After Yan Guiwu left, Chiba Xunyi telegraphed the information he provided to Shinozuka Yoshio, saying that the Mawushan guerrillas had noticed that the Japanese army was about to attack, and the base area was actively preparing for war. He hoped that the commander could deploy the army as soon as possible.

, attacking Mawu Mountain did not give Xu Dalong and others sufficient preparation time.

Yoshio Shinozuka was very depressed. Although he knew that the large-scale mobilization of the Japanese army could not be hidden from Xu Dalong, he did not expect that the enemy would be prepared so quickly.

So he urged the various Japanese troops who participated in the siege of the Mawushan base area to speed up their assembly.

Guancheng County. Guerrilla Brigade Headquarters.

Two Japanese cavalry regiments transferred from the direction of Peiping have arrived at Lingao City, and a Japanese tank regiment has arrived at Yucheng. The Japanese 110th Division from the Yangquan direction has been replenished and is gathering towards Yangquan. Taiyuan

The Japanese Fifth Division in the direction has begun to gather troops.

…

Various news continued to come in, the Japanese army was gathering heavily, and there was a situation where dark clouds were pressing down on the city, threatening to destroy it.

Taiyue Military Region Headquarters.

The commander received a telegram from Xu Dalong, reporting the gathering of large Japanese troops. He decided to send a part of the troops to the Mawushan base area to cooperate with Xu Dalong's troops to repel the Japanese siege.

At this moment, he received an order from the headquarters to attend the combat meeting.

The combat meeting reported the latest trends of the Japanese army, saying that the Japanese army had plans to launch a large-scale attack on the Taihang base area, and reported intelligence from the Zhongtiao Mountain headquarters that the Japanese troops there also showed signs of a large-scale attack.

The head of the headquarters asked the Taihang Military Region, Taiyue Military Region, Luliang Military Region and other departments participating in the meeting to prepare for a large-scale Japanese attack.

The commander spoke at the meeting and said that the reason why the Japanese army launched a large-scale attack in Shanxi was a deceptive tactic. Their main purpose was to cover up their intention to attack the Mawushan base area. He collected Xu Dalong

The intelligence was reported, and an application was made to the headquarters to dispatch some troops from the Taiyue Military Region to the Mawushan base area to cooperate with Xu Dalong's troops to crush the enemy's massive siege.

The head of the headquarters believed that what the commander of the Taiyue Military Region said was reasonable and agreed to his request. At the same time, he also reminded the troops in each military region to prevent the Japanese from attacking them.

The commander returned to the Taiyue Military Region Headquarters and discussed with the chief of staff to decide to send Li Yunlong's newly formed First Brigade to the Mawushan base area to support Xu Dalong's operations.

Li Yunlong had been waiting for this day for a long time. After receiving the commander's order, he was very excited. After getting in touch with Xu Dalong, he led the main force of the newly formed First Brigade to the Mawushan base area that night.

Guancheng County.

Zhao Gang is also a very creative person. When he inspected the guerrillas digging tunnels, he found that the shovels, pickaxes and other tools they used were not very practical when digging tunnels, because the tunnels were very narrow and these tools were not practical at all.

Can't be deployed.

After repeated research, he invented a three-claw nail rake. This kind of nail rake is only more than a foot long. It can be swung vigorously in narrow tunnels. When digging into the soil, it can easily be done by using the principle of leverage.

It can dig out large pieces of soil, greatly increasing the speed of tunnel excavation.

Seeing that this kind of tool was very practical, Zhao Gang arranged for mass production in the arsenal, and at the same time notified the Zheng Mansion in Mawushan Central County to organize blacksmiths from various places to build it and distribute it to the local militia and the masses to speed up the excavation of tunnels.

On this day, the Zheng Mansion of Mawushan Central County held an experience exchange meeting on tunnel excavation, and Xu Dalong and Zhao Gang were invited to participate.

At the experience exchange meeting, a director of the Women's Rescue Society from Lijiazhuang, Ping'an County caught Xu Dalong's attention. This person's name was Li Xiuqin. She was a smart and capable female cadre with a good appearance and figure, but her skin was a bit dark.

