Bright Sword: From Northwest Shanxi to Shangganling

Chapter 138 I heard you want to hide it from the world?
Wuheng County, headquarters of the 3rd Regiment of the Japanese Army.

"Captain, according to intelligence, the Eighth Route Army has appeared near Wuheng County, and there are quite a few of them," Chief of Staff Dong Shanming reported.

"How many people are there?" asked Watanabe Sakon.

There have always been local Eighth Route Army troops active in the Wuheng County area, so Watanabe Sakon knew that Toyama Akira was not talking about the local Eighth Route Army troops, but the regular troops of the Eighth Route Army.

However, Watanabe Sakon was not worried at all. The Third Regiment had fought against the Eighth Route Army in Hebei Province before. They were mainly composed of new recruits and their combat effectiveness was relatively weak.

"According to the intelligence, there should be about 2 people, probably a regiment," Dongshan Ming said.

Although the tunnels in the Jizhong area had just begun to be dug, they were already enough for the troops to take a short rest and stay temporarily, so the Japanese intelligence was not accurate.

The Japanese didn't know that in addition to the original 28th Regiment, the 386th Brigade had also gathered here.

At this time, the Eighth Route Army around Wuheng County had a total of 1.5 people.

"Yoshi, since the Eighth Route Army has come to our doorstep, let's destroy them!" Watanabe Sakon affirmed.

"Captain, the troops left behind in Wuheng County are all logistics personnel and military police. We don't have any combat forces. Do we need to transfer troops from Ning County?" Dong Shanming suggested.

It's not that the regiment's logistics troops and gendarmerie are incapable of fighting, but they lack heavy weapons and their combat effectiveness is far inferior to that of the front-line infantry, so they certainly cannot be used in field battles.

Ning County is located 25 kilometers west of Wuheng County, and the troops here are the closest to Wuheng County.

Watanabe Sakon thought about it and shook his head:

“Ning County only has a reinforced squadron and a battalion of locust troops. They can defeat them, but they are not enough to wipe out this Eighth Route Army unit.

If we deploy troops from many places, it will certainly arouse the vigilance of the Eighth Route Army. I decided to directly deploy Yoshida Battalion in Cang County and the 53rd Regiment of the Locust Association Army to carry out the encirclement and suppression, while the troops in Wuheng County will remain in place. "

Watanabe Sakon decided to use a trick to hide the truth.

Cang County is nearly 70 kilometers east of Wuheng County and is an important node on the Jinpu Line. A reinforced battalion of the Third Regiment and an infantry regiment of the Locust Association Army are stationed here.

Drawing troops from here would not only allow for a secret attack on the Eighth Route Army, but would also provide sufficient manpower.

After receiving the order, Yoshida Battalion and the 53rd Regiment of the Locust Association Army in Cang County immediately moved westward in secret, preparing to penetrate into the southern part of Wuheng County and carry out a sweep of the areas where the Eighth Route Army appeared.

However, the Japanese thought that the operation was a secret, but it was discovered by the militia just after they advanced about 20 kilometers to the west and crossed the Liangma River.

After receiving the news, the brigade commander immediately convened a meeting of the heads of each regiment.

"According to intelligence, the Japanese army has dispatched a joint force of 2000 Japanese and puppet troops from Cang County. They have now crossed the Liangma River and are expected to arrive in the southern part of Wuheng County in two days. I guess they are coming for us," said the brigade commander, pointing to the map on the wall.

The map clearly marks the Japanese troops in the surrounding counties and the marching route of Yoshida's battalion.

"Two thousand people want to beat more than ten thousand of us?" Li Yunlong was a little surprised. This was too much of a disregard for the Eighth Route Army.

You know, the puppet army’s combat effectiveness is not to say it has no combat effectiveness, but it can only fight back and forth with the county brigade.

Thinking of defeating the 386th Brigade with just one battalion is probably too much.

"I guess the Japanese don't know that we are gathering here yet." Chen Chengxing said on the side.

Whether it was the several small battles fought by the 386th Brigade or the hundreds of Japanese soldiers ambushed by the New Second Regiment in Dongting Village, they were all done while picking grass and hunting rabbits on the march.

The Japs have not yet discovered their specific whereabouts.

So it is normal for the Japanese to make misjudgments.

The importance of intelligence was reflected at this time. The Eighth Route Army used the masses as their eyes and ears, and their intelligence was much more timely than that of the Japanese.

"That's great, we can take this opportunity to kill these Japanese invaders!" Ding Wei said.

There is only one regiment of troops in several counties around Wuheng County. If the Japanese in Cang County can be wiped out, the Eighth Route Army's activities in this area will be much easier.

“This group of devils is stationed in Cang County. They are definitely not familiar with the terrain in Wuheng County. Moreover, they are now isolated and deep in the territory. There are not many troops from the surrounding areas that can come to support them.

We have five regiments of troops in this area, and we can definitely fight a decisive battle." The brigade commander said firmly.

The meat is already at your mouth, why not eat it?

However, the 386th Brigade had just arrived in Central Hebei. They were very proficient in mountain guerrilla warfare, but lacked experience in plain warfare, so they had to make a detailed plan.

"Ding Wei, you have been active in this area and are more proficient in plains warfare than us. Can you tell me what we should pay attention to in plains warfare?" said the brigade commander.

"The biggest problem with fighting on the plains is that there is no strategic location to rely on. If you want to fight the Japanese on the plains, you must rely on villages. These scattered villages are the best line of defense," Ding Wei explained.

In places where there is no strategic location, the Japanese can exert their greatest combat effectiveness. If you want to limit the Japanese's firepower, you can only fight village battles.

