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Compared with the artillery brigade, which chooses to march in secret, the march of the 3rd Infantry Division of the Northeast Anti-Japanese Allied Army is undoubtedly relatively slow. www.biquge.info This slowness, at least in the eyes of the Japanese army, still felt like a normal marching speed.

It's just that for the Japanese troops stationed in Shanxi, whether the 3rd Infantry Division, which is about to arrive in Xinzhou, will join the attack camp of the 120th Division or the 118th Division in the future, which is also something worth scrutinizing and considering.

The 120th Division was mainly responsible for defensive operations in Xinzhou, while the 118th Division was mainly responsible for defensive operations in Luliang. Speaking of which, both places were in contact with the Japanese troops stationed in Shanxi, so it was possible in both directions.

Considering that this army on the march is from the Yulin side. Worried about the independent column, Itagaki eventually felt the need to strengthen the defenses of Lüliang on the border with Xinzhou in order to fend off the impending attack.

But just as they were deploying their defenses, the 3rd Infantry Division, which had marched to Yuanping, suddenly chose to rest on the spot. Moreover, during the recuperation period, the monitoring of the perimeter of the troops was strengthened, making it difficult for Japanese intelligence officers to pay attention to their next moves.

Itagaki, who learned of this situation, said somewhat depressedly: "Baga, it seems that the troops from the independent column are really difficult to deal with!" What's next, what exactly are they going to do to attack our zone? ”

Judging from the current overall battle situation in Shanxi, Itagaki can feel that the attack strength of the 120th Division and the 118th Division is not too strong. Even though many troops were deployed in the areas bordering them, they rarely launched large-scale attacks.

Such behavior made Itagaki feel to some extent that the unit that would serve as the main attack in the future was likely to be this infantry division that drove from Yulin. Once this infantry division launches an attack, it is believed that the 120th and 118th divisions will also wait for an opportunity.

Just when Itagaki instructed the intelligence officers operating in Xinzhou to keep a close eye on the whereabouts of this infantry division. He Zhengdao, who was also monitoring the movement of Japanese troops, also felt that the little devil would fall into a dilemma.

said with a smile: "It seems that our third infantry division has successfully attracted the attention of the little devils." The infantry brigade that Itagaki used as a reserve seems to be staying in Yangqu for now.

In that case, let's reveal a little bit of news to the little devil! On my order, the 3rd Infantry Division will move in the direction of Wutai in regimental units starting tonight. Adopt the method of marching day and night, and rush to the Wutai area as fast as possible. ”

Listening to He Zhengdao's order, Ye Jianying also smiled and said: "With the move of the Third Infantry Division, it is estimated that Itagaki will also feel that we plan to make their dumplings and cut off their back road!" This infantry brigade is also expected to rush to reinforcements. ”

That's what you want! If we don't transfer the troops he is stationed in Taiyuan, our plan to surprise attack Taiyuan may be affected. A broken Taiyuan City, the little devil probably doesn't feel distressed, but I care about it very much.

Elsewhere, we can play with our hands and feet. But for some important cities, we still have to try to preserve those buildings. Through the surrounding battles, the Japanese army was forced to transfer troops stationed in Taiyuan.

As long as this goal is achieved, the reconnaissance troops we have deployed in place in advance will be able to surprise the city of Taiyuan at the minimum cost. Once this plan is successful, the Japanese army on the front line, who learned that Taiyuan had fallen, will definitely fall into a state of self-collapse without a fight! ’

In He Zhengdao's view, Taiyuan City is also a very famous historical ancient city in China. Those ancient buildings will still be very valuable in the future. If it can be avoided from being baptized by fire, He Zhengdao is still willing to protect it as much as possible.

Of course, as a last resort, when it comes to the victory or defeat of the battle and the casualties of the troops. Some buildings, when it is time to be bombed, He Zhengdao will also order the bombing. But if you can avoid it, try to avoid it!

With He Zhengdao's order issued, Lu Zhencao, who had taken a short rest in Yuanping, also knew that the division under his command would play the task of attracting firepower from Shanxi. And the first battle may also be started by their division.

Lu Zhencao, who convened a meeting of the commanders of the third division and regimental level, quickly said: "I have just received the combat order from the commander, starting tonight, our division will march rapidly in the direction of Wutai in the order of one to four regiments.

During the march, try not to disturb the people passing by. The regiments marched lightly, and the rest of the equipment and supplies were transported by baggage troops during the day. What we have to do is to rush to Wutai as quickly as possible. ”

'Yes, Commander! ’

Even though many officers and soldiers of the Third Infantry Division came from independent columns. Facing Lu Zhencao, the new division commander, he seemed a little unfamiliar. But everyone knows that Lu Zhencao was personally seconded by He Zhengdao to Yan'an and the headquarters.

Moreover, in order to support Lu Zhencao's work in the Third Division, He Zhengdao also promoted two regimental-level commanders from the Northeast when selecting the main commander of the Third Infantry Division. Among the veterans of the Third Division, there are also more soldiers from the Northeast.

Earlier, many people thought that the post of commander of the Third Infantry Division would be held by Guo Junjie, the former commander of the Daqingshan Independent Brigade. But in the end, the division commander was still served by Lu Zhencao. As for Guo Junjie, it seems that there is another appointment!

