Liaocheng, located in the northeast of Shandong, on the north bank of the Yellow River, is the junction of East China, North China, and Central China, because Hengshui, Dezhou and other places were recovered by the Dragon Tooth Column.

Liaocheng, where the Japanese puppet army did not have many garrisons, has now gathered nearly 4,000 Japanese troops, as well as a large number of puppet troops, with a total strength of tens of thousands.

However, these troops were not only stationed in Liaocheng City, but were stationed in Liaocheng as the center, surrounding county towns and important towns.

The news of the loss of the county seat and the Jingcheng Pass soon spread throughout the Japanese army in North China, and the North China Front Army Headquarters and the Shanxi First Army Command under its jurisdiction were extremely shocked when they learned of the situation.

Immediately telegraphed the order to the Japanese army in the Liaocheng area to strengthen their defenses in case of a possible sneak attack by the Dragon's Tooth Column.

Although the fundamental combat intentions of the Dragon's Tooth Column are not yet clear, the devils have begun to take precautions, and in addition to the above-mentioned orders, the Special High Division has sent additional agents to infiltrate the base areas of the Dragon's Tooth Column, especially the southern front areas such as Shimen and Dezhou.

In the hope of being able to obtain useful information.

In addition, reconnaissance planes of the Japanese army's land-based air forces stationed in Jinan, Tai'an, Taiyuan, and other places also dispatched in large numbers to conduct reconnaissance in the airspace near Jingcheng County, which had just been recaptured by the Longya Column, and Liaocheng and other places in the southeast.

The response of the Japanese army did not affect Qiao Youhua's determination and action to continue the southward offensive and complete the ultimate goal of this operation.

He left Zhao Youde, deputy commander of the Third Brigade, to personally command two infantry battalions and one artillery battalion, after stationing in Jingcheng Pass and Jingcheng County.

Together with Wu Ming, he commanded the guard regiment, the air defense unit and other infantry units of the Third Brigade, secretly left Jingcheng County, walked all the way to the country road, and continued to quietly advance in the direction of Liaocheng.

At the same time, Qiao Youhua also sent a telegram to Guo Meng, who stayed in the base camp in Pingshan County, asking her to deploy manpower and material resources to assist Zhao Youde in rebuilding the fortifications of Jingcheng Pass.

Not to mention the fortifications of Jingcheng Pass, which were originally aimed at the defense of the northern side, the damage of this battle alone made it have to be rebuilt.

After arranging this qiē, Qiao Youhua led his troops and began to advance in the direction of Liaocheng at full speed.

On the way, in order to avoid the reconnaissance of the Japanese reconnaissance planes, Qiao Youhua adopted the strategy of going out by day and night, advancing in batches and other strategies, and all the attacking troops, under his arrangement, chose as far as possible to march on a remote path covered by woods and crops.

Therefore, coupled with the beauty of the heavens, the next day, Liaocheng, Dezhou and other places rained in vain, although the bad weather had a certain impact on the march of the dragon's tooth column on the ground.

However, the lack of direct guidance for the Japanese reconnaissance planes could not continue to take off and take to work, which greatly helped the Longya Column to hide its whereabouts and added another chance of victory for the recovery of the Liaocheng area.

At the same time, far away in the city of Beiping, in the headquarters of the North China Front of the Japanese invasion of China.

The atmosphere is in the midst of a particularly heavy load.

"General, Liaocheng north of the Yellow River and the area around Dezhou have been raining for days in recent days, although the rain is not heavy, but it has already guided the reconnaissance plane of the Imperial Army Aviation Unit, and it can no longer be lifted into the air to carry out aerial reconnaissance missions!

And, the ground agent intelligence personnel, if they want to obtain accurate information, it is not an overnight thing, so up to now, we still don't know if the dragon's tooth column after capturing Jingcheng County has any other movements, and whether it will march to the Liaocheng area. Chief of Staff Mamoru Iizawa reported the news he had received to Tada Jun with a solemn face.

Tada Jun's face was also very heavy, although the county seat of Jingcheng was insignificant, but the location of Jingcheng Pass was very special, it was destined to have an unusual weight, and now it was taken away by the Dragon Tooth Column.

Isn't it that Shanxi is also in more danger, and the already deteriorating situation in Shanxi really makes people sweat for the first army and other imperial troops in Shanxi.

Moreover, after losing the Jingcheng Pass, it is equivalent to losing an important checkpoint that is close to the hinterland of the Dragon's Tooth Column base area, which can be attacked, retreated, and defended.

"Chief of Staff Iizawa, do you have any opinions?" Tada Jun looked at Mamoru Iizawa and asked patiently.

Iizawa Shoudao: "General, for today's plan, we only have two choices, first, from Tai'an, Jinan, Jining and other places on the south bank of the Yellow River, send reinforcements to the north, gallop to Liaocheng and other places to garrison, strengthen the strength of the defenders in this area."

In order to resist the possible attack and attack of the Dragon's Tooth Column, but in this way, if the Dragon's Tooth Column retreats in the face of difficulties and does not march to Liaocheng and other places, we may have to work in vain.

Second, take the initiative to abandon Liaocheng, Binzhou and other areas north of the Yellow River, and make every effort to retreat to Jinan and Taishan. In this way, if we want to counterattack the north bank of the Yellow River in the future, we will have to cross the Yellow River, and it will be much more difficult. ”

Tada Jun's face couldn't help but change after hearing this, and he looked at Iizawa Mamoru and said, "Take the initiative to give up?" That's not going to work, so we can't give an account to the base camp. ”

Iizawa Mamoru patiently persuaded: "General, we can't die to save face, as long as we can preserve our living forces, and give up some areas that don't seem to affect the overall situation for the time being and are insignificant, it's okay." After all, now that we are very short of troops and on the defensive, there is really no need to lose thousands of imperial warriors for the sake of face! ”

"These are valuable troops, and if they are left behind, they may play an unimaginable role in the future."

Seeing that Tada Jun still refused to agree, the anxious Iizawa Mamoru had a flash of inspiration in his mind, and said in a hurry: "Your Excellency, General, I have thought of a way to get the best of both worlds, which can not only not lose the precious vitality of the imperial army, but also make us not fall into the charge of taking the initiative to give up the occupied area!" ”

Tadajun's eyes lit up when he heard this: "What way?" Say it quickly?! ”

Iizawa Shou said: "We can transfer all the imperial army garrisons in Liaocheng and Binzhou to Jinan, and the imperial army that is truly loyal to the imperial army will also be transferred, leaving only part of the imperial army symbolic garrison, if the Zhina army does not come to attack these areas, it can also ensure that we are under our control."

If they come to attack, then we will not lose much, only they Chinese themselves will be lost! ”

After hearing this, Tada Jun's eyes couldn't help but light up and said: "Yo Xi, this plan is very good, just do what you said with the chief of staff!" Immediately send a telegram to the commander of the Liaocheng area, ordering them to immediately carry it out and do so! ”

"Hay! The general is wise! Iizawa was secretly happy in his heart, and hurriedly bowed his head in response.

…………

Long Yingwei also had agents lurking in Liaocheng, so as soon as the Japanese army was mobilized and evacuated, Long Yingwei learned the news and immediately reported the information to Qiao Youhua.

After listening to the report, Qiao Youhua was obviously a little surprised: "What? The devil evacuated on his own initiative? ”