According to the situation investigated by the Japanese Special High Division in Chengde, the Kwantung Army already knew that the troops of the Eighth Route Army attacking Chengde were about one infantry division and one cavalry division. Pen? Interesting? Pavilion wWw. ｂiquge。 ｉｎfo

It was only with the arrival of the Eighth Division in Pingquan that the Eighth Route Army also urgently dispatched a group of main forces into the Pingquan area to carry out defensive and blocking tasks. And the mobilized troops are probably the size of a division.

According to this plan, the troops that the Eighth Route Army can use to attack Chengde will be about one division at most. With only one division of troops, it is undoubtedly difficult to defeat Chengde, which has a strong city defense.

Seeing that the little devil's reinforcements had arrived, and the garrison that had withdrawn Chengde did not plan to go to Beiping, He Zhengdao felt that he needed to put a little pressure on them. At least let the little devil feel that Chengde is afraid that it will be difficult to hold.

In this march to Rehe, He Zhengdao was undoubtedly quite satisfied with the results of the troops. A main division of the Japanese army, plus many defenders of the Japanese army, was wiped out, realizing that he was constantly depleting the strength of the Kwantung Army.

In contrast, after the recovery of these occupied areas, although a certain amount of losses were inflicted on the troops. However, correspondingly, the combat effectiveness of the main forces has been improved and tempered to a certain extent.

The armed forces that were originally deployed behind the enemy lines in various areas also joined the new troops one after another with the arrival of the main force. It won't be long before these guerrillas fighting behind enemy lines will also be transformed into regular armies or garrisons of the Eighth Route Army.

This time, He Zhengdao ordered the assembly of guerrilla troops in Chengde and the surrounding areas, so that they could feel what it was like to become the main force. This approach was equally gratifying to the officers and men of the guerrilla units who had assembled.

On weekdays, most of these guerrillas operate in the guerrilla areas where they are located. For many guerrillas, they had only heard of Chengde, the provincial capital, and some had never been there at all.

And this time, they not only have the opportunity to go to Chengde, but even have the opportunity to cooperate with the main force to take Chengde. For being able to participate in such a battle, every guerrilla fighter is full of infinite expectations.

As the guerrillas gathered one after another, many of the guerrilla fighters were also surprised. Originally, in their opinion, the scale of the county brigade of thousands of people was already very good.

But after this assembly, most of them were temporarily organized into a team of three or four thousand people, and some officers were sent by the main force to assist. After a short period of training, these units did not look much different from the main forces.

The assembly of many guerrillas also made the guerrillas feel that they were usually inconspicuous and had such a large scale. By the time the troops began to march towards Chengde, it would look like that.

At a time when the guerrillas were rapidly assembling and began to press towards the Chengde area. In fact, the main force of the 2nd Infantry Division, which had already arrived in Chengde, was quietly lurking near Luanping City, waiting for the arrival of the Japanese army in Chengde and Luanping.

Compared with the assembled guerrilla troops, which did not hide their whereabouts, the Second Infantry Division appeared to be very low-key and lurking on standby. With them staying near Chengde and Luanping, they could also effectively threaten the Japanese garrison.

The Japanese army's special high class, which also sent many intelligence officers to Chengde to inquire about the intelligence of the Eighth Route Army, was undoubtedly extremely shocked by the sudden appearance of a large number of main forces of the Eighth Route Army.

Not long after, a telegram from the special high school was quickly reached by the Japanese garrison officer who was deploying defensive measures in Chengde. Even the Japanese garrison officers in Luanping City also learned that a large number of the main forces of the Eighth Route were marching towards Luanping City.

Looking at the telegram sent by the intelligence officer, the Japanese garrison officer in Chengde said in disbelief: "What about it? Are you saying that at present, there are a large number of main forces of the Eighth Route Army, which are pressing towards Chengde? How did these main forces of the Eighth Route Army come out? ”

"General, regarding this situation, our special high school is investigating. However, the current situation is that these main forces of the Eighth Route Army will form an encirclement of us in two or three days at most, and how will we deal with it.

In addition, according to the reconnaissance of our intelligence officers, these Eighth Route Corps seem to have a considerable number of artillery units. In addition to this, our peripheral intelligence officers even saw the large-caliber artillery delivered by the Eighth Route Army. ’

As soon as the intelligence officer's words came out, the Chengde garrison officer also said in a timely manner: "Can you find out the location of those artillery units?" ”

'I'm afraid it's hard! In the process of marching, the Eighth Route sent a large number of scout cavalry. Not to mention our intelligence officers, even the people around them, they won't let them get close. At night, they changed the route of their march.

During the day, most of them are hidden and do not march. Only at night, the trucks that hauled these heavy guns would take advantage of the night to haul those heavy guns. It's hard to find out! ’

Faced with the intelligence officer's answer, the Chengde garrison officer also seemed very entangled. For him, Chengde's current strength seems to be quite a lot, but the actual combat effectiveness is not strong. If you want to keep Chengde, I'm afraid it's not easy.

thought that the independent mixed brigades that were originally stationed in Chengde were all wiped out by the Eighth Route Army. The mixed brigade that left at that time also pulled the only artillery unit in Chengde to the front line, and the result was also annihilated.

