Shanxi, Yangquan.
Headquarters of the Fourth Brigade of the Japanese First Army.
"Your Excellency, Brigade Commander."
His face was turned into a pot by gunpowder smoke. Masao Yamano, who was carrying the rank of Major, walked in, stood upright and paused.
Tsuda Mitake frowned.
With just a brief glance, he knew that the troops who went to support the train station must have suffered a defeat, otherwise they would not be in this embarrassed posture.
"We encountered the Eighth Route Army just after we left the city. The Eighth Route Army's firepower was so fierce that Mr. Gangcun... was shattered."
Okamura, another squadron leader, was hit by a rocket from the Super Bazooka during the battle and was blown to pieces.
Seeing Tsuda Mitake's expression become extremely ugly, Yamano Masao suddenly said: "Brigade Commander, please give me another chance, I will definitely defeat the Eighth Route Army!"
"How many people were lost?" Tsuda Mitake's face was gloomy.
"More than 140 people have been lost, and the train station has been breached by the Eighth Route Army!" Masao Yamano said.
"idiot!"
The communications staff officer held a telegram in his hand, walked up to Mitake Tsuda, and gave him a military salute.
"Your Excellency, Brigade Commander, telegram from General Shinozuka!"
Tsuda Mitake stared at the map and said without looking back: "Read it!"
"Hi!" the communications staff officer picked up the telegram and read out, "Both the Shotai Railway and the Tongpu Railway were attacked by the Eighth Route Army on a large scale. The staff headquarters is formulating a counterattack plan. Your troops are on standby and are not allowed to attack without authorization. His Majesty the Emperor is on board.
Japanese Imperial Army on board!”
Tsuda Mitake waved his hand, and Yamano Masao and the communications staff member nodded and walked out.
After the two of them left, his face gradually turned as dark as the bottom of a pot, and the situation was worse than imagined.
At first, he thought that the Eighth Route Army was only targeting the Fourth Brigade. He never expected that the Eighth Route Army would actually launch such a large battle in such a large area.
If the Eighth Route Army attacks so many strongholds at the same time, how many troops will be needed? Fifty thousand? Or one hundred thousand?
"Baga!" Finally, Mitake Tsuda could only curse bitterly.
…
At Lion Rock, Li Yunlong looked towards Yangquan City with a telescope. The entire Yangquan City looked like a beast lying in the dark night.
Behind him, a new regiment of soldiers was busy building trenches, foxholes and other fortifications.
"Report to the captain, the Japanese have not left the city, the city gates are closed and the whole city is under martial law." Lu Yingjun ran to Li Yunlong and reported to him.
"Your Sharp Sword Squadron will continue to monitor the Japs in Yangquan and report any abnormalities immediately." Li Yunlong spoke calmly.
He expected that the Japanese would not come out at night for fear of being ambushed, but there would probably be a fierce battle tomorrow.
"Yes!" Lu Yingjun gave a military salute and turned to leave.
"Signal Corps!" Li Yunlong shouted loudly.
"Yes!" A young communications soldier with a slightly immature face but clever eyes ran up to Li Yunlong with a gun and saluted him as a military salute.
"Report immediately to the brigade headquarters. Our new regiment has captured Yangquan Railway Station and Lion Rock!"
"Go for it!"
"Yes!" The communications soldier straightened up, then quickly ran over and got on his horse, and soon disappeared into the night along with the sound of horse hooves.
…
Yangjiacun, temporary brigade headquarters of the 386th Brigade.
Although it was already late at night, the brigade commander, Deputy Brigadier Han, Chief of Staff Zhou, and all the combat staff were busy.
"At present, the three regiments of our 386th Brigade participating in the railway attack, the 772nd Regiment, the New Second Regiment, and the Independent Regiment have all launched attacks on more than a dozen enemy strongholds."
"In addition, the new main offensive group has launched an attack on Yangquan Railway Station."
"Well..." The brigade commander raised his wrist and looked at his Roman watch, "There should be news soon."
As soon as he finished speaking, a horse neighed outside the door.
"The brigade commander is really good at predicting things." Chief of Staff Zhou said with a smile.
Soon, a communications soldier hurried in and reported: "Report, the new regiment has captured Yangquan Railway Station and Lion Rock!"
"Li Yunlong did a great job!" the brigade commander cheered and said to Chief of Staff Zhou, "Chief of Staff, quickly mark it on the map."
