Chapter 4: Heavy casualties and no good solution

On the highway on the outskirts of the Hebei border area, a fully reorganized Japanese army brigade of infantry, trucks, armored vehicles, tanks, artillery, cavalry squadrons, and motorcycles marched westward with great momentum and smoke.

On May 1, 1942, the Japanese invaders launched a large-scale brutal sweep on the Great Plains of North China. One day at the end of June, a certain supplementary regiment of the Eighth Route Army, far away from the main force, fought alone to cover the staff of the county party committee, the county government organs, and more than 200 people to break through and move, and waged a desperate struggle against the well-armed, well-equipped, and extremely vicious Japanese invaders. After more than 20 days of continuous brutal and fierce fighting, the hungry, exhausted, and weakened officers and men of the replenishment regiment gradually fell into a desperate situation. At this time, another fully integrated Japanese mixed field brigade was rushing towards the supplementary regiment.

Although the Japanese puppet army fought a beautiful counterattack under the command of Francis, the enemy reorganized the attack and closely pursued it. In an open slope with potholes, unevenness, and overgrown weeds outside the dense woods five or six hundred meters north of Shengcang Village, a fierce battle was going on. The sound of artillery rumbled, the earthquake trembled, the fire was blazing, and the smoke of gunpowder was filled, covering the sky and the sun. The heroic and unyielding soldiers and militiamen of the Eighth Route Army Supplementary Regiment struggled to cover the wounded, sick and exhausted, terrified masses to urgently move to the dense woods to the south, and in the explosion of the Japanese army's dense artillery shells, many Eighth Route Army soldiers, militiamen, and people fell, suffering heavy casualties. A few hundred meters away, groups of fierce Japanese soldiers and puppet troops pursued and gradually approached, and the Japanese army's light and heavy machine guns and rifle bullets swept over like a storm, and the soldiers of the Eighth Route Army, guerrillas, and fleeing villagers fell one by one, and the battle situation was critical and tragic. The soldiers and militiamen of the Eighth Route Army scattered separately, looking for favorable terrain to hide, some crawled next to the dirt bag, some lay on the low-lying ground and the soil pit, relying on the favorable terrain to bravely resist, stubbornly resisted, alternately covered, fought and retreated, a fierce hand-to-hand fight, the Eighth Route Army paid a heavy price for casualties, and finally retreated into the dense woods with difficulty. The Japanese puppet army was defeated and temporarily stopped the offensive.

East of Bai'an Village. Country roads. A fully reorganized infantry brigade of the Japanese army, nearly 100 trucks, dozens of armored vehicles, tanks, artillery, cavalry squadrons, and dozens of motorcycles marched westward with smoke and dust. An armored car stopped on the side of the road, and Captain Nakagawa Eiichi, commander of the Japanese army, stepped out of the armored car, walked up the high slope on the side of the road, stood in front of the land temple, and raised his binoculars with both hands to observe the quiet village not far ahead. In the yard at the edge of the village, more than a dozen villagers were turning and drying wheat, and a few innocent and carefree children of seven or eight years old were running and playing in the yard.

Detective Captain Qian Wanlin rode over on a bicycle, and after getting off the car, he walked quickly to Nakagawa Nakasa's side, nodded with a flattering smile on his face, and reported with a servile face:

"Taijun, the village in front is Bai'an Village, with more than 100 households. According to the plainclothes reconnaissance team, the Eighth Route Army and guerrillas did not find any Eighth Route Army. ”

Nakagawa put down the binoculars in his hand, his eyes were gloomy, and he glanced at Qian Wanlin with a sinister smile and contempt, and then whispered to Captain Nakahiro Masayoshi who was standing beside him:

"Yo Si. The cavalry was ordered to go out to immediately surround and occupy Bai'an Village, and no one was allowed to enter but not leave, and after the troops entered the village, they were not allowed to hurt people or interfere with the normal life of the villagers. The squadron of sappers marched forward on a run, building a ring of field fortifications on the outskirts of the village. A report was immediately sent and he ordered Hegu Shaozo to stop the pursuit and stand by in place. ”

