"Report to the commander, a call from the division headquarters." Just when Sun Xingbang, the commander of the first division, and Zhao Dahe, the political commissar, were discussing the current battle situation. The communications staff officer took a telegram and hurriedly came to the two of them and said.

"Old Sun, I guess it must be that the division commander has a task soon, read" After listening to the words of the communications staff officer, political commissar Zhao Dahe said excitedly.

"Yes, Commander, Political Commissar: The division headquarters ordered Commander Sun Xingbang to lead all the main forces of the division to march day and night, and hide in the woods around Gong Village before the 16th. And on the night of the 16th, he launched an attack on the defending enemy of Gongcun. After occupying part of the enemy's positions, the tactics of encircling but not fighting were adopted, forcing the defenders of Gongcun to send a report for help to the main division. As for the final general attack time of your division, the division headquarters will notify you separately. In addition, in addition to a heavy artillery brigade of the Gong Village, there were also two brigades of defenders, and a strong fortification was constructed. In order to reduce the casualties of the troops, the division headquarters will send a staff officer to guide your troops to adopt a new method of attacking the battle.

Political Commissar Zhao Dahe was ordered to lead at least one battalion of troops and follow behind the main force of the army. Organize all the militia, local troops along the way. After the army has passed through their respective defense areas, it is necessary to destroy all roads again. Completely block the passage of the retreat of the army.

Division Commander Liu Hua Chief of Staff: Li Qing "After the communications staff officer finished reading the telegram in his hand, he put the telegram on the table in front of him.

"Lao Zhao, did you hear clearly, the division commander is going to take the Fifth Division of the Yue Army" After listening to the content of the telegram, Sun Xingbang, the commander who knew Liuhua very well, opened his mouth and said in disbelief.

"Hehe, old grandson, in fact, there is nothing. When we received the battle report of the Reading Force, I said that the battle of the Gongcun Reading Force Regiment might change the entire form of anti-encirclement and suppression. It seems that the division commander is really ready to change the battle plan, hehe, take the fifth division of the little devil to open the knife, now, there is a wall with the old boy to feel better. Political Commissar Zhao Dahe said with a smile.

"I didn't mean that, I mean the teacher is really bold enough. Although the Fifth Division was defeated by our Reading Regiment, it still had more than 16,000 troops. And we, in addition to the rapid reaction brigade, two main regiments in the first division, at most three regiments from the plateau are coming over in reinforcements. We also only have 8 regiments, and I am worried about the strength of more than 15,000 people," Sun Xingbang said with a wry smile.

"Old Sun, you are too careful. You don't want to think about it, since we followed the division commander, have we lost a battle? Anyway, in my memory, there has not been a single defeat. I think that since the division commander has given the battle order, there is absolute certainty that victory will be achieved. Therefore, we don't need to be mindful, what we need to focus on is to complete the combat mission assigned to us by the division commander at the lowest cost. Political commissar Zhao Dahe said confidently.

"Well, it seems that I am too careful. Since following the division commander, I have indeed never lost a battle. Commander Sun Xingbang smiled and admitted what Zhao Dahe said.

"Old Sun, don't be too happy. You also don't look at your tasks. Nearly 2000 little devil infantry, plus a heavy artillery brigade. When the time comes, if you don't arrange it properly, you will be in good hands. However, the division commander telegraphed that a staff officer would be sent to guide the operation and adopt a new method of attack and warfare. But I have my assignment and I have to do it next time. Political Commissar Zhao Dahe reminded.

"Lao Zhao, don't worry, I'll pay attention. You also have to pay attention to safety, don't always run the front line. In this case, let's discuss the specific forces to be dispatched. Commander Sun Xingbang nodded and said.

"Old Sun, my opinion is this: the battalion I took away will not be taken from our only two main regiments, but will be brought to the guard battalion of the division. Also, bring a company of the artillery battalion to facilitate the troops' reconnaissance of the enemy. You bring the two main regiments of our division, the artillery battalion and the cavalry battalion directly under the division. If you add some local troops, gather 6,000 troops and attack Gongcun with great fanfare. Let the little devils in Gong Village know that our first division is the main force of the Reading Division. Political Commissar Zhao Dahe suggested.

"Okay, agreed, the task is urgent, we will start to hurry up and transfer troops now and strive to have lunch at noon today, and the troops will be able to leave on time" After listening to the political commissar's suggestion, Sun Xingbang knew that now was not the time to postpone. So he readily agreed, and at the same time set a time for sending troops.

Two days later, at four o'clock in the morning of the 16th, the main force of nearly 5,000 people led by Sun Xingbang and more than 1,000 local troops. Finally, after two days of day and night, we rushed to the woods around Gong Village. And smoothly rendezvous with Staff Officer Wang of the Divisional Headquarters Operations Staff Office, who had been hidden here in advance.

"Report to Commander Sun, Wang Degui of the Divisional Operational Staff Office was ordered to come and report." Wang Degui, who had been waiting here for a day, saw that the main force of the 1st Division had finally arrived at the destination within the specified time. couldn't help but be excited, and hurriedly ran to the front of Sun Xingbang, the commander of the first division, and solemnly reported.

