Since the end of the winter offensive, Seishiro Itagaki, who served as the commander of the Shanxi Dispatch Army, felt that the forces in his hands were too scattered. Because there are too many garrison points, they often have no time to rescue some places.

With the lessons learned from the previous time, after the end of the winter offensive, Itagaki assigned most of the troops sent from the North China side to the garrisons in various places under his command. and even deliberately reduced the number of puppet armies in each city.

It seems that the number of troops stationed in these counties is no different from before. However, the number of troops stationed in these counties has undoubtedly increased a lot compared with before the war. After all, compared to the puppet army, the little devil's combat effectiveness is undoubtedly stronger.

It was precisely because of the increase in the number of troops in his hands that Itagaki dared to launch a battle to clear the Jin Sui army. After winning Changzhi in the First World War, this soldier also pointed to Linfen again, trying to solve the troops of the Jin Sui Army entrenched in the Linfen line in the First War.

Even in order to open up the strategic passage between North China and Central China, the 116th Division was specially dispatched to Jincheng to take the opportunity to welcome the arrival of the Tufeiyuan Division. Subsequently, the two divisions swept through the Jin Sui army entrenched in Linfen and other places.

In the end, it can even turn the gun and directly threaten the main force of the Central Army stationed in Zhengzhou and other places. At least in Itagaki's view, this strategic idea is still very good, and they have a good chance of success.

The troops in hand have been replenished, and Itagaki has not thought of storming the area recovered by the Eighth Route Army. Itachi's view is that it is also very important to solve the Jin Sui army. Solving the Jin Sui army can also make their troops directly aimed at Shaanxi.

After receiving the telegram from the 129th Division, Mr. Peng looked at the map and said, "It seems that the 129th Division is a little unwilling to be lonely!" If they are so beaten in Jinyang, it is estimated that Banyuan, an old devil, will definitely find that the main force of the 129th Division has arrived in Xingtai! ”

On the other hand, Mr. Zhu thought for a while and said: "Compared with Changzhi, Jinzhong is still much richer. According to the information provided by the 129th Division, the Japanese army stationed only one infantry wing in Jinyang City. The overall strength is not too strong.

And now, the 129th Division has gained a firm foothold in Xingtai and other places. It's just that the expansion of the troops is a bit fast, and the weapons are slightly insufficient. Thinking that they also hoped that they would take advantage of this attack on Jinyang City to capture a batch of weapons and ammunition for the troops.

Although such a fight may make the Japanese troops on the Xingtai side a little vigilant. It's just that as far as the current situation is concerned, I believe that the Japanese army in the direction of Xingtai may not dare to launch a sweeping war easily. At the moment, their troops in North China are already very empty! ”

According to the plan of the Central Committee and the Eighth Route Army Headquarters, the main task this year is to develop armed forces behind enemy lines. Of course, while developing, it is also necessary to constantly attack and consume the strength of the North China Front, and accumulate small victories into big victories.

As Mao Taizu said, this year is a year of stalemate between the anti-Japanese army and the Japanese army. What the Eighth Route Army has to do is to cultivate its internal strength, lay a solid foundation for the troops, and wait for the moment of a full-scale counterattack.

It is still unwise to expose one's own strength too early in the eyes of Mao Taizu. Even judging from the current situation, the Eighth Route Army has the ability to recover Taiyuan. But in doing so, the gains still outweigh the losses.

Boiling frogs in warm water is the current strategy of the Eighth Route Army to deal with little devils. Generally speaking, the Eighth Route Army still needs to expand its troops to Hebei, Shandong, and other places on the basis of consolidating its existing base areas.

Only by continuously growing the anti-Japanese base areas behind enemy lines, I believe that in the future, when these armed forces carry out joint operations behind enemy lines, I believe that everyone will be surprised. But at this time, it is also wise to hibernate for a while.

After all, if the Eighth Route Army exposes its strength too early, in addition to letting the little devils go all out to encircle and suppress it, I am afraid that the Central Army will also be vigilant against it. Perhaps, it will also start to create some friction and delay the development of the Eighth Route Army.

At present, the 129th Division sent a regiment to attack Jinyang, in fact, it was also to arm behind the enemy of the Eighth Route Army, which was active in Changzhi. At least with such a dozen, the little devils near Taiyuan are estimated to be unable to sit still and have to be brought out to put out the fire.

Compared with Changzhi, a place that has just been recovered, this place in Jinzhong is undoubtedly more important to the little devils. Therefore, based on the intelligence collected from all sides, as well as the suggestions put forward by the 129th Division, Mr. Zhu quickly approved the combat plan of the 129th Division.

It's just that in the reply, Mr. Zhu also instructed the 129th Division that it is best to send the new main force to attack this time. As for the elite main force of the 129th Division, it is more appropriate to keep a low profile and hibernat.

If the old main force is sent to attack Jinyang, it is estimated that the little devil will also know that the 129th Division has jumped from Xinzhou to Xingtai for development. And a new main regiment will undoubtedly make the little devil's vigilance a little lower.

An infantry brigade has just been dispatched to Changzhi here, and the Eighth Route Army has just left on the front foot and the Eighth Route Army is making trouble in Jinzhong, and Itagaki Seishiro is undoubtedly very angry. But more than that, I was surprised by the appearance of this main group.

