Bright Sword: Rebirth of Kong Jie

Before the Hundred Regiments Campaign, the Japanese army used roads as pillars, railways as chains, and bunkers as locks.

A cage blockade was carried out on each base of the Eighth Route Army.

If the Eighth Route Army troops wanted to fight their way through the remote suburbs and mountain bases to the rear of the Japanese army's stable security zone, they had to pass through the Japanese army's numerous blockades, with bunkers and artillery towers of all sizes along the way.

Therefore, it seems very difficult.

But the current environment gives Kong Jie, Li Yunlong and Ding Wei extra convenience.

The Hundred Regiments Campaign had just ended.

The Eighth Route Army deployed more than 100 regiments, nearly 20 troops, to carry out large-scale raids on the Japanese army's various transportation lines.

The cage used by the Japanese army to blockade the Eighth Route Army's base was completely shattered.

A large number of Japanese strongholds and artillery towers that were originally scattered around the outer lines of the Eighth Route Army's base were also eliminated one after another.

This means that along the way from the new 6th, 17th and 21st regiment bases to the Japanese rear areas of Yangquan, Shouyang and Ping'an counties.

There was basically no strong blockade line or bunkers or artillery towers set up by the Japanese army.

This was also an important reason why the Japanese were eager to launch an unprecedented large-scale sweep and deal a heavy blow to the Eighth Route Army base.

If the main force of the Eighth Route Army is not completely eliminated, without the blockade of the cage, the Eighth Route Army will attack everywhere, and the Japanese's originally relatively stable security zone will be like a small boat under the waves, which may be swallowed up by the huge waves at any time.

Yangquan County.

The Shanxi-Suiyuan Army suffered a crushing defeat in the Battle of Taiyuan. Shortly after the fall of Taiyuan, the Japanese took advantage of the situation and completely captured Yangquan County.

Relying on the county's city defense fortifications, a fairly stable central security zone of Yangquan City was built.

In the following years, the Japanese invested considerable energy, manpower and material resources to build the entire Yangquan into an iron barrel.

Under the relentless pressure of the Japanese army, the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army and the Central Army, which were being beaten back step by step, often shouted slogans to recapture Yangquan and take back Taiyuan.

But in fact, since the fall of Yangquan, no anti-Japanese armed forces have actually reached the city gate of Yangquan County.

At this time, inside the Japanese city defense headquarters in Yangquan.

The city defense headquarters included the security command of Yangquan and other nearby cities such as Shouyang and Ping'an County.

It was mainly responsible for the defense of the three cities and assisting the field troops in some combat tasks during the large-scale sweep of the Eighth Route Army base areas.

Major General Mitani is the commander of the city defense headquarters.

He was sitting here as usual.

He had no worries about the defense of Shouyang, Yangquan and Ping'an counties, which were of paramount importance to the entire Japanese-occupied area in southeastern Shanxi.

In his opinion, those national army troops who only knew how to lose battles and were almost collapsed at the first blow had long lost the spirit of forging ahead.

They retreated all the way to the rear.

The Shanxi-Suiyuan Army hid in western Shanxi and lived in peace in a corner.

The Central Army basically retreated to the Zhongtiao Mountain area.

Some Kuomintang troops remained in the mountainous areas and suburbs of the occupied areas and fought guerrilla warfare like the Eighth Route Army.

But they did not learn the essence and will be wiped out by the Japanese army sooner or later.

As for those poorly equipped Eighth Route Army troops trying to survive in the cracks of the occupied areas.

Major General Mitani did not think they had the ability to threaten Japanese rule.

It was not until the outbreak of the Hundred Regiments Campaign that the Eighth Route Army suddenly mobilized more than 100 regiments, with a force of nearly 20.

This really scared the Japanese army.

Even Major General Mitani was stunned and sighed that these damn Eighth Route Army were indeed difficult to deal with. The Imperial Army had clearly launched large-scale sweeps against their bases time and time again, but he didn't expect that these Eighth Route Army was still growing stronger quietly.

But that's all.

"The foolish Eighth Route Army thought that the large-scale Hundred Regiments Campaign had completely broken the blockade of our army, but they did not know that they had also completely exposed their strength.

After the May 1st mopping-up operation was fully launched, the Eighth Route Army's troops stationed in the Central Hebei Military Region were wiped out in one fell swoop, the main force of the Eighth Route Army's Taihang base was severely damaged, and three regiments of the Eighth Route Army's Iron Triangle were destroyed.

The Eighth Route Army struggling in the cracks of the occupied areas will not be a concern! "

When discussing this matter at the city defense headquarters, the old Japanese soldier San Gu felt quite regretful.

"It's a pity that we are left behind, otherwise we would have followed the main force and killed him quickly."

