When the heads of the headquarters learned that the national army in Zhongtiao Mountain was launching a three-front attack on the Japanese-occupied counties and towns around Zhongtiao Mountain, everyone present was shocked.
"Boss, the National Army has launched an offensive as you expected. The National Army has done a good job in keeping secrets this time. We didn't get any news before. Even the Chief of Staff only informed after the National Army launched the offensive.
Of us!"
The boss nodded after hearing this: "What we want is this unexpected effect. The guard commander in the first theater is capable. With him, the national army in Zhongtiao Mountain can repeatedly repel the Japanese offensive. I guess the Japanese army
There is no preparation, this is a rare opportunity, I really hope that the national army can achieve some results, so that our Eighth Route Army will have an easier time behind enemy lines!"
"Yes, the Japanese army, the Chinese army and our Eighth Route Army, the three forces are just like the Wei, Shu and Wu during the Three Kingdoms period. It is impossible for two forces to coexist. Only the three pillars can maintain a balance!" Yang from the Logistics Department
The minister said.
"We must buy time for the national army, order Taihang, Tainan, Taiyue and all the units of the decisive column to do their best to kill the fighting Japanese troops and prevent the Japanese troops from going south for reinforcements!"
"Local armed forces and militiamen looked for opportunities to destroy the Japanese army's railway lines and highway lines. Even if the Japanese army went to reinforce them, they would still have to crawl over!" the boss said in a deep voice.
"yes!"
Counties in southern Changzhi.
After clearing out the peripheral forces in each county, the Forty Army and the New Fifth Army held on to the idea of preserving their strength and did not storm the counties where the Japanese held firm.
However, the 27th Army, which was originally heading towards Changzhi, actually turned around and returned. This move completely panicked Sun Dianying and Pang Bingxun.
The two thought that Jiang had gone back on his promise, changed the previous agreement, and sent the 27th Army to pick peaches.
Therefore, as soon as Pang and Sun got the news, they immediately ordered their troops to storm the county where the Japanese troops were holding firm.
The Forty Army and the New Fifth Army are miscellaneous armed forces of the national army. Part of their food, wages, weapons and equipment are self-financed, and part of the money allocated by their superiors is often in arrears.
During the Battle of Xuzhou, there was only one Thirty-ninth Division in the Forty Army's establishment. In order to block the Japanese reinforcements in LY, the Thirty-ninth Division was basically exhausted.
In view of the military exploits of the Forty Army in LY, and in order not to lose the excuse of weakening the miscellaneous armed forces, the Military Commission allowed the 106th Division under the original 43rd Army to be transferred to the 40th Army. So far, the Forty Army has two divisions under its jurisdiction, but most of them
They are all new soldiers, their weapons and equipment are incomplete, and their combat effectiveness has not improved.
Sun Dianying's New Fifth Army has a temporary third division and a fourth division under its command, which were originally six regular regiments. However, Sun Dianying has always followed the old warlord style, believing that having more people is the foundation and blindly expanding the troops.
The New Fifth Army has nearly 15,000 combatants. However, in order to expand the army and squeeze out the food and salary of the six knitting regiments, three independent regiments and a special agent regiment were privately expanded.
The combat effectiveness is not even considered third-rate, and the combat effectiveness of some regiments may not even be comparable to that of the puppet army.
At the same time, the 27th Army Military Headquarters.
The three divisions that were sent out reported the local situation one after another. The telegram stated that the battle between the Forty Army and the New Fifth Army and the Japanese army was intensifying, and they could not intervene at all.
"Damn it, they are all human beings. The principal's repeated urgings have no effect. As soon as we take action here, we will immediately start attacking the city!"
"Order all ministries to stand by. When Sun Dianying and Pang Bingxun knock down the Japanese county town, they are retreating and cannot be beaten down. Don't blame me, the 27th Army, for taking action. Even if we go to the principal, we will handle it!"
Fan Hanjie said with a smile.
