Rebirth: I am in Jin-Cha-Ji

It was also very difficult for the Jidong troops to fight guerrilla warfare in the Jidong area.

The 13th, 14th, and 15th Regiments were particularly noteworthy, as they were the troops that were built up step by step when the situation in eastern Hebei was at its worst. They were all battle-hardened troops with outstanding achievements.

Should be cautious.

Victory cannot be purchased at the cost of human lives.

Deng Guo frowned slightly, but said nothing. He quickly explained, "Don't worry. Our Yidong troops may lack experience in attacking strongholds, but we have extensive experience in guerrilla warfare and ambushes."

Although we have never ambushed a Japanese battalion or regiment-sized force, we have ambushed a Japanese squadron. Comrade Bao Shen, what do you think?

"Yes."

The commander of the newly established 11th Brigade was Bao Shen, who was also a legendary general in Jidong.

In eastern Hebei, the people didn't recognize the Eighth Route Army's senior leaders, but they all knew Bao Shen. This was because Bao Shen had fought so many brilliant battles in eastern Hebei. After the great uprising in eastern Hebei, the main force retreated, and the situation in eastern Hebei was very bad.

At that time, the Deng-Song detachment left three detachments in eastern Hebei. These were called detachments, but they were actually company-level units, and were often understaffed. Each detachment had about fifty or sixty men.

Bao Shen is the captain of the second team.

Bao Shen was a good fighter. Under his leadership, the Second Detachment expanded to more than 1500 men within a year. All the weapons and ammunition were seized from the Japanese and puppet troops by Bao Shen.

Bao Shen's most impressive military achievement was in June 1940, when he set an ambush and completely wiped out a Japanese cavalry squadron, causing a sensation throughout eastern Hebei.

Moreover, Bao Shen was the general who had annihilated the most puppet troops in the Jidong troops.

Earlier this year, he led seven companies to completely annihilate two regiments of the North China Security Army, capturing over 7 prisoners. The 14th Regiment became the largest of the Yidong forces, commanding 12 infantry companies and over 3000 men. Its weapons and equipment were also excellent.

The number of light and heavy machine guns was the largest in the entire Jidong Army.

They also had plenty of mortars and Zheng missiles. Bao Shen and Cai Debao, currently serving as the deputy commander of the 9th Brigade, were the two most legendary generals in the Jidong Army.

In fact, Bao Shen died in February of this year. However, in this time and space, the Jin-Cha-Ji Army was too powerful, attracting too many Japanese and puppet troops. Therefore, the historical North China Front Army's large-scale sweep of eastern Hebei in early 1942 did not occur in this time and space. Therefore, Bao Shen is still alive and well.

This time he served as the commander of the newly established 11th Jin-Cha-Ji Brigade.

Bao Shen said confidently: "Our Jidong troops lack heavy firepower such as infantry artillery, and we have no experience in large-scale ambushes such as ambushing Japanese battalions. But because our Jidong troops have been fighting guerrilla warfare, their mobility is very strong. As long as we can mobilize the Japanese and puppet troops, our troops can make long-distance raids and specifically ambush the weak Japanese and puppet troops. There is no rule in fighting that you must fight head-on or eat a strong enemy. We can use our mobility to specifically attack the soft spots of the Japanese and puppet troops. Our commanders are very smart. As long as we fight a few such ambushes, everyone will learn how to fight ambushes."

Wei Hongjun nodded.

I strongly agree with this famous general who died very early in the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression.

This is the nature of warfare, and mobile warfare is even more so. The reason we mobilize the enemy is to find their weaknesses. Ignoring the Japanese army's weaknesses and attacking a powerful enemy is a foolish act.

Fighting a war is about leveraging your strengths and avoiding your weaknesses.

Use your strengths to attack the enemy's weaknesses.

"What do you think of my plan? Let me tell you, the Japanese army can mobilize very few troops in Jidong and Rehe. As soon as their troops move, and the surrounding strongholds also send troops, the number of Japanese and puppet troops in these cities and strongholds will immediately be insufficient. Even if we don't ambush the Japanese and puppet troops, we can still deal with these cities and strongholds and eliminate them all. I have seen that the Japanese and puppet troops are short of manpower, so I want to mobilize them. If our two families join forces, we can have an army of 40,000 to 50,000 people. It will be difficult for us to deal with them if they hide in the big cities. If they move, we will be able to have a 500% or 600% advantage in local areas."

Deng Guo was very confident.

Wang Qiuyun and Wei Hongjun immediately exchanged a few words in a low voice.

Although Deng Guo was their old leader, he was only their old leader. With such a large-scale battle at stake, it was impossible for the two men to just follow Deng Guo's orders. After a brief discussion, both agreed that this plan was a good one.

