Chapter 251 Dumpling Filling: Taiyuan

As soon as these words came out, the originally noisy scene suddenly became silent.

For the villagers, the cruelest thing is to give them hope and then ruthlessly destroy it.

This is not the first time that Yangquan County has been recaptured. The 385th Brigade had conquered it once during the Hundred Regiments Campaign. At that time, the people thought that from then on, they would never be oppressed and humiliated by the devils again.

It was a pity that the Eighth Route Army was not yet fully grown and did not have the ability to defend their homeland.

On that day, when they retreated.

The residents in the city spontaneously helped the 385th Brigade to carry supplies. Even the brigade commander Chen, who crawled out of the sea of ​​blood and corpses, couldn't help crying at that scene.

Before leaving, he stood on a stone pier near the city gate and promised everyone:

"Fellow villagers, it's all our fault. The Eighth Route Army is not strong enough and has disappointed you. We are sorry for you and for sending your children to us."

"I swear, one year later! We will definitely come back! Even if I die on the road, my comrades will keep their promise!"

After hearing what Brigade Commander Chen said, the villagers did not put any pressure on him. Instead, they urged the 385th Brigade to retreat quickly, giving the Eighth Route Army enough trust.

Now, three months before the agreed time, Ding Wei has fulfilled his promise with the new regiment.

I don't know who spoke first, and the Eighth Route Army's good work resounded over Yangquan County. Some villagers turned around and rushed into the city, returning home to get food as quickly as possible.

Such a scene made Ding Wei, who was always fearless, panic. He quickly ordered the soldiers of the whole regiment to maintain order to prevent stampedes.

Faced with the food sent by the people, everyone was in trouble.

After all, the Eighth Route Army has a rule that they cannot take anything from the masses. But the villagers were so enthusiastic that they would force the New First Regiment to accept the money even if they didn't want to.

In desperation, Ding Wei could only order the soldiers to take out all the money they carried with them and exchange it for some things.

Half an hour later, the people finally dispersed gradually.

It was the former county magistrate who helped to relieve the siege and told the masses not to delay the Eighth Route Army's mission, otherwise the New First Regiment might not be able to get away before dark.

Although all the soldiers were very tired, everyone had a happy smile on their faces. The three battalion commanders came to Ding Wei with a smile, holding the same fruit.

"Captain, what should we do next?"

In this operation, the New First Regiment not only recovered Yangquan, but also wiped out the remnants of the Fourth Independent Mixed Brigade.

This record seems very good, but thanks to the powerful firepower, the comrades all feel a little unsatisfied.

Originally, Ding Wei was going to order the First Battalion to clean up the devils who fled back to the county town.

But who would have thought that the comrades of the armed work team and the county brigade acted very quickly and killed the panicked enemy half an hour ago. They even captured most of the traitors and did not give the new regiment any chance to help.

"There is no hope for the war, and our regiment can't leave now."

"Before the headquarters sends people to Yangquan, everyone stays to take over the county and appease the people. Who knows if there are any fearless devils who dare to break in here."

"Second Battalion Commander, dispatch a platoon of people to check the warehouse of the devil's headquarters. Look for any railway supplies left by the enemy, and gather all the spare rails and sleepers."

When cleaning the battlefield just now, Ding Wei did not find anything related to the railway in the enemy's transport team.

Yangquan is a big station on the Zhengtai Road, and it is impossible not to store spare parts. If the devils did not blow it up crazily, then the supplies would definitely remain in the warehouse intact.

With these things, the comrades of the Engineering Department of the Logistics Department can definitely get twice the result with half the effort.

Railways are important to the devils, and even more important to the Eighth Route Army.

Someone once said that in today's world, a country cannot be established without railways.

During wartime, the army can quickly deploy troops to the battlefield through railways, and make logistical supplies more guaranteed.

The strategy of the Japanese invaders in China is the same. The devils seized control of the railways, connected the troops with the occupied railways, and plundered various resources.

We can say without hesitation that the railway is the lifeline of the North China Front Army.

Among them, the Zhengtai Railway is an important transportation lifeline connecting Shanxi and Hebei provinces.

Once the Eighth Route Army controls this route, it can not only vigorously build the infrastructure in the province, but also block all the invading Japanese troops outside the province.

It is worth mentioning that the original Zhengtai Line used the French one-meter narrow gauge instead of the unified 1.435-meter wide gauge of the Republic of China. It is very inconvenient to transfer to enter Shanxi.

This is because Yan Laoxi once implemented a policy of self-isolation.

In order to resist the intrusion of forces outside the province, he deliberately chose rails of different specifications. To achieve the purpose of attacking and defending.

In order to speed up the pace of plunder, the devils spent a year on technical transformation, changing the narrow track used by the Zhengtai Railway to standard gauge.

Next, the Eighth Route Army only needs to transform the Tongpu Railway to connect with the whole country at the right time.

After hearