Rebirth: I am in Jin-Cha-Ji

If one of the puppet troops could be turned against them, it would be entirely possible to capture Baoding.

They didn't even need to completely change their stance. As long as they opened a path and let the troops into Baoding, they would be successful. Once the Eighth Route Army entered Baoding, those puppet troops would definitely not fight to the death.

How could Marshal Nie not be aware of the importance of Baoding?

If Baoding was captured, then the Jin-Cha-Ji Military Region's bases in Hebei would be completely connected, and Beiping and Shijiazhuang would be completely separated. Of course, even if they couldn't hold on and retreat, knowing that they could pull out the supplies from Baoding would still be a success.

Marshal Nie anxiously waited for a response from headquarters.

About forty minutes later, Zhan Tong arrived at the headquarters excitedly.

"How about it?"

"Commander, good news, really good news. Although Wang Tianxiang is not a party member, he has always been willing to join our Eighth Route Army. Not long ago, he sent someone to contact the headquarters to apply to join the party. He came to Ji'nan to recruit old troops this time, and originally planned to bring his troops to join the Ji'nan Military Region. However, many of the bandit armed forces he reorganized would rather surrender to the Japanese army and ask for a status rather than join the Eighth Route Army. So the headquarters told Wang Tianxiang that he could negotiate with the Independent Mixed 1st Brigade and accept their reorganization. Use this opportunity to obtain Japanese military supplies, replenish weapons and ammunition, and allow the troops to renovate. In order to control this unit, the headquarters and the Yi'nan Military Region have sent a number of cadres to do work in it. At present, there are many members of our party active in this unit.

The headquarters stated that if the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei troops really wanted to attack Baoding, the headquarters would cooperate with us.

"Good, good. I didn't expect such good news."

"Commander, it's not over yet. Li Chenghua, commander of the First Brigade of the East Asian Alliance Autonomous Army, has excellent connections with the Ji'nan Military Region. They've already sent a number of troops to the First Brigade, and Li Chenghua himself is willing to join the Eighth Route Army. He's willing to bring his troops over if the time is right."

"That's it."

Marshal Nie didn't expect such good news.

I had never imagined that the East Asia Alliance Autonomous Army, reorganized by the Japanese army, had such a deep connection with the Eighth Route Army. In fact, the headquarters did not want to take any risks at the moment because the situation of the East Asia Alliance Autonomous Army was very complicated.

Although Wang Tianxiang was the army commander, the only unit he could truly control was the assault regiment of about 1000 people. This assault regiment was his old unit, and many of the people in it were his direct descendants who had followed him in the anti-Japanese war. He had complete control over this unit.

But Wang Tianxiang’s goal was to take away at least half of the people.

Headquarters shared the same considerations. They told him to take his time, slowly gain control of the troops, and train more officers. The same was true for Li Chenghua, commander of the First Brigade. He wanted to defect to the Eighth Route Army, but only about 700 to 800 men would fully follow him. He wasn't entirely confident in the other 1,000 or so. He wanted to work hard to win over the entire First Brigade.

But now that we heard that Jin-Cha-Ji wanted to attack Baoding, the situation was completely different.

At this time, it is not necessary for all troops to revolt. As long as some of the troops revolt and cooperate with the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei troops, then the other troops, whether they are willing or not, will eventually be forced to revolt.

"Come with me and talk to Yang Quanwu, Huang Yong and the others about the Baoding situation."

Chapter 480 Battlefield Uprising

After the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei Military Region decided to attack Baoding, the main forces of the First and Third Divisions began to assemble.

The 2nd Brigade, the 3rd Brigade, and the 4th Brigade.

The main force of the First and Third Divisions of the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei Region.

The gathering of tens of thousands of main forces put Baoding in a state of panic.

The commander of the 63rd Division, Nozoe Masanori, was now worried and watched from the Baoding city wall every day. Although he could not see any Eighth Route Army troops from the city wall, he still did so every day.

When talking about the commander of the 63rd Division, Nozoe Masanori, we cannot fail to mention General Yang Jingyu, because Nozoe Masanori was the commander of the Japanese punitive force that pursued General Yang Jingyu at the time.

