Bright Sword: From Northwest Shanxi to Changjin Lake, a Hundred Battles, a Hundred Victories

Chapter 190 Taking over Datong and emptying Datong!
Inside the Japanese headquarters in Shimen.

The atmosphere among the Japanese officers was relatively pleasant, and the large-scale mopping-up operation against the Eighth Route Army in the Hebei-Central Plain region was progressing steadily.

They successfully compressed the main force of the Eighth Route Army in the central Hebei region into an encirclement, dividing the Eighth Route Army's base area in central Hebei into separate areas.

Next, all that is needed is to "screen" each village by brigade to inflict a devastating blow on the Jizhong base area, which was known as the "outpost" of the Eighth Route Army.

At the same time, it could burn wheat fields in central Hebei, further weakening the Eighth Route Army's military potential.

Once the threat in central Hebei is resolved, resources can be freed up to gradually eliminate the various bases of the Eighth Route Army.

The only variable now is the Eighth Route Army Independent Detachment around Shimen.

However, the encirclement has now been formed, and it's too late for the independent detachment to do anything else.

With the main force of the 27th Division facing off against the Independent Detachment, even if the Independent Detachment was strong, it would be difficult for them to break through their defenses.

Even with four heavy artillery pieces, the main force of a division, plus aircraft and tanks, would be difficult for an independent detachment to effectively utilize.

This sweep should proceed successfully, barring any unforeseen circumstances.

However, amidst this relaxed atmosphere, an urgent telegram arrived at the Japanese headquarters.

"Report, urgent telegram from Datong: Datong was attacked by a large number of unidentified enemies at midnight."

"The enemy deployed a large number of artillery pieces, including heavy artillery pieces with a diameter of over 100 millimeters, and their firepower was exceptionally fierce."

A staff officer rushed in from outside, his face covered in sweat.

His voice was unusually loud in the headquarters, like a boulder thrown into a calm lake.

Several Japanese officers who were close to the door looked at him with disbelief on their faces.

"What did you say? Datong was attacked by an unknown enemy. The enemy deployed a large number of artillery pieces, including heavy artillery pieces with a diameter of over 100 millimeters?"

"How is that possible? How could there be an enemy of this magnitude near Datong? It couldn't possibly be the Soviet Union that attacked, could it?"

A Japanese officer asked.

"That's right. Right now, the main force of the Independent Detachment is confronting us in Shimen. There's no way there are any troops in the vicinity of Datong capable of attacking Datong."

"If there really is an enemy attacking Datong and they have deployed so many weapons, then it can only be the Eighth Route Army's Independent Detachment."

“But if it’s the Eighth Route Army’s independent detachment attacking Datong, then who are the Eighth Route Army troops in front of us?” another Japanese officer said.

"It's time to condemn those officers in Datong. They believe everything they hear. The Eighth Route Army has a type of explosive charge launcher called the 'Heartless Cannon.' Did they mistake it for a heavy artillery piece?"

While the Japanese officers were discussing the matter, some even feeling that the Datong garrison was making a mountain out of a molehill.

Another Japanese staff officer ran in.

"Urgent telegram from Datong: The enemy has entered Datong. The Datong Garrison Command has been attacked by an unknown enemy and has lost contact."

"A large number of enemies have entered Datong, and the situation in Datong is extremely precarious!"

The Japanese staff officer's words silenced the discussions among the Japanese officers in the entire Japanese headquarters.

It's like a duck with its neck being squeezed, unable to say a word.

If the first telegram might be false, what about the second one?

It's impossible that two urgent telegrams in a row are fake, especially the second one which even says that the Datong Garrison Command has been captured in a surprise attack.

If you dare to spread false information about this level of military intelligence, you'll definitely get shot!

The two telegrams were telling the Japanese officers a real story.

That means Datong has indeed been attacked by the enemy, and the situation in Datong is now extremely precarious. The defending troops are powerless to resist, and if no response is made soon, it may fall!
A third Japanese staff officer ran over, shouting "Urgent telegram!" as he ran.

At this moment, all the Japanese officers turned their attention to this Japanese staff officer.

"Report, urgent telegram from Datong: The enemy has captured Datong's armory, machine tool factory, power plant, and other important facilities. Most of the city is now in enemy hands!"

