Ulanqab is located in the north of China, bordering Hebei in the east, Xilin Gol League in the northeast, Shanxi in the south, ******** in the southwest, and Baotou in the northwest.

The unique geographical advantages have made it an important border town. As the closest city to Beiping, a bridgehead from east to west, and a meeting point between the north and the south, it is also an important passage from China to Mongolia and Eastern Europe.

At this moment, the Jin-Cha-Ji Military Division has successfully recovered the Shangdu, and the first division has recovered Xinghe. The New Fifth Division and the three cavalry divisions of the column had already controlled the front and rear banners of Chacha, and advanced the defensive line to the area of the yellow flag.

It can be said that Ulanqab City, like the 12th Division that was trapped at the moment, was surrounded by independent columns. The Japanese puppet army in Zhangjiakou, which was closest to them, could not send troops to come to the rescue.

The only troops that could be sent were probably the Japanese army's army aviation units. It's just that the air support of the army aviation unit does not play much role for the Japanese puppet army that is firmly holding Ulanqab City.

When the rapid reaction division advanced to Ulanqab, the guerrilla brigades and garrisons operating nearby had already blocked the passage in and out of Ulanqab. As for the Japanese strongholds on the periphery, they were all destroyed by the reconnaissance brigades that cooperated with the operation.

With the failure of the 12th Division's advance and suppression, the people of Ulanqab City earlier can also be said to be panicked. Many people who had heard the policies of the Eighth Route Army had already escaped from the city before the Eighth Route Army began to besiege the city.

Correspondingly, some puppet soldiers and traitors who worked for the little devils ran into the city from other places in Ulanqab to escape. It's just that there are not many defensive forces in Ulanqab City today.

A puppet Mongolian division, a Japanese infantry wing, an artillery wing and a cavalry wing, the total strength seems to be quite a lot. But the garrison of the city knew very well that these troops would not be enough to defend a large city.

The most important thing is that with the arrival of the rapid reaction division, the 105-caliber artillery used by the artillery brigade formed a fire suppression of the Japanese artillery wing in the city. Several artillery battles caused a lot of losses to the Japanese artillery wing.

Even during the day, Japanese planes conducted a search outside the city, but they still failed to find the heavy artillery position of the Eighth Route Army. It can even be said that the troops of the Eighth Route Army that surrounded Ulanqab during the day can always disappear without a trace.

Although the Japanese reconnaissance planes could see some units of the Eighth Route Army operating outside the city. But most of the teams only have a few dozen people, and they don't look like the main force of the Eighth Route Army. The Japanese troops who went out of the city during the day could not touch the Eighth Route Army with the cover of aircraft.

If they were not covered by aircraft, they would have been blocked or ambushed by the Eighth Route Army. This tactic, which seemed to be a bit of a bully and fear of the hard, gave the Japanese army in Ulanqab City a headache, and finally had to retreat back to the city for defense.

After all, every time troops are sent out of the city, there will always be more or less losses. And with the news of the fall of the surrounding cities of Ulanqab, the Japanese puppet army in the city already knew that Ulanqab, where they were stationed, seemed to have become an isolated city.

Accompanied by Zhang Cheng leading the main force of the 1st Division to arrive outside Ulanqab, he listened to the report of the previous blocking troops, and soon decided to launch an attack on Ulanqab. Before that, he still needs to ask He Zhengdao for instructions.

After receiving the telegram sent back by He Zhengdao, Zhang Cheng said with a smile: "It seems that we really have to think a little more about it next, and the commander asked us to strive to end the battle before dawn tomorrow." Then let's prepare in advance! ”

'Yes, Commander! If it is delayed until tomorrow, it is estimated that the little devil's plane will also come out to make trouble. Although the night battle is not good for us, they are also not good for the little devils guarding Ulanqab. ’

After listening to Zhang Cheng's words, the chief of staff of the First Division also replied in a timely manner. As a separate division, they were also the only infantry division equipped with an anti-aircraft machine gun company. But with only a few anti-aircraft machine guns, it is naturally impossible to achieve effective air defense.

Raising his hand and looking at the time, Zhang Cheng quickly said: "Order the troops, start eating at five o'clock in the afternoon and prepare to assemble in Ulanqab City." I believe that at that time, the nasty little devil plane should not appear under our noses again.

Send a telegram to the reconnaissance detachment in the city to inform them of our general attack tonight, so that they can prepare for battle in advance. In addition, inform the location of the Japanese headquarters in the city, as well as the coordinates of the key defensive areas of the Japanese army in the city.

At the same time, send a message to the artillery brigade and the armored regiment so that they are ready to cooperate in the operation. Tonight the artillery brigade was the first to carry out the shelling, and the armored regiment was ready for the assault. Once the gates were opened, the armored regiment would take the lead and cooperate with the infantry to attack.

