Chapter 646 The Northern Front (continued)

Wang Kekou dared to fight and block, and there was a certain reason.

During this period, the Eighth Route Army vigorously organized local political power and local armed forces in Shandong, and the main force had to cover two counties with one regiment, and the conditions in Yucheng were good, and there were originally county party committees, and there were seven detachments such an armed force that persisted in the struggle. After our army liberated Yucheng, the county government was elected, and the political power and district teams of each district, as well as the village-level political power and militia were built, and the villagers were organized to dig tunnels by taking advantage of the winter leisure. In the middle, the Yucheng detachment, which was expanded from the seven detachments, played a backbone role.

The 1st Regiment of the Luxi Garrison Brigade was responsible for the tactical training of the Yucheng detachment. After the training, some of them were selected to supplement the Luxi Garrison Brigade, and the team was expanded, and all the original various clothes were replaced with the uniforms of the Eighth Route Army, and the weapons were replaced with the domestically made weapons left after the instructor changed clothes, that is, Maxim heavy machine guns, Czech light machine guns and 79 rifles. Their original weapons were equipped with district squads and militias.

Such equipment is equivalent to the equipment of a regiment of the Central Army. It's just that there are no mortars, and there are fewer light and heavy machine guns. Xu Shiyou, commander of the Luxi Garrison Brigade, told them that it was not that there were no mortars and machine guns, but that it was not easy to replenish shells and bullets. If you have the ability, you can go to the little devil to ask for it, and the devil has a lot of 92 infantry guns, grenadiers and light and heavy machine guns, and the shells and bullets are transported by train, and there are many of them.

The devils came up, and the devil tanks and armored vehicles at the head did not notice that the 1,500 men from the Yucheng detachment were staring at them

Wang Kekou studied at the first branch of Kang University and was trained by the cadres sent by the first garrison regiment of the Luxi Garrison Regiment, and commanding a war is still very similar to that. I only heard him order in a low voice: "Pass the order, all machine guns will focus on shooting devil cars, rifles will shoot in platoons, and concentrate on shooting devil cavalry." Fire as soon as the explosives pack blows off"

The location of the Yucheng detachment is on the east side of the main road, and the soldiers rely on an irrigation canal, about a hundred meters away from the main road, and the devil queue going south from the plain is just exposed to the guns of the soldiers.

Seeing that the little devil's iron turtle entered the explosives bag area, Wang Kekou waved his hand, and the team leader who was crawling beside him pressed the detonator of the electric explosive. There was a loud "boom", and the dust and mist that rose into the air immediately enveloped the tanks and armored vehicles of the devil's vanguard that were still arrogant just now.

Wang Kekou yelled "hit", and the short gun in his hand fired.

Suddenly, the position of the Yucheng detachment remembered the fierce gunfire, Maxim, Czech, and 79, all opened fire, and the bullets flew towards the little devil cars and cavalry who were frightened by the explosion.

After only five rounds of ammunition per person, Wang Kekou ordered a retreat.

Fortunately, Wang Kekou and they withdrew in time, otherwise, there would be a big trouble. The undamaged devil tanks and armored vehicles whined and rushed out of the smoke from the explosion of the explosive packets, and the machine guns on the vehicles swept towards the hidden irrigation canal of the Yucheng detachment. Four little devil planes also heard the news.

Yes, when did the arrogant 2nd Division suffer such a big loss at the hands of a guerrilla force without artillery and anti-tank firepower? Where does this make the little devil's face go?

When the Yucheng detachment withdrew into Fangjia Temple, the devil's plane bit up, and a string of airborne machine gun bullets hit, and several soldiers behind the hall fell in a pool of blood.

This Fangjia Temple is a big town in the west of Yucheng, was built in the Tang Dynasty, when it was a post road, there was a person surnamed Fang who opened a shop on the side of the post road, and gradually evolved into a village and town. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, it was the main transportation route leading to the capital in the southern provinces, and the development was particularly fast, forming a prosperous market town with four main streets, and each street was built with a temple. There are many wine shops along the street, and merchants from all over the world gather during the temple fair, which is very lively.

At this time, Fangjia Temple has been strictly fortified and cleared, and the streets are empty, except for the militia standing guard, there is not a single villager in sight. Needless to say, it's all in the tunnel.

After Wei Jingping and Wang Kekou entered Fangjia Temple, they contacted the militia team of Fangjia Temple, and commanded the troops and militia to use tunnels and street buildings to deploy defenses and prepare to stop the devils.

At Fangjiasi, Wei Jingping and Wang Kekou again sent a report to the Luxi Garrison Brigade, reporting on the battle situation and asking for instructions.

