Lingshi, located in the middle of Shanxi, at the southern end of the Jinzhong Basin, is known as the 'Qin-Jin main road, Sichuan-Shaanxi thoroughfare'. It is more than 100 kilometers away from the provincial capital Taiyuan, bordering Jiexiu in the north, Huozhou in the south, Qinyuan in the east, and Jiaokou and Xiaoyi in the west.

With the Shanxi dispatch army launching an encirclement and suppression war against the Jin Sui army, this originally inconspicuous county town has also become an area for the Jin Sui army and the Japanese army. Taking Lingshi meant that the Japanese army had the rear position of the offensive front to advance into Fenxi.

And this place is also not far from Luliang. The 127th Division, which was stationed in Lüliang, received an order from the headquarters of the Eighth Route Army and began to prepare to attack Lingshi from the flank to support the Jin Sui Army, which had established a blocking position in Fenxi.

It was precisely in consideration of the importance of the spirit stone that Itagaki Seishiro arranged a Japanese infantry wing here, and also attached to a puppet army brigade. After a hard battle, the Japanese army had occupied the most dangerous area of Lingshi City.

Knowing that the Eighth Route Army would cooperate with them in battle, the Jin Sui Army, which was holding on to the periphery of the Lingshi, also seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. But for the Japanese soldiers guarding the spirit stone, they began to look a little worried.

Even in Jiexiu, the Japanese army also deployed an infantry wing. However, compared with the strength of the main division of the 127th Division, the defensive line they pulled up is still somewhat inadequate.

After receiving the information from the Special High School, Seishiro Itagaki looked at the map and said, "It seems that what we were worried about has finally happened." Originally, they thought that the Eighth Route Army would continue to hide, but now they finally stopped hiding their strength.

Send a telegram to the Front Command and ask them to send their air force to fight with us. In addition, air patrols were carried out in the areas from Lvliang to Lingshi and from Linfen to Lingshi. Monitor the movements of the Eighth Route Army and bomb the Eighth Route Army at any time. ”

After saying these words, Itagaki said again: "Order the infantry brigade of the 116th Division stationed in Qinyuan, and send an infantry wing into the Liangdu area to support the garrison troops of Lingshi and Jiexiu at any time. Be sure to buy time for the main force to capture Jincheng! ”

As the Japanese troops began to move, Dong Zhentang, the commander of the 127th Division, who was in charge of the attack in the Lingshi and Jiexiu areas, also said thoughtfully: "It seems that the little devil's intelligence detection ability is far more powerful than we imagined!" ”

When his words fell, the political commissar of the 127th Division said with a smile: "Division commander, it is better to say that the situation of the Jin Sui Army being infiltrated by little devils is far more powerful than we imagined. Do you want to report this situation to Jin Suijun? ”

'Of course!' Even we had just received the order from the headquarters, and the troops below had only received the order to prepare. The little devil reacted so quickly, if you want to say that the information was not leaked by the Jin Suijun, who would believe it! ’

Not long after, the 127th Division sent a telegram to the headquarters of the Eighth Route Army, and also forwarded a telegram to the Jinsui Army Operations Department. Yan Xishan, who received the telegram, said with the same gloomy expression: "Someone leaked secrets!" ”

Yan Xishan, who made this decision, knew very well how serious it was to leak the operational deployment in the war. The front foot of the Eighth Route Army promised to cooperate with them in the battle and help contain the Japanese army preparing to march into Fenxi.

It has only been a long time now, and the Japanese army has drawn reinforcements from the Changzhi side to help the Lingshi side. If you want to say that the Jin Suijun did not leak secrets, I am afraid that Yan Xishan will not believe it. It seems that this time, he is really going to be ruthless.

Finding the person in charge of the intelligence work of the Jin Sui Army, Yan Xishan said very seriously: "Regarding our cooperation with the Eighth Route Army, except for a few people in our headquarters, there are only people in the telegraph room who know this news.

Keep an eye on them all for me and see who they've been in contact with lately. I said that the previous Changzhi fell, why did the Japanese army seize the opportunity step by step. Dare to love under our noses, someone ventilates the little devil and reports it. Find out, I'm going to kill him with my own hands! ”

Any military commander hates a traitor. Even Yan Xishan felt that those who were qualified to know the news were confidants. But if there is betrayal under the heart, that is the most heart-wrenching and infuriating thing.

When the Jin Sui Army secretly investigated the leakers, in the name of the artillery regiment directly under the headquarters, he entered the third regiment of the reconnaissance brigade of the 127th Division, and also secretly arrived at the station of the 127th Division. But on the Japanese side, they thought they were the infantry of the artillery regiment.

Seeing that the headquarters sent all the artillery regiments directly under him, Dong Zhentang also said happily: "With the artillery regiment to cooperate in the battle, we have a much greater grasp of attacking Lingshi and Jiexiu this time!" ”

On the contrary, the political commissar smiled and said, "Division commander, don't forget the boss's explanation." This time, we attacked Lingshi and Jiexiu, saying that it was the side of the Jin Sui army guarding Fenxi. In fact, it was to cover Commander Zhou's troops and let them infiltrate Changzhi smoothly! ”

The Third Regiment of the Reconnaissance Brigade, which was secretly transferred from Yulin, was naturally very happy about the task they undertook this time. Even if they feel that it must be very dangerous for a regiment to operate in Changzhi.

But on the other hand, their regiment entering Changzhi is equivalent to entering the belly of the little devil. When the time comes, I believe it will make the little devil feel very uncomfortable. At that time, if you want to continue to attack Jincheng, I am afraid that it will be a little difficult.