Nozoe Chandok was nervous.

He sent a telegram to Peking, asking Ningci Gangcun for help and requesting Ningci Gangcun to send troops to support him.

But Ningji Okamura also had a headache.

现在的华北方面军短时间之内根本没有部队可以调派。110师团南下之后，目前在河北只有27师团、35师团、59师团、63师团、69师团。当中27师团在之前的战斗当中伤亡最惨重，有两个联队到现在还没有回到冀东。

But the situation in Jidong had already started.

The Eighth Route Army had no shortage of troops in eastern Hebei. Previously, they were scattered, each fighting independently, unable to unite and fight as a single force. However, the situation changed completely after the establishment of the 14th Jin-Cha-Ji Military Sub-district, also known as the Jidong Military Sub-district.

The 13th, 14th, 15th and 31st Regiments were all units that had fought in Jidong for many years and their combat effectiveness was not weak. In addition to these four main regiments, the Jidong Military Sub-district also had many other local units.

Now there is only one regiment left of the 27th Division in eastern Hebei.

How big is Jidong?

There are more than 20 counties with a population of 500 million.

How could the Japanese army, relying on only one regiment, possibly control such a large area? Previously, half of the North China Security Army was in eastern Hebei, cooperating with the 27th Division to sweep the eastern Hebei base area.

However, the previous sweep of central Hebei had left only one regiment of the 27th Division in eastern Hebei. As a result, when unrest erupted in eastern Hebei, the North China Security Army suffered heavy casualties, and the 29th Division, which had previously provided assistance, suffered a series of heavy defeats in Rehe. Now, the 27th Division's remaining troops in eastern Hebei were unable to control the situation.

The entire situation in eastern Hebei was in complete chaos.

Rehe was already in chaos. If Jidong became chaotic again, the connection between North China and Northeast China would be severed. Of course, it was not just Jidong's problem. The Pingbei Detachment of the Eighth Column had already developed a base in Shunyi.

So, after the 35th Division retreated, the 59th Division left Peking. Two of its regiments blocked the Pingbei Detachment, while one regiment worked with the 27th Division to stabilize the situation in eastern Hebei. Then, only the 63rd Division, stationed in Baoding, and the 69th Division, stationed in Shijiazhuang, remained.

Where to mobilize troops from.

Therefore, Ningji Okamura's order was to stabilize the 63rd Division.

Attract all the main forces of the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei region to Baoding. When the main forces of the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei region are exhausted from the siege, organize troops to completely annihilate the main forces of the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei Eighth Route Army. Okamura Ningji still did not believe that the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei Eighth Route Army could capture Baoding.

"Lao Jing, are we really going to attack Baoding? Aren't we just trying to scare the Japanese?"

"Ah."

"Great."

Wang Tianxiang was very happy.

If Sun Dianying hadn't had friction with the Eighth Route Army, he wouldn't have had to wander around like this. He later tried several times to join the Eighth Route Army with his troops, but was blocked by the Nationalist Army. Otherwise, he would have already become a general in the Eighth Route Army.

This has always been his regret.

So he must seize the opportunity this time.

After years of fighting behind enemy lines, Wang Tianxiang had come to realize that only the Eighth Route Army could survive and truly fight behind enemy lines.

As for other National Army troops, whether it was Sun Dianying's unit where he had served, or Gao Shuxun's unit, they were all creating friction and fighting the Japanese in vain.

"Lao Jing, what are the orders from headquarters?"

Wang Tianxiang asked Jing Renqiu anxiously.

Jing Renqiu and Wang Tianxiang were good friends, having previously served together under Sun Dianying. Jing Renqiu, an underground operative directly under the command of the headquarters, joined the East Asia Alliance Autonomous Army to work for Wang Tianxiang, and currently serves as a senior councilor in the army.

