At this time, with the three county towns of Changzhi, Licheng and Xiangyuan as the center, a pot of porridge was formed within a radius of several hundred miles.
Especially in the Eighth Route Army base area, various Eighth Route Army blocking units exchanged fire with the Japanese, slowing down the Japanese's advance to reinforce the 37th Division.
The orders received by the troops were to block enemy reinforcements at all costs.
However, the blocking troops did not fight the Japanese to the end, but used tactics such as sparrow warfare, mine warfare, and layer-by-layer blocking to deal with the Japanese.
Knowing that the 37th Division was in a critical situation, Yoshio Shinozuka ordered troops from various counties in southern Shanxi to rush to rescue immediately.
In addition to the main force of the Eighth Route Army and the Eighth Route Army guerrillas around southern Shanxi, there are also local troops of the National Army, as well as a large number of local armed forces such as county brigades, district squads and militia.
Although there is no order for coordinated operations between the Eighth Route Army and the National Army, the communication capabilities within the Eighth Route Army are poor, and the communication between the main force and local troops is also poor.
Many troops in the surrounding guerrilla zones did not know that the Eighth Route Army was attacking Changzhi, Xiangyuan and Licheng counties.
But when the Japanese and puppet soldiers come out of the stronghold in front of them, they can't be allowed to walk happily. How can they not take advantage when they see it?
In Ding Wei's words, even if the Japanese go to pay homage to their birthdays, they cannot succeed!
As a result, various departments of the Eighth Route Army in southern Shanxi, various departments of the National Army, and anti-Japanese armed forces in various regions, including the bandit Shan Dawang who was gathering in the mountains and forests, were all involved.
The entire southeastern Shanxi and southern Shanxi are in chaos.
Shinozuka Yoshio sent another regiment of troops from Taiyuan to the southeast of Shanxi Province by train to assist.
The train stopped after only a few dozen kilometers. The Japanese Colonel got off the train and saw that more than ten kilometers of track were missing.
At this time, Taiyuan City was already empty of troops, and only a few thousand troops could capture it.
However, only Yan Xishan's Jinsui Army could capture Taiyuan City at this time.
Yoshio Shinozuka knew very well that if the 37th Division was eaten by the Eighth Route Army, then he would definitely lose his hat.
Moreover, Yoshio Shinozuka was determined that Yan Xishan would not dare to lead his troops to attack Taiyuan, because even if Yan Xishan captured Taiyuan, he would not be able to withstand the anger of the Japanese army to settle scores after the fall.
The Japanese troops in Anze County received reinforcement orders. As soon as they left the stronghold, they stepped on landmines one after another and sent engineers to detect mines. In an instant, they were knocked down by the sudden machine gun fire. The Japanese commander was anxious and spread out his formation to pounce on them, but After missing again, the Japanese commander ordered the attack to advance. They were harassed all the way, and more than half of them were killed or wounded within 20 kilometers.
A Japanese battalion of reinforcements stationed in Jincheng was ambushed midway. It was first attacked by a regiment of the National Army Pang Bingxun. The exchange of fire lasted for an hour. Both sides suffered casualties. After the National Army withdrew, the Japanese commander ordered a small team to carry out the wounded. After being sent back to Jincheng, he continued to lead his troops to rescue.
On his way back to Jincheng, he was attacked by a group of bandits. A small group of Japanese and wounded were all killed.
The bandits did not implement the policy of humanitarianism and preferential treatment of prisoners like the Eighth Route Army. They robbed all the belongings of the Japanese and then beheaded the Japanese and the wounded. Dozens of headless and naked corpses were thrown on the road.
The Japanese brigade continued to advance and was harassed by the guerrillas again and again. Not long after they walked, they were ambushed by a new cavalry battalion, and a firefight broke out between the two sides.
Under the command of Sun Desheng, the soldiers of the cavalry battalion first dismounted to form an ambush, using superior firepower to kill and injure the Japanese soldiers, and then mounted their horses and rushed down the hillside to harvest the Japs' heads.
Not long after, most of the Japanese reinforcements were wiped out by the cavalry battalion.
Sun Desheng triumphantly said to the soldiers: The regiment commander ordered our cavalry battalion to block the attack. We will kill all the Japanese reinforcements and complete the blockade mission. Is this reasonable?
After learning that there were no extra Japs in Jincheng to reinforce Changzhi, Sun Desheng returned to Changzhi with the cavalry battalion.
…
"Boss, the latest information."
"At present, we have more than 30 main regiments and a large number of local troops involved in the battle, and the national army troops from southern Shanxi are also involved."
"Besieging the city, attacking the city, attacking the city with reinforcements, ambushing the city, we are very busy."
At the Eighth Route Army headquarters, the chief of staff reported the latest situation to the boss.
There are more than a dozen main regiments on Li Yunlong's side, and there are about 20 regiments that provide reinforcements to Li Yunlong and are responsible for relocating the people.
As Li Yunlong led his troops to attack the 37th Division and attracted the 14th and 18th Brigades, the pressure on the base area suddenly eased.
Taking advantage of this opportunity, the troops were already rushing to move the people to the outside.
"Good guy, Li Yunlong's attack on the city has turned the entire southeast of Shanxi into a pot of porridge." The boss suddenly said happily.
"How is the situation over there with Li Yunlong?" the boss asked again.
The chief of staff said: "At present, the three attack groups have successfully entered the city and started street battles with the Japanese. However, the resistance of the Japanese is also very tenacious. I am afraid that the battle will not be over for a while."
