Bright Sword: From Northwest Shanxi to Shangganling

Chapter 380 Not a Single One Can Escape

Just as the main force of the Second Independent Detachment was moving north.

The A and B columns began their attack on Subei County, and the Jin-Cha-Ji Military Region also began its attack on Jincheng.

If they can take these two counties, Yan Xishan's territory will be divided in two.

In the direction of Subei, before the A and B columns launched their strong attack, the Field Headquarters deployed the field artillery regiment of the Second Independent Detachment.

Then, with just one volley of fire, the Jin-Sui army defending Subei chose to run away.

Moreover, instead of heading towards Suxian, the garrison chose to run directly towards Yunzhong City.

They're not stupid. With so many artillery pieces, even Suxian County has no chance of holding out.

In other words, the fifteen-meter-high city wall of Cloud City gave them a sense of security.

In contrast to Suxian, the resistance from the garrison in Jincheng was extremely fierce.

The Jin-Cha-Ji troops started fighting at 5 p.m. and continued until dawn.

Although they breached the city walls, they did not threaten the main urban area.

When dawn broke, the Guo army's planes arrived, and the troops were forced to temporarily retreat.

However, by this time, the 195th Regiment of Jincheng had already learned of the situation in Subei, so they also chose to flee.

Only a self-defense regiment and an advance detachment were left in Jincheng, with a total of about a thousand people.

These ragtag troops didn't even have a designated number.

The Jin-Cha-Ji troops only used a small trick of surrounding three sides and leaving one side open, and then they sneaked out of the city on their own.

Then he was pinned down on the spot.

The Jin-Sui Army was split in two.

"Damn it, do you think I, Yan Xishan, am so easy to bully? Why does the G Army always come looking for trouble with me?"

Inside Datong City, Yan Xishan was so angry after hearing the latest battle report that he cursed incessantly.

During the battle in southern Shanxi, the Central Army stopped fighting, and the G Army came to attack them.

When they arrived in northern Shanxi, the Central Army took the initiative to attack, and the G Army still came to fight them.

Then didn't the Central Army's efforts go to waste?
"Sir, I'm afraid the G army has some big ambitions this time." Yang Xingru said with a serious expression.

"Huh? You mean they might attack Cloud City?" Yan Xishan's expression immediately changed.

In the entire Shanxi province, the three most important cities, besides Taiyuan, are Yunzhong at the northernmost end of the Tongpu Railway and Anyi at the southernmost end.

Cloud City is a resource-rich town, especially for coal.

Yan Xishan has already moved the equipment from Hanzhong to Yunzhong City and rebuilt an arsenal.

Factories such as ironworks and cement plants were also rebuilt using equipment left behind by the Japanese.

If Cloud City is lost, he will truly have nowhere to stand.

“It’s not a possibility, it’s a certainty,” Yang Xingru said.

Despite current intelligence indicating that the G army in the Jin-Cha-Ji region is advancing south, a major force is also advancing north.

The first to be affected was the Second Independent Detachment.

Thinking of this, Yang Xingru couldn't help but curse inwardly.

Despite being such a powerful main force, they were assigned to a ragtag unit. The G Army is indeed cunning!
Upon hearing Yang Xingru's analysis, Yan Xishan stood up.

"Xingru, we can't just sit here and wait to die."

Standing before the map, Yan Xishan pondered for a moment and then gave the order:

"The troops must consolidate their defensive lines, abandon these unimportant county towns, and focus all their efforts on defending Yunzhong!"

Yan Xishan's only option at this point was to stall for time and wait for a change in circumstances. If Chiang Kai-shek could defeat the Communist army, he would still have a chance to dance.

Although the Jin-Sui Army is currently the weakest, if Chiang Kai-shek wants to weaken the regional powers, it will have far-reaching consequences.

Other factions wouldn't just stand by and watch Chiang Kai-shek easily wipe out the Jin-Sui Army.

"By the way, the troops in Suxian don't need to be recalled. Let the 283rd Division hold Suxian!" Yan Xishan suddenly added.

Suxian and Yunzhong are located in the north and south of the Yunzhong Basin, respectively. As long as these two places are in hand, there is still a chance to retake the other counties.

Following Yan Xishan's order, the Jin-Sui Army troops in various counties began to withdraw rapidly.

While tightening his defenses, Yan Xishan also sent a telegram to Chongqing.

