When they broke up, Li Ziyuan took out his Browning pistol and solemnly handed it to Liu Yanlai: "Lao Liu, compared with me, you are a perfect person." You insist on going back, and I can only support you. I promise to take out a lot of these people you have left. ”

"And sister-in-law, don't worry, even if my troops are gone, I will also ensure my sister-in-law's safety. But Lao Liu, you must also pay attention, if things are really impossible, don't be too demanding. You and your sister-in-law just got married, don't let her be sad again. Don't forget, you are now a husband and a father. ”

Taking the Browning pistol handed over by Li Ziyuan, Liu Yanlai pondered for a while and said, "Old Li, you can rest assured." Don't forget, I started working in Hubei. I am quite familiar with the mountains and rivers here. The little devil tried to catch me, but it wasn't that easy. ”

"From now on, I will hand over the county magistrate Chang and those staff to you. These people have been painstakingly cultivated, and they are the essence of the local party and government cadres in Hubei. It is also the capital of our comeback in Hubei, and you must ensure their safety. Without this group of local cadres, we would almost have to start all over again in Hubei. ”

Speaking of which, Liu Yanlai came to his newly married wife, who had only been married for less than half a month, and gently hugged this woman who he was not familiar with or even knew before marriage, but now she is his wife. After whispering a few words, he turned his head and left with the team firmly.

looked at Liu Yanlai's back and listened to the low sobs that his newlywed wife still came out despite being depressed. Li Ziyuan sighed but didn't say anything, just sent Zhang Yuhu to Liu Yanlai, the newlywed lady, to protect her safety.

This is the only thing he can do for Liu Yan now, and the rest can only rely on Liu Yan himself. And the rest of him can only be in his heart, secretly wishing Liu Yan good luck. Li Ziyuan didn't know if he could see the young county party secretary. The tension of the situation did not leave too much sad time for Li Ziyuan.

However, after sending Liu Yanlai away, looking at the leaflets dropped by the Japanese plane, Li Ziyuan was even more speechless. The devil is clearly putting on a rhythm that if he doesn't kill himself, he will definitely not withdraw his troops. 100,000 oceans, I heard that the Japanese army bribed a division commander over there, but there was no such price. Even the head of the deputy commander-in-chief is at this price on the Japanese army's bounty list.

In order to solve themselves, the Japanese army really gave up their strength and capital. However, what kind of sky-high price the Japanese army set for his head, Li Ziyuan didn't care. He is still quite confident in his troops. He didn't believe in his troops, and someone would betray him and exchange his head for the 100,000 oceans.

It's just that although Li Ziyuan doesn't care about the reward of the Japanese army, how to break through safely has become the most critical and urgent problem in front of Li Ziyuan. In the case of a breakthrough to the north, east, and west, there is no longer an opportunity. Li Ziyuan could only bite the bullet and lead the troops into the territory of Huguan.

At present, most of the main forces of the Japanese puppet army in Huguan are sweeping in Ludong. The other part is in the supply line behind the Japanese army that is guaranteed to attack Lingchuan and Linxian. At present, in all the areas in the southeast of Jinjin, only the Japanese puppet army in Huguan is slightly empty.

Moreover, this is now the rear of the Japanese puppet army on the southern front, attacking Ludong to the north, and it is also one of the base camps of the Japanese puppet army besieging Chongqing to the east. Li Ziyuan chose to withdraw into Huguan territory, also considering that he could not stand in the Ludong area at the moment, and moved to the outer line for a sabotage battle.

But it was not easy to enter Huguan, one of the two puppet army divisions mobilized by the Japanese army from northern Henan, under the supervision of a Japanese brigade, along the junction of Hubei and Huguan. However, at the junction of Hubei and Huguan, the mountains are relatively steep, and although there are not many passages for their own breakthrough, there are also not many terrain that the Japanese army can use.

After listening to Li Ziyuan's determination, Zhang Zijian, He Sanliang, and Ma Yongcheng did not immediately express their position. After hesitating for a moment, Ma Yongcheng spoke first: "Lao Li, the troops have been fighting and breaking through in the past few days, not only are they quite tired, but the casualties are not light, and the ammunition consumption is very large. ”

"At present, the enemy situation in Huguan is unknown, and there is a heavy blockade by the Japanese puppet army between the two counties. In addition to the complex terrain, there are only a few roads that we can use to break through. Even if we clench our fists and fight out, if we want to break through the blockade line of the Japanese puppet army, we will have to pay a considerable price. ”

"Even at a certain cost, we can break through the blockade line of the Japanese puppet army. But what should I do after entering the territory of Huguan? Huguan was adjacent to Linxian and Lingchuan, where the Japanese army was mobilizing heavy forces to besiege the 24th Group Army in Chongqing. At this time, the appearance of our army in Huguan will cause unnecessary political disputes and give certain excuses to certain quarters. ”

"And the Japanese puppet army will also mobilize heavy troops to encircle our army. When the time comes, the Japanese puppet army will be blocking and chasing, and we will no longer have room for maneuver. Lao Li, I don't think that our retreat to Huguan is a more beneficial thing for us, I suggest you think about it carefully. ”