At this time, in the dense woods north of Shengcang Village, a female hygienist was bandaging the head of the Eighth Route Army Supplementary Regiment Yu Genshan, who was sitting on the ground with his back against a big tree and suffering a head injury. Regiment Commander Yu gasped and said anxiously to the several commanders around him:

"Quick! Hurry up and build fortifications, rescue the wounded and fellow villagers, and be ready to fight at any time, and in a while the little devils will attack. Just go! ”

The commanders got up and left, and led the soldiers to build improvised fortifications separately.

The red-eyed chief of staff was covered in smoke and dust, and walked quickly to Yu Genshan's side with a shell gun in his hand, squatted down, took off his military hat and wiped the sweat on his face, and said with a nervous and solemn expression:

"Regiment commander, the casualties of the troops and the masses are too great, the bullets and grenades will be exhausted as soon as they speak, and if we continue to fight like this, we will have to fight out the regiment, regiment commander, you have to quickly find a way to get an idea, how can you get rid of the pursuit of the little devils?"

"How do you get rid of it?! Did you say lightly, did the troops get rid of so many lightly wounded and hundreds of civilians? What does your chief of staff eat? Panic what?! Be calm! Yu Genshan said anxiously.

"Alas!" The chief of staff sat on the ground dejectedly, staring at his eyes, and said resentfully:

"What a fucking evil man, why does this damn little devil keep staring at us? Wherever we go, the little devils follow and fight to the death. ”

The political commissar walked up to Yu Genshan and squatted down, and asked with concern: "Regiment leader, are you seriously injured?" ”

Yu Genshan: "Just scratch a little skin, it's not in the way, it's still far from reimbursement." ”

Political Commissar: "Regiment Commander, we have to quickly find a way to get rid of this very dangerous and passive situation in front of us as soon as possible, otherwise, our supplementary regiment may be wiped out." ”

Yu Genshan and the chief of staff stared at the political commissar with wide eyes and surprise.

Japanese positions. The Japanese were resting and preparing to attack again. The second lieutenant of the Japanese army walked quickly in front of the Japanese commander Kawaya Shaozo with a telegram in his hand, stood up and saluted, and reported:

"Report to the captain, Nakagawa Nakasa has called, ordering our department to stop the pursuit immediately, he has sent a squadron, and will arrive here to meet our department in an hour."

The captain of the Japanese infantry brigade, Kawaya Shaoza, put down the binoculars and said proudly:

"Yo Xi, call back immediately, report the battle situation, and launch an attack on the woods in half an hour."

Second Lieutenant Takagi Hirochi of the Japanese army dissuaded: "Captain Hegu, our soldiers have suffered serious casualties, insufficient ammunition, great physical exertion, low morale, and the Imperial Allied Army has basically lost its combat effectiveness, should we wait for the reinforcements of the Nakagawa Brigade to arrive before launching an attack?" ”

The disgraced commander of the Imperial Allied Army, Colonel Sun Zudong, begged and said:

"Hegu Taijun, don't fight yet, let's wait for reinforcements to come before attacking."

Hagu Shaozo said arrogantly and resolutely: "No! We must completely annihilate the Eighth Route Army that fled into the woods before the Zhongchuan Brigade arrives, and now they are already vulnerable, and we must not give the Eighth Route any respite, and we must fight to the end with all our strength, this is the best time for our army to completely destroy the Eighth Route Army. Go ahead and get ready! ”

Takagi Hirochi: "Captain, you can't fight anymore, it's been more than half a month since we pursued the Eighth Route in front of you, our army has suffered heavy casualties, is exhausted, the battle line is too long, and it is difficult to supply food, ammunition, and medicine." At present, there are less than 300 officers and men who can take part in the battle, more than 200 are lightly and seriously wounded, there is a shortage of ammunition, and medicine and food are running out immediately. Captain, let's wait for the reinforcements of the Nakagawa Brigade to reconcile with our troops before launching an attack. ”

