Bright Sword: Rebirth of Kong Jie

At this time, the Japanese troops in Taiyuan City were stationed in the headquarters of the First Army of Shanxi.

The commander of the Japanese First Army, Yoshio Shinozuka, was closely following the entire battle situation centered in the Taihang area, especially the battle that broke out first around the Eighth Route Army's Iron Triangle base.

According to the intelligence transmitted back by various troops on the front line.

The 3rd Mixed Brigade stated that its progress toward the Eighth Route Army's New 1st Regiment's base was very smooth and that it had advanced to the central defense zone of the New 1st Regiment's base.

The 9th Mixed Brigade also said it had achieved successive victories.

The 36st Field Brigade of the th Division also won successive victories in its attacks on the Eighth Route Army base areas.

This made Yoshio Shinozuka secretly happy and he let out a sigh of relief.

The humiliation of being constantly defeated by the three groups of the Iron Triangle seemed to be relieved a little.

however……

Just when this old Japanese thought he was sitting on the Diaoyutai and was eagerly waiting for good news from the front.

An urgent communication from Major General Mitani of the Yangquan Japanese City Defense Command was conveyed.

In his communication, San Gu stated that a large number of Eighth Route Army troops suddenly appeared near the county towns of Shouyang, Yangquan and Ping'an. They surrounded all the major city gates of the three counties and built field fortifications outside the city gates. It seemed that they wanted to completely blockade the defenders in the city.

"Our army's defense forces in the city are empty. We took the initiative to launch multiple attacks, but they were all repelled by the Eighth Route Army. We can only watch these Eighth Route Army activities outside the city!"

The sudden news left Yoshio Shinozuka completely stunned.

Where is the good news you promised?

How did it turn into bad news that the Eighth Route Army detoured to the rear and launched a surprise attack?

Yoshio Shinozuka initially thought it was impossible until Major General Mitani explained the details of the situation in a serious manner.

Only then did Yoshio Shinozuka realize that the situation seemed to be beyond his control.

Fortunately, the troops that launched a surprise attack from the rear seemed to be only local troops of the Eighth Route Army, at most some main forces with low combat effectiveness.

Although the number of troops defending Shouyang, Yangquan and Ping'an counties was small, they were enough to withstand the attacks of the Eighth Route Army's regular troops and defend the counties.

The battle reports from the front-line troops were still before us.

The Third Mixed Brigade made good progress against the New 1st Regiment of the Eighth Route Army.

The 9th Mixed Brigade successfully fought against the New 2nd Regiment of the Eighth Route Army.

The First Field Brigade had even reached the inner defense zone of the Eighth Route Army base. The Eighth Route Army was beaten back step by step, while the Japanese army was advancing triumphantly.

In the eyes of the Japanese army, the three iron triangle regiments, which could be regarded as the elite trump cards of the Eighth Route Army, had been completely blocked in the base area by the Third Mixed Brigade, the Ninth Mixed Brigade and the First Brigade, and could not escape the crisis of destruction.

This was the only elite Eighth Route Army force that Shinozuka Yoshio was concerned about.

Apart from that, he did not think there was any threat to the Japanese army's stable security zone.

only……

"What on earth did these damned Eighth Route Army have the guts to attack the county town within our army's security zone?"

Yoshio Shinozuka was furious, but when he looked around, he saw that at this moment, the main force of his First Army's field army had basically been transferred to the Eighth Route Army base for a large-scale mopping-up operation.

There are also some troops who are used to build defense lines and dikes in western Shanxi to prevent surprise attacks by the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army.

Either they were in a long-range standoff with the Central Army troops in Zhongtiao Mountain in southern Shanxi, or they could not be withdrawn at all.

Moreover, the distance is too far, and distant water cannot put out a nearby fire.

After analyzing the overall battle situation, Yoshio Shinozuka helplessly discovered that Shouyang, Yangquan and Ping'an counties were attacked by the Eighth Route Army.

The only ones who could provide quick reinforcements were the main forces of the Japanese field army that were conducting a large-scale mopping-up operation in the direction of the Eighth Route Army's New 1st Regiment, New 2nd Regiment, and Independent Regiment.

but……

"General, if we withdraw the mopping-up forces to the rear for support now, wouldn't the mopping-up operations in the front be in vain?" the Japanese chief of staff analyzed.

"There is a strategy in the Chinese Sun Tzu's Art of War called "Besiege Wei to Save Zhao". It seems that the Eighth Route Army is deliberately making a detour to attack the county town behind our army in an attempt to disrupt our army's mopping-up plan."

After hearing this, Shinozuka Yoshio did become a little hesitant. He could also guess that this was a tactic of the Eighth Route Army to attack Wei and save Zhao.

But how to do it?

We must insist that the front-line combat troops continue to carry out sweeps against the Eighth Route Army bases. At most, we must wipe out the Eighth Route Army bases and seize those barren mountainous areas that have no resources at all.

However, the Japanese army has always defended important cities as military and political centers. Once the counties of Yangquan, Shouyang and Ping'an were lost, it would be a devastating blow to the Japanese both militarily and politically.

