At noon, the scorching sun made the blue bricks and green tiles of Zhoucun smoke.
In the command post of the 21st Regiment of the Eighth Route Army, the staff held several telephones and kept asking the forward observation posts to learn about the Japanese movements.
Cao Jin, the leader of the 21st Regiment, and Wu Jiasheng, the political commissar, spread out the Zhoucun city defense map prepared by the staff office on the table, and kept drawing on the map with pencils to study the defense issues.
It has been the second day that the 21st Regiment has been fighting the Fifth Division head-on. During this day and a half, although the 21st Regiment has adopted the tactics of constant resistance, alternating cover, and night harassment, it has given the Japanese a major blow.
Killings, but after all, there are swarms of enemy planes in the sky and the elite Fifth Division on the ground. The troops cannot hold on to every position for a long time and must fight and leave, otherwise they will be overwhelmed by the powerful firepower of the Japanese.
Of course, the 21st Regiment is well-trained and equipped with advanced equipment, but the Japs are not a vegetarian, especially the Japs’ air superiority, which makes the soldiers suffer a lot. Fortunately, the Japs’ pilots have been on the Jilu border since
After Bin County suffered a big loss, they were afraid of their instructors. They did not dare to swoop and shoot, so they could only drop bombs. They fought all the way and suffered heavy casualties. For those who had only taken advantage since they were reorganized into the army along the Xiangjiang River, they did not suffer any losses.
For instructors and cadres at all levels, this kind of casualties is simply unacceptable, and this kind of tactics is even more difficult to accept.
This time, Cao Jin really experienced the power of Japanese firepower. Since he was fighting in a base area and the fortifications were well-built, Cao Jin originally thought that with the strength of the 21st Regiment, he would be able to hold on for two days, not to mention one day.
There was no problem in holding on for ten days and a half. The result surprised Cao Jin. As long as the Eighth Route Army dared to hold on to any village, the Japs would find the target for attack. Planes bombed, artillery bombarded, and then poison gas bombs, until the entire village was razed to the ground.
.In this way, the Eighth Route Army no longer dares to stand firm. We cannot let the little devils destroy all the villages and houses! In that case, how will the villagers live?
When retreating all the way from around Wangcun to Zhoucun Town, Cao Jin couldn't help but send a telegram to Zeng Zhongsheng, saying bluntly that this was not the way to fight the main force of the Japanese. If the fight continued like this, not only would the army be wiped out, but the lives of the people after the war would also be ruined.
This is a big problem. Without a village or a house, it means completely losing your home. Please consider whether the Chief of Staff can order an order to break away from the enemy, preserve your vitality, and find other fighter opportunities.
Who is Zeng Zhongsheng? Naturally, he knows that fighting like this will cause heavy casualties to the troops. The 21st Regiment will suffer heavy casualties, and so will other troops. But if we don’t fight like this, it will be impossible to attract the Japanese’s heavy troop group in Lunan to move north, and neither will the main force of the division.
To complete the mission of annihilating the enemy on the southern front, we must grit our teeth and persevere. Besides, it is impossible for the troops to retreat in broad daylight. That would only make the troops the targets of the Japanese air fire and heavy ground fire.
Therefore, after withdrawing into Zhoucun, the 21st Teaching Regiment received an order from Zeng Zhongsheng, the commander-in-chief of the Eighth Route Army's Ludong Headquarters and the Chief of Staff of the Teaching Division, that the 21st Teaching Regiment must hold on in Zhoucun until 12 o'clock at night to further attract the Japanese.
, to cover the retreat of various troops. At the same time, we must fight with the Japanese in the streets of Zhoucun, and we cannot let the Japanese's aircraft and artillery blow up Zhoucun.
With this order, Cao Jin and Wu Jiasheng's thoughts of using Zhoucun's strong city wall to block the Japs outside the city disappeared. After thinking about it, the chief of staff's order made sense, and they could not let the Japs destroy Zhoucun.
This is a courtyard with green bricks and blue tiles. It would be a pity if it was destroyed in the war. Besides, it is better to let the Japanese into the city than to keep them out of the city. If you get mixed up with the Japanese, at least the little Japs can't wantonly bomb the city.
The poison gas was released.
However, we can't just let the Japs into the city so easily. They have to pay a price. There are many ways, but the most effective ones are electro-detonated explosive packs, anti-infantry mines, and anti-tank mines.
Considering that the Japs could not be bombed with aircraft and artillery, Cao Jin's idea was to plant explosives at the four gates of the city. After letting some of the Japs into the city, they would then set off explosives to blow up the Japs' follow-up troops. In this way, because there were Japs in the city, there were no Japs outside the city.