"Well, Counselor Wang, it seems that you have been waiting for us for a long time. Well, we weren't late! Seeing the fierce staff officer Wang Degui in front of him, Sun Xingbang nodded appreciatively and joked with a smile.

"Commander, don't make fun of me, it's still a whole day before the time set by the division commander, how can you be late." Wang Degui said embarrassedly.

"Alright, Counselor Wang, you arrived here a day early. You should be much more familiar with the terrain than we are. Today, you will temporarily serve as the chief of staff of my first division, and the problem of the camping of more than 6,000 troops behind me will be handed over to you here. Looking at the dozens of soldiers behind Wang Degui, Sun Xingbang said with a smile.

"Yes, Commander, Wang Degui guarantees to complete the task" After speaking, Wang Degui turned around and took dozens of soldiers behind him and ran towards the various units of the first division. In less than an hour, the troops of more than 6,000 people were all arranged by Wang Degui and began to rest.

After arranging the camp of the troops, Wang Degui came to the temporary headquarters of the first division. Since the troops were deep in the mountains at this time, a dim lantern was lit in the headquarters. The divisional commander Sun Xingbang, on the other hand, was lying on a table made of bullet boxes with the help of the faint light of the horse lamp, staring closely at a map in front of him.

"Commander, all the troops have been arranged. The guard post has been set up, and now the fighters are already resting, what other instructions do you have? Staff Officer Wang Degui walked to Sun Xingbang's side and said.

"It's good so quickly, it's worthy of being trained by the teacher himself, and doing things is different. By the way, Staff Officer Wang, the division commander's telegram said, you will hand over a group of new attack methods to us, do you want to tell me first, let me familiarize myself......" Seeing Staff Officer Wang who completed the task so quickly, Sun Xingbang couldn't help but sigh with emotion. However, he had not forgotten the specific mission of Counselor Wang's arrival, so he immediately began to ask.

"Commander, this new tactic is very simple to say. In the words of the commander, it was by digging trenches and slowly approaching the enemy's position from underground. Shortening the offensive distance between the two armies, so that the enemy's heavy firepower loses its due effect, can also reduce the casualties of the troops when attacking. Counselor Wang briefly introduced.

"Use communication trenches to shorten the attack distance, so that the enemy's artillery fire cannot play its due power. Well, Counselor Wang, tell me more about it" Sun Xingbang nodded thoughtfully and continued to ask.

"Yes, Commander, it is like this, in the plains, if our attack is too far, then we are too far away from being directly exposed to the heavy fire of the enemy

"Haha, Staff Officer Wang, who came up with this tactic, he is really a genius. Such a simple thing can not only exert great power on the battlefield. More importantly, it can also reduce the casualties of the attacking troops. Tell me who summed up this tactic. After listening to Counselor Wang's introduction, Sun Xingbang couldn't help but widen his eyes and couldn't help but ask in surprise.

"Commander, you didn't think of it, the person who came up with this tactic. In fact, we all know each other, and we know a person very well, guess who this person is? Counselor Wang asked with a smile.

"Oh my god! Staff Officer Wang, don't tell me, this person is our division commander" Sun Xingbang opened his mouth and said in disbelief.

"You guessed it, the one who summed up this tactic was our division commander. However, the reason why this tactic was summed up at that time was to deal with the more than 2,000 little devils under our mountain," Staff Officer Wang said with a smile.

"Division commander. I'm really convinced. In this way, Staff Officer Wang, let's rest for a few hours first, and when it is dawn, we will take a few regiment commanders and Mo go down the mountain to observe the terrain on the spot. What do you think about making a specific offensive plan? Sun Xingbang said with a smile.

"Report to the commander, I am now just every combat staff officer under you, and I resolutely obey orders." Staff Officer Wang immediately stood up and said.

"Okay, that's it, let's all rest for a few hours first, and tomorrow we will start to observe the enemy's situation, you can go down first! When the time comes, I'll have the correspondent come and let you know. Sun Xingbang ordered.

"Yes, Commander." Staff Officer Wang turned around and left the temporary command post.

The next day, it was not until ten o'clock that Sun Xingbang ordered the messenger to call his two regiment commanders, the two battalion commanders directly under him, and the division headquarters Staff Officer Wang. A few people hurriedly ate some dry food, and under the protection of some guard troops, they quietly descended the mountain and slowly approached the little devil's defensive position.

The six people, under the leadership of Staff Officer Wang, who was familiar with the terrain, quietly touched a high ground less than 500 meters away from the defense line of the Yue army. Suddenly, every move of the entire defensive position of the army fell into the field of vision of the soldiers.

"Commander, this is the best place to observe in the neighborhood. We can all see every move of the army's position clearly. Staff Officer Wang pointed to the defensive position of the army not far away and said.