The rest of the troops that cooperated with the attack were prepared for defensive vigilance. Once we take Ulanqab, let these troops transfer supplies for us. According to the report of the reconnaissance detachment, the little devils in the city have a lot of materials in reserve! ”

'It shouldn't be a problem to transfer the supplies, and the rapid responders still have a lot of cars!' It's just that Ulanqab was defeated, and I don't know who will take over the defense of this city in the future. This place is still very good! ’

'It should be the second or fourth division!' As for the third division, it is estimated that it is not suitable for transfer at present. After this battle, we also rushed to Zhuozi to annihilate the other two troops of the little devil, and this battle could be declared over. ’

'Yes! This time, not only our division, but also the other main divisions suffered considerable losses. After this battle, I guess we will have to rest again. These little devils, they just don't stop! ’

While the two were chatting at the temporary headquarters outside the city, the orders for the siege of the city tonight were also issued to the troops one after another. As for the Japanese puppet army guarding Ulanqab, they looked no different from before, and the empty outside of the city was also full of worry.

Everyone knows that today's Ulanqab has become an isolated city. The ones who could run in the city were basically gone. Those who can't run can only stay in the city, waiting for the Eighth Route Army to attack the city.

Recently, the artillery bombardment of the city by the Eighth Route Army from time to time also frightened the Japanese puppet army in the city. Many puppet Mongolian troops who knew something about the Red Army seemed to be surprised that the Red Army, renamed the Eighth Route Army, was so strong.

Although planes could be seen circling over Ulanqab during the day, telling the Japanese puppet army in the city that the North China Front still attached great importance to their presence. But how long can they hold out without the support of land troops?

Since the siege of the Eighth Route Army, the traitors stationed in Ulanqab as the puppet Mongolian government have also been worried. They all know very well that once Ulanqab is broken, the fate of these traitors will not be very good.

Perhaps they would not have thought about why the Japanese army, which seemed so powerful before, always suffered defeat when it encountered the Eighth Route Army. Every time they launched an attack on the Eighth Route Army, they often lost their own troops and lost the occupied area.

The Eighth Route Army, which only recovered Suiyuan before, has now advanced the recovery area to Huade and other places. This kind of expansion really made the officers and soldiers of these puppet Mongolian governments regret a little, why did they have to work for these little devils.

At this moment, the officers and soldiers of the puppet Mongolian division stationed in Ulanqab also seemed to be panicked. For them, the little devils are unlucky, and they will be unlucky. During this time, there were countless soldiers who took off their uniforms and fled.

Looking at the Japanese army advisers stationed at the division headquarters, the pseudo-Mongolian division commander during this period also felt that life was not easy. He knew very well that these Japanese advisers were stationed at the division headquarters and were more worried that something would happen to them.

But in fact, it is of no use to just stare at them, the officers of the division command. When it comes to real war, ordinary soldiers are still needed. And the soldiers don't seem to have much determination to fight to the death with the Eighth Road.

Listening to the staff officer's report, before the pseudo-Mongolian division commander could speak, the Japanese adviser scolded: "Baga! What do your officers eat? How is it that in one day, there are hundreds of deserters? How did those people escape? ”

Facing the reprimand of the Japanese adviser, the pseudo-Mongolian division commander smiled bitterly: "Advisor Yamamoto, these soldiers are all locals, and their families are in the nearby countryside. When they fled, they must have deserted again while on patrol.

In fact, during this time, thirty percent of the soldiers of our garrison division have left. Unless they are not sent out on patrol, as long as they go out to patrol, they will often run away as a squad or even a platoon. ”

Such an answer made the Japanese military advisers also very angry. But he also knows that the daily patrol and vigilance are all carried out by the pseudo-Mongolian division. As for the heavy task of defending the city, most of them were handled by the Japanese infantry wing.

Compared to the Japanese army, knowing that they had escaped from the city, they would not have a chance to live. The soldiers of these pseudo-Mongolian divisions in the city knew that as long as they took off their uniforms and left Ulanqab, although they would be interrogated, their lives would still be saved.

For these puppet soldiers who are willing to get lost, the Eighth Route Army is still willing to give them a chance to repent and reform. Most importantly, they are local youths. If you run away at this time, you will probably not be trusted by the Japanese army in the future.

This means that in the future, they can only follow the democratic government formed by the Eighth Route Army. Even if you don't go into the army, I believe that you will find something to do in the base area. It's not easy to prevent these people from becoming deserters!

Every time troops were sent on patrols, the puppet Mongolian division commander was worried that these patrols would never return. Even the Japanese army also sent additional patrols to find out these deserters. But the effect, again, is not very ideal.

Even some time ago, there was a confrontation between deserters and patrolling Japanese squads. In a sense, these infantry of the puppet Mongolian army are indeed overwhelmed, but they make the Japanese army have to use them.

If they want to control the place well, they need the cooperation of these puppet Mongolian troops. In the past, when they were arrogant, these puppet soldiers would be very obedient and loyal to them. But once they are unlucky, these puppet soldiers will also flee immediately.

In the final analysis, most of the young people who joined the puppet Mongolian army did not join voluntarily. On weekdays, he is reluctant to be a soldier, and now he may not be able to save his life. In this case, how can it be possible to count on their loyalty to the Japanese army! (To be continued.) )