Seeing the Eighth Route Army gathering outside the city, the tension of the Japanese troops trapped in the city was also increasing. Earlier, several blocking positions were set up outside the city, but now these blocking positions outside the city have been captured by the besieged Eighth Route Army.

The 21st Infantry Brigade, which shrank its troops, also hopes to take advantage of the Shouyang City Defense to persist in the city for a period of time. If they fail to persist, their fate will naturally be to live and die with the city.

Faced with the Eighth Route Army outside the city, the Japanese army in the city also built blocking fortifications in the city. Even the Japanese army in the city had the worst plan, which was to fight street battles with the Eighth Route Army outside the city.

The people in the city received the news long before they retreated to Shouyang. Most of the Chinese who dared to stay outside the city were in a veterinary manner with the Japanese and knew that they would die if they fled outside.

Even those who had some chances of survival left when the Japanese army blocked the entire city. In this case, the Japanese army arrived in the city did not stop it. They felt that this could reduce the possibility of infiltration by the Eighth Route Army.

As the number of battles with the Eighth Route Army increased, many Japanese soldiers felt that the people in the city who usually seemed honest and honest, were hidden among them. The Eighth Route Army intelligence personnel or operation personnel that made them unable to guard against.

Now, in addition to following them wholeheartedly, there are some expatriates who also fled with the army. At present, the Eighth Route Army has successively recovered and taken over the cities in Shanxi, and the Japanese expatriates who are doing business or mining have fled in a hurry.

In the eyes of these expatriates, there may be a way out when they fall to the hands of the Eighth Route Army. But the problem is that if they do not retreat with the troops, they may not have to wait for the Eighth Route Army to arrive and they will be beaten to death by the Chinese people.

This may be just a thank you from China. Good and evil will be rewarded in the end, not because we don’t repay you, but the time has not come! When the time comes, a nightmare comes. The Japanese expatriates who usually bully the people and the Chinese are naturally worried that those who are bullied will retaliate against them.

With the Japanese troops who were constantly retreating, they also came to Shouyang, and they knew that they would never be able to leave again. If they did not help the troops defend Shouyang City, they would be unable to escape and die when the Eighth Route Army attacked the city.

The Japanese army in the city treated these expatriates much better than those traitors who also worked for them. At least the Japanese army believed that these expatriates were truly united with them.

The Eighth Route Army, which had successively encircled one after another, naturally knew about the situation in the city. Even when the artillery troops were deploying artillery positions, Lu Zhencao also said directly: "Don't worry about anything, just carry out indiscriminate artillery bombardment!"

Lu Zhencao, who was in charge of the civilian army in Xingtai earlier, knew very well that these Japanese expatriates were more abominable than the Japanese. They bully men and women at will. The Chinese people did not say that they were accomplices in controlling the occupied areas of the Japanese!

In fact, Lu Zhencao hated these expatriates who acted as accomplices of the Japanese army more than the Japanese. In his opinion, these expatriates were a group of scum who bullied the good and feared the evil, and relied on the Japanese army as their backers to China to act as a domineering blessing.

With Lu Zhencao's order, the artillery regiment was naturally deployed effectively when deploying artillery positions. At least the artillery regiment already knew that the defenders in the city did not have large-caliber artillery.

When they retreated across the line, many of their own artillery had been discarded or blown up. Now, in the hands of the Japanese army in the city, except for some infantry artillery and mortars, they did not even have a 75-caliber mountain artillery and field artillery.

The absence of artillery above 75 caliber means that the Japanese army in the city does not even have the ability to counterattack the Eighth Route Army's artillery fire outside the city. In this way, the artillery units assigned to the Third Infantry Division only need to fire artillery shells into the city continuously.

Before nightfall, when he learned that the preparations of the troops had been completed before siege, Lu Zhencao quickly said: "Send a report to the commander and ask if the siege can be launched. In this weather, I think the Japanese plane can't pass.

In addition, report the situation in Shouyang to the commander. The Japanese in the city are ready for street fighting. In order to reduce casualties of the offensive troops, I hope to agree to the artillery troops to consume more shells to destroy the fortifications of the Japanese army in the city.

In addition, according to the reconnaissance of our reconnaissance forces, there are no ordinary people in the city except the Japanese and expatriates. In this case, if the Japanese army refuses to surrender, can the battlefield discipline be implemented?”

After receiving a telegram from Lu Zhencao, He Zhengdao thought for a while and said, "When the attack will be launched, the Third Division can decide on its own. I have only one requirement. The offensive troops must end the battle before dawn to capture Shouyang City.

As for the treatment of the Japanese and expatriates in the city, battlefield discipline can be implemented. As long as they do not surrender, they will be shot and killed, whether they are Japanese soldiers or Japanese expatriates. But as long as they surrender, they will be treated as prisoners!"

