Northwest of Jin right attack group.

Separate regiments.

Kong Jie was inspecting the night defense of the troops and returned to the temporary regimental headquarters.

Today's independent regiment is also strong, armed with several 150mm howitzers.

It has a cavalry battalion, 2 mountain artillery battalions, 1 tank battalion, 1 Katyusha rocket artillery battalion, more than 10 infantry battalions, hundreds of vehicles, and thousands of mule carts.

Each battalion is regimental in size.

Although the establishment of the independent regiment is one regiment, the size of the troop is close to 20 regiments, with a total strength of about 20,000 troops.

The morale of the troops was high and well-equipped, and most of the soldiers, except for a few recruits, were elite veterans.

The combat effectiveness is extremely strong, and the combat effectiveness is not inferior to that of a division of the Japanese army.

Even now that the Eighth Route Army has air support, the independent regiment can casually defeat a division of the Japanese army.

As soon as he entered the regiment headquarters, Kong Jie was about to take a break, when the political commissar of the independent regiment walked in with a telegram in his hand.

"Lao Kong, are you back?"

"This is a telegram just sent by the commander of the new regiment, Li, ordering us to immediately abandon the south to Taiyuan, divert to Wutai Mountain to Niangzi Pass, and reinforce the 2nd Brigade of the Du!"

As he spoke, Political Commissar Wang handed the telegram in his hand to Kong Jie.

Kong Jie's expression was solemn, and he took the telegram and looked at it in front of the oil lamp.

"When did you receive the telegram?"

Kong Jie frowned slightly, and asked, of course, such an important matter should be notified to him as soon as possible, the head of the independent regiment.

"Just received a telegram." Commissar Wang explained, "I was about to send a signal soldier to inform you, and you are back. ”

After a pause, Political Commissar Wang asked, "Lao Kong, what do you think about this?" ”

"What do you think?" Kong Jie's tone was categorical, "Of course it's to carry out orders, what else can you think?" ”

Political Commissar Wang said: "Of course, the order is to be carried out, what I want to say is that our original combat mission was to attack Taiyuan, but now we have changed our combat mission, go to Niangzi Pass to reinforce the 2nd Independent Brigade, our regiment has 105 howitzers, 150 howitzers, as well as Katyusha rocket artillery, cars and tanks, these heavy equipment, but we can't go to Niangzi Pass, so what should we do with these heavy equipment?" ”

"Without these heavy equipment, the combat effectiveness of our independent regiment would be less."

In the previous combat mission, although the independent regiment had to take a detour to Taiyuan, it was still able to take the road.

But to get to Niangzi Pass, you can only detour from the Wutai Mountain area, which is mainly mountainous and there is no road.

Shanxi has poor road conditions, and it is a mountain road, so it is impossible to bring heavy equipment and mechanized equipment.

Kong Jie nodded: "Yes, it will be less, but it will not be much." ”

"However, we have air support now, and the air support is much stronger than the less heavy equipment!"

"That's it."

"Let the 150-mm howitzers, 105-mm howitzers, Katyusha rocket launchers, tank battalions and cars, the troops who can't walk the mountain road continue to go to Taiyuan to join the new regiment."

"Let's take the 75mm mountain cannon to Niangzi Pass."

The M1A1 75-mm mountain gun equipped with the new regiment weighs 653 kg, which can be disassembled and ambushed by mules and horses, and there is no pressure to walk on mountain roads.

Hearing this, Political Commissar Wang nodded and agreed, and now it can only be arranged like this.

Then, Kong Jie held an oil lamp in one hand, stared at the map, and narrowed his eyes: "It seems that the plan of the head of the headquarters is to annihilate the devils in Shanxi." ”

"Annihilation?"

Political Commissar Wang was slightly startled and came over with the chief of staff.