The staff officer's words struck the hearts of the Japanese officers like a heavy hammer.

"Impossible, absolutely impossible, it must be fake, right? How could Datong be so easily breached by the enemy? Were those 10,000-plus people in Datong just scarecrows?"

"A Japanese officer said in disbelief."

He was an officer from the Japanese 26th Division who was assigned to participate in the mopping-up operation. When he heard about the situation in Datong, he couldn't believe it and didn't want to believe it.

The Datong Garrison Command was also the location of the headquarters of the Japanese 26th Division.

If Datong were to fall to the enemy, wouldn't that mean the 26th Division headquarters would also be wiped out?
Of course, this was not the most unacceptable thing to him. What the Japanese officer found most unacceptable was that the vast amount of wealth he had plundered was stored in Datong.

If Datong is captured by the enemy, wouldn't that mean all his savings are gone?

"Immediately call the Datong Garrison Command to confirm the situation, and at the same time report this matter to the commander." The quick-thinking Japanese officer made a judgment very quickly.

This is a huge matter, not something they can decide on their own. They can only report it to Okamura and let him make the decision.

The Japanese immediately sent a telegram to the Datong Garrison Command.

But now the garrison command is completely deserted, and all the radios have been destroyed. There's no one to send a reply.

The telegram, of course, disappeared without a trace, and there was no response.

Meanwhile, another Japanese officer, carrying a telegram to report to Okamura, arrived at Okamura's resting place with trepidation and anxiety.

"The general is resting, please do not disturb him."

The guards at the gate stopped the Japanese officer.

Gangcun is now nearly sixty years old. As people get older, they sleep less, and now he also has to command a large-scale mopping-up operation.

They had very little time to rest, so unless it was an extremely urgent matter, other Japanese officers could only report to Gangcun late at night about things that they were not authorized to make decisions about.

Otherwise, no one could disturb his rest.

"I have urgent military information to report to the commander, it's extremely urgent," the Japanese officer said anxiously.

"please wait for a moment."

Judging from the Japanese officer's expression and the fact that he dared to report at this hour, the intelligence must be extremely urgent.

Not long after, the door opened and the Japanese officer walked in.

"Report! Urgent telegram from Datong!"

After saying that, the Japanese officer gritted his teeth and handed over the telegram.

He could already foresee that the commander would be furious after seeing the contents of the telegram!
Okamura squinted, clearly annoyed at being disturbed in the middle of the night.

However, judging from the tone of the Japanese officer, this must be important military intelligence.

Picking up the telegram, Okamura began to read it. After reading just a few lines, his drowsiness vanished instantly!

His brows, which were originally slightly furrowed, were now so furrowed they could trap a fly, and his slightly trembling body indicated the turmoil in his heart.

The Japanese officer dared not look at Okamura's face, fearing that Okamura's anger would then extend to him.

But the expected reaction did not occur.

Gangcun threw down the telegram in his hand and shouted, "Impossible! Absolutely impossible! How could there be an army in Datong that could break through Datong so quickly!"

This intelligence shocked him so much that he immediately doubted the authenticity of the telegram.

In less than half an hour, the enemy successfully broke through the outer defenses of Datong, directly entered Datong, and occupied large areas of the city, as well as important factories.

How could anyone believe these words put together?

Could it be that the fortifications outside Datong City, which were reinforced for several months, were all made of shoddy materials?

Moreover, according to the telegram, the enemy had amassed a large number of artillery pieces, which provided fire support for ten minutes, firing thousands of shells.

Are there any wealthy Chinese troops near Datong?
Gangcun immediately went to the command post and began to inquire about the situation.

The result he received was both unbelievable and something he couldn't help but imagine.

"How could Datong have been captured so quickly? Which unit is attacking Datong?"

Okamura was utterly perplexed.

"Report: We have just lost contact with the Datong Garrison Command. The Datong Garrison Command has been disconnected."

"According to previous telegrams, it seems we were ambushed by a small enemy force."

"But according to information from the troops outside Datong, the troops attacking Datong this time should be the Eighth Route Army Independent Detachment," a Japanese officer said.

The Japanese officer said in disbelief.

"What did you say? The Independent Detachment is in Datong? Then what is this 'Independent Detachment' in front of us?"

"The number of people in the Eighth Route Army's Independent Detachment couldn't have doubled in such a short time, could it?" Gangcun's eyes widened.