Wang Qiuyun said, "Old leader, your plan is indeed a good one. As long as the first step can be completed and the Japanese troops are mobilized, we can indeed create an opportunity to annihilate the Japanese and puppet troops. As long as this plan goes smoothly, our Ji-Re-Cha Military Region and Yi-Re-Liao Military Region will be able to completely connect. If we can even annihilate enough Japanese and puppet troops this time, the Japanese and puppet troops in this area will be even more short of troops.

"Old leader, I also think there's nothing wrong with this plan overall. Our two families can sit down and discuss the specifics."

"it is good."

Deng Guo was very happy.

This was his first action after becoming the commander of the Jireliao Military Region.

However, if the Ji-Re-Liao Military Region acts on its own, there will be many problems, mainly insufficient manpower. In comparison, the Yi-Re-Cha Military Region is strong, and in terms of combat effectiveness, the troops of the Ji-Re-Cha Military Region are obviously superior.

If the troops of the Hebei-Rehe-Chahar Military Region were involved, this plan would definitely succeed.

However, Deng Guo was not without worries.

Although Wang Qiuyun and Wei Hongjun were longtime subordinates of Deng Guo, they didn't actually have much of a relationship. They were brought into the army by Luo Renfa. After their units were incorporated into the 1st Red Army Division, they followed Yang Dezhi during the Long March, when Yang Dezhi was their regimental commander. Later, when Yang Quanwu became the division's political commissar, they continued to fight alongside him.

Now the two people have different identities.

Although the two men had little experience, their status had greatly improved since the Jin-Cha-Ji Branch appointed Wei Hongjun as secretary of the Jin-Cha-Ji Border Region District Committee, and the Jin-Cha-Ji Military Region appointed Wang Qiuyun as deputy commander of the Ji-Re-Cha Military Region and Wei Hongjun as deputy political commissar of the Ji-Re-Cha Military Region.

The superiors have acknowledged the two people's contributions to the War of Resistance and their current status.

If the two were unwilling to cooperate, Deng Guo would have no other options. Fortunately, both Wang Qiuyun and Wei Hongjun supported this plan.

"My suggestion is to implement this plan as soon as possible. More and more troops from the Kwantung Army are entering Rehe, and the new recruits requested by the North China Front will probably be arriving soon. If we delay any further, it will be disadvantageous to us.

Chapter 496 Mobilizing Japanese and Puppet Troops

Tangshan was under siege.

When the news spread, Ningji Okamura almost fainted.

Why was the Eighth Route Army he faced so powerful and restless? The news from the plane was that the mountains north of Tangshan were covered with Eighth Route Army flags. They even discovered the Eighth Route Army's artillery positions in the rear.

Although planes were sent to bomb the Eighth Route Army troops, they dispersed during the bombing and gathered again after the bombing. These Eighth Route Army troops captured cities and territories around Tangshan, swallowing up the counties, towns, and villages around Tangshan one by one.

Then large troops began to appear outside Tangshan City.

The 59th Division troops in Tangshan City were already in a very tense situation.

In the past, the Japanese and puppet troops would have certainly mocked the Eighth Route Army for being ignorant of their own limitations. They might even have dispatched troops out of the city to pursue these ignorant Eighth Route Army soldiers. However, since the Jin-Cha-Yi Army captured Zhangjiakou, Baoding, and even Jining, using so many artillery pieces, no Japanese and puppet troops today would dare to underestimate the Eighth Route Army's siege efforts.

They are really scared.

How could I not be afraid?

Therefore, before Deng Guo led his troops to attack the city, the Japanese and puppet troops in Tangshan City had already become frightened birds and kept asking for help from the North China Front Army.

"Commander, Tangshan cannot be lost."

"I know."

Ningji Okamura certainly understood the importance of Tangshan.

If Tangshan were lost, Japan would no longer be able to plunder coal from Tangshan. Domestic demand for coal is increasing, and if the annual supply of 7 to 8 million tons of coal is gone, where will the gap be filled?

Who will replenish it?

Besides, Tangshan’s location is also important.

If the Eighth Route Army really captured Tangshan, there would be almost no place to defend from Tangshan to Shanhaiguan. If the Eighth Route Army really controlled Tangshan and some of the surrounding areas, it would be able to cut off the important Shanhaiguan passage between North China and Northeast China.

So Tangshan really cannot be lost.

"Send a telegram to the 27th Division, asking them to draw reinforcements from the surrounding areas. Send a telegram to the 59th Division, asking them to draw reinforcements from Jixian County."

Ningji Okamura had a headache.