The Japanese would throw rat-proof weapons so that they would not concentrate planes, heavy artillery bombardments or release poison gas. As for the city walls, they could not just be occupied by the Japanese. Mines and explosive packets had to be buried on them, and thunder cannons and infantry cannons had to be arranged in advance.
Mortars and grenade launchers. When the Japs enter the city, they will definitely climb up the city wall to plant flags and cheer. That is their grave. Anyway, it doesn’t matter if the city wall is broken, it is easy to repair.
This Zhou Village has been occupied by the Eighth Route Army for some time. It turned out to be the fulcrum of the Eighth Route Army's defense against Jinan. Engineers had already built some fortifications in the city. In addition, there are many bank accounts and big merchants in the city, and each house has a basement as a treasury. Implementation
After the walls were cleared, there was no common people left in the city. The Eighth Route Army quickly opened up the courtyard and completed the construction of the city's fortifications. When the 21st Regiment entered Zhoucun, the village and town had become a solid fortress.
Cao Jin and Wu Jiasheng deployed their troops around the main streets, Silk Street, Mianmian Street, Kuixing Pavilion, Qianfo Temple, Guanhai Tower and other important streets and temples. They asked all troops to withdraw from the courtyard after killing the enemy and compete with the Japanese one by one.
, be sure to hold on until 12 o'clock at night, and then retreat from the north gate.
As soon as the 21st Regiment entered Zhoucun, the Japs came one after another and pursued them to the outside of Zhoucun. However, the little Japs were already afraid of the towns. They suffered a lot at the city gate and knew that all the towns guarded by the Eighth Route Army
, are all traps, and the city gate must be filled with dead people.
Just when the little Japs were hesitant and waiting for the big troops, the 21st Regiment completed their deployment in Zhoucun. All the troops entered the designated positions, waiting for the little Japs to come and fight.
The Fifth Division suffered a lot from the Eighth Route Army along the way, and the troops suffered heavy casualties. Seeing the Eighth Route Army entering Zhoucun Town, they did not dare to pursue it, for fear of being fooled by the Eighth Route Army again.
After the large forces came up, Lieutenant General Ando Toshiyoshi personally conducted a close-up observation of Zhoucun and found that the city gate of Zhoucun was wide open, like an empty city. However, Ando Toshiyoshi did not dare to easily send troops into the city because he knew that Zhoucun City
The Eighth Route Army in the city is extremely difficult to deal with. It has high tactical skills and sharp weapons that can restrain its tanks and armored vehicles. Entering the city rashly will inevitably cause heavy casualties.
The commander of the Fifth Division, Lieutenant General Ando Rikichi, was one of the backbone generals of the Japanese army. He immediately ordered the artillery observers to be hoisted by plane to facilitate observation of the movement in the city and to indicate the direction of attack for the artillery.
Unexpectedly, after the artillery observers took off, they reported that the bustling Zhoucun was already an empty city, and not a single person could be seen in the streets. It seemed that the Eighth Route Army had escaped.
Ando Rikichi yelled that the artillery observers who flew into the air were stupider than pigs. Would the Eighth Route Army escape? If the Eighth Route Army did not hold on to such a strong city, it would be a joke.
Rikichi Ando, who was so irritated by the corpses of Japanese soldiers along the way, knew that the main force of the Eighth Route Army was hidden in the city, so he simply did not stop and ordered a large-scale launch of special smoke into Zhoucun City, hoping to use poison gas to end the battle in one fell swoop.
The Japs' move surprised Cao Jin and Wu Jiasheng. The reason they wanted to let the Japs into the city to fight in the streets was not only because they didn't want the Japs to blow up Zhoucun into ruins, but they also hoped to get into a mess with the Japs and prevent the Japs from firing poisonous gas. However,
, after the Seventh Red Army Corps captured Xi'an, all units began to conduct anti-gas training. After occupying Tianjin and Qingdao and wiping out the Japanese divisions, all units of the instructor division had gas masks, although the number was not enough for one manpower.
Tools, but basically enough.
From the beginning of this battle, the tactics adopted by the Eighth Route Army did not allow the Japs to use poison gas in large quantities. However, when they were holding on to the village, the Japs had already used poison gas many times in a small area, and the soldiers had experience.
When the shells fall and smoke, you know that the Japs are playing tricks again, so you quickly put on a gas mask. Those who don't have a gas mask immediately cover their mouths and noses with a wet towel to avoid inhaling the poisonous gas.
