Relying on the fortifications built in advance, the new 67th Army was on the Huaibin front, and the Japanese army that was also fighting could not move an inch. Although the troops paid some costs, compared with the attacking Japanese army, the battle losses of the new 67th Army were still relatively small.www.biquge.info

The Saber special combat team, which has been lurking in the vicinity of Funan, as well as the various reconnaissance squads operating in the theater, have adopted the method of keeping an eye on the entire Third Division, and every move cannot escape the attention of the reconnaissance squad.

The Fifth Brigade, which was originally serving as a reserve force of the 3rd Division, suddenly rushed to the direction of Xuji in the evening. Even a cavalry and heavy artillery wing also gathered over there, and He Zhengdao knew that the little devil was going to move seriously.

During the period when the Third Division was attacking, He Zhengdao could clearly feel that the little devil did not use all his strength. Most of their attacks were tentative attacks, the purpose of which was to hold back the New 67th Army and the 77th Army.

After receiving the telegram from the reconnaissance unit, He Zhengdao immediately instructed: "Send a telegram to Commander Feng of the 77th Army, informing the little devils that they will launch a general attack on Xu Ji tonight, hoping that they can be prepared."

If it is really impossible to hold on, it is necessary to let the troops retreat in an orderly manner, and at the same time make preparations for withdrawing from Gushi. Once the little devils break through the Xuji defense line, we may also be separated from the 77th Army, I hope they can be mentally prepared. ”

'Yes, Commander! ’

As the telegram reached Feng Zhi'an, Feng Zhi'an, who had already made arrangements in advance, also said in a timely manner: "It seems that there is not much time left before the battle is over, send a telegram to Qiu Jingshan and let him take charge of Xu Ji's defense and retreat."

The rest of the main forces of the army headquarters will all withdraw from Gushi tonight and withdraw in the direction of Huangchuan. As for the troops responsible for blocking the front, they were also placed under the command of Regiment Commander Qiu of the Military Training Corps. Whether we can rebuild in the future depends on whether they can survive! ”

Seeing that in order to attack Xuji, the Japanese army assembled an infantry brigade, a heavy artillery wing and a cavalry wing. Feng Zhi'an knew very well that even if he mobilized troops now, he was afraid that it would be useless.

In the past few days, the casualties of the front-line blocking troops have not been small. Although there were some casualties to the little devils, for a large division, it still failed to make the little devils break their muscles and bones.

After Feng Zhi'an handed over the command of the front line to Qiu Jingshan, a henchman known to many division commanders and regiment commanders, to be in charge. Qiu Jingshan, who received the telegram, resolutely rushed to Xu Ji to take command and reported the situation to He Zhengdao.

In order to integrate the operational command of the troops in Central China, officers like Qiu Jingshan will all be under the command of He Zhengdao. Now Feng Zhi'an has decided to hand over the troops deployed on the front line to Qiu Jingshan.

Such an approach is undoubtedly Feng Zhi'an's decision to entrust all those troops to the Eighth Route Army. Whether these troops can return to the 77th Army in the future depends on whether the Eighth Route Army can retain these troops.

He Zhengdao, who received this telegram, also had a headache and said: "What a Feng Zhi'an, he really gave me a problem." It's a pity to miss such a big gift, but it's not easy to eat it! ”

Luo Ruiqing, as the chief of staff, also said with a smile: "Commander, we have so many guerrillas, I think it shouldn't be difficult to digest the troops they are deployed on the front line, right?" Why do you say it's not easy? ”

'If you want to digest these troops, how can you just do it?' In the 77th Army, there was also a significant number of military commanders. If we don't pull them out, will we dare to integrate such troops into our partisan detachments? ’

As soon as these words came out, Luo Ruiqing also realized that this kind of investigation would become very difficult. If the guerrillas really want to expand quickly, it will be easier. However, for the sake of secrecy, the expansion needs to be more cautious and secrecy.

At present, Feng Zhi'an directly threw the troops on the front line to He Zhengdao to take care of him. Naturally, it is also to prepare these troops for the possibility of being annexed by the Eighth Route Army. But for He Zhengdao, this gift is really not easy to receive!

After thinking about it, He Zhengdao continued: "Call back Qiu Jingshan, and transfer the materials gathered in Xuji to the rear as much as possible before the war. I'll arrange for people to pick up the supplies and find them a place to settle.

If the Japanese offensive is fierce and the troops withdraw from Xuji at the right time, the order of the retreat of the troops must be ensured. I'll arrange for a nearby reconnaissance detachment to meet them.

In addition, let the reconnaissance detachment arrange some retreat channels for them. Remember, bring some more mines. Landmines are very useful when used well. Try to keep as many materials and personnel as possible. ”

After receiving a telegram from He Zhengdao and learning that the main force would send a reconnaissance detachment to assist in the retreat, Qiu Jingshan also breathed a long sigh of relief. Even the brigade commander in charge of command felt a lot more relieved.

Even if Qiu Jingshan is only a colonel and regiment commander, this infantry brigade commander of the 77th Army is actually a colonel brigade commander. The most important thing is that this brigade commander has no objection to the possibility of joining the Eighth Route Army in the future.

