Compared with the independent column's operations in the western direction of Suiyuan, the 26th Division of the Japanese Army stationed in Suiyuan had to request assistance from the North China Front. The Japanese army's war in northern Jin went very smoothly.

After the fall of Pingxin, the Japanese army in North China was divided into three routes. All the way along the Pinghan Road to the south, into the Henan. All the way south along Jinpu Road, invaded Shandong. All the way, they attacked west along the Pingsui Road, invaded Jin, Chacha, and Sui, and directed the focus of the strategic offensive to Shanxi.

In the face of the menacing Japanese army, the Battle of Xinkou, dominated by the Jin Sui army, immediately began. It was also this battle that caused the North China Front to pay too much attention to Kuroda Shigetoku's request for help.

At least in Terauchi Shouichi's view, it is more important to occupy Shanxi at present, at least to occupy Taiyuan, the capital of Shanxi. Only then can they free up their hands to solve the problem of Guisui. And for now, Kuroda Shigetoku only needs to keep Guisui.

And the current situation is that the Japanese army has successfully occupied Datong, and the assembled army is about to move south to attack Taiyuan. At that time, as long as Taiyuan is successfully occupied, the Japanese army can completely sweep the base areas of the Eighth Route Army from Shanxi.

At that time, whether it was Xi'an, Yan'an, or even Yulin, they would all be under the front of the Japanese army. It was precisely this consideration that made Kuroda Shigetoku immediately give the order and leave the troops in Baotou to return the same way.

Knowing this, He Zhengdao also seemed a little surprised. In his opinion, the little devil should send a large force to encircle and suppress the independent column. But for now, they seem to have given up on Baotou.

In view of this situation, He Zhengdao quickly rolled out a map of the captured Japanese army and began to analyze the reasons for the sudden withdrawal of troops from the 26th Division. It was concluded that the Japanese army could not be distracted from the war at this moment!

Thinking of this, He Zhengdao began to ponder on the military map. How can you share some of the pressure on the joint forces on the front line. After all, at this moment, the pressure is placed on the heads of the troops participating in the Battle of Xinkou. It's really not ordinary!

Soon a battle plan for the siege of Guisui was formulated, even if He Zhengdao was clear. Next, the Japanese army will definitely encircle and suppress the base of the Eighth Route Army. But at this time, it is also very necessary to create some trouble for the little devils.

A battle plan to besiege Guisui and contain the forces of the North China Front Army soon appeared in front of the head of the Central Committee and the Eighth Route Army Headquarters. Knowing that the little devil reinforcements actually shrank to Guisui to defend it, Mao Taizu and others also felt very incredible.

It stands to reason that with the current rampant mentality of the little devils, they should encircle and suppress the independent column with heavy troops. But the Guisui garrison, which has a division and regimental strength, even ignores the occupation of Baotou, which seems somewhat abnormal.

After reading He Zhengdao's judgment and analysis of the enemy's situation. Mao Taizu thought for a while and said: "It seems that it is not that the little devils don't want to recapture Baotou, but that their attention is currently focused on winning the Battle of Xinkou."

Guisui is also not far from Xinkou, as long as the safety of the direction of Guisui is guaranteed, their flanks will be safer. It's just that in this way, when the little devil finishes the battle of Xinkou, I'm afraid that the next attack will be our base area. ”

When Mao Taizu made this kind of analysis of the battle situation, Mr. Zhu and others, who were far away in Xi'an, also felt that He Zhengdao's analysis was very likely. Faced with this situation. Mr. Zhu also felt that the independent column really needed to move again.

With Mao Taizu, who was sitting in the central government, after a telegram analysis and discussion, he quickly said: "Zuo Quan, send a report to Xiao He." Let's just say that the headquarters agreed with their plan of battle. There is only one thing, and the safety of the Yulin base area must be guaranteed.

In addition, from Tianshui and Qingyang, two main divisions were mobilized to deploy defenses in Yanchuan and Yichuan. Although the little devils have not yet arrived at our base. But in the future, Yulin and Yan'an will surely become the main direction of the little devils.

There were two main divisions. Cooperate with the guard division sitting at the headquarters, as well as the garrison troops in the two places. It is not easy to believe that the little devils want to attack our base area. It is also very necessary to prepare in advance. ”

According to the strategic deployment formulated by He Zhengdao before the war, it is necessary to resist the enemy and deploy outside the base area. In view of the fact that the 26th Division currently stationed in Guisui actually retreated to defense, He Zhengdao also immediately adjusted the battle plan, feeling that it would be a good time to beat the little devils around Guisui.

At least bordering Yulin, several county towns that are still intertwined with the forces of the Eighth Route Army, the Central Army, the Jin Sui Army, and the Japanese puppet army are all occupied. This will also facilitate the next independent column to engage the advancing Japanese army.

In the face of the Japanese army, which now has absolute air supremacy, He Zhengdao knows very well that he will fight with them in the base area, but he is afraid that the final result will not be too good. Even if you can block the advance of the little devils, I am afraid that the base area will suffer heavy losses.

Therefore, in the face of the little devil's shrinkage, He Zhengdao had to take the initiative to attack. In his opinion, it was necessary to provoke the 26th Division stationed in Guisui, pull it to the battlefield outside Guisui, and slowly consume it.

If there is a real chance, it will be taken by Suicheng. He Zhengdao believed that the North China Front, which was being launched to Xinzhou, should also be careful of the danger of being inserted on the flanks. If the division and regiment are not dispatched to return to Sui, I am afraid that it will be impossible.