"The Jin-Cha-Ji Army has concentrated tens of thousands of troops to attack the city. But you also know that there are more than 17000 Japanese and puppet troops in the city, and the Japanese 63rd Division has more than 3000 men. If they attack head-on, they will suffer heavy casualties and may not be able to take the city. The situation in Hebei is so good now. If the Jin-Cha-Ji Army suffers heavy casualties in Baoding, they will lose their current advantage. So the headquarters and the Jin-Cha-Ji Military Region are suggesting that you revolt on the battlefield and cooperate with the siege troops. It would be best if you clear a path for the siege troops to enter the city."

"Well, that's a good idea.

Wang Tianxiang is an old soldier.

He started serving in the army at the age of 20 during the Beiyang government period, and it has been nearly years now.

He is very familiar with all the Chinese troops. There may seem to be a lot of Japanese and puppet troops in Baoding City, but apart from the more than 3000 Japanese troops, the other puppet troops are just fence-sitters in Wang Tianxiang's eyes.

The North China Security Army had been annihilated countless times by the Eighth Route Army over the years, and even many North China Security Army troops had revolted on the battlefield and defected to the Eighth Route Army. Wang Tianxiang was even more familiar with the newly formed East Asia Alliance Autonomous Army.

It's a complete mob.

If a fight really broke out, Wang Tianxiang was completely confident. His own assault regiment could easily deal with any of his brigades, even two, because many of them were previously bandit forces.

Such troops are typical fence-sitters.

When the Japanese are strong, they will surrender to the Japanese. Once the Japanese are defeated, who among these troops will be willing to fight for the Japanese? If you try to persuade them to revolt, they will definitely not do it, and may even inform the Japanese.

But when the Eighth Route Army attacked the city and the Japanese seemed to be on the verge of defeat, these people would waver and would never dare to go all the way with the Japanese.

So battlefield uprising is a good idea.

But Wang Tianxiang needed to think carefully. The most feared thing about a battlefield uprising was the leaking of news. If the news leaked out, being shot by the Japanese wouldn't be a big deal, but if it delayed the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei Army's capture of Baoding, that would be a big deal, and he would be a major sinner.

So he thought for a moment and said, "Lao Jing, I am confident in my assault regiment. Not only are there old subordinates who have fought with me for many years, but there is also a complete party organization. But the other four brigades, although they have a friendship with me and recognize me as their big brother, they recognized me as their big brother because of my relationship with the Northwest Army. This time they continue to push me as their big brother because they want to negotiate with the Japanese through me so that they can get their military pay.

I'm not sure if I can get them to join me in the uprising on the battlefield."

Wang Tianxiang served in the Beiyang Army very early on, and later in the Northwest Army, where he had good relations with many generals.

Therefore, when Wang Tianxiang was in southern Hebei, the local armed forces and bandit groups in southern Hebei all recognized him as their "big brother." Wang Tianxiang and many people in southern Hebei were sworn brothers. However, this sworn brotherhood was only based on interests; those people would not join him in an uprising.

"We've also worked with Li Chenghua, the commander of the First Brigade. He's willing to lead his men in the uprising on the battlefield. He's not sure he can lead all of his troops, but he can guarantee that around 700 people will revolt."

"About 700 people?"

"Correct."

"That's enough."

Wang Tianxiang was very happy.

