In order to seize the time, the Japanese army in Shanxi, who were planning to break through, and the Northeast Anti-Japanese Allied Forces responsible for the battle, were actually very tired and tenacious. In fact, He Zhengdao also hoped to end the battle as soon as possible so that the troops under his command could start to rest.

Now the north has entered winter, and although it has not snowed yet, the weather has become very cold. Long-term field combat is not a relaxed and happy thing for the troops on both sides.

After receiving the 116th Division that broke out from Xiangyuan, he did not choose to march overnight, so he wisely chose to rest overnight. Li Xiangdong, who was waiting for his leisure to work far away in the direction of Xijing, also understood that this should be the last rest for the Japanese.

Next, if they cannot break through the blocking line set by the Eighth Route Army in a short period of time, then these Japanese troops who broke through would not want to return to the area they occupied, and it would be even more impossible to join the reinforcements.

The commander of the Changzhi Independent Brigade who also received the news also seemed relieved. If the Japanese continued to choose to march to break through tonight, then they would not be able to rest for too long, so they could only grit their teeth and order the troops to continue to follow.

If they pursued them too late, some accidents might occur. After all, the Japanese who were forced into a desperate situation for thousands of Japanese, God knows what kind of things they will cause in the nearby base!

Only by biting them and keeping a close eye on them can some unexpected situations be avoided. Now the Japanese choose to rest on the spot, so the independent voyage will naturally get more rest time. You can rest for a night and be able to pursue your spirit and physical strength tomorrow.

When the 116th Division was compressed and prepared for the next breakthrough, the independent brigade also reduced its troops after the Japanese army broke through. Some main battalions with excessive casualties were also compressed and corresponding units were compressed.

Of course, after the battle is over in the future, these compressed main battalions will be restored. It is just to better respond to combat requirements and appropriately compress the organization, which is more conducive to the troops' arrangement.

On the night when the 116th Division was resting, Itagaki troops, who had been resting in Jinzhong City for two days, finally launched a sharp counterattack and breakthrough. The artillery troops pulled out of Taiyuan City also began to bomb the Eighth Route Army outside the city.

Listening to the rumbling sound of artillery bombardment in the city late at night, He Zhengdao naturally had no way to rest and asked about the battle situation ahead from time to time. Chief of Staff Ye Jianying naturally needed to keep paying attention to the situation in the front positions and summarize the situation.

‘I just received a call from the front-line positions, and the Japanese carried out a cover shelling bombardment on their front-line blocking positions. Fortunately, the fortifications we built were good, and the Japanese conducted a test fire before the bombardment, so there were few casualties in the army.’

‘Okay! Tell us the troops in the front line that the Japanese want to break through. When the Japanese leave the city to break through, I will put the Japanese closer to me. Concentrate the superior firepower and give the Japanese a fatal blow to the Japanese who broke through.

Now the old Japanese devils of Itagaki still have more than 10,000 elite troops. What we have to do is to keep bleeding him. Just the five encirclements built outside the city, I will let him take off a layer of skin!’

Compared to the 116th Division breaking through Xiangyuan, because it is too close to the Hebei border, He Zhengdao had to order the blocking troops to resolutely block the attack. If more Japanese troops were not eliminated near Xiangyuan, these Japanese devils might have successfully broken through.

Fortunately, the Changzhi Independent Brigade did not disappoint his trust. Although it paid a considerable price in the blocking process, it also reduced the 116th Division by more than half. This also provided a basis for victory for the subsequent encirclement and annihilation battle.

At this moment, although the number of Japanese troops breaking out from Jinzhong City is more than that of the 116th Division, and they have more heavy weapons, and there is no shortage of weapons, ammunition and supplies. However, this army is still a long way to go from Hebei!

This means that He Zhengdao has many opportunities to slowly bleed the old Japanese devil Itagaki. He dragged it from fat and then to it from thin. When these Japanese devils are exhausted, they will give another fatal blow.

In order to break through as soon as possible, Itagaki also seemed very generous when setting up a breakthrough battle. The artillery shells he reserved even opened the artillery troops to fight. Perhaps Itagaki also knew that it was difficult to break through with these heavy artillery!

Now that the power of heavy artillery can be used more, the Eighth Route Army's blocking forces may be consumed and the pressure of attack will be shared for the breaking forces. This idea is naturally good, and it also causes a lot of trouble and trouble to the blocking forces.

However, in addition to the second division, the second reconnaissance regiment that had confronted them this time, the blocking troops that had been prepared for the Japanese heavy artillery also made some hard work when building anti-aircraft fortifications.

After half an hour of artillery attack, the reconnaissance troops monitoring the movements of the Japanese army outside Jinzhong City, and looking at the Japanese infantry coming out of Jinzhong City, they also knew that the Japanese had officially launched a breakthrough.

While the news reached the command center, it naturally reached the blocking force that avoided artillery in the anti-aircraft shed. Many squad platoon leaders also quickly said: "Comrades, prepare for battle, the Japanese are coming!"

