Qin Zhongxiao, commander of the 391st Regiment, who entered Xiping Village, was politely invited to the battalion headquarters by the people of the Second Battalion of the Xu Brigade of the Eighth Route Army, and the two platoons of the 6th Company of the Second Battalion were responsible for the defense of the entire Xiping Village, and the deputy company commander personally accompanied the colonel of the Central Army. But before the buttocks were hot, Qin Zhongxiao's subordinates hurriedly rushed to report: I had just received news from the chief of staff that the Japanese army had dispatched a large number of reinforcements from the south and wedged directly into the battlefield where the second battalion was fighting.

The colonel of the Central Army suddenly got up from his chair and almost knocked over a steaming tea bowl in his hand: South? A large force of reinforcements? A dozen trucks?!

In tonight's joint operation plan, the possibility of Japanese reinforcements from the south was estimated to be the lowest; However, considering the rapid and mobile troop transportation capability that the Japanese army has always possessed on the railway line, the most elite 5th Company of the 2nd Battalion of the Xu Brigade of the Eighth Route Army, plus the cavalry company, was still deployed in that direction to prevent Japanese reinforcements from coming from the towns along the Tongpu Railway south of Lingshi County.

However, in the end, not only did Japanese reinforcements appear from the south, they even bypassed the defense of the second battalion of the Xu Brigade of the Eighth Route Army and directly inserted themselves into the side of the second battalion of the 391st Regiment of the Central Army!

Since neither the Central Army nor the Eighth Route Army had ever understood how the two Japanese squadrons dispatched from Linfen were quickly interspersed in place by train and then by car, the commanders of the two armies at all levels were shocked and at a loss at the sudden appearance of this formidable enemy.

Qin Zhongxiao further inquired about the situation and knew that the three companies of the second battalion led by Major Chen Hao and Chief of Staff Zhang Hong had fallen into a bitter battle with this Japanese reinforcement at this moment. The only consolation was that the artillery of the Eighth Route Army unexpectedly encountered and killed the truck convoy of Japanese reinforcements on the way to retreat.

"Where is the team that our two families broke off together?"

The colonel of the Central Army couldn't wait to ask, and at the same time strode to the sand table specially made by the battalion headquarters of the second battalion of the Xu Brigade for this joint operation.

One of his staff officers replied immediately behind him: The Broken Rear Unit personally commanded by Commander Wu of the Eighth Route Army, together with the Third Company commanded by Deputy Commander Liu of the First Battalion of our Division, has retreated to the main battlefield where the Second Battalion of Major Chen Hao is currently engaged in firefighting. However, the Japanese army dispatched from the vicinity of Lingshi County pursued the soldiers, and the simultaneous cover was in place. In addition, Major Chen Hao reported that the number of Japanese reinforcements dispatched from Fengdian County in the north continued to increase, and they were fiercely attacking the frontal position of the 2nd Battalion.

Qin Zhongxiao slapped the corner of the sand table hard, and blurted out: "Grandma's, isn't this a general battle?!" ”

Several regimental headquarters staff officers quickly gathered around the sand table, and the people from the second battalion headquarters of the Xu Brigade of the Eighth Route Army hurriedly hung horse lanterns next to the sand table, and this place became Qin Zhongxiao's temporary headquarters in a blink of an eye. The colonel of the Central Army poked the relevant signs on the sand table, and eagerly and clearly laid out the offensive and defensive positions of the teams on both sides of the war.

Glance!

The three words "General Battle" that came out of Qin Zhongxiao's mouth just now are used to describe the formation of the two armies that protrude on the sand table, and they are no longer suitable, within a narrow radius of about ten miles, the situation of the two armies fighting is as follows:

——The main force of the 2nd Battalion of the 391st Regiment was attacked on two sides, on one side was the Japanese Fengdian reinforcements, and on the other hand, the unknown Japanese reinforcements suddenly wedged in; The defensive system of the second battalion has been severed, the fourth company has been defeated, and the fifth company is trapped in the original position;

-- The 6th Company of the 2nd Battalion led by the Chief of Staff of the 391st Regiment, currently located south of the 5th Company, is trying to open up contact with the main force of the 2nd Battalion and respond to its escape from the Japanese encirclement;

——The 3rd Company of the 1st Battalion of the 391st Regiment, together with the 5th Company of the 2nd Battalion of the Xu Brigade and the Cavalry Company, resisted the Japanese reinforcements from Wencheng and had just arrived at the flank of the main battlefield of the 2nd Battalion of the 391st Regiment.

- The 7th Company of the 2nd Battalion of the Xu Brigade was originally responsible for blocking the Japanese troops in the direction of Fengdian, but its location was unknown at this time after the breakthrough; However, according to the consistent and tough style of the Eighth Route Army in Guanmen Mountain, it is very likely that this unit will follow the rear of the Japanese reinforcements to carry out a stubborn attack, so as to also arrive at the current main battlefield.

In this way, less than ten miles in a straight line due west of Xiping Village, Japanese reinforcements from three directions were gathered in a short period of time, and the total strength should have exceeded 1,000 people; And most of the forces of the Central Army and the Eighth Route Army, which were engaged in joint operations, were forced to fight in the center of the convergence of these three Japanese forces!

"Tuanza, this is too far beyond the battle plan, this is definitely not the result we want, on the contrary, it is a situation that the Japanese should be willing to see!" A staff officer voiced his feelings in shock.

Qin Zhongxiao looked at this polite staff officer with disdain, and asked rhetorically word by word: "It's not the result we want, but it has already appeared, what should we do?" You go to the Japanese theory theory? ”

The staff officer's fair face suddenly turned red, and he subconsciously pushed the glasses on the bridge of his nose, embarrassed. The colonel of the Central Army left him and turned to ask a staff officer on the other side:

"Have we ambushed the company of the third battalion outside Fengdian County already made a feint to attack the county seat?"