"Well, it seems that the military quality of the supreme commander of the army here is very good. At a distance of 200 meters in front of the position, all concealment was cleared. If our army rashly carries out a strong attack, on the one hand, it will become the target of the army's heavy machine guns, and on the other hand, it will also be the target of the enemy's heavy artillery. It seems that this little devil is really scheming, and wants to destroy our reading master! Looking at the sturdy fortifications laid out by the army, even Sun Xingbang, the commander of the first division, couldn't help but praise.

"Yes, the commander is quite right. If we had not come up with this tactic by the division commander, we would not only have paid a heavy price, but we might not have been able to take the enemy's position at all. Counselor Wang nodded and agreed.

"Okay, have you seen the fortifications of the enemy's position clearly? Now that we're clear, we'll go back to the assignment, and I'll tell you that the division commander ordered it tonight. In any case, it is necessary to launch an attack, and also to capture some enemy positions. Let the little devils here feel terrified, and send a report to their main division for help. Sun Xingbang ordered to the battalion commanders of several regiments around him.

"Okay" In this way, after observing the enemy's position, several people quietly returned to the camp of their own troops, and began to arrange specific combat tasks for tonight's attack.

"Just now, Staff Officer Wang of the division headquarters has already explained to everyone the tactics that we need to adopt when our first division attacks tonight. If there is anyone else you are not familiar with, stand up for me now and ask for advice, don't drop the chain for me when the time comes. When the time comes, who will cause unnecessary casualties because of mistakes in tactics. That's nothing to say, I must be engaged in military law. Looking at all the commanders above the battalion level in front of him, Sun Xingbang stood up and asked.

"It's all clear," dozens of people replied in unison.

"Okay, now that everyone is clear, now I will start to assign specific combat missions and orders." Sun Xingbang yelled loudly at the dozens of cadres in front of him.

"Hmm" Almost at the moment when Sun Xingbang blurted out the order, dozens of commanders in front of him stood up almost at the same time.

"Our specific tactics are to drive these little devils to Gong Village as much as possible, so we adopt the tactics of encircling three and missing one. The specific arrangement was as follows: one regiment and one battalion, with two battalions plus a battalion of militia, to attack from the south of the enemy's position. The militia of the 1st Regiment and 3rd Battalion, 1st Battalion of the 2nd Regiment and another battalion began to attack from the south of the enemy's position. The militia of the second battalion, the second battalion, the third battalion, and the other battalion attacked from the west of the enemy's position, and the cavalry battalion served as a reserve for the whole army. ”

"As for our artillery battalion, after the infantry has built a communication trench. Along the communication trenches, I pushed all the artillery to the first line of positions, and approached to fire shells at the enemy positions. This not only increases the power of the shells, but more importantly, it can enter the enemy's dead end and improve the ability to defend. But your artillery battalion should remember to me that you are only allowed to shell the enemy's infantry positions, and if anyone blows up the enemy's heavy artillery and shells for me, I will shoot him. Sun Xingbang ordered loudly.

"Yes, Commander, guarantee the completion of the mission" dozens of people replied in unison.

"Okay, as soon as it gets dark, everyone starts moving. The specific time of the attack will be decided according to the progress of the trenches dug by each department. Now that the meeting is adjourned, after everyone goes back, they will pass on the tactics taught to you by Staff Officer Wang to the ears of every soldier. Sun Xingbang ordered.

"Yes, Commander"

At six o'clock in the afternoon of the same day, the troops stationed in the dense forest began to slowly move towards the enemy's position under the leadership of their respective commanders. By eight o'clock in the evening, the entire sky had finally turned into darkness, and only the countless bonfires on the military positions not far away had emitted a faint glow.

The several thousand soldiers led by Sun Xingbang, commander of the First Division, had quietly hidden less than 500 meters away from the position of the Japanese army, quietly waiting for the commander's order.

Soon after "starting the operation", the voices of their respective commanders were remembered on the starting positions of the Eighth Route Army. Groups of soldiers dressed in black cloth, carrying shovels, quietly crawled out of the hidden woods and crawled towards the position of the Japanese army not far away. And under the concealment of the black cloth on the body, each soldier thought of a, and soon disappeared from the field of vision of the soldiers.

And the little devil at this time, on the entire defensive position. Except for a few unlucky soldiers, who were ordered by their own commanders to stick to their positions and be on guard. The rest of the soldiers gathered around a bonfire, shouting and singing their military songs. chatting about the customs of his hometown and commenting on his achievements after entering China. Drinking tasteless sake and eating a boring marching dinner seemed to be celebrating that he had stayed in Gong Village and did not have to risk continuing to attack the base of the Eighth Route Army.

However, they didn't know that it was their loud singing that well muffled the sound of the soldiers digging bunkers in front of the position. Under the cover of enemy singing, the soldiers successfully climbed to a distance of about 50 meters from the enemy position and stopped. Grab the sapper shovel on your back and start digging a single bunker in front of you.

Digging bunkers was the easiest task for these soldiers of the Eighth Route Army, who were basically peasants. They were holding sapper shovels made of fine iron from the arsenal and digging as quickly as possible without making a sound.

(To be continued)