He said: "Li Chenghua is a man of culture and has a high prestige in Wei County. Although the troops under his command cannot be said to be all his direct troops, they are all soldiers from Wei County. As long as I lead the assault regiment on the battlefield and he leads his direct troops to revolt, then the other troops of the First Brigade will be swept up and will follow Li Chenghua to revolt. By then, we will have more than 3000 people participating in the uprising. The Second Brigade, the Third Brigade, and the Fourth Brigade, to be honest, they are all local landlords and the largest local bandits. The troops are basically local troops, like the commander of the Second Brigade, Cheng Qian, his father was a big bandit in southern Hebei back then. Now it has been passed to his son, and he is still a bandit. These bandit troops are a mob and have little combat effectiveness. Although they reported that they have more than 4000 people, I estimate that their total number can reach 3000. This time When choosing a battlefield for the uprising, what I am most worried about is the First Brigade. Because Li Chenghua has high prestige and strong ability. Therefore, many of the officers of the First Brigade under him were middle and lower-level officers of the National Army at that time, who were unwilling to retreat south and stay in southern Hebei. Therefore, the combat effectiveness of the First Brigade is still relatively strong. Now that it is said that the First Brigade can participate in the uprising, then there is no problem. The Japanese army asked us to guard the North Gate and the East Gate of the East Asia Alliance Autonomous Army. I will then place the Assault Regiment and the First Brigade at the North Gate, and the Second Brigade, the Third Brigade, and the Fourth Brigade at the East Gate. In our East Asia Alliance Autonomous Army, each regiment has a Japanese detachment responsible for supervision. At that time, there will be only a small team of Japanese troops supervising us at the North Gate. Even if the 63rd Division is worried about us and sends troops to help guard the city, it is estimated that it will be at most one or two squadrons. As long as we launch a sudden attack, we will be able to support the large force into the city.”

"Okay, that's our agreement."

In order to defend the city, Nozoe Masanori began to deploy troops.

The Japanese army had too few troops, so in the arrangement of the city defense forces, the Sixth Army of the North China Security Army was placed at the South Gate, the puppet police defense team was placed at the West Gate, and the East Asia Alliance Autonomous Army was placed at the North Gate and East Gate.

Of course, he was not at ease with just these puppet troops.

Therefore, in addition to the Japanese troops who were already serving as advisors and monitors in the puppet army, Nozoe Masanori drew eight infantry companies from the 63rd Division.

Two squadrons were assigned to each city gate, one to supervise the puppet army and the other to help defend the city.

Then he left behind an infantry battalion as a reserve.

By this time, Nozoe Masanori remained silent. He pulled heavy weapons from the military warehouse and equipped these puppet troops. The East Asian Alliance Autonomous Army benefited the most, as they were originally a motley crowd, united by various armed forces.

It wasn't long before they were incorporated into the Japanese army.

But with Baoding in dire straits, Nozoe Changde could not intervene. Therefore, a large number of light and heavy machine guns and mortars were allocated to the East Asian Alliance Autonomous Army. This instantly raised the army's weaponry to a new level.

While Ye Zuochangde was preparing, the troops of the first and third districts had already begun attacking the outer positions of Baoding City.

The Japanese were short on manpower, so they handed over the outer positions to the puppet troops. Unfortunately, the Japanese overestimated the puppet troops. Although their weapons and equipment were much better, they were no match for the main forces of the First and Third Divisions, even with so many infantry guns.

After fighting for less than a day, all the positions outside Baoding fell into the hands of the Eighth Route Army.

Even the Japanese aircraft that came to support them could not stop the Eighth Route Army's offensive. Just one day later, the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei troops began their siege.

Chapter 481 Battlefield Uprising 2

On September 1942, 9, the Jin-Cha-Ji Army concentrated its Second, Third, and Fourth Brigades to begin the siege. In addition to these three brigades, the First and Third Divisions also organized five main regiments, and the Hebei-Central Military Region also organized five main regiments. In addition, the Beiyue District and the Hebei-Central Military Region mobilized a large number of local troops to fight against reinforcements and prevent other Japanese and puppet troops from interfering with the Baoding Campaign.

In this Baoding Campaign, there were more than 20 main force regiments involved in attacking the city and defeating reinforcements, as well as tens of thousands of local troops.

This was the first time since the establishment of the Jin-Cha-Ji Military Region that so many main force regiments were deployed for a single battle. Many of the main force units of the Jin-Cha-Ji Military Region had gradually transitioned from mountain guerrilla warfare to large-scale mobile warfare and positional warfare.

Marshal Nie was very nervous in Yi County.

A victory in this battle would undoubtedly be the Jin-Cha-Ji Military Region's greatest victory in Hebei. It would bring about a qualitative change for the currently advancing Jin-Cha-Ji region, while dealing a severe blow to the North China Front Army. However, a defeat in this battle, or even heavy casualties in the siege, would directly impact the region's current development in Hebei.