Then a Japanese officer who was attending the meeting said: "General, if you ask me, the Eighth Route Army has been completely surrounded in the mountains by our mopping-up troops.

What kind of danger could there be in our county town in the rear?

We might as well withdraw all our troops to assist the field army in the battle.

It's much better than being bored and garrisoned in the city now."

A group of Japanese officers complained in frustration. They had never imagined that the county town would be attacked.

until……

Ding Wei led the soldiers of the New 1st Regiment and quickly defeated the Pingchuan Battalion of the Japanese Army from the base of the New 6th Regiment. They then divided their troops into several groups and advanced in a roundabout way towards Yangquan.

Occasionally, when we encountered some Japanese blockade lines with empty troops along the way, we would quickly eliminate the enemy.

There was no chance for the Japs to pass on communications to the rear.

There is also cooperation from local military forces along the way, including convenience provided after mobilizing local people.

When the New 1st Regiment, an anti-Japanese armed force, was discovered by the Japanese army, the news was passed to the Yangquan Japanese city defense headquarters and reached the ears of the old devil Sangu.

Ding Wei has led the soldiers of the New 1st Regiment to the outer defense zone of Yangquan County.

There was only a squadron of Japanese troops stationed there.

However, there were relatively sturdy bunkers, watchtowers, machine gun fortifications, trenches, and barbed wire used for blockades, etc. specially built by the Japanese.

With the help of these easy-to-defend and difficult-to-attack fortifications, under normal circumstances, they would only be able to deal with the Eighth Route Army, which was poorly equipped and did not even have machine guns and artillery.

Even if there was only one squadron of about 200 Japanese soldiers, they could easily block the attack of the Eighth Route Army that was several times or even dozens of times their number.

However, the situation this time was completely different.

After Ding Wei led the soldiers of the New 1st Regiment to the attack, facing the Japanese army's outer defense fortifications, he did not hesitate to order the following artillery company to launch a fierce fire attack.

——The Eighth Route Army’s biggest headache has always been offensive warfare, because the troops lack artillery, especially offensive artillery that can forcibly destroy the enemy’s field offensive.

Therefore, the Japanese could easily implement a cage policy, even using some blockhouses and bunkers made of earth, stone, wood and stone, to blockade the Eighth Route Army in the suburbs and mountains and make them unable to move.

There was no way. The Eighth Route Army’s equipment was too backward, and many newly formed regiments could not even find a mortar in the entire regiment.

Ordinary bullets were of no use when hitting the artillery towers and bunkers built by the Japanese.

A forced charge would only result in additional casualties when facing the Japanese army's absolutely superior firepower.

even if...

Even if the Eighth Route Army troops blocked by the Japanese had an artillery piece, such as a Type 92 infantry gun.

How could the Japanese devils in the artillery tower and bunker dare to be so rampant?

The turrets and bunkers built with wood, stone and brick structures were like paper under the bombardment of infantry artillery. The turrets and bunkers immediately became the graves dug by the Japanese army.

At this moment, when more than a dozen artillery pieces of the New 70st Regiment's artillery company were fully deployed, including several mm Type infantry guns captured from the Japanese army, and several Type regimental guns.

Its fierce firepower almost directly destroyed the artillery towers and bunkers built by the Japanese army here to deal with regular Eighth Route Army troops.

Boom——

Amid the continuous bombardment, the Japanese defenses that they had thought were solid were even forcibly breached.

Some bunkers even collapsed, burying the Japanese inside completely.

The casualties of the Japanese squadron relying on fortifications for defense spread rapidly.

It was realized that the enemy's Eighth Route Army's firepower configuration was much stronger than expected.

The Japanese captain in command did not dare to delay and immediately led his troops to flee into the city.

Of course, when words come out of our mouths, it is called "transition"!

The Japanese soldiers' nature is that even if they only have a piece of loincloth left, they will still use it to cover their shame proudly and will never admit their failure.

The outer defense fortifications of Yangquan County were quickly broken through by the soldiers of the New 1st Regiment.

After breaking through the outer defense zone, under the command of Ding Wei, the soldiers of the New 1st Regiment quickly divided into several groups, two of which detoured from the two wings and attacked several other city gates and side gates of Yangquan.

Ding Wei personally led a group of elite troops and headed straight for the south gate of Yangquan County.

It is the place with the most frequent traffic in Yangquan and also the most important city gate in the entire Yangquan County.

The Japanese usually carried out military operations and large transport convoys through the South City Gate.

Boom!

When a shell hit the city defense fortifications at the south gate of Yangquan County, it completely awakened the Japanese and puppet troops in Yangquan. The stunned Japanese soldiers were like sleepy people who were woken up after a long sleep. Only then did they realize that Yangquan, which they thought was stable and worry-free, was actually attacked by the enemy's anti-Japanese armed forces.

