Bright Sword: From Northwest Shanxi to Shangganling

Chapter 286 A Boon to the Difficulty in Making Choices
“Since the puppet troops are courting death, let’s grant them their wish,” Chen Chengxing said.

The two armies were fighting without killing the envoy.

What's the difference between the puppet troops and the Japanese soldiers doing this?
"Order all units to prepare for the attack."

"Yes!" The staff officer next to him picked up the phone.

"Commander, I want to take the cavalry company to the South Gate," Sun Desheng said.

No one in the entire New Second Regiment believed that the puppet troops could withstand the attack of three main battalions.

Since the puppet troops can't hold out, which way will they run?
It's definitely towards the south gate.

Sun Desheng went to the South Gate to avenge his warhorse.

"Go ahead," Chen Chengxing waved his hand.

"Send the 5th Company, which was originally responsible for ambushing at the South Gate, to go and rendezvous with the 2nd Battalion."

"yes!".
A few minutes later, as signal flares were launched, the assault teams from each battalion charged toward Nantun Town.

"Kill!"

"kill!".
"Boom!" "Boom!"
The fierce fighting power of the new Second Regiment almost made Ge Erhu wet his pants.

"Damn it! Who the hell said the Eighth Route Army outside was a small-scale force?!"

Ge Erhu looked at the Eighth Route Army outside, his voice becoming somewhat distorted.

Upon hearing Ge Erhu's words, Ma Hai turned his gaze to him.

Who just said that?

"Fire! Fire now!" Ge Erhu shouted.

He has already offended the Eighth Route Army to the death, so what can he do if he doesn't open fire now?
"Da da da" "Da da da".
The puppet army in Nantun Town also had 3 heavy machine guns and 9 light machine guns.

Although its firepower is not as strong as the main battalion of the new 2nd Regiment, it can still have some impact on it.

However, the 60mm mortars that followed quickly put the puppet troops to the brink of exhaustion.

Already unfamiliar with the task, the puppet army machine gunners were completely overwhelmed by the artillery fire and gave up.

For some unknown reason, all three heavy machine guns were damaged at the same time.

Don't ask, the answer is simply that I haven't been taking good care of myself.

Taking advantage of the situation, the Second New Regiment broke through the outer defense line and then launched an attack on the city gate.

"Hold it! Hold it!"

"Quickly! Fire!"

Ge Erhu was so anxious he was pacing back and forth.

"Lieutenant Ma, what did the Japanese say? When will they provide support?" Ge Erhu asked immediately upon seeing Ma Hai return.

"Commander, the Japanese only told us to hold out using the city's fortifications," Ma Hai said in a low voice.

Nantun Town was previously garrisoned by the Japanese, but they were all transferred away for the sweep.

Although the troops left, the fortifications they built are still there.

"Hold on? How am I supposed to hold on? There must be at least three thousand Eighth Route Army soldiers outside!"

Ge Erhu never expected that his prediction had come true; the main force of the New Second Regiment had indeed arrived.

It should be noted that even the heavily fortified Zhengshan Town was taken down by the New Second Regiment.

What merit do I possess to be able to compete with the new Second Regiment?

"Damn it, this can't go on!"

Ge Erhu circled around in place a few times before making up his mind.

"Brothers! Hold on! Reinforcements are on their way!"

"I'm going to gather all the men who can fight, and I'll be right back!"

After finishing his speech, Ge Erhu hurriedly returned to the regimental headquarters with Ma Hai and several trusted confidants.

"Quickly! Pack up all the valuables, let's go!" Ge Erhu said.

"Commander, the brothers are still holding the front line. If we retreat, we'll be left with no one to command," Ma Hai said urgently.

Their means of survival and livelihood lies in the troops they command.

Without the army, how could we survive in Shanxi?

"At a time like this, who cares about being alone or not! Survival is the priority. If all else fails, we'll become mountain bandits!"

Ge Erhu was naturally unwilling to simply send his troops away.

But he had no choice. If his subordinates knew he was going to run away, they would surely collapse immediately.

At that time, I might not be able to outrun them.

After hearing Ge Erhu's words, Ma Hai had no choice but to remain silent and start packing his things.

Don't worry about what will happen in the future; with money, you can survive anywhere.

"Come on!"

After finishing his work, Ge Erhu also sent several soldiers from the communications squad to the front line.

