Bright Sword: From Northwest Shanxi to Shangganling

Chapter 340 Assist? Main Attack

"Old Chen, this is intelligence sent by Si Jinyuan."

"Starting from the beginning of winter, the Japanese began another large-scale withdrawal from their fortified positions."

“In the summer, there were more than 1,800 strongholds of all sizes in Shanxi, but now there are less than 700 left.”

"Moreover, there are fewer and fewer Japanese soldiers in the county towns, and some county towns have no Japanese soldiers at all."

Luo Ping handed a telegram to Chen Chengxing.

“I had a premonition about this,” Chen Chengxing nodded.

The Fourth Division has expanded its forces beyond its original locations in Luyang, Taiyuan, Wuyi County, and Xinkou.

Troops were also stationed in places like Taigu, Xiaodian, and Qingyuan around Taiyuan.

This means that even the garrison troops were constantly being redeployed by the Japanese.

However, Chiang Kai-shek has now finished his work, and the Henan-Hunan-Guangxi Campaign has ended.

The Japanese probably won't be sending any more troops.

The situation is unlikely to change significantly in the short term.

"The Japanese retreat has both advantages and disadvantages for us," Chen Chengxing said.

"The advantage is that the Eighth Route Army can expand at will; the disadvantage is that it is becoming increasingly difficult to capture any supplies."

"Look, this is the combat situation report for this year that the General Staff just compiled."

Chen Chengxing handed the documents next to him to Luo Ping.

"Only this much sweeping this year? We haven't even gotten much good stuff!"

Looking at the documents in his hand, Luo Ping felt a pang of regret.

When did the Eighth Route Army get rich? When they fought the Japanese.

However, the 4th Division was located to the east and south of Zhongyun Mountain, and the two sides were partners, so their business grew bigger and bigger.

In Fu'an to the north and Shuiquan to the west, the Japanese soldiers didn't even leave their homes.

Therefore, even with the support of the Fourth Division's transactions, the New Second Regiment did not make much progress that year.

This means that the strength of the county-level brigades has been expanded.

However, the newly developed troops were mostly armed with homemade guns and cannons, as well as a considerable number of red-tasseled spears.

“Old Chen, this won’t do. The past two years have been so difficult, but we still managed to develop without any problems.”

"Why is it that now that life is better, development has slowed down?" Luo Ping sat down, feeling frustrated.

He even felt a little nostalgic for those brave and daring Japanese soldiers from the past.

Now that the Japanese have chosen to cower like turtles, the Eighth Route Army finds it difficult to attack them.

"Can a living person die from holding their pee?" Chen Chengxing laughed.

"Don't rush, I already have an idea."

"Really? Where?" Luo Ping asked excitedly.

He knew Chen Chengxing would never stay idle.

"It's too early to say right now; we'll have to wait until the military region's meeting is over to make a decision."

Chen Chengxing did not directly state his thoughts.

This time, his ambitions are quite large; he needs approval from his superiors before he can take action.

"You've even learned to keep people in suspense now," Luo Ping said irritably.

They received the telegram a few days ago about the military region meeting.

"I'm not trying to keep you in suspense, it's just that it's not confirmed yet. The special operations team and the reconnaissance platoon are investigating," Chen Chengxing explained.

The new Second Regiment no longer has a thousand or eight hundred people like before.

Given its current size, any rash actions could easily attract the attention of the entire First Army.

"Alright then." Since Chen Chengxing didn't say anything, Luo Ping didn't have any good ideas either.

Two weeks later, in the military region's conference room.

"Look at you all, you're all in high spirits. Looks like you're doing well," Chen Sijin said with a smile.

The reason he waited so many days to hold the meeting was to allow the various units to regroup.

They have now received reports on their respective situations.

Upon hearing Chen Sijin's words, everyone burst into laughter.

Their lives couldn't be more comfortable.

After exchanging a few jokes, Chen Sijin finally got down to business.