"Reporting to the general, according to current intelligence, it is indeed the Eighth Route Army's independent detachment that attacked Datong."

"The four heavy cannons that were previously lost have also reappeared in Datong," the Japanese officer said.

Even if Okamura were slow to react, he could roughly guess the truth of the matter at this point.

"Baka! The 'Independent Detachment' in front of us is fake. The real main force of the Independent Detachment is in Datong!"

"This is a trick by the Eighth Route Army! We've fallen for it!"

Gangcun, a "China expert," quickly realized that this was a scheme by the Eighth Route Army to feign an attack while secretly advancing.

The Eighth Route Army used this unit in Shimen, posing as an independent detachment, to keep their attention focused on this area.

Meanwhile, the real independent detachment had secretly assembled in Datong, preparing to attack this high-value target.

The current situation has proven that the Eighth Route Army's plan has succeeded!
"No wonder I've been feeling uneasy and uneasy lately, like something's not right."

"No wonder the Eighth Route Army in Shimen only captured two county towns and then didn't make any other major moves, and has been in a stalemate with Huolu."

"No wonder the Eighth Route Army didn't react much to the encirclement of the Hebei-Central region by our army."

"It turns out that it was all to cover up their true strategic intentions. Their real target was Datong, and they wanted to use the attack on Datong to force me to stop the large-scale mopping-up operation."

Gangcun looked bitter and said three times, "No wonder."

He's figured it out, he's figured it all out!

This was both a conspiracy and an open scheme by the Eighth Route Army.

Taking advantage of Datong's importance, they were forced to send out sweeping troops to rescue Datong.

They were forced to follow the Eighth Route Army's ideas and were mobilized by them.

The only army that can reinforce Datong now is the mopping-up troops.

These mopping-up troops were originally drawn from various places, so it was impossible to draw more troops from other places to rescue Datong.

Otherwise, with extremely depleted military strength, there is a high possibility that the enemy will "spread everywhere," and the losses will be far greater than those of Datong!

"Pass on my order to immediately halt the sweeping operations and spare no effort to rescue Datong."

"All available air units shall immediately reinforce Datong, conduct reconnaissance, and assist the reinforcements in recapturing Datong."

After giving the order, Okamura collapsed weakly into his chair.

This was the biggest loss he had suffered since taking office as commander.

After months of preparation, mobilizing a large amount of manpower, material resources, and financial resources, and after extensive preliminary work, a large-scale sweep was launched.

Forced to die in the womb, abandoning the victory that was already within their grasp.

Datong has now also been captured by the Eighth Route Army. Although it has not been completely occupied, troops from the outer defensive chain are still entering Datong to compete for control of the city.

But Gangcun knew that the Eighth Route Army had mobilized tens of thousands of people to carry out such a shocking conspiracy.

It was already a foregone conclusion that Datong would be obtained.

If reinforcements do not arrive in time, the fall of Datong will indeed be inevitable.

Even if reinforcements arrived before Datong completely fell, those important industrial facilities inside Datong would be lost forever.

They were either taken away by the Eighth Route Army or destroyed by the Eighth Route Army and then evacuated from Datong.

In short, they won't get a single good machine back after the war.

Ironically, Gangcun had no choice but to send reinforcements to Datong at all costs, even though it was clear that rescuing Datong would result in an empty city.

Otherwise, if the sweep continues, the Eighth Route Army might take advantage of the opportunity to attack Wucheng, which is sparsely defended, after capturing Datong.

Wucheng served as the headquarters of the Mongolian garrison and was the core of the Mongolian garrison.

However, there were not many troops stationed in Wucheng.

The independent detachment had been targeting the troops stationed in Mongolia, bleeding them dry, which had already stretched the troops' manpower thin.

They could only transfer a large number of troops to the Datong line to confront the Eighth Route Army. The troops stationed in Wucheng were reduced to only one battalion plus puppet troops, as well as some troops directly under the Mongolian army, military police and intelligence agencies.

Facing the Independent Detachment, which is riding a wave of victory, how difficult and challenging is it to hold on?

Once Wucheng is lost, the Independent Detachment can move eastward to control Nankou-Juyongguan and cut off the Pinghan Railway.

It directly threatens Beiping, the main base of the North China Expeditionary Army, to the south.

