Chapter 743: The 110th Divisions Return to Reinforcement
After the division meeting, the participating commanders conveyed the mobilization order drawn up by political commissar D to the troops:
To all frontline commanders and combatants:
Although the Battle of Shimen did not result in final victory, do not be discouraged or discouraged. The strategic purpose of forcing the Japanese army to sweep back for reinforcements has been achieved, and now there is another opportunity to win a great victory.
In front of us is the main force of the Japanese 110th Division stationed in Shimen. The Japanese invaders fled from the hinterland of the southern Hebei base area. Their marching fatigue and panic have created sufficient conditions for us to fight a war of annihilation.
In order to win a great victory, all troops and firepower must be concentrated.
Fight hard! Charge hard! Advance hard!
Carry forward the traditional style of our army, fight hard, fight hard, fight desperately, without any scruples, crush the enemy, surround the enemy, and annihilate the enemy!
We must resolutely carry out orders regardless of any fatigue, and we must not be afraid of night marches or hasty marches, no matter if we have no food or water to drink!
Regardless of the days and nights of fighting! Don’t be afraid of difficulties and don’t complain! Don’t be lazy, walk even if you can’t walk, crawl and roll to catch up with the enemy! Resolutely don’t let the enemy run away!
All cadres set an example, and party members play a special role. The enemy's stubborn resistance must be resolutely destroyed, and the enemy's retreat must be overtaken and annihilated. Call for a great victory and make contributions to the people!
Wherever there are enemies, rush towards them; wherever gunshots are heard, rush towards them; wherever the enemies are not eliminated, rush towards them!
Annihilated the 110th Division and captured Mamoru Iinuma alive.
The mobilization order was like a trumpet blowing, inspiring the hearts of every soldier, and the long marching troops galloped across the endless wilderness.
After receiving the order, each regiment quickly marched eastward along both sides of the Shide Line.
Each soldier was covered in sweat, their uniforms were covered with white alkali marks, their soles were covered in blood blisters, and their eyes were bloodshot.
The team kept advancing, and the soldiers moved mechanically, with only one belief in their minds: "annihilate the 110th Division and capture Mamoru Iinuma alive."
The propaganda team members were active on the roadside, and the bamboo boards were rattling:
To annihilate all the little Japs, we must first rely on a rapid march to capture Iinuma Mamoru alive. The first step is to use both feet.
It is a full 120 kilometers from Shimen to Hengshui, and Motou Town, 40 kilometers away from Hengshui, is a transfer station for trains and a key target of the road-breaking team sent by the Jinan Military Region.
The division headquarters set the battle location in Motou Town. On the one hand, this place has been the focus of the Eighth Route Army's activities since the Hundred Regiments War and was a guerrilla zone of the Eighth Route Army. On the other hand, the Japanese army was in the hinterland of southern Hebei and even around Hengshui.
There was no heavy guarding, but looking around Shimen, heavy Japanese troops were gathering towards Shimen in a steady stream.
At the same time, although the 110th Division could return from Hengshui by train, when passing through Motou Town, the railway was interrupted and could not be repaired in a short time. The 110th Division could only march on foot, which gave the Eighth Route Army a fighter opportunity.
Whether we can win this battle successfully depends on whether our army can block the 110th Division in Motou Town as quickly as possible.
So, everything is suddenly focused on time!
According to the normal marching speed, it is generally 5 kilometers per hour. Even if it is a rapid march, it cannot exceed 7.5 kilometers per hour. This is the standard for the main force of the Eighth Route Army.
However, the Eighth Route Army soldiers are not iron-clad. They need to eat for more than four hours to replenish their physical strength, and they need to rest for more than ten hours to relieve fatigue. Even if they do not eat or drink, even if they arrive at the scheduled combat area, the huge physical exertion will make it difficult to maintain combat effectiveness.
"Commander, telegram from division headquarters!" A staff officer hurriedly found Zhou Weihan on horseback.
"Read it!" Zhou Weihan said.
"The 110th Division arrived at Hengshui at five o'clock in the afternoon!" the combat staff officer said.
Zhou Weihan glanced at the time. It was half past five: "The little devil is marching fast enough. Take out the map and see where you are now!"
"Yes!" The monk on the side responded, opened the map bucket slung over his shoulder, and spread the map on the ground.
It was after eight o'clock in the morning when Zhou Weihan received the telegram from Temple Yong, and the distance from Nangong, the hinterland of southern Hebei, to Hengshui was nearly 60 kilometers. In other words, the 110th Division had received the order to withdraw from the North China Expeditionary Force and then assembled.
The troops arrived in Hengshui. This process only took 9 hours.
"Commander ***, we are here. Chang'an Town, north of the Shide Line, is still at least nearly 40 kilometers away from Motou Town. Is it too late now?" asked the combat staff.
