On the western outskirts of Shimen, the soldiers at the front were still working hard to dig traffic trenches.
Inside the headquarters, Zhou Weihan, Wu ** and several regiment leaders were taking advantage of this gap to discuss how to break through Shimen's inner defense.
Suddenly, the radio station on the side beeped. After copying the telegram, the telegraph operator stood up and said: "Commander, secret telegram from Yamawang Mountain!"
"Read it!" Zhou Weihan said without raising his head.
"Commander **, the codebook I have is not high enough, I need you to translate it yourself!"
Zhou Weihan stood up suddenly after hearing this. This situation is extremely rare. Currently, only Zhao Gang, Xing Zhiguo and Zhou Weihan in the Tainan Military Region have access to this level of codebook. This is entirely to prevent the little devils from deciphering it.
The monk on the side hurriedly took out the code book from the briefcase he carried with him. After Zhou Weihan finished translating, the content of the telegram was extremely concise: Comrade Qian Aiguo called. The Japanese troops have begun to retreat, but the main force of the troops is still left to confuse our troops.
The returning troops want to encircle and suppress our troops in the Shimen area. The situation is critical and we hope a decision can be made as soon as possible.
Qian Aiguo is the pseudonym given by King Yama to Yong in the temple. Those who love money are brave, brave, and patriots.
Everyone present looked at Zhou Weihan eagerly, waiting for the next step, but Zhou Weihan slowly lit up a cigarette: "There is no need to fight at Shimen. The Japs have already retreated. According to the Japs' marching speed, if the 110th Division rides along
Returning from Shide Line, I’m afraid I’ll be able to reach Shimen at midnight after today!”
"Is the information accurate? There is no relevant telegram from the division or headquarters. Is the source of your information reliable?" Wu** asked.
"Reliable!" Zhou Weihan replied with only two words.
Upon seeing this, Wu ** had no intention of continuing to question, but said regretfully: "It's a pity. Give us one more day to break into Shimen. Although the soil work is effective, it wastes too much time!"
"The strategic goal of forcing the Japanese army to return for reinforcements has been achieved. There is no regrets. This time we should focus on accumulating experience. Next time our army comes to Shimen, we will never return without success!" Zhou Weihan said.
"Immediately send a report to the division and headquarters, saying that according to reliable information from Yamawang Mountain, all Japanese troops have withdrawn. Please ask your superiors for instructions on the next battle plan!"
"Yes!" the telegraph operator responded.
Zhou Weihan estimated that his superiors would not continue to ask the offensive troops to attack Shimen, so he ordered a regiment of soldiers and part of the militia to dismantle several factories outside Shimen, especially the alcohol factory, and take away all the equipment and alcohol produced.
Not to mention what happened at the headquarters, after the division headquarters received the telegram.
Political Commissar D smiled and said: "Look, I know that the exact situation depends on Zhou Weihan. The Southern Hebei Military Region has not yet discovered that the Japanese troops have retreated. It seems that the Japanese troops are indeed more careful this time and are coming for us!"
"Well, I didn't expect that my unintentional act back then actually produced an undercover agent of ours within the Japanese army. Our Eighth Route Army in Taihang and southern Hebei has grown stronger, and Isamu Temple must take up a third of the credit!" the division commander joked.
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"Since the master is angry, we guests cannot stay for long. We should notify the Southern Hebei Military Region to quickly kill the enemies behind the 110th Division, and then pursue them along the Shide Line!"
"For the frontline troops, a main force and militiamen will be left behind. The people will continue to carry out soil work to confuse the Japanese troops in the city. When it gets dark, they will withdraw to the base area. The remaining main forces on the Western Front will immediately move towards the Shota Line!" the division commander finally said.
After receiving the order from the division headquarters, Zhou Weihan quickly conveyed the instructions. The 22nd Regiment was responsible for leading the militia and people to the western suburbs of Shimen. Then the assault regiment, the supplementary regiment, the 29th Regiment of the New 10th Brigade, and the 30th Regiment together with the artillery troops headed west.
Xianwengzhai joined the division headquarters, and then joined the southern front troops led by Chen ** in the southern suburbs of Shimen.
When the two armies converged, it was already close to 12 noon, and the troops immediately headed towards the southwest mountainous area. Then the division headquarters gathered several commanders and held a simple meeting.
"Although Shimen cannot be defeated, our army has taken the initiative and the Japanese army has been mobilized by us. Now is an opportunity to severely damage or even annihilate the 110th Division!"
"Currently, our department has gathered eight main regiments and nearly four artillery regiments on the west line of Shide Road. On the east line of Shide Road, there are six main regiments of the Southern Hebei Military Region, the artillery regiment and three main regiments of the Luxi Military Region.
There are a total of seventeen main force regiments, and this is a rare opportunity to gather the main force!"
"Before you came, there was a call from the Jinan Military Region. They had already defeated a Japanese brigade and more than 4,000 puppet troops behind the 110th Division. Local troops are pursuing them, and the main force is heading north!"
"The 110th Division began its retreat from Nangong, the hinterland of southern Hebei Province. It will definitely pass through Ji County and then arrive at Hengshui, but it will never stay in Hengshui for a long time. Finally, it will return to Shimen by train."
"At the beginning of the big sweep, the Jinan Military Region sent elite troops to destroy the Shide Line to delay the Japanese army. After this period of fighting, the railway line has not been repaired, so the place of this battle can be determined to be Motou
Stop this transfer station!" The division commander said quickly, obviously he had been prepared for it.
"Why don't you express your opinion? Do you have no confidence?" Political Commissar D on the side laughed.
"The current strength of the 110th Division should be more than 10,000. Once gathered, it will be a tough nut to crack!" said Chen ** from the Taibei Military Region.
"This is not your usual style, little steel cannon!" Political Commissar D said.
Chen ** was famous for his bravery in combat during the Red Army period, so he was called a small steel cannon by his comrades.
"The situation is not that bad. The Shide Railway was cut off. Since the Japanese army was eager for reinforcements, they would definitely get off the train and march along the railway line on foot. In this way, the marching queue would be long, which would give us an opportunity to take advantage of it!"
"The division headquarters plans to divide the troops on the western front into four groups, each carrying an artillery regiment. The two regiments of the 385th Brigade are deployed at the west end of Motou Town. The first regiment of the Hebei-Shandong-Henan Military Region is commanded by Comrade Jing Dagang.
Regiment, the supplementary regiment is commanded by Comrade Zhou Weihan, plus the New Tenth Brigade, these three troops will attack from the north and south sides, cutting off the long march of the 110th Division!"
"The same is true for the troops on the eastern front. Two regiments from the Southern Hebei Military Region are deployed at the east end of Motou Town. The remaining four regiments, together with the three regiments from the Western Lu Military Region, are divided into three groups and are also conducting north-south assaults!"
"Even if the 110th Division cannot be completely annihilated, it can still be severely damaged. After the meeting, all departments will take action immediately. We don't have much time left!" the division commander finally said.
"Yes!" Zhou Weihan and others stood up and responded.
Just when the 110th Division had just arrived in Hengshui, the Eighth Route Army in the east and west directions took action at the same time. In addition to the five artillery regiments, a total of 17 main regiments participated in the battle, with a strength of 30,000.