Would you trade three well-developed, resource-rich county towns for the Eighth Route Army's desolate, poorly populated and backward mountainous areas?

As for completely eliminating the Eighth Route Army.

Yoshio Shinozuka knew very well that it might not be that easy.

The damn Eighth Route Army was good at mobile warfare and guerrilla warfare. Even though they had carried out countless large-scale raids against the Eighth Route Army bases, in the end they could at most drive the Eighth Route Army into the deep mountains and forests.

They wanted to force the Eighth Route Army into a decisive battle and destroy its main force in one fell swoop.

It's simply impossible to do.

For a moment, Yoshio Shinozuka also became hesitant.

The final decision was to return to the rear immediately to eliminate all those Eighth Route Army troops that dared to launch a roundabout attack on the county town.

Or should we continue to carry out sweeps against the Eighth Route Army base areas?

Another important factor:

This time, the Japanese army launched a May 1st mopping-up operation of unprecedented scale, targeting not only the Eighth Route Army in the Taihang Military Region, and not only the elite Iron Triangle of the Eighth Route Army.

It also includes the most important Eighth Route Army military station, the Ji-Central Military Region.

The Japanese troops participating in this unprecedented sweep were not just his First Army troops stationed in Shanxi.

It also includes the 12th Army of Hebei and even the Mongolian troops stationed in the Mengjiang area.

If his First Army rashly withdrew the mopping-up troops, the mopping-up operation against the Eighth Route Army's Taihang base would fail.

If the Eighth Route Army in the Taihang base had provided reinforcements to central and southern Hebei, the entire May 1st mopping-up plan of the Japanese army would have failed.

He, Yoshio Shinozuka, has become a sinner.

And just as the old devil was hesitating.

Kong Jie, Ding Wei and Li Yunlong are not idle.

The three regiment commanders led the main forces of each regiment and launched fierce attacks on Shouyang, Yangquan and Ping'an counties respectively, but in fact it was just bluffing. It was not easy to capture the county towns with strong Japanese city defense fortifications.

Think about it, according to the plot line of Bright Sword, when Li Yunlong attacked Ping'an County, there was a lot of commotion. The Independent Regiment assembled tens of thousands of troops to attack Ping'an County, but it was still a very difficult battle and they suffered heavy casualties.

There were only a few hundred Japanese soldiers defending the county town.

At present, although the Japanese troops in Shouyang, Yangquan and Ping'an counties are short of manpower, there are still more than 1000 Japanese and puppet troops in the city, stationed in the city relying on solid defensive fortifications.

The Japanese army built a large amount of machine gun firepower and city defense artillery on the city defense fortifications.

It is not easy to take down these ready-made ones.

The three iron triangle regiments might suffer heavy casualties.

The most crucial thing is that the Eighth Route Army does not have the strength to engage in a full-scale battle with the Japanese army at the moment. Even if it captures Shouyang, Shouyang and Ping'an counties, it is impossible to occupy them for a long time.

Surrounding the cities with the countryside and finally seizing national power was also out of helplessness.

If the Eighth Route Army had sufficient strength, why would it develop in the barren and backward mountainous areas and suburbs?

Directly seizing the county towns and villages occupied by the Japanese army is the most effective way.

Therefore, the combat objectives of the three regiment leaders, Kong Jie, Ding Wei, and Li Yunlong, were very clear:

With powerful attacks and bluffing, the Japanese and puppet troops were forced to shrink and hold their ground in the limited county centers of Shouyang, Yangquan and Ping'an counties.

Then build temporary field fortifications outside the city to block the Japanese inside the city so that they dare not leave at will.

After quickly completing this combat objective.

Kong Jie immediately ordered: "Notify all company commanders to immediately contact the local military units and mobilize the common people to clean up all industries, stations, industrial and mining enterprises, civilian enterprises, etc. controlled by the Japanese army around Shouyang.

The captured materials and equipment were immediately dispersed and transferred with the help of local military comrades and fellow villagers.

The soldiers acted quickly.

To use an inappropriate example, it is like a swarm of locusts passing through a territory.

All the industrial and mining industries and military bases around the Japanese county town, including the Japs' electrical wires, rails, wood used to build bridges, etc., were dismantled, transported, and taken away.

Such a commotion naturally alarmed the Japanese and puppet troops defending the city.

But the Japanese could only watch all this, and did not dare to leave the city defense fortifications and take the initiative to attack.

——The angry Japanese officers led their own Japanese soldiers out of the city to fight. However, before their troops could even reach the temporary field fortifications built by the Eighth Route Army, more than half of their troops were killed or wounded, and they retreated back into the city in a panic.

The news was quickly transmitted to the headquarters of the Japanese First Army.

Yoshio Shinozuka was also dumbfounded. He immediately realized that these damn Eighth Route Army were just like bandits, launching a surprise attack on the rear just to rob supplies.

After the Japanese army occupied Shouyang, Yangquan and Ping'an counties.

Considering the density of the population as well as the need for concealment and convenience, there are actually not many military bases built in the central urban area surrounded by city walls.