While wearing a mask, Cao Jin cursed the little Japs for their wickedness and did not dare to attack, but they resorted to such inhumane methods. Originally, he wanted to order the regiment's artillery to retaliate against the Japs and fire gas bombs at the Japs, but seeing that the wind was blowing in the wrong direction, he had no choice but to give up.
After Rikichi Ando ordered the firing of special smoke, he waited patiently for an hour. Feeling that the time was up, the Eighth Route Army would lose its resistance even if it died, so he ordered each army to send search teams to enter the city from the south gate, east gate, and west gate. As for the north gate,
One is that he has to take a long detour, and the other is that Ando Rikichi is afraid that not all the Eighth Route Army is dead and will resist stubbornly in the city, causing unnecessary harm to his fifth division. It is better to leave a way for them and drive them out of the city.
Come and eliminate them in the wild.
The Japanese soldiers began to enter the city. However, the little Japanese were very cunning. They suffered too many losses and became more vigilant. They were still in attack formation, with their waists bent, guns in hand, and they quickly ran to the city gate.
Carefully stick to the wall and attack the city step by step.
Fortunately, it was safe. The Eighth Route Army did not fire. Ando Rikichi became bolder and ordered the Ninth Brigade and the Guards Independent Mixed Brigade to send a brigade each into the city.
The Japanese who entered the city first did not enter the courtyard. They had to quickly advance along the streets and quickly control key points. The second group of Japanese were different. They first had to seize the city wall, put up plaster flags, cheer and watch the whole city from a high position along the way.
Seeing the plaster flags planted on the city wall, Ando Rikichi felt a little more at ease, and ordered the commander of the 9th Brigade, Captain Nagano Yuichiro of the 11th Infantry Regiment, to command the 11th Regiment to enter the city from the south gate and be responsible for clearing the city.
The remaining Eighth Route Army. The remaining troops are temporarily on standby.
Colonel Nagano Yuichiro is one of the people in the Fifth Division who hates the Eighth Route Army instructors the most. The reason is very simple. Officers with his qualifications have basically been promoted to major generals. Only he and the 41st Brigade of the Ninth Brigade
The two commanders of the regiment, Yamada Tetsujiro, were not promoted. The main reason was that the 5th Division suffered a huge defeat. The 21st Brigade, the Cavalry Regiment, and the Field Artillery Regiment were all destroyed, which led to the military department not approving the outstanding military achievements.
Colonel Yuichiro Nagano and Tetsujiro Yamada were promoted. Therefore, Colonel Yuichiro Nagano hated the Eighth Route Army so much that he wrote down the three characters "Liu Yimin" and pasted them on his sword. He would strike a thousand times every day while shouting "
Liu Yimin, there are many who are dead!"
When they arrived at Zhoucun City, Colonel Nagano Yuichiro was already a little crazy. He was beaten wildly by the Eighth Route Army along the way. As the vanguard of the entire division, his 11th Regiment suffered heavy losses, although none of the brigades were formally established. He was eliminated, but the reduction in numbers was very severe. Your Excellency, the division commander, has already replenished his troops three times. I see that if the replenishment continues, the division will have to replenish all its infantry.
Now it's better. The old rival has retreated into Zhoucun City. The commander of the Eighth Route Army seems to have been burned out. He can't even tell that this small Zhoucun City is a dead place. The army surrounded this small town. He looked at it. Where to run?
When Ando Rikichi ordered the launch of special smoke just now, Colonel Nagano Yuichiro was beside Ando Rikichi eager to try. He called for battle several times and asked to attack first. Ando Rikichi considered that the Eleventh Regiment fought all the battles that suffered losses and was deceived. Da, after several replenishments, they must be allowed to advance into the city in order to help maintain the attack power of the 11th Regiment, so I agreed.
After receiving the order to enter the city, Colonel Nagano Yuichiro couldn't wait to draw his command sword and ordered the entire regiment to enter the city under the cover of tanks and armored vehicles.
Seeing the third batch of Japs troops entering the city, Wu Jiasheng reminded Cao Jin that he could take action. Because he couldn't let too many Japs enter the city, he had to let them enter slowly, batch by batch.
Cao Jin had long been impatient with waiting, and directly ordered the engineers to detonate explosives at the south gate, and ordered the fire support battalion to cover the Japanese who climbed onto the city wall.
The person who taught the Engineer Company of the 21st Regiment how to detonate the South Gate explosives was Lu Sicheng, squad leader of the ninth squad of the third platoon. This was a college student who joined the army in Tianjin. He studied chemistry and did research on explosive blasting and other things. After joining the army, he was originally a stay-at-home student. At the Logistics Command, he was preparing to replenish the military factory. Unexpectedly, after meeting Ren Chaoran, the commander of the Engineer Corps, he was attracted by Ren Chaoran's talk about engineers participating in combat aircraft. He stayed in the Engineer Corps for a month. During this stay, he I discovered that the combat methods of the Engineer Corps of the Eighth Route Army's Instructor Division were so advanced. I became more and more fascinated and wanted to be an engineer. After training for a while, I was transferred to teach the Engineer Company of the 21st Regiment.
