The Japanese army strategically retreated from Shanxi, and the People's Liberation Army strategically seized territory.
As soon as the Japs in Pingyao left their strongholds in the county, Qin Fen led the First Battalion of the Armored Infantry Regiment to station in Pingyao. The common people came out of their homes in a daze and saw that the plaster flags on the Japs' strongholds turned into the People's Liberation Army flags. He was stunned for a while, rubbing his eyes in disbelief.
Almost the same scene was staged at the same time in Fenyang, Wenshui, Gujiao, Lan County, and Yushe. There were few gunshots. Even if the People's Liberation Army encountered the Japanese army in the city or on the way, the Japanese army retreated immediately after the two sides exchanged fire. , not entangled with the People's Liberation Army at all.
Xie Tian stood in front of the sand table, holding in his hand a small red flag that Tang Haoer temporarily sewn with red cloth. When he heard a message from the combat staff, he placed a red flag on the sand table. Now the sand table was densely covered with red flags around Taiyuan. .
"Report, Commander Li led the Third Battalion of the Armored Infantry Regiment and was stubbornly blocked by the Japanese Xiaocun Regiment in Shouyang."
"Order the Second Column Qian Xiaohao to lead his troops to support Li Changshun. They must arrive within 12 hours and launch an attack on Shouyang from the direction of Huiqugou to cut off the retreat of the Shouyang Japs. Since they are stubborn, let the Xiaocun Regiment stay in Shouyang."
"Report, the 22nd Battalion of the New Sixth Regiment has recaptured Shijiazhuang."
"What the hell, why did the 22nd Battalion go to Shijiazhuang and recover Shijiazhuang?"
"Sir, don't make trouble, this is Fenhe Shijiazhuang Town."
"Damn it, it's a waste to report a town back. Tell the 22nd Battalion to speed up. What I want is Shenchi. Tell them to leave a squad in Shijiazhuang to recruit troops on the spot. Mosquito legs are also meat. I have secured Shijiazhuang. .”
While Xie Tian was happy, the staff members also happily joked with Xie Tian. The combat headquarters was filled with laughter, and they were just short of getting some melon seeds.
Everyone was in a trance, as if they were in a dream. This was not a war, this was simply playing chess.
"Report to the division commander."
"Where did you recover again?"
Xie Tian had already reflexively pulled out a small red flag from his hand and was about to put it on the sand table. However, he saw that the person running up to him was Hu Zhiyong.
Hu Zhiyong saw that Xie Tian was about to glare and said hurriedly: "Commander, it's Deputy Brigadier Xu of the Eighth Route Army here."
"Oh, here comes another peach picker. No, he doesn't know how to pick my peaches. Go and invite him in."
"Please come here?"
"nonsense."
"yes"
In a short time, Hu Zhiyong led the dusty Xu Shiyou into the combat headquarters. Xu Shiyou looked around and saw novelties everywhere. At this time, he saw Xie Tian holding a handful of small red flags beside the sand table and smiling, and walked quickly. He came over and laughed: "Baoqing, I didn't expect you to really knock down Taiyuan. You put a big bomb and knocked us all unconscious."
Xie Tian smiled and shook hands with Xu Shiyou: "Brother, have the Japanese at Yanmen Pass been dealt with?"
Xu Shiyou laughed and said: "The Japs regiment from Taiyuan immediately retreated to the mountains when they saw the tanks of your armored infantry battalion. The Guitian Brigade in Yangquan also gave up attacking Yanmen Pass and returned to Yangquan."
The 1st Battalion of the Armored Infantry Regiment was led by Qin Fen to regain Pingyao, the 2nd Battalion supported Xu Shiyou's troops at Yanmen Pass, and the 3rd Battalion led by Li Changshun was attacking Shouyang. Only one column and one company were stationed in the newly occupied Jinzhong.
The Japs around Taiyuan have all retreated. One company is more than enough to guard a county town. The important thing is to occupy and declare sovereignty.
After exchanging pleasantries, Xu Shiyou saw the red flags on the sand table at various fortresses in several counties around Taiyuan. He was surprised and looked at Xie Tian and asked, "Baoqing, have you taken down all these places?"
Xie Tian laughed proudly and said: "Brother, do you think I put this red flag just for fun?"
Chu Yunfei came out of the telegraph room with the telegram. When he saw Xie Tian and Xu Shiyou chatting and laughing, he smiled bitterly and walked up to say hello to Xu Shiyou.
They are indeed like brothers.
Xu Shiyou looked at Chu Yunfei in surprise: "Are you Chu Yunfei from the 358th Regiment of the Jinsui Army? Why are you here?"
Xie Tian laughed and said: "Brother Yunfei is now the deputy commander of the Independent Division of our People's Liberation Army. We are now a family."
Chu Yunfei smiled awkwardly at Xu Shiyou, looked at Xie Tian and said: "Commander, the Fifth Infantry Regiment has marched to Xiaoyi and is dividing its troops to march towards Jiexiu."
"Okay", Xie Tian shouted and inserted the red flag in his hand into Xiaoyi and Jiexiu.
Although Jiexiu hasn't been taken down yet, in his eyes, Jiexiu is already his.
By occupying Jiexiu and Shenchi, he has finished harvesting this round of peaches. These two places are battlegrounds for military strategists. They respectively block the two main roads in and out of Shanxi from the west and south. As for Linfen Xietian further south, there is no need to do so. Remember, you only have so few soldiers and horses in your hands. If you spread them too thin, they will be defeated by the enemy one by one, and the gain will not be worth the loss.
Xu Shiyou was stunned and counted the red flags on the sand table, and looked at Xie Tian in disbelief: "Where did you get so many soldiers?"
There are eight or nine county towns and more than ten fortresses. Even if a battalion is stationed in one place, there will be tens of thousands of troops, not to mention the more than ten important towns around Taiyuan.
Xie Tian looked at Xu Shiyou and said with a smile: "Brother, under my command are six infantry regiments, three columns, an armored infantry regiment, and an artillery regiment. This does not include the auxiliary troops and non-combat troops. I have so many It’s not too much for someone to occupy such a small piece of territory, right?”
Xu Shiyou's body trembled and his voice became shrill: "What are you talking about? You have six infantry regiments, three columns and two special forces regiments?"
Xie Tian chuckled and said: "That's about right. These are the frontline combat troops at the moment. If you include the local security forces, there will be more."
Xu Shiyou looked at Xie Tian with a dark look. When the Eighth Route Army was first established, there were three divisions with more than 40,000 people. The strength of one of your divisions is almost equal to the strength of the entire 18th Group Army?
How long did it take for your People's Liberation Army to grow to such a large scale? How did you do it?
Xie Tian looked at Xu Shiyou's expression and laughed. Now that he has occupied so much territory, given him a few more months, he is confident that he can double the size of his army, but he will also fall into the same dilemma faced by the Eighth Route Army. , there are not enough weapons allocated.
Damn it, you old bastard Neji Okamura, why didn’t you leave all your weapons and equipment with me when you retreated? Um?
Next time we meet, I will give you a slap in the face.
Xu Shiyou smiled bitterly and shook his head slightly at Xie Tian. Fortunately, the mission he received was just to contact Xie Baoqing, and he did not need to talk to him about any more in-depth issues. Otherwise, it would be really difficult to open this conversation.
Why should I, a small deputy brigade commander, talk to others about more in-depth issues?
It's not equal at all.
