Bright Sword: From Northwest Shanxi to Shangganling

Chapter 193 Don't Fire the First Shot

Kenan Slope.

"Sir, the Second Column has refused the order for a 'winter offensive,'" the adjutant reported.

"Where is the Fourth Column?" Yan Xishan asked, taking off his glasses.

"We have already contacted the officers sent by our unit. They all agree to lead the troops back to the Jinsui Army's combat sequence, but the remaining officers are strongly opposed."

At this time, Yang Xingru, the director of the special committee, said, "Sir, 101 of Shanxi's 70 counties have been controlled by the Sacrifice Alliance. The new army has become too powerful to be eliminated."

"Moreover, the return of the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army to the enemy's rear was not very smooth. The Shanxi New Army refused to give up the territory and instead obstructed our army. These new troops will become a great threat to us in the future!"

In Yang Xingru's words, it seemed that the territory of Shanxi was snatched away by the new army, rather than being lost to the Japanese by themselves.

After the Battle of Taiyuan, the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army was defeated by the Japanese attack, while the Shanxi New Army, with the support of the Eighth Route Army, launched a guerrilla warfare behind enemy lines and gradually established large bases.

As a result, now that the war situation has just stabilized, these people in the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army have begun to think about seizing the base opened up by the new army.

"The new army now has a force of 5 people, which is not a small number." Yan Xishan said hesitantly.

Yan Xishan had long wanted to swallow up the Shanxi New Army so that the Jinsui Army could immediately become stronger. This is also the reason why he launched the winter offensive.

The winter offensive was nominally an attack on the Japanese army, but in reality it was to pull the Second Death Column into the gap between the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army and the Japanese army. By then, as long as the troops were controlled and the Red Party in the troops were cleansed, the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army would be able to absorb these tens of thousands of people, and it would be much easier to target other columns.

Yan Xishan had even reached a tacit understanding with the Japanese army that the Japanese army would not only not interfere, but would also help when necessary.

However, he did not expect that the Second Death Column was so alert and did not fall for it. This made things a bit difficult. If they really had to engage in a head-on battle, the New Army and the Eighth Route Army would not be easy to deal with.

"Sir, in January, the Fifth Plenary Session held in Chongqing proposed the policy of 'anti-communism'. The Chairman also hopes that we can limit the strength of the Eighth Route Army. I think the Central Army will definitely help at that time." Yang Xingru persuaded.

When he heard about the Central Army, Yan Xishan finally became excited. Yes, there were still hundreds of thousands of Central Army in Shanxi. Although they could not defeat the Japanese, it should not be a problem for them to defeat the Eighth Route Army.

"Xingru, immediately announce to the public that the Second Death Column is now a rebel army, and then gather the troops to besiege the Second Death Column.

Also send a telegram to Wei Junru, asking him to cooperate with Sun Chu's 34th Army to attack the Sacrifice Alliance regime in southeastern Shanxi and recapture Xinshui County and Gaoping County."

Xinshui and Gaoping counties are located in the northeast of Wangwu Mountain, which is within the attack range of the central army.

"Yes!"

"Report! Telegram from the brigade commander!"

Chen Chengxing reached out and took the telegram from the operations staff.

"Something really happened!" Chen Chengxing said as he looked at the telegram.

"The Shanxi-Suiyuan Army and the Central Army suddenly launched an attack a few days ago, and the Shanxi New Army has already started fighting with the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army."

Luo Ping was shocked and said, "The devils are right beside us, watching us closely. How did Yan Xishan get the courage to do this?"

"The Japs? The Japs are waiting for this to happen. The Shanxi-Suiyuan Army has directly dispatched 6 armies this time. Do you think Yan Xishan and the Japs have no tacit understanding?" Chen Chengxing casually put the telegram on the table.

The Japanese are not fools. They know very well who the easy target is. The more territory the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army occupies, the happier they are. In the future, they can take back these territories without any effort.

"So what should we do now?" Luo Ping asked.