In order to ensure that the buried explosive package could detonate on time, Lu Sicheng buried the wires and took his squad of soldiers to hide in the cellar of a shop near the city gate. He pulled the wires in through the ventilation hole in the cellar and let the two soldiers Hide in the attic of the store and observe the signal flares ordered to detonate.
Upon receiving the order, Lu Sicheng pressed the detonator hard, and in an instant, there were continuous explosions from the south gate that shook the earth and the mountains.
Lu Sicheng shouted to leave, lifted up the wooden board at the entrance of the cellar, and led the soldiers to run to the yard next door. There was no way, this place was too close to the city gate, and the little devils would soon search here. Fortunately, the yard The wall has been opened and the bricks are all in place. Just push them away.
The fierce explosion made Nagano Yuichiro wake up immediately, and he immediately realized that there was indeed an Eighth Route Army in the city, and it was a very elite Eighth Route Army. The special smoke just now did not kill them for some reason, allowing them to use such a force on the imperial army. Despicable means.
Before Colonel Nagano Yuichiro had time to count the number of casualties, something even more shocking happened. The Eighth Route Army actually launched artillery fire on the Imperial Army soldiers who had climbed onto the city wall. It seemed that the Eighth Route Army used a launcher that could throw explosive packets, and kept Explosive packets exploded on the city wall along with the cannonballs, and some fell outside the city wall. The soldiers who were waiting outside the city gate were so frightened that they fell down in a hurry, sticking their butts out, looking as disgusting as possible.
The violent explosion also woke up Lieutenant General Ando Rikichi, but he vomited it out immediately, because the explosion blew out the eyeball of a Japanese soldier, and it fell squarely on the head of Ando Rikichi, who was rented by the Northern Guards.
.
After vomiting, Ando Rikichi raised his head and glanced at the collapsed South Gate Tower. His eyes were full of confusion, and he couldn't figure out why the Eighth Route Army could survive after firing so many special smokes. Now if he wants to fire again,
The troops who entered the city must be withdrawn, otherwise they will have to be sacrificed.
Ando Rikichi was not so crazy that he immediately ordered the artillery regiment to prepare for the artillery bombardment. As a result, the artillery regiment reported that the artillery observer hoisted by the plane could not be contacted and could not give an accurate bombardment position. Please express it to the division commander.
, should we contact the aviation force and destroy the small town in front of us in one fell swoop?
Ando Rikichi did not order the destruction of the small town in front of him, because the order he received said that this Zhoucun was the richest place in Shandong, with many shops, not only the supplies that the imperial army urgently needed, but also a large amount of money. Qingdao's Zhengjin Bank
After being plundered by Liu Yimin, the Japanese Empire urgently needed to use the money of Zhoucun merchants to make up for the shortfall. Even if he had to dig three feet into the ground in Zhoucun and skin and cramp the merchants, he still had to get the money. Otherwise, Zhengjin
The bank may be about to fail.
Ando Rikichi had plenty of troops at hand. Although the explosion just now caused heavy casualties, he could still withstand it. For the sake of Zhengjin Bank and the economy of the Empire of Japan, the commander of the Fifth Division, Lieutenant General Ando Rikichi, gritted his teeth and began to issue a series of orders.
We must use a large army to rush into the city and completely eliminate this hateful Eighth Route Army to relieve the hatred in our hearts.
At this time, the Eighth Route Army and the Japanese Army in Zhoucun City had already become a mess.
The Japanese army won because of its strong strength and the continuous influx of reinforcements; the Eighth Route Army won because it took the lead and built street fighting fortifications. At the beginning, the Japanese army did suffer a heavy loss, but as the Japanese army entered the city in large numbers, it began to fight with the Eighth Route Army.
After fighting for it from hospital to hospital, they slowly gained a foothold and began to establish attack positions, relying on which they could attack the Eighth Route Army. Slowly, the Japanese army began to take the initiative on the battlefield.
Cao Jin and Wu Jiasheng were very aware of the changes in the battlefield situation. Of course, they also knew that it was simply unrealistic to block the Fifth Division's attack with their own regiment. Therefore, their purpose was very clear, which was to resolutely defend the North Gate and retain the
Retreat to break through the passage, and then fight with the Japanese to delay the time until night. It will be easier to handle at night!