The women in Lijiazhuang are very well organized. They have participated in various tasks in the village, even digging tunnels. This time, as an advanced representative of tunnel digging, she imparted her experience in organizing women's work.

"Li Xiuqin of Lijiazhuang, Ping'an County", this information reminded Xu Dalong of a person, that is, Li Yunlong's first wife Li Xiuqin. It is said that due to the arrival of Xu Dalong, history has changed, and Li Yunlong's troops have already left Ping'an County and moved to

After going to the Taihang Mountain base area, he probably wouldn't be acquainted with Li Xiuqin anymore.

Perhaps by God's will, Li Yunlong is leading the troops of the new brigade towards Guancheng County. Maybe there is some chance for them to meet again, and maybe there will be a spark of love.

Thinking about this matter, Xu Dalong became a little distracted for a moment.

It wasn't until Zhao Gang reminded him that it was his turn to give a speech. Only then did he wake up and delivered a passionate speech, fully affirming the grassroots organizations at all levels affiliated to the Zheng Mansion in Mawushan Central County for their achievements in tunnel excavation.

He affirmed their experience and encouraged them to keep up their efforts, not only to do a good job in digging tunnels, but also to actively strive to be advanced in other aspects of work.

After the meeting, Zhao Gang found Xu Dalong staring at the back of a young woman.

He felt a little strange, because during the meeting today, Xu Dalong was a little distracted. Now he was staring at the back of a person, not understanding what this guy wanted to do.

He walked up to Xu Dalong, coughed, and asked: "Captain, what are you looking at?"

Xu Dalong smiled and said: "Zhao Zhengwei, you said that our group leader is quite old. When he comes to our base this time, shouldn't we introduce him to a partner?"

Zhao Gang said: "We thought of going together. There are many young women in our base area now, and I have this plan to help Lao Li introduce one."

After hearing what Zhao Gang said, Xu Dalong must have introduced a knowledgeable and educated young woman to Li Yunlong, so that he would not have any intersection with Li Xiuqin. But maybe, some things are destined by God.

Thinking of this, he smiled and said: "Commissioner Zhao Zheng, I have a suggestion. Don't introduce him to our group leader when he comes. Our group leader is a man who is popular with women. Anyway, we have many young women here. Maybe he will see it."

Whoever it is, we can just go with the flow when the time comes."

After Zhao Gang thought for a while, he said: "What you said makes sense. Anyway, the new brigade will not leave in a day and a half, so it depends on Lao Li's own fate. If it doesn't work, we can help him introduce it.

.”

Having said this, he asked: "Captain, is it time for your personal problems to be solved? Director Lin or Miss Chu, which one do you like?"

Xu Dalong smiled and said: "I am still too young to consider this matter for the time being. But you, Zhao Zhengwei, are older than me. You are the eldest brother. If you don't take the lead in this regard, I will fall in love and get married first. It's really

It doesn’t make sense.”

Zhao Gang said: "Now that the war is coming, how can I have such thoughts?"

Xu Dalong smiled and said: "It's over now. I don't have the heart to think about this matter now."

The next morning, Xu Dalong received a report that the people who participated in the tunnel excavation experience exchange meeting in Zheng Mansion, central county of Mawu Mountain, had left the county and returned to their respective villages. At this time, Li Yunlong's new first brigade had not arrived yet

When we arrived at the Mawushan base, it seemed that Li Xiuqin and Li Yunlong had no chance to get to know each other.

Northeast of Taiyuan, Liujiazhuang, Yangcheng County.

That night, the dogs in the village suddenly started barking wildly. Some villagers were upset by the barking, so they got up to check and suddenly found a large number of Japanese cavalry entering the village.

There is no difference in equipment between these cavalry and the cavalry of other cavalry units of the Japanese army, except that the saddles are covered with a thick sheepskin. These Japanese troops are the Takashima Cavalry Regiment from the Chahar Expeditionary Army.

Regiment Captain Takashima, following Yoshio Shinozuka's instructions, led the cavalry regiment to travel day and night, specifically picking up paths, or passing directly through the fields, and suddenly appeared here.

In order to cover up their intentions, the Japanese army sealed off the entire village and did not allow anyone to go out.

Then a large number of Japanese soldiers moved into people's homes, forcing them to provide them with food and accommodation.

