In the face of Itagaki's plan to withdraw the 116th Division attacking Jincheng on the front line, He Zhengdao, who himself planned to disperse the Shanxi dispatch army, naturally would not easily let it withdraw to the vicinity of Taiyuan, and directly ordered the troops to block it in Changzhi. Pen ~ fun ~ pavilion www.biquge.info

also didn't want the 116th Division to retreat easily, as well as Fu Zuoyi's department, which was guarding Jincheng. For this Japanese division that repeatedly attacked Jincheng, Fu Zuoyi also hated it to the core. Now that there is an opportunity to smash, how can he miss it.

Regarding the encirclement of the 116th Division, He Zhengdao handed it over to the troops operating in Changzhi. At the same time, the 118th Division in Luliang followed the 129th Division operating near Xingtai, and also successively transferred troops into Changzhi to participate in the encirclement and annihilation.

As the headquarters of the Eighth Route Army had planned before, the 116th Division wanted to attack Jincheng, but they were more just to help Fu Zuoyi defend Jincheng, and the Japanese army could not succeed easily. But if you want to retreat, it's not so easy!

When the 116th Division attacked Jincheng, the Eighth Route Army had already assembled a lot of main forces in Changzhi. At present, as soon as the 116th Division is withdrawn, these troops have also appeared in various transportation arteries and around some important cities.

Knowing such a situation, Itagaki knew more or less that it would not be easy for the 116th Division to easily withdraw to the Jinzhong area for rest. Even if it succeeds in returning, it is estimated that the strength of the division will be greatly damaged.

Again, he underestimated the number of mobilized troops of the Eighth Route Army. Just think about the battlefield posture opened by the Eighth Route Army at the moment, it seems that it is also fighting with them with all his life. In this way, it seems that they have become the ones who have a headache.

It is true that the Shanxi Dispatch Army has more than two divisions, but in the face of enemies from all directions, it is also a little overwhelmed. The telegrams sent by the garrisons in various places asking for help made Itagaki also feel that the situation in Shanxi was critical.

As Itagaki continued to seek support from the front army, he ordered his troops to be on strict defense. He Zhengdao, who felt that the time was ripe, finally gave the order to attack, and the goal of the first battle was the key direction of the Japanese defense.

The Japanese troops stationed in Lou An, although they were ready for battle. But they didn't expect that the offensive of the Eighth Route Army would be so fierce, and even directly caught them off guard.

In the evening, when many Japanese soldiers felt that they were going to spend another long winter night. The artillery brigades, which had already moved their artillery positions to the vicinity of the Japanese defensive positions, took the lead in launching artillery strikes on the Japanese positions.

The artillery brigade was equipped with heavy artillery and field artillery, and launched an attack on the Japanese army at almost the same time. The artillery fire in the sky, like a meteor shower that destroyed the world, fell from the sky in the horrified eyes of the defenders of the Japanese position.

'Shelling! Avoid! ’

The dizzy Japanese defensive position, which was directly bombarded by a sudden artillery bombardment, soon sounded many such urging sounds. It's just that this kind of artillery bombardment, which was not test-fired, still caused many Japanese soldiers who had not had time to prepare for it to die on the spot.

Looking at the shells falling on the position, the blown up fortifications and the collapsed trenches, many Japanese soldiers also knew that this was a large-caliber heavy artillery. In the face of such a massive shelling, they were simply powerless to resist.

What the Japanese did not even expect was that the artillery squadrons assigned to their positions were also under covering fire at this moment. Such accurate artillery bombardment is enough to show that their defensive positions have basically been figured out by the Eighth Route Army.

Compared to the Japanese troops who were under shelling, there was a feeling of disbelief and fear. Mr. He and the others, who stayed at the rear headquarters and watched this kind of shelling scene, felt an impulse to be excited.

Once upon a time, they could not even be equipped with mortars, and many warlord troops called them 'Hanako'. But since the end of the Long March, in just a few years, they already have such artillery units.

Even such an artillery unit is just as extravagant for today's Eighth Route Army. But they were convinced that with the first such artillery unit, more and more such units would appear in their armies in the future.

After the excitement, Mr. He also sighed slightly: "This kind of shelling looks very cool, but it's too expensive!" ”

'No way! If we want to catch the little devil off guard, we can only make some blood. I think the lives of the soldiers are more valuable than the shells are too expensive. One more shell could save one more soldier's life.

If you think about it this way, it's actually quite cost-effective. As long as we can successfully recover the whole territory of Shanxi in this battle, I believe that the cost is still worth it. In my mind, human life is more important than anything else. ’

can understand that Mr. He, a commander who is accustomed to a hard life, sees this kind of overwhelming artillery fire, and feels a little bit of a money-burning mood. But He Zhengdao still thinks that if there can be a cannonball to solve the problem, then try to avoid using human life to solve the problem.

Listening to what He Zhengdao said, Ye Jianying, the new partner who served as the chief of staff, also knew. Perhaps it is He Zhengdao's combat concept that gives him great prestige among the troops, even ordinary soldiers.

This time, the Northeast Anti-Japanese Allied Army was formed, and among the garrison units under the jurisdiction of the independent column, all garrison units enthusiastically signed up to participate. It can be said that if He Zhengdao is released to expand the main force, I am afraid that it will be no problem to expand two more divisions.