At that time, the situation in the entire North China region will collapse systematically, and may even have a local impact on the entire army and the war situation in the south.

The cost of not retaking Datong is too high, even Gangcun cannot afford it.

For the Japanese army, Datong was like the aorta connecting the heart and torso.

The loss of the territory will trigger a quadruple disaster: the resource chain will break, the transportation network will collapse, the defense chain will disintegrate, and the pseudo-regime will collapse.
The most likely outcome was that the North China front collapsed two years ahead of schedule in 1944, the troops stationed in Mongolia withdrew to the Great Wall line, and the Eighth Route Army's Jin-Cha-Ji and Jin-Sui base areas were connected, thus changing the course of the war.

Compared to the Eighth Route Army in central Hebei, the situation in North China was clearly more important.

After all, this sweep was just a peacekeeping operation, but if Datong were lost, it would be a battle that could affect the entire war of resistance.

As Japanese war history expert Nakanishi Isao lamented:
"If the Great Harmony is lost, the northern border will be in danger; if the northern border is in danger, North China will perish. This is the lifeline of the empire, not a matter of fighting over a single city or region!"

The Japanese headquarters in Shimen was filled with wailing, and the situation was no better at the Japanese army headquarters in Mongolia.

Datong has already been captured by the Eighth Route Army, and given the current situation, it is only a matter of time before Datong falls.

Datong is one of the core strategic locations of the troops stationed in Inner Mongolia, and also a node connecting Jining and Wucheng.

Once it falls, the troops stationed in Mongolia will face a devastating blow.

The most desperate person was none other than the commander of the Mongolian army, Noon Saburo.

He was already facing a transfer, and now Datong is about to be lost right under his nose.

Someone has to take the blame for what happened in Datong, but it's unrealistic to expect Gangcun, the commander of the North China Expeditionary Army, to do so.

It could only be him, the already convicted commander of the Mongolian army, who had to take the blame.

This means that his path to death has been accelerated once again.

He's not far from committing seppuku to atone for his sins.

He couldn't understand why the position of commander of the Mongolian garrison, which had once filled him with pride and made him feel that his future was bright, and why Datong, a key location for the Mongolian garrison, was now going to become his burial place.

However, it's too late to think about these things now.

Noon Saburo wiped the sword in his hand, a gift from the Japanese devil Tenko, a symbol of honor.

Now, however, he must end his own life with him, just like Yoshio Shinotsuka.

His life was already on a countdown; he would commit seppuku to atone for his sins before being punished, once the Battle of Datong was over.

This way, it won't implicate your family.

While the Japanese soldiers were wailing in agony, the command post of the Independent Detachment was filled with a joyful and cheerful atmosphere.

"Report: Our army has captured the northern urban area of ​​Datong."

"Report: Our army has captured the eastern part of Datong."

"Report: Our army has captured the southern part of Datong."

"Report: Our army has captured the central urban area of ​​Datong, and the remaining Japanese troops are retreating to resist in the western urban area of ​​Datong."

"."

Good news kept coming in one after another. The soldiers on the front line were unstoppable and had basically captured most of Datong.

Now only the western part of Datong remains under Japanese troops' defense, with a steady stream of soldiers entering Datong from outside the city.

But faced with soldiers who were riding high on their victory and whose morale was extremely high, the living space of these Japanese soldiers was constantly being squeezed.

The Japanese forces in Datong consisted of only one regiment. After losing the city's fortifications, they directly fought against the main force of the Independent Detachment in the urban area.

In this situation, annihilation is only a matter of time.

As for the puppet troops, their whereabouts are long gone.

Some died, some fled, and some surrendered. Now, there isn't even a single organized puppet army unit to be found in the western district of Datong.

These puppet troops were somewhat effective in suppressing civilians, especially against guerrillas who lacked combat power and firepower.

When facing the main force of the independent detachment, they couldn't even fill the gaps.

After all, the troops filling in the gaps can use their blood to slow down the enemy's advance, buying time for the main force in the rear.

However, the fighting spirit and organization of the puppet troops were so poor that it was good enough that they didn't bring the Japanese troops in the rear to their knees.

During the battle of Datong, you could even witness the astonishing scene of a few people controlling hundreds of puppet troops.