The boss nodded. The outer positions and city walls were captured so quickly. The attack speed of the attacking troops was considered fast.
The chief of staff added: "Li Yunlong also reported that our artillery severely damaged the enemy's artillery regiment in Changzhi City."
"Not bad!" The boss looked satisfied and praised, "Li Yunlong has a lot of skills in using artillery. His combination of special forces and artillery basically hits wherever he wants."
The chief of staff nodded and said: "Mainly because of his channel, he provided him with a full set of artillery equipment, cannons, artillery shells, precision maps, artillery scopes, and even a lot of spare parts and camouflage nets, especially precision maps. The artillery scope and the artillery mirror are simply the treasures of the artillery. Our artillery must also learn to use precision maps."
"We'll talk about this after the battle." The boss nodded.
The chief of staff added, "The Japanese 2nd Guards Division is also coming towards our arsenal. It's not a bad person."
"Where is the 2nd Guards Division?" the boss asked, looking down at the map.
The chief of staff said: "At present, the 2nd Guards Division has passed through the county seat of Liao County. The straight-line distance from Huangyadong Arsenal is only about 30 kilometers. Our reinforcements will not be delayed for long."
The boss said: "Then send a few more regiments of troops to stop the 2nd Guards Division. I still don't believe it. How powerful are the emperor's guards?"
All the troops that the 129th Division of the Eighth Route Army can fight are with Li Yunlong. With the current troops, it is difficult to resist the 2nd Guards Division.
However, Li Yunlong's side had already attracted most of the troops. The only Japanese troops attacking the Huangyadong Arsenal were the 2nd Guards Division and an infantry regiment.
Under layers of resistance, the 2nd Guards Division could not reach Huangya Cave for at least a day.
However, Huangyadong Arsenal now has hundreds of sets of machine tools and equipment worth several kilograms, and it is very difficult to transfer them.
Unless Li Yunlong's channel sends out Dragonfly aircraft to transport all the machine tools and equipment, and then transport them back after the Japanese leave.
It was only a matter of time before the 2nd Guards Division surrounded the Huangyadong Arsenal.
"It seems that the 2nd Guards Division did not go to Changzhi, but instead attacked our arsenal. Shinozuka Yoshio wanted to encircle Wei and rescue Zhao, forcing the Taihang column to return for reinforcements and relieve the siege of the 37th Division."
"This 2nd Guards Division is also to save the 37th Division..." As he spoke, the boss' expression and tone were strange: "How do I feel that the Japanese army surrounded and raided the iron wall of our base area, and it became To defend the 37th Division?"
The chief of staff smiled and said: "Boss, be confident and get rid of the feeling. This battle has become a battle to defend the 37th Division. I dare to bet you that if the Japanese 37th Division is wiped out by Li Yunlong, Yoshio Shinozuka You definitely can’t walk away with nothing to lose.”
The boss nodded and said: "Now, it depends on whether Li Yunlong can capture the Japanese 37th Division!"
…
In Changzhi County.
The battle is in full swing.
The Eighth Route Army siege troops opened gaps in the north and west walls and poured into the city.
According to Li Yunlong's tactics, the Eighth Route Army soldiers who entered the city from these two directions were not in a hurry to enter the neighborhoods and fight with the Japanese in the streets.
Instead, they attacked in a roundabout way along the city wall, cooperated with the Eighth Route Army troops outside the city, and killed the defensive forces on the south and east walls.
Then, the Eighth Route Army troops attacked in depth from four directions at the same time, starting a street-by-street battle.
The Japanese 37th Division obviously had little experience in street fighting.
As soon as the street fighting began, the Japanese put all their troops on the street, built sandbags on the street, seized the commanding heights of houses, and set up machine guns for layer-by-layer defense.
If the Eighth Route Army does not have an artillery group and the quality of observers and artillery is low, there is no problem with this style of play.
Without these, if the Eighth Route Army wanted to eat up the 37th Division, it would have to attack street by street and slowly eat away at defensive points one by one.
However, the Eighth Route Army happens to have an artillery group, and its observers and artillerymen are extremely well-educated and can call for artillery shells at any time.
The enemy's firepower points set up on commanding heights on the streets and rooftops were knocked down one by one by the artillery shells called by the swordsmen.
Hit wherever you point.
After two streets were captured in succession, the Japanese changed their tactics. All the Japanese soldiers entered the houses and started fighting house-by-house with the Eighth Route Army.
The news was immediately transmitted to the Eighth Route Army headquarters via walkie-talkie.
Kong Jie said in a surprised tone: "The Japs adjusted their tactics very quickly. It doesn't look like they have lost their command system. There is a high probability that the old Japs Hirata was not killed."
Zhao Gang said: "This is normal. In the battle between Yangquan and Shouyang last year, our new regiment used the method of calling for artillery fire to behead the Japanese headquarters. The Japanese are not fools and will not suffer the same loss three times. It must be before we call for artillery fire." , transferred the location of the command headquarters."
"This old Japs in Pingtian is quite cunning." Li Yunlong narrowed his eyes, "Old Kong, use the walkie-talkie to order the troops to capture a few tongues and hand them over to Lu Yingjun for interrogation, find out the location of the Japs headquarters, and then ask the Sharp Sword Squadron to call for artillery fire. Beheading, Changzhi County is such a big place, labor and management want to see where this old devil like Pingtian can hide?"
(End of chapter)
