With Qiao Youhua's order, nearly 100,000 troops such as the 1st Division, the 4th Division, the Heavy Artillery Brigade, the Air Defense Brigade, and the Guard Regiment directly under the column launched a fierce attack on the local Japanese puppet defenders on the front line of Bazhou and Zhuozhou.

At the same time, the tank regiment directly under the headquarters of the 1st Division and the 1st Infantry Corps also accelerated the pace of their advance to Beiping City, and in a short period of time, successively broke through several small blocking lines of Japanese puppet troops south of Beiping.

Soldiers are on the bank of the Yongding River.

The Tank Armored Brigade led by Liu Jianhua and the Tank Regiment directly under the Fourth Division, the First Mechanized Infantry Regiment, made a detour from Gu'an County to the east and went straight to Langfang Town.

Gu'an County is only more than 40 kilometers away from Langfang, and it only took more than an hour for their fully mechanized troops to arrive in Langfang Town.

At this time, the Japanese puppet army in Beiping was still slowly retreating, and they didn't expect the Dragon's Tooth Column to hit Langfang so quickly, after all, compared with Beiping, the strategic significance of the town of Langfang is insignificant.

There were only about 1,000 Japanese puppet infantry stationed in the town, and they were not equipped with any heavy weapons, so they were naturally no match for the mechanized armored force of the Dragon's Tooth Column.

Liu Jianhua ordered the troops to make a surprise attack, and they were easily defeated, and the town of Langfang was immediately captured, cutting off a necessary way to withdraw from Beiping to Tianjin.

After capturing the town of Langfang, Liu Jianhua immediately arranged for the infantry regiment to build field fortifications along the railways and highways, while the tank and armored units were responsible for guarding and covering the surrounding areas to prevent the Japanese puppet army in Beiping from counterattacking.

At the same time, an urgent message was sent to Qiao Youhua to report the situation.

In Beiping City, Okamura Ningji and others, who were planning to go to the airport to evacuate to Tianjin, got the news of the loss of Langfang as soon as possible.

He got together with Iizawa and others to discuss: "Langfang Town has fallen into the hands of the Chinese army, and our plan to retreat east from Tianjin will probably be affected. ”

Mamoru Iizawa suggested: "Why don't we immediately contact the 30,000 army in Tianjin, plus the air fire support of the Haiji and land-based aviation, we will counterattack Langfang and recapture it!" ”

Okamura Ningji muttered: "I'm afraid it's too late, the partial division of the Zhina Army that detoured from the direction of Zhuozhou has already crossed Fangshan and arrived at the Yongding River, although they are a partial division, but they are also a fully mechanized elite army."

If we fail to counterattack Langfang and delay time, then this branch of the branch may rush to Beiping City to bite us. ”

"So what are we going to do?" Mamoru Iizawa looked at Okamura Ninji with some embarrassment.

Okamura Ningji thought for a while and decided: "Order the air force stationed in Beiping to take off immediately, rush to Yongding River and Langfang Town, and carry out air raids and strikes against these two roundabout troops of the Chinese Army.

After the air raid was completed, all the fighters immediately flew to Tianjin or Qinhuangdao Airport to land.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, all the soldiers and civilians left the city from the northeast of Beiping and retreated to Jixian and Tangshan through Tongzhou. We built a defensive line in Tangshan, echoing Tianjin from afar, to resist the attack of the Chinese army. ”

Iizawa nodded and asked again: "There are not many Bazhou defenders left, but there are at least twenty or thirty thousand imperial troops and imperial troops in the direction of Zhuozhou, after we evacuated Beiping, Langfang Town was also cut off by the Zhina army, where should they retreat?" ”

Okamura Ningji looked at the map, pondered for a moment, and said, "Order them to choose an opportunity to withdraw from Zhuozhou, retreat northwest through Taihang Mountain, and retreat into the territory of Rehe." ”

Mamoru Iizawa glanced at the map and said, "Then this retreat path can be said to be too difficult, there are mountains and forests everywhere, and many places are deserted. ”

"Only in this way will they be able to get rid of the enemy's pursuit, and if they retreat on the plains, they will not be able to escape the pursuit of the mechanized corps of the Chinese army." Okamura Ninji said meaningfully.

"Yo Xi, it makes sense." Iizawa Mamoru nodded happily and said, "I'll arrange it." ”

After the deployment was completed, Okamura Ninji, Tada Jun, Iizawa Mamoru and a number of other high-ranking Japanese officers of the North China Front took several military transport planes at Beiping Airport and flew to Tianjin and Qinhuangdao airports respectively.

Okamura Ningji went to Tianjin to command the next Tianjin defensive battle, but Tada Jun went to Qinhuangdao, he had already handed over the command to Okamura Ningji, and now the situation has deteriorated, and the officers and officials of the North China Front Command seem to agree with Okamura Ningji very much, at this time, he will not take back the command. Have fun.

In the south of Bazhou City, Qiao Youhua boosted the morale of the attacking troops, and under the support of Zuo Quan, Li Yunlong, Zheng Yunshan and others, he climbed the city wall of the south gate of Bazhou, which was still within the range of the Japanese puppet army's artillery counterattack in the city.

On the city wall, Li Yunlong pointed to Bazhou City, where there was constantly fire and gunpowder smoke rising in front of him, and introduced Qiao Youhua and Zuo Quan: "Commander, Chief of Staff, my attacking troops have controlled the four gates and all the city walls of the entire Bazhou City, and at present, the devils and the puppet army have been compressed by our attacking forces to the area in the city centered on the county government.

Where are the regiments moving rapidly, this Japanese puppet army in Bazhou City, this time it is really impossible to escape. ”

"We have to settle the battle as soon as possible, the longer we delay here, the more devils will run, they will take the initiative to give up Beiping, but they may not take the initiative to give up Tianjin, the reason is very simple, Tianjin is close to the sea, where to station, they can get strong fire support from their naval fleet." Qiao Youhua said thoughtfully.

Zuo Quan also nodded deeply and said: "It makes sense, if the enemy army wants to hold on to Tianjin, then we will have a fierce battle next."

Therefore, the sooner the war in Bazhou, Zhuozhou and other places ends, the better it will be for us. On the contrary, it will be beneficial to the enemy, because once the Japanese army has built perfect fortifications on the outskirts of Tianjin, coupled with the strong fire support of its naval fleet and carrier-based aircraft group, it can be said that it will be difficult for us to capture Tianjin. ”

After Li Yunlong heard this, he suddenly said sharply: "Commander, chief of staff, I will personally lead the assault team to participate in the attack, and ensure that within three hours, the county government compound will be taken and the enemy in Bazhou City will be completely annihilated!" Solve the battle! ”

Qiao Youhua looked at him who took the initiative to ask for help, and was about to nod in agreement, when a rush of footsteps came from under the city gate.

A communications soldier came all the way and saluted him, Zuo Quan and the others: "Commander, chief of staff, the tank armored brigade is calling, they have successfully recovered Langfang, cut off the enemy's eastward escape route in Beiping, and are currently building fortifications to prevent the enemy from counterattacking. ”

"Very well, tell them to stay put, stay alert, and stand by where they are." Qiao Youhua was overjoyed when he heard this, and then said to Li Yunlong: "Deputy Division Commander Li, Bazhou City will be handed over to you here, I plan to lead the guard regiment to take the lead in marching to Beiping, you solve the battle here as soon as possible, and then follow." ”

"Yes! Rest assured, commander, three hours at most, guaranteed to end the battle here. Li Yunlong and the others hurriedly stepped forward and saluted and promised.