"Pass on my order: the cavalry detachment is to immediately move out and intercept the puppet troops fleeing from the west side of Datong!"

"Furthermore, all units must hurry and eliminate the Japanese troops in the city, completing the complete occupation of Datong City!"

"After occupying Datong city, immediately encircle and annihilate the Japanese troops in Datong!"

Chen Ming issued the order.

"Yes!"

With the situation now settled, it was time to clean up the mess. After a night of fierce fighting, the Japanese garrison in Datong suffered more than half its losses, with over four thousand Japanese and puppet troops killed in action. One of the two puppet brigades was wiped out, and a large number of puppet troops surrendered.

The Japanese Datong Garrison Command was destroyed, and the command system was completely lost.

The Japanese soldiers in Datong are now fighting individually, facing an independent detachment with overwhelming superior manpower and firepower.

In the occupied urban areas, Chen Ming ordered the seizure of all warehouses, and the confiscation of all assets belonging to the Japanese, puppet troops, and traitors.

All the important factories were brought under control, which basically achieved Chen Ming's goal of attacking Datong.

The battle isn't over yet, otherwise Chen Ming would be counting his money and seeing just how much he's made.

Even without counting, it's clear that I've made a fortune this time.

Even if the brigade commander, division commander, and general congratulate him on making a fortune, Chen Ming still dares to say with great pride that he has made a fortune!

After Chen Ming's order was relayed, the independent detachment soldiers in Datong City gathered 1,500 troops and attacked the western district of Datong.

Meanwhile, a large number of troops were also deployed in other directions around Datong to cooperate with the diversionary forces outside the city and jointly attack the Japanese troops on the outer defensive chain.

These Japanese devils must be eliminated; they cannot be allowed to live.

Otherwise, Chen Ming wouldn't be able to transport the captured supplies away with peace of mind.

The advance in the western district was progressing smoothly. The Japanese had only about 300 troops left to put up a stubborn resistance, which was no match for the soldiers who were in high spirits.

"Comrades, charge! These are the last Japanese devils. After we wipe them out, we can take Datong."

"The entire army is watching us; the time has come for the Party and the people to test us!"

"Charge with me!"

The soldiers were in high spirits, completely disregarding their own lives, with only one thought in their minds—

"Eliminate the Japanese devils before us, achieve great merit, and protect our homeland!"

The young soldiers were eager to make a name for themselves.

Those who could be incorporated into the siege force were all elites of the independent detachment. As elites, they already had their own pride and were even more eager to make meritorious contributions.

"Quickly, assault team, follow me and blow up the Japanese pillbox ahead!"

"Hurry up, kill the Japanese machine gunner upstairs!"

"Cover me, I'm going to take out the Japanese soldiers inside the house!"

The soldiers worked in perfect coordination, were fearless of sacrifice, and gradually eroded the last of the Japanese troops' defenses.

The Japanese counterattacks grew weaker and weaker until they eventually lost the strength to fight back, and could only continuously withdraw their troops.

In the end, the remaining thirty-odd Japanese soldiers were driven into the last line of defense.

Knowing that the situation was hopeless, the Japanese squad leader launched a desperate charge!
"Onboard!"

"His Majesty the Locust is on board!"

Led by the Japanese squad leader, the last Japanese soldiers launched an attack on the soldiers of the Independent Detachment.

"Machine gunner, harvest the wheat!"

"Yes!"

The heavy machine gunner in the unit immediately pulled the trigger, and bullets flew towards the Japanese soldiers who were about to die!
The heavy machine gun bullets had strong penetrating power, causing charging Japanese soldiers to fall in droves, just like the description "harvesting wheat".

After eliminating the last Japanese soldiers, the last resistance force in Datong city disappeared.

As for the remaining sporadic battles, they are no longer enough to cause any significant trouble.

By 4 a.m., the western district of Datong had been officially occupied, achieving complete control over the city.

The troops attacking the outer defensive chain of the Japanese army also made rapid progress.

The Japanese troops on the east and south sides faced attacks from three directions: inside the city, outside the defense line, and north of Datong.

A defensive chain primarily designed for external defense is now facing attacks from the flanks and rear, making its defense incredibly difficult.

The Flying Thunder Cannon was used to attack fortifications, and cluster grenades were used to kill the Japanese soldiers inside.