"Yes!" Chief of Staff Zhou quickly picked up the red pen, circled Yangquan Railway Station on the map, and drew a red cross.
"It only took more than half an hour. It probably took less than 10 minutes to capture the train station. Li Yunlong was so fast." Chief of Staff Zhou exclaimed.
"Last month, the New Regiment took down more than 30 strongholds. I estimate that the New Regiment can take down the train station in less than 5 minutes." Deputy Brigadier Han said with a smile.
"After all, Yangquan Railway Station is very close to Yangquan City, and Li Yunlong and the others have to face the pressure of Japanese reinforcements at any time." Chief of Staff Zhou said, "I dare to say that among the entire Eighth Route Army's raiding force tonight, Li Yunlong was also the winner.
First place."
"Li Yunlong has made a good start, and the other troops should be soon." The brigade commander smiled.
For this attack, the brigade commander robbed 35 rocket launchers from Li Yunlong and distributed them to the 772nd Regiment, the New Second Regiment and the Independent Regiment that participated in the attack.
Each rocket launcher is equipped with two experienced rocket launchers. Even the reinforced concrete Jaap turret cannot stop the rockets at all.
If one rocket isn't enough, use two.
After the signal soldiers of the new regiment finished their report, they turned around and left without having time to drink water.
More than ten minutes later, another horse neighed outside the door.
A communications soldier ran in, saluted the brigade commander and reported: "Reporting to the commander, the 772nd Regiment has captured the two strongholds of Xiaozhuang and Xizhi!"
"Cheng Shifa moved very quickly. In less than an hour, he defeated two strongholds." The chief of staff found the two strongholds of Xiaozhuang and Xizhi on the map and drew two crosses.
Not long after the communications troops of the 772nd Regiment left, the communications troops of the New Second Regiment also arrived and had already captured the Sangzhang Bridge and Yanzigou strongholds.
The independent regiment's communications troops arrived later, and it took another hour to arrive. However, the independent regiment even had two strongholds in Kelangyu and Zhangjing, and a railway station in Qinquan.
Immediately afterwards, the communications troops of the 772nd Regiment came to report that the other two stronghold missions were successfully completed.
In the brigade headquarters, Chief of Staff Zhou drew circles on the map for the two strongholds that the 772nd Regiment had lost. He looked at his watch again and said in a surprised tone: "Three hours and 10 minutes, the first phase of our brigade's critical mission.
All completed 5 hours ahead of schedule.”
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading! "Our brigade should be the first among all the attack forces to complete the first stage of the attack mission." Deputy Brigadier Han smiled happily.
"Brigadier Commander, it's still early. I suggest ordering the attack force to immediately start the second phase of the attack mission." Deputy Brigadier Han suggested again.
"I think it's okay!" the brigade commander nodded, "Immediately ask the communications squad to convey the order to each regiment."
"In addition, immediately collect the strongholds, railway stations, etc. that our brigade has destroyed and send them to the division headquarters."
Chief of Staff Zhou said: "I have already compiled it."
Then he tore the compiled list out of his notebook and handed it to the telegraph operator next to him, who sent it to the division headquarters.
The Eighth Route Army's communication methods are backward. The communications corps first reports to the brigade headquarters, and the brigade headquarters then reports to the division headquarters and headquarters, and the headquarters reports to the whole country.
…
After a night of raid operations, all brigades and regiments basically completed their scheduled combat missions.
Among them, the 386th Brigade was equipped with bazooka rocket launchers and overfulfilled its mission, completing the second phase of the attack mission.
Although good results were achieved, this was not enough. The Eighth Route Army's goal was to completely destroy the Chengtai-Taiwan Railway.
The first phase of the mission is to destroy some small and medium-sized strongholds, the second phase of the mission is to destroy medium-sized strongholds, and the third phase of the mission is to destroy large strongholds.
During this period, various ministries mobilized and organized the public to destroy railways, stations and their ancillary facilities using methods such as demolition, blasting, fire, and flooding.
The entire Zhengtai Railway was completely paralyzed.
After a whole night of fighting, the small Japanese strongholds were basically destroyed, leaving only some medium and large strongholds.
Communications on the Zhengtai Railway have been completely paralyzed. The Japanese and puppet troops in these strongholds are trembling, but they have no choice but to pray for reinforcements to arrive as soon as possible.
Early the next morning.
Yangquan, headquarters of the 4th Brigade.
To be continued...