The news was quickly transmitted to the Japanese city defense headquarters in Yangquan.

It was learned that a large number of Eighth Route Army troops suddenly launched a fierce attack on the south gate of Yangquan.

Major General Mitani was also stunned for a moment.

"Baga, how is this possible? How could the Eighth Route Army appear outside the city in large numbers?"

He blurted out this subconsciously, thinking that this was absolutely impossible.

Not to mention the layers of defense outside Yangquan County.

After the May 1st mopping-up operation was officially launched, tens of thousands of troops from various field armies spread out a large mopping-up net and advanced all the way from the direction of the county town, trapping almost all the Eighth Route Army troops in the suburbs and mountainous areas.

The blockade was pulled up layer by layer.

These damn Eighth Route Army troops should be struggling and resisting in the base at this moment.

How could he appear here?

"What exactly is going on? How many enemy troops are there?"

Major General Mitani asked in panic.

The Japanese signalman replied: "Sir, according to the communication sent back by the city gate command, there are about 500 to 600 Eighth Route Army soldiers attacking from the south city gate.

In addition, there were eight routes attacking from the West Gate, East Gate, West Small South Gate and East Small South Gate, each with several hundred people.

However, these Eighth Route Army soldiers were not dressed in uniform, and only a small number of them even had military uniforms. It seemed that they were local armed forces of the Eighth Route Army, not even the main force. "

"Damn it, have you figured out which unit the enemy's Eighth Route Army is?"

The old devil Mitani inquired.

The signalman shook his head, "We didn't capture any prisoners, and the Eighth Route Army didn't reveal their numbers, so we don't know which team they are!"

As time went by, the situation surrounding Yangquan became increasingly worse.

Soon, emergency communications were transmitted from all city gates, indicating that immediate reinforcements were needed.

If the city gate fortifications were completely breached and this group of fierce Eighth Route Army troops were allowed to enter Yangquan County, the consequences can be imagined.

Not to mention the risk of losing Yangquan, this would be a huge humiliation for the Japanese army.

The loss of a major county town would not only result in heavy losses for the Japanese army.

It will also show the world that the Japanese army has lost control of the occupied areas and is even gradually losing ground in the course of the war.

This would not only be a serious blow to the Japanese army militarily, but would also be a serious blow politically.

Therefore, the Japanese army would never allow important county towns such as Yangquan, Shouyang and Ping'an to be captured by the Eighth Route Army.

——For example, according to the original plot line of "Bright Sword", Li Yunlong's bombardment of Ping'an County was jokingly called the turning point of World War II. Although it was a bit exaggerated, Li Yunlong's attack on Ping'an County did officially kick off the prelude to the Eighth Route Army's full-scale counterattack, gradually attacking counties and towns to recover lost territory.

At this moment, there were not many defenders stationed in Yangquan. They were composed of the security forces, the Japanese soldiers from the gendarmerie, the puppet army guards, the puppet army, etc.

The Japanese and puppet troops consisted of only more than 1000 people.

But what needed to be defended was the huge Yangquan County, which had seven or eight city gates alone.

Faced with the Eighth Route Army's attacks from all directions, this amount of troops was naturally insufficient.

Major General Mitani did not dare to delay and immediately contacted the Japanese city defense command in Shouyang and Ping'an counties, ordering the defenders in Shouyang and Ping'an counties to quickly reinforce Yangquan.

After all, from a geographical point of view, Shouyang, Yangquan and Ping'an counties are relatively close to each other, so it is reasonable for them to reinforce each other.

However, the news coming from Shouyang and Ping'an counties immediately afterwards left Major General Mitani dumbfounded.

"Sir, we are under attack from the Eighth Route Army. They have surrounded all the major city gates of Shouyang. We have no way to leave the city gates!"

"Outside Ping'an County, there are all Eighth Route Army troops. We launched several attacks based on common sense, but they were all repelled by the Eighth Route Army. We suffered heavy casualties and were unable to send reinforcements."

The old Japanese soldier San Gu was confused.

He originally wanted to withdraw troops from Shouyang and Ping'an counties to reinforce Yangquan.

Now, Shouyang and Ping'an counties were also besieged by the Eighth Route Army.

According to reports from the three counties, the attacking Eighth Route Army looked like a local military unit judging from their attire.

However, their combat effectiveness is quite strong, no less than that of the main force of the Eighth Route Army.

The key point is that there are a lot of them, a team of several thousand people.

But how is this possible?

Hasn’t the Eighth Route Army been surrounded by the Imperial Army and is conducting a counter-mopping-up operation within the base area?

There was no time to think about how the Eighth Route Army broke through the large-scale blockade of the Japanese army and appeared near Yangquan and Ping'an counties in Shouyang.

Mitani quickly communicated with the Japanese First Army Headquarters...