The questioned staff officer shook his head nervously and replied rather crampedly: No news came.

That's it! Qin Zhongxiao immediately dispelled his hopes in this regard - except for the officers at the company and platoon level in the third battalion who were veterans of the 391st Regiment, the soldiers of each company were all recruits who had just been recruited from various villages in the Great Elm Mountain, and they had neither combat experience nor sophisticated equipment. With such a company of men and horses launching a so-called feint attack outside Fengdian City, the garrison Japanese army should not feel too much pressure. Wanting to use this to achieve the effect of encircling Wei and saving Zhao is really wishful thinking.

As soon as the cotton door curtain was raised, Major Li Jiayu, the commander of the first battalion who had entered Xiping Village before Qin Zhongxiao, rushed in, he had just heard the news that the Japanese army had recently arrived for reinforcements and the second battalion was besieged, and immediately came to the regiment to ask for battle.

Qin Zhongxiao pressed the broad shoulders of the first battalion commander with his hand, and pointed to the sand table with the other hand and said to him: "Don't act rashly first, now our two armies are left with two companies of your battalion and the spy company that have not yet been thrown in, which is the only mobile force I have at hand, how to use it, we must calculate accurately." ”

Major Li Jiayu stared at the sand table for a while with a pair of tiger eyes, and at the same time, an operational staff officer told him about the situation of the new battlefield that had just been marked on the sand table. Then, the major slowly shook his head:

"Tuanza, this has become a pot of porridge, and it is fighting in the plain terrain, in my opinion, there is no tricky way to fight. The two companies of our battalion could only choose one breakthrough point and force it in. ”

Qin Zhongxiao did not add a no. The commander of the first battalion is a veteran of the battlefield, and he can't find a way, but in fact, there is no way.

The Temporary Operational Command fell silent, and the people around the sand table were speechless for a while. At this moment, Deng Shoushan, the deputy company commander of the spy company, also rushed to hear the news, and the first thing he said when he entered the door was: The artillery company is moving towards the Guanmen Mountain Pass behind the village, do you want to change the plan and keep them?

Everyone immediately turned their eyes to the colonel of the Central Army, who hesitated for a moment and asked everyone rhetorically: Is it necessary to keep them at present?

Indeed, on the battlefield that has just been formed, the forces of the two opposing sides are staggered and entangled, you have me, I have you, and in the dark night, if the heavy artillery fires at the battlefield, it is not so much a bombardment of the enemy army as a cannibalism. What's more, the performance of the artillery company for the first time tonight was really embarrassing.

"Let's let them withdraw quickly," Li Jiayu, the commander of the first battalion, took the lead in opening his mouth: "In the end of this battle, we will have to withdraw after all, and the heavy equipment of the artillery company will be withdrawn as soon as possible, and it will save us a burden!" ”

Qin Zhongxiao nodded approvingly, that's right, this battle must be withdrawn after all, and the retreat must be completed before dawn; Up to now, the hole cards of the two armies in the joint operation have almost been revealed, but the devil still has the ability to continue to increase troops. A stalemate in the unobstructed wilderness is undoubtedly a disadvantage for one's own side.

"Jiayu, the main force of your battalion is immediately assembled," the colonel of the Central Army made up his mind and began to deploy: "Enter from this position." ”

Qin Zhongxiao pointed out a point on the sand table to the commander of the first battalion, which was the flank of the Japanese Fengdian reinforcements, and it was also the closest place to Xiping Village on the battlefield.

Major Li Jiayu left in response, and Qin Zhongxiao immediately pointed out another point to Deng Shoushan, which was the place where the chief of staff led the sixth company of the second battalion to rush into the battlefield, and he asked the special service company to arrive there immediately, monitor the entire battlefield, and provide immediate response support; At the same time, immediately after arriving in place, he sent people to contact Deputy Battalion Commander Liu of the 1st Battalion who was carrying out the task of breaking off with the Eighth Route Army as soon as possible, and asked them to resist the Japanese troops who were chasing and killing from the direction of Lingshi County.

When it comes to the broken troops, Qin Zhongxiao secretly rejoices that in the joint operation plan, Li Tianlin's 5th Company, which has the most powerful combat power of the Second Battalion of the Xu Brigade of the Eighth Route Army, is listed as the second company, and it is commanded by Wu Zijian himself, which seems to be so wise now!

"The regimental headquarters operates with the special agent company!" The colonel of the Central Army made a final summary.

The deputy company commander of the spy company, who was just about to turn around and leave, heard Qin Zhongxiao's last words, and immediately stopped to object: "Tuanzao, the situation on the front line is critical, you should take the regimental headquarters here to take the town." ”

"Fart!" Qin Zhongxiao was furious and roared: "The situation on the front line is critical, what the hell am I sitting here!" ”

Deng Shoushan was startled and hurriedly ran away. While ordering the people at the regimental headquarters to pack up and set off, the colonel of the Central Army walked up to the deputy company commander of the 6th Company of the 2nd Battalion of the Xu Brigade of the Eighth Route Army, who had never been able to interject, and said in a gentle tone: "I won't say polite words, your people must guard the village well, and the two armies of the joint operation will continue to withdraw in the future, and it will all depend on you to respond." ”

The deputy company commander of the Eighth Route Army nodded with a solemn expression, asking Qin Zhongxiao to rest assured.

The voices of the people were boiling, the carriages and horses were roaring, and the entire Xiping Village had been completely awakened from the thick night, and the people who were driving out or staying in the village were nervously looking forward to the final outcome.

In the distance, there was a faint sound of firefighting, which was the battlefield of tonight's decisive battle.