Shuozhou is located in the northwest of Shanxi, between the inner and outer Great Walls. It is adjacent to Inner Mongolia in the northwest, Xinzhou in the south and Yanmen Pass, more than 100 kilometers away from the ancient city of Datong in the north, and more than 200 kilometers to the provincial capital Taiyuan in the south. It is of great strategic significance in Shanxi.

Unfortunately, for the Japanese troops stationed in Shuozhou, they have become an isolated army. The recent winter offensive launched by the Eighth Route Army in Shanxi has completely become a unit that has lost foreign aid.

If it weren't for the occasional sight of the plane flying overhead when the weather was good, I'm afraid many Japanese soldiers would feel that they were forgotten by this world. Today, they already knew that they needed to break through the siege.

For many Japanese troops stationed in Shanxi, they couldn't understand it. How could the situation in Shanxi be so decayed in less than half a year? How energetic was they when they marched into Shanxi?

But now, they have become the lonely army who has not broken through and starved to death in the city. Such a change has really made many Japanese soldiers unable to understand, and many puppet soldiers feel that why are they so unlucky?

After almost an hour after leaving the city, the Japanese infantry gangs in Shuozhou City finally drove out of Shuozhou City. For them, the next night was the most critical night.

If they can hold on, maybe they still have a glimmer of life. If they can't stand on, they will all die here. They fought with the Eighth Route Army several times, and these Japanese soldiers knew very well that unless they voluntarily surrendered, they would definitely die.

But the question is, how many Japanese troops that were brainwashed by militarism would surrender voluntarily?

When he learned that the Japanese corps drove out of Shuozhou City and marched towards the blocking position where the first regiment was located. Zhang Cheng looked at the sky and quickly said: "Order the cavalry regiment to implement warnings outside the defense zone of the first regiment, and all guerrillas entered the combat position."

Listening to Zhang Cheng's words, the Chief of Staff of the First Division said in confusion: "Teacher, is it necessary for the guerrillas to join today's battle?"

On the other hand, Zhang Cheng said: "They don't need to join the battle, but they need to encircle and suppress the remaining enemies. The Japanese chose to leave the city at this time. I think they know that there is little chance of breaking through, so they plan to take advantage of the troubled waters at night to escape!

For them, one can escape at this moment is one. But for us, even if we slip away a small Japanese detachment and really let them rush into the village where the villagers live, what consequences do you think will be?

The cavalry regiment implemented peripheral alerts to clear out these remaining enemies. The guerrillas entered the combat positions of each village and were also used to block them. In a word, the Japanese who fled and broke through the siege should not be allowed to enter the village. We cannot take this risk!"

After listening to Zhang Cheng's explanation, the Chief of Staff realized that it was less than one or two hours left before dark. Although the Eighth Route Army was good at fighting night battles, for the Japanese who were leaving the city at this moment, they also wanted to break through at night.

After all, in the dark, it is not easy for the Eighth Route Army to search them out as long as the Japanese did not use turrets. This also shows that the Japanese who drove out Shuozhou City were ready to break through the scattered breakthrough.

Shortly after the Japanese wing left the city, the infantry brigade that had previously set out of Shuozhou City and the puppet army had officially exchanged fire with the Eighth Route Army. Listening to the gunshots from afar, the Japanese who left the city seemed to know that those people would not have a good ending.

At this moment, the Second Regiment and Fourth Regiment of the First Division also began to encircle the area where they were responsible for according to Zhang Cheng's order. What they had to do was not only recover Shuozhou City, but also cooperate with the First Regiment to encircle the Japanese army that had been expelled from the city.

Even according to Zhang Cheng's order, the Second Regiment and the Fourth Regiment each dispatched a main battalion to enter the villages around Shuozhou City in a company, cooperated with the guerrillas to carry out defensive operations, and beware of the Japanese sneaking into the villages where the people live.

After receiving a telegram from the first division, He Zhengdao was also a little surprised that the Japanese army in Shuozhou would actually choose to break out of the city. But in He Zhengdao's opinion, if they had broken through earlier, they might have a chance to succeed. Now, it's too late!

‘Forward this telegram to the 120th Division and the 129th Division! If nothing unexpected happens, the Japanese army in Xinzhou City should send troops to respond. I hope we will block the front line and be prepared for the blocking.

As for the Japanese army coming out of Shuozhou City, we will not let them escape. Our column will be able to seize this group of Japanese devils. After recapturing Shuozhou City, we can concentrate on the war between Datong and Suiyuan.’

Mr. He, the 120th Division, who was in the process of defense, received a telegram forwarded by He Zhengdao and said with a smile: "It seems that the Japanese in Shuozhou also know that they can't wait for reinforcements. It's really a bit too late to break through at this time!"

‘Yes! Just based on the information we know, the Japanese in the former Fanshuozhou were in a hurry to store the food. They also used telegrams to request Japanese aircraft to airdrop, but one aircraft was shot down and most of the supplies were picked up by the Unique Division.’

