Bright Sword's Bloody War of Resistance

Chapter 697

At 32 o'clock in the afternoon that day, after blocking the Japanese army of the 37nd Division for eight hours, the 38th and [-]th regiments of the Hebei-Shandong-Henan Military Region successively withdrew to the Inside the city, the Japanese army gathered its forces and gradually approached the eastern suburbs of Heze.

For a while, the people around Heze panicked, and the big households in Heze surrounded the headquarters. These big households all wanted to know the next step of the Eighth Route Army.

In the command headquarters, Zhou Weihan had already rushed to the city defense fortification office, and only the deputy chief of staff was in charge.

"Little comrades, we have been sitting here for more than half an hour. Since the three comrades in charge of your army in the democratic government are not in the city, you must find someone who speaks well. I think your army Zhou ** is fine, he is a comrade who can make the final decision!"

Mr. Dong Jinglun is getting old, his physical strength is not as good as before, he took a breath, and then said: "Comrade, please find Comrade Zhou, okay!"

The Heze Democratic Government, the Southwest Shandong Special District Government, and the Hebei-Shandong-Henan Military Region Headquarters are located in a connected compound, and the person in charge of receiving these large households in the city is an officer of the special district government.

"Mr. Dong, you must know the situation in the past few days. Many cadres of the prefectural government are not in the city. However, I have reported the wishes of the big guys to a head of the headquarters. The head is handling the official business at hand. We'll be there in a while, everyone, just wait!" The officer said in a relaxed tone as much as possible.

"Okay, let's wait!" Hearing this, Elder Dong turned his head and said to the few people in the room: "Everyone, even if the fire is imminent, the big guys have to hold back. We have to trust the comrades of the Eighth Route Army and wait!"

The few people who came to the door were all the councilors of the democratic government. Dong Lao was highly respected and was the talker of many big households in the city.

"Mr. Dong, I know the worries in everyone's heart. Thanks to everyone who has maintained the stability in the city these days, the Japanese army may approach the city, but they will never enter Heze County. I can assure you that my Eighth Route Army Among other things, there are four infantry regiments stationed in Heze County, and other reinforcements are on their way!"

"Okay, the big battle is coming soon, all the lords must work together, and some things have to be prevented!" Takashi Sakai stopped the quarrel.

Due to too many obstacles in the city, the heavy artillery battalion was arranged in two corners outside the east gate of Heze. At that time, the first regiment, the third regiment, and the assault regiment would also use the artillery position as the starting point to attack the Japanese troops of the 32nd division.

The monk wanted to say something else, Zhou Weihan interrupted: "You are so capable, why don't you take command!"

"What did Xinxiang Airport say?" Sakai Takashi asked the adjutant.

"Continue to let several regiments report their positions!"

Different from the previous battles, the anti-aircraft artillery company of the Artillery Regiment was on the battlefield at this time, and just when it appeared just now, it destroyed two Japanese tanks in one fell swoop.

"Mr. Dong, you have kept you waiting for a long time. There are too many things in your hands, and you can't get away. Everyone, sit down, please sit down!" The deputy chief of staff said while shaking Mr. Dong's hand.

"Okay, go get busy, I'll take care of things here!" The deputy chief of staff said with a smile and patted the secretary on the shoulder.

However, the Japanese army is about to approach the city, and people in the city are inevitably panicked. At the same time, they are also afraid that the Eighth Route Army will be like the national army, rubbing oil on the soles of their feet, and ignoring many people in the city.

within the headquarters.

"Sir, Heze is near the city, and the Eighth Route Army may have already received the news that its reinforcements are on their way, should they launch an attack immediately!" the search wing captain Shiqiao Jizo said impatiently.

While waiting anxiously, the command center's walkie-talkie rang, and the 35th regiment in the forward position reported that the search wing of the 32nd division had revealed its presence.

"This time, the search wing is still the leading offensive force. The 211 and 212 wing are located on both sides. The headquarters and the artillery wing are located in the middle of the two infantry wings. The overall formation is a triangle. The imperial army can either Support each other, and avoid being bombarded by the Eighth Route Army because the formation is too dense!"

"Everyone, thank you!" The deputy chief of staff gave a military salute.

Not long after, the Japanese army officially launched an offensive. Facing the defense line deployed by the Eighth Route Army outside the city, the Japanese army adopted the tactics of searching the center of the regiment to break through, attracting the troops of the Eighth Route Army to encircle them, and then the two infantry regiments joined forces to attack from the outside, determined to take down the Eighth Route Army in one fell swoop. Troops outside the city.

Zhou Weihan glanced at the time and beckoned the monk to go down.

The correspondent turned on the walkie-talkie: "Hey, this is the headquarters, this is the headquarters, please answer!"

Before the adjutant finished speaking, he was interrupted by Takashi Sakai: "Don't underestimate the Eighth Route Army. The current predicament of the 21st Division is the best proof. Unfortunately, our department is beyond our reach, so we can only save our own lives!"

Elder Dong brought his words to the surface, and even though the few people present were extremely anxious, they had no choice but to sit down and wait obediently.

"Comrade, where's Comrade Zhou?" Elder Dong tilted his head and looked outside the door.

Therefore, Mr. Dong asked to see Zhou Weihan by name, and the deputy chief of staff has been sitting in Heze for a long time, and several of them are councilors of the democratic government, so how could he not know the identity of the deputy chief of staff.

Not long after, the deputy chief of staff rushed to the meeting room where the guests were received.

"Members, the current personnel of each regiment who can continue to fight has been reported. The remaining personnel of the 35th regiment are 1132, the remaining personnel of the 37th regiment are 1022, the remaining personnel of the 38th regiment are 856, and the remaining personnel of the 40th regiment are 980. All the wounded have been sent to the hospital. A hospital in the city!" Staff Report reported.

"Okay!" Elder Dong stood up and said, "A few of us are here because we want to hear this sentence. We believe in your army. After returning, we will cooperate with the comrades of the democratic government to maintain order in the city!" Elder Dong said.

This time, the commander of the 32nd Division, Takashi Sakai, conscientiously implemented the orders issued by Ningji Okamura. Although he was anxious to contribute to Heze, under his command, the Japanese army under his command made steady progress at every step, and rarely went deep alone.

In this way, it also facilitated the next battle of the Eighth Route Army.

"No, according to past experience, the marching speed of the Eighth Route Army cannot be compared with that of other Chinese armed forces. The high-level officials of the Eighth Route Army knew that the imperial army's target was Heze County, so they must have issued a death order. Hundreds of thousands of people rushed to reinforce Heze. Faster!" Said Takashi Sakai in a deep voice.

"Member, the regiments have divided their forces at Shilipu. One regiment is marching along the south of the city. It is currently in Kangzhuang. The third regiment and the assault regiment are currently in Zhangwangzhuang!" said the telegraph operator.

"You are too careful. The information reported by the 21st Division said that the Eighth Route Army that is fighting also has large-scale artillery. Can the Eighth Route Army still have an artillery unit?" Taizo Tsuchida, a member of the 212th Regiment, said to him. The adjutant's timidity was unusually dissatisfied.

"We didn't come to Xingshi to inquire about crimes. We all support the Eighth Route Army, but now the little devil is here. I buried half of my neck in loess. It doesn't matter if I die or not, but what about the people inside and outside the city? The little devil won't Be merciful to them, let us discuss whether we should organize the evacuation of the people in the city first?"

"As for whether the people in the city need to evacuate, I personally don't think it is necessary!" The deputy chief of staff laughed.

"Although our troops suffered casualties before, except for the Artillery Regiment, there are still [-] soldiers capable of fighting. As long as we clenched our fists tightly, the Eighth Route Army will not be able to sustain it!"

Everyone felt relieved when they heard this, only to see Mr. Dong holding the hand of the deputy chief of staff and saying: "Comrade, the enemy is at hand, and the little devils are approaching the city. I know that your army is busy at this time, so I really shouldn't disturb you. But the few comrades who served in the democratic government of your army are not here, so I can only come to the door!"

"Notify the logistics department that the ammunition supply must be replenished in time, and the stretcher team organized by the local government must remove the wounded in time!"

As for the deputy chief of staff taking time out of his busy schedule to meet with everyone, it was also to show the attitude of the Eighth Route Army. He is still there, and the Eighth Route Army will not leave.

Seeing that Zhou Weihan didn't talk to him, the monk continued: "Communist, we also have a chariot company, why don't we let the chariot company go out, tanks against tanks, that's so fun!"

After the battle started, Zhou Weihan quietly touched the top of the city wall. In the field of vision of the telescope, several Japanese tanks drove straight in as usual.

A temporary headquarters was set up in the east of Heze City, and Zhou Weihan personally took charge of it.

"Where is the group?" Zhou Weihan said to the correspondent.

Caught off guard, the little devil suffered a loss, and the remaining six tanks quickly retreated, and the Japanese offensive was immediately frustrated.

"This time, the Japanese army will surely smash their halberds under the city of Heze and repel this Japanese attack. In the future, the entire southwestern Shandong region will be able to guarantee stability for at least one year!"

"Hmph!" Zhou Weihan groaned when he heard the words: "Is my head flooded? Let the chariot company go head-to-head with the little devil's tank squadron?"