To prevent the G army from successfully capturing Cloud City, Chiang Kai-shek had no choice but to reluctantly airlift a large amount of supplies to Yan Xishan.

Upon receiving the supplies, Yan Xishan immediately dispatched Yang Xingru to Suxian County and subsequently airlifted a large amount of supplies.

Inside the city defense headquarters of Suxian County, Yang Xingru looked at everyone present and said:

"I think you have all seen the supplies that Commander Yan airlifted in."

"Although there are G troops everywhere outside the city, you can defend the city. With the air force, you will have plenty of supplies."

Upon hearing Yang Xingru's words, Qiao Huawen, the commander of the 283rd Division, stood up and said:
"Chief of the General Staff, please tell Commander Yan to rest assured that with us here, we will ensure that the G Army does not take over Su County."

“Okay, Commander Qiao, I will definitely deliver it.” Yang Xingru nodded.

Qiao Huawen was a bandit and traitor by origin. He was ruthless and even buried his own father alive.

The 283rd Division was also assembled by Qiao Huawen. Besides bandits and local bullies, it also included former traitors from Yanbei.

This is also why Yan Xishan did not transfer them back.

Moreover, when the 283rd Division was acting as traitors, they had a considerable grudge against the Communist Party.

Leaving the 283rd Division in Suxian County will definitely cause considerable trouble for the G Army.

After giving a speech to the soldiers of the 283rd Division, Yang Xingru decisively took a plane and fled.

The main force of the G army has already reached the outskirts of Suxian County.

At dusk, on a hilltop outside the city, Chen Chengxing held up binoculars to observe the city defenses of Su County.

"How many enemy troops are there in Su County?" Chen Chengxing asked.

“The 283rd Division has three infantry regiments, and Qiao Huawen also has an independent cavalry battalion, totaling more than 5,000 men,” Chu Yunfei said.

The supplementary regiment and the 201st Regiment arrived in Suxian ahead of schedule and engaged in firefights with the 283rd Division of the Jin-Sui Army.

The enemy's fighting strength is not weak.

"Qiao Huawen? Why does that name sound familiar?"

"Is it Qiao Huawen, the one who massacred wounded Eighth Route Army soldiers?" Chen Chengxing put down his binoculars.

"It was him. He was responsible for the deaths of the people in Wu Family Shop and the wounded soldiers of the Eighth Route Army," Xu Wu said through gritted teeth.

This guy is even more ruthless than the Japanese; he tortures and kills. "We absolutely cannot let them get away!" Chen Chengxing said solemnly.

"The operation time has been adjusted. The original plan has been cancelled, and the attack will be launched at 6 a.m. tomorrow."

According to Chen Chengxing's original plan, this time they would surround the enemy on three sides but leave one side open, giving the enemy a passage, and then ambush them.

However, knowing that this was the 283rd Division, Chen Chengxing had no intention of letting them go.

If the attack is carried out at night and Qiao Huawen manages to escape in the chaos, Chen Chengxing will be furious.

"Still three out of four, one short?" Xu Wu asked.

"Mm." Chen Chengxing nodded.

"Move the cavalry regiment to the north of the city as well. Tell Sun Desheng that if even one person escapes, I will hold him accountable!"

"yes!".
As night fell, Qiao Huawen stood on the city wall, looking at the silence outside, and felt somewhat strange.

"Damn it, why hasn't the G army made a move yet? Don't the G party love to attack at night?"

Neither the Eighth Route Army nor the current G Army has air superiority.

Therefore, nighttime operations would balance out certain advantages, so why did they change it when it came to me?

The adjutant, Wu Dawei, said, "Brother, do you think it's possible that the G army has given up on attacking Suxian?"

"Damn it, how many times have I told you! Don't use your official title outside!" Qiao Huawen said angrily.

"Understood, brother." Wu Dawei nodded, indicating that he understood.

Qiao Huawen was speechless for a moment, but then he thought about Wu Dawei's brain and let it go.

“The G Army cannot give up the offensive,” Chief of Staff Qin Zhiqiang said.

He was sent by Yan Xishan and was a professionally trained soldier. His battlefield analysis skills were better than those of Qiao Huawen and his team.

"Suxian County has a relatively important geographical location, serving as a vital passage connecting northern Shanxi and Taiyuan."