Sun Zudong: "Yes, Taijun Takagi is right. Look, Hegu Taijun, my troops are almost exhausted, so let's wait. ”

Hegu Shaozuo: "No! The Zhongchuan Brigade didn't come early or late, but it came when our army was about to completely wipe out this Eighth Route Army, and there was no such cheap good thing. Order, devote all your forces to prepare for the attack, I will kill a piece of armor without leaving a single piece of armor! ”

"Captain, you insist on attacking to disobey Captain Nakagawa's orders, and he will blame you. Let's wait a little longer. "Hirochi Takagi is still stopping.

Kawatani glared at Takagi Hirochi and shouted, "Captain Wahisa! ”

"Hey!" Not far away, the stout Japanese lieutenant and Hisai Ken answered and walked quickly to the valley.

"Captain Kazuhisa, I order you to divide the soldiers who can participate in the battle into two teams now, and you and Captain Fujita Matsuyoshi each lead a team to attack the Eighth Route Army in the woods in two ways. Commander Sun, bring the soldiers you can still participate in the battle to participate in this final battle, and resolutely and completely eliminate this Eight Paths. Rivervalley commanded resolutely.

Kazui Ken looked embarrassed, and replied reluctantly in a small voice, "Hi." ”

Takagi Hirochi said: "Captain, Captain Fujita Matsuyoshi has a severe sprained ankle, has difficulty moving, needs urgent medical treatment, and cannot participate in the war now. ”

"Oh? Is it so serious? You take his place. ”

"Huh? Captain, you asked me to replace Fujita Matsuyoshi? W-This isn't appropriate, is it? ”

"What? Are you going to disobey orders? Hurry up and get ready. Hegu half-turned to Sun Zudong and said sternly: "You! Immediately organize the Imperial Concord Army and prepare to attack! ”

Sun Zudong bent down and nodded reluctantly: "Yes, Taijun." ”

The Japanese military interpreter walked over quickly: "Taijun, what to do with the captured prisoners?" ”

Hegu Shaozuo: "Who are they?" Is there an eight-way? ”

Japanese army translator: "There are no eight roads, they are all ordinary people, men, women and children." ”

River Valley Shaozuo: "The flower girl stayed, and the others were all buried alive." ”

"Huh? Oh yes. The Japanese interpreter turned and left, muttering quietly as he went, "It's not a human animal." River Valley, I will your ancestors for eight generations. ”

East of Bai'an Village. In front of the temple on the land of the suburban road. Nakagawa looked at the map and thought.

On the first day, the Japanese officer came over and reported: "Captain, Hegu Shaozo has called back, the Eighth Route Army, the wounded, and hundreds of villagers have fled into the woods, and he is reorganizing and deploying his troops, and he will attack again in half an hour." ”

Nakagawa scolded angrily: "Bastard! Idiot! He's greedy for merit. The Eighth Route Army was very smart, they fled into the woods, and the power and superiority of our artillery, tanks, armored vehicles, and cavalry were all gone, and they were all useless. Immediately send a telegram to the fool of the valley, ordering him to surround the woods quickly, not to attack, and wait for a rendezvous with the main army. ”

At the edge of the woods, several soldiers of the Eighth Route Army sat or squatted in the hidden part of the serpentine trench that had just been dug two meters deep and more than one meter wide, talking anxiously and babblingly.

