Chapter 195 The reinforcements Zhu Huaibing cannot wait for
The order from the former enemy headquarters was conveyed immediately, and the three armies of the Eighth Route Army from the north to the south pursued the victory and successfully joined forces north of Shibu Cao.
After the brothers of the Eighth Route Army gathered together, the first thing they said was: "Capture Zhu Huaibing alive and expel the 97th Army!"
After the newly formed 24th Division deployed on the western front was broken through by the right-wing column headed by the 386th Brigade, most of its remnants moved closer to Dongda Town on the south side.
The 386th Brigade had a clear purpose for this battle, and its troops were directed at the headquarters of the 97th Army. For a time, the remnants of the newly formed 24th Division had a chance to breathe.
Li Yunlong's new regiment, as the vanguard of the 386th Brigade, only focused on fighting and charging along the way. There was no time to capture the prisoners and weapons and equipment, and they all fell into the hands of the independent regiment and the 18th regiment that followed up.
When he joined forces with Zhou Weihan's Fourth Regiment of the Independent Detachment, Li Yunlong learned that the First and Second Regiments of the Independent Detachment had already reached the front.
"Quick, Zhang Dabiao, let the soldiers speed up. The leading troops of the independent detachment have already run ahead of us. They should be almost at the ten-step groove by now. Our new regiment has not picked up any equipment along the way. Ninety-seven
If the military headquarters is captured by Zhou Weihan first, it will be a big loss!" Li Yunlong said angrily.
For a time, all the units of the Eighth Route Army participating in the war accelerated their pursuit, and all had the goal of capturing Zhu Huaibing alive.
Shibu Trough is located north of Zhu Huaibing's military headquarters.
As the acting commander of the 280th Regiment, Yang Han was ordered to contain the defeated troops here in the face of danger in order to fight again.
"Regiment, there are currently more than 800 broken soldiers being accommodated. However, I heard from the soldiers below that when they were fleeing south, they encountered a small group of Eighth Route Army troops wearing our military uniforms. If this is true, I am afraid that this group of Eighth Route Army troops might
It has already reached the vicinity of the military headquarters!" Li Ronghu, commander of the third battalion of the 280th Regiment, reported.
"The military headquarters also has a guard battalion. It is easy to eliminate this small group of Eighth Route Army troops who are deeply entrenched. Immediately send a message to the military headquarters to report the situation! We also request the military headquarters to withdraw south. Our troops are here to stop the pursuing Eighth Route Army troops. Send a message to the military headquarters.
Win the time to retreat!" Yang Han said decisively.
Zhu Huaibing's "carefully arranged" defense line collapsed unexpectedly under our army's offensive.
However, from Yang Han's point of view, there were gains and losses. The defense line was too long, and the Eighth Route Army's offensive was limited to one point. The defenders who were not attacked immediately withdrew.
Yang Han had already accommodated more than 800 people in Shibu Trough, including many companies and rows of broken soldiers. For a moment, Yang Han felt dumbfounded, thinking to himself that Zhu Huaibing had made many mistakes.
These temporarily sheltered broken troops could at least withstand the Eighth Route Army's pursuit, but for how long, Yang Han was not sure, so he had to ask the military headquarters to withdraw first.
After breaking through the defense line of the enemy's supplementary regiment in Miaozhuang, Zhou Weihan immediately ordered the reconnaissance company that had been preparing for a long time to disguise itself and sneak into the enemy's army, with the purpose of penetrating into the headquarters of the 97th Army and giving it a thunderous blow.
97th Army Military Headquarters.
"Military seat, the 280th Regiment reported that Yang Han had reorganized a line of defense at Shibucao. His telegram said that a small force of the Eighth Route Army was coming towards the military headquarters and requested the military headquarters to withdraw south first. He blocked the Eighth Route Army for the military headquarters.
Chasing troops!"
"Yang Han is really a loyal and patriotic man, but I don't know him well. If I had discovered it earlier, the fight against the rebellion might not have failed!" Zhu Huaibing said in a low tone, regretfully.
"Where is Sun Dianying's New Fifth Army, and why haven't the reinforcements arrived yet?" Zhu Huaibing changed his tone and asked.
