The commander of the second battalion of the Central Army personally interrogated the two captured cavalrymen of the puppet Mongolian army, and as the report of the top soldiers just now, the two of them were captured by the top soldiers of the second battalion after being shot and falling off their horses in the encounter.

However, in this trial, the second battalion commander confirmed the bad omen in his heart just now: this Japanese puppet reinforcement from Fengdian County was indeed the preset blocking position that had just defeated the Eighth Route Army! Behind the cavalry of the puppet Mongolian army, a team of nearly twenty Japanese trucks was rushing here.

"The Eighth Route Army is all fucking eating dry food, and it lost its position in such a short time!" The commander of the second battalion of the Central Army cursed angrily, and at the same time gave the order to immediately organize a defense on the spot.

At this moment, in addition to the open wilderness under their feet, there were only a few low barren hills and a few lonely and scattered trees, and the commander of the second battalion of the Central Army ordered all the light machine guns to be set up behind the barren hills, and the infantry tried to lie down around each barren hill as much as possible, and even a few soldiers climbed on each big tree.

"Immediately contact the regimental headquarters and strive to transfer the 92-infantry gun, and if the regimental seat does not agree, at least two heavy machine guns must be transferred! While making contact, they sent someone to lead the way. ”

The commander of the second battalion hurriedly instructed the signal corps at the battalion headquarters, and at the same time told him that he must emphasize to the regimental seat that the Eighth Route Army, which was responsible for blocking the attack in the direction of Guanmen Mountain, had already run away! The reinforcements of the Japanese puppet army on this road were at least 500 or more.

When the commander of the 2nd Battalion of the Central Army took it for granted that the 8th Route Army, which was responsible for the blockade, had fled, the 7th Company of the 2nd Battalion of the Xu Brigade was actually still fighting the Japanese army in the wasteland. They had just thrown away all the *, and they were attacked at an angle by the elite Japanese troops who had several times the advantage over them, and they were in a very critical situation. The Czech light machine gun in the hands of Wei Xin, the commander of the 7th Company, and another Czech light machine gun in the hands of the shooter of the company, became the two key points that the whole company struggled to support. On the whole, they were pressed back by the Japanese army, and because they could not find enough shelter, the soldiers were constantly shot and killed.

Wei Xin realized in despair that if he continued to fight like this, the whole company could only be oppressed by the Japanese to a place farther and farther away from the convoy, once the enemy restarted the truck, it would soon be gone, and he wanted to catch up with them on two legs and bite them again, but I was afraid that it was a fool's dream! Thinking of this, the back of the commander of the 7th Company of the Eighth Route Army couldn't help but feel a cool breath.

Suddenly, gunfire came from the rear of the Japanese attack formation, and almost all the soldiers of the 7th Company heard the unique roar of the Czech machine gun for the first time - Wang Shuanglong! It should be the commander of the 6th company who copied the bread from the back with his people! In addition, it was possible to feel that there was already a certain amount of turmoil in the Japanese army formation in that direction. Wei Xin's spirits perked up, and he shouted loudly to resolutely resist.

It was indeed a platoon of the 6th Company of the 2nd Battalion of the Xu Brigade that attacked from behind, and Wang Shuanglong personally led them to rush to the Japanese truck fleet desperately. Just now, when the 7th Company took the initiative to abandon its position, their platoon was always lurking in the night and did not move, so they witnessed the whole process of the Japanese occupying the position of the 7th Company on the flank and then boarding the car and moving forward, and then followed behind the Japanese convoy; Of course, they can only be thrown farther and farther by the truck. It was not until the 7th Company in front finally began a flank attack and forced the Japanese convoy to stop, that the platoon of the 6th Company was able to catch up again and immediately began to attack.

Wang Shuanglong knew very well that it was his suggestion to take the initiative to abandon the frontal blocking position, but once he failed to block the reinforcements of the Japanese puppet army and was held down by his superiors, the main responsibility was undoubtedly Wei Xin, the commander of the 7th Company. Therefore, he is ready to help Lao Qi survive this at all costs. As soon as the battle began, he ordered the entire platoon to open fire with all its might.

The Japanese were now focused on responding to the flank attack, and did not expect an enemy force to suddenly appear from behind. The convoy of trucks that came to a standstill on the wasteland was now manned by only a handful of soldiers. As soon as Wang Shuanglong's men came up, they beat the opponent off guard, instantly knocked down more than a dozen Japanese soldiers, and rushed directly into the rear of the truck team. Seeing that he had succeeded, the commander of the 6th company began to roar and order to throw * into the truck compartment and cab to blow up as many trucks as possible.

However, the Japanese response was quite fast, and the Japanese soldiers who remained nearby resisted on the spot after experiencing the initial panic, and no less than two squads of Japanese troops quickly turned around and counterattacked. The platoon led by Wang Shuanglong only had time to throw it into two trucks* before it was expelled by the powerful fire of the Japanese army.

The night, it was still the night that helped the Eighth Route Army. It was impossible to see how many enemy troops were attacking from behind, and the two Japanese squads that counterattacked did not dare to pursue with all their might, but only wanted to keep the truck fleet safe. The platoon of the Eighth Route Army, which had retreated dozens of feet away, lay on the ground and continued to shoot in the direction of the truck. Wang Shuanglong's intention was very clear, that is, to bite the rear of the Japanese truck fleet and prevent it from moving forward smoothly.

