A minute ago, everyone was happily discussing how to recover the northeast, but now they have to withdraw their troops from eastern Hebei. This turn is too big, and everyone can't accept it. Master He, who has a hot temperament, was so angry that he threw away his beloved pipes, and when he came back to his senses, he came to the world to look for it, where can he still find it? Zheng Huzi couldn't cry or laugh, so he had to ask Zhuzi to go to Jizhong Trading Company to buy a new one for Mr. He.

Commander Nie also felt like a stick, and it took him a long time to come back to his senses, and he said in a hoarse voice: "Lao Zheng, even if the little devil comes to a division, can't Jidong hold on and have to give up?" ”

Zheng Weiguo hurriedly explained: "What I mean is that the main force must be withdrawn as soon as possible, the local troops must be guerrilla, and we cannot defend the main transportation routes and county seats, and we can only sacrifice in vain if we fight hard, and it will not play a role in the great cause of fighting Japan." ”

Commander Nie's eyes lit up, and he said in a deep voice: "If you fight for the sacrifice of tens of thousands of people, can you stay at Jidong Station?" ”

Zheng Weiguo was secretly frightened, he didn't expect the Eighth Route Army to be so determined. From the bottom of my heart, the status of Jidong is indeed very important, and it is worth it if tens of thousands of people can be sacrificed. Even if it could not enter the northeast, it would be able to clamp down on land transportation inside and outside the customs, and even coerce Pingjin, so that the Japanese army in North China could not move. But the Japanese are not stupid, can't they see such an important position?

Historically, in order to prevent the Eighth Route Army from infiltrating outside the pass, the Japanese army did not hesitate to spend heavy troops to garrison eastern Hebei. At its peak from 1943 to 1944, the total number of troops stationed in Rehe and Chengde was about 100,000. In key areas such as Xinglong County, the ratio of soldiers to civilians reached an astonishing 1:7, that is, seven ordinary people had to face one Japanese puppet army. Dense areas even reach 1:2 or 2:1.

At the same time, the Japanese army also adopted tactics such as "advancing in parallel," "encircling and conjuring and destroying," and "reversing electric shocks" to carry out a frantic sweep of the guerrilla areas behind enemy lines. In just 43 years and a year, they carried out 438 "crusades," "encirclement and suppression," and "sweeps" against the anti-Japanese guerrilla base areas in Xinglong, such as Wuling Mountain, Wuzhi Mountain, and Goubeiling, of which more than 50 were "sweeps" on a relatively large scale, and more than 37,000 Japanese puppet troops were dispatched one after another.

What is even more frustrating is that the Japanese army has also established a no-man's land inside and outside the Great Wall that is thousands of miles long and dozens of miles wide, which the Japanese call "no dwelling and forbidden work zone", that is, no living, no farming, and no entry. Civilians in no-man's land are forcibly relocated into so-called "group tribes". It is also known as "tribe" or "circle of people", "circumference". The brutal "three-light" policy of disobedient people led to the death of a large number of innocent people. At that time, there was a folk song that said: The enemy invaded and occupied the great rivers and mountains, burned, killed, looted, and repaired the 'human circle', and the family went bankrupt when he died. Seventeen or eighteen girls don't have pants to wear! It is a realistic recreation of the scene at that time.

Having said so much, it is nothing more than one meaning - the Japanese army is bound to win the eastern part of Hebei. If you increase your troops, he will increase them. If you build a base area, he will engage in "no man's land" and in short, stop the Eighth Route Army from entering the northeast at all costs. Therefore, although the Eighth Route Army established guerrilla zones or base areas in eastern Hebei, Pingxi, Pingbei, and Daqingshan in history, it was never able to enter the northeast. I could only watch the Anti-Japanese Federation being exterminated by the Japanese army.

After thinking about it, Zheng Weiguo suggested: "Mr. Nie, the terrain in eastern Hebei is narrow, and the Japanese army attaches great importance to it, so it is unrealistic to establish a stable base in a short period of time. We are not afraid of sacrifice in the War of Resistance, but senseless sacrifice is still avoided. If these tens of thousands of people are sacrificed in the Guannai, I think the value is even greater. ”

Commander Nie sighed and said tiredly: "The stakes are very high, and I must report to the headquarters and Yan'an." After all, Jidong was defeated by the comrades at a huge price, and they gave up when they said they would give up, and they could not explain it internally and externally. ”

Zheng Weiguo nodded in understanding, and emphasized: "Please also ask Mr. Nie to make a decision early, it's too late to withdraw now, if you wait until the 11th Division arrives at Shanhaiguan, and then join the 21st Division in Beiping and the 27th Division in Tianjin to launch a centripetal offensive to Tangshan at the same time, I'm afraid it's too late to say anything." ”

Commander Nie was taken aback and hurriedly asked, "When will the 63rd Army retreat?" ”

At present, although Li Yunchang's anti-United Nations armed forces in eastern Hebei are the largest in number and the most powerful, they are all new recruits and have no combat effectiveness. The core role is still Feng Zhanhai's more than 10,000 regular troops, followed by the four columns of the Eighth Route Army. However, the equipment of the Fourth Column is poor, and the strength of the army is only a few thousand, and its role is difficult to compare with that of the 63rd Army.