Tangshan, such an important city, was attacked, but the troops he could mobilize were so few.

There were only the 27th and 59th Divisions, and both were understaffed. Besides the 27th and 59th Divisions, these areas only had security forces, pseudo-security forces, and some pseudo-police forces.

It really hurt Ningji Okamura.

After looking at the map, Ningji Okamura said, "Send a telegram to the headquarters and the Kwantung Army. Request the Kwantung Army to send troops into eastern Hebei. The situation is critical now, and the Kwantung Army must send troops to support. If Tangshan falls, it will not only be a problem for our North China Front Army, but the Kwantung Army will also be in trouble." Ningji Okamura had no choice.

The only option was to seek help from the Kwantung Army. The only troops that could be mobilized were the Japanese and puppet troops in Rehe.

"Yes."

Ningji Okamura was too anxious.

Telegrams came one after another.

"Your Excellency, General."

"Look, this is a telegram from Ningji Okamura."

After receiving the telegram, Umezu Michijiro called over Tatsuya Kusaba, commander of the Kwantung Army Defense Force.

Caochang Chen had already taken the telegram and read it.

"Caochang-kun, originally, the affairs of the North China Front Army had nothing to do with us. But Jidong is too important, and so is Tangshan. It not only directly affects the security of Rehe, but also the Shanhaiguan frontier in Manchuria and North China. Tell me yourself, are there any troops from Rehe sending reinforcements?"

"General, we are planning a major sweep of the Eighth Route Army in Rehe. If we send troops south, the sweep will be delayed."

Cao Changchen was already somewhat dissatisfied.

During this period, Cao Changchen had been continuously sending troops to Rehe, and the number of Japanese and puppet troops entering Rehe had reached approximately 28000. Combined with the remnants of the 29th Division in Rehe, the remnants of the Fifth Military Region Security Division, and a number of puppet police units, the Japanese troops in Rehe totaled over 35000.

Caochang Chen had already begun deploying the Eighth Route Army troops to sweep Rehe.

Now that we suddenly have to support Jidong, all these plans have gone to waste.

Meijin Mijiro shook his head and said, "According to recent news from the North China Front Army, the Eighth Route Army in North China is quite powerful. If they really control Tangshan, it will be disadvantageous to us. Let's solve the problem of Jidong first."

"Commander, if we truly want to resolve the Jidong and Rehe issues, the best approach is to withdraw one or two divisions from the Kwantung Army. Otherwise, everything we do now will only be a temporary solution. Even if we suppress the Eighth Route Army's momentum, as long as we cannot completely eradicate them, they will rise again.

Cao Changchen has expressed his opinion.

Unless these Eighth Route Army troops in North China are completely wiped out, they can develop again as long as there is a small space. However, if we want to completely wipe out the Eighth Route Army, the current number of troops is not enough.

Although nearly 30000 troops were sent to Rehe this time, Caochang Chen was not sure that he could completely annihilate the Rehe Eighth Route Army.

Unless the Japanese division enters Rehe, the Eighth Route Army troops can be truly eliminated.

"Kusa-kun, we have no troops to enter the pass. You should be aware of this."

"But?"

"That goes without saying. The Kwantung Army currently has no troops able to enter the interior."

Umezu Mijiro rejected the suggestion outright.

The Kwantung Army was currently powerful, but the Soviet Far Eastern Army to the north hadn't reduced its forces. In fact, judging by recent developments, the Soviet Far Eastern Army had actually been increasing its forces, putting immense pressure on the Kwantung Army.

Moreover, the current situation in the Pacific battlefield is not very good.

It was only a matter of time before the Kwantung Army troops were withdrawn. At this point, the Kwantung Army had no troops left to fight in the interior of China. However, seeing Kusaba Tatsumi's expression, Umezu Michiro said, "But the Eighth Route Army in North China is indeed causing a stir. If the defense forces need it, we can recruit troops from the villagers in Manchuria. I can apply to the headquarters to organize a new unit specifically for you."

"Commander, what is the organization?"

"The independent guard unit is organized similarly to the current garrison, with six guard battalions under its command. I know these guard units aren't very effective, so let them guard the city and important transportation routes. The North China Front's biggest problem right now is a shortage of troops, primarily mobile ones. Hasn't the North China Front been asking for troops?

"We can form several independent guard teams for them. We can also apply to the headquarters to form independent guard teams directly in the country and then send them to the Chinese battlefield."

Umezu Mijiro really had no choice.

The main force of the Kwantung Army could not be moved. The only option was to form a new force. Umezu Michijiro also knew that a force formed from the peasants of the reclamation group would have little combat effectiveness. If a real battle broke out, they might not even be a match for the regular Manchukuo Army.