In this attack on the 37th Division, the Eighth Route Army mobilized no less than 20,000 civilians and militiamen to ensure the logistical supplies of the frontline troops.
Combat troops alone cannot carry so many bullets with two bases and artillery shells with three bases.
Moreover, these militiamen and civilians carry a lot of food, which can ensure that the soldiers on the front line have a hot meal at any time.
Li Yunlong said: "The Japs and the puppet troops exchange military uniforms, and we can also exchange the clothes of the militiamen with the main force. When the Japs plane comes for reconnaissance tomorrow morning, we will find that our main force is still outside the three counties of Changzhi, Xiangyuan and Licheng."
Kong Jie said: "Old Li, your method is good. As long as the Japanese find that our main force is still in Changzhi and Huangyadong arsenal, the 2nd Guards Division will attack without restraint. At that time, we will directly close the door and fight. dog."
Zhao Gang stared at the map, his expression solemn. He used a scale to calculate the distance from Changzhi to Huangyadong Arsenal.
"The two county towns of Xiangyuan and Licheng are not far from the Huangyadong Arsenal, only about 30 kilometers away."
"But the straight-line distance between us and the Huangyadong Arsenal is more than 50 kilometers. Many places are on mountain roads. The real distance may be more than 60 kilometers."
"And many soldiers in our army have not slept for two days and one night. I am afraid it will be difficult to complete a long-distance attack of more than 60 kilometers."
Li Yunlong looked at the map and narrowed his eyes slightly. The distance was indeed not short.
Kong Jie said: "Political Commissar Zhao, more than 60 kilometers is really nothing."
"During the Long March, the First Red Regiment and the Fourth Red Regiment marched 120 kilometers day and night to build the Luding Bridge."
"There were several battles along the way, and the roads were not as easy as ours this time. Most of the roads we walked this time were roads."
"As long as we carry forward the spirit of the Red Army, I believe our soldiers can complete the mission of long-distance attacks."
Li Yunlong also said: "In this way, let the soldiers who entered the city to participate in street fighting stay and continue fighting with the Japanese in the street tomorrow. The reserve team that did not participate in the fighting will immediately go to bed and rest. There are still 4 hours of darkness. We will wait for the soldiers after dark. Wake everyone up and order the logistics staff to prepare food."
Kong Jie said: "I'm afraid we can't take the cannon with us, because it is a long-distance attack, and the mules and horses pulling the cannon will never be able to keep up with the troops."
When the troops rushed all the way to Changzhi last night, the troops transporting mountain artillery and howitzers failed to keep up.
Wait for the artillery troops to arrive and start the attack at dawn.
Li Yunlong said: "Then if our artillery and artillery here don't leave, I will keep the New Regiment County Brigade, and the Japanese in Changzhi County must be dealt with."
The Japs in Xiangyuan County and Licheng County can be let off, but the Japs in Changzhi County, Li Yunlong, will not be let off.
Because he was not 100% sure whether Hirata's old devil was dead, the profit from killing a lieutenant general was worth at least 3 divisions.
"Yes." Kong Jie said, "Deploy 24 cannons from the 1st Attack Group and the 2nd Attack Group each, plus the artillery regiment under the division and the artillery regiment directly under the headquarters, to attack the 2nd Guards Division, the artillery will definitely be enough. used."
Li Yunlong nodded: "Just do it, Old Zhao, you immediately send a telegram to Ding Wei and Cheng Shi, ordering them to wait until dark, leaving two regiments each to guard the city wall, and the soldiers of the other two regiments exchange military uniforms with the militiamen. Remove half of the cannons and artillery and return to the reinforcement arsenal together."
"Lao Kong, immediately order the reserve team and the new regiment to sleep more quickly."
"Old Zhao, after you send the telegram, immediately ask the militiamen to prepare food."
"Yes!" Zhao Gang and Kong Jie acted independently.
Four hours flew by.
After a whole day of fierce fighting, under the fierce attack of the Eighth Route Army, there were only more than 1,500 Japs left in Changzhi County.
The Eighth Route Army also suffered a lot of casualties, but because of their superior strength and firepower, the Japanese's casualties were much greater than those of the Eighth Route Army.