Then the group quietly led their horses toward the south gate.

Ge Erhu had heard storytelling before and knew what it meant to be surrounded by three but missing one.

But now he has no choice.

The other three directions are currently locked in fierce fighting, making it impossible for me to get out, and I dare not go that way either.

The South Gate was his only option.

"Go! Go!"

After leaving Nantun Town with a few men, Ge Erhu immediately mounted his horse and fled.

Sun Desheng was waiting with his cavalry company 200 meters away from the south gate of Nantun Town.

"Someone's out!"

Sun Desheng heard the sound of horses' hooves and immediately recognized that there were several people behind them.

"Second row! Follow me!"

With only a few people, Sun Desheng didn't need to bring everyone with him.

As soon as Sun Desheng made his move, Ge Erhu, who was fleeing for his life, also heard the sound of horses' hooves.

"Oh no! There's an ambush!" Ge Erhu's expression changed drastically.

The sudden appearance of dozens of riders made it obvious who they were.

However, before Ge Erhu could decide whether to run or surrender, Sun Desheng had already attacked from the side.

"Eighth Master, don't do it! I surrender! I surrender!" Ge Erhu shouted.

At this point, let's stop talking nonsense and focus on saving our lives.

However, Sun Desheng seemed not to hear anything, and simply raised the saber in his hand.

After Sun Desheng led his team past at breakneck speed, only a few horses remained standing there.

The person on horseback had long since collapsed to the ground, completely bewildered.

"Company commander, did someone just shout 'surrender'?"

"Really? Maybe the sound of the horses' hooves was too loud and I didn't hear it."

"Let them be unlucky," Sun Desheng said casually, pulling out a cloth to wipe his saber.

He had already seen the leader's clothes when he charged into battle.

The puppet army officer was definitely not a mistake. The others didn't care much either; they were just a few puppet soldiers, their deaths were no big deal.

At this time, people in Nantun Town had already discovered that Ge Erhu was missing.

After searching for a long time without finding him, the puppet soldiers realized that Ge Erhu had probably already escaped.

The puppet troops, who were already on the verge of collapse, immediately crumbled.

"The commander has run away! Run!"

"The Eighth Route Army has broken in!"
All the puppet troops began to flee frantically towards the south gate.

However, the cavalry company had been waiting for a long time.

The heavy machine gun was set up less than 200 meters from the door and kept firing.

If someone manages to escape under the cover of night, there are cavalrymen patrolling outside.

A dozen minutes later, the puppet troops, having lost all hope, chose to kneel and surrender.

"Commander, we've captured Nantun Town, and the puppet troops have been taken prisoner."

"Old Luo, the puppet troops are in your hands now. Interrogate and deal with them on the spot," Chen Chengxing said.

If the puppet troops surrender directly, the Eighth Route Army generally won't hold them accountable later.

However, the two sides had already exchanged fire, and the Second New Regiment suffered dozens of casualties, and the puppet troops were captured.

Then everything must be clearly defined.

"I'll go right away." Luo Ping nodded.

"Order the Second Battalion to press on and attack the Xiguan stronghold, with a company from the heavy mortar battalion to assist."

"The rest of the troops, move out and attack the surrounding Japanese pillboxes and strongholds!"

"Yes!"

Taiyuan First Army Headquarters.

"Sir, the Xiguan stronghold reports that they have been attacked by heavy artillery from the Eighth Route Army and are unable to resist. They have now retreated to Zhonghe Town."

"However, I estimate that Zhonghe Town cannot withstand the attack of the Eighth Route Army. Should we immediately send troops back to reinforce it?" Yamaoka Michifumi asked.

"Why would the Eighth Route Army suddenly come out of the mountains? According to the report from the Fourth Brigade, wasn't the New Second Regiment breaking out to the north?" Yoshio Shinotsuka frowned.

Zhonghe Town was the last stronghold north of Taiyuan.

Ten kilometers south of Zhonghe Town lies the North Gate of Taiyuan.

There were only a few pillboxes in the middle, which were not enough to stop the heavy artillery of the Eighth Route Army.

If Zhonghe Town falls, the Eighth Route Army can immediately push its troop line to Taiyuan.

“It’s possible they managed to get back through a loophole,” Michifumi Yamaoka said.

The terrain of Zhongyun Mountain is complex, and you never know which mountain pass you might cross the blockade.

