under fire

under the moonlight.

The so-called complete security zone of the enemy on the plains.

The horizontal blockade ditches and roads formed a network, with a watchtower every three miles and a stronghold every five miles.

The news that the 9th Battalion broke through the Japanese blockade and wiped out more than 30 Japanese soldiers soon reached Liaocheng via the radio.

Over the years, there has never been a major vicious incident in which the Imperial Army suffered such heavy casualties in the core occupied areas of North China.

This news immediately attracted the attention of the Northern Special Police whose headquarters was located in Liaocheng.

As a confidential unit, the Northern Special Police did not show up directly, but only reported the intelligence to the colonel of the Japanese garrison stationed in Liaocheng.

[The Intelligence Department conducted a comprehensive analysis of the Eighth Route Army's strength, tactics, and combat effectiveness and determined that this group of Eighth Route Army troops was the 9th Battalion of the Eighth Route Army Independent Regiment.

The Eighth Route Army was extremely cunning, and on the surface they were using the non-existent 9th Battalion.

Pretending to be the Allied Forces, from the Guard Battalion of the First Brigade and the First Regiment]

The rank of colonel in the military uniform was shining brightly. After reading the intelligence, the middle-aged Japanese soldier looked gloomy.

After thinking for a while, he ordered the messenger: "Immediately call a meeting of the liaison officers of the various security forces, city defense forces, and security regiments who remain at the headquarters!"

All kinds of evil spirits living in the military camp were woken up from their sleep by the Japanese.

Rushed to the meeting room.

When everyone is present, sit down.

The colonel raised his hand suddenly, clenched it into a fist and slammed it on the conference table: "A group of Eighth Route Army broke through the mopping-up blockade and rushed to the core occupied area of ​​the Imperial Army. Please immediately inform all strongholds and artillery towers to strengthen the blockade. Work together at home and make sure to catch this group of Eighth Route Army in one fell swoop!"

"Yes!"

"Yes"

The traitors responded quickly and then went to their respective areas to make arrangements.

The Japanese lieutenant colonel in charge of commanding the mopping-up operation at the front line had a radio with him.

Instead, he was the first to receive an order from the headquarters: to encircle and wipe out the escaped Eighth Route Army.

The lieutenant colonel made careful marks on the map, giving orders to the messenger from time to time and deploying troops.

The Japanese troops who were conducting a net-like sweep to the south quickly gathered and moved towards the village where the Eighth Route Army had destroyed most of the Imperial Army companies.

The Japs gathered in large numbers and headed eastward.

It immediately attracted the attention of the division scouts.

Information was constantly gathered to the anti-mopping-up commanders.

With many years of experience in countering mopping-up operations, Captain Li felt that there must be other reasons behind the unusual movements of the Japanese.

He immediately called the first and second company commanders under his command to hold a meeting in a small sorghum field.

Two torches were lit in the sorghum field.

Captain Li pointed to the map on the ground and said, "A large number of enemies are moving eastward. Everyone, tell me what is the reason behind the abnormal behavior of the Japanese."

The company commander looked at the map and said, "The devils are heading east? The largest anti-Japanese force over there is Wang Shun's..."

The second company commander shook his head: "Wang Shun's troops have so few men and guns, it shouldn't be worth so many devils attacking them all at once."

"A few days ago, Captain Hu led people to reinforce Wang Shun. I think it is very likely related to them?" Captain Li looked unusual.

With his keen sense, his judgment was almost completely correct.

The company commander nodded and said, "Captain, your analysis is correct. It must be Captain Hu and his men. Apart from them, no one else should be so bold as to provoke the devils..."

The second company commander added: "If it weren't for Li Xiang, the Japanese gunboat that was shot down on the canal, the villagers crossing the canal would have suffered huge casualties..."

Captain Li stood up from the ground and said: "Most of the civilians have moved to the west of the canal. I think we should destroy what the devils want to do!"

"That's right. The key to guerrilla warfare is to retreat when the enemy advances and attack when the enemy retreats. I agree with the battalion commander!"

Li Yingshang showed a worried look on his face: "Most of the villagers have moved to the west of the canal, while the puppet troops are still heading south. I am now very worried about those villagers who are unwilling to leave."

"Are you talking about those landlords? They were flirting with the Japanese and puppet troops. They deserved to die," the company commander said nonchalantly.