"You all know about the great defeat in Henan, Hunan and Guangxi."

"I went to a meeting at headquarters a couple of days ago. In order to strengthen the anti-Japanese forces in South China, the Central Committee decided to select troops to form a southward detachment."

“If any of you have any ideas, you can report them to me, and the higher-ups will consider them,” Chen Sijin said.

Upon hearing Chen Sijin's words, the group did not speak immediately, but instead began to make their own calculations.

This is a big deal, and the meeting is attended by both military and political leaders. Each unit will definitely need to hold further meetings to discuss it.

Chen Chengxing didn't seem to care about this.

While others were unaware of the situation, Chen Chengxing knew that the Japanese were about to become the only country in the world to truly possess nuclear weapons.

"You can go back and think about this carefully."

Chen Sijin looked at the silent crowd and spoke.

"I called you here for another matter."

As Chen Sijin spoke, he got up and went to the map on the wall.

"Our situation is currently very favorable, and the Japanese are retreating steadily."

"Therefore, the division commander decided to launch a spring offensive."

"The targets of the Jin-Northwest Military Region are Shuiquan, Wulong, Hongshan, and dozens of surrounding strongholds."

"This will connect the Second, Eighth, and Northwest Shanxi Military Regions, and completely suppress the Japanese troops along the railway line."

Chen Sijin carefully explained the battle plan on the map.

The tasks of each regiment, brigade, column, and detachment of the Jin-Northwest Military Region were assigned one by one.

"Any other questions?" Chen Sijin asked after he finished speaking.

"No!" Li Yunlong's voice was exceptionally loud.

In this attack on Shuiquan, his Independent Brigade was the main force, while the Independent Regiment under Chen Chengxing's New Second Regiment was the supporting force.

"Grand Master, I have a question," Chen Chengxing said.

"explain."

“The new Second Regiment is currently strong and well-equipped. Isn’t it a waste of its talents to play a supporting role?” Chen Chengxing said.

However, before Chen Sijin could speak, Li Yunlong spoke first.

"Old Chen, how can you not see the situation clearly?" "This battle is mainly taking place in the west, while your troops are in the east. How can you, Commander, abandon what's closer and go to the farthest?"

"How is it far? I still have three regiments of troops near Shuiquan," Chen Chengxing said.

Ding Wei's original defense zone was in the hands of the Second New Regiment, and its left side bordered Shuiquan.

"Your three independent regiments only have about four thousand men in total."

"But my independent brigade has three regiments, totaling over ten thousand troops! How can you compare?"

Li Yunlong did not attack the county town on his own as depicted in the TV series, nor did he kill prisoners, so he was not punished.

So now it's shaking terribly.

"Stop talking nonsense to me."

Chen Chengxing ignored Li Yunlong and instead looked at Chen Sijin.

"Commander Si, we can't just stand by and watch the main force of our Second New Regiment go, can we?"

“Chen Chengxing, the reason I didn’t move your main force is to let you attack the reinforcements,” Chen Sijin said.

"The Japanese 4th Division is right next to our military region. Once the offensive begins, the Japanese will definitely send reinforcements!"

"The only one capable of confronting the Fourth Division is your New Second Regiment," Chen Sijin said solemnly.

Despite the fact that many units of the Jin-Sui Military Region had made deals with the Fourth Division, Chen Sijin would not underestimate them.

This is a force capable of changing the situation in northwestern Shanxi.

Upon hearing Chen Sijin's explanation, everyone fell silent.

Even Li Yunlong didn't think his independent brigade could compete with the Fourth Division.

“Commander, if it’s just about holding off the Fourth Division, I have other ideas,” Chen Chengxing said.

"Speak," Chen Sijin said, finally realizing what was happening.

Why would Chen Chengxing care about assists or anything like that?
They've probably been wanting to eat meat somewhere else for a while now.

"I want to fight Lu Ye," Chen Chengxing revealed his true purpose.