Ma Yongcheng's voice fell, and He Sanliang, who had not spoken on the side, suddenly spoke: "Regiment leader, political commissar, I think we are breaking through to Huguan now, and it is a suitable choice for us at the moment." But I don't recommend fighting hard, I should still look for the weak point of the Japanese puppet army's blockade line and penetrate it as much as possible. ”

"The terrain of Huguan is far more complex than that of Hubei. Moreover, the Japanese puppet army in Huguan, except for most of our sweeps in Ludong, the remaining troops can only maintain the rear route of the Japanese army attacking Linxian along the Hanchang Avenue. The Japanese puppet army in Huguan basically has no mobile troops at the moment. ”

"Even if we enter the territory of Huguan, except for the Japanese puppet army chasing after us behind us, I don't think the Japanese puppet army in Huguan has the energy to take care of us at the moment. As long as we can break through to Huguan, our room for maneuver will increase considerably, at least for a short time. ”

"However, we can't stay in Huguan for a long time. First, we have entered the Huguan, and I am afraid that the issue of replenishing grain will be very difficult. Second, it is the problem of the war on the Linxian side. The Japanese army mobilized so many heavy troops to besiege Linxian this time, obviously intending to completely solve the Linxian problem. ”

"With what I know about Linxian County, I'm afraid they won't be able to hold it up for too long. The two armies on the Linxian side are all miscellaneous armies, although the original combat effectiveness is not weak. However, since the retreat to the Jin-Henan border area, there has been basically no replenishment of equipment, and it is also very difficult to replenish ammunition and food. ”

"The defense area is not only narrow, but also barren and poor. Although one division was expanded from one division to three divisions during the Linyi Defense Campaign, it was quite difficult to replenish both soldiers and weapons and equipment. At the moment, the combat effectiveness is weakened very much, and it is difficult to hold on for too long. ”

"The most important thing is that among the two armies, the 40th Army, where I was originally from, has always had a relatively firm will to resist Japan. As for the Tanglin thief, he has always stepped on three boats, and he has always been hooking up with the Japanese army in private. Although he has not openly surrendered to the enemy, it is not easy to say once he encounters a heavy encirclement by the Japanese army. ”

"And this army, Mr. Pang can't command it at all. That is to say, the two armies under a group army can command only the 40th Army. As for the other 27th Army, which is under the command, although it has strong combat effectiveness and excellent equipment, it is a descendant of the Central Army, and it will not take the command of President Pang at all. ”

"The three armies fought separately, and their treatment was different. I'm afraid this battle won't last long. Huguan is close to Linxian and Lingchuan. If we are active in Huguan for too long, I am afraid that we will not be able to catch fire. After the Japanese army has cleared the Linxian direction, it will definitely not allow us to operate behind their backs. ”

Speaking of this, He Sanliang looked at Li Ziyuan and Ma Yongcheng, and said with some thought: "My suggestion is to break into the territory of Huguan and get rid of the Japanese puppet army that is biting us after you die." Strive for a day or two of rest and go west into the Changzhi area. ”

After listening to He Sanliang's suggestion, Li Ziyuan looked at He Sanliang, who didn't have much expression on his face, and guessed his mind somewhat. He was born in the 40th Army of Linxian County, and he was very optimistic about the current war in Linxian County. It can even be said that there is some pessimism about the development of the war situation.

He suggested that he should break through to Huguan, first, he could use the complex terrain of Huguan to get rid of the pursuing Japanese troops behind him, and strive to rest for one or two days. Second, he also wanted to use his own troops to gather some scattered stragglers. Otherwise, these soldiers, who had no experience in guerrilla warfare behind enemy lines, would probably have either been captured or starved to death in the mountains.

Although he has now joined the Eighth Route Army, He Sanliang still has a lot of respect for the commander of the group army in Linxian County, and he is Mr. Pang when he opens and closes his mouth. For the robe over there, it is estimated that there is some nostalgia in my heart. He still wants to save as many of those former robes as he can.

He Sanliang's thoughts, Li Ziyuan saw it very clearly. But seeing it clearly does not mean that he is going to object. Why oppose? No matter how bad the equipment over there is, it is better than the poorer Eighth Route Army. If you can get some weapons, it will be a good thing for you. What's more, being able to contain some veterans is also beneficial to oneself.

Li Ziyuan, who saw through He Sanliang's thoughts, smiled a little at his support and did not break He Sanliang's careful thoughts. But to Li Ziyuan's surprise, he had this idea for himself. Zhang Zijian, who originally thought he would oppose it, also expressed his support.

Since Zhang Zijian and He Sanliang both support their ideas, Ma Yongcheng is easy to talk about. After sending Liu Lianming out, Li Ziyuan found Ma Yongcheng alone, and said straight to the point: "Old Ma, my attitude is still to break through in the direction of Huguan, because we have no other choice now." ”

"At present, the Japanese puppet army has adopted the tactics of encircling us on all sides and advancing from east to west. As you can see along the way, the Japanese army has never given up its attempt to encircle our army. The terrain of Huguan is complicated, and if we break through there, it will not be so easy for the Japanese army to use the small road to outflank us. ”

"The most important thing is that we can find a place there where the troops can rest a little. In the past few days of continuous combat, the troops have become extremely tired, and it is difficult for them to drag themselves down if they continue like this. As for political considerations, now only priority can be given to the survival of the troops. ”