After successfully recapturing Taiyuan City, the Battle of Shanxi seemed to be in a state of encirclement and pursuing the Japanese army by the Eighth Route Army, whether it was trapped in Changzhi or Itagaki's main force in Jinzhong, they were trapped in a trapped embarrassing situation.

When they learned that Taiyuan was lost, the division commander and his party were in danger. They were ordered to block the 21st Infantry Brigade of the Third Division of the Northeast Anti-Japanese Allied Forces. They also seemed a little overwhelmed. They didn't know whether to continue blocking or retreating.

Judging from the current known situation, the 12o Division, which has been sitting firmly on Diaoyutai, has also begun to draw the main force from the Wutai direction to join the attack. Even the attack route of the 12o Division also gave the 21st Infantry Brigade a sign of tying his pockets.

Along the base line bordering the 115th Division, the county brigade and district teams under the 12o Division cooperated with the main force to start a comprehensive clearance of the Japanese garrison troops in the garrison base. Faced with such a blow, the Japanese troops arranged on the border were also defeated.

At this moment, the 21st Infantry Brigade was also in a confrontation with the Third Infantry Division commanded by Lu Zhencao. Compared with the Third Infantry Division, the 12o Division provided material supplies, the Japanese army was isolated and helpless.

The Shijiazhuang garrison, which was originally close to them, did not dare to send troops easily when facing the main force of the 115th Division, which was shining in the direction of Xingtai. Even reinforcements sent to the direction of Xingtai were drawn from the rear of Shijiazhuang.

If the garrison in Shijiazhuang dared to make a big move out of the city at this time, the 115th Division might have dared to take the opportunity to capture Shijiazhuang. In view of this threat, the Japanese troops stationed in Shijiazhuang would not dare to act rashly.

Seeing that the 12o Division's pockets were getting tighter and tighter, the 21st Infantry Brigade in Yangquan City finally made preparations to retreat to Shouyang. In their opinion, it was a little closer to the main force trapped in Jinzhong.

Compared to their shortage of supplies and ammunition, they are trapped in the hands of the troops in Jinzhong, both food and ammunition are relatively sufficient. If they can join forces, they may still have hope of successfully breaking through.

When he learned that the 21st Infantry Brigade of the Japanese Army also began to break through and retreat. He Zhengdao looked at the three Japanese trapped areas marked on the map and also knew that these were three hard bones.

Looking at the two places in Shouyang and Jinzhong, He Zhengdao quickly said: "Order the first reconnaissance regiment to immediately seize the Shanghu area from Shouyang to Jinzhong. At the same time, he reported to Mr. He and asked him to draw an infantry brigade from Taiyuan to cooperate with the first reconnaissance regiment's operations.

The rest of the troops near Jinzhong began to build blocking fortifications. The persimmon was picked and pinched. The old Japanese devil, Itagaki, had a lot of troops, and the most important thing was that his supplies and ammunition were sufficient. We mainly focused on blocking against this old Japanese.

First, block the gap between the two Japanese infantry brigades, and also order the Third Infantry Division to hand over Yangquan to the 12o Division's troops to receive. Their main force will continue to pursue Shouyang and must wipe out the Japanese infantry brigade."

Listening to He Zhengdao's order, Ye Jianying looked at the map and said, "Just relying on the troops deployed by the 12o Division on the Yangquan border, I'm afraid it's a bit unsafe? The Japanese have gathered almost one division in the Shijiazhuang area!

If we withdraw the Third Infantry Division and let the Japanese know that the garrison we dispatched in Yangquan are just illusions, they will probably attack. At that time, we will also worry about the risk of being attacked by the Japanese on both sides!"

As the chief of staff, Ye Jian was naturally aware of the arrangement of the Japanese troops around him. In his opinion, there were many troops under the 12o Division, but one division entered Taiyuan and the other infantry brigade cooperated with the first reconnaissance regiment.

I'm afraid there are not many troops left to be transferred to Yangquan. After all, the 12o Division has a large defense zone. If it is controlled by a large area, how dare they take it lightly? Too many troops will be afraid of problems!

Faced with Ye Jianying's concerns, He Zhengdao was silent for a while and said: "Call the headquarters. Given the situation in Yangquan, I hope that the 115th Division near Shijiazhuang will cooperate. Perhaps, you can attack Jingjing Coal Mine at this time.

By the way, the Sixth Special Forces Team was transferred over and asked them to first touch the situation of Jingjing Coal Mine. Although the Japanese stationed a division of troops in Shijiazhuang, these troops were also very scattered.

Jingjing Coal Mine has always been a large coal mine that the Japanese army in North China attaches importance to. There, the Japanese army has permanently stationed no less than one infantry regiment. But for so long, I believe that the intelligence department should have set up some secret chess in the coal mine.

I sent a telegram to Minister Li, and asked the local lurking personnel to cooperate with our special forces. I found out the situation of the Jingzhi coal mine, and then cooperated with the main force of the 115th Division to see if the coal mine could be defeated.

Let’s not talk about the machinery and equipment of this coal mine, which is very important to us. There are many young and strong people who were captured by the Japanese and captured by prisoners in this coal mine. If these miners can be rescued, I believe that it should be no problem to form one or two main groups.