The 6th Company's platoon struck a blow in the air, relieving the pressure on the front of the 7th Company in a short time, and Wei Xin led his subordinates to finally get rid of the Japanese army's firepower network and retreat to a relatively safe area. The commander of the 7th Company also sensed the disadvantage of attacking the enemy in such a dense formation: it was easy to be suppressed by the enemy's firepower as a whole. He ordered on the spot that the three platoons of the whole company would immediately divide into three lines, and the second platoon would remain in place to confront the Japanese troops in front of the truck convoy; The first and third platoons run forward and intersperse directly in front of the direction of the trucks, the first platoon prepares to carry out a head-on blockade, and the third platoon climbs over to the other side of the trucks to prepare to form a flank with the second platoon.

With such an arrangement, the four infantry platoons of the 7th and 6th companies of the 2nd Battalion of the Xu Brigade have formed a layout in front and behind the Japanese truck fleet. Wei Xin deliberately emphasized that the attack formation should be dispersed to avoid being killed or injured by Japanese fire in one place. At the same time, each platoon should organize soldiers with good marksmanship to focus on shooting the wheelhouse of the Japanese convoy after it has started.

"It's impossible for the Japanese soldiers to drive a car, knock out their driver, and the truck will become scrap metal that can't be moved!"

The company commander's order was carried out, and the battle of attack and harassment around the Japanese convoy officially began.

At the same time, beside the railway line near Lingshi County, the blocking battle of the 5th Company of the 2nd Battalion of the Xu Brigade of the Eighth Route Army was also carried out to a white-hot level.

Wu Zijian, deputy battalion commander, personally ran to the third line of defense, organized the artillery platoon on the outskirts of Zhao Yejiao, and launched an artillery battle with the Japanese troops on the opposite side. The three mortars of the artillery platoon were lined up, and under the command and operation of Zhao Yejiao, shells were fired one after another. In this open wilderness, the artillery of both sides dealt a serious blow to the opposing troops, and where the shells exploded, it was often accompanied by blood and flesh.

It was a battle that was underestimated by commanders on both sides.

Captain Maori, the deputy commander of the Japanese army, did not expect that the Chinese army would suddenly sacrifice mortar tactics, and they would hit so accurately - compared with the lack of skills in the bombardment of several large-caliber heavy guns of the Chinese army just now, although the mortar shells at this moment were not so earth-shattering, the lethality was not small. Of course, Captain Maori did not know that the enemy army facing him now had changed from the Central Army to the Eighth Route Army.

Wu Zijian also did not expect that the Japanese army would quickly leave the railway line and launch such a large-scale pursuit. What's worse is that the so-called defense area that has just been taken over is nothing more than a bare wasteland, with no positions or fortifications to rely on. At present, he hastily arranged three lines of defense, with heavy machine guns on the second line and mortars on the third line, and the firepower layout was reasonable, and it did suppress the menacing momentum of the Japanese army; However, the artillery bombardment of the Japanese army on the opposite side also consumed the vital strength of the 5th Company of the Eighth Route Army.

"Report, Deputy Company Commander Deng of the friendly spy company has returned!"

In the deafening sound of artillery battle, the guards of the battalion headquarters shouted in Wu Zijian's ear. Wu Zijian turned his head in surprise and saw that it was Deng Shoushan, the deputy company commander of the 391st Regiment Special Service Company, who rushed in front of him.

"Chief Wu, what's the situation? The Japanese soldiers on the railway line rushed down? ”

Although he couldn't see Deng Shoushan's expression clearly, Wu Zijian still heard the guilt from the other party's words, after all, just when the guard was changed, the company commander of the Central Army also concluded that the Japanese army would not pursue. The deputy battalion commander of the Eighth Route Army had the heart to complain a few words - this kind of defense area without any bunkers and fortifications was simply the ears of a deaf man: furnishings - but the other party finally ran back from a safe place without hesitation, and his concern for friendly troops was still sincere. Thinking of this, Wu Zijian swallowed back what he originally wanted to say:

"Deputy Company Commander Deng, please go back and tell you Colonel Qin to withdraw quickly, the Japanese army on the opposite side is quite fierce, and it is by no means a symbolic pursuit behavior."

Deng Shoushan, who was braving the artillery fire, also felt that what Wu Zijian said was true from the powerful firepower coming from the opposite side, so he raised his voice and asked: "Chief Wu, there is no bunker here to rely on, how long can you hold on?" ”

"Try to top it as much as you can! Your main force and heavy artillery must quickly withdraw into Guanmen Mountain, and we will withdraw too! After shouting these words, Wu Zijian no longer paid attention to the people of the Central Army and ran to the first line of defense in front.

Looking at the back of the commander of the Eighth Route Army, Deng Shoushan stomped his feet in some amazement, and left with his subordinates. The deputy commander of the special service company with rich combat experience already knew very well that in the face of such a ferocious offensive of the Japanese army, this company of the Eighth Route Army lying in the wilderness could not hold up for too long—unless they were determined to annihilate the whole army—he had to catch up with the regimental headquarters and report to the regimental commander.

To Deng Shoushan's surprise, on the way back, he actually saw the third company of the first battalion of the 391st Regiment who was on standby, and the deputy commander of the first battalion led the team. He gave a brief account of the battle that had just broken out next to the railway line, and the deputy commander of the first battalion immediately ordered the third company to run and advance to the blocking position of the Eighth Route Army.

"The regimental seat asked me to tell you, immediately chase the regimental headquarters and return to the team, otherwise military law will be engaged!" Before the breakup, the deputy commander of the first battalion solemnly said to Deng Shoushan: "Our retreat back to Da Yushu Mountain has been cut off, and the regiment has ordered all of us to retreat to Xiping Village and turn into Guanmen Mountain!" ”

Deng Shoushan was taken aback, and faintly felt that something was wrong, the Japanese were so chasing and blocking, obviously consciously deploying the encirclement. In this joint attack, the offensive and defensive sides have changed positions. Even if the main force can smoothly enter the mountainous area, whether the troops responsible for blocking it can safely leave the battlefield will face huge uncertainties.