With a large number of infantry alone, in the absence of artillery countermeasures, it was undoubtedly difficult for them to hold Chengde. Not to mention, this time the Eighth Route Army attacked in a big way, and it also brought a heavy artillery unit with unknown whereabouts.

If the little devils knew that this so-called heavy artillery unit was actually just pulling wooden cannons made by the engineer troops, it is estimated that they would not be so worried. And in fact, the heavy artillery units that cooperated with the 2nd Infantry Division were not here.

The real heavy artillery unit, which has now arrived in the Pingquan area, will cooperate with the troops there to block the 8th Division of the Kwantung Army that has arrived in Pingquan. And this mysterious heavy artillery unit, the Japanese army's special high school department knew about it earlier.

Therefore, the heavy artillery units that are now disguised, the little devils will not be suspicious. After all, they all knew that the Eighth Route Army had a heavy artillery unit, but they didn't know where this heavy artillery unit was.

Since the Eighth Route Army wanted to attack Chengde, in the face of the strong defense of the city, the heavy artillery force was undoubtedly the best offensive weapon. Therefore, the Japanese army actually did not have too many doubts about the camouflaged heavy artillery unit.

When the Chengde side sent a telegram requesting instructions, it was sent to the Kwantung Army Headquarters. Mei Xianzhi Meilang was also extremely shocked by this situation: "Baga, where did these Eighth Route Army come from?" ”

In the face of Mei Hiroshimiro's inquiry, the intelligence officer didn't know how to answer. The main force of nearly 30,000 troops of the Eighth Route Army began to advance in the direction of Chengde from both sides, which was indeed a huge threat to Chengde.

In addition to the huge number of main forces of the Eighth Route Army, there were also a large number of artillery units. With such a scale of troops, it is possible to capture Chengde City. After all, the defenders of Chengde City are already lonely!

Seeing that the intelligence officer didn't know how to explain, Mei Ji Miro also looked helpless. Since the Eighth Route Army entered Rehe, the special high school has lost a large number of elite intelligence officers in terms of intelligence reconnaissance.

It can be said that the loss of these elite intelligence officers also greatly damaged the vitality of the Kwantung Army's special high division. In terms of intelligence reconnaissance and counter-reconnaissance, the ability shown by the Eighth Route Army also shocked Mei Jimilang.

'What is the opinion of the Chengde garrison?' If they were ordered to defend the city, how long would they be able to hold out? ’

In response to Mei Xianjimeilang's inquiry, the intelligence officer still said very seriously: "Your Excellency, Commander, the troops we have assembled in Chengde are about 10,000 people. Combined with the armed diaspora, there are about 15,000 soldiers to fight.

It's just that Your Excellency the Commander should know that the armed expatriates can only serve as auxiliaries. As for the garrison of the city, the Manchurian army sent there is afraid that it will be difficult to come in handy. Their combat effectiveness, Your Excellency the Commander should be clear! ”

A large number of puppet Manchurian troops dispatched to Chengde did not give full play to the combat effectiveness expected by the Kwantung Army in the battle with the Eighth Route Army this time. It can be said that as long as the Japanese army is defeated, these troops will basically surrender to the wind.

Counting on these Manchurian troops, who were more than the Japanese troops defending the city, Mei Xianji Miro also knew that he couldn't count on it. The telegram of inquiry sent to Chengde was also not very satisfactory to Mei Zhimeilang.

The Chengde garrison replied that if the commander ordered him to hold on, he would live and die with the city. It's just that the lives of a large number of expatriates who have been evacuated to Chengde at the moment will not be guaranteed. ’

After the Eighth Route Army entered Chengde to fight in a big way, a large number of Japanese expatriates in Rehe were also evacuated to Chengde by the Japanese army. In order to settle these expatriates who had evacuated to Chengde for refuge, the people of Rehe in Chengde City were naturally driven out in large numbers.

In this way, when the Eighth Route Army attacked the city, it was afraid that it didn't have to take anything into account. If they choose to hold on, what the garrison predicts is likely to happen.

What's more, He Zhengdao has just announced that he will retaliate against the Kwantung Army. Once these expatriates fall into the hands of the Eighth Route Army, no one knows what the consequences will be. Such a consequence is also difficult for Mei Jimiro to bear.

If they are ordered to retreat now, how sure are they that they will retreat safely to Beiping? ’

'Your Excellency, Commander, from what we have so far, although in the vicinity of Luanping, a small number of reconnaissance units of the Eighth Route Army have been discovered. But large troops, there is still a certain distance from there.

If you choose to retreat now, you can join the troops stationed in Luanping City, even if you can't successfully break through the whole army, at least you can break through a part of the troops. If necessary, the Manchurian army can be allowed to provide cover and block. ’

After the intelligence officer said this, he was undoubtedly inclined to retreat. After all, this is actually the same as the battle plan they made earlier. It's just that when the Eighth Division arrived, they had some illusions.

Then let them prepare to retreat! At the same time, send a telegram to the North China Front, so that they are ready to send troops to meet our breakthrough of the army! ’

Mei Xianjimilang, who made the final decision, finally chose to let the garrison in Chengde retreat. Compared with the ending of co-existence and death with Chengde City, he felt that it was also a good thing to reduce losses by breaking through a group of troops and expatriates to Beiping! (To be continued.) )