As long as the 115th Division starts to drill wells and track coal mines, I dare say that the Japanese army in Shijiazhuang will definitely not be able to do it. Even if they don’t want to roll it up, they must keep the mine. The high-quality coal produced by this coal mine is also a mineral resource that the Japanese army urgently needs!”

He Zhengdao had sent special forces to harass this most famous coal mine in Hebei earlier. However, only a group of miners were rescued at that time, and even finally sent the miners to the 115th Division for proper resettlement.

At this time, if the 115th Division could take the opportunity to get into Jingjing Coal Mine violently, it could also restrain the attention of the Japanese army in Shijiazhuang. Compared to rescuing the Japanese army in Shanxi, the Japanese army in Shijiazhuang would definitely care more about the safety of Jingjing Coal Mine.

When He Zhengdao's telegram was sent back to Yan'an, Mao quickly called General Zhu and Zhou Enlai. Even Li Kennon, who was in charge of intelligence, was also among the candidates summoned. Everyone also discussed He Zhengdao's telegram.

As the intelligence minister of the Eighth Route Army, Li Kennon quickly said: "Jingjing Coal Mine is called a place strictly controlled by the Japanese army. Here, the Japanese are stationed in an infantry corps, with the purpose of ensuring the normal production of the coal mine.

Although our guerrillas have been operating near the coal mine. However, the Japanese army in Shijiazhuang and the garrisons of Jingjing Coal Mine have been strictly inspecting and controlling the area, and even built many permanent defense fortifications.

Earlier, our intelligence department also sent a lot of intelligence officers to sneak into the coal mine to inquire about intelligence. Unfortunately, no useful news has been heard. Some intelligence officers have even been silent.

However, two months ago, we instigated some of the interpreters of the coal mine. That guy was a native of Shijiazhuang and his father was also a famous gentry in Shijiazhuang. He was just a little rich and unkind and almost executed by our guerrillas.

Later, through inquiry, we found out that the translator, although he was not a good person, was considered a filial son. Finally, we had a secret contact with him and instigated him to serve as our intelligence officer in the coal mine.

Although we are not fully trustworthy, through his help, we have a better understanding of the situation of the Jingzhi Coal Mine than before. At least several intelligence officers we sent before have successfully lurked with his help.

If the special forces team is sent to infiltrate, I think it should be a big problem. Regarding the contact information of these people, we can give the Northeast Anti-Japanese Allied Forces a short time. When the special forces arrive at Jingzhi, we can contact the local intelligence station leader."

‘Okay, let us know the Northeast Anti-Japanese Allied Forces with the contact method first. This well-track coal mine has always been a key mine for the Japanese army in North China. Even if we blow up the railway to Shijiazhuang many times, the Japanese army is still impatient for its restoration.

In order to transport the coal, they even built a road directly to Shijiazhuang. From this point, it can be seen that the Japanese attach great importance to the Jingzhi coal mine. Since the Japanese attach great importance to it, we must destroy it.

If the Jingzhi coal mine can be destroyed, at least in the future, the Japanese army in Hebei will not be so easy to enter Shanxi. If done well, it will become our control area. This battle can indeed be fought! What does the boss think?’

From He Zhengdao's telegram, Mao also knew the importance of mineral resources to the Japanese army. As Japan entered a state of crazy military expansion and preparation for war, their mineral demand was also increasing.

At present, in North China and Northeast China, the Japanese army are crazily digging minerals belonging to China. It is clear that most of these minerals were used by the Japanese army to produce more weapons and ammunition, and finally used to fight against anti-Japanese troops.

This vicious cycle is very infuriating to Mao. Therefore, if the 115th Division can take the opportunity to take down the Jingzhi coal mine, it may be a good thing.

‘I think it is feasible! Let the special forces conduct pre-war reconnaissance first, and let the 115th Division draw elite troops to prepare for this battle. They may be difficult to fight Shijiazhuang. But cleaning up a coal mine should not be a problem!’

When this telegram from Yan'an and the headquarters went to the division headquarters of the 115th Division. Commander Lin, who received the telegram, also thought it was a good opportunity. Most importantly, he also knew that Yan'an currently needs to dig mineral deposits.

After the expansion of the Japanese army, Jingjing Coal Mine undoubtedly invested a large amount of machinery and equipment. If these equipment could be seized, it would be a surprise for the Eighth Route Army and would save a lot of money from buying equipment.

The most important thing is that the Japanese army has blocked all commercial ports in China. Whether it is the Eighth Route Army or the National Government far away in Chongqing, if you want to purchase any foreign equipment and machinery, you must choose 6 routes for transportation.

On Chongqing, the main transportation line for transporting materials is undoubtedly the Yunnan-Burma Highway. On the Eighth Route Army, it also takes the route from the Soviet Union to Mongolia. In general, the Soviet-Mongolia transportation line is also very important to the Eighth Route Army.

But the problem is that purchasing machinery and equipment from the Soviet Union requires money. Even though the Eighth Route Army had proposed loans, the Soviet Union did not seem to recognize them. In their opinion, they had already provided a lot of anti-Japanese loans to China.

Most of the weapons and equipment purchased with loans were accepted by the National Government. After all, the Eighth Route Army did not gain much benefit. Therefore, seizing such a batch of mineral equipment can indeed save a lot of money! (To be continued.)8
Chapter completed!