Just when the Eighth Route Army's three-column brothers were blocking the Japanese 237th Regiment along the Lintun Highway based on the terrain, the 358th Regiment of the Shanxi-Sui Army had already captured Liangma Town.
In Liangma Town, a small courtyard once occupied by the Japanese army has become the headquarters of the 358th Regiment. Guard companies have deployed checkpoints around the small courtyard.
"Regiment leader, this time the enemy in Liangma Town was defeated in one blow. Our unit captured a lot of goods, showing off the strength of our 358th Regiment!" Chief of Staff Fang Lili said proudly.
"This is the battle report I have prepared to send to the World War II District Commander's Department!"
"Read it!" Chu Yunfei waved his hand and said.
"Junjian, Chief Yan of the District Chief of the Second World War: Our 358th Regiment had an insight into the Eighth Route Army's attacks on the Japanese strongholds on Lintun Highway. When Liangma Town in Anze County was isolated and helpless, on August 23, 1940, our 358th Regiment dispatched an infantry soldier
Artillery battalion after artillery battalion, the soldiers fought bravely, fearless of death, and suffered heavy casualties. They completely wiped out the Japanese and puppet troops in the stronghold of Liangma Town. According to statistics, 112 Japanese troops and 356 puppet troops were killed, and a lot of supplies were seized!"
Fang Ligong closed the report folder and listened to Chu Yunfei's wishes.
Chu Yunfei frowned, and then said: "Brother Ligong, isn't it too exaggerated?"
"Regiment, the current situation of our army is in a sluggish state. The headquarters of the World War II District Commander is trapped in a corner of western Shanxi. The Central Army of the First Theater District is trapped in Zhongtiao Mountain. The Eighth Route Army has achieved remarkable results in the past, so even the commissioner personally ordered the troops behind enemy lines.
The troops learn from the Eighth Route Army to carry out guerrilla warfare, and their desire to reach the top is beyond words. We cannot let the Eighth Route Army excel in its preeminence. Now is the time to highlight our unit’s achievements!”
"If our unit dispatches a strengthened infantry battalion and an artillery battalion and cannot capture Liangma Town, where there are only more than 50 Japanese troops and more than 200 puppet troops stationed, then I think it is better for all the soldiers to lay down their weapons and go home to farm.
Forget it!"
Chu Yunfei was obviously not satisfied with the performance of the 358th Regiment. In the final analysis, Chu Yunfei was too trusting and overestimated the fighting will of the soldiers of the 358th Regiment.
Rather than saying that the 358th Regiment captured Liangma Town, it is better to say that the Japanese and puppet troops in Liangma Town took the initiative to abandon Liangma Town.
The Japanese and puppet troops gathered forces and successfully broke out from the weak point of the 1st Battalion. Qian Bojun, the commander of the 1st Battalion of the 358th Regiment, not only did not send troops to block it, but instead let the enemy troops break out.
"Where's Qian Bojun? A reinforced battalion with more than a thousand people actually let the enemy escape? I think Qian Bojun wants to surrender to the enemy and become a traitor!" Chu Yunfei thought of Qian Bojun's performance in the first battalion and threw his riding whip on it.
On the table, he said with an angry face.
Fang Ligong on the side hurriedly advised: "Regiment leader, the war is about to begin. Changing generals before the battle may cause instability in the army!"
"The Nara Regiment under the 41st Division of the Japanese Army is exchanging fire with the Eighth Route Army. It is less than 60 miles away from Liangma Town. The war is urgent!"
"Forget it, pass on my order. The first battalion will set up a position in Liangma Town. The second and third battalions will occupy the mountains on both sides of the north and south, forming a pincer attack on the Japanese reinforcements! The fourth battalion will build a position east of Liangma Town and act as a reserve force.
Reach the main force!" Chu Yunfei ordered.
"Yes!" Fang Ligong responded as he accepted the order.
After Fang Ligong left, Chu Yunfei murmured to himself: "Qian Bojun, if you really want to betray me, I can't spare you!"
The words are divided into two parts, the location of the 386 Brigade Headquarters.
After the previous combat meeting, the 772nd Regiment, the Independent Regiment, and the 18th Regiment arranged their positions along the Lintun Highway in sequence.
At this time, the political commissar of the 772nd Regiment galloped towards the brigade headquarters on a war horse, not bothering to chat with his fellow troops along the way.
