For Zhou Hunyuan, the capture of Shuicheng by the main force of the Independent Division was indeed a bit unexpected in his opinion. But he also knew that it was impossible for the independent division to abandon the three regiments that had not joined the main force, and it would inevitably hold on to Shuicheng.

In this way, it also created an opportunity for the encirclement and suppression army to encircle and annihilate the independent division. At least in Zhou Hunyuan's opinion, although he only has one division in his hand, the other two reinforcements are also not very far from Shuicheng.

Under the encirclement of the three roads, there are only two roads in front of the independent division, one is to hold on to the water city and block the encirclement and suppression army of the three roads. In this case, I believe that even if the independent division wins in the end, its strength will be seriously damaged.

The second way is to give way to the water city and return to the Liuzhi area to join its main three regiments. But Zhou Hunyuan felt that this path was also not a good choice for independent divisions.

The reason is that the 86th Division and the two Guijun Divisions are not far from them now. Once the Independent Division withdraws from Shuicheng and loses this solid base, the fate of the Independent Division will not be so good either.

At present, the most important thing is to seize ahead of the three regiments of the independent division and encircle Shuicheng. Therefore, Zhou Hunyuan's troops, when they hit the road the next day, also chose to advance lightly, just like the Third Regiment.

It's just that what Zhou Hunyuan didn't know was that He Zhengdao, who led the three regiments to speed up, picked out the reconnaissance battalion in advance to block Zhou Hunyuan's logistics supply line. Having lost the material supply in the rear, the troops under the command of Zhou Hunyuan also could not hold out for long.

In contrast, the main forces of the three independent divisions placed outside Shuicheng were in He Zhengdao's opinion. With two or three days to build fortifications, and with a large amount of captured artillery, holding the city was not a problem at all.

What's more, the independent division also has a large number of troops from the new corps, which can be dispatched to the three blocking positions at any time. In this way, the independent division will undoubtedly have a better chance of winning. Even when the third regiment arrived, Zhou Hunyuan had to be careful of the consequences of being completely annihilated.

When the Third Regiment began to compete with Zhou Hunyuan's troops, He Zhengdao let Gao Lin, a soldier from ethnic minorities, act as a pioneer. By asking the border people who live nearby, find the fastest way to get to the water city.

In this way, the marching speed of the three regiments also had to be increased rapidly. And every time he passed a cottage, He Zhengdao would leave a batch of weapons and ammunition for these Miao village leaders to thank them for their help to the Red Army.

Of course, while these Miao village leaders are happy, He Zhengdao will also make small requests. It is the hope that after they leave, when a stranger passes through the area under their control, those people will be controlled.

Even if you don't kill them, you just need to imprison them for a while. This also means that trying to find out the whereabouts of the three regiments will also become very dangerous and difficult for these spies.

Just as the three regiments passed through several ethnic minority villages one after another, their whereabouts disappeared from the sight of those spies. The reconnaissance battalion also rushed to the jungle on the official road from the copper factory to Shuicheng before dark.

Looking at the troops who had worked hard all day, as well as the official road under the mountain, Li Xiangdong thought for a while and said: "Each company is separated, looking for a favorable place to carry out blockade and destruction. From tonight onwards, not a single carriage will be allowed to pass through this road. ”

'Yes, Battalion Commander! ’

After the four reconnaissance companies separated, they each looked for a place to defend and block the attack. At some obstructed intersections, explosive packets were planted overnight. Only tomorrow when the logistics units of the Central Army pass by, they will carry out blasting to block the passage of these transport vehicles.

And at this moment, Zhou Hunyuan, who learned that he had lost the whereabouts of the Third Regiment of the Independent Division, looked at the two routes that were almost parallel to them, and said with a little worry: "The people from the intelligence department, how did they do it?" Thousands of people, how could they be lost? ”

In the face of Zhou Hunyuan's inquiry, the officer in charge of intelligence liaison also said helplessly: "Military seat, according to what we have learned, most of the routes of the three regiments are in areas inhabited by local ethnic minorities.

I don't know how these Red Army's abilities can be treated well by these natives. In the past, not to mention the Red Army, even the Guizhou Army did not dare to pass through their area at will, for fear of accidentally causing the **** of these natives.

If my guess is correct, the intelligence officers we followed the three regiments must have arrested these natives. These natives are rude to strangers passing through areas under their control. ”

As an intelligence officer, the officer in charge of this intelligence liaison naturally knows that Qianxi is the place where ethnic minorities live the most. Even now, many places are managed and ruled by these Tusi.