After hearing Ding Wei's explanation, everyone nodded.

The vast plains were good for attack but bad for defense, and the villages standing on the plains were like fortresses. Unless the Japanese used planes and heavy artillery to raze the villages to the ground, they could only engage in gunfights.

Airplanes, heavy artillery, tanks and other weapons were all strategic forces of the Japanese. If anyone asked their superiors for permission to fight the Eighth Route Army, they would probably be slapped in the face on the spot, and the person being beaten would have to stand at attention.

Now that it has been decided to use the village as a fulcrum for encirclement and annihilation, the next step is to determine the enemy's route and then choose a suitable village.

"Judging from the route taken by the devils, this group of devils is likely to carry out a sweep of the Xiaoxinzhuang area with the cooperation of the Japanese and puppet troops in Hancun, Zhaizhen, Liugezhuang and other strongholds.

And this Xiaoxinzhuang is our most suitable line of defense." said the brigade commander.

Xiaoxinzhuang has more than 400 households, and the houses are densely packed and sturdy. There are trenches around the village leading to the outside of the village. There are also woods and mounds outside the village, which is very conducive to organizing defense.

After determining the encirclement and annihilation location, all troops began to move quietly after nightfall, forming a large encirclement near Xiaoxinzhuang.

Even if the Japanese did not go through Xiaoxinzhuang, they would be surrounded by the Eighth Route Army as long as they passed through this area.

The 1st Battalion of the New 2nd Regiment was responsible for garrisoning Xiaoxinzhuang.

The two most powerful regiments under the brigade commander now are the 2nd Regiment and the New 772nd Regiment. The New 772nd Regiment is better equipped than the nd Regiment, so the most difficult task is naturally given to the New nd Regiment.

After all, the 772nd Regiment uses 50mm small artillery produced by the headquarters arsenal. Although the number is a little larger and each platoon has a small artillery squad, it is not as useful as the 60mm mortar when defending.

The mortar can use its range advantage to suppress the Japanese heavy machine guns and grenade launchers, but the 50mm cannon cannot do that.

Moreover, Xu Wu had six 6mm mortars in his hands, which could be used to suppress the Japanese attack with firepower when necessary, thus buying the first battalion time to react.

In Xiaoxinzhuang, Xu Wu made full use of the terrain and began to build fortifications.

Holes were dug in the walls of the houses to facilitate shooting, and the houses were connected and the roofs were linked together, and all efforts were made to prepare for a defensive battle.

Except for the first battalion, other troops were also ready to maneuver and provide support at any time according to the combat plan.

In addition, after this period of hard work, the people have seen the victory of the Eighth Route Army, which has greatly reduced their fear of the devils.

Therefore, the people in Xiaoxinzhuang and Beima Village actively supported the Eighth Route Army and made preparations for transporting supplies and rescuing the wounded.

Now everything is ready, just waiting for the Japanese to arrive and the show will begin.

Liugezhuang stronghold, where Yoshida's team heading west is resting.

"Taijun, according to intelligence, someone saw the Eighth Route Army in Xiaoxinzhuang, and they were building fortifications." Liu Beixin, commander of the 53rd Regiment, reported.

"How many people are there?" Yoshida Yuma stood in front of the map and looked towards the location of Xiaoxinzhuang.

"It should be around a thousand people." Liu Beixin said.

The First Battalion of the New Second Regiment was deliberately exposed. The rest of the troops were very secretive and the control over each village was very strict. Even if someone wanted to inform on someone, they would not have the opportunity to leave the village.

After all, the local people in each village know very well which people are loyal to the Eighth Route Army and which are not.

"A thousand people? Yoshi. These must be the main force of the Eighth Route Army. They must be trying to buy time for the transfer of other personnel." Yoshida Yuma said confidently.

According to the intelligence provided by the brigade commander, there are about 2 Eighth Route Army troops around Wuheng County. Excluding the main force of people, most of the remaining troops are probably civilian or logistical personnel.

"Taijun, should we bypass Xiaoxinzhuang and pursue other troops?" Liu Beixin suggested.

According to Liu Beixin's idea, they should pick on the weak ones. The Eighth Route Army was already building fortifications, so there was no need for them to confront them head-on.

"No." Yoshida Yuma shook his head at Liu Beixin's suggestion.

"We don't know the whereabouts of the rest of the Eighth Route Army. According to experience, the other Eighth Route Army members must have split up into small teams. Even if we surround them, we can only find a small part of them at most," said Yoshida Yuma.

According to the order of the regiment commander, the mission of Yoshida Battalion was to eliminate the Eighth Route Army in this area. Even if they could not wipe out all of them, they had to eliminate most of them.

If I play hide-and-seek with the scattered Eighth Route Army, most of them will run away, and I still want to get military merit and get a promotion.

"I have decided to advance westward from Liugezhuang tomorrow and wipe out this group of Eighth Route Army soldiers!" Yoshida Yuma smashed his fist on the location of Xiaoxinzhuang on the map.

"Hi!"

Seeing that Yoshida Yuma had made the decision, Liu Beixin had no choice but to agree even though he was unwilling to fight the Eighth Route Army to his life.

Early the next morning, Yoshida's Battalion and the 53rd Regiment began to move westward, successively occupying South and North Macun, and began to build artillery positions.

This time, Yoshida Yuma brought two Type 2 mountain guns and two infantry guns. The mountain guns were stationed in Kitama Village, while the infantry guns moved with the army.

After the artillery position was constructed, Yoshida Yushin left an infantry squad and a company of locust troops to guard the artillery position, and other troops began to advance towards Xiaoxinzhuang.

(End of this chapter)