The brutal battle enters February, which also means the arrival of the traditional Chinese New Year. Although the Japanese had long lost the tradition of celebrating the Spring Festival, it was impossible to follow the customs of the countryside, so the Japanese army headquarters ordered a three-day ceasefire on the 30th day of the Chinese New Year's Eve.

Life and death killings did not extinguish the desire of the officers and soldiers for the New Year. The 1st Theater Command decided to strive for all officers and men to eat steaming dumplings on the 30th day of the Chinese New Year's Eve. As early as 10 days ago, the logistics units in the theater rushed to transport all kinds of supplies and supplies. Near the west side of the Yellow River in the Zhongtiao Mountain Theater, the people made dumplings under the organization of the local government, and the frozen dumplings were continuously delivered to the war zone.

Wei Lihuang asked Ouyang Jian to return to the Luoyang Theater Headquarters for the New Year, but Ouyang Jian did not agree. On the contrary, Ouyang Jian informed Sun Weiru, commander of the 4th Group Army, Zeng Wanzhong, commander of the 5th Group Army, Liu Maoen, commander of the 14th Group Army, and the commanders of various armies to spend a reunion year in Hengqu. For Ouyang Jian's stubbornness, Wei Lihuang had no choice but to come to Hengqu to join Ouyang Jian. After more than a month of fierce fighting, the core defense line has become more and more stable, so getting senior generals together for the New Year is also another opportunity to boost confidence.

Generals and officers above the army level gathered, and at the banquet, Wei Lihuang, the commander of the theater of operations, raised his glass and said, "Everyone! On the occasion of the arrival of the traditional festival, on behalf of the theater command, I would like to pay tribute to the brave fighters who fought bravely in the entire theater, and at the same time express my deep condolences to those brave warriors who sacrificed their lives bravely! After Wei Lihuang finished speaking, he poured the wine in the cup on the ground. The generals poured the wine on the ground with solemn expressions. "On behalf of the Theater Command, I would like to express my gratitude to all of you for your bloody struggle, and at the same time extend my greetings to you on behalf of the president."

When the generals pushed the cups and changed the lamps, Wei Lihuang and Ouyang Jian walked into the next room. "Brother Ouyang, it was too correct for you to choose to come to the front line to take command, this move is like fixing the sea god needle. In particular, your excellent command ensured the solidity of the defense line of Nakajo Mountain. I know you don't want to be praised, but I still want to say thank you! "Brother Junru, I know that I don't like to lie and be hypocritical. The brutal battle is still to come, we must keep a clear head, and the Japanese army will definitely launch a greater offensive. ”

"Brother Junru, as long as we can withstand the next round of Japanese onslaught, I am sure that the Zhongtiao Mountain defense line will have peace of mind. The dawn of victory is not far away, and you and I must fulfill our duties and not relax in the slightest. The Japanese army's key breakthrough was abrupt, but it did not break its muscles and bones, and it would not give up, and the next sealing in Jiangxian and the east was still the key point of the Japanese army's attack. I am going to transfer the 43rd Army and the 47th Brigade of the 96th Army in the northeast to strengthen the defense of Jiangxian. "I have no opinion, in addition, I have deployed the 50th Army on the bank of the Yellow River on the west side of Mengjin, and I can cross the river at any time to support the sealing operation."

"Brother Junru, you and I divide the work, I will focus on defending Jiangxian, and you will focus on defending and sealing. The key to how to achieve a solid defense is to let the defending troops engage in an orderly debate and let them see hope. Wei Lihuang nodded and said, "Brother Ouyang, there is a question that confuses me. The Gongzhuling defense line is precarious, but at the critical moment, you pulled up the 308th Division, which had no combat experience, which can be described as a dangerous move. I didn't expect the 308th Division to be so bold and bloody for 3 days, what did you think at that time? ”

