!"

But he still blew the whistle and rushed forward with the remaining soldiers.

"Kill! Let's break into Tengchong City to celebrate the Spring Festival and eat pork and green onion dumplings!" The soldiers of the 1st Company shouted, grabbed their weapons, held up the military flags, climbed out of the trenches, quickly formed into skirmish lines, and rushed towards Tengchong County like a wave.