"Our marching speed is already very fast. In just five hours, we have covered nearly 40 kilometers. Even a little devil can't do it!" Zhou Weihan looked at the soldiers passing by, holding on with one breath.
It can be seen at a glance that the body's limit has been reached: "Notify all departments to stop marching, find a hiding place, and rest for half an hour!"
The correspondent who followed him immediately contacted each regiment through a walkie-talkie. There were one regiment, three regiments, supplementary regiment, assault regiment, and two artillery regiments marching north of the Shide Line. The assault regiment served as the advance regiment and was responsible for clearing the way and avoiding the Japanese troops along the way.
's stronghold.
The 22nd Regiment and the Ci County Basic Regiment stayed on the west and south fronts of Shimen, responsible for leading the militia and civilians to disguise themselves as the main force to confuse the Japanese troops in Shimen.
The troops participating in the battle this time were all main force groups, and the commanders and fighters were all experienced veterans. After the order to rest was given, they either stood on the spot with their hands on their waists, or three or two people leaned together, holding dry weapons in their hands.
I just stuffed the dry food into my mouth.
"Get up, don't sit down, I'm talking about you!" Zhou Weihan saw a little soldier slumped on the ground and immediately reminded him. The little soldier wanted to get up but couldn't. Finally, he slowly got up with the help of Zhou Weihan's hand.
Get up.
"What's your name? How old are you?"
"Reporting to the Communist Party, my name is Liang Daxi, I am twelve years old this year!" The little soldier was not timid at all when he saw Zhou Weihan, but replied sonorously and forcefully.
"I see you are not very old. How did you join the combat force at the age of twelve? Who opened the back door for you?" Zhou Weihan's expression changed. There were many children in the Eighth Route Army, but few of them were in the combat force.
Especially the Tainan Military Region and the Hebei, Shandong and Yu Military Region.
Children under the age of fifteen are basically placed in primary schools and middle schools run by the army. Even those who stay in the army due to special circumstances will not go out to fight with the main force.
When Liang Daxi faced Zhou Weihan's cross-examination, his face turned red and he was speechless. Just when Liang Daxi didn't know how to reply, a veteran in his thirties hurried over.
"Commander **, my name is Liang Sanchun, and Liang Daxi is my son. There are many children in the family, so I really had no choice, so I took him with me. This child is very clever, and he is now my bomb supplier!" Liang
Miharu explained.
Liang Sanchun was originally a member of the East Asia Alliance Autonomous Army. He was captured during a battle with the Third Regiment in Zhangbei. Because he was good at shooting heavy machine guns, he was left in the Third Regiment to continue working as a heavy machine gun shooter on the condition that he brought his son Liang Daxi with him.
When Zhou Weihan heard this, he said angrily: "Nonsense, you are the father!"
Liang Sanchun was an honest man, and he kept rubbing his hands on his trouser legs: "Isn't there no way out? A half-grown man will kill me, but if he can stay in the army and have enough to eat, he will have a way to survive!"
"Okay!" Zhou Weihan waved his hand. He originally wanted the monk to move his war horse over, but then he thought about leaving Liang Daxi in the combat unit, especially the fatal job of serving as a heavy machine gun feeder.
He lost his life.
"I happen to be short of an orderly, so let Liang Daxi follow me!" Zhou Weihan said.
Liang Sanchun was stunned after hearing this. After he realized what he was doing, his face was filled with ecstasy: "That's a great feeling! Why are you still standing there? Come on, thank you *** member!"
Zhou Weihan watched Liang Sanchun pull his son aside and give instructions. He didn't know what to do. He thought of Zhou Tainan's arrival and thought to himself, how can any father not feel sorry for his child?
After a short rest, the troops began to march here, but the marching speed was obviously not as fast as before. The conditions of the regiments led by Zhou Weihan were pretty good. After the battle in the Hebei-Shandong-Henan base area, they had a few days of rest and recuperation.
The 385th Brigade and the New 10th Brigade of the Taibei Military Region have been carrying out attacks on the Japanese railway lines since the beginning of the sweep. After several days and nights of fierce fighting, they launched an offensive against Shimen. The physical strength of the soldiers generally declined.
After the main force of the 110th Division retreated, the three regiments of the Luxi Military Region marched directly from Nangong to the northwest with the intention of cutting off the railway line. The four regiments of the Southern Hebei Military Region defeated the Japanese and puppet troops behind them, leaving two
The regiment launched a pursuit of the 110th Division heading north.
At the train station outside Hengshui City, tens of thousands of Japanese troops from the 110th Division were scattered everywhere. With rapid whistles sounding, many little Japs reluctantly began to gather.
For the little devils of the 110th Division, this large-scale raid on the Eighth Route Army's southern Hebei base area was not a good experience. They fought in many places, and none of them achieved good results. Even the garrison at Shimen was in the Eighth Route Army's territory.