At present, the Third Infantry Division is the last to arrive on the battlefield, but it has undertaken such an important task, and the whole division feels trust, but also knows that the burden on its body is not light. This sense of responsibility also made the officers and men of the whole division breathe a sigh of relief.

In the words of Lu Zhencao, this was the first battle since the formation of their third infantry division, and they must carry forward the glorious tradition of the independent column. That is, 'use me in the first battle, use me to win'!

In fact, this slogan was originally given to the Sabre Special Forces. After the results spread, it became the operational manifesto of the independent column. Every unit feels honored and proud to be the main attacker!

Although the actions of the 3rd Infantry Division were very secretive, such a large night march and their whereabouts had been revealed earlier. The Japanese Army's Special High Division also dispatched elite intelligence officers to activate a number of hidden piles to monitor them.

Finally, shortly after the 3rd Infantry Division began its night march, an urgent encrypted telegram was delivered to Itagaki at his desk. Seeing this telegram, Itagaki quickly realized what the Eighth Route Army was calculating.

'Yaga! It seems that they are really not good at coming this time! I thought that they would go straight to Taiyuan City. Unexpectedly, they chose to march in the direction of Wutai. It seems that he wants to cut off our back road! ’

The rapid march from the 3rd Infantry Division to Wutai was quickly inferred. This third infantry division was heading for the Yangquan area, where the Japanese army was stationed. Speaking of which, it was really a weak point in the defense of the Japanese army.

It's just that the troops there can still be more or less supported by the Japanese army in Shijiazhuang. And this passage is also an important channel for the Japanese army in Shanxi and the Japanese army in North China. Once it is cut off, the consequences are unimaginable!

When the 3rd Infantry Division set out from Yulin, He Zhengdao also sent a saber combat detachment to follow it. And what many people don't know is that along with the saber combat detachment, there is also a monitoring team of the intelligence department of the Eighth Route Army.

Through counter-espionage monitoring and reconnaissance along the way, the intelligence department of the Eighth Route Army also discovered many intelligence stations set up in Xinzhou. Interrupting these intelligence stations will also increase the secrecy coefficient for the future operations of the Eighth Route Army in Xinzhou.

All in all, this is a battlefield to test the combat effectiveness of the Northeast Anti-Japanese Coalition Army, and it is also a battle to test the intelligence system of the Eighth Route Army. For this reason, Li Kenong, who is in charge of intelligence work, also made a special trip to form an investigation and monitoring team with elite soldiers.

In the face of the intelligence officer in charge of intelligence, he was a little frustrated and angry that their intelligence station had been removed by the Eighth Route Army. Itagaki also knew that in terms of counter-espionage, the Eighth Route Army was indeed more difficult to deal with than he thought.

But the more this is the case, the more it proves the authenticity of this information. In view of this situation, Itagaki also immediately instructed the infantry brigade on standby in Yangqu to rush to Yangquan territory by means of a rapid march, and at the same time the garrison on Yangquan side strengthened its vigilance.

After this infantry brigade began to move, He Zhengdao said with a smile: "It seems that this old devil Itagaki has taken the bait!" However, this time it will be difficult for him not to take the bait. It is difficult to resist so many of our troops with one division and regiment! ”

In the final analysis, He Zhengdao's tactic of attacking the east and the west is actually a move by his strategy against Shanxi. If Itagaki does not send reinforcements, then the 3rd Infantry Division will also launch an attack on Yangquan and clear the Japanese troops in Yangquan as quickly as possible.

Once the three divisions succeed, the 120th Division, which acts as a reserve, will also send reserve troops for reinforcements. At that time, the Eighth Route Army, which recovered Yangquan, would really block the communication channel between the Japanese army in Shanxi and the Japanese army in North China.

In this way, the passage left for the retreat of the Japanese army in Shanxi seems to be only Jinzhong. Just if you want to enter Hebei from Jinzhong, you have to pass the 129th Division. After all, the 129th Division was stationed near Xingtai.

When He Zhengdao led the troops to the expedition, the 129th Division was already in the vicinity of Xingtai and Jinzhong, and had done a good job of defending and blocking the attack. For the 129th and 115th Divisions, their task was to defend and block attacks.

It is necessary to guard against the Japanese troops who may escape from Shanxi, and also to guard against the Japanese troops who are drawn from Hebei to reinforce Shanxi. Such a task, for the two main divisions, the burden is naturally not light!

Fortunately, the 129th and 115th Divisions in North China have not doubled in size compared with when they were first established. In addition to the guerrilla and military engineering units developed in the base areas, each division can have more than 30,000 combat soldiers.

It was precisely because there were so many combat units that two divisions dared to take on such a task. As for the Japanese army sending troops from the direction of Beiping to reinforce them, we should also be careful of the surprise attack of the armed forces deployed by the independent column in eastern Hebei and other places earlier.

When the infantry brigade of the Japanese army and the third infantry division of the Northeast Anti-Japanese Allied Army began to compete for the speed of the march. He Zhengdao and the commander of the 1st Division also began to arrange a large-scale attack.

As soon as the time comes, He Zhengdao will launch a surprise attack on the Japanese troops stationed in Shanxi with the momentum of thunder. He believes that with this attack, itagaki in Taiyuan should be even more nervous.

At that time, whether the Itagaki faction sent reinforcements or not, in fact, this large net encircling the Japanese army in Shanxi had already been opened. Next, let's see how many little devils this big net can catch! (To be continued.) )