"Then thank you Commissar, the affairs in the base can only be handed over to you again. This time, for the sake of the future of our base area, I decided to personally lead the column directly under me to attack and eliminate the more than 10,000 little devils entrenched in our base area. The vast Shanxi region will be completely included in the pocket of our readers. Liu Hua nodded and said.

In less than half an hour after the two of them discussed, more than 10,000 people from the three brigades of the directly subordinate column stationed around the headquarters began to replenish ammunition. At the same time, siege artillery such as field artillery and mountain artillery, which accompanied the door, also began to be loaded and replenished with ammunition. After only one afternoon, the troops of more than 10,000 people were ready to attack.

Of course, in order to avoid the reconnaissance of the Yue Army Air Force, Liu Hua set the time for the attack to be at night. The entire army, after dinner, under the leadership of Liu Hua, killed the target of the attack. More than 10,000 troops, with a large number of artillery pieces, left the base area in a mighty way.

"Division commander, this is a report on the enemy situation just sent by the three divisions. According to preliminary statistics, in the area just occupied by our army, a total of 14 county towns were occupied by the army. In addition, due to the early withdrawal of the army, there are now a large number of puppet troops in each county to serve as a defense. Among them, Yangquan County, which is located in the main transportation route, has the largest number of troops. More than a month ago, after the main force of the Yue Army in Yangquan County was wiped out by us in Zhongyang Town, the Yue Army had no choice but to withdraw nearly 4,000 troops from a field wing from the Kwantung Army Division that had just been transferred, and stationed it in Yangquan together with a puppet army of 3,000 men from a division. However, now Yangquan County has been surrounded by the two main regiments of our first division. Although the two main regiments launched two tentative attacks, they were repelled by the intensive firepower of the army. The chief of staff came to Zhang Hua's side, who was marching rapidly, and introduced him while marching.

"Well, are there any others, little devil strongholds in other directions?" Zhang Hua stopped, pointed to a map that the guard had just opened in front of him and asked.

"Division commander, south and west of Yangquan are Xiyang County and Shouyang County respectively. The puppet army, each with two brigades and one regiment, was garrisoned, with a strength of about 4,000 men, and was now surrounded by troops of one regiment in each division, but because the troops were not equipped with siege artillery, they did not attack. The chief of staff continued.

"Okay, since the three county towns are finished glyph armed, then our direct column will first take these three county towns and try the blades of our three brigades. The order, the 1st Brigade of the Column directly under the command, the 150-mm howitzer battalion of the Heavy Artillery Regiment, and the 1st Regiment of the Guard Brigade were personally commanded by me to attack Yangquan County. The 2nd Brigade and the 105-mm howitzer battalion of the Heavy Artillery Regiment were personally commanded by Brigade Commander Luo Zhihui to attack Shouyang County. All the remaining troops, commanded by Brigade Commander Wang Benqing, attacked the county seat of Xiyang. All units immediately set off for their respective targets, and must launch an attack before eight o'clock tomorrow night, and take the three county towns in one night. Zhang Hua pointed to the three county towns on the map and ordered categorically.

"Yes, division commander, I'm going to give combat missions to various troops." Chief of Staff Li Qing turned around and began to issue tasks to the various heralds.

After receiving his own task, the marching procession, which had just been more than 10,000 people and stretched for several miles, immediately divided into three and plunged straight towards their respective targets. There were more than 8,000 people from the 1st Brigade and the 1st Guard Brigade under the command of the division commander Liu Hua, and a battalion of the Heavy Artillery Regiment.

By this time, the vast rural areas had already been completely occupied by the various units of the division, and all hostile elements had been eliminated. In addition, the troops marched at night, and the reconnaissance planes of the little devils could not take off for reconnaissance. Therefore, Liu Hua and his entourage of more than 8,000 people can be said to have quietly come to the mountains a few kilometers outside Yangquan County. and Zhao Dahe, the political commissar of the first sub-district who had already commanded the troops and surrounded the entire Yangquan County, came together.

"Report to the division commander, Zhao Dahe, the political commissar of the first division, came to greet the main force of the division" Seeing the division commander Liu Hua, Zhao Dahe hurriedly took the accompanying guard troops to meet him.

"Hehe, Political Commissar Zhao, I haven't seen each other for a long time since we divided our troops. I really didn't expect that after two years of fighting life, you are still the same, and there has been no change" Looking at the old man in front of him, who had followed him since the Xiangjiang River, Zhang Hua said with a smile on his face.

"Hehe, teacher, you don't know. In the district, I eat canned beef from the east every day from the little devils, and I have gained a lot of weight. However, Commander, you have lost a lot of money for our Strength Master" Looking at the young and admired teacher in front of him, Zhao Dahe immediately put down his usual shelf, and said with a smile to Liu Hua, like an old friend who hadn't seen him for several years.

"Okay, Political Commissar Zhao, let's not talk about this, you can introduce me to the situation here first. This time, I brought a heavy artillery battalion and 8,000 troops, and I must take Yangquan County. Liu Hua smiled and nodded.

