Shuozhou is located in the northwest of Shanxi, between the inner and outer Great Wall. It is adjacent to Inner Mongolia in the northwest, Xinzhou and Yanmen Pass in the south, more than 100 kilometers away from the ancient city of Datong in the north, and more than 200 kilometers away from the provincial capital Taiyuan in the south, which is of great strategic significance in Shanxi.

It's a pity that for the Japanese troops stationed in Shuozhou at the moment, they have become a lone army. The recent winter offensive launched by the Eighth Route Army in Shanxi has completely turned the Japanese army in Shuozhou into a force that has lost foreign aid.

If it weren't for the occasional sight of planes flying overhead in good weather, I'm afraid that many Japanese soldiers would feel that they had been forgotten by the world. And today, they already know that they need to break through to the death.

For many Japanese troops stationed in Shanxi, they also couldn't figure out how the situation in Shanxi could have eroded like this in less than half a year. How high-spirited were they when they entered Shanxi?

But now, they have become a lone soldier who may starve to death in the city if they do not break through. Such a change really made many Japanese soldiers puzzled, and even more made many puppet soldiers feel that they were so unlucky?

After the infantry brigade that had left the city in advance walked for almost an hour, the Japanese infantry wing in Shuozhou City finally drove out of Shuozhou City. For them, the next night was the most crucial night.

If they survive, maybe they still have a glimmer of life, but if they can't hold on, they will all die here. Fighting the Eighth Route Army several times, these Japanese soldiers knew very well that unless they surrendered voluntarily, they would definitely die.

But the question is, how many Japanese troops who have been brainwashed by militarism will voluntarily surrender?

It was learned that the Japanese army had left Shuozhou City and marched to the blocking position where the first regiment was located. Zhang Cheng, who looked at the sky, quickly said: "Order the cavalry regiment to implement a guard on the periphery of the regiment's defense area, and all guerrilla units will enter the combat position." ”

Listening to Zhang Cheng's words, the chief of staff of the first division said with a little puzzlement: "Division commander, is it necessary to let the guerrillas join in today's battle?" ”

On the other hand, Zhang Cheng said: "You don't need them to join the battle, but you need them to encircle and suppress the remnants of the enemy." The little devil chose to go out of the city at this time, thinking that he also knew that there was little chance of breaking through, and planned to fish in the troubled waters at night!

For them, it is one to be able to escape at this moment. But for us, it's even a squad of little devils who slip away. If you really let them rush into the village where the villagers live, what do you think will be the consequences?

The cavalry regiment carried out a perimeter guard, which was used to clear these remnants of the enemy. The guerrillas entered the combat positions of the villages and were also used to block them. In a word, you can't let the little devils who escaped and broke through into the village. We can't take this risk! ”

After listening to Zhang Cheng's explanation, the chief of staff also realized that it was now less than an hour or two before it got dark. Although the Eighth Route Army is good at fighting at night, for the little devils who are out of the city at the moment, they also want to break through at night.

After all, in the case of blind fire in the dark light, as long as the little devils do not light torches, it is not easy for the Eighth Route Army to search them out. This also shows that the little devils who drove out of Shuozhou City are ready to disperse and break through.

Not long after the Japanese army left the city, the infantry brigade that had previously driven out of Shuozhou City and the puppet army had officially exchanged fire with the Eighth Route Army. Listening to the sound of gunfire in the distance, the little devils who went out of the city seemed to know that those people would not end well.

At this moment, the 2nd and 4th regiments of the 1st Division, also according to Zhang Cheng's order, began to encircle from the area they were responsible for. What they have to do is not only to recover Shuozhou City, but also to cooperate with a group of Japanese troops who are encircling and suppressing the city.

Even according to Zhang Cheng's order, the 2nd Regiment and the 4th Regiment each transferred a main battalion to enter the villages around Shuozhou City as a company, and cooperated with the guerrillas to carry out defensive operations and prevent little devils from sneaking into the villages where the common people lived.

After receiving a telegram from the 1st Division, He Zhengdao was also a little surprised that the Japanese army in Shuozhou would choose to break out of the city. But in He Zhengdao's opinion, if they break through earlier, they may still have a chance to succeed. Now, it's late!

Forward this telegram to the 120th and 129th divisions!' If nothing else, the Japanese army in Xinzhou City should send troops to meet at that time. I hope that we will block the troops on the front line and be ready to block them.

As for the Japanese troops who came out of Shuozhou City, we will not let them escape. This batch of little devils, our independent column is decided. After recovering Shuozhou City, we can concentrate on the war between Datong and Suiyuan. ’

Mr. He, the boss of the 120th Division, who was deploying the defense, received a telegram from He Zhengdao, and said with the same smile: "It seems that the little devils in Shuozhou also know that they can't wait for reinforcements." It's a little too late to break through at this time! ”

'Yes! It's just that according to the information we know, the little devils in Shuozhou before Fanshuo are in an emergency. He also sent a telegram requesting the little devil plane to carry out an airdrop, but one plane was shot down, and most of the supplies were picked up by the only division. ’

Hearing this, Mr. He, also nodded and said, "When I ran into Xiao He's independent column, the little devil was indeed unlucky." Originally, we wanted to spend the New Year in peace, but who let the little devils have nothing to do with the bombing of our base area!