Zhou Bicheng, the commander of the Third Reconnaissance Regiment, who stayed at the headquarters with the commander of the artillery regiment of the headquarters, said with a smile: "Division Commander Dong, Political Commissar He, Commander-in-Chief Zhu has already explained when he comes. Our three regiments will also cooperate with your attack on the spirit stone.

It will take a little time to smoothly send more than 3,000 people in our regiment into the enemy-occupied area of the little devils. After the battle starts, our main battalion will act as the vanguard and enter the spirit stone for pre-battle reconnaissance.

The remaining three main battalions will also withdraw from the battle one after another and go to Changzhi to carry out our raid and harassment mission. As for our current status, we are still an infantry regiment sent by the headquarters to guard the artillery regiment.

If we leave then, we also hope that Division Commander Dong will send troops to protect the artillery regiment directly under him. Of course, if the little devil wants to raid the artillery regiment, I'm afraid it's not so easy. But beware of planes that the little devils may make during the day. ”

'Yes! In the past two days, our forward air defense observation posts have discovered that the little devil's reconnaissance planes are conducting reconnaissance of our base areas more frequently than usual. It seems that once a worthy target is found, the bombers of the little devils will definitely be dispatched. ’

Listening to Dong Zhentang's words, as the head of the artillery regiment directly under the headquarters, he said with a smile: "Commander Dong, or we will also play a trick and deceive tactics." I've heard Commander He say that artillery can actually be camouflaged.

At that time, in the Lingshi area, we will deploy a few more fake artillery positions and let the little devil's bombers blow up. At most, some wood is wasted, but you can harvest the aerial bomb shrapnel of the little devils. This deal should still be worth it! ”

'That's an idea! What do you want to do, our main division can cooperate! ’

Artillery camouflage is also an operational tactic that has been passed down from the side of the independent column. As the first unit in the Eighth Route Army to be equipped with an artillery brigade. The artillery tactics of the independent column were undoubtedly the most powerful in the Eighth Route Army.

With the regiment commanders sent by the two headquarters, they discussed the battle plan for attacking Lingshi with Dong Zhentang, the division commander. After the report was approved by the headquarters, the 3rd Reconnaissance Regiment, which had arrived from Yulin, set off as an advance force.

In the area bordering Lingshi and Lüliang, there were also guerrilla units of the Eighth Route Army. It's just that considering that the war is about to start, many of the people living in the local area have withdrawn into the Luliang area and have been placed in a relatively safe rear by the Eighth Route Army.

The reconnaissance regiment and one battalion, with companies and platoons as units, began to enter the Lingshi area to carry out reconnaissance. Looking at the stronghold established by the little devil in Lingshi, the battalion in charge of reconnaissance also felt that the little devil had really made a bloody investment this time.

Within each stronghold, the little devil deployed an infantry squadron and a puppet army. With the strong fortifications of their stronghold, it is not easy to destroy them. This time, the reconnaissance battalion did not fight the defenders of these strongholds.

With the cooperation of the local guerrillas, they soon decided to encircle the point and send reinforcements. Dispatch a main company, in cooperation with the local guerrilla forces, to encircle these strongholds and attract Japanese troops from the surrounding strongholds to come to support.

Xiaowangzhuang, a very inconspicuous town in Lingshi. But this town is also the closest town to Luliang. The little devil who was originally ready to engage in battle, in the evening, saw that there were many more troops wearing the Eighth Route Army outside the city.

The Japanese troops, who sounded the battle alarm, quickly entered the defensive position and watched the Eighth Route Army that was gradually surrounding them. Finding that this Eighth Route Army still had mortars, the defenders of the stronghold immediately said: "Call the Wing Commander and inform us of the situation!" ”

Not long after the call went out, the Japanese wing commander stationed in Lingshi was also very surprised: "The Eighth Route Army is moving so fast!" What are the closest troops to Xiaowangzhuang? ”

'Report to the Wing Commander, the troops closest to Xiaowangzhuang are the troops we have deployed in Lizhuang and Chencun. It's just that there are not many troops in these two strongholds, only one infantry squadron and one puppet army squad.

In addition to the fact that these two strongholds were the closest to them, we had an infantry brigade stationed in Laoliuzhuang. If you send troops at this time, I believe that you should be able to reach Xiaowangzhuang before dawn. But we don't know how many troops the Eighth Route Army has sent! ’

Give Xiao Wangzhuang a call and ask how many troops are surrounding them. In addition, call the commanders of the front-line strongholds and inform them to prepare for battle. We must stop the attack of the Eighth Route Army on us! ’

'Hey! ’

It's just that the co-captain is a little helpless, and the herald returned not long after: "Report to the co-captain, we have lost contact with the Xiaowangzhuang stronghold. I'm afraid that the telephone line has been cut by the Chinese army.

As for Li Zhuang and Chen Cun, no major hostility has been found for the time being. In previous conversations with the commanders of the two strongholds, they indicated that they had also found signs of activity in small bands of dirt around their strongholds. ”

According to the information obtained, the commander of the Japanese army stationed in Lingshi was also truly aware of the offensive launched by the Eighth Route Army. For him, the garrison officer of the spirit stone, he did feel an unspeakable pressure.

Even if there are a lot of garrisons in Lingshi, once the Eighth Route Army launches an attack. If you want to keep the spirit stone, I'm afraid it's not easy! (To be continued.) )