Captain Li warned: "Watch your words and actions!"

"Ahem, I spoke too quickly." The company commander was a little embarrassed.

The second company commander quickly came to the rescue: "I think that Captain Hu and his men are our brother troops after all. They attracted the Japanese, so we should do something for them!"

The first company commander echoed: "That's right, they only have one battalion of soldiers. No matter how good they fight, they can never be a match for the Japs!" Hearing that his commander's ideas were almost the same as his own.

Captain Li no longer hesitated and immediately began to make arrangements: "...Order: Immediately notify the reconnaissance platoon to hang behind the Japanese and find a way to find out their exact movements and strength. The first and second companies will immediately gather the troops that can still travel far and carry out harassment operations in the direction of the Japanese movement. The third company will stay behind to take care of the wounded and garrison on the spot..."

The communicator who had been on standby quickly ran into the moonlit darkness.

The team was originally not very scattered, but they quickly gathered together.

"Everyone, divide into three groups and move eastward!" Captain Li had a bitter look on his face. Now only more than one company of troops could move.

He, the first company commander, and the second company commander each led only a platoon of soldiers.

And the number of Japanese soldiers going to harass is at least a thousand!

The company commander was a little worried: "There is a second line of defense of the puppet army in the north, which was originally deployed behind the devils."

"Everyone must be careful, this operation is very dangerous. If you are not careful, you may be attacked from both sides by the Japanese puppet army."

At this time, they did not know that Hu Yi had turned west after running north for dozens of miles.

The Japanese were short of manpower, so they dispatched a large number of puppet troops to carry out mopping-up operations.

Hu Yi doesn't think it will be too difficult this time.

Scouts on bicycles were ahead.

After the nine battalions were divided, the number of people in each team was not large.

Taking advantage of the windbreak trees on the plain to conceal their tracks, they advanced rapidly in the west direction.

In the wilderness, we passed by one deserted village after another that had been raided by the Japanese.

"Fuck, hurry up!" Tang Dagou walked quickly with his rifle slung over his shoulder and kept shouting.

"We have run more than thirty miles behind the security forces. There is no way the Japanese can know our whereabouts," a dark figure muttered while panting.

Another shadow looked at the moonlit village two miles away: "Don't forget, there may be traitors from the detective team in those villages!"

"Tsk, there's no one left in those villages after the Japanese raids..."

"Even if there are people, they may not be able to see us in the dark."

Another shadow also joined the conversation: "Yes, we have scouts behind us. Even if there are traitors from the detective team hiding in the village, it will take them at least several hours to report to the security forces thirty miles to the south."

"Just shut up, save your energy and run away."

"Hey, we are analyzing the enemy situation anytime and anywhere according to the instructor's requirements, what are you talking about?"

Da Gou seemed a little afraid of this subordinate who was also from the national army: "Do you believe that I will let you lead the charge?"

"Forget it, Da Gou is the platoon leader after all, give him some face"

The light in the sky in the wilderness ahead seemed to change.

Not long after, the scouts disguised as the detective team hurried back on their bicycles.

When he arrived at the big dog face, he stopped and propped himself up on one leg: "Report to the platoon leader, we have arrested six traitors from the detective team."

"Did you find out the situation?"

"The traitors said that the password has not changed. There is a town about ten miles ahead. Outside the town, there are already built blockade trenches and artillery towers everywhere."

"How is the enemy's troop deployment?"

"According to Tongue, the Japs pulled in puppet troops to carry out the mopping-up operation, leaving less than half of the usual number of troops."

"Finally, we are almost at our destination." The big dog let out a long sigh and stopped: "Everyone, stop moving forward and rest here for half an hour."

"Big Dog, if we can get rid of the Japanese chasing us, those artillery towers will be a good hiding place."

"If you mess up your performance when we get into town later, I won't let you sweep the toilet for a month. I don't believe it, Tang."

"I used to be a member of the Imperial Army, so do I still need to act?"

"Turn on the flashlight! Hurry up and calculate our current location based on our marching speed." The big dog pulled out a map and spread it on the ground.

"Hey, we have coordinates and speed. As long as we are heading in the right direction, calculating the direction is not a big deal."

After two or three minutes, the coordinate position was calibrated.

"Wenwuquan, hurry up and report to the battalion commander behind you." (End of this chapter)