In He Zhengdao's opinion, although he also wants to kill without mercy, as a commander of the army, he should try his best to avoid killing prisoners. Even in He Zhengdao's opinion, all the Japanese deserve to die!

It is just that the war makes civilians go away. He Zhengdao still knows a little bit. If he is an armed expatriates, He Zhengdao naturally would not let go of these expatriates who picked up guns and participated in the battle. He would only regard these expatriates as resisters.

As for the Japanese women or children in the city, He Zhengdao still doesn't want to see the troops massacre them. In fact, there are already many captured Japanese expatriates in Shaanxi now, but most of them are women and children.

These Japanese women and children who were captured are now receiving education from political cadres. The Japanese prisoners who had been transformed earlier have also begun to do some anti-war work.

But for many people, it is indeed difficult to accept these women and children from other countries. But He Zhengdao believes that when he really has the chance to set foot on Tokyo, these expatriates who are sent back should be able to feel the kindness of China.

At least we should let these people know that the consequences of provoking China easily are serious. If they do not want to repeat the ugliness and tragedies at this moment, then they should respect and respect China instead of provoking and provoking China!

In He Zhengdao's heart, he hopes that his arrival can change the future destiny of China. If it can change the development trajectory of some countries, he believes that China will rise earlier than in previous lives.

The fame of the great powers in the East will also make the world's military powers respectful. Let them know that in the distant East, the ancient cultural country with a history of up to 5,000 years is no longer something they can provoke or provoke at will!

When He Zhengdao's telegram was sent back to the Third Infantry Division, he looked at the instructions and orders above. Although Lu Zhencao was a little regretful, he also knew that a commander was too easy to kill and would not end up in the end.

For this reason, he quickly said: "After the siege troops entered Shouyang City, as long as the Japanese army chooses to surrender, they can be treated as prisoners of war. If they refuse to surrender, they will be shot and killed. The expatriates in the city, those with weapons will be considered as the Japanese army.

As for those women and children, they can first persuade them to surrender and tell them the consequences of their resistance. As long as they follow our advice, try to ensure their safety. The traitors in the city will also follow this rule.

Even if these traitors and two dogs should be cut into pieces, they will have to wait until the public trial and execute them in front of the people of the city. Let our people know what the fate of working hard for the Japanese will be like!"

As a Northeastern man, Lu Zhencao undoubtedly hated these invaders who occupied the Northeast and left them homeless. But as the commander of the Third Infantry Division, Lu Zhencao also understood that he must ensure rationality at any time.

If he is a commander, he cannot maintain a calm mind and rationality, and he may do something to ruin the entire army in certain things. Therefore, his personal emotions cannot affect the overall situation.

After giving the combat order, Lu Zhencao, who had looked at the time, quickly said: "Give the artillery regiment a call and start preparing for artillery. Ten minutes later, I will see their shells, and all hit the heads of the Japanese in the city!"

‘Yes, the teacher!’

After receiving a call from the division headquarters, the artillery regiment commander, who had already been prepared, immediately said: "Notify all artillery battalions to prepare for ten minutes before the shelling! Today, our shells can be opened for attack."

For artillery soldiers, there is a limit on the number of artillery shells when they are used. But this time, in order to reduce the pressure on the offensive troops, He Zhengdao also agreed to use artillery shells to destroy the Japanese army as much as possible, and let the Japanese feel the feeling of being bullied.

With the order to prepare for the attack, the troops arrived at the predetermined attack position one after another. All the Eighth Route Army, who were responsible for the main attack mission, were also prepared before the attack. All they had to do was wait for the artillery to open the gap into the city.

In any case, although Shouyang City is not too high, the city walls built in early years also provided the best resistance for the Japanese army. It is naturally not an easy task to attack the city smoothly.

Moreover, from the firepower points arranged by the Japanese army on the city wall, it can be seen that there are many machine guns set up. In this case, if the Japanese machine gun positions on the city are not destroyed, the siege troops will rush forward, and it is really possible that they will pay a heavy price!

The Japanese army in the city, who originally thought that the Eighth Route Army would launch an attack in the evening, ordered the logistics troops to start a gang in advance to provide hot food to the defending troops, so that these Japanese troops could have the energy to deal with the subsequent night battles.

But just as the Japanese started eating in the city, without any warning, they watched the artillery regiment that arrived ten minutes later launched an indiscriminate shelling on Shouyang City.

The 120th Division New Brigade, who also brought the artillery troops, knew that the Japanese in the city had no counterattack power, so they naturally joined the sequence of artillery bombardment. For a moment, the sky above Shouyang City was filled with the sound of howling artillery shells were roaring.

Such fierce artillery fire did not require the Japanese commander to remind him that all the Japanese devils staying in the city knew that the Eighth Route Army finally launched a general attack on them. Next, whether they can stop the Eighth Route Army from entering the city! (To be continued.)
Chapter completed!