"Chief, they are all very cooperative, but they want to see Mrs. Zhou!" said the officer.

"However, sir, these Eighth Route Army troops have been fighting one after another, and they have no time to rest at all. Their physical strength is exhausted, how is it possible?"

Mobilized by the local government, some people living near the city defense fortifications moved to other places in advance, and the soldiers of the 37th and 38th regiments who had withdrawn into the city sat on the ground for a simple rest.

"Yeah!" Zhou Weihan nodded after hearing this. The casualties were within his expectations. The 40th regiment participated in the blocking battle on the old course of the Yellow River in Dongming territory, and the 35th and 36th regiments participated in the blocking battle in the area west of Heze. It fought against the 35th Division, while the 37th and 38th Divisions participated in the blocking battle with the 32nd Division east of Heze.

In fact, after the deputy chief of staff entered the house, several people in the house felt relieved. After the Eighth Route Army regained Heze, the various policies and styles it implemented won the support of many big households and the public in the city.

"Yes!"

"That's okay, I have the heart, but I don't have the ability!" The monk laughed dryly.

The deputy chief of staff tidied up his appearance, pushed the door open, and several people waiting in the room stood up one after another.

Zhou Weihan stood up suddenly after hearing this, and looked at the battle map hanging on the wall: "Okay, I finally caught up with this good meal, and now I'm waiting for the guests to come to the table!"

On this occasion, Zhou Weihan put all the chips in his hands up in a desperate attempt. The 37th and 38th regiments and the troops directly under the military region were stationed in Heze City. The 35th and 40th regiments that were originally west of Heze were deployed outside the city. Several fortifications.

"Yo, well done, really accurate, policeman, did you see it?" The monk on the side also held a pair of binoculars in his hand to observe the situation on the battlefield.

The adjutant at the side reminded: "Sir, the Eighth Route Army is a well-organized artillery unit, and the Sixteenth Division was destroyed here, so we must guard against it!"

"How's the situation inside?"

The battle plan was put forward early in the morning, and everyone was responsible for everything. Zhou Weihan only needed to coordinate and command. When the critical moment came, Zhou Weihan became more relaxed.

"Sir, Xinxiang Airport reported that the reconnaissance plane found traces of the main force of the Eighth Route Army at the junction of Dongming and Heze. Judging from its marching route, there should be three regiments of the Eighth Route Army, with a total number of about 5000 to 6000 people. According to time calculations, the Eighth Route Army The reinforcements will arrive in Heze in about two hours!" the adjutant replied.

"Minister Song has made arrangements!"

After Sakai Takashi finished speaking, he looked around at everyone present: "Facts have proved that the Eighth Route Army facing the Imperial Army this time is a formidable enemy. It should not be underestimated. In this battle, we must not rashly divide our forces!"

"Member, half an hour ago, I contacted you through the walkie-talkie. The First Regiment and other departments are less than [-] miles away from Heze County. Do you still need to contact me?"

"it is good!"

A staff officer of the headquarters shuttled through the crowd and found Zhou Weihan.

Outside Heze City, there are open lands in four directions, and there were a few residential buildings before, but in order to ensure the security around Heze County, the Japanese army fortified the walls and cleared the fields, and all the people were moved away.

"Once our troops launch an offensive against Heze County from all directions, the troops will inevitably be dispersed, giving the Eighth Route Army an opportunity, so I decided to attack Dongcheng and defeat the Eighth Route Army from the front. The strength of the Japanese imperial army!"

"Comrade Zhou Weihan has already gone to the front line to command the battle. Don't worry, in terms of official position, my official position is higher than Zhou Weihan!" The deputy chief of staff joked.

The above-mentioned regiments were all formed after the recovery of Heze. Although they all effectively slowed down the marching speed of the Japanese army by virtue of fortifications, they suffered a lot of casualties. Zhou Weihan and the deputy chief of staff were very satisfied with the combat effectiveness shown.

Seeing Zhou Weihan coming in, the telegraph operator hurriedly got up and said: "Commander, Yan Wangshan called back, the flight team is ready and can take off at any time!"

"Okay, call Yan Wangshan again, the flight team will take off immediately, and repeat the previous content. After the flight team arrives at the battlefield, don't rush to start bombing. The ground troops will guide the ground at that time. The area covered by the red smoke bomb is The specific location of the Japanese army!"

"Yes!" replied the telegraph operator.

As Sakai Takashi said, the Japanese army had nearly two regiments of infantry alone. With such a strength, the Eighth Route Army would not be able to handle it even if it assembled twice as many troops. In the end, it might end in a disastrous victory.

(End of this chapter)