"Yes, Commander. However, division commander, you have been driving the mountain road with the soldiers all night, and you are hungry and tired. Besides, now that it's almost dawn, we definitely can't attack during the day, and one day is enough time for you to understand the enemy's situation. Before I came back, I had the troops make breakfast. In this way, let's go to breakfast first, and after eating, I will give you a detailed introduction to the situation in Yangquan County. After speaking, Zhao Dahe took Liu Hua and his party and walked towards the camping camp of the troops.

With the arrival of the main force of the division, Zhao Dahe's headquarters, without surprise, became Liu Hua's temporary headquarters at this moment. After breakfast, Liu Hua came to the headquarters under the leadership of Zhao Dahe. Of course, after entering the headquarters, the first thing was that a huge sand table in the headquarters attracted Zhang Hua's attention. Because, this sand table shows all the terrain around Yangquan County and the city fortifications of Yangquan County.

"Divisional commander, the situation is like this. In Yangquan County, there are a total of more than 4,000 people in a wing of the Little Devil Kwantung Army, including a mountain artillery brigade. According to the reconnaissance of our reconnaissance troops, plus the artillery fire configuration of each brigade of the little devils. In the entire city of Yangquan County, there are a total of 12 mountain guns, 8 infantry guns, and dozens of mortars. It can be said that their artillery fire is very sharp. However, this time the headquarters brought 12 heavy guns, plus the 12 mountain guns I brought, enough to suppress the artillery fire of the little devils, and let them drink a pot. Zhao Dahe introduced with a smile.

"Political Commissar Zhao, I didn't expect that the artillery configuration of the little devil Kwantung Army was sharp, and a field infantry wing had so much artillery fire. By the way, Political Commissar Zhao, is there still a division of puppet troops in the city? In addition, you can introduce to me the defense deployment of the little devils around the county. Listening to the amount of the little devil's fire, Liu Hua nodded and continued to ask.

"Yes, the division commander, there is a puppet army division of 3,500 people in the city. However, the little devils don't seem to believe much in their combat effectiveness. Most of these more than 3,000 people were arranged by the little devils inside the county to defend some key points, and there was only one regiment of puppet troops, mixed in with the army, to serve as the task of defense," Zhao Dahe pointed to the sand table in front of him and continued to introduce, "After the army occupied Yangquan County, it began to build various fortifications on the periphery of the county. At present, on the outskirts of the county seat, a defensive formation consisting of more than 40 pillbox groups has been formed. The army deployed a large group of elite forces to defend these pillboxes. ”

"Among them, if our army wants to attack the county seat, it must occupy two high ground one kilometer outside the city, they are Wulong Mountain and Fushan. The two highlands are located on both sides of the road leading into the county, and the height is about 150 meters. The army also knew the important surnames of the two mountains, so two squadrons and one artillery squad of 9 mortars were arranged on each of the two mountains. It can be said that it is a very difficult bone to gnaw. When the county town was first besieged, I once sent two battalions of troops to carry out a tentative attack. However, as soon as the troops moved to the foot of the mountain, they were blown back by the mortars hidden in the trenches by the little devils, and they lost a company of troops in vain. I also used a mountain artillery battalion to carry out artillery bombardment, although it had some effect. However, the machine gun bunkers of the army on the top of the mountain were all built underground, and the 75mm mountain guns in my hand did not pose any threat to him at all. Zhao Dahe pointed to the two highlands on the sand table and introduced.

"Political Commissar Zhao, can we let the little devils on the two heights go around directly." After listening to Zhao Dahe's introduction, Liu Hua also frowned. However, what he was worried about was not that he couldn't solve the little devils on the two hills, but that if he slowly moved forward step by step, it would be impossible for him to take the entire county in one night. Although their own troops are no longer worried about the support and bombing of military aircraft. However, airplanes are a hassle after all. Therefore, Liu Hua has always insisted that the troops' fortifications should be carried out at night.

"No, division commander, these two mountains are completely between us and the county seat. If they rushed directly over the road, the troops would be directly exposed to the machine-gun and artillery fire of the Japanese army, and even if the troops rushed over, the losses would certainly be very serious. After listening to Liu Hua's suggestion, Zhao Dahe did not hesitate and directly vetoed it.

"Well, it seems to be another difficult bone to gnaw," Zhang Hua muttered to himself. At the same time, I slowly fell into deep thought, and began to think about possible ways to crack it

"No, this siege is divided into two phases. Commissar Zhao, Chief of Staff, you see. Tonight we attacked these two heights and all the pillbox strongholds on the outskirts of the county, not primarily to occupy them, of course, but to destroy the living forces of the enemy. However, after we have occupied these places, it is imperative that all the fortifications of the Japanese army be completely destroyed, so that the Japanese army will not occupy them again after we have withdrawn the next day. As for the second stage, that is, the next night, we will directly attack the county seat and destroy the remnants of the enemy in the county seat. Liu Hua, who couldn't think of a way, had to turn the battle that he had prepared for one night into the last two nights.

