If it is said that the ambush attack outside Zhengzhou is just an appetizer for the battle of Henan. Pen & Fun & Pavilion www.biquge.info Then the Eighth Route Army, which has been dispatching troops for a long time during this time, is also time to give the Japanese army a real sour main dish.

It was learned that in order to ensure the stability of Wuhan and Xinyang, the Japanese army deliberately transferred back the 13th Division that was originally going to march into Zhengzhou. The Second Division of the New 67th Army, which was sitting in Xinyang, was also ordered to launch an ambush against it.

Compared with the reconnaissance battalion, it was just a small fight, and it was more of a raid and harassment war to stop the Japanese army. Then the ambush set up by the 2nd Division was aimed at the returning 13th Division, a complete ambush battle, trying to annihilate it in one battle.

Perhaps because he felt that most of the troops of the Eighth Route Army in Xinyang were concentrated in the area of Macheng and Zhoukou. And Xinyang, which originally belonged to the new 67th Army Defense Zone, was afraid that there were not too many troops for a long time, and the road to rescue the Japanese army back to the division seemed to be very smooth.

Shizuichi Tanaka, who led the troops back, also felt that the Eighth Route Army was powerless to prevent their return. Most importantly, he and the Japanese army both believed that the Eighth Route Army's campaign to recover Xinxian and Macheng was more about hoping that they would return.

Only in this way can we reduce the pressure on the main force of the Eighth Route Army to send troops from Shanxi at this moment. After all, if the three divisions of the Japanese army responsible for attacking Zhengzhou this time were all combined in Zhengzhou, then the Eighth Route Army would have no chance of winning at all.

Under these circumstances, the Eighth Route Army threw the rear of the Japanese army into a mess, forcing the Japanese army to transfer back the divisions sent to the front. In this way, it can not only effectively delay the speed of the Japanese army's advance, but also reduce the pressure on the main force to engage the Japanese army.

Such an analysis and judgment is also well reasoned, at least in the eyes of Shizuichi Tanaka and Shunroku Hatata, commander of the Central China Front. The return of a main division of the Japanese army can also effectively curb the erosive situation in the rear.

When it was confirmed that the 13th Division had returned, the artillery units attached to the division, as well as a main infantry brigade, had been left at the front. The troops that returned to Xinyang, although they numbered more than 10,000, did not have too many heavy weapons.

After reconnoitering these circumstances, the headquarters of the Eighth Route Army gave careful consideration and solicited the opinions of the new 67th Army. Only then did a plan be formulated to use the second division to cooperate with the troops directly under the army and ambush the main force of the 13th division.

In the opinion of Mr. Zhu and Mr. Peng, if this time the second division can wipe out the returning 13th division. Then it will also be a huge deterrent for the Japanese army, and it will also be of great significance to the Battle of Henan.

Accumulate small victories into big victories, and finally reverse the current situation that is unfavorable to the Eighth Route Army. This is the strategic turning point that the General Headquarters has been looking for when formulating the overall operational deployment for the Battle of Henan. Now that the opportunity has presented itself, they naturally won't want to miss it!

The 13th Division of the Japanese Army, which returned from Zhumadian, moved quickly despite advancing lightly. But when they returned from this trip, they also brought with them a group of wounded soldiers who had been wounded in battle and had to be transferred to the rear for treatment.

After receiving the combat order from the military headquarters, more than 10,000 elite troops of the second division, which had been staying in Xinyang, quickly rushed to the necessary route of the Japanese army, and deployed in the Minggang area, where they waited for the arrival of the Japanese army.

The heavy artillery regiment and artillery regiment directly under the army were also transferred to the Minggang front along with the front command of the army. It can be said that in order to win this battle, the new 67th Army can be regarded as having taken out its own funds, and Chief of Staff Luo Ruiqing even went to the front line to take command.

Tianmu Mountain, a mountain is not a steep mountain, but it is an official road between Xinyang and Zhumadian. In ancient times, there were also many robbers active in this mountain, specializing in robbing the peddlers and pawns who passed by.

It's just that with the years of felling by the nearby people, Tianmu Mountain has lost its majesty and magnificence. The Japanese army attacked Zhumadian, which was also an important supply line for the Japanese army, and there were also guerrillas in action.

However, in the eyes of the Japanese army, most of the guerrillas operating in the Minggang area were not too large. The raids and harassment during this period of time only made this mountain road more dilapidated. But overall, it's still relatively safe.

It is precisely because of the fact that this mountain road stretches for several kilometers and is suitable for the Eighth Route Army to lurk the troops of a main division, and at the same time carry all the returning Japanese troops on the mountain road. As long as the entrance and exit are blocked, this returning Japanese division can be taken.

The Eighth Route Army, which was stationed in the mountains two days in advance, deployed along the mountain road. The excavation of the fortifications was carried out at night in relative silence. During the day, most of the troops took refuge in the forest to rest.

Even in the two days when the main force entered Tianmu Mountain and lurked for battle, the Second Division did not pay attention to some Japanese supply convoys that passed by from time to time. The whole division was waiting for the arrival of the enemy they really needed to fight.

When the 13th Division marched to the entrance of Tianmu Mountain, although it also sent the vanguard into Tianmu Mountain to search. However, they did not see the main force of the Eighth Route Army lurking in the mountains in disguise.