"Brigadier Commander, I have an important report. Not long ago, our 772nd Regiment went to build a position along Lijiawa and found that the 358th Regiment of the Shanxi-Sui Army had captured Liangma Town and built a position around Liangma Town!" said the 772nd Regiment.
Political commissar report.
"What? The 358th Regiment of the Jinsui Army actually captured Liangma Town? This is a strange thing!" The brigade commander was surprised. In his eyes, the Jinsui Army would never take the initiative to fight with the Japanese army.
Then avoid.
The brigade commander quickly spread out the map, then fell into deep thought and said: "I remember that Liangma Town was an important stronghold built by the Japanese army on Lintun Highway. How could the Jinsui Army..."
"Yes, Liangma Town is built on the mountain. Its terrain is quite high. It is a pass that is easy to defend and difficult to attack. Besides, it is impossible for the 358th Regiment not to know that a Japanese regiment is marching along the Lintun Highway. At this time, Liangma Town was captured.
Ma Zhen, aren't you touching the tiger's butt? When did the Jinsui Army have such courage?" The political commissar of the 772nd Regiment also looked puzzled.
"I have an impression of Chu Yunfei. Unlike other officers of the Shanxi-Sui Army, his behavior has a spirit of resisting Japan and killing the enemy. Our Eighth Route Army welcomes such friendly forces with both hands! After returning, we will immediately send someone to contact the 358th Regiment.
, let’s see if we can work together!”
"Even if joint operations don't work, with one more 358th Regiment, the situation on Lintun Highway will be even more chaotic, which will be beneficial to our 386th Brigade in the next battle!" the brigade commander analyzed.
"yes!"
After the political commissar of the 772nd regiment left, the brigade commander touched his unshaven chin and said playfully: "It's getting more and more interesting. Even the Jinsui Army has intervened!"
at dusk.
In Liangma Town, gunfire continued, and the explosion of artillery shells sounded from time to time.
The vanguard of the Japanese Nara Regiment and the 358th Regiment have already exchanged fire.
As the political commissar of the 772nd Regiment said before, Liangma Town is actually a pass that is easy to defend but difficult to attack.
Due to the terrain, the Lintun Highway gradually narrows and the terrain is elevated. It is adjacent to mountains on both sides. It is for this reason that the Japanese army built Liangma Town here.
The leading Japanese troops had already learned that Liangma Town had been lost before arriving, so they launched an attack directly.
Due to terrain restrictions, the formation was not easy to deploy, and in addition to testing the firepower of the 358th Regiment, the Japanese did not invest too many troops at first.
One small group attacked from the front, and two small groups advanced toward the mountains on both sides, intending to take advantage of the terrain.
Unexpectedly, Chu Yunfei had already deployed troops on the mountains on both sides, and the Japanese army failed in their first attack.
"Nani? The Jinsui Army actually has such strong combat effectiveness?" Japanese commander Masahiko Nara said in surprise.
Masahiko Nara had experienced the Battle of Taiyuan and the Battle of Xiangguchi, so he had never taken the Jinsui Army seriously, but now he suffered a small loss.
"If we take a detour, it will definitely waste too much time and order the troops to launch a strong attack. I don't believe that the Jinsui Army has the courage to fight to the end with our Imperial Japanese Army!" Masahiko Nara said fiercely with a fierce look on his face.
"Hi!" the Japanese officers present responded in unison.
Immediately, under the cover of artillery fire, the Japanese army invested more troops to launch an attack, and the 358th Regiment lost its front-line positions outside Liangma Town one after another.
Fortunately, the mountains on both sides formed a pincer attack, and the defense line along the earthen city wall of Liangma Town was barely able to hold on.
"What? Lost the fortifications outside the town so quickly?" Chu Yunfei was still happy about repelling the first wave of Japanese attacks, but it didn't take long for him to get the news.
"Qian Bojun, as a battalion commander, you are not on the front line, fighting with the soldiers, holding on to the position, and you actually went to the headquarters to report the news in person. Are you worthy of being a military commander?" Chu Yunfei was furious,
Dropped a tea bowl on the table to the ground.
Chu Yunfei had gained great authority in the 358th Regiment, and at this time Qian Bojun did not dare to challenge him head-on.
"I order you to recapture the position outside Liangma Town, otherwise military law will be imposed!"