Zheng Weiguo thought for a moment and said, "I will immediately inform Commander Feng to start preparing for the retreat, but considering your difficulties, our army will still stick to the front line within seven days." If you decide to retreat after seven days, I can order the 63rd Army to cover for another week. If you decide to hold on, I'll have to leave them alone. ”

Commander Nie said hurriedly: "Even if you want to withdraw, isn't half a month too short?" ”

Zheng Weiguo smiled bitterly: "It's very short, but it's enough for the Japanese army to sweep all the way from Shanhaiguan to Tianjin." Chief of Staff, you immediately proceed to deduce the pace of the Japanese advance and draw up a plan for retreat. ”

Chief of Staff Zhou saluted, nodded and walked out.

Seeing that Zheng Huzi insisted on holding on, Commander Nie said to Division Commander He: "He Huzi, can the 120th Division advance to respond?" ”

Division Commander He thought for a moment and said, "As long as Lao Zheng gives me the equipment of a brigade, I can try it." ”

Zheng Weiguo said: "There is no problem with the equipment of a brigade, but I do not recommend Mr. He to go." It's not that I will destroy my own prestige, the Japanese army only needs to send a wing to block the 120th Division. The terrain in eastern Hebei is complex, and if you are not careful, there is a danger of annihilation! ”

Although the 120th Division developed rapidly, it had assigned a lot of troops in Yan'an, northwest Shanxi, Suiyuan and other places, and the main force directly under it was only more than 9,000 people, and it may not be able to defeat a wing of the Japanese army in the absence of heavy equipment. And the 120th Division is now the only mobile unit of the Eighth Route Army, what if it is disabled?

Commander Nie said angrily: "Zheng Huzi, you still have two armies in your hands, can't you send another one?" ”

Zheng Weiguo smiled bitterly: "I want to too, but what about the enemy army in Tianjin?" ”

Commander Nie and Division He looked at each other, just now they were only thinking about how to support Jidong, but they forgot about the enemy that was close at hand. A new landing of a division plus three separate mixed brigades, good guys. It's enough to catch up with two first-class divisions. Coupled with the original 21st and 27th Divisions, even if the 41st Army was wiped out, it would be useless.

"Alas!" Commander Nie slammed his fist on the table, raised his head and said, "I will borrow your radio station, and I will contact the eastern Jidong side immediately." ”

During the battle, the various units in eastern Hebei captured a lot of radio stations, and although they were all garbage of the Japanese army, communication was still not a problem. Commander Nie made contact with the Fourth Column and the Anti-Union Forces (Jidong) respectively, and found that they were still immersed in the joy of victory, and had no idea of the approaching enemy forces. This can't be blamed for their backward intelligence, they are really isolated from inside and outside, and they can't start even if they want to inquire.

Commander Nie briefed him on the situation. Then ask for their opinion. Unexpectedly, the leaders of the four columns and the leaders of the Anti-Japanese Federation gave diametrically opposite answers. The Fourth Column rushed to eastern Hebei from the Pingxi base area after going through many difficulties and dangers, and on the way it fought many times with the garrison of the 21st Division, and knew the combat strength of the Japanese army very well. After learning that the 11th Division was attacking, he strongly advocated retreat, and even demanded that it be withdrawn immediately. For fear that he would be glued to the main force of the Japanese army and not be able to retreat.

Although the anti-union forces have also fought in the county. The garrison of the Japanese army was besieged. But the main belligerent opponent was the puppet police stationed in various places, and they took it down with a push. Later, after receiving the assistance of the 63rd Army, the autumn wind swept away the leaves, and the Japanese army was born with the idea that it was nothing more than that. I heard that only one division came. Most of the leaders, both the KMT and the CCP, said that they wanted to fight a dozen, otherwise they would be "unwilling". After all, Jidong is their hometown, and they are willing to shed more blood.

"How's it going, old Nie?" Master He went out and smoked a roll of dry cigarettes, and then turned back.