These Japanese beasts would not stop. Soon after they entered the village, the cries of women came from the village, followed by the sound of gunshots and the screams of men. These two-legged beasts bullied the village.

He killed the women who tried to resist one by one, causing a tragedy and incurring a blood debt to innocent people.

The Takashima United Team rested for a day in Liujiazhuang and reported to Yoshio Shinozuka. The next night, they left Liujiazhuang and entered Ping'an County.

Chiba Xunyi's intelligence source was not only the Fourth Division of Huang Xiejun, but also the gendarmerie of each county. The Ping'an County Gendarmerie received a report that a large force of underground anti-Japanese armed forces had entered Ping'an County, so they reported to Ping'an County.

Chiba Xunyi made a report.

After Chiba Xunyi received the report, he reported the situation to Shinozuka Yoshio.

Yoshio Shinozuka also informed the Takashima Cavalry Regiment and issued an order, asking them to avoid direct contact with the underground party's anti-Japanese armed forces passing through Ping'an County.

Li Yunlong's newly formed First Brigade also adopted the method of traveling day and night, passing through enemy-occupied areas and entering Ping'an County.

That night, a large group of troops from the New 1st Brigade was marching when they were suddenly attacked by a large group of enemy cavalry.

Guancheng County.

Xu Dalong was woken up from his dream. He read a telegram from the newly-organized First Brigade, saying that they encountered a sneak attack by the Japanese cavalry in Ping'an County. Although they repelled the enemy's attack, the troops suffered three casualties.

More than a hundred people. What's even worse is that Li Yunlong was injured and has been temporarily placed in Lijiazhuang to recuperate.

Xu Dalong was shocked and quickly informed the field hospital and sent the best doctors to Lijiazhuang to rescue Li Yunlong.

A large Japanese cavalry unit suddenly appeared, which aroused Xu Dalong's vigilance.

According to intelligence, two Japanese cavalry regiments coming from the direction of Peiping have now entered Lingao City. So where did this Japanese cavalry unit come from?

Xu Dalong issued an emergency order, notifying all troops, county brigades, and militiamen in the Mawushan base area to strengthen combat readiness to guard against enemy sneak attacks. He also notified Chu Yunfei's 358th Brigade of the situation.

After arranging all this, Xu Dalong and Zhao Gang led Wei Monk's special operations squadron and Wang Pao's motorcycle squadron to Lijiazhuang, Ping'an County, to visit Li Yunlong.

Xu Dalong, Zhao Gang and others arrived at the entrance of the village, and officers and soldiers of the newly formed First Brigade in charge of security greeted them.

Zhao Gang asked anxiously: "Where is your Brigadier Li now?"

The sentry said: "The brigade commander is at the home of the director of the Women's Rescue Association in the east of the village. I will take the leaders there right now."

When Xu Dalong heard this, his heart moved, and he felt that Li Yunlong and this Li Xiuqin were really destined, and they had indeed crossed paths again.

Xu Dalong, Zhao Gang and others arrived at the yard of Li Xiuqin's house. As soon as they entered the yard, they saw Zhang Dabiao who was guarding outside, as well as the main cadres of the newly-organized First Brigade.

Seeing Xu Dalong and Zhao Gang, everyone gathered around them.

Zhao Gang asked: "Chief of Staff Zhang, how is Lao Li?"

Zhang Dabiao said: "The brigade commander was not hit by the Japanese. The bullet hit his horse and knocked him off the horse. He happened to hit a rock and broke three ribs. The doctor is treating him. He should

It’s nothing serious.”

Hearing this, Zhao Gang, Xu Dalong and others breathed a sigh of relief.

Zhao Gang said: "That's good."

Xu Dalong, Zhao Gang and others were waiting in the yard and soon talked about the situation of the newly formed First Brigade being attacked by Japanese troops tonight.

The newly formed First Brigade suffered considerable losses, Li Yunlong was injured again, and Zhang Dabiao was in a bad mood.

He couldn't help complaining: "Brother Dalong, Commissioner Zhao Zheng, according to your intelligence, the Japanese cavalry troops are in Lingao City. How could they suddenly appear here?"
To be continued...