As soon as it got dark, the Eighth Route Army retreated, blocking the city gates and collapsed city walls with sandbags, and then guarded the city walls and fortifications outside the city.
The militiamen and civilian husbands carried the hot steamed buns and meat pies to the city wall on poles for the soldiers to have dinner.
In addition to food, ammunition is also supplied.
The reserve team that did not participate in the battle had finished resting and were changing equipment with the militiamen.
All returning soldiers had to travel lightly, leaving their heavier equipment on mules or horses.
After changing their clothes, all the soldiers came to the road, packed a few steamed buns or pancakes, and ate while marching northward.
As the night deepened and the sky turned gray, the main force of the New Regiment and the 2nd Attack Group quickly disappeared into the night.
Lu Yingjun and more than 20 members of the Sword Squadron had already taken the lead on military horses.
Find artillery positions and arrange false positions for the artillery unit in advance.
…
Taiyuan.
First Army Headquarters.
Kusuyama Hideyoshi went to the communications room next door.
Then he walked into the conference room holding a few telegrams.
"Your Excellency, Commander, the troops of the 37th Division in Changzhi, Xiangyuan and Licheng Counties have all sent telegrams."
"Eighth Route Army units engaged in street fighting have withdrawn from the city."
As soon as he entered the conference room, Kusuyama Hideyoshi reported to Shinozuka Yoshio.
"Nani, has the Eighth Route Army retreated?" Yoshio Shinozuka asked eagerly with a look on his face.
"The Eighth Route Army did not retreat. They stayed on the city wall and used sandbags to block the city gate and the collapsed city wall." Kusuyama Hideyoshi said.
There was a hint of disappointment on Shinozuka Yoshio's face. He thought the Eighth Route Army had withdrawn, but it turned out that they were just withdrawing from the battle.
"Your Excellency, Commander, do you think the main force of the 37th Division of the Eighth Route Attack will return to the arsenal to reinforce it?" Kusuyama Hideyoshi suddenly said.
"Huh?" Yoshio Shinozuka frowned, "Kusuyama-kun, you mean that the main force of the Eighth Route Army may return to the arsenal at night to reinforce the arsenal?"
"It's not impossible!" Kusuyama Hideyoshi said in a deep voice.
"Isn't this just right?" said Yoshio Shinozuka, "The main force of the Eighth Route Army returns to the arsenal to reinforce the arsenal, and the remaining soldiers of the 37th Division will be saved."
Kusuyama Hideyoshi said: "Your Excellency, Commander, why don't you order the 14th Brigade and the 18th Brigade to encircle us in the direction of the Eighth Route Arsenal?"
"What if the main force of the Eighth Route Army did not return to reinforce the arsenal?" Yoshio Shinozuka raised his head and asked.
"this…"
Kusuyama Hideyoshi was speechless when asked. If the Eighth Route Army did not return to reinforce the arsenal, and the 14th Brigade and the 18th Brigade did not rush to assist, then the 37th Division would be completely finished.
At least there is a chance now.
Shinozuka Yoshio said: "What's more, the 14th Brigade and the 18th Brigade are exchanging fire with the Eighth Route Army and changing the direction of attack. Wouldn't the Eighth Route Army know? Just for an arsenal, the main force of the Eighth Route Army would stupidly jump into the encirclement of the imperial army. ?"
"That's true." Kusuyama Hideyoshi hesitated for a moment and then said, "But if the main force of the Eighth Route Army returns to the direction of the sky at night, then the 2nd Guards Division and the 36th Regiment will be in danger. After all, the strength of the Eighth Route Army is not what it used to be. Compared to that, especially the troops under Li Yunlong."
Yoshio Shinozuka stared at the map with his hands behind his back, his eyes slightly narrowed behind his black round glasses: "From Changzhi to Yixiantian, it is more than 60 kilometers at least. The heavy equipment of the Eighth Route relies entirely on mules and horses. Can we make it back? What's more What's more, the soldiers of the Eighth Route Army have been fighting continuously for a day and a night, and they have also traveled dozens of kilometers in between. I am afraid that they no longer have the energy to return to the arsenal to reinforce the arsenal."