Listening to this, President He nodded and said, "When I met Xiao He's column, the Japanese were really in trouble. We originally wanted to spend the New Year quietly, but who told the Japanese to carry out a large bombing on our base area without any trouble!

Although Xiao He is young, he is also a person who can't rub the sand in his eyes. The Japanese bombed his Yulin City, it would be strange if he didn't seek revenge on the Japanese! Now, he will be occupied by Shuozhou and Datong."

As the Eighth Route Army, General He, who is close to He Zhengdao, also admires He Zhengdao very much. In the eyes of General He, although He Zhengdao is young, he is also one of the few powerful generals in the Eighth Route Army.

The most rare thing is that in addition to his ability in military command, He Zhengdao also has his current situation, which is also closely related to He Zhengdao. The Eighth Route Army is indeed very rare in this general who is both civil and military.

When the Japanese corps that drove out of Shuozhou City finally arrived at the blocking position guarded by a regiment. Looking at the blocking position ahead, the Japanese corps captain did not hesitate and began to order the troops to prepare for an attack.

The infantry cannons pulled out of the city were quickly set up. However, the Type 92 infantry cannons equipped by the Japanese wing were not enough for a regiment with a division-level artillery regiment.

When forming the direct artillery regiments of each division, He Zhengdao still fired the captured 75 mountain cannons or field cannons. Therefore, in terms of artillery caliber and range, the main division of the column can completely defeat the Japanese infantry corps.

Seeing the Japanese starting to set up their 92 infantry cannons, a regiment commander on the position said to the chief of staff beside him: "Hold up a phone number for the artillery regiment and ask them to take a little leisurely, so don't scare the Japanese away!"

‘Yes, the leader!’

For many old Red Army soldiers who came from the Long March, they were indeed happy with the firepower equipment of the main force. Although there are few main divisions of the Eighth Route Army equipped with direct artillery regiments, at least they already have artillery regiments!

A main division is equipped with an artillery regiment, which seems a bit extravagant in the Central Army. But now the first and second divisions of the column are equipped with at least twelve mountain cannons or field cannons. This change undoubtedly increases the commander's confidence a lot.

Even according to He Zhengdao's instructions, after the end of this winter offensive, half of the 75-caliber artillery seized by each division could be retained. This means that the size of the artillery regiments of each division will be expanded one step closer.

In contrast, the column's direct artillery brigade is currently equipped with 105 caliber field artillery. At present, the arsenal has also been under trial production for 75 caliber mountain cannons or field cannons, and perhaps experimental cannons will be released from the factory in the future.

Once the scale is formed, it will no longer be too difficult to equip the main divisions of the Eighth Route Army with self-made 75-caliber artillery in the future. The self-improvement of this equipment really makes the officers and soldiers of the Eighth Route Army feel that they are considered regular soldiers.

Looking at the blocking positions on both sides of the mountain road, one left and one right, the Japanese corps commander also knew that there was not much time left for them. Therefore, they even spared the firepower test and directly sent two infantry brigades to launch an attack.

In the words of the Japanese corps captain, if they can break through the blocking position in front of them, their path to break through will be much easier. If they cannot break through the blocking position in front of them, night will be the time for them to find their own way of life.

The corps leader who was staying on the artillery position said with a crazy expression: "Damn all the shells we carried! When we break through, all these cannons were blown up by me. These cannons are our cannons and cannot be left to the Chinese army!"

'Hi!'

The Japanese artillery soldiers responsible for using artillery were even reluctant to do this order. But they also knew that if they really broke through the encirclement, they would not be able to take these artillery away at all, and they would have to leave them to the Eighth Route Army if they didn't blow up.

After this period of battle, the Japanese army was already very clear that the Eighth Route Army would equip all the Japanese equipment seized to the main force. Use these Japanese equipment to attack the Japanese army that confronted the Eighth Route Army.

While the artillery was preparing for artillery, the two infantry brigades responsible for the attack at the foot of the mountain were also mobilizing combat. The two infantry brigade captains also personally participated in the subsequent attack.

Perhaps it was really a desperate situation. From top to small, the entire Japanese wing had the intention of breaking through the siege. After the combat mobilization of the infantry captain, the Japanese soldiers participating in the attack were all very enthusiastic.

Listening to the voice of the mountain yelling 'Long Live the Emperor', the Eighth Route Army who was on the position also felt something was wrong. An officer who had learned Japanese immediately said: "The Japanese army is afraid they will fight us for the best!"

‘Just fight! We have a group, are you still afraid of them?’

‘You can’t be careless! Report the situation to the regiment commander quickly and warn us soldiers on the position not to be sympathetic to the bullets later. Also, prepare more grenades. Judging from the weather, I guess today will be a one-time deal.’

‘What does it mean?’

‘It means that the Japanese army will only attack once. If it fails, the rest of the troops will be dispersed and broken through. At that time, it will not be so easy if we want to encircle and annihilate it. Therefore, more Japanese devils must be eliminated later.’
Chapter completed!