"As the so-called newborn calf is not afraid of tigers, although the 308th Division did not have any combat experience, but at that time, the bloody nature and courage of the soldiers were the top priority, and the facts proved that the Sichuan Army did it, which is why I have always highly appreciated the Sichuan Army." "Brother Ouyang's analysis is reasonable, admire!" Wei Lihuang continued: "The independent column of the Eighth Route Army reported that its 2nd Division successfully dragged the 17th Division of the Japanese Army, but the casualties were very large. The 2nd Division made a significant contribution to the solid defense of Nakajo Mountain. ”

"I have given a death order to Commander Nie, even if the 2nd Division is exhausted, the 17th Division of the Japanese Army must be delayed, and the 17th Division of the Japanese Army will never be allowed to throw a single soldier into the Zhongtiao Mountain Theater." "Brother Ouyang, since the battle on the northern front, there have always been more defeats and fewer victories. However, this battle of Zhongtiao Mountain is different from the past, and I am deeply touched. On the surface, the battle looks dangerous, but the defensive front is reassuring. In particular, the ministries are coordinated and united. What I am most pleased with is that there is no external interference, and it is exactly in accordance with the deployment of you and me in advance. ”

"Brother Junru, I know what you're going to say, let's leave the words of sigh for victory later. All the generals are waiting for us, let's go out! The two walked out of the room, and Zeng Wanzhong, commander of the 5th Group Army, and Liu Maoen, commander of the 14th Group Army, greeted them. Commander Wei, General Ouyang, everyone is waiting for a toast! "The two chiefs must give us face!" "It seems that we have snubbed everyone, everyone, today is the Chinese New Year's Eve, let us spend an extraordinary Spring Festival in the smoke of artillery fire!" Ouyang Jian took the lead and drank the wine in his glass.

The atmosphere in the official residence of Lao Jiang in Chongqing seems to be a little depressing. Even in the thirtieth year of the Chinese New Year's Eve, Lao Jiang was not in the mood to hold a New Year's group worship. The Battle of Zhongtiao Mountain not only attracted the attention of the world, but also caused waves in China, and also affected Lao Jiang's fragile nerves. A month has passed, and Lao Jiang is almost like a year.

Although the defensive line of Zhongtiao Mountain was gradually compressed, and the battle situation was unsettling, the situation of the increasingly stable defensive front was already revealed. When the New Year came, the Japanese army stopped attacking, and Lao Chiang was greatly relieved. Lao Jiang knew in his heart that the defense line of Zhongtiao Mountain was still in danger, and even if the battle situation changed for the better, it was not reassuring. In view of the fact that during the war, Lao Chiang was not in the mood to hold celebrations, and was deeply afraid of happiness and sorrow.

"Darling, Zhongtiao Mountain has been fighting for a month, which is terrifying. Thanks to General Ouyang personally commanding the front, the front-line soldiers fought bloodily, and the defense line was stabilized. Now that the tide of battle has stabilized, don't be too nervous. Mrs. Song Meiling was silent when she saw her husband staring at the military map on the wall, and took the opportunity to be relieved. Madam, before the Battle of Nakajo Mountain, European and American military advisers were not optimistic. It is believed that according to the comparison of military forces between the two sides, we will hold on to Zhongtiao Mountain for half a month at most. ”

"But a month has passed, and the core defense line of Zhongtiao Mountain is still in our hands. European and American military experts hardly believe this as a fact, and it can be said that General Ouyang personally sat on the front line and played a vital role. Since the Battle of Xiangnan, the Battle of Guinan, including the Battle of Zhongtiao Mountain, I adopted Ouyang Jian's suggestion and did not interfere in the front-line command. Facts have proven how important it is to give full autonomy to front-line commanders, and it was General Ouyang who made me understand this. ”

"Darling, I believe that General Ouyang will perform miracles again, his military talent is unparalleled." "Yes, he can make a plate of scattered sand and the defenders of Zhongtiao Mountain form a joint force, which is enough to prove it. At present, the Japanese army has not been wounded, and a month of continuous combat, the defenders of Zhongtiao Mountain have paid heavy casualties, the most difficult moment is behind, if we withstand a new round of powerful offensive by the Japanese army, we can rest easy! ”

It was also the thirtieth year of the Chinese New Year's Eve, and the headquarters of the Ruijin Eighth Route Army did not have the heart to celebrate the New Year. At this moment, Runzhi, Zhu De, and Peng Dehuai were sitting around the table. There was a plate of melon seeds and a plate of peanuts on the table, and the tea in the cup was already cold, and the three of them didn't seem to realize it. "Chairman, Nie Rongzhen called, the Japanese army stopped attacking Zhongtiao Mountain on the 30th day of the Chinese New Year's Eve, but the Japanese 17th Division did not stop encircling and suppressing the 2nd Independent Division. In particular, the 4th and 5th Brigades of the 2nd Independent Division have been trapped in bitter battles, and more than half of them have suffered casualties. Zhu De said.

Peng Dehuai said: "Chairman, I have ordered Xu Shiyou's department to be divided into pieces and continue to deal with the Japanese army. "Ouyang Jian is under a lot of pressure, and he must not let the 17th Division of the Japanese Army be thrown into the battlefield of Zhongtiao Mountain, even if the 2nd Division is lost. In addition, Nie Rongzhen was ordered to send a regiment to cross the Yellow River east and stir up trouble on the west side of Taiyuan. According to the battle situation in Zhongtiao Mountain, the Japanese army has now transferred the 37th Division besieging the county seat of Xia County to the front of Jiangxian County, and the defensive pressure of Jiangxian County will be even more precipitous in the future. ”

Runzhi continued: "If you hold on for 10 days, the battle situation will be clear, and the Japanese offensive will be exhausted, and the next 10 days will be the most critical." Ouyang Jian is from a professional background, and he is good at fighting regular defensive operations, and I firmly believe that he will be able to complete the task excellently. Peng Dehuai said: "Ouyang Jian adopts a rotation system, which is very good. "This is Ouyang Jian's cleverness, the key is that he has prestige in Zhongtiao Mountain, so that the various departments have formed a joint force, which is particularly important." Although Runzhi did not make a clear statement, he was full of confidence in Ouyang Jian's insistence on Zhongtiao Mountain.

The Japanese Front Command in Yancheng, the Japanese Front Commander Tada Jun, faced the empty well who came from the wind and dust and said: "Captain Kujing, the dispatch army headquarters has decided to use your special forces to attack the enemy's Hengqu command and kill the communist legend Ouyang Jian at any cost." The opportunity is rare at the moment, so we have a well-thought-out hunting plan. "Please rest assured, Your Excellency, that the humble post will never disappoint the high expectations of the commander." "Captain Kujing, we believe in your ability, and this hunting plan is ・・・・・・."

The commander of the Japanese special forces group, Shinobu Kui, was ordered by the dispatch army headquarters to lead a special force of 500 people to Yancheng. Itako Seishiro and Tada Jun believe that the solidity of the Nakajo Mountain defense line is directly related to the legendary figure of the Communist Party. If Ouyang Jian can be successfully killed, the command of the Zhongtiao Mountain defense line will inevitably cause chaos and the morale of the army will inevitably be shaken. Therefore, Itako Seishiro and Tada Jun pinned their last hope on the hunting plan.

On the first day of the Lunar New Year, Wei Lihuang crossed the Yellow River south and returned to the theater headquarters, and Ouyang Jian went to the dock to see him off. At the time of parting, Wei Lihuang said: "Brother Ouyang, I have ordered all troops along the Yellow River to be on standby at any time, and you can mobilize any troops at a critical moment, without going through the theater headquarters." "Brother Junru, don't worry, I won't mobilize any troops on the south bank until the critical moment. See you in victory! "See you in victory!" Both sides hug.