Although Xiao He is young, he is also a person who can't rub sand in his eyes. The little devil blew up his Yulin City, it's no wonder he doesn't look for the little devil to take revenge! Now it's okay, Shuozhou and Datong will be occupied by him. ”

As a member of the Eighth Route Army, Mr. He, who is close to He Zhengdao, also admires He Zhengdao. In Mr. He's view, although He Zhengdao is young, he is also a rare general in the Eighth Route Army.

The most rare thing is that in addition to He Zhengdao's ability in military command, the arsenal also has the current situation, which also has a lot to do with He Zhengdao. This kind of general who is both civil and military, the Eighth Route Army is indeed very rare.

When the Japanese wing drove out of Shuozhou City, it finally arrived at the blocking position where a regiment was stationed. Looking at the blocking position ahead, the Japanese wing commander did not hesitate too much and began to order the troops to prepare for the attack.

The infantry guns pulled out of the city were quickly erected. It's just that the Type 92 infantry gun equipped by the Japanese wing is still not enough for a regiment with an artillery regiment directly under the division.

When forming the artillery regiments directly under the divisions, He Zhengdao still distributed the captured 75 mountain guns or field guns. Therefore, in terms of artillery caliber and firing range, the main division of the independent column can completely defeat the infantry wing of the little devil.

Looking at the little devil who began to set up the subordinate 92 infantry guns, the commander of the regiment on the position said to the chief of staff beside him: "Hang up the phone to the artillery regiment, let them take it easy, don't scare the little devil away!" ”

'Yes, Captain! ’

For many of the old Red Army veterans who came from the Long March, they were indeed pleased with the current firepower of the main forces. Although the main division of the Eighth Route Army is currently equipped with very few units with artillery regiments directly under it, at least there are already artillery regiments!

A main division is equipped with an artillery regiment, which seems a bit of a luxury in the Central Army. But now the first and second divisions of the independent column are already equipped with at least 12 mountain artillery or field artillery. This change has undoubtedly greatly enhanced the self-confidence of commanders.

Even according to the instructions of He Zhengdao, the winter offensive ended, and half of the 75 caliber artillery captured by the divisions could be retained. This means that the size of the artillery regiments of each division has also been further expanded.

On the other hand, at present, the artillery brigade directly under the column is equipped with 105 caliber field artillery. At present, the arsenal is also in trial production of 75-caliber mountain guns or field guns, and it may not be long before an experimental gun leaves the factory.

Once the scale is formed, it will no longer be too difficult for the main divisions of the Eighth Route Army to be equipped with self-made 75-caliber artillery in the future. The self-improvement of this kind of equipment really made the officers and men of the Eighth Route feel that they were a regular army.

Looking at the blocking positions on both sides of the mountain road, the commander of the Japanese wing in charge of the command also knew that there was not much time left for them. Therefore, they did not even save fire probe and directly sent two infantry brigades to attack.

In the words of the Japanese wing commander, if they can break through the blocking position in front of them with all their might, their road to breaking through will be much easier. If they can't break through the blocking position in front of them, nightfall will be the time for them to find their own way.

The wing commander who stayed on the artillery position said with a frantic expression: "Shoot up the shells we carry!" When I broke out, all these guns blew up for me. This is our artillery, which cannot be left to the Chinese army! ”

'Hey! ’

The Japanese artillerymen, who were responsible for the use of artillery, were even somewhat reluctant to give such an order. But they also knew that if they really broke through in the future, they couldn't take these artillery pieces with them at all, and they could only leave them to the Eighth Route Army if they didn't blow them up.

After this period of fighting, the Japanese army has become very clear that the Eighth Route Army will equip all the captured Japanese-style equipment to the main force. Use these Japanese-style equipment to fight the Japanese army that is fighting against the Eighth Route Army.

While the artillery was preparing for the bombardment, the two infantry brigades responsible for the attack at the foot of the mountain were also mobilizing for battle. The two infantry captains were also personally involved in the next attack.

Perhaps it was really a desperate situation, and the entire Japanese army wing from top to small had the heart of breaking through to the death. After the combat mobilization of the infantry brigade commander, the Japanese soldiers who participated in the attack were all fanatical.

Listening to the sound of the mountain descending the mountain and shouting 'Long live the Emperor', the Eighth Route Army, which was staying on the battlefield, also felt that something was wrong with the situation. An officer who had studied Japanese immediately said, "I'm afraid the Japanese army is going to fight with us!" ”

'Fight it! We have a regiment, are we still afraid of them? ’

'Don't be careless!' Quickly report the situation to the regimental commander and warn the fighters on our positions not to pity the bullets later. Also, prepare more grenades. Looking at this day, it is estimated that it will be a hammer deal today. ’

'What do you mean?' ’

This means that the Japanese will only attack once. In case of defeat, the rest of the forces will disperse and break through. When the time comes, if we want to encircle and annihilate again, it will not be so easy. So, we have to kill some more little devils later. ’

After the officers on the position made this analysis, the commander of the regiment commanding the operation in the rear also felt that this situation was a little wrong. But no matter what, the first thing they must do is to ensure that the position is not broken through by the Japanese army! (To be continued.) )