"This, after the first telegram, the New Fifth Army can no longer be contacted!" the military headquarters' combat staff report reported.
"Military seat, the current situation is very unfavorable to our army. According to the report of the newly formed 24th Division, the Eighth Route Army's Jizhong Garrison Brigade has crossed the Zhanghe River, has captured Nanwangzhuang, and has a tendency to expand northward and eastward."
"To the north, it will isolate the newly formed 24th Division from contact with our military headquarters. To the east, it will cut off our retreat to the south. In my opinion, the military headquarters should go to the south side first. As long as we cross the Zhang River first and meet the Lu
Zhong Lin and the New Fifth Army are united, and our army still has the strength to fight again in Tainan!" Cai Shaoren, commander of the 94th Division, advised.
After Cai Shaoren finished speaking, he saw Zhu Huaibing was silent and knew that he had persuaded him, so he immediately said: "Advisor Li, inform Battalion Commander Sun of the guard battalion that the guard battalion will allocate a part of its troops to block the small group of Eighth Route Army troops, and the rest will secretly escort the army
Evacuate! Remember, it must be kept secret!"
"yes!"
Cai Shaoren's move had the intention of spreading across the sky, but the first person to hide it was his own people. His intention was very obvious. Most of the military personnel still stayed here to attract the attention of the Eighth Route Army, and the guard camp was also used to clear out small groups of the Eighth Route Army.
They were dispatched in name, and then ordered one of their units to escort Zhu Huaibing and other key figures in the military to retreat southward.
South of Zhanghe River.
The First Division of the Independent Guerrilla Detachment of our Eighth Route Army and the Lu Zhonglin Division are fighting in a very tacit understanding.
The two sides fought "fiercely" for several hours, but Lu Zhonglin's troops still failed to break through our defense line.
"Don't waste bullets, let the soldiers put the enemy in and then fight!" said Li Tiande, captain of the First Brigade of the Independent Guerrilla Detachment.
Li Tiande looked at the attacking enemy troops and said with a smile: "It depends on me. These people have to be shot. They don't even look like they are attacking!"
The political commissar beside him interjected: "This shows that the enemy army is not monolithic. Preserving strength has always been the tradition of the national army. As a local warlord, it is normal for Lu Zhonglin to do this. The main force of our army has successfully broken through the 97th Army."
Defense line, this battle won't last long!"
New Fifth Army Military Headquarters.
Sun Dianying played with the snuff bottle in his hand and had no intention of sending troops to rescue him at this time.
"Military seat, the 97th Army has sent telegrams asking for help many times. Zhu Huaibing is a confidant of Chiang Kai-shek. If anything goes wrong with the 97th Army, the Military and Political Department..." Chief of Staff Feng Yangtian on the side hesitated to speak.
"The Chief of Staff is overly worried. It's not that our troops have not sent out troops to rescue. It's just that it's difficult to break through the Eighth Route Army's numerous obstructions. Our troops are also powerless!" said Xing Guangzu, deputy commander of the New Fifth Army.
"Besides, the 97th Army can't stop the Eighth Route Army's offensive. If we let the New Fifth Army go up at this time, wouldn't we risk death?
As long as the soldiers under our command are still there, the Ministry of Military and Political Affairs will not dare to do anything to us?"
Although Xing Guangzu is in the national army, his heart is red. He has been lurking within the New Fifth Army for many years. How could he let the New Fifth Army come to disrupt the situation at this time?
"Guangzu is right. As long as we still have guns in our hands, the Ministry of Military and Political Affairs does not dare to do anything to us. Chiang Kai-shek has always treated the Central Army differently from us. Zhu Huaibing arranged our New Fifth Army in order to grab credit.
In Lin County, if you think of us at this time, let's go dreaming.
When the military pay for the first half of the year comes down, I will consider sending troops again!" Sun Dianying said angrily.
After Sun Dianying finished speaking, no one dared to mention the topic of rescuing Zhu Huaibing.
So far, the two enemy forces in the Tainan area that were closer to Zhu Huaibing's troops had not moved north to support him as Zhu Huaibing expected.
Sun Dianying's and Lu Zhonglin's troops were reinforcements that Zhu Huaibing could not wait for.