In the blink of an eye, the time came to March 1943.

The tactics of the Eighth Route Army's Independent Regiment, the New First Regiment, and the New Second Regiment began to show their effectiveness, and they fought the Japanese almost every day.

In fact, it was not just the Eighth Route Army in the northwest of Shanxi.

The Eighth Route Army in the entire North China and even the New Fourth Army in East China launched endless attacks against the Japanese army.

At its most frequent, the Eighth Route Army and the New Fourth Army launched thousands of attacks on the Japanese army in a day!

The invading Japanese army used more than 70 percent of its strength to defend against the attack of the Eighth Route Army and the New Fourth Army, but the Japanese army was still stumbling on the battlefield behind enemy lines.

Only 30% of the army was left on the frontal battlefield, but there was no pressure.

Under the incessant attacks of the Eighth Route Army and the New Fourth Army, the Japanese troops in North, Central, and East China began to become overwhelmed and struggling.

Among them, the Japanese army in the northwest of Jin was the most difficult.

When the Eighth Route Army in other places was still in the stage of ambushing the devil's transportation line, the Eighth Route Army in the northwest of Shanxi, especially the independent regiment led by Li Yunlong, already had a certain ability to attack fortified positions.

With the ability to attack fortifications, the independent regiment began to target the stronghold.

At this moment, the pressure on the 69th Division of the Japanese Army, which was responsible for guarding the northwest region of Jinjin, suddenly increased unprecedentedly.

Ryoichi Yamamoto, chief of staff of the 69th Division, hurriedly walked into Inoue's office with a folder in his arms and reported: "General, a total of 16 strongholds have been destroyed by the Eighth Route Army in one day today. ”

"Among them, the independent regiment destroyed 8 strongholds."

"The new one destroys 5."

"The new second regiment destroyed 3."

"There are a total of 158 imperial soldiers."

"More than 1,200 other Imperial Allies were annihilated."

"More than 900 rifles of various types and 24 machine guns of various types were lost."

Listening to one number after another read out of Yamamoto Ryoshi's mouth, Inoue's face completely collapsed, today is another bad day! The loss is too great!

Ryokazu Yamamoto: "And that's just the loss of each base. ”

"The losses of reinforcements are even greater, especially the Heyuan gendarmerie."

"In order to rescue the attacked strongholds, the gendarmerie guarding the counties sent a total of more than 20 reinforcements."

"Without exception, these reinforcements were ambushed by the reinforcements of the Eighth Route Army halfway, and the Eighth Route Army used cold weapons such as mines, pits, and even rolling logs and rocks, causing great losses to the reinforcements."

"A total of 306 imperial soldiers were broken in the reinforcements, and more than 1,500 officers and soldiers of the Imperial Association fled."

"More than 1,300 rifles of various types, 32 machine guns of various types, 2 infantry guns, 1 Italian field gun of 75, a total loss of ammunition ......"

"That's enough, don't read any more!"

Inoue Sadawei couldn't bear it anymore and finally shouted to stop.

"Hello!" Ryoichi Yamamoto put down the folder and stopped reading.

Inoue Sadae let out a long sigh of relief and said, "Isn't there even one good news?" ”

"There is also some good news." Ryoichi Yamamoto paused slightly, and said, "The Hayada squad and the 1st Battalion of the 8th Mixed Brigade of the Imperial Allied Army performed extremely heroically, once again thwarting the attack of the Eighth Route Army. ”

"Really?" Inoue Zhenwei's expression moved, and he said, "This is the first time they have thwarted the attack of the Eighth Route Army?" ”

"This is the sixth time in nearly half a month!" Ryo Yamamoto, "The Hayata squad and the 1st Battalion of the 8th Mixed Brigade of the Imperial Allied Army seem to have a lot of experience in dealing with the attack of the Eighth Route Army. ”

After a pause, Yamamoto Ryoichi said again: "In addition to the Xiji stronghold, more than a dozen strongholds such as Niuzhuang and Xiaocaozhuang also thwarted the Eighth Route Army's attack attempt, but the casualties were large. ”

"Yo Xi, give all the praise." Inoue said, "As long as you hold the stronghold, you will be praised." ”

After a pause, Inoue Sadawei's expression cooled down again, and said: "As for those Imperial Cooperative troops who did not hold their strongholds or fled, arrest them and shoot them all on the spot!" ”

Yamamoto Ryoichi's face changed greatly, and said, "Division commander, think twice!" ”

"If you push the Imperial Army too hard, it is likely to cause a mutiny."

"The current situation in the northwest of Jin is difficult enough, and if the Imperial Association Army mutinies again, the consequences will be unimaginable."

"Yaga." Inoue Sadawei slammed his fist on the big table and said angrily, "These cowards only know how to eat and take cards, but when they fight, they run faster than rabbits!" ”

Ryokachi Yamamoto: "But at least it can help maintain law and order, can't it?" ”

Speaking of this, Yamamoto Ryoichi said again: "As for dealing with the Eighth Route Army, the Imperial Army originally did not count on the Imperial Army. ”

"Okay, just shoot it." Inoue Zhenwei snorted and said, "But you must warn Wei Sang and Liu Sang that you must never allow the phenomenon of sudden rout and escape again." ”

"Hello!" Ryo Yamamoto was stunned.

"And." Inoue Sadawei said again, "We must give Pansang a commendation." ”

Yamamoto Ryoichi's heart moved slightly, and said: "The commander of the division, Yang Sang, the commander of the 1st Regiment of the 8th Mixed Brigade of the Imperial Allied Army, was hit by a stray bullet on the way to reinforce the Xiji stronghold, and unfortunately died on the spot. ”

"Now the position of the head of the 1 regiment has become vacant."

"Why don't you promote Pan Sang to the head of the 1st regiment? In recognition of his heroism? ”

"Yo Xi, that's it." Inoue Zhenwei nodded happily and said, "I will promote Pan Sang to the commander of the 1st regiment, and then assign the Imperial Alliance Army of more than 20 strongholds near the Xiji stronghold to Pan Sang's command." ”

"Hello!" Yamamoto Ryoshi nodded for a moment, and then said, "Division commander, in view of the increasing shortage of soldiers in our division and regiment, and the delay in the arrival of additional troops, it is really a bit overwhelming to continue to maintain the current more than 500 strongholds. ”

"So, is it possible to optionally give up some of the strongholds?"

"Even remote counties can give up a few at their discretion."

"Then concentrate the main forces on the strongholds along the Tongpu railway, as well as several major county seats."

"In this way, the pressure on our defenses will be greatly reduced, and the losses will be correspondingly smaller."

Inoue Sadawei's brows furrowed, and he said in a deep voice: "Yamamoto-kun, not long ago, we just gave up more than a hundred strongholds, and it's only been half a month, so we have to give up more strongholds?" ”

Ryoichi Yamamoto sighed softly, and then said, "Division commander, the troops are really not enough." ”

Inoue Zhenwei waved his hand and said, "Yamamoto-kun, have you ever read the Six Kingdoms Theory of Su Xun, a famous scholar in the Song Dynasty?" ”

"Su Xun? The Theory of the Six Kingdoms? Ryoichi Yamamoto said with some shame, "I disappointed the division commander, I haven't read it." ”

"Actually, it's nothing." Inoue shook his hand and continued, "But there is an impressive passage in it, cut five cities today, cut ten cities tomorrow, and then have to sleep peacefully." ”

"Look at the four realms, and the Qin soldiers are coming."