The reaction of the puppet army captives was expected by Qiao Youhua, and the next thing became much simpler, and the puppet army that had already returned to their hearts began to be under the guidance of some political cadres led by political commissar Guo Meng.

Start registering in an orderly manner, and then decide to be incorporated into that unit, and finally receive weapons and officially become a member of the Dragon's Tooth Column.

The political work cadres led by Guo Meng are the best at these things, but Qiao Youhua is a bit of a layman, so Qiao Youhua is rarely busy and can take a good rest.

was wondering whether to go to Xu Yuer or Liu Ruhan to "catch up", and political commissar Guo Meng suddenly found him in a hurry.

"Political Commissar Guo, what's the matter?" Qiao Youhua asked.

Guo Meng nodded and said: "There is indeed a problem, we don't have a clothing factory, and the military uniforms were all women compatriots who knew how to make clothes in various parts of the base area, and they helped us make them."

Now there are suddenly seven or eight thousand new recruits, and we can't raise enough uniforms for them to change their outfits in a short period of time! ”

Qiao Youhua thought for a while, and said with an indifferent smile: "This problem is easy to solve, let all the puppet army captives who participated in our Dragon Tooth Column this time tie a white towel or red cloth on their shoulders when they participate in the battle, so as to distinguish the enemy from me."

This shouldn't be a problem for our base, right? As for the new military uniforms, when this battle is won, you can use the captured Japanese puppet army uniforms, re-dye them, and change them into the military uniforms of our Eighth Route Army. ”

Guo Meng nodded and said, "Well, for the time being, it's only like this, by the way, has the counteroffensive plan been formulated?" ”

Qiao Youhua said: "I have asked the second and third regiments to closely monitor the movements of the Japanese puppet army outside the city, as soon as there is a movement, we will react immediately, and now the most important thing is to quickly integrate this batch of puppet army prisoners into various regiments and battalions to strengthen the number of our soldiers."

So that they can participate in the next counterattack! ”

"Well, I understand, I'm going to speed up the registration and reorganization." After Guo Meng finished speaking, he turned around and left.

Qiao Youhua lit a cigarette, and then strode towards the headquarters.

…………

East of Shimen City, East Road Japanese Puppet Coalition Army Headquarters.

Sakai Ritsuzo held a telegram in his hand, sat on an ammunition box and read it calmly, and was silent for a while before throwing the telegram into the brazier in front of him, looking up and saying to several subordinate officers: "Act according to the orders of the front army headquarters, the main force of the imperial army will no longer use Shimen, and will be stationed on the spot, Anping, Hengshui, Raoyang and other places."

The Imperial Allied Army, retreat in turn tonight, retreat to Xinji, Jinzhou, and Luancheng to provide alert for the periphery of the Imperial Army! ”

Several Japanese adjutants bowed their heads and responded: "Hai! Then he turned around and took his own orders.

…………

Dingzhou City, the joint headquarters of the Japanese puppet army on the West Road.

Kawayasu also received orders from Sugiyama Mototo and Kawabe Shozo at the same time, and he instructed the communication adjutant in front of him: "Send a telegram to the divisions and brigades of the Imperial Alliance Army on the front line, and the troops will stop attacking and withdraw to Xinle County one after another tonight." ”

"General, what about the Imperial Army?" The communications adjutant asked.

"Stationed in Dingzhou City on the spot!" Kawayasu said on the side.

"Hay! Humble duty understands! The communications adjutant bowed his head sharply and turned to give the order.

…………

That night, the Japanese puppet armies on the east and west slowly began to retreat in accordance with the order and under the cover of night.

Soon, the scouts who were ambushed in the east of Shimen City rushed back to Shimen County and reported to the column headquarters.

Qiao Youhua was rolling the sheets with Xu Yuer at the time, and after getting the report, he put on a military uniform and came to the command headquarters.

Political Commissar Guo Meng and Guard Battalion Commander Zheng Yunshan had already arrived in advance, sat down at the conference table, and waited for a long time.

Qiao Youhua smiled a little embarrassedly: "You two are quite timely." ”

Guo Meng glanced at him, and said in his heart, when is it, he still thinks about doing that embarrassing thing, and doesn't pay attention to him.

Zheng Yunshan hurriedly saluted Qiao Youhua and said, "Commander, the situation has been confirmed, the puppet army in the east of the city is retreating in batches. ”

"Oh! As expected. Qiao Youhua walked to the top of the conference table and stood still, and asked Guo Meng, "Political commissar, how are the prisoners arranged?" ”

Guo Meng replied with some reluctance: "After a day's arrangement, more than 7,000 recruits have basically been arranged into the second and third regiments, and the strength of these two regiments is now about to catch up with a division, and the formation is bloated and inflated. ”

Qiao Youhua said with a smile: "Don't get in the way, in the next battle, they just need to follow behind and make a strong stride, under the leadership of the original veterans of each regiment and battalion, collect the equipment discarded by the Japanese puppet army, help us take care of the prisoners, and garrison the towns captured along the way." For the time being, I don't expect them to really take the lead and kill devils! ”

"If you fight a few battles smoothly, you will naturally grow up."

At this time, Wan Ying'er, who was on duty in the communications office, suddenly trotted in all the way, and saw Qiao Youhua in surprise at first, and then stood up and saluted: "Report to the commander, political commissar, the head of the first regiment sent an urgent telegram from Lingshou, the Japanese puppet army on the west road is retreating overnight, and the first regiment asks if it can be pursued." ”

Guo Meng looked at Qiao Youhua when he heard this, Qiao Youhua thought for a while and said: "The strength of the Japanese puppet army on the West Road still exists, and a regiment does not have an advantage in terms of strength, so forget about the pursuit."

Give Jiang Haidong and Liu Yidao a call back, don't pursue, seize the time to rest, and recast the defense line to prevent the Japanese puppet army from coming back. In addition, the arsenal garrison brigade can be withdrawn and prepare to participate in our operational plan for this eastward counteroffensive. ”

Wan Ying'er straightened up her towering chest and responded in a playful voice: "Yes!" Then he turned and took his orders.

After seeing her leave, Qiao Youhua said to Zheng Yunshan again: "Yunshan, call the officers above the second regiment, the third regiment, the cavalry battalion, and the artillery battalion, and ask them to come to the headquarters for a meeting, and I will deploy the specific plan for this counteroffensive operation." ”

"Yes!" Zheng Yunshan immediately accepted the order, and soon after receiving the phone call, the military commanders and adjutants of the above-mentioned battalions and regiments were ordered to rush to the conference room of the headquarters one after another.

Qiao Youhua looked at the group of subordinates gathered together, threw the battle map that had been prepared on the conference table, and then said to everyone: "Everyone, please take a look. ”

As he spoke, his hand was already pointing to the stone gate on the map, and then to the east, Hengshui, Fucheng, and Dongguang all the way to the sea! He continued to say to the officers: "This line is the target line of our counteroffensive this time, and we must take the opportunity to counterattack all the way to the east, recover the above-mentioned areas as quickly as possible, and build a line of communication through the Japanese theater of operations."

Bring back the German-style equipment and military equipment urgently needed by the base area.

You should remember that in this counteroffensive, the cavalry battalion and the guard battalion acted as the pioneers, and the 2nd and 3rd regiments followed up with all their might, and we must transport back this batch of military equipment and equipment as quickly as possible before the Japanese army perceives our strategic intentions and responds.

Whether this action can succeed or not depends entirely on one point, that is, one word is fast! With the autumn wind sweeping away the fallen leaves, sweep all the Japanese puppet army strongholds and towns on this counteroffensive route! ”