The chief of staff of the Independent Regiment said in a surprised tone: "The devils in Shanxi have a full 100,000 main elites, and there are elites like the Fifth Division, can our Eighth Route Army eat so many devils?" It's not going to break your belly, is it? ”

"Belly breaking?" Kong Jie glanced at the chief of staff and snorted, "What makes you have no confidence in the combat effectiveness of our Eighth Route Army?" ”

"If the two sides are in a field battle, with our three regiments in the northwest of Shanxi, we can defeat the 100,000 devil elites in Shanxi!"

"Not to mention the main force of the 129th Division, the 120th Division and the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei Military Region."

"In this battle, our Eighth Route Army, the main force plus the militia, will dispatch at least 500,000 people!"

"Eating these 100,000 devils, although it will not be easy, but it is not without opportunities."

Political Commissar Wang's expression moved slightly: "Lao Kong, do you mean Niangziguan?" ”

"That's right!" Kong Jie's eyes were calm, "As long as our Eighth Route Army guards the Niangzi Pass, the devils in Shanxi will become turtles in the urn, and they can't run if they want to." ”

At present, the territory of the Japanese army in Shanxi is only the Taiyuan and Zhengtai railways.

Moreover, it was the result of the reinforcement of Shanxi by five divisions of the Japanese army in order to hold the Taiyuan and Zhengtai railways.

Otherwise, the Zhengtai Railway would have been recovered by the Eighth Route Army long ago, and it would have been easier to recover Taiyuan.

Although the Japanese army reinforced five divisions in Shanxi, it was useless, the Eighth Route Army was about to launch a major counteroffensive, and the Japanese defense was insufficient, let alone attacking.

Moreover, the current Eighth Route Army has air supremacy, no matter where the devils run after breaking through.

As long as they are still in Shanxi, they will not be able to escape the eyes of the reconnaissance planes and fighters of the Eighth Route Army, and the Eighth Route Army will be able to encircle, pursue, and intercept them at any time and eliminate the devils.

At this time, Political Commissar Wang and Chief of Staff finally understood that the independent regiment would suddenly be diverted to Niangzi Pass.

The position of Niangzi Pass is very important, and if you keep Niangzi Pass, you will guard the passage for the devil to escape.

Of course.

Niangzi Pass is also extremely important to the Japanese army, and if you open Niangzi Pass, you will also open up the lifeline of 100,000 devils in Shanxi.

The devils outside Shanxi will definitely play with their lives for reinforcements.

After all, this is 100,000 devil elites, not 100,000 pigs.

If it is replaced by ordinary troops to Niangzi Pass, it will really not be able to withstand the attack of the devils, even if there is the main force of the 2nd brigade, it will be difficult to add a few more brigades.

So this task fell on the independent regiment.

The Independent Regiment was one of the most effective units of the Eighth Route Army in addition to the new regiment, and Ding Wei's new second regiment was about the same combat effectiveness as the Kong Jie Independent Regiment.

Kong Jie put the oil lamp on the table, and quickly calculated the straight-line distance between the current independent regiment and Niangziguan with a scale, which is about 160 kilometers.

That is, the actual distance is more than 200 km.

Arriving at Niangzi Pass within two and a half days, the task of the independent regiment was very arduous and the time was very tight.

Kong Jie looked at the watch in his hand, then looked at the chief of staff, and ordered: "Chief of staff, order the soldiers to rest immediately, set off at half past three in the morning, march to Niangzi Pass, and continue to the south to join the new regiment." ”

Although the time is tight and the task is heavy.

But the fighters of the independent regiment were a little tired after a whole day of rapid marching, from officers to soldiers, so they had to rest first and recuperate before setting off.

It was 7 o'clock, and if you set off at 3:30 o'clock, the soldiers would have 8 hours of rest, which would be enough for the soldiers to recuperate.

"Yes, Captain!" The chief of staff responded.

……

Peiping.

Iron Lion Alley.

Command of the North China Front.

"Your Excellency General, I have ordered the Locust Army and the Locust Association Army in Jingcheng County to abandon the county seat of Jingcheng and rush to Niangzi Pass immediately, and at the same time order the locust army of Shimen City to go to the county seat of Jingcheng."