Grenade launchers destroyed the Japanese machine gun fire, and infantry guns aimed directly at the Japanese bunkers.

There were also a large number of soldiers with high shooting accuracy who precisely sniped the Japanese soldiers hiding behind cover.

After much effort, the soldiers of the Independent Detachment successfully captured the southern position of Datong at six o'clock in the morning.

At 7 o'clock, they captured the western position of Datong, and at 8 o'clock, they captured the eastern position.

The reason why it took longer to advance to the east than to the west was mainly because the Japanese troops in Datong were targeting the independent detachment in the Huai'ren area.

In the east, where it directly contacts the Independent Detachment, more defensive fortifications were built and more troops were deployed.

When Chen Ming of the command post learned that Datong was completely under the control of our army, he showed a satisfied smile.

"Eight hours to capture Datong, although not as short as the six hours it took Commander Yan to lose Datong, is still enough," Chen Ming said with a smile.

The Japanese army took six hours to capture Datong back then, but now the Independent Detachment took eight hours to retake Datong.

Although the independent detachment had two hours more than the Japanese, the difference in their experience was enormous.

When Datong fell, it was because Commander Yan strategically abandoned the city. There were no regular troops in Datong, only a security regiment.

What kind of combat capability does the security force possess?

After the Japanese vanguard company entered the county town, they did not encounter any resistance.

The Independent Detachment faced a situation in Datong, which was defended by tens of thousands of Japanese and puppet troops and had a large number of defensive facilities.

The independent detachment relied on its own strength and took Datong in just eight hours.

The two are not even in the same league in terms of value.

The ability to capture Datong so quickly was due to the combined effect of several factors.

First, the main force of the Independent Detachment made a tactical deception by moving towards the Shimen area. The brigade commander led his troops to pretend to be the main force of the Independent Detachment in the Shimen area to divert the Japanese attention.

As a result, the Japanese soldiers in Datong lowered their guard, allowing the main force of the Independent Detachment to successfully infiltrate the outskirts of Datong.

The second advantage was the tactical superiority of tunnel blasting, which successfully breached the walls of Datong.

The main force of the Independent Detachment was able to directly attack the core area of ​​Datong, bypassing the numerous fortifications built by the Japanese on the periphery, and thus capture Datong more quickly.

Otherwise, if we were to confront the Japanese outer defense chain head-on, it would probably take several days to break through it.

Thirdly, Chen Ming had gathered all the superior firepower of the Independent Detachment except for Kong Jie's unit, and concentrated on attacking the Japanese fortifications outside the breach in the city wall.

In a short period of time, a large number of artillery shells and incendiary bombs were deployed, destroying the Japanese defense system in some areas.

The army was able to successfully break into the city and then launch an attack from the inside out.

Fourthly, the special operations brigade and sharpshooter brigade directly attacked the Japanese garrison headquarters in Datong, destroying the Japanese command system.

This deprived the Japanese defense system in Datong of command, leaving them only able to fight passively and independently.

Without unified command, an army becomes a disorganized mess, and no matter how many people it has, it has little fighting power.

The independent detachment was thus able to maintain an absolute advantage in manpower and firepower on local battlefields, further accelerating the siege process.

Fifthly, the assault team's attack speed was fast; after breaking into Datong, they immediately moved towards the core area of ​​Datong.

The Japanese troops were unable to organize an effective defense within the city and could only be crushed and annihilated by the subsequent large-scale army.

After eliminating the Japanese troops in Datong City, the remaining defense system naturally began to collapse.

The Japanese defensive chain around Datong was completely surrounded and cut off by the Independent Detachment's coordinated attack from both inside and outside.

It didn't last long before it was completely destroyed.

"Datong has been captured. Immediately proceed with the planned operation!"

Inside the command post, Chen Ming issued the order.

Datong has been captured; the next step is post-war work.

Chen Ming went directly to Datong to take charge of the work there.

Upon arriving in Datong, Chen Ming immediately inquired about the situation of several key factories in Datong.

"How are things at the factories now?"

"All the factories are now under our control and are relatively well-preserved, having escaped damage from the Japanese," Ding Wei said with a smile.

The assault team he and He Jianxin formed launched a swift attack, aiming directly at the Japanese factory with the goal of capturing it as soon as possible to prevent the Japanese from sabotaging it.

