After the 12th Japanese Division, which entered Suiyuan, captured the two blocking positions that entered Zhuozi, many of the division's officers and soldiers felt that the battle below seemed much easier. After each brief attack, the Eighth Route Army would give up the blocking position.

Such victories made the previously depressed 12th Infantry Brigade and the main force of the division that joined it seemed very happy. In their opinion, the Eighth Route Army troops guarding Zhuozi were no longer able to resist their attack.

At present, the Eighth Route Army's continuous blocking looks more like a dying struggle. After making such a judgment, the Japanese army finally sent out the killer force in their hands and, under the cover of the tank armored brigade, headed straight to Zhuozicheng.

At this moment, the Third Division of the Independent Column was also waiting here for a long time. According to He Zhengdao's order, the Third Division will fight the 12th Division here against the 12th Division of the Japanese Army around the fortifications established around Zhuozicheng.

An infantry division, fighting a decisive battle with a unit with heavy artillery and tank armored brigade, sounds like a fantasy. But in fact, the combat deployment of the independent column is really like this.

According to He Zhengdao's deployment, the Third Independent Division will stop the 12th Division's offensive pace in Zhuozicheng. Around Zhuozicheng, all the Eighth Route Army units also fought with him in Zhuozi, and surrounded the First Division and the Quick Responder to win time.

When he learned that the Eighth Route Army was trying to block the attack of the division's large unit with the fortifications around Zhuozicheng, Kiyotaro Yamamura also felt that it was necessary to annihilate the main division of the Eighth Route Army stationed in Zhuozi, and clear obstacles for the troops to attack Suiyuan.

Looking at the Thozi map hanging in front of him, Kiyotaro Yamamura also knew that this battle should be fast rather than slow. The war that could not be delayed for a long time was undoubtedly very fatal for the 12th Division.

Since they joined the 12th Infantry Brigade, their logistics supplies have been intermittent. According to the information provided by the baggage force, there are now a large number of Eighth Route Army guerrillas operating from Zhuozi to Ulanqab.

Although the recent victory made Kiyotaro Yamamura feel that victory is just around the corner. However, as the commander of the division, he was still somewhat worried about the victory that the division had successfully won, and felt that there must be a conspiracy behind it.

Thinking of Yamamura Kiyotaro, who was here, naturally hoped to end the encirclement and suppression war as soon as possible. Although they have made good progress since the war started, the number of casualties in the troops still makes Yamamura Kiyotaro feel heartbroken.

Yamamura Kiyotaro, who convened his generals to meet, said with a serious expression: "From the current situation we have mastered, the Eighth Route Army has deployed at least one main division in Zhuozi, trying to block us with the city defense fortifications here.

A few days ago, there was chaos in the east of Jidong, and the offensive troops in the Datong direction failed to make a breakthrough. In order to change this situation that was unfavorable to us, it is necessary for us to eliminate the Eighth Route Army troops operating in Zhuozi in the shortest time.

According to the notice from the Land Airlines, in the next few days, they are afraid that they will not be able to provide effective support. First, their ammunition has consumed a lot recently, and second, the meteorological department reported that these days it is probably rainy.

But we must seize the time to deal with the enemies in front of us. The longer the war is delayed, the more unfavorable it will be for us. Therefore, in the next battle, you must cheer up. Our enemies are still very tenacious!"

Listening to Kiyotaro Yamamura, the brigade commanders and corps commanders who attended the meeting all felt that God seemed to be helping the Eighth Route Army. Without the support of the Air Force, the difficulty of attacking the Eighth Route Army would also increase a lot.

‘At dawn tomorrow, the heavy artillery brigade began to launch artillery bombardment on the outer positions of Zhuozicheng. The tank brigade cooperated with the infantry brigade to conduct assaults from these three places. Be sure to push the troops into Zhuozicheng in the shortest time.

The rest of the troops, as reserves of the division, are waiting for orders at any time. In addition, the cavalry brigade has drawn a cavalry corps to ensure the safety of our rear baggage troops and to meet our baggage troops from Ulanqab.

These damn guerrillas, their destruction and harassment, have caused us a lot of trouble. The next task of your cavalry brigade is to clear out the Tu Eighth Route Army that was operating near the highway. Do you understand?’

'Hi!'

Compared to the 12th Division's platoon before the attack, Jiang Shan, the commander of the Third Division of the Independent Column in Zhuozicheng, looked at the main commanders of the subordinates and said with an equally serious expression: "Comrades, the most difficult time has come!"

In a short sentence, the leaders of the delegations attending the meeting felt that the atmosphere suddenly became much more solemn. In fact, the troops responsible for blocking the 12th Division in the previous period were more of Zhuozi's garrison troops.

In addition to the first battle, the third regiment was responsible for the attack, the main forces of the other three divisions built fortifications in the rear. Now the entire Zhuozicheng has become a large blocking battlefield, and this will also become a meat grinder.

