The division commander said: "We can't worry about so much now. We ordered the 15th Brigade to destroy the enemy blocking the front, and the 16th Brigade to advance in a roundabout way and go straight to the county seat."
"Haha." The adjutant responded and went to convey the order again.
The chief of staff said: "Should we inform the commander of the First Army of the division's progress and ask him to order the troops of the First Army in Shanxi to cooperate with our army's actions?"
The division commander said: "Since the division's actions have been exposed, I will send a telegram to Commander Yoshio Shinozuka and ask him to order all the troops participating in the war to launch a general attack on the enemy, contain the enemy's strength, and cooperate with our division's attack action."
The chief of staff nodded. Seeing that the adjutant had not returned yet, he simply opened the door, got out of the car, and went to deliver the order himself.
After receiving the order, the brigade commander of the Japanese 16th Brigade immediately ordered the troops to turn to a fork on the right and encircle Guancheng County in a roundabout way.
The commander of the Japanese 15th Brigade received the order from the division commander and ordered the troops to launch a fierce attack on the defender's position. Because the Eighth Route Army they faced was very tenacious, they failed to break through the enemy's position in two consecutive attacks.
In order not to give the Eighth Route Army time to rest and recuperate, the division commander ordered the 30th Regiment to take over from the 29th Regiment and launched another attack on the defenders' positions.
The one who blocked the Japanese army was the Guancheng County Guard Regiment of the Eighth Route Army. They only had more than 1,600 people, far fewer than the Japanese army. However, there are preset defensive positions here. In addition, the guard regiment is well-equipped, has a large number of machine guns and artillery, and has sufficient ammunition. The Japanese army is in a state of long-distance attack. The troops are not fully deployed, so the combat effectiveness is not fully utilized. In addition, the tanks and armored vehicles of the vanguard were destroyed by Eighth Route Army officers and soldiers using rocket launchers and 82mm recoilless rifles, and the Japanese attack was frustrated.
The Japanese 30th Regiment came to the forward position. They learned the lessons of the 29th Regiment and made full preparations according to infantry offensive tactics. They set up the artillery, began to adjust the shooting, and bombarded the Eighth Route Army's position.
The artillery of the Eighth Route Army was not to be outdone, and the two sides launched a fierce artillery battle.
The division commander rushed to the forward position and discovered a strange sight. There were many bonfires behind the enemy's position opposite. He couldn't figure out whether the other party's commander was a fool or had other problems. He lit a bonfire on his own position. Wouldn't this just provide a target for the Japanese army to attack?
He observed carefully with a telescope and saw that the bonfires seemed to be arranged very regularly, as if they were a huge arrow pointing to the current location of the Japanese army.
In this situation, the Japanese army in Shanxi could probably guess the intentions of the Eighth Route Army, but the brigade commander of the 15th Brigade had never dealt with the Eighth Route Army in the Mawushan Military Division, so he still couldn't guess what the Eighth Route Army was going to do. .
He couldn't care so much anymore. In order to break through the enemy's defensive position as soon as possible, he ordered the artillery brigade directly under the brigade and regiment headquarters to go up and help.
After receiving Zhao Gang's order, Sun Desheng was so anxious that he led the rapid mobile troops to speed up and rush to Guancheng County. He was very familiar with the terrain of the base area and knew that he would have to pass through a mountainous area on the way and the mechanized troops would have to take a relatively long detour.
He simply let the mechanized troops continue to march along the road. He led the cavalry brigade off the road and started a rapid march directly along the mountain path towards Guancheng County.
Zhao Gang's work of mobilizing workers and militiamen in the county town went very smoothly. The workers in the county town were very conscious. Even those who did not join the militia asked to help the Eighth Route Army and defend the county town. The same is true for the majority of citizens. They came to the Zhenggong Office one after another and asked for weapons to be issued to them to participate in the defense of the county.
The Mawushan Military Division has an arsenal, and the most indispensable thing is weapons and ammunition. Seeing how enthusiastic the people were, Zhao Gang felt that the people's support could be used, so he simply distributed a large number of weapons, and more than 5,000 people were added to defend the city.
Wang Sanqiang carried out emergency mobilization in the surrounding villages. Originally there were only more than 600 basic militiamen. Ordinary villagers also received simple military training in their spare time. When they heard that the Japanese were coming to attack the county, they also asked to participate in the battle.
Wang Sanqiang simply brought these people over, and now the number increased by more than 2,000. Under the leadership of Wang Sanqiang, they entered the county town to participate in the defense.