Ma Fucai, a squad leader with a sturdy and burly figure and a body covered in smoke and dust, said eagerly:

"Platoon Commander Fang, you can't fight like this anymore! Isn't this a fight for the old book? If we fight like this again, we'll have all the money we have in the row! ”

The slender, sturdy and capable, smoky platoon commander Fang Jiren looked at his comrades-in-arms beside him, blinked his eyes, sighed helplessly, and said:

"Alas! A squad leader, you said that if you don't fight, you won't fight? Are you the head of the regiment? Don't you understand the military order? ”

"Platoon commander, if we continue to fight like this, our family will really be exhausted. At that time, will we fight the devil with our bare hands? The second squad leader said.

"yes. The platoon commander, the first squad leader and the second squad leader were all right. Can't we change the way we play? It's too passive and too sloppy to fight like this. Platoon commander, go talk about it. ”

"I'm going to say? Third squad leader, who should I tell to go? Did I say it worked? I told him before the company commander died, and he gave me a lecture, and he sarcastically said to me, "Come and tell me when you become the regiment commander." Alas! It's really an official who crushes people to death. ”

"It's a different story now. Platoon commander, you go to Deputy Company Commander Yuan to talk about it, maybe he can agree to change the style of play. ”

"Huh? Yes, I agree with the first squad leader. The second squad leader echoed.

"Alas! Is it useful to tell Company Commander Yuan? Okay, let's not talk about that. First squad leader, let's report on the situation of our platoon. ”

"Yes. Platoon commander, there are 26 soldiers in our platoon who can still participate in the battle, 10 who are killed or seriously wounded, and those who are lightly wounded can still participate in the battle. An average of seven rounds of ammunition, two grenades, two machine guns, and the rest are broadswords and daggers. Platoon commander, I inquired, and after more than a month of fighting, our platoon in the whole regiment has suffered the least casualties. It's all because of your good command platoon commander. ”

"Can't say that. Mainly because the fighters fought well. ”

"Only when the platoon commander commands well, can the soldiers fight well. If I change my play, I think I will definitely play better. The platoon commander, Company Commander Yuan, the second platoon commander, and the third platoon commander came over. ”

Deputy Company Commander Yuan, Second Platoon Commander, Third Platoon Commander and several soldiers of the Sixth Company came over.

The platoon commander stood up and saluted the Yuan company commander who came over.

Deputy Company Commander Yuan walked along the trench, laboriously raised his injured right arm to salute in return, and waved his hand to everyone with a solemn expression. "Sit down, sit down." After everyone sat down, Company Commander Yuan looked around at the comrades-in-arms in front of him, and said in a heavy tone: "I just came back from a meeting with the regiment commander, comrades, the current situation of our regiment is very serious, the casualties of the whole regiment have been reduced by more than half, there is a shortage of guns and ammunition, and there is no food and medicine. And a brigade of devils in front of us is fierce and fierce, and they are chasing us to death. Compared with the two armies, it is obvious that the enemy is strong and I am weak, but the regiment commander gave a death order, no matter how difficult and bitter, no matter how heavy the casualties, we must fight with the devil to the end, and we must sacrifice everything to resolutely protect the county party committee and the people......"

"Humph! It's death to fight like this, it's really not worth it. The squad leader snorted.

"First squad leader, why do you say that? Scared? The platoon leader asked.

"Huh? Afraid? Third platoon leader, you are not qualified to talk about me. There are still more than a dozen people left in your three platoons, and the number of people reduced by two-thirds, how did you command? You can study hard with our platoon commander. Shh The squad leader said with a sneer.

"You, you......" The third platoon leader pointed to the squad leader in annoyance and shame.

"That's right, the first squad leader is right. In the past month or so, only six people have been sacrificed in our platoon, and there are still 26 people who can participate in the battle. And all of them have been replaced with '38 big covers'. Company Commander Yuan, the two platoon commanders, you go to the whole regiment to find out, and see that there are more people in that platoon than in our platoon? The second squad leader shook his head proudly.