In front of them, most of the ordinary soldiers who are qualified to be selected into the main force are relatively good in military skills. There were even many fighters who, before being selected as the main force, had conducted small-scale raids and sneak attacks behind enemy lines.

Even if you haven't fought against the little devils, most of them have fought with the puppet army. It can be said that the troops that have been expanded in this way are very good in terms of both entering a combat state and their overall combat capability.

Compared with other troops, they have to recruit new recruits, and they have to start training from scratch. The newly formed Northeast Anti-Japanese Allied Army, as soon as it was formed, dared to pull it to Shanxi to fight against the elite troops of the little devils. If you don't have any confidence, how can you do it!

As soon as the shelling, which lasted for half an hour, the 1st Division and 1st Regiment, which were the main attackers, launched an attack on the Japanese positions in Lou Fu under the cover of infantry guns and mortars. At the same time, a large number of troops of the Eighth Route Army also appeared in the surrounding areas of Loufu.

In many places where guard posts and forts have been set up, their guard posts and fortifications are often destroyed before they have time to report the news. All the troops participating in the battle quickly advanced forward in accordance with He Zhengdao's requirements.

The commander of the Japanese wing, who usually stayed in the underground headquarters, seemed to be unlucky this time, and he was just planning to have a meeting in the rear position. As a result, it didn't work out, and he was directly subjected to a saturated shelling.

By the time the nearby Japanese troops reacted, a large hole had appeared in the temporary headquarters. As for the captain of the Great Zuo Wing, only half of the flesh and blood of the corpse were found. In addition, if you can't find it, it is estimated that it will be difficult to find it.

The captain of the wing was killed, plus two captains were also killed in the shelling. The Japanese troops in the defensive positions soon fell into a situation of confusion in command. Even though the junior officers of the Japanese army were very conscientious, they tried to stabilize the mood of the team.

When the artillery fire of the Eighth Route Army was transferred, it quickly drilled out of the anti-artillery pit. However, before they could catch their breath, the artillery battalion directly under the regiment, which was responsible for attacking their position, immediately launched a close-range artillery bombardment.

Looking at the artillery strikes that swept the position again, there were also the attacking troops of the Eighth Route Army that rushed to the defensive positions one after another. The Japanese wing, which could only fight on its own, was soon beaten by the attacking Eighth Route Army.

Ye Jianying, who had been staying in the rear to watch the battle, saw that some troops had successfully rushed into the Japanese army's blocking position, and said happily: "Commander, a regiment rushed up!" ”

Under such a fierce artillery bombardment, and covered by melee artillery fire, it is normal for the attacking troops to attack the Japanese positions at one time as long as they are brave and resolute. Open a gap, and the rest of the battle will be easy to fight. ’

Just as Ho Jeong-do said, the commander of the regiment in charge of directing the battle watched as some troops managed to break through the Japanese position. Immediately commanded the rest of the troops: "Rush to the gap opened by the second battalion, and continue to expand the gap in the assault!" ”

The troops of the Eighth Route Army, who were attacking together, also realized that this was an opportunity. The Eighth Route Army, which followed one after another, began to enter the Japanese positions in squad and platoon units, and soon extended the battle to the entire Japanese defensive position.

In the face of these Eighth Route Army rushing to the position, some little devils who were unwilling to fail were still very tenacious and ready to fight bayonets. It's a pity that for these stupid little devils who don't pull a few bullets and plan to fight bayonets, the Eighth Route Army that rushed over directly pulled the trigger.

In each infantry squad there were two submachine gunners. In this kind of melee situation, the submachine gun is undoubtedly a sharp weapon in close combat. With such a foolish little devil, how could the submachine gunner miss the opportunity to destroy the enemy?

Seeing that a regiment of reserves rushed forward, He Zhengdao was also very satisfied and said: "Xiaojun, not bad!" It seems that in these days on the Suiyuan front, the training of your division has not fallen. A group played well this time! ”

'Thank you, Commander, for the compliment!' However, the fact that it was able to fight so smoothly this time is more due to the contribution of the artillery brigade! ’

Ma Xiaojun, who was originally the commander of the Fourth Division of the Independent Column, was directly promoted by He Zhengdao to the commander of the new First Division when the Northeast Anti-Japanese Allied Army was formed this time. And most of the troops under his command are also the troops of the old Fourth Division.

Although some military backbones were retained and continued to remain in the Suichaji Military Region, many regiment-level commanders were also the old backbones of the independent column. Speaking of which, this can be regarded as He Zhengdao's descendant troops!

'Well, that's good! Ma Xiaojun, who was a little reckless back then, is now much more stable, and he knows that he can fight so smoothly this time, and he also has the credit of others. Okay, I'll leave it to you here, no problem, right? ’

'Please rest assured, commander, that our first division will complete the mission! ’

'Good! I will not participate in the rest of the battle to attack Jiaocheng, and your division command will be directly responsible. Next, Mr. He and I and the chief of staff will go to Yangqu to prepare for the second battle. When the time comes, see you in Taiyuan City! ’

'Yes, Commander! See you in Taiyuan City! ’

After saying this, He Zhengdao and others, who planned this raid battle, also led the artillery brigade to move in the direction of Yangqu. As long as the next battle is fought, Taiyuan will open its arms to the Eighth Route Army! (To be continued.) )