Commander Nie rarely gets angry, but this time his face is very ugly, and he snorted and said: "On the one hand, he is afraid of the enemy like a tiger, and on the other side, he is arrogant, how can this battle be fought!" ”

Division Commander He stretched out his hand and took the telegram, looked at it and said: "Don't say that, it's right for the four verticals to be cautious, the Anti-Japanese Union is a new unit, and it's a good thing that the enthusiasm for killing the enemy is high!" ”

Commander Nie sighed, feeling that everything was in chaos, so he had to ask, "He Huzi, what should you do in this battle?" ”

Master He knocked on his pipe and said in a deep voice: "Withdraw!" Zheng Huzi is right, and it will be too late if he doesn't withdraw. If we wait for the Japanese army to close the siege, I am afraid that we will finally pull up more than 100,000 anti-Japanese forces and the whole army will be annihilated. Lao Nie, the tragedy of the Western Route Army cannot be repeated! ”

Commander Nie's body trembled, and he finally made up his mind and said, "Okay, then let's draw up a retreat plan immediately." ”

Master He said: "Should we consult the headquarters for such a thing? ”

Commander Nie explained: "The headquarters does not have our understanding of the situation, so it is better to list a plan for the headquarters to refer to." ”

Division Commander He nodded and said, "Okay, then let's just discuss it with the 41st Group Army, which will also facilitate the mobilization of front-line troops." ”

Commander Nie said, "Well, then let's go over!" ”

So the group hurried to the 41st Group Army and discussed the retreat with Chief of Staff Zhou. At this time, Chief of Staff Zhou's advantage was revealed, he was the only one who was good at staff operations, so he soon became the leader of the arrangement.

"Railways, roads, and bridges must be completely destroyed. Originally, the walls of the counties should have been demolished, but now it must be too late! ”

"The newly recruited soldiers will be demobilized. They are new to military affairs and cannot adapt to long marches, which will slow down the marching speed of the troops. ”

"Demobilization is possible, but before demobilization, education is required, preferably to develop into an underground person. In the future, when the situation improves, you can also re-recruit. ”

"Don't bring all the seized materials into the customs, the quantity is too large to bear with our current baggage capacity. So I propose to bury a batch in situ. ”

"We're in dire need of weapons now, wouldn't it be a pity to bury them? Is it possible for cavalry troops to be carried on horses, and warriors to lead the horses on foot? ”

"Then the cavalry will not be able to maneuver, and without their reconnaissance, the troops will be blind and will be in a very dangerous situation."

"Regardless of whether the weapons are buried on the spot, the situation in eastern Hebei will inevitably be very dangerous in the future, and it will be difficult for the guerrillas to obtain supplies. With these weapons, it is possible to make a comeback. ”

"It is not possible to let the new troops march alone, I am afraid that they will run away halfway. Therefore, I believe that it is necessary to mix the old and new units, and at the same time retain some old units with strong combat effectiveness to deal with emergencies. ”

"Agreed! You can also let some of the new troops retreat first, and the old troops will be behind. ”

"The troops remaining in eastern Hebei should be lean and capable, with local cadres as the mainstay, and the guerrillas in each county should be localized as much as possible. When the situation deteriorates, you can go home and hide, and then pick up a gun and fight the devil when the conditions are good. ”

"It is too dangerous for a large force to retreat and concentrate on one road, and it is easy to create an air attack by enemy aircraft and a large number of soldiers to block it. It is suggested that the troops should be divided into two routes, one with the fourth column of the Eighth Route Army to withdraw into Pingxi through the Yanshan Mountains, and all the way with the 63rd Army across the Chaobai River and Yongding River to kill back to Jizhong. ”

"What if the enemy forces in Tianjin intercept it halfway?"

"There are two ways, one is to send troops to respond, the 41st Group Army and the 120th Division must be mobilized, but they must not cross the Yongding River, otherwise it will be too dangerous. The second was to ask the various units of the Eighth Route Army to assist and at the same time launch a feint attack on the main communication arteries such as the Pinghan Line, the Jinpu Line, the Zhengtai Line, and the Tongpu Line, forcing the enemy in Tianjin to go to various places as soon as possible. ”

"Well, this method is good, and you can also ask the national army in the First and Second War Zones and the Jicha Theater to cooperate!"

……

After discussing it for almost a night, after confirming that it was correct, it was urgently sent to the headquarters of the Eighth Route Army, and at the same time reported to Yan'an. The poor confidential man was so busy that his fingers were swollen. The headquarters of the Eighth Route Army was also shocked when they learned about it, because they did not know about the movements of the Japanese army, and they did not dare to believe it until the Tianjin underground party sent back information.

Seeing that the front-line commanders were unanimous, Mr. Peng knew that the situation was dangerous, so he immediately agreed. And so a difficult retreat finally began. Zheng Weiguo stood in the courtyard and looked in the direction of eastern Hebei, his hands clenched into fists, thinking that the tragedy of sacrificing 50,000 people in history could not be repeated. (To be continued......)