Faced with the assault team's attack, the Japanese did not choose to blow up the factory.

After all, only a small force has stormed in so far, and the situation in other places is unknown.

Without permission from headquarters, the Japanese, a country extremely lacking in resources, would not easily destroy the facilities inside the factory.

Otherwise, if Datong had been defended, these Eighth Route Army assault teams would have been wiped out, only to find that the factory had been blown up by themselves.

That would be a huge responsibility.

As for the Japanese headquarters, it was attacked as soon as the city fell, so there was no chance to send orders to destroy the factory.

In this way, the assault team successfully captured an important factory in Datong without it being destroyed by the Japanese.

The factory facilities are relatively well preserved, and it should not be difficult to put them back into production.

"Work with the technical guidance personnel of the arsenal to dismantle and take away all the equipment in the factory, load it onto a train and take it away."

"Explain the consequences to the workers in the factory, and tell them that if the Japanese come back and find that the factory facilities are gone, they may retaliate against them."

"Ask them what they think. If they are willing to come with us, we can take as many people as we want, including their families."

"As for the Japanese technicians in the factory, they were all packed up and taken back to the base area to be handed over to the comrades in the enemy work department."

Chen Ming issued the order.

The factory was a key focus for Chen Ming, and he inquired about it immediately upon arriving in Datong.

As long as they take all the machines from these factories, the Independent Detachment won't lose out in this battle against Datong.

Chen Ming's first target among the factories in Datong was the machine tool factory in Datong.

With a machine tool factory, the scale of the arsenal could be expanded, production capacity increased, and more weapons and ammunition produced to fight the Japanese.

It can also accelerate the production and research and development of weapons for independent detachments.

Many weapons are not lacking in technology, but rather in the means to produce them.

Besides the machine tool factory, Chen Ming's second priority was the power plant in Datong.

With the power plant equipment, and relying on the coal resources of Shanxi Province, a continuous supply of electricity can be obtained, greatly increasing the output of the arsenal.

Many materials and weapons that require electricity to manufacture can also be successfully produced using electricity from power plants.

The third is the steel rolling mill in Datong, along with supporting facilities such as ironmaking and steelmaking.

With these devices, we can produce steel ourselves and no longer have to rely on capturing it from the Japanese.

Logistics and production capabilities will see a leap forward.

Finally, there was the sugar factory in Datong, which could produce white sugar, a strategic resource.

Many people might wonder, doesn't producing white sugar require sugarcane? How come there's a sugar factory in Datong?

Does the sugar factory in Datong really need to transport sugarcane from the south for production? The manpower and resources consumed would be far too great, and it would be a losing proposition.

In fact, in northern regions, the main raw material for sugar is not sugarcane, but sugar beets.

Sugar beets were once widely cultivated in the Huang-Huai-Hai Plain, but as sugar resources became less scarce, large-scale cultivation ceased.

The Japanese sugar factory was seized from Commander Iwa. As an important factory, it was also heavily invested in by Commander Iwa during the development of Shanxi Province.

Now it's all benefited Chen Ming.

After confirming that the major factories in Datong were all fine, Chen Ming did not inquire about the other factories.

"Move everything out! I only have one order: empty Datong!"

Chen Ming issued the order.

Statistics can be done after the war. The most important thing now is to move our belongings away. Only what is moved to our own homes is truly our own.

After learning about the factory's situation, Chen Ming summoned several officers from the main forces of the Independent Detachment.

"It's already daylight now, the Japanese planes can take off, and there are Japanese soldiers everywhere rushing towards us."

"To cover the transport team's move of supplies, we should now give the Japanese something to do," Chen Ming said.

"Yes, such a large quantity of supplies. Although the specific data hasn't been tallied yet, when I saw it, I thought to myself that we're going to make a fortune this time."

"With so many supplies, transporting them would definitely cause a lot of trouble. We must keep the Japanese at bay and prevent them from attacking our transport team."

"This was stated by Wang Dafei, Chief of Staff of the Independent Detachment."

As the chief of staff of the independent detachment, Wang Dafei's vision naturally reached a very high level.

For him to say he'd struck it rich, the amount of seized supplies must be enormous.

Transporting such a massive amount of supplies would require an enormous amount of manpower and resources.