After a hasty reconnaissance, the Japanese vanguard unit that entered the mountains sent a signal to the rear division that the mountain road was safe. A group of fully loaded Japanese troops also stepped into the mountains in a relatively relaxed mood.

When the main force of the Japanese army began to enter the mountain, Luo Ruiqing, who was hiding in a cave army headquarters in the mountains, and received a telegram from the reconnaissance detachment that 'the rabbit has entered the nest', also seemed to breathe a long sigh of relief.

It took so long to arrange such a big show, if the Japanese army did not leave Tianmu Mountain by then, it would mean that their arrangements were all in vain. Fortunately, the Japanese army has entered the mountain at this moment, and all he needs to do is to wait patiently for a while.

Looking at the commander of the second division, who also breathed a sigh of relief, Luo Ruiqing also smiled and said: "Renyi, little devils, we are waiting for us, whether we can put them in a pot or not, it depends on the ability of your second division next." ”

Please rest assured, Chief of Staff, since receiving this combat order, all the commanders and fighters of the division have held their breath. Although this is not a fully organized Japanese division, it is not bad to be able to destroy tens of thousands of little devils at once with the strength of a main division.

Now that the little devils have entered our ambush circle, they want to escape from our ambush circle, but I am afraid it will not be so easy. And today's weather has also given us great convenience. I'm afraid it's going to rain in this weather. ’

Perhaps to reflect Xu Renyi's words, after a few thunderous sounds suddenly came from the sky, a heavy rain fell from the sky. Many Japanese soldiers on the march couldn't help but curse.

'Yaga! When it rains, it becomes more and more difficult to walk. ’

Watching the mud start to get on their boots makes their feet heavier and heavier. In addition, it was close to winter, and they all wore relatively thick clothes, which would be even heavier if they got wet.

In the midst of the complaints of these Japanese soldiers, the Japanese soldiers who led the team also seemed a little annoyed by the unexpected rain. But he still urged the marching soldiers to quickly put on the raincoats they had been issued.

Compared with the Japanese soldiers, who quickly put on raincoats, the officers and soldiers of the Second Division who stayed in the trenches did not have any shelter at all. Even if the camouflage on his body could absorb some of the rain, the clothes worn by the warriors were quickly soaked by the rain.

But even so, no one dared to move the soldiers lying in the trenches. They all knew very well that it was not yet time for them to show up. If the Japanese army is alarmed in advance, it may lead to the failure of this ambush battle.

Perhaps the unexpected rain caused the Japanese troops who entered Tianmu Mountain to hurry up quickly. After all, as more rain accumulates on the trails, the already difficult trails become more muddy.

Also standing in front of the headquarters in a raincoat, looking at the Japanese army stretching for several kilometers on the winding mountain road, Luo Ruiqing was also very satisfied: "It seems that God is on our side, and it will become more difficult for Japanese reinforcements to come when it rains."

Most importantly, even when the news of the imps is about to be attacked, they will not be able to provide air support. In this way, our artillery units can really free their hands and feet to fight a tough battle this time. ”

Xu Renyi, as the division commander, was also very happy and said: "Yes! Chief of Staff, judging from the current situation, these little devils are really defenseless. In this way, our sudden attack can also give the little devil a big surprise! ”

'Don't be careless!' You and I both know the combat effectiveness of the little devils. The 13th Division is also the elite division of the Japanese army, and there are more veterans among them. So in this battle, we still have to fight quickly! ’

'Yes! Please rest assured, Chief of Staff, if there is the cooperation of the artillery unit, I believe that the officers and men of the Second Division will not lose to them! ’

'Okay, let's get ready!' I see that the little devils are almost the same, and they have all entered our preset ambush circle! ’

Although Luo Ruiqing was also on the front line, he also knew that he could not go into battle to kill the enemy in person. The matter of commanding the front-line troops was naturally handed over to Xu Renyi. In addition, the ambush front is relatively long, and it is impossible for Xu Renyi to pay attention to the entire ambush line.

Now Xu Renyi is in charge of the battle in the middle, and Luo Ruiqing is in charge of the overall situation and is responsible for the command and dispatch of the entire battlefield. In this way, it can also ensure that if there is a problem in that ambush section, other troops can quickly go and deal with it.

With the Chinese troops of the commander of the escort division, when they marched to the middle of Tianmu Mountain, Luo Ruiqing looked at the Japanese forward troops, and they were less than a mile away from the exit. If they are allowed to go, they will have to walk out of Tianmu Mountain.

'Ask the fourth regiment, is there any little devil outside the mountain? ’

'Yes, Chief of Staff! ’

Accompanied by a telegram sent by the fourth regiment in charge of tail cutting, confirming that there were no Japanese troops outside the mountain, Luo Ruiqing said to the guards beside him: "Hit the signal flare and start the attack!" ”

'Yes, Chief of Staff! ’

Three red-hot flares rose into the air, which immediately made the Japanese troops marching in the mountain road also look sideways. Just when many Japanese soldiers realized that something was wrong, there was a sudden loud noise on this stretching highway.

When setting up the ambush position, the 2nd Division also planted a lot of bombs on the side of this mountain road. All of them were detonated electronically, in order to give the Japanese troops marching on the highway a frightened 'meeting gift' at the moment when the signal flare took off! (To be continued.) )