"At the same time, order the 25th Cavalry Wing to speed up and rush to Niangzi Pass."

"Also."

"I also gave an order to the 56th Division stationed in Yangquan, and the 56th Division sent the 148th Infantry Wing to reinforce Niangzi Pass."

Chief of Staff Moritake Tanabe reported to Okamura Ninji.

The location of Niangzi Pass is very important, but Yangquan and Shouyang are equally important, if these two important military towns on the Zhengtai Railway are captured by the Eighth Route Army, it will be difficult for the devils in Shanxi to escape.

Okamura nodded, and the stone in his heart finally fell to the ground.

Niangzi Pass is easy to defend and difficult to attack, an infantry wing, a cavalry wing, plus 1 full infantry brigade, enough to hold Niangzi Pass, and wait until the arrival of the Japanese army.

Seeing that Okamura Ningji's solemn face improved, Tanabe Moritake smiled slightly and said: "Your Excellency, in the Battle of Xinkou that year, the locusts army broke through from the flank Niangzi Pass, which made the Chinese army's Xinkou defense line rout on all fronts. ”

In addition to the Battle of Niangziguan in eastern Jin, the Battle of Taiyuan also included the Battle of Pingxingguan in northern Jin, the Battle of Xinkou and the later Battle of Taiyuan.

Among them, the Battle of Xinkou was the central battle and the main direction of the Japanese army's attack, and the Japanese army could directly enter the Taiyuan Plain after breaking through the Xinkou area.

Okamura Ninji: "Yo Sai! ”

……

Early the next morning.

Under the leadership of the brigade commander and political commissar, the 2nd Brigade of the Eighth Route Army has reached Niangzi Pass with a force of more than 6,000 people.

At this time, the devils from the direction of Jingcheng County and Yangquan to reinforce the devils of Niangziguan have not yet arrived.

And the devils in Niangzi Pass have long received the order to strictly defend and defend to the death, knowing that the Eighth Route Army is coming to attack Niangzi Pass, and the devil puppet army in Niangzi Pass is already on full alert and defense.

In the past two years, although Niangzi Pass is easy to defend and difficult to attack, the Eighth Route Army has captured Niangzi Pass many times by virtue of its superiority in strength and equipment.

Moreover, after the Eighth Route Army captured Niangzi Pass, it killed the Japanese army and puppet army in Niangzi Pass, robbed war materials, destroyed the station and railroad tracks, and then retreated.

By the time the Japanese army arrived, the Eighth Route Army had already disappeared without a trace.

It seems that Niangzi Pass has become the existence of the Eighth Route Army's military exploits.

And now, the devils and puppet troops stationed at Niangzi Pass have received the news that the Eighth Route Army is about to attack.

The timid devils and puppet soldiers in the Niangzi Pass are already trembling.

Fortunately, the devil reinforcements are already on the way, and they will arrive at noon today at the latest.

After the commander and political commissar of the 2nd Independent Brigade led the troops to Niangzi Pass, they immediately ordered the troops to put on an offensive posture, but they did not rush to attack.

Just when the devil and the puppet army were confused, a buzzing sound sounded in the sky.

Hearing this voice, the devils and puppet soldiers couldn't help but change their faces greatly, and they all looked for cover to hide.

However, it was too late, and 20 Sabre fighters and 20 A20 attack planes, flying from the northwest, swooped down through the clouds and swooped down towards Niangzi Pass.

Boom, boom, boom...

With the sound of incendiary bombs and aerial bombs falling like dumplings and explosions like landslides and ground cracks, countless huge explosion waves and incendiary fireballs rose up in Niangzi Pass.

The bunkers and turrets were destroyed in an instant, and the positions of the devils and the puppet army turned into a sea of fire.

Seeing the scene of the bombing of the plane, all the officers and soldiers of the 2nd Independent Brigade of the Eighth Route Army, including the brigade commander and political commissar, were all stunned, and their eyes were about to pop out.