Zhao Gang saw that the number of people increased by more than 7,000 at once, and he felt that he was much more sure of holding the county seat.
He asked Wang Chengzhu to lead the Eighth Route Army in the city out of the county to strengthen the defense of the airport.
The 30th Regiment of the 15th Japanese Brigade took over from the 29th Regiment and launched another attack on the Guancheng County Guard Regiment.
The Japanese offensive was very fierce and put tremendous pressure on the Eighth Route Army.
The officers and soldiers of the Guard Regiment relied on their complete defenses and superior firepower to resolutely block the Japanese army. After a fierce battle, the attack launched by the Japanese 30th Regiment was blocked.
The commander of the Japanese Eighth Division fought many times with the local Eighth Route Army in the direction of Hebei. The weapons and equipment of the Eighth Route Army were very backward. They rarely conducted positional defense warfare. Most of the time, they fought guerrilla warfare against the Japanese army.
Based on his past experience, he believed that the Eighth Route Army here should be the same, and it would not take long to break through the Eighth Route Army's defensive positions.
Unexpectedly, the Eighth Route Army was so tenacious. The Eighth Division was one of the veteran divisions of the Japanese army and the main force among the main forces. It was unexpectedly unable to break through the Eighth Route Army's defensive positions.
This was far beyond his expectation. In his mind, the ones blocking them must be the strongest main force in the Mawushan Military Division, but he didn't know that they were facing local forces like the Garrison Corps.
The division commander is also a little anxious now. After all, this is the base of the Eighth Route Army. He is worried that he will not be able to capture the county quickly if he spends too much time here.
In order to urge the Japanese army to break through the Eighth Route Army's defensive positions as soon as possible, he personally came to the headquarters of the 15th Brigade.
After meeting the brigade commander, the division commander said dissatisfiedly: "What is going on here? Why haven't you broken through the enemy's defensive position yet? You are wasting the opportunity and will delay important events."
The brigade commander said helplessly: "The Eighth Route Army here is completely different from the Tubal Army we encountered before. Their firepower is too strong, and their ammunition seems to be endless.
Our two infantry regiments have launched many attacks and suffered many casualties among the Yellow Army warriors. It is difficult to break through the enemy's positions. "
The division commander remembered that Yoshio Shinozuka once reminded him that the Eighth Route Army in Shanxi, especially the troops in the Mawushan Military Division, was different from the Eighth Route Army in other places. The Eighth Route Army troops here are well-trained and well-equipped, especially in terms of equipment, even surpassing the Japanese army.
He didn't pay attention at the time, thinking that Yoshio Shinozuka was making excuses for himself after repeatedly failing in battles. It looks like this is all true.
He stopped talking and thought silently to see how he could change the situation in front of him as soon as possible. At this time, he also saw many bonfires on the Eighth Route Army's position.
He asked with some confusion: "What's going on with the bonfire on the enemy's position?"
The brigade leader replied truthfully: "I have also noticed this phenomenon. I wonder what they are going to do?"
As soon as the brigade leader finished speaking, the roar of aircraft flying suddenly came from the sky.
The division commander recalled another reminder from Yoshio Shinozuka, saying that the Eighth Route Army in Shanxi had air force units. Now he understood that the bonfires on the enemy's positions were used to indicate the direction of the aircraft in the sky.
The division commander was shocked and shouted: "Order the troops to conduct air defense quickly."
The division commander's guess was correct. The bonfires on the ground looked like huge arrows from the air, marking the direction of the Japanese army.
The pilots saw the flash of artillery fire between the enemy and ourselves in the air. The side near the arrow was naturally the Eighth Route Army, and opposite them was the location of the Japanese troops.
Under the leadership of Bob, the planes flew towards the enemy one after another and dropped a large number of aerial bombs on the enemy's positions.
Due to the critical situation, Zhao Gang spent a lot of money this time and directly ordered the dispatch of 32 bombers. A large number of aerial bombs exploded on the Japanese positions. A large number of Japanese vehicles on the ground were blown into scrap metal, and ignited a raging fire. Fire. This further pointed out the location of the Japanese army.
The pilots could even use the firelight burning on the ground to see the Japanese troops fleeing in panic below. They continued dive bombing, causing huge casualties to the Japanese army.
After the Japanese division commander heard the roar of the plane, he knew it was too late to drive away. Surrounded by the guards, he found a low-lying place and lay down. The Japanese soldiers lay on top of him and used their bodies to shield him from the bomb.