However, the Second New Regiment's move did indeed strike at the First Army's Achilles' heel.

The Locust Army's military tactics against the Eighth Route Army's base areas were basically sweeping raids and building fortifications.

However, once the entire locust army has been mobilized, the rear will be left vulnerable.

Once a single insect burrows into their stomachs, the locust army is left with only two options.

One option was for the entire army to withdraw, signifying the failure of the sweep.

Another option is to withdraw some troops to defend the area, but this would very likely lead to the Eighth Route Army besieging the enemy and attacking reinforcements.

This is truly a blessing for those who have difficulty making choices.

Yoshio Shinotsuka hesitated there for a long time without making a decision.

This decision is not easy to make.

"Yamaoka-kun, send orders to the 4th Brigade and the Kuroshima Cavalry Regiment, instructing them to return to reinforce as quickly as possible!" Yoshio Shinotsuka finally commanded.

Yoshio Shinotsuka chose the middle path between the two.

The 4th Brigade is the closest infantry unit, and now the new 2nd Regiment has already moved out.

Their continued sweeping operations in the mountains were not very effective; simply killing off some militiamen who didn't even have guns was not very useful.

The Black Island Cavalry Regiment was the only cavalry unit in the First Army, and they could quickly return to reinforce.

As long as the Black Island Cavalry Regiment can stabilize the situation, they can hold out until the Fourth Brigade arrives for a decisive battle.

As for the troops inside Taiyuan, they absolutely cannot be mobilized before the situation becomes clear.

"Hai!"
Upon receiving the telegram from his superiors, Pinglu Yongfu's eyes practically blazed with fury.

"New Second Regiment! You dare to show your face again!" He had been thoroughly fooled.

"Order Colonel Kasahara to immediately cease the mopping-up operation, lead his troops to Shangcha Village, and block the Second New Regiment's northward retreat route!"

"The rest of the troops, follow me eastward! Target: Xiguan stronghold!"

If they can capture these two places, the Second New Regiment will be trapped in this nest north of Taiyuan.

You can eat however you want then.

However, to Hiraji Isamu's surprise, the main force of the Fourth Brigade had only marched 10 kilometers eastward when it was ambushed by the Eighth Route Army.

"Order the mountain artillery battalion to open fire! Charge straight in!"

Pinglu Yongfu now has no desire to get entangled with the Eighth Route Army's blocking forces.

"Boom!" "Boom!"
Seeing that the Japanese soldiers immediately launched a barrage of artillery fire from over a dozen cannons, Sun Xun didn't say much.

They left only a few landmines behind and quickly retreated to their blocking position two miles away.

Pinglu Yongfu was very satisfied with the firepower of the mountain artillery battalion when he saw the Eighth Route Army retreating.

However, before he could even begin the transfer, he received the latest update.

"Brigade Commander, the vanguard reports that they have encountered the Eighth Route Army's ambush again, and they are only 1 kilometer away."

"Baka! You damned Eighth Route Army guerrillas!"

"Order the mountain artillery battalion to fire!"

At a distance of 1 kilometer, the mountain artillery positions don't even need to be moved; they can be fired directly.

The Third Battalion, which had been subjected to heavy artillery fire, once again chose to retreat.

Pinglu Yongfu initially looked down on the morale of the Eighth Route Army and retreated as soon as he was shelled.

However, as time went on, he realized something was wrong.

The troops hadn't even advanced 10 kilometers, and they had already used up half of their artillery shells.

They are now at least 20 kilometers away from the Xiguan stronghold.

And we haven't even reached the most difficult 10 kilometers of mountain road yet.

At this rate, we'll probably run out of shells soon. What will we do then?
The Eighth Route Army can easily find a steep mountain and block the Fourth Brigade from making any progress.

"Order the artillery to cease fire! Including mortars!" Hiratsu Yuufu immediately gave the order after realizing what was happening.

Now he only has two paths before him.

One option is to fight our way through, but judging from the current situation, it doesn't seem like it can be resolved in a short time.

The second option was to retreat, going up to Gezhuang and Lequanzhuang, and then returning to Taiyuan via Luyang.

However, this road is at least 100 kilometers long, and a large part of it is a rugged mountain road.

Even without obstacles, the Fourth Brigade would still need four or five days to travel.

The Fourth Brigade simply doesn't have that much time right now.

(End of this chapter)