With the receipt of the telegram agreed by the headquarters, He Zhengdao immediately ordered: "The material demolition plan continues, and the 1st Division retains a main force regiment to garrison Baotou." If the puppet Mongolian troops attack, they will resolutely return fire, and the cavalry division will assist at that time.

The rest of the main forces of the 1st Division, as well as the Saber special operations detachment of the reconnaissance brigade, all moved in the direction of Guisui. Since the little devil doesn't come out, then I will recover and occupy all the counties near Guisui.

I want to see how long the 26th Division can endure in Guisui. The 2nd Division was at Dalat Banner, retaining one main regiment to continue to hold its position, while the rest of the troops advanced in the direction of Tokto.

The telegram ordered the 3rd Division, which was stationed in Shenmu, to send a main regiment to the direction of the Qingshui River. In addition, the main force of the Fourth Division was ordered to prepare for advancing into Shanxi. Once the Jin Sui army withdrew, they immediately occupied the county seat they had abandoned.

Give me all the strategic towns of Hequ, Baode, and Xingxian. The garrison troops of Yulin set up defensive and blocking positions there as quickly as possible. Our troops were warned that this time they would mainly defend and counterattack, and that they should not take the initiative to attack. ”

In Yulin alone, the independent column has more than 100,000 troops. This time, in order to support the war in Xinzhou, He Zhengdao was also mobilized. He believed that this sincerity would make Yan Xishan very satisfied!

In this way, the independent column will take over those county towns that the Jin Sui army can't hold at all, and I believe that Yan Xishan will not mind. Compared with these small counties, he can still concentrate the main force of the Jin Sui Army and protect his old nest Taiyuan!

On the second day after the occupation of Baotou, in the face of the situation of the Battle of Songhu that began to take a sharp turn for the worse, the military and civilians of the whole country who were concerned about the war were very worried. Can the main forces of the Central Army, which are still fighting in Shanghai, break out of the encirclement safely?

At this time, the headquarters of the Eighth Route Army telegraphed again to announce that after two days and nights of attack, the Independent Division of the Eighth Route Army successfully recovered the two cities of Wuyuan and Baotou occupied by the Japanese army, and even killed the major general of Baotou City Defense Officer.

As soon as this telegram came out, Lao Jiang, who received the telegram, called it impossible. If the independent division lost tens of thousands of elites in the defense of Suixi, how could they have the strength to attack Wuyuan and Baotou again?

In the face of Lao Jiang's disbelief, He Yingqin, who served as the commander of the Fourth Theater of Operations, said with a smile: "Commission, I think you should praise this matter." The Eighth Route Army won Wuyuan and Baotou, which was a great joy in China's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression.

Even the commission, the commander of this independent division should be rewarded heavily, and our newspapers should be more vigorous in publicizing it. Let the people know that our national government does not distinguish between parties and troops for the generals who sincerely resist the war. ”

Looking at He Yingqin's profound suggestion, Lao Jiang thought for a while and said, "What do you mean by respect?" ”

Standing on the righteousness of the reunification of the Anti-Japanese War, this independent division can be regarded as a loyal and brave division, and it has won such a great victory in three battles and three victories. As the leader of the national government, the committee must show the attitude of rewarding the loyal and brave.

If you don't even mind, you may be able to raise his rank by one level and confer the rank of general by telegram. Its independent division may be expanded into a main brigade to show the Nationalist Government's commendation and praise for its achievements.

At present, the Japanese North China Front has already arrived in Datong and Shuozhou, and its troops will be pushed into Xinzhou and Taiyuan in a few days. And Xinzhou, which happens to border the defense area of the Independent Division, what will the Japanese army do at that time?

Considering the interests of the party and the state, it is necessary for us to let the Japanese army know that it is a very dangerous thing to be neighbors with the Eighth Route Army. If the Eighth Route Army could not be eliminated, their garrison in the northwest would be in danger.

At that time, as long as the Japanese army encircles and suppresses the Eighth Route Army in Shaanxi, no matter who wins or loses, it will be beneficial to our army. In order to keep their base area, the Eighth Route Army believed that it would desperately block the Japanese invasion of Shaanxi. ’

Kill! This is He Yingqin, who quickly came up with a conspiracy for the Eighth Route Army. In his opinion, at this time, the Eighth Route Army actually took the initiative to seize the limelight of the Central Anti-Japanese War, so let them bear the price after being in the limelight.

After some thought, Lao Jiang was also very satisfied and said, "Well, that's good! Jingzhi is worthy of the think tank of the party-state, and this matter will be done according to Jingzhi's things. The pension of the previous Eighth Route Army will also be issued to them at that time! ”

'Yes! Be wise! ’

Just when the warlords from all walks of life sent congratulatory telegrams to the Eighth Route Army, the Nationalist Government's commendation telegram also made many people shout that Lao Jiang was really willing to spend money. Not to mention the promotion of major general to lieutenant general, there is also a Blue Sky and White Sun Baoding Medal.

At the same time, in the telegram, Lao Jiang also encouraged the soldiers of the Anti-Japanese War at the front to do their best to resist the war. For the heroes of the War of Resistance on the front line, the Party * Congress will not hesitate to reward. This leadership style has really been praised by many people.

On the other hand, He Zhengdao and the headquarters of the Eighth Route Army, who received the telegram, saw at a glance that this was a plan that Lao Jiang came up with. But the problem is that for such a conspiracy, the Eighth Route Army is not easy to refute. After all, this is also Lao Jiang's 'kindness'! (To be continued.) )