Under attack, it is dangerous.
"Your Excellency, General, during this period, the Eighth Route Army's road-breaking teams were frequently present on the Shide Railway where our troops were stationed. Our troops could only maintain public order fifty miles west of Hengshui. As for the Motou Town Railway Station, two days ago
We have already lost contact. Our troops are insufficient and we dare not send troops to attack at will. Please understand!" the top Japanese officer stationed in Hengshui said cautiously.
When Iinuma Mamoru heard this, he immediately felt angry, but he immediately thought that Motou Town was the defense area of his 110th Division, and swallowed the last words that came to his mouth.
"You've done a good job!" Iinuma Mamoru patted the shoulder of the little Japanese officer opposite and said: "Taking the train can effectively shorten the time for our troops to return to Shimen to aid. Attacking the railway is an old method of the Eighth Route Army. Regardless of
Which Eighth Route Army unit occupied Motou Town, our 110th Division will definitely destroy them!"
"Your Excellency, Division Commander, Shimen called back. The Eighth Route Army outside the city is still carrying out soil work. According to the current progress, it will take at least midnight to approach the inner city ditch!" The adjutant held a telegram in his hand and went forward to report.
.
"Youxi, inform the defenders that they must hold on to the inner city ditch. The main force of the division will arrive at Shimen at dawn!" Iinuma Mamoru said with a ferocious smile, as if he had seen the end of the road for the Eighth Route Army.
When the time came to around seven o'clock in the evening, following Mamoru Iinuma's order, in addition to the cavalry regiment, the little devils of the 110th Division boarded an extended train in an orderly manner under the constraints of their respective commanders.
The lengthened military train, steaming from the front of the train, seemed to be trying its best to chase the afterglow of the setting sun, carrying the group of little Japanese who were eager to return home on the road to death.
Because it was an extended military train and carried too many people, the train traveled for a full hour and a half before reaching the westernmost side of the Japanese defense zone in Hengshui.
The Japanese troops in the strongholds along the way received the news early and stood on the top floor of the stronghold early, holding up a red signal light to signal the train crew to stop the train.
After hearing about the train, the adjutant said: "Division commander, the front should reach the point where the railway was destroyed by the Eighth Route Army. Our troops can only march back to Shimen on foot!"
"Yes!" Iinuma Mamoru nodded after hearing this. These situations were all expected: "Has the cavalry regiment followed up?"
"The speed of war horses is far inferior to that of trains. I'm afraid the cavalry regiment is still some distance away from here!" the adjutant replied.
While he was talking, Iinuma got off the train surrounded by a group of Japs officers. The Japs in the stronghold had already been guarding near the train and immediately came up to greet him.
"Soldier, let me ask you, how far is this place from Motou Town?"
"Report to the general, this time it is about thirty miles away from Motou Town. If the imperial army marches on foot, it will take at least two hours!"
Iinuma Mamoru looked at the dark night. The endless plains seemed a bit strange this time. Marching at night, especially in areas where the Eighth Route Army was infested, was a taboo for military strategists. However, because he was eager to return to Shimen, Iinuma Mamoru finally gave the order:
: "Pass my order, the 133rd Infantry Brigade, together with the 110th Infantry Regiment and the 163rd Infantry Regiment, will serve as the vanguard, division headquarters, and field hospital. The baggage regiment will be in the middle, and the 140th Infantry Regiment will be in charge of the rear!"
"All the imperial warriors must speed up their march and arrive at Shimen at dawn tomorrow!"
"Hi!" replied many young Japanese officers from the 110th Division.
Whether it is the Eighth Route Army or the Japanese army, both the enemy and ourselves are fighting for time. However, at the moment, the Eighth Route Army is in the dark, and the Japanese army is in the open. The Eighth Route Army has received information about the retreat of the 110th Division in advance, but the little devils of the 110th Division have no idea at all.
The Eighth Route Army is encircling it.
The tens of thousands of Japanese troops in the 110th Division were really conspicuous. They were marching west like a fire dragon, holding torches casually.
"Damn it, I almost broke my legs running, hurry up and hurry up, finally found the traces of the main force of the Japs, report this situation to your superiors immediately via walkie-talkie!"
The person who spoke was the commander of a certain reconnaissance company in the Luxi Military Region. The reconnaissance company was equipped with a war horse specially designed to clear the way in front.
Although the 110th Division retreated early, because the three regiments of the Luxi Military Region purposefully marched in a straight line to the northwest, they collided with the Japs who turned to Hengshui.
After receiving the news, the main force of the Luxi Military Region immediately informed the Jinan Military Region and the division headquarters of the traces of the Japanese troops of the 110th Division, and then accelerated their march again.