"Division Commander, according to our current situation, there is only this way. I believe that it would be very easy for us to divide the whole battle into two phases. So, I agree with your plan of operations. After listening to Zhang Hua's words, Chief of Staff Li Qing was the first to stand up and say.

"Well, what about Political Commissar Zhao, do you have any opinions?" Liu Hua nodded and looked at Zhao Dahe beside him.

"Report to the division commander, chief of staff, I don't have any opinions. It's just that the division commander, the political commissar, when the time comes for the troops to participate in the offensive, don't forget about the two regiments under my command with 4,000 people. In addition, I brought a mountain artillery battalion with me, which was ready to take part in the attack at the dispatch of the division commander and chief of staff. Zhao Dahe said with a smile.

"Don't worry, Commissar Zhao. Your two regiments are one step ahead of us and are more familiar with the terrain than we are. It's up to you tonight to attack the two heights. However, when the time comes, I will send a battalion of heavy artillery to support you, and I hope you will not disappoint us. There is another problem, that is, time, I can only give you three hours at most, you must occupy two hills for me and destroy a brigade of little devils above. Liu Hua said with a smile.

"Yes, division commander, you can rest assured, as long as there is the artillery support of the heavy artillery battalion, it will definitely not be a problem to take two hills" Hearing the tasks of his two regiments, Zhao Dahe couldn't help but feel excited. In addition, there will be 12 150-mm heavy guns from the heavy artillery battalion to assist. Zhao Dahe didn't hesitate and replied confidently

In this way, during the course of the day, except for the fighters of the heavy artillery battalion, according to the situation detected in advance, began to build artillery positions. The rest of the soldiers were all in the barracks to replenish the previous night's rapid march, their own physical strength, wipe the weapons and ammunition in their hands, and prepare for the battle at night.

Finally, in everyone's anticipation, the last little devil plane, waving its tail, slowly flew out of the soldiers' field of vision, and returned to their chicken coop. At this time, the fighters also seized the time to have dinner and prepared for the attack. In particular, two reading regiments served as the first wave of the offensive in the first division of the division. As soon as dinner was over, he pulled the entire army to the foot of the mountain and hid himself, ready to attack at any time.

"Battalion Commander Li, how many shells did we bring out this time? Is it enough" Looking at the various units that were ready for battle, Liu Hua put down the binoculars in his hand and asked the commander of the heavy artillery battalion who was waiting for the order to open artillery.

"Report to the division commander, due to the help of a large number of baggage troops and vehicles in this sortie, 12 heavy guns, each cannon carried 50 shells, a total of 600 heavy artillery shells." Hearing the division commander's question, the commander of the heavy artillery battalion immediately understood what the division commander meant and quickly replied.

"Well, 600 shells, the number is okay. In this way, the little devils have less than half a square ditch of defensive positions on each hill. First give me five shells from each of the two hills, and now fire at me, and the troops are ready to attack. Liu Hua silently calculated, and ordered loudly to Commander Li, the heavy artillery battalion beside him.

"Yes, division commander," reported Commander Li of the heavy artillery battalion, turning around and running towards his artillery position.

"Boom, boom, woo" two huge explosions sounded over the artillery position. Immediately afterward, two test-fired heavy artillery shells, with a huge whistling sound, flew towards the two hilltop positions a few kilometers away. A huge explosion sounded, and Liu Hua hurriedly raised the telescope in his hand. I saw that in the pitch-black Yeze, a huge flame suddenly appeared on the top of two mountains a few kilometers away. Two test-fired shells, unbiased and unoblique, hit the enemy's fortifications just right.

"Baga, herald, where is the explosion, go and find out" Listening to the earth-shattering explosion outside the command post, he felt the constant shaking of the earth. After a period of consternation, the supreme commander of the army, who was guarding the two hills, immediately believed that the explosion just now was caused by the explosion of the ammunition stored somewhere.

Because, in their eyes, although they were surrounded by the Eighth Route Army. But how could the poorly equipped soldiers of the Eighth Route Army fall into the eyes of these arrogant Kwantung Army. The shelling of 75-mm mountain artillery two days ago had already taken him by surprise. Therefore, at this time, he didn't believe that there was still more powerful artillery in the hands of the Eighth Route Army. However, after a while, the answer of a squadron leader who rushed into the command post with a pale face made the Kwantung Army brigade completely crazy.

"Baga, what are you talking about, our position was shelled by the Eighth Route Army, and it was not an explosion." After listening to the squadron leader's answer in front of him, Captain Shaozo asked in disbelief.

"Hey, captain, and it was the heavy artillery of the Eighth Route Army that was shelled. According to the analysis of the power generated by the explosion, at least 150 mm or more heavy artillery. Because, within a radius of 20 meters from the bullet impact point, all the imperial warriors were shattered. Among them, a machine-gun bunker, along with a dozen Imperial warriors inside, was buried in the ground. Looking at the captain with an incredulous face, the squadron leader hurriedly explained again.

(To be continued)