Mainly some industrial, mining, military and other enterprises built outside the city walls.

Although these military bases were originally located outside the county town, they were also near the Japanese army's stable security zone and within the Japanese devils' quasi-security zone.

It is usually guarded by security forces and protected by field troops stationed nearby.

It is impossible for any anti-Japanese armed forces to threaten this place.

However, the Hundred Regiments Campaign broke out, breaking through all the layers of defense that the Japanese army had set up to blockade the Eighth Route Army's base.

The three regiments of the Eighth Route Army's Iron Triangle quickly broke through the Japanese blockade through the tactic of swapping their bases, and then launched a roundabout attack on the Japanese rear.

The Japanese and puppet troops, depleted of manpower, could only retreat into the city.

The great military bases, industrial and mining enterprises, civilian factories, etc., which were originally outside the city, were all taken over by the Eighth Route Army.

The soldiers were so happy about all the spoils they had captured along the way.

In order to ensure the combat effectiveness of the troops, Kong Jie could not allow the large amount of captured materials to become a burden and affect the mobility of the troops.

Therefore, a special order was issued to hand over the large amount of captured materials and equipment to the local military units and the local people who came to help for dispersed transportation.

Or they were sent to the Eighth Route Army base through various small paths and mountain roads.

Or they might be temporarily hidden in some nearby mountainous areas, and then transported back to the Eighth Route Army base after the storm had passed.

After learning the news, how could Yoshio Shinozuka tolerate the Japanese army's years of hard work being destroyed and let these Eighth Route Army take advantage of it?

He immediately ordered the front-line mopping-up forces to withdraw troops to the rear for support.

Among them, the Japanese First Brigade, which was closer to the Shouyang area, dispatched an infantry battalion to provide support to Shouyang County.

The 9th Mixed Brigade of the Japanese Army, which was closer to Yangquan, dispatched an infantry battalion to reinforce Yangquan.

The Japanese Third Mixed Brigade also dispatched an infantry battalion to reinforce Ping'an County.

Fearing that it would affect the large-scale mopping-up operation against the Eighth Route Army base, the Japanese did not dare to withdraw more troops to support the rear.

The Japanese command believed that the three infantry battalions that were drawn back would be enough to defeat the Eighth Route Army, or at least drive them away, and assist the defenders in Shouyang, Yangquan and Ping'an counties to strengthen their city defenses.

Up to this point, although the Japanese army realized that the Eighth Route Army in the surprise attack on Yangquan, Shouyang and Ping'an counties seemed to have good fighting power - they were even able to completely encircle the Japanese and puppet troops in the city.

However, no one could guess that they were the elite Iron Triangle of the Eighth Route Army in disguise - in order to paralyze the Japanese army, after the swap of garrisons, the soldiers of the New 17st Regiment, the New 21nd Regiment and the Independent Regiment left all the steel helmets, including the iconic field boots, in their regiments to the soldiers of the New th Regiment, the th Regiment and the st Regiment.

Then the three Iron Triangle regiments disguised themselves as the most common Eighth Route Army troops.

Even the uniforms are not unified. At first glance, I would think they are a local military unit!

In order to achieve the effect of concealing the truth.

The results were immediate.

The Japanese army withdrew troops from the rear to provide support, but they only sent three additional infantry battalions.

In the eyes of the Japanese, three infantry battalions were enough to easily defeat these local armed forces of the Eighth Route Army.

And this is exactly what Kong Jie, Ding Wei and Li Yunlong wanted.

The next tactic is very simple.

"Surround the area for reinforcements!"

Kong Jie said this at a pre-war military meeting.

"After we appeared in the direction of Yangquan, Shouyang and Ping'an counties, we made sufficient disguises and compressed the Japanese troops into the city.

The Japanese would probably think that we are the regular Eighth Route Army taking advantage of the opportunity to break through the blockade.

Maybe they think we are a local army. Even if they withdraw troops from the mopping-up force to provide support, it is estimated that there will not be too many.

We must take advantage of the Japanese's carelessness, surround and attack their reinforcements, and then seize the opportunity to destroy several of their troops.

By the time the Japanese came to their senses after all this trouble, they had already suffered a great loss.

It’s too late to regret! ”

"beat!"

Under the command of Kong Jie, Ding Wei and Li Yunlong, the soldiers of the New 1st Regiment, the New 2nd Regiment and the Independent Regiment quickly prepared for battle.

At this time, if you look down from the sky, you can see that the Eighth Route Army soldiers who were originally surrounding Shouyang, Yangquan and Ping'an counties quickly moved their troops from both wings, relying on the Japanese army to build field fortifications and turn around to defend themselves.

The formation was opened with a big hole, just like a big pocket, waiting for the Japanese soldiers to come back for reinforcements to fall into the pocket automatically.

The Japanese army dispatched three infantry battalions from the 3rd Mixed Brigade, the 9th Mixed Brigade and the 1st Field Brigade, and with the help of the mechanized combat vehicles of the major brigades, including war horses, motorcycles, and even bicycles, they rushed back to Shouyang, Yangquan and Ping'an County at a very fast speed...