To the surprise of Wei Jingping and Wang Kekou, the Japanese army only sent a large group of thousands of troops to attack Fangjiasi, and the main force did not stop and rolled along the main road towards the Qi River. At this time, the little devil's plan became clearer, and Wei Jingping and Wang Kekou hurriedly sent a report to the Luxi Garrison Brigade to report that the main force of the Japanese army had outflanked Qihe.

After receiving the reports of Wei Jingping and Wang Kekou, Xu Shiyou, the commander of the Luxi Garrison Brigade, was taken aback, afraid of something, the little devil really played a roundabout trick. However, it was the most elite second division of the Japanese army that engaged in a roundabout outflanking, and this battle was difficult to fight

Xu Shiyou did not dare to slack off, and while reporting to the headquarters of the northern front, he ordered the Luxi Garrison Regiment and the brigade artillery battalion, machine gun battalion, and engineer battalion that remained in Qihe to serve as a reserve, prepare for battle, deploy a defensive line to the south, and resolutely block the roundabout sneak attack of the second division. The 2nd and 3rd Regiments of the Luxi Garrison, which ordered a frontal blockade, contracted the defensive line, alternated cover, and moved closer to the brigade headquarters. The armed forces and militias of Pingyuan, Yucheng, and Qihe were ordered to actively carry out tunnel warfare and mine warfare to block the actions of the retarded Second Division and gain time for the main force to adjust its deployment. By the time Wei Jingping and Wang Kekou's third report arrived, the Luxi Garrison Brigade was already in full array.

Although he was ready for battle, Xu Shiyou also knew in his heart that the Luxi Garrison Regiment and the troops directly under the brigade faced the Japanese Second Division, and they could only block and retreat after a while, otherwise they would be swallowed up by the steel monster of the Second Division.

At the same time that the Japanese Second Division was outflanking to the south, the Japanese First Division also made a surprise detour from the north of the defense line of the New Sixth Brigade of the Eighth Route Army, cutting off the connection between the New Sixth Brigade and the base area along the Hebei and Shandong borders.

The sinister intentions of the little devils were completely exposed, and their attempt was to encircle and eliminate the main forces of the Xu Shiyou Luxi Garrison Brigade of the Eighth Route Army and the new Eighth Brigade of Fu Zhuting on the Jilu Border Province, which were tasked with blocking the attack.

The Japanese air force buzzed like flies that smelled blood, and swooped down in droves, pouring ammunition on the smoke-shrouded positions of the Eighth Route Army.

The battlefield on the northern front has changed dramatically

The situation is critical

On the north and south flanks are the most elite 1st and 2nd divisions of the Japanese army, on the front are the assault groups composed of the 23rd, 32nd and 36th divisions of the Japanese army, and on the east is the Yellow River.

If you don't make a quick decision, the main forces of the Luxi Garrison Brigade and the New Sixth Brigade will be fully surrounded by the devils, and the losses will be great

In the headquarters of the Northern Front of the Eighth Route Army located in Luokou, the commander-in-chief Zeng Zhongsheng, the political commissar Cai Zhong, and the deputy chief of staff Guo Huaruo looked solemn, frowning at the map and thinking hard.

Guo Huaruo, a military theorist within the party, first served as the political commissar of the Third Garrison Regiment of the Southwest Lu Garrison Brigade after arriving in Shandong, and then was transferred by Liu Yimin to the Ludong Command as deputy chief of staff and served as an assistant to Zeng Zhongsheng. This time, the Northern Front Command was established, and he followed Zeng Zhongsheng and Cai Zhong to the Luokou front.

Guo Huaruo reminded Zeng Zhongsheng that the Japanese army carried out the task of outflanking the first and second divisions, which were the best-equipped units in the Japanese army. The Luxi Garrison Brigade and the New Sixth Brigade can fight to block and delay the devil's attack speed, but if they are tough, they are definitely not the opponents of the two divisions of the little devils. Instead of exhausting the troops in a desperate struggle with the devils, it is better to let them withdraw to the east bank of the Yellow River and rely on the river defense to block the attack. That's a little bit more certain.

Zeng Zhongsheng raised his eyebrows: "Withdraw? How to withdraw? There are devils' planes in the sky, and devils' tanks, cars, and cavalry on the ground, can we outrun the wheels and hooves of devils' cars? From the front line of Yucheng to the Luokou railway bridge, how long is this? Will we be able to dodge the Japanese planes? Besides, our mission is to stop the devils and ensure the successful completion of the Battle of Tessie. The blocking forces have all withdrawn, and the battle of Taixi will not be fought? ”

Zeng Zhongsheng said this, Guo Huaruo couldn't say anything more, opened his mouth a few times, and swallowed the words back.

Cai Zhong said: "Chief of staff, we should immediately report the situation on the northern front to the division headquarters, the enemy situation has changed, and our command must also change." Otherwise, you will have to suffer a big loss. ”

Zeng Zhongsheng raised his head, glanced at the map again, and ordered: "Guo Huaruo, send a report to the division commander and political commissar: At noon today, the Japanese army's 1st and 2nd divisions relied on their mechanization superiority to detour from the left and right flanks respectively to cut off the connection between our army and the Luxi base area and the Hebei-Lubian base area, intending to encircle and eliminate our blocking forces on the west bank. Our troops were determined to resolutely resist by relying on the existing positions, retreating while fighting, retreating near the Luokou Bridge, breaking away from contact with the enemy after dark, and withdrawing to the east bank of the Yellow River at a rapid marching speed. Send a report to Xu Shiyou and Fu Zhuting, don't panic, quickly strengthen the forces of the two wings, especially the 10 miles north and south of the Luokou Railway Bridge, and be sure to leave a strong force to defend and ensure that the main force withdraws at night. We have fortifications to rely on, and tunnels to cover, and only by holding out until dark can the troops retreat quickly. Otherwise, it will only increase casualties. ”

After receiving the telegram from the Northern Front Headquarters, the atmosphere of the instructor headquarters in Tai'an City suddenly became grim.

Liu Yi laughed angrily, this battle was fought, blocking and blocking, and the troops who fought the blocking were going to be dumplings made by the little devils

According to the original judgment, in order to quickly capture Jinan, the Japanese army on the northern front must have pressed all several divisions and regiments and attacked fiercely. Our army resisted step by step on the broad front and gradually retreated to the crossing of the Yellow River. Taking advantage of the cover of night, the Luxi Garrison Brigade and the New Sixth Brigade withdrew to Luxi and Jilubian. Then they will assemble in the vicinity of Cangxian County in concealment and carry out follow-up operations. Unexpectedly, the little devil actually made such a play, leaving the powerful First Division and the Second Division as reserves, and at a critical time, the generals came out and outflanked left and right. Isn't this a mess?

Luo Ronghuan has a resolute personality and is the master of Mount Tai's collapse. But now that the two brigades of 20,000 people are surrounded by little devils, if they don't make a decision, the consequences will be unimaginable, and anyone will be worried.

Luo Ronghuan walked to Liu Yimin's side and said in a deep voice: "Let the Luxi Garrison Brigade and the New Sixth Brigade enter the tunnel in the front line of Yucheng, rely on the tunnel to resist, and then transfer to guerrilla warfare behind the enemy, or use the night cover to break through." The front-line troops of the Qi River quickly withdrew across the Yellow River through the Luokou railway bridge and strengthened the Yellow River defense line. After completing the task, they retreated north along the Yellow River at night and through the Yellow River pontoon bridge to the Jilu side, which did not affect their later completion of the battle plan to seize Cangxian. ”

Liu Yimin sighed: "The little devil's hand is really insidious, from Yucheng to the Yellow River, more than sixty miles away, the little devil's car can be arrived in an hour." They attacked in a roundabout way, the distance had to be doubled, and counting the local armed forces to block and harass them, at most the devils could reach the Yellow River in more than three hours. And our army is all infantry, not to mention that we have to fight, even if we march peacefully and hurriedly, it will take four hours to withdraw all to the Yellow River. If there is no devil plane, you can also consider blocking on both wings and a quick retreat in the middle line. Now the little devil plane is like a flock of birds, and retreating at this time is tantamount to sending the troops under the little devil plane aerial bomb, and the casualties are too great. ”

Luo Ronghuan said: "If you don't order a retreat, it will be the annihilation of the whole army, and if I am the commander of the Japanese army, I would rather give up the capture of Jinan than let go of the encircled Eighth Route Army." ”

Liu Yimin didn't want to order a retreat, but thought about how to ensure that the main forces of the Luxi Garrison Brigade and the New Sixth Brigade retreated and avoided heavy casualties. At this time, the main force was far away in the Tai'an area, and it was too late to rush to help, and the Jinan garrison brigade stationed in the Yellow River could not leave its position to cross the river to support, and the only thing that could provide support to the troops on the west bank of the Yellow River was the 1st Aviation Brigade. However, as soon as a large group of fighters of the air force takes off, they will be surrounded by a group of Japanese planes, and it will be the result of the sacrifice of the entire team. Liu Yimin is really difficult to decide.

Seeing that Liu Yimin didn't speak, Luo Ronghuan said again: "The Japanese Second Division and the First Division are strong in combat, and they are their usual outflanking tactics. ”

Liu Yimin waved his hand and motioned to Luo Ronghuan to stop talking.

After thinking calmly for a while, Liu Yimin said: "Things are not so terrible, the sky can't fall, the Luxi Garrison Brigade and the New Sixth Brigade have been operating in the area on the west bank of the Yellow River for so long, the ditches and forks are familiar, and the fortifications are very strong, no matter how fierce the little devil is, it is impossible to swallow our two brigades in a short time." We have been digging tunnels for such a long time, and we have already formed a network of tunnels extending in all directions, which is enough to cover the troops to use ground fortifications and tunnel fortifications to fight with the Japanese army. The current Luxi Garrison Brigade and the New Sixth Brigade are already units honed on the battlefield, and they are no longer recruits. As long as the cadres do not panic, the morale of the army will not be shaken, no matter how powerful the little devil is, how can he take the regular army that fights with the tunnels? The key lies in revising the combat missions of the Luxi Garrison Brigade and the New Sixth Brigade from resolute resistance to tunnel warfare. It's just that in this way, the pressure on the Yellow River defense line will be greater, and the Japanese army is likely to ignore our army's tunnel warfare and concentrate on attacking the river defense with all its might, and it is difficult to say whether the Jinan garrison brigade can receive the dark. In addition, many villages were about to be destroyed by the Japanese army, and the villagers were about to suffer property damage again. ”

Luo Ronghuan took off his glasses, wiped them, and said firmly: "I'd rather give up the Battle of Taixi than let the two brigades be eaten by devils." We can't afford such losses, the village can be rebuilt, the main force of the two brigades is gone, there is nothing, I repeat my suggestion, the little devil is to encircle and eliminate our army on the west bank, not to rush to cross the river and capture Jinan. In this way, if the main force of our army is transferred to the tunnel, the little devil will still destroy the tunnel unrelentingly. The tunnels are sheltering the people who are clear and clear, and the tunnels of a village are exposed, that is, the villagers of a village are slaughtered. Please consider it carefully. ”

Liu Yimin was shocked: "Zhu Zhexiao, send a report to Zeng Zhongsheng, Cai Zhong, Xu Shiyou, and Fu Zhuting: 100,000 urgent. The front-line troops of the Luxi Garrison Brigade and the New Sixth Brigade in Yucheng gave up the blocking battle, used the cover of traffic trenches, alternated cover, and quickly retreated in the direction of Luokou Bridge. The covering troops on both flanks used fortifications to resolutely resist and buy time for the main force to retreat eastward. The Jinan Garrison Brigade, which was sticking to the front line of Luokou, dispatched powerful troops to cross the river, strengthened the defense of both flanks of the bridge, and responded to the retreat of our blocking troops. All the local armed forces and militias in all counties entered the tunnels and carried out tunnel warfare and mine warfare. Tell the comrades that the withdrawal of the Yellow River is victory. A large group of our aviation will take part in the battle and cover the retreat of our troops. All units are requested to pay attention to covering and rescuing parachuting pilots. Send a telegram to Feng Dafei, immediately dispatch all fighters, avoid the Japanese aircraft group, rush to the Luokou line, meet the Japanese fighters, and bomb the Japanese 1st and 2nd divisions that are detouring to both flanks. Focus on bombing the 2nd Division of the Japanese Army. Complete the mission and return home quickly. You can return to Dadian Airport, or you can land at Jinan Airport, Weixian Twenty Lipu Airport, and Dawenkou Airport. Tell Feng Dafei that this battle is related to the safety of the 20,000 soldiers of our two brigades, and it is better to lose all the planes than to inflict heavy damage on the Japanese army's roundabout attack troops. It is strictly forbidden for pilots to die with Japanese aircraft. This is a base operation, and the pilot is safe after parachuting. ”

Zhu Zhexiao immediately grabbed the phone.

Liu Yimin's order made Zeng Zhongsheng and Cai Zhong, who were in command on the northern front, feel heavy. Because the original battle plan was that the Luxi Garrison Brigade and the New Sixth Brigade must resolutely block the devils, and the little devils must not be allowed to approach the Yellow River before dark. After dark, the Luxi Garrison Brigade and the New Sixth Brigade were able to withdraw from their positions, jump behind enemy lines, and advance covertly towards Cangxian. Now that the enemy situation has changed so much, if the Luxi Garrison Brigade and the New Sixth Regiment want to complete the blocking mission, they must fight to the death with the little devils. This is a plain area, there is no danger to rely on, and no matter how strong the fortifications are, they cannot withstand the bombardment and shelling of little devils, aircraft, artillery and tanks. Now that the division commander canceled the blocking mission of the two brigades and allowed the retreat. However, the retreat is not something that can be withdrawn if you want to, and it is a situation in which the Japanese assault group on the central line pursues head-on and the Japanese troops on both flanks flank, and the losses of the troops can be imagined. If this were not the case, the division commander would not have risked the exposure of the Dadian concealed airfield and the 1st Aviation Group being surrounded and annihilated by the Japanese planes, and dispatched the 1st Aviation Group to cover the retreat.

Zeng Zhongsheng and Cai Zhong immediately adjusted their deployment and ordered the Luxi Garrison Brigade and the New Sixth Brigade to cover alternately and retreat quickly.