"The 386th Brigade has led the team to support the Second and Fourth Death Column. The brigade commander asked us to go forward to support the First Temporary Division and let the First Temporary Division enter the Zhongyun Mountains for rest and recuperation." Chen Chengxing said.

The Shanxi New Army consists of 4 columns, 1 division and 1 brigade, and the ones active in western Shanxi are the nd column, the th column and the st Temporary Division.

"Second Battalion Commander, Third Battalion Commander!"

"To!"

"You two will lead the Second Battalion, the Third Battalion, and the Infantry and Artillery Company to the Qingfang Town area to oppose the 358th Regiment of the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army and support the First Temporary Division to enter the guerrilla zone!"

"Remember, don't fire the first shot, so as not to give others an excuse." Chen Chengxing ordered.

Although the Shanxi New Army was actually under the command of the Eighth Route Army, it had no relationship with the Eighth Route Army in name and was a force in the Second War Zone. If the New Second Regiment took the initiative to provoke a dispute, it would give Yan Xishan and Chang Kai-shek an excuse.

In any case, this is the Anti-Japanese War period. Yan Xishan and Chiang Kai-shek cannot distinguish between priorities, but Yan'an can. This matter will definitely be resolved through negotiation in the end.

After we have driven the Japanese away, it will be time to settle the accounts.

"What if the 358th Regiment opened fire?" Zheng Hua asked.

"The fire has already been opened, why are you still talking? Just kill them!" Chen Chengxing said firmly.

What Chen Chengxing wanted was to prevent the New Second Regiment from being blamed for provoking the dispute.

"Yes!"

With Chen Chengxing's words, Zheng Hua and Sun Xun felt relieved. If a soldier really fired accidentally, they could just shout that the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army fired. As long as they insisted that the other side fired first, there would be no problem. Could anyone tell the difference?

After the Second and Third Battalions left, Chen Chengxing sent a message to the Fourth Squadron, asking them to move to the vicinity of Zhuangshan. Then Chen Chengxing also stood up and prepared to take the Fourth Battalion and the mountain artillery company to Zhuangshan.

Although Chen Chengxing understood Chu Yunfei's character and knew that he wanted to unite all forces to fight against Japan, Chu Yunfei was also a soldier. If Yan Xishan gave a death order, it was not impossible that a fight would break out.

"Wait, I'm going too." Luo Ping chased after him.

This matter is of great importance. Luo Ping really doesn't feel comfortable with Chen Chengxing going alone, so he has to be there.

On the outskirts of Qingfang Town, the First Battalion of the Shanxi Suiyuan Army had already set up a blockade line in the area, preparing to intercept the First Temporary Division.

"Battalion Commander, the Eighth Route Army is here!" Deputy Battalion Commander Zhang Fugui hurried into the battalion headquarters and reported.

"Eighth Route Army? New Second Regiment? Why are they here to join in the fun?" Qian Bojun said dissatisfiedly.

In Qian Bojun's view, the New Army was a force in the Second War Zone, and the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army's attack on the New Army was to quell a rebellion, which was a family matter.

Although the Eighth Route Army provided a lot of help when the new army was founded, it should not have intervened at this time.

"Battalion Commander, no matter what they are here for, they all come with bad intentions. I think there are at least more than 2 of them!" said Zhang Fugui.

"More than 2 people? Are the New Second Regiment crazy? Don't they care about the Japanese and security forces in other places? Just bring them all to Qingfang Town?" Qian Bojun and Zhang Fugui had no idea about the current strength of the New Second Regiment. They just thought that the New Second Regiment was a standard regiment.

"Call the regiment commander and report this. We can't make the decision on this matter ourselves," Qian Bojun said.

Qian Bojun was not very afraid of the combat effectiveness of the New Second Regiment, as he had a mortar company at his disposal.

But the New Second Regiment was, after all, a unit that could fight the Japanese back and forth. If we faced them alone, even if we could kill them, our own casualties would probably be insignificant.