The words are divided into two parts, inside Changzhi City.
Zhou Weihan and Xing Zhiguo were studying the trends of the 27th Army, the 40th Army, and the New Fifth Army.
"According to the report of the scouts sent by the cavalry regiment, the 46th Division of the 27th Army is currently in Huguan, the 45th Division is in Gaoping, and the 8th Preliminary Division is heading to Lingchuan. Once these three divisions arrive, the 40th Army
, the New Fifth Army launched offensives one after another. I estimate that with the Japanese defense forces, even if the national army's combat effectiveness is worse, it will not be able to hold on today!" Xing Zhiguo said.
"It's getting difficult to handle now. The 27th Army has retreated quite completely. Once these three armies join forces, the pressure will be on our side!" Zhou Weihan also didn't expect that in order to buy time, he would end up in the current situation.
.
While the two were talking, the telegraph operator from the headquarters took off the receiver and came forward to report: "Detachment leader, chief of staff, a call from headquarters!"
Zhou Weihan glanced at the telegram and then handed it to Xing Zhiguo.
"I really didn't expect that the national army in Zhongtiao Mountain would actually launch an offensive against the Japanese army. Once Zhongtiao Mountain moved, the Japanese army's entire sweep plan would change. This solved the dilemma of our Eighth Route Army in disguise!" Xing Zhiguo read the telegram,
Surprised.
"The situation of the Japanese army near Zhongtiao Mountain is clear at a glance. It is when the Japanese army's defense strength is weak. If the national army in Zhongtiao Mountain can achieve some results, break through the Japanese army's blockade of Zhongtiao Mountain, and expand its strategic depth in the Zhongtiao Mountain area
, then the situation in North China will change accordingly." Zhou Weihan thought of the tragic defeat at Zhongtiao Mountain in history, where various branches of the national army fought independently, resulting in more than 35,000 soldiers being captured and more than 42,000 soldiers dying.
Although the defeat of the national army at Zhongtiao Mountain was not entirely due to the narrow strategic depth, if some strategic depth is expanded, the room for maneuver will be larger, and the hope of holding on to Zhongtiao Mountain will be greater.
"But it is beneficial to us now. Send a report to the 22nd Regiment and the New Regiment. Just like the boss said in the telegram, we will bite the Japanese army to the death!"
"At the same time, order Ding Wei's 28th Regiment to return to Lucheng and launch a full-scale counterattack against the remaining Japanese troops in Lucheng. In addition to Lucheng County, the 28th Regiment must occupy the entire territory of Lucheng!" Zhou Weihan said to the telegraph operator.
"Yes!" the telegraph operator nodded.
"Lao Zhou, the 22nd Regiment and the New Regiment suffered heavy casualties. Isn't it too risky to only allow these two regiments to attack? In case the Japanese army turns back and attacks, this..." Xing Zhiguo said worriedly
.
"If Li Yunlong and the others don't even have the ability to predict, how can they be captains? In the future, Lucheng, Pingshun, and even Lin County will be the forefront of the confrontation between our Eighth Route Army and the Japanese and National Army. We must take this opportunity to
Stand firm!" Zhou Weihan said decisively.
On the same day, the captured Japanese telegraph operators received emergency telegrams from the Japanese troops in Gaoping and Huguan Lingchuan.
Zhou Weihan ignored them all, and soon after, the three county towns were captured one after another under the offensive of the national army.
So far, there is no fighting around Changzhi. In the short term, there will be a confrontation between the Eighth Route Army and the National Army in the Changzhi area.
On the middle road of the Handan-Chang Highway, after the Japanese army received the order to go south for reinforcements, they originally went south from the Handan-Chang Highway to Changzhi, which was the fastest marching route.
However, in view of the delay in breaking through the Eighth Route Army's blockade, the Japanese troops in the middle route immediately changed their route and tried to return to the hinterland of the Taihang Mountains, then crossed the Lintun Highway and headed south for reinforcements.