"Lu Ye?" Everyone present was somewhat surprised.

Luye is an outpost of Xinkou, and the Tongpu Railway passes through the city.

To the west lies Fu'an, and to the east are Ye County, Yanmen Pass, and Pingxing Pass.

Although it didn't seem particularly important in the hands of the Japanese.

But if it falls into the hands of the new Second Regiment, things will be different.

The Japanese would absolutely not accept this.

Of course, if the new second regiment really goes to attack Luye.

The Japanese probably won't care about the offensive launched by the Jin-Sui Military Region in the west.

"Chen Chengxing, this is no laughing matter," Chen Sijin said seriously.

Operational plans are extremely complex and far-reaching, so they must not be discussed lightly.

“Director Si, I have given this matter considerable thought,” Chen Chengxing affirmed.

"I'll have to tell you the specific reasons in private."

"Chen Chengxing, do you not trust everyone?" Li Yunlong said with dissatisfaction.

"No, but I have to keep other people's secrets."

Chen Chengxing didn't say much, only offering a casual explanation.

Chen Sijin, however, seemed to have thought of something and immediately adjourned the meeting.

"Alright, that's all I have to say. Meeting adjourned."

"I've asked the cooks to make noodles. You can eat them before you go back."

Seeing that Chen Sijin had given the order, no one could say anything more and they all got up and left.

After everyone in the meeting room had left, Chen Sijin finally spoke:

"You mean the Fourth Division won't provide support?"

"I'm 70-80% confident I can convince them to fake a battle," Chen Chengxing said.

"The people in the Fourth Division were mostly from Osaka and had not been brainwashed by Bushido at all."

"When there's something to gain, they'll fight harder than anyone else."

“But if there’s no benefit, they probably won’t even pay attention to Yoshio Shinotsuka kneeling on the ground.”

“We Eighth Route Army are notoriously poor. They would have to be crazy to attack us.”

The Fourth Division and the Eighth Route Army are doing very well in business right now. If they were to fall out, their trade would inevitably be interrupted.

This was absolutely intolerable to the Fourth Division.

Upon hearing Chen Chengxing's explanation, Chen Sijin got up and paced back and forth.

"What's the current situation with Lu Ye?" Chen Sijin asked.

He was certain that since Chen Chengxing had brought up Lu Ye, he must have already thoroughly investigated the situation both inside and outside the area.

"According to intelligence, there is only one Japanese independent infantry battalion in Luye and the surrounding area."

"Besides these, there are two brigades of the puppet First Army, the Provisional 9th ​​Division of the puppet 6th Army, and security teams in various towns and villages."

"The total strength was over 7,000 men, and apart from Lu Ye, most of them were distributed along the Tongpu Railway."

Although the puppet troops are not only divisions or armies, their numbers are less than a single battalion of the New Second Regiment.

"What are your thoughts?" Chen Sijin asked.

"First, besiege the stronghold and attack the reinforcements, then take it all in one fell swoop." Chen Cheng's plan was simple.

Moreover, it was a method that the Eighth Route Army had mastered to perfection.

“If the Fourth Division in Xinkou doesn’t provide support, your plan will be fine.” Chen Sijin nodded.

The Japanese and puppet troops, numbering only seven thousand, were indeed no match for the new Second Regiment.

However, whether the plan will work depends on the reaction of the 4th Division.

"Don't worry, I'll make sure it's all right," Chen Chengxing said.

"Moreover, even without taking down the bottom lane, the goal of containing the Japanese was achieved."

The main task of the Jin-Sui Military Region this time is to complete the connection between the various military regions.

If Lu Ye can take it, we'll make a fortune; if we can't, there's no harm in it.

"Then it's up to you," Chen Sijin said seriously.

"Those three regiments from Shuiquan don't need to provide support anymore; you can transfer them all back."

"Regardless of whether we can capture it or not, we cannot afford to cause a large number of casualties."

"Yes!"

(End of this chapter)