"Okay, okay, don't say this kind of thing, they are all revolutionary comrades-in-arms and brothers in life, so don't fight." Deputy Company Commander Yuan pushed the platoon commander next to him who lowered his head and closed his eyes and said silently, "Platoon Commander Fang, what time is it now?" Why don't you say a word? Tell me, what are your thoughts? ”

Platoon Commander Fang slowly raised his head, opened his eyes and looked at Deputy Company Commander Yuan blankly,

"What do you say? Does what I say work? Who's listening? Company Commander Yuan, do you listen? Didn't the regimental commander already give the order to die? Then let's fight so stupidly, and finally wait for the devils to come up and serve our dumplings in one pot. ”

"Platoon Commander Fang, how can you say that? Your emotions are not right, your statement is too negative and pessimistic, and it is even more irresponsible. ”

"yes. It is also very dangerous. "The second platoon commander echoed Deputy Company Commander Yuan."

"Haha. Am I not responsible? It is the regimental commander's orders and fighting methods that are irresponsible and dangerous. No matter how big the sacrifice and casualties, you have to protect the county party committee and the people? Shh Ridiculous, right? Company commander, two platoon commanders, we are all fighting and dying, who will protect them? Yes? Platoon Commander Fang asked unconvinced.

The crowd was speechless for a moment. A new soldier looked at the trench and broke the silence and said:

"Platoon Commander Fang, why are the trenches of your platoon dug deeper than the trenches of the other platoons? And it's serpentine and curved, how can there be so many holes that can be hidden in a person? ”

"Constructing serpentine trenches and digging anti-artillery holes can effectively reduce the casualties of the soldiers when the Japanese attack is heavily shelled."

"Oh? Is it? Platoon Commander Fang, you can be more specific. ”

Francis stood up, pulled the new soldier's sleeve and walked out of the concealment department, explaining:

"Little brother, if the trench is dug shallowly and straight, and one of the devil's shells falls into the trench, then our soldiers will suffer a series of casualties, and the impact of the air wave will knock down a few, and our serpentine curved trenches built in a row will avoid this from happening. When the devils shelled, each fighter hid in his own anti-artillery hole, and I watched and watched in the concealment department, waiting for the opportunity. Without an order, the fighters will not come out. If you look closely, each of the soldiers in our platoon has two firing points that are more than half a foot below the ground at a distance of one meter, so that the soldiers will not show their heads on the ground when they stand on the earthen platform they have set up to shoot, and they will immediately change their shooting position after a few shots, so as to guard against the devil's fixed-point accurate shooting. ”

"Oh, wonderful, wonderful, wonderful. No wonder the trenches in your platoon are nearly twice as long as those in other platoons, and it's no wonder that your platoon suffers far fewer casualties. The new fighters expressed heartfelt admiration and emotion.

Deputy Company Commander Yuan: "Communicator, you immediately go and inform the second and third platoons and tell them to dig trenches like this." Just go! ”

"Yes!" The correspondent ran away.

Deputy Company Commander Yuan proposed: "Platoon commander, our regiment should build a serpentine trench. ”

Francis agreed: "Yes, this will reduce unnecessary casualties. ”

"Platoon Commander Fang, tell me more, how should this battle be fought?"

Ma Fucai hurriedly said: "Company Commander Yuan, our platoon commander has long told the company commander that the troops should be divided into two routes, covering the transfer of the county party committee and the people all the way, and leading away the devils to fight guerrillas all the way. The company commander just didn't listen, and as a result, he died. ”

Deputy Company Commander Yuan said happily: "Yes, it should have been fought like this a long time ago." Platoon Commander Fang, tell me, how should the soldiers fight in two ways? ”

Platoon Commander Fang sighed heavily, and shook his head helplessly, "The soldiers are divided into two ways? Hum! The fighter plane is fleeting, and there is no such opportunity now. ”

"Huh?! So, is there any other way? Platoon Commander Fang, tell me quickly, what is the way to get out of the current critical situation and come back to life? Deputy Company Commander Yuan asked anxiously and urgently.