"As long as the G Army still wants to attack Yunzhong City, it will inevitably have to attack Suxian County first," Qin Zhiqiang affirmed.

"Chief of Staff Qin is right. The G Army will definitely attack Suxian." Qiao Huawen nodded.

"Someone come here!" Qiao Huawen shouted.

"Pass on my order: the troops must strengthen their vigilance to prevent the G army from raiding the city!"

"If anyone dares to cheat or try to shirk responsibility, don't blame me for being ruthless!"

"yes!".
The soldiers of the Jin-Sui Army were on edge all night and were just about to breathe a sigh of relief the next morning.

Then we saw the main force of the G army advancing towards Suxian in the morning light.

"Raise the alarm! The G army is coming!"

"Clang! Clang! Clang!" The piercing sound of the gong echoed throughout Suxian County.

Upon hearing the alarm, the Jin-Sui Army soldiers, who were still in bed, put on their clothes, grabbed their guns, and ran outside.

Although Qiao Huawen was expelled from military school, he had still attended military school and was quite capable.

The soldiers of the Jin-Sui Army had just entered their designated positions when the Second Independent Detachment fired artillery shells.

There was an infantry detachment on each of the east, west, and south sides of Suxian County, and the first thing they did was to use 120mm mortars.

"Boom!" "Boom!"
The bunkers that Qiao Huawen had built outside Suxian County were constantly being destroyed by artillery shells.

The concrete bunkers left behind by the Japanese could withstand the bombardment of 120mm shells.

"Damn it, when did the G army become so rich?" Qiao Huawen's face was very ugly as he looked at the continuous shelling.

His original plan was to first use the fortifications outside the city to inflict casualties on the G army, and then retreat back into the city.

However, it now seems that continuing to hold the fortifications outside the city will likely just waste our troops.

"Order all troops to withdraw back into the city," Qiao Huawen shouted.

"The first regiment guards the east wall, the second regiment guards the west wall, the third regiment guards the south wall, and the cavalry battalion is responsible for mobile support."

As the Jin-Sui Army withdrew voluntarily and eliminated the outlying strongholds around Su County, the mortar attack immediately ceased.

A 120mm mortar can barely penetrate a weak bunker, but it has no chance of hitting a city wall.

After capturing the outer strongholds, the siege of Suxian officially began.

The three detachments launched a fierce attack simultaneously, and the sounds of battle shook the air around Suxian County.

The infantry artillery of each regiment was also moved to the front line, specifically targeting the heavy machine gun positions of the Jin-Sui Army.

Faced with the powerful offensive of the Second Independent Detachment, the Jin-Sui Army in the city suffered heavy casualties.

To Chen Chengxing's surprise, even so, the Jin-Sui Army did not escape through the north gate.

"Qiao Huawen has made a name for himself in northern Shanxi, so he must have some real talent," Chen Chengxing said with a smile.

"Regardless of whether they have any resources or not, they'll be wiped out sooner or later when facing the Second Independent Detachment," Luo Ping said.

Although the daytime attack was unsuccessful, the casualties were not significant.

Strangely enough, the same injuries would have likely killed him elsewhere.

However, in the Second Independent Detachment, many soldiers were able to hold on until emergency treatment was needed, and some were even saved.

"Since the Jin-Sui Army is unwilling to escape through the north gate, let's just launch a direct assault," Chen Chengxing said nonchalantly.

"Send orders to the reinforcement regiment to abandon their ambush and advance to the north gate to participate in the attack."

"Also, tell the independent artillery company currently in Luye to bring my cannons over here."

"I want to see what the 283rd Division can do to stop us!" Chen Chengxing ordered.

"You want to use the cannons? We don't have many shells left," Luo Ping said.

With the help of Japanese engineers, the Taiyuan Arsenal successfully copied the 75mm artillery shell.

However, a 105mm shell is impossible.

From the very beginning, Taiyuan did not have equipment for 105mm artillery shells.

"Out with the old, in with the new. Let them take all the shells!" Chen Chengxing said.

This battle in northern Shanxi was probably the final swan song for these two cannons.

There will be no more shells, and the arsenal will not be able to replicate them.

The reason is simple: the Japanese only had two cannons, and it would be too costly to divert manpower to develop them.

"Alright, since you insist," Luo Ping said helplessly.

Although he felt a little heartbroken, he also knew that the shells would only have value once they were fired.

(End of this chapter)