The fact that the Red Army was passing through their territory without being hindered did strike him a little incredible! But he knew that He Zhengdao was very well paid when he passed through these Tusi-controlled areas!

In the eyes of many officers of the Central Army, the Red Army belongs to the kind of troops that can even pick up bullet casings when fighting a war. Like He Zhengdao, a generous person who gave guns and bullets and returned money, the entire Red Army probably couldn't find it.

Those toasts are not stupid, and they also know that there is no good in going against the Red Army. Serving the Central Army will not end well either. They choose to work with whoever benefits them.

In such a time of war, the importance of guns and ammunition is self-evident. Not to mention, when attacking the towns along the way, He Zhengdao also seized a large amount of tobacco and soil that was more expensive than gold in Qianxi. These things are the best money to buy the road!

But what really impressed these toasts and leaders was that He Zhengdao respected their national customs and culture when he treated them. There are even some who are different and are willing to accept their young people into the army.

This kind of recognition and respect is also the reason why He Zhengdao can be appreciated by these toasts and leaders. After all, although they are described by many Han Chinese as indigenous, it does not mean that they are truly indigenous.

Some of the things that happened outside, as the toast and the leader, they also knew. What's more, some time ago, the main force of the Red Army passed through Qianxi, and they did nothing to the common people, how could these people not know about it?

People's hearts have a scale, and the people of these ethnic minorities also know who is sincerely good to them. In the face of this kind of thing that is both beneficial and can be recognized by the villagers, why don't these toasts and leaders do it?

Compared with Zhou Hunyuan's troops, they began to rest at night, but He Zhengdao led the three regiments but still hurried overnight. It was only in the middle of the night that the troops were arranged to camp in place and rest. In order to compete with Zhou Hunyuan, it is to compete for time.

And the next day, the two armies again set out early in the morning. But at this moment, the material supply convoy from the copper factory suffered very heavy casualties. Most of the supplies they transported were destroyed by the reconnaissance battalion.

After receiving the telegram from the rear, Zhou Hunyuan said with a somewhat solemn expression: "It's trouble!" I really didn't expect that the other side would see our biggest weakness. By the way, how long can our food last? ”

'Report to the military seat, and hold out for three days. If it is provincial, it should be able to hold on for one more day. As for weapons and ammunition, we don't carry much. If you really want to launch a large-scale attack, I am afraid that the bullet reserves will not be able to hold out for a few battles. ’

Hearing the report of the chief of staff, Zhou Hunyuan quickly said: "Order the main regiment in our rear to accompany the logistics troops to escort it." We must ensure that within three days, our transportation and supply lines will be opened and the supplies will be delivered as soon as possible. ”

'Yes, Throne! ’

What made Zhou Hunyuan dumbfounded was that early the next morning, the escort troops who accompanied the second batch of material delivery troops set off. Soon a telegram was sent to report: "Ten miles away from the copper factory, many mountains have been blown up, and cars and horses cannot pass at all. ”

Hearing this news, Zhou Hunyuan was indeed a little dumbfounded. But he also knew that at this time, he believed that the three regiments that disappeared should not be far from them. And their main force is not far from Shuicheng at present.

Next, the conundrum in front of him came. Should they temporarily avoid the edge on the Yunnan-Guizhou border, or should they stick here and prevent the three regiments from converging with the main force of the independent division?

The result of the former was that the main force of the division led by him could be obtained and preserved, but the consequence was that the three regiments could smoothly converge with the main force. In this way, the remaining two lines of encirclement and suppression of the army will be in danger of being divided and surrounded by independent divisions.

If he sticks here, the consequence is that his division is likely to be crippled by the Red Army. If that is the case, he is afraid that there will not be many troops left in his column of three divisions.

After all, one regiment was annihilated in Mizujo, and the regiment in Longchang also suffered heavy losses. The two regiments that supported Longchang were also full of wounded soldiers. He had the main force of nearly a division, all of which were almost consumed.

At this moment, the materials he carries can only last for about three days at most. Once you finish eating these grains, the consequences of having no food in the army, Zhou Hunyuan, as a general, knows very well what the consequences will be!

Before, I felt that he gave the independent division a dilemma. In a blink of an eye, Zhou Hunyuan also felt that he was also in a dilemma at the moment. Whether to withdraw or stay, I am afraid that I will have to listen to the opinion of the commander-in-chief Xue.

If he directly ordered the evacuation, he would definitely be the best scapegoat in the future. Therefore, he quickly ordered the telegraph operator to send this telegram to Xue Yue in Guiyang, and threw this multiple-choice question to the other party to make a choice.