Taiyuan Garrison Provisional Headquarters.
It was already dark, but Yoshio Iwamatsu didn't feel sleepy at all.
The winner of his first confrontation with the Yizhong Eighth Route Army will probably be decided tonight.
If you win, not only can you wash away your shame and become a hero of the empire, but you won't have to bear the responsibility of losing Taiyuan.
But if he loses, just losing the guilt of Taiyuan is enough to make him drink a pot, and losing the position of Taiyuan garrison commander is a light thing.
The Yizhong Eighth Route Army that captured Taiyuan City may launch an attack at any time, but so far, the troops he used to respond have not returned to Taiyuan.
This is his biggest concern.
But there is no solution at all.
The troops were still on their way dozens of kilometers away. They couldn't fly, so they could only walk toward Taiyuan bit by bit.
"Your Excellency Commander..."
The intelligence staff rushed into the war room like a storm, with a look of anxiety on his face.
"Is it possible that the Eighth Route Army in Taiyuan City has moved and wants to retreat?" Iwamatsu Yoshio asked nervously.
This was another concern for him.
If the Eighth Route Army fled into the mountains in advance, and the reinforcement troops from northwestern Shanxi reached Taiyuan in advance, they would not be able to catch up with them.
"Sir is wise..."
The communications staff officer flattered him a little.
But Yoshio Iwamatsu was all focused on the Eighth Route Army's next move, and had no energy to care about these flatteries. He asked directly: "I don't want to hear this nonsense..."
"How did they retreat..."
"Can you predict their retreat route in advance..."
"It's several hundred kilometers from here to the Yi Zhong base."
"Just know the route of march."
"We can send troops to penetrate in front of them to intercept them."
The intelligence staff member shook his head, looking confused: "It's difficult..."
"The Eighth Route Army left the city with a large number of mules and horses."
"Divide the troops into company units and retreat..."
"The general direction of march is towards the mountains."
“Not only can you walk on trails, but you can also climb mountains and ridges without any problem.”
"There is no way for the troops to intercept it."
Seeing the disappointment on Yoshio Iwamatsu's face, the intelligence staff officer changed the topic and continued: "But there is a force that can intercept it."
"They started with cavalry and tank troops, followed by two to three hundred transport vehicles loaded with various weapons, ammunition and equipment. Behind them were a large number of tanks and personnel carriers, retreating along the road towards the center of the wing."
"If we send troops in advance to destroy the highway, it will slow down the march of the Eighth Route Army."
"Wait until reinforcements arrive before pursuing them."
"Not only can we eliminate the Eighth Route Army tank troops in the wing, but we can also seize back a large amount of weapons, ammunition and military equipment..."
The chief of staff quickly marked the special regiment's retreat route on the map based on the intelligence brought by his subordinates. He raised his head and asked Yoshio Iwamatsu for a fight: "Your Excellency, Commander."
"We must stop this Eighth Route Army and seize back all the supplies and the tanks captured by the Eighth Route Army."
"This is our only chance to turn defeat into victory and wash away our shame."
Iwamatsu Yoshio also realized that this was an opportunity. While drawing a circle on the map, he ordered: "Contact all the strongholds and counties I drew immediately."
"Immediately dispatch troops to destroy the highway, find favorable terrain to establish a defense line, and block the retreating troops of the Eighth Route Army."
"Contact aviation if we don't end the fight tonight."
"At dawn tomorrow, planes will be dispatched to bomb the retreating Eighth Route Army troops."
"Even if I can't get back those weapons, ammunition and equipment, I will destroy them all."
"We must not allow the Eighth Route Army in Yinzhong to take them back to their base."
…………
Wangzhuang stronghold is a medium-sized stronghold less than ten kilometers away from the road.
Because the fortifications are strong, the several gun towers in the stronghold are all made of bricks and stones, and the mortars will leave at most a white spot.
Although there was a regiment of the Eighth Route Army operating around, there was no way to deal with them. They could only rely on cold guns to shoot down a few patrols and guard posts from time to time.
But tonight, they saw a hope of taking the stronghold.
"Captain Wang..."
The correspondent rode over from the military district headquarters, his face flushed from exhaustion, and he panted while reporting.
"The commander ordered your regiment to guard the 30-kilometer road from the east to the west centered on the Wangzhuang stronghold..."
"Try to prevent the Japanese and puppet troops from approaching the highway as much as possible, prevent the Japanese and puppet troops from destroying the highway, and ensure that the Yizhong troops can safely pass through your defense area!"
"The Eighth Route Army in Yizhong has prepared two mountain cannons, four mortars, four heavy machine guns, ten light machine guns, two hundred rifles, and one hundred thousand rounds of ammunition and artillery shells for you!"
"I will hand it over when I pass by your defense zone!"
Commander Wang, the political commissar, and the chief of staff who gathered together all showed greedy expressions.
The gift of thanks given to them by the Yizhong Eighth Route Army was too great.
The troops have been unable to capture the Wangzhuang stronghold due to the lack of heavy weapons.
With the two mountain artillery pieces supported by the Eighth Route Army in Yizhong, the troops were able to pull out the nail that the Japanese army had driven into the hinterland of the base area. Immediately said to the correspondent.
"Go back and tell the commander... we will definitely complete the mission."
After saying that, he turned his attention to the political commissar: "Are the local troops and guerrillas in place?"
The political commissar turned around and said: "Five district squadrons, thirteen guerrilla groups, and the 1,500 civilians they mobilized... are all scattered and lurking near the highway!"
"If Japanese and puppet troops damage the highway, as long as the main force repels them, it can be repaired in ten minutes at most!"
The regiment leader immediately turned his attention to the chief of staff: "Are all the Japanese and puppet troops in our defense area targeted?"
The chief of staff replied seriously: "Don't worry, commander..."
"The regiment's reconnaissance company and cavalry team all dispersed. In groups of three or four, we closely monitored all the Japanese and puppet troops in the defense area to ensure that their every move could not escape our eyes."
"Captain..."
A platoon leader of the reconnaissance company suddenly rushed to Commander Wang.
"The little devils in the Wangzhuang stronghold have moved..."
"Nearly two hundred Japs and two hundred puppet troops, armed with heavy machine guns and mortars, headed straight for the highway!"
"Looking at the posture, it seems that we are building a defensive line to block the Yi Center troops head-on."
"God helps me..." Captain Xiang clenched his fists and said excitedly.
"The Japanese and puppet troops in the stronghold took the initiative to attack. Without the protection of the turtle shell, it will definitely be easier for us to capture them."
"When the Eighth Route Army's mountain artillery to support us is in place, it will be much easier to attack the stronghold!"
"Order……"
"The first battalion, the guard company and fire company directly under the regiment, rush to the preset ambush position immediately. I want to conduct an ambush first, and then concentrate our forces to annihilate them!"
"The second and third battalions are immediately ready for battle."
"The Japanese and puppet troops in the Wangzhuang stronghold are almost out in force, and the Japanese and puppet troops in other strongholds will definitely not stand still."
"This is a perfect opportunity for us to consume their troops. We must seize it."
"The company commanders of each battalion must take out all the weapons at home and don't be reluctant to give up ammunition."
"When the battle is over, one bullet is fired, and I will give them two more bullets."
"If enough devils are eliminated, I will be rewarded!"
After saying that, he grabbed his armed belt and walked outside the headquarters...