'What the hell is going on?' Why did a large number of the main forces of the Eighth Route Army appear in the Jinyang area? Where the hell did they come from? Why, we didn't get any information before? ’

In Itagaki Seishiro's view, Jinzhong and Yangquan are undoubtedly two very important places for Shanxi to send troops. If these two places are blocked by the Eighth Route Army. Then it is possible that they will be trapped and die here in Taiyuan.

At present, the main force of the Eighth Route Army suddenly appeared near Jinyang City. This shows that he has always felt that the idea that Jinzhong and Yangquan are safe is wrong. This kind of mistake is naturally very fatal.

Faced with Itagaki Seishiro's questioning, the intelligence officer said helplessly: "General, according to the information we have detected, this main regiment of the Eighth Route Army was not active in Shanxi before. Only this time, for some reason, it suddenly appeared.

According to what we have learned, this main regiment is a newly formed unit of the Eighth Route Army, and its external name is the Independent Regiment. The area where they were active before should have been in the Lincheng area. This sudden entry into Jinyang activity is indeed very unusual! ”

'Yaga! With such a rebel force operating in their area, why didn't the garrison in the city exterminate it? If such a force is allowed to enter Shanxi, don't they know how much harm it will bring us? ’

In Itagaki Seishiro's view, it is necessary to deal a resolute blow to these Eighth Route Army forces that are deep behind enemy lines. If it is a small army, it is understandably difficult to encircle and suppress. But this is a regiment of the Eighth Route Army!

With such a regiment-level unit by your side, I'm afraid that the Japanese troops stationed in the Lincheng area will also feel unsafe, right? In this case, it is also very important to send troops to encircle and suppress it!

Now that this unit has rushed to the area under the jurisdiction of the Shanxi Dispatch Army, it will undoubtedly take the Shanxi Dispatch Army by surprise. After all, the strategic location of Jinyang is still very important for the Shanxi Dispatch Army.

If it is captured by the Eighth Route Army, their supplies from Hebei may be threatened. Even Yangquan and Pingding, which are not far from Jinyang, will be under the front of the Eighth Route Army.

'General, we've been in contact with the garrison in Lincheng before. They also organized encirclement and suppression of this Eighth Route Army unit, which was previously active in the border areas of the two provinces. However, the effect of each encirclement and suppression is not very ideal.

The most important thing is that at present, we have not many troops stationed in Lincheng. They simply couldn't mobilize too many troops to carry out a sweep out of the Eighth Route Army in the entire territory. Now in the border areas of the two provinces, there are indeed many such Eighth Route Army armies.

It's just that in the past, most of these Eighth Route Army units operated in the form of guerrillas. This time we suddenly assembled to attack Jinyang, and I think I also know that we just transferred an infantry brigade from Jinyang a few days ago! ’

Hearing what the intelligence officer said, Itagaki Seishiro suddenly realized that the defenders of the counties in Hebei were afraid that the number of defenders in the counties of Shanxi was not as good as the number of defenders. It can be said that in the border areas of Shanxi, Hebei and Shandong, their troops are only enough to maintain local law and order.

If you want to form a large-scale sweeping campaign, I'm afraid you still have the heart to do it. In the final analysis, similar to the Shanxi Dispatch Army, it is estimated that there is such an existing little territory, but there are really no other places where the strength of two divisions has been gathered.

Thinking that Jinyang City could not afford to be lost, Itagaki Seishiro immediately said: "Order to pacify the garrison brigade and send an infantry wing to Jinyang for reinforcements." Order the garrison officer of Jinyang to hold Jinyang City before the reinforcements arrive.

If Jinyang City is lost, let him go and be loyal to His Majesty the Emperor. In addition, a telegram was sent to all garrisons in the border areas with Hebei, asking them to send more troops to pay attention to the situation in the border areas and be vigilant against the military movements of the Eighth Route Army.

We must take the most severe measures against the armed forces of the Eighth Route Army who dare to infiltrate the areas we occupy. In the past, we just thought that the guerrillas of the Eighth Route Army would not pose a big threat, and they were given the opportunity to develop.

From now on, we must heighten our vigilance and pay close attention to the infiltration of the Eighth Route Army in Jinzhong and Yangquan. If they really let them form a large-scale resistance force in these two places, we are afraid that we will not be able to sleep well in Taiyuan in the future. ”

In the eyes of many Japanese troops, guerrillas who were mostly only a few hundred or even a dozen in size did not seem to be an effective threat to their garrisons in various places. But it is often these small troops that cause them a lot of trouble.

These armed forces established behind enemy lines in the local area may be to resist the puppet army in various cities in peacetime, and occasionally sneak attack some Japanese squads out of the city. But the speed at which these forces are expanding is often very impressive.

In peacetime, they are inconspicuous, and most of them operate in the form of small units. When they united, the defenders suddenly realized that these forces together could form an effective threat to them.

Therefore, this time, a main regiment of the Eighth Route Army suddenly approached Jinyang City, which made Itagaki Seishiro look very worried. He knew that if the Eighth Route Army was armed behind enemy lines and active in Jinzhong and Yangquan, it would bring them a deadly threat.

In order to prevent this from happening, only the implementation of high-pressure strikes can make it possible to extinguish these seemingly non-threatening little sparks. Because, once these little sparks are gathered together, they are often a prairie fire! (To be continued.) )