If the main force of the Eighth Route Army wanted to return to the arsenal for reinforcements, they should have gone back at noon. Yoshio Shinozuka did not believe that the main force of the Eighth Route Army traveled at night to return reinforcements.
In Shinozuka Yoshio's opinion, even the elite Japanese army could not do it, let alone the Eighth Route Army, even with the attack of more than 60 kilometers in a continuous battle.
The 2nd Guards Division was too far away from the 37th Division, and it would definitely not be possible for the 2nd Guards Division to rush to the rescue of the 37th Division.
"However, theoretically speaking, it is possible for the main force of the Eighth Route Army to return to support at night." Kusuyama Hideyoshi sounded worried.
Yoshio Shinozuka turned around and moved his gaze to the sand table in the war room: "It is easy to verify whether the main force of the Eighth Route Army has returned to support. Let the troops from Changzhi, Xiangyuan and Licheng attack the city wall to test whether the cannons of the Eighth Route Army are still there and whether the firepower has weakened. .”
"In addition, reconnaissance planes were dispatched to explore the roads leading into the Eighth Route Bandit Areas from Changzhi, Xiangyuan and Licheng at night."
"Hi!" Kusuyama Hideyoshi suddenly paused, turned and left.
…
In Changzhi County.
In a certain room.
Lieutenant Colonel Matsuda, captain of the 7th Infantry Battalion of the 227th Regiment, was sitting on a stool, leaning on his saber and closing his eyes to relax.
All officers above the rank of colonel died, and he, the infantry battalion captain, was appointed by Yoshio Shinozuka as the supreme commander in Changzhi County.
The Japanese army was equipped with radios at the brigade level and above. Although the communications at the division headquarters were destroyed, the Japanese were still able to communicate with the headquarters.
After exiting the city from Eighth Road, the Japanese were very tired and were taking a break to recharge their batteries.
If it were a street-by-street fight, the Eighth Route Army would definitely attack at night. After all, the Eighth Route Army was better at night fighting.
But this is a house-by-house fight. At night, there are no lights and you can't even find the door. House-by-house fights cannot be fought.
"Captain, Commander Shinozuka is calling urgently!"
The Japanese telegraph soldier held a telegram in his hand and walked up to Lieutenant Commander Matsuda and paused.
"Give me!"
Lieutenant Colonel Matsuda took the telegram, and a soldier next to him lit a match. With the light of the match, he looked at the telegram intently.
After reading the contents of the telegram, Lieutenant Colonel Matsuda almost couldn't help but curse.
After fighting in the streets for a whole day, without even seeing half of the reinforcements, you still want the soldiers to launch a probing attack on the eight sides of the city wall?
The Eighth Route Army's firepower is so fierce, isn't this asking soldiers to die?
Although I was very angry and reluctant in every possible way, the order still had to be carried out.
Lieutenant Colonel Matsuda immediately asked the ordering soldiers to give orders to the squadron leaders to assemble the soldiers.
Then, taking advantage of the darkness, a squadron of Japanese soldiers each sneaked towards the west and north city walls.
Before the Japs could get close to the city wall, more than 100 meters away, one of the Japs stepped on a booby trap set by the Eighth Route Army.
"Boom!" There was a sudden explosion and a ball of orange-red firelight in the quiet night.
The explosion woke up the sleeping Eighth Route Army, and immediately intensive machine gun and submachine gun fire poured towards the Japanese.
The Japanese set up light and heavy machine guns, mortars, grenade launchers and other firepower to attack the city wall.
After the two sides exchanged fire for a while, the swordsmen called for artillery fire. Amidst a burst of explosions that shook the ground, the street where the Japanese were located instantly turned into a sea of fire.
The remaining Japanese didn't even dare to collect the corpses and fled in a hurry.
Lieutenant Colonel Matsuda, who returned to the headquarters in embarrassment, immediately called back to Yoshio Shinozuka: "Your Excellency, Commander, the firepower of the Eighth Route Artillery is still fierce, and the firepower of submachine guns and machine guns is even more fierce than during the day."
(End of chapter)