This was not what Qian Bojun wanted to see. The first battalion was full of his soldiers. Without the soldiers, he, the battalion commander, would become a decoration.

Qian Bojun knew very well how difficult it was to recruit soldiers for the Shanxi Suiyuan Army. This was also the reason why the superiors were planning to set up the Shanxi New Army. All the people in Shanxi would rather join the New Army than the Shanxi Suiyuan Army.

After receiving the call from the first battalion, Fang Ligong immediately reported it to Chu Yunfei.

"Commander, it seems that the Eighth Route Army has made up its mind to get involved. The new Second Regiment from Dayun Mountain has also appeared at the front line and has formed a standoff with the First Battalion."

"Now that the enemy is still right next to our bed, the commander-in-chief is in a hurry to fight with the new army, and he even mixed in the Eighth Route Army. It's really... Alas!" Chu Yunfei felt helpless when he heard that the New Second Regiment had formed a confrontation with the First Battalion. He wanted to say something but didn't say it out loud.

The 358th Regiment had cooperated with the st Temporary Division many times, but now they had to go to war with each other. Chu Yunfei felt a little uncomfortable. No matter who won or lost this time, it was China's national defense forces that would be lost.

"Commander, the new second regiment is now blocking our way and the muzzles of their guns are at our waists. Should we let the first battalion launch a counterattack?" Fang Ligong asked.

"No, don't act rashly." Chu Yunfei rejected Fang Ligong's proposal without even thinking about it.

"Tell Qian Bojun to just stand off with the New Second Regiment, and don't use your guns until the Eighth Route Army does." Chu Yunfei said.

Forcing the Shanxi New Army to surrender was already a bit outrageous. If they took the initiative to fight the Eighth Route Army, the public's saliva would drown the 358th Regiment.

The superiors must be right by then, so who is wrong? I am afraid that I, the head of the 358th Regiment, will be the one to take the blame.

"Yes!" Fang Ligong was not willing to provoke the Eighth Route Army. Although these peasants were poorly equipped, they were not afraid of death. If a real fight broke out, the First Battalion might not gain the upper hand.

"By the way, order the artillery battalion and the second battalion to reinforce in the direction of the first battalion." Chu Yunfei seemed to remember something.

"Commander, what about the 25st Temporary Division? The 28th Brigade and the th Brigade have formed a two-wing pincer attack on the st Temporary Division. If the st Temporary Division wants to break out, it may have to go in our direction." Fang Ligong asked hurriedly.

After the Second Battalion and the Artillery Battalion were transferred away, only the Third and Fourth Battalions were left blocking the First Temporary Division's breakout direction. Even with the troops from the regiment headquarters, there were only a total of 1,500 people.

Such a small number of people are no match for the 1st Temporary Division. Even if they can stop the 1st Temporary Division, casualties are inevitable.

"Brother Ligong, don't you trust the 25th and 28th Brigade?" Chu Yunfei asked back.

"No, no, no. The 25th Brigade and the 28th Brigade together have 6000 people, which is enough to suppress the st Temporary Division." Fang Ligong shook his head repeatedly.

I am just a lieutenant colonel staff officer and I don't have any powerful background, so I dare not speak nonsense about the affairs of the two major generals.

"Go and pass the message." Chu Yunfei waved his hand and turned his back to look at the map again.

"Yes!" Fang Ligong had no choice but to convey Chu Yunfei's order.

As for whether the Temporary 358st Division will break out from the direction of the th Regiment, we can only hope for the combat effectiveness of the rd Battalion.

At this time, Fang Ligong and Chu Yunfei did not know that after being suddenly surrounded by two brigades, the Temporary 2st Division decisively set up mountain artillery, and then defeated the 13th Brigade with only 25 guns. Seeing this, the 28th Brigade also began to hesitate.

It was not until the 28st Temporary Division broke out and left that the th Brigade began to chase them with all their might.

No matter how fast the 28th Brigade was, it was always more than 3 kilometers away from the st Temporary Division and never caught up with it.

(End of this chapter)