The first bombing was over. The commander of the Eighth Division was pressed under the soldiers. Not only was he almost breathless, but the smell of sweat on the soldiers' bodies also made him want to vomit.
The division leader was usually a pampered person, even a little bit german, which made him very angry. But in order to survive, he gritted his teeth and persisted.
After a few minutes, the enemy bombing finally ended. Hearing the roar of planes in the sky disappear, the division commander looked at the soldiers still lying on him and said, "Why don't you get up quickly?"
After hearing his words, several soldiers stood up, and one soldier was still lying on top of him.
The division commander was very angry and cursed: "Bage Yalu, why don't you get up quickly?"
The soldier still ignored him and lay motionless on top of him. The division commander reached out to push him, but he touched fresh snow in his hand. It turned out that the Japanese soldier had been killed by shrapnel in order to cover himself.
Other soldiers also saw this situation clearly, dragged away the soldier's body, and helped the division commander up.
The division commander was already a little nauseous. After he stood up, he was stimulated by the cold night air. He couldn't bear it anymore and vomited out.
After a while, the division commander finally regained his composure. He looked at the bombed-out vehicle burning, and the raging flames made him feel even more depressed.
He was an experienced senior officer with a very calm mind. He believed that the 15th Brigade would not be able to break through the enemy's defensive positions before being bombed by enemy aircraft. It's even less possible now.
If the stalemate with the Eighth Route Army continues here, we will encounter another air attack by the enemy.
He made a prompt decision and ordered the 15th Brigade to leave an infantry brigade to continue attacking the Eighth Route Army's positions. The main force of the 15th Brigade detoured from the right wing to outflank the county town. He also led the division headquarters of the 8th Division and its directly affiliated teams to follow the 15th Brigade.
The Japanese 16th Brigade outflanked the county seat from the right wing of the 15th Brigade. As a result, it bypassed the defensive position of the Eighth Route Army in front and kept moving forward. They walked for more than ten kilometers without encountering an obstruction from the Eighth Route Army. They were less than 10 meters away from the county seat of Guancheng. 10 kilometers away.
Seeing that victory was in sight, the brigade commander was a little excited and ordered the troops to speed up their march and capture Guancheng County.
Just then, a village appeared in front. The vanguard of the Japanese army did not want to waste time and did not enter the village. They prepared to go around the village.
This village is 10 kilometers away from Guancheng County, hence the name 20lipu. The militiamen of Ershilipu Village did not receive any notice from Wang Sanqiang and stayed in the village.
They had heard the sound of gunfire in the distance and knew that enemy troops must have entered.
The militiamen quickly mobilized the villagers into the tunnel, and they were also ready for battle. The Japanese army passed by their village and was quickly discovered by them.
There are a total of 22 militiamen in the village. In the past, they were envious of the militiamen in the villages on the edge of the base area for their ability to fight against the Japanese and make achievements. They were in the hinterland of the base area and had no such opportunity, so they could only listen to other people telling stories.
Unexpectedly, the little devil would run into their village one day.
The militia captain saw that there were too many Japs outside. Although he had always wanted to fight the Japs, he felt a little scared in his heart.
He consulted other militiamen for their opinions. Everyone believed that there were tunnels in the village, they could not defeat the Japanese, and there was not much danger.
I don't want to miss this opportunity to fight the Japanese.
The militia captain made up his mind, so he led the militiamen to the edge of the village and launched an attack on the Japanese marching brigade.
The militiamen did not have machine guns in their hands, but only more than 20 rifles in their hands. The bullets shot through, causing the casualties of several Japanese soldiers.
The Japs were very arrogant, especially the main divisions like the Eighth Division. Seeing that someone dared to attack them, they were very angry and sent an infantry team to fight back against the militiamen.
The Japanese army moved very quickly, setting up machine guns and mortars, and opened fire violently, and then the Japanese soldiers rushed over screaming.
Only then did the militiamen realize that the little devil was really powerful. They did not dare to fight, so they hurried back to the village and got into the tunnel.
The Japs' team leader also had a lot of combat experience. Based on the intensity of the opponent's firepower, he could judge that the attackers must be militia and guerrillas. Seeing that the enemy had fled, they did not hesitate to fight, so they returned to the main force and continued to advance.
The militiamen were beaten by the Japanese and were unable to fight back, so they went into the tunnel, which made them feel very angry. Unwilling to be reconciled, they emerged from the tunnel again, climbed onto the fortifications on the roof, and fired at the Japanese marching brigade again.
(End of chapter)