Before the war, all the officers and soldiers of the 2nd Brigade knew about the air support of a new regiment of aircraft.

But the fighters didn't expect that this air support was too energetic, right?

"Attack!" The brigade commander was the first to react and immediately gave the order to attack.

The devil puppet army in Niangzi Pass has suffered heavy losses, the 2nd Brigade of the Independence Brigade attacked in a wave, the artillery bombarded the infantry and rushed, and wiped out the devil and the puppet army like harvesting corn, and the battle was less than an hour, and the Niangzi Pass was successfully recovered.

……

Peiping.

Iron Lion Alley.

Command of the North China Front.

Communications staff officer Hakuo Kitani hurriedly walked in and reported to Okamura Ninji:

"Report to the commander, Niangzi Pass has been occupied by the Eighth Route Army!"

"Nani?"

Okamura Ninji, Tanabe Moritake, and Seizo Arise all changed their faces and looked at the map in unison.

"What the hell is going on?" Tanabe Moritake glanced at Okamura Ninji and asked angrily.

Niangzi Pass is related to the entire battle situation, and it is operated by Tanabe Shengwu, if Niangzi Pass is occupied by the Eighth Route Army, and the Japanese army fails to open Niangzi Pass, then he may not be able to eat and go.

"The Ministry of Communications only learned that this morning the troops of a brigade of the Eighth Route Army, with the cooperation of air support, quickly occupied Niangzi Pass."

Communications staff officer Haruo Kitani replied suddenly:

"The locust army and the locust alliance army in Niangziguan didn't have time to react at all, and after sending the farewell telegram, they lost contact!"

Okamura Ninji asked with an ugly face, "What about the 56th Wing of the 148th Division and the 4th Cavalry Wing of the 25th Cavalry Brigade?" ”

Mu Gu Jinan bowed his head and replied: "The 148th Infantry Wing and the 25th Cavalry Wing are still on their way to Niangzi Pass!" ”

Tanabe Moritake said: "Immediately order the 148th Infantry Wing and the 25th Cavalry Wing to speed up and rush to Niangzi Pass." ”

"Your Excellency, Your Excellency, Chief of Staff." "The Eighth Route Army has air support, and with the 148th Infantry Wing and the 25th Cavalry Wing, I am afraid it will be difficult to capture Niangzi Pass." ”

The 148th Infantry Wing was a fully formed infantry wing, while the 25th Cavalry Wing was an unstaffed cavalry wing.

There are only a few four or five thousand troops in a brigade of the Eighth Route Army, and those who can be sent by the headquarters of the Eighth Route Army to attack Niangzi Pass must be the main force of the Eighth Route Army.

Although the combat effectiveness of the Japanese army is strong, the combat effectiveness of the main force of the Eighth Route Army is not weak today.

The 148th Infantry Wing and the 25th Cavalry Wing, with a total strength of less than 5,000 people, this point of troops to attack the Eighth Route Army, plus the Eighth Route Army has nearly 100 aircraft to support, this point of troops to deliver food to the Eighth Route Army?

After the Jizhong sweep, the North China Front Command now knows that the Eighth Route Army has nearly 100 aircraft.

Moreover, the firepower of these aircraft of the Eighth Route Army is extremely strong, and even that kind of incendiary bomb, one incendiary bomb can burn a mountain, and the lethality is very terrifying.

How many incendiary bombs could the 25th Cavalry Wing and the 148th Infantry Wing withstand?

"There's the end of it." Tanabe Moritake asked in a deep voice, "Then what do you say now?" ”

There is a end of the three words: "Now even if the First Army and the Fifth Division and other troops want to transfer to Taiyuan, it is impossible to transfer them, now we can only send the 23rd Division, the 35th Division and the 110th Division to immediately go to Niangzi Pass, no matter how much it costs, we must capture Niangzi Pass and hold it!" ”

……