Judging from the current situation, it is really unclear who will dominate the war between the Central Army and the Eighth Route Army in the future. But in the eyes of this brigade commander, if he follows the Eighth Route Army, at least he doesn't have to worry about being betrayed and being an outcast.

At present, Qiu Jingshan has just arrived in Xuji, and the Eighth Route Army has decided to help them retreat at that time, which also shows that the Eighth Route Army really regards them as friendly troops. Even this kind of help may swallow up this infantry brigade of his.

It's better to be alive than to be killed or captured by a little devil!

Seeing that the Japanese army had assembled a cavalry brigade on Xuji's side, He Zhengdao finally said: "Send a telegram to the reconnaissance regiment and order them to rush to Gushi City to set up an ambush position before dawn tomorrow."

A batch of assault rifles sent from the rear earlier, all equipped with them. If the Japanese army were to carry out a surprise attack, they would definitely let these cavalry go out. Tell the troops in front of you that I want all these little devils' cavalry! ”

'Yes, Commander! ’

In He Zhengdao's view, this cavalry brigade is undoubtedly a mobile unit of little devils. Even if they deployed a killing move in advance behind Xu Ji, it was more of the infantry brigade of the little devils who wanted to kill in the pit.

As for this cavalry brigade, He Zhengdao hoped to give a counter-ambush when they carried out a surprise attack. Defeating this cavalry brigade of the little devil is equivalent to cutting off one of the arms of the Third Division.

In the next battle, He Zhengdao would command the new 67th Army, which would slowly dismember the seemingly large Third Division in a piecemeal manner. One day, they will know how stupid it is to advance into Xinyang to fight.

He Zhengdao, who had already prepared a response in advance, saw that the little devil had finally come out of character this time, and sent so many troops to implement surprise tactics. I also know that the Japanese army will speed up the next step to invade and occupy the entire Xinyang cities.

Understand that once these counties fall into the hands of the Japanese army, their activities in the Xinyang area will also be subject to many restrictions in the future. He Zhengdao suddenly felt that he couldn't let the little devil occupy Xinyang so easily.

After thinking for a while, he said: "Chief of Staff, send a telegram to Li Xiangdong and ask him to come to the headquarters!" ”

'Good! Call Xiao Li over at this time, is there any new task? ’

'Well, I'm going to send Li Xiangdong to the rear of the little devil. During this time, the little devils sent a lot of puppet troops and garrisons from Fuyang and other places into various parts of Fuyang to carry out a sweep of our guerrillas to ensure the safety of their supply lines.

Even if I don't plan to die with the little devil in Xinyang next, I can't make it too easy for the little devil. Let Li Xiangdong lead a reconnaissance group to cooperate with Lin Tie's camouflage battalion, I believe that the rear of the little devil can be completely messed up.

As long as Li Xiangdong can do this, it will be a multiple-choice question in front of the little devil. Do they want Xinyang, or do they want to keep the other occupied areas safe? I'm going to put the little devil in the same dilemma.

Once the little devil draws troops back from the front line, then we have a chance to deal a fatal blow to the little devil. Once the Third Division is heavily damaged by us, the garrison of the little devils in Anhui will inevitably have a big crisis.

When the time comes, let the New Fourth Army cooperate with the 117th Division, and maybe we can recover a few remote county towns in Anhui. With the county seat as our frontier position, the little devils will not want to live in Anhui in the future. ’

After saying this, Luo Ruiqing also felt that He Zhengdao's tactic of copying the nest was really a good way. With their current strength, if they give up some county towns, they can fully cope with the advance of the Japanese army.

The most important thing is that the materials captured earlier were enough for the main forces that retreated into the mountains to fight guerrilla warfare for a long time. Moreover, fighting guerrilla warfare will also have corresponding gains.

On the other hand, the little devils who occupied the counties of Xinyang at that time, they wanted to ensure the supply of troops through seizure, but they were afraid that it was not possible at all. This means that they need to mobilize supplies from the rear to ensure the supply of troops on the front line.

If the supply lines in the rear are cut off, the Japanese army that invades Xinyang may fall into a crisis of insufficient supplies. At that time, even if the Eighth Route Army does not attack, it is possible that these little devils will starve to death.

Thinking about these clearly, Luo Ruiqing said with a smile: "This is really a stroke of genius!" If this trick is used well, the little devil is afraid that he will have a headache next. This is the triangular defense tactic that the commander had in mind, right? ”

'Sort of! But this is just an experiment, and the most important thing is to see if Li Xiangdong can open up the situation after he passes. As long as they can open things up, the rest will be much easier. ’

At this time, sending a confidant general like Li Xiangdong behind enemy lines to command operations is enough to show the importance He Zhengdao attaches to this task. But in He Zhengdao's view, such a task is not afraid of the past, nor is it safe to worry about the past.

Sending too many troops will make the little devils wary and give them time to draw troops from other places to surround them. In order to guarantee the suddenness of this plan, it was necessary to dispatch small elite troops.

If a unit that can accomplish such a difficult task, what unit will it choose instead of a reconnaissance unit? (To be continued.) )