The Japanese wouldn't just stand by and watch them empty Datong; they would definitely keep attacking the transport convoys along the way.

“This is all our family’s wealth. If the Japanese bomb some of it, I won’t be able to sleep at night,” He Jianxin said.

"Yes, in order to prevent the Japanese from interfering with our supply transport, I have made a decision."

"The Independent Detachment reinforced the First Battalion with three battalions, and the Independent First Battalion deployed three battalions to prepare for an attack on Wucheng."

"The cavalry detachment will clear out the Japanese troops around Wucheng."

"The goal is simple: to make the Japanese think we are going to attack Wucheng, and force them to make a choice."

"Let's see if they're going to attack our supply convoy or defend Wucheng, such an important strategic location."

"The remaining troops will construct defensive positions and block the Japanese reinforcements in sections to buy time for transporting supplies."

Chen Ming issued the order.

This is also a tactic of "besieging Wei to rescue Zhao," forcing the Japanese to make a choice.

The Battle of Datong ended too quickly, a situation that would terrify the Japanese.

Before the Japanese knew what methods the Independent Detachment had used to capture Datong in eight hours, they absolutely dared not gamble lightly.

They dared not gamble on whether the army that went to Wucheng was really going to attack Wucheng.

Because if the bet is lost, Wucheng will be captured by the Eighth Route Army, which will then take the opportunity to attack important core areas around Wucheng.

The situation in North China is about to collapse for the Japanese, and the losses will be greater than losing Datong.

Once the Japanese attention is diverted to Wucheng, the transport teams can move the supplies back to the Huairen area.

Once they entered the territory of the Independent Detachment and were protected by the Huai Ren area's defense system, they were no longer afraid of Japanese reinforcements.

Even if there are attacks that hinder the independent detachment's transport of supplies, the scale will not be large, and most of the supplies will be preserved.

Of course, it would be even better if the Japanese ignored Wucheng and thought the Independent Detachment was just bluffing.

Chen Ming could also adjust the plan directly and attack Wucheng.

To be honest, if the Japanese commander had any sense, he would have prioritized the safety of Wucheng before taking back Datong.

Regardless of the low probability of Wucheng, Chen Ming had not considered attacking Wucheng in his initial battle plan.

After the order was issued, all units of the Independent Detachment immediately sprang into action.

Inside Datong City, soldiers were dismantling Japanese equipment under the guidance of technical instructors from the arsenal.

The mobilized masses, local armed forces, and militia also joined the transportation team.

Trains, cars, mules, and other means of transportation were all deployed to contribute to the evacuation of Datong.

People without means of transportation relied on handcarts, carrying poles, and other tools to participate in transporting goods.

Even the captured puppet troops were incorporated into the transport team.

The official in charge of transportation told them that if they wanted to survive, they should hurry up and work.

The fact that troops were being dispatched to march in the direction of Wucheng was a way of telling the Japanese, "We're going to attack Wucheng, are you going to do anything about it?"
I don't care, then I'm really going to hit him.

The main force of six infantry battalions, plus cavalry units, along with local armed forces, numbered nearly as many as a division.

The Japanese garrison in Wucheng consisted of only one battalion, a huge disparity in numbers.

The 10,000-strong garrison in Datong was wiped out by the main force of the Independent Detachment in eight hours. How long could the 2,000-3,000 Japanese and puppet troops in Wucheng hold out?

Six hours? Or five hours?
After receiving news that the main force of the Independent Detachment had captured Datong in eight hours and was moving towards Wucheng, the Japanese headquarters...

Okamura's brow never relaxed, and the command post was filled with smoke that lingered for a long time.

"Datong fell in just eight hours! What methods did the Eighth Route Army use? Did they develop a new siege weapon like the 'Heartless Cannon'?"

Okamura was completely baffled.

However, he no longer dared to gamble.

"Order the garrison of Wucheng to strengthen its defenses, and the troops in Beiping, as well as the three battalions participating in the sweep, to urgently change their reinforcement direction and strengthen the defense of Wucheng."

Okamura reluctantly issued the order.

Meanwhile, Chen Ming in Datong watched as truckloads and trainloads of supplies smoothly entered the Huai'ren area controlled by the Independent Detachment.

He was so happy he couldn't stop smiling!
P.S.: Another 10,000-word post! Please vote!

(End of this chapter)