Many soldiers who listened to the fierce artillery fire outside the cave began to hold the weapons in their hands and wait for the signal to go to the position. After all, they all knew that it would take some time for the Japanese to rush from the city to the vicinity of their positions.

Accompanied by the observation post on the front blocking position, looking at the large number of Japanese infantry that had appeared, the signal of "Japanese appearing" was soon released. At the same time, the Japanese artillery fire in the city also began to move.

According to Itagaki's combat plan, the breakthrough tactic they adopted this time was not to concentrate firepower and attack the positions on the surface, but to use the method of breaking through three sides to fight on their own, and finally choose to join after breaking through.

The frontal blocking position, which was shot by them for more than half an hour, was naturally in disarray at this moment. The Japanese infantry posed a rack under the position and began to charge as the artillery fire moved.

‘Kill some and give it to you!’

Many Japanese infantry officers responsible for commanding the attack seemed to know that tonight's breakthrough was crucial. At this time, they must show 200% of their courage to successfully break through.

Some squadron leaders and squadron leaders who usually stay behind in battle are now on the front line to command the attack. There is only one purpose in doing this, that is, the fighting spirit and courage of the soldiers of the radical offensive troops.

If you fail, you will be successful! This is what Itagaki warns his senior commanders!

If even Jinzhong City can't break out and want to break out to the Hebei border, how can it be possible?

The Japanese artillery fire began to divert and extend to bomb the other side of the blocking position. The Japanese infantry also began to attack. As for the Eighth Route Army on the position, of course, they would not continue to be stupid.

On the contrary, with the sharp whistle sounding, many soldiers hiding in the anti-cannon tunnel rushed to the position with their weapons as fast as possible. In the shortest time, they used equipped engineer shovels to reinforce and repair fortifications.

Some heavy machine guns that were carried into anti-aircraft pits were also quickly set up. The ammunition operators responsible for supplying ammunition were also prepared in rows of bullet links that could be stuffed into the barrel at any time. These heavy machine guns will also exert huge power.

Many soldiers who are good at throwing grenades even unscrew the cover of the grenade. Once the Japanese rushed to the position, these grenades would also let the Japanese know how serious the consequences of attacking the position were.

The platoon leader wandering in the trenches kept checking the situation of the position and kept saying, "I'll aim to shoot later! Although our ammunition can be opened today, don't waste our ammunition.

Light and heavy machine guns, listen to my orders to fire, concentrate your firepower and knock out these damn Japanese devils. Snipers, focusing on Japanese officers, machine gunners and grenades.

For the rest of the riflemen, you should also show your usual level of training and try to kill an enemy with one shot. When shooting, you should also show your fastest level and level. Have you heard it clearly?"

‘I understand the company commander (platoon commander)!’

When the Eighth Route Army was ready to open fire at any time, the Japanese army, which was charging towards the position in a scattered line, rushed up to the blocking position like a tide. The observer also kept reporting on the distance between the Japanese and the trenches.

When the commander of the position in charge heard the report from the observer, he immediately said: "Comrades, fight me!"

After a "kill", these officers using new rifles fired their guns and announced that they would start shooting, and also killed a Japanese devil who was aimed at them. This is also the reason why He Zhengdao has always emphasized that he should not waste bullets at will.

Accompanied by this gunshot, the fierce gunfire from each blocking position immediately rang out. The hot flames soon danced up and down the various blocking positions. Most of the people touched by them were either dead or injured.

However, compared with the personnel who died in the Eighth Route Army on the position, the Japanese infantry responsible for the attack also fell in batches like harvested wheat. Such fierce firepower also surprised the Japanese army that attacked.

Many Japanese soldiers following behind the team couldn't help but gritted their teeth and cursed: "Bageya Road! Why do they have so many machine guns! Grenadiers blew up the machine gun fire points on the position!"

The grenadiers who cooperated with the infantry attack also began to set up the bullets they were responsible for. However, many grenadiers, who had just set up the grenadiers they operated, were killed by a crisp shot!

In addition to these grenadiers, many Japanese machine gunners who shared the firepower for the front troops were also constantly changing. One machine gunner fell down, and another Japanese machine gunner immediately added, which was quite a bit of desperate smell.

At this time, the Japanese infantry artillery, who were staying in the rear to cooperate with the attack, also began to launch artillery bombardment to support the infantry attack and seize the blocking positions of the Eighth Route Army. For a time, the pressure on the Eighth Route Army on the blocking positions doubled.

Fortunately, the reconnaissance regiment responsible for the blocking was the unit with the largest number of light and heavy weapons in the former independent column. When the Japanese infantry artillery opened fire, the reconnaissance regiment's light and heavy mortars also launched a counterattack.

Looking at the scene of guns and cannons coming and going from outside the city, it is enough to show how intense the battle is. Ichigaki, who was staying behind, also felt extremely depressed and lost when he saw this scene.

After all, how energetic they had when they launched the full-scale war of aggression against China last year. But now, why are they so embarrassed? Itagaki asked himself that he really couldn't figure it out! (To be continued.)8
Chapter completed!