Regarding the serious expressions of the main commanders under his command, Jiang Shan continued: "According to the commander's order, our third division will be nailed here for at least a week. In fact, as long as we hold on, the Japanese will not be able to hold on for a week at all.

Now the Second Cavalry Division has gone by to the back of the Japanese division. It can be said that after the Japanese entered Zhuozi, unless the Japanese use planes to provide them with supplies, they will not be able to obtain any supplies from the rear.

I think the Japanese commanders must know about this situation. If they want to break this deadlock, they can only end the battle with us as soon as possible. The longer the time delays, the more unfavorable their situation will be.

Their people need to eat food, their tanks and armored vehicles need to drink oil, and their heavy artillery needs shells. Even though they brought a lot of supplies, their consumption was also quite large during this period.

During this period, our rear blocking troops also let out one or two Japanese materials transport troops from time to time. However, most of the materials transported were food, shells and oil, which were basically seized or destroyed by us.

Now the troops sent by the column to Hebei have launched the Battle of Hebei. Most of the reserve troops that the North China Front Army can mobilize have been mobilized by us. It can be said that in a short time, the Japanese were unable to send troops to support the Kwantung Army we dealt with.

After going down, we told our soldiers that even if we fight all our third divisions, we must drag the Japanese division to Zhuozi. I want the Japanese to know that even if they want to escape when they reach my territory, it will not be so easy for them to escape."

Jiang Shan also knew very well when he remembered the military orders made with He Zhengdao. Compared with the First Division, the Second Division, or even the Fourth Division, the Third Division was the only main division that had not experienced hard and bloody battles. This made him feel that it was necessary to show the combat effectiveness of the Third Division.

Training into battle is a training slogan that the Independent Column has always emphasized. Now He Zhengdao has handed over such a task to their third division. Even if he fights one soldier and one soldier, Jiang Shan will not retreat easily.

'Please rest assured, the division commander, our regiment is afraid that one soldier and one soldier will never let the Japanese break through our position. Please give orders!'

As the most elite regiment of the Third Division, they are naturally responsible for the largest frontal blocking position under the attack of the Japanese army. It can be said that the Japanese chose to make the three directions of breakthrough, and the Third Division arranged a main regiment to defend.

In addition to the division's direct troops, the troops stationed in Zhuozicheng also serve as the main force regiment. In terms of force alone, the number of troops under the command of the Third Division at this moment will not be much smaller than the 12th Division's attacking.

However, the difference in weapons and equipment between the two troops is indeed quite large. Even if the third division is equipped with a mountain artillery battalion and a field artillery battalion, the caliber of the artillery, compared with the Japanese heavy artillery brigade, the range and caliber of the artillery are much smaller.

Just as the main groups expressed their determination, Jiang Shan smiled and said, "You don't need to look at death like this. This time we have strong supporters. The commander will not let us fight the third division.

Next, on the blocking positions under your three regiments, there will be a reconnaissance battalion sent by the reconnaissance brigade to cooperate with defense operations. The Japanese tanks that you cannot chew will be left to them to solve at that time.

Apart from the Japanese's heavy artillery, we are temporarily unable to counterattack. I can tell you a piece of news, that is, the Japanese's tank armored vehicles will become our living target this time. At that time, I will see how many tanks the Japanese have to die.

What you want to do is to avoid the Japanese artillery bombardment and prevent Japanese infantry from breaking through your blocking positions. If you can't even do this, then you can go to the kitchen team to take the blame!"

Upon hearing this, several regiment commanders immediately said with joy: "Teacher Commander, is the reconnaissance brigade also here?"

‘Here! However, not many of them came. The commander sent them here to help us solve the Japanese tank threat. Of course, they will cooperate with you in defense on the position.

Needless to say, you should all know how strong the combat power of the reconnaissance brigade is. Sending a reconnaissance battalion to strengthen your defense is equivalent to sending you reinforcements from the main group. So, don't be too nervous, do you understand?'

‘Yes, the teacher!’

Both sides held pre-war military meetings one after another, and each returned to the troops for the final deployment. The two armies that formed a confrontation seemed to have a tacit understanding to gain a peaceful pre-war night.

Until the early morning of the next day, looking at the sound of artillery fire breaking the tranquil sound in the distance, the officers and soldiers of the Third Division stationed on the position knew that the Japanese were about to start an attack. Next, it is unknown who will win the destiny!

But anyone can imagine that today's battle will be a bloody battle. Whether it is the attacking Japanese army or the defensive Eighth Route Army, they will fight bloody battles around Zhuozi's peripheral blocking positions.

And the Japanese tank soldiers full of confidence don't know that they will have a real nightmare today. The launch of the rocket launcher will also tell these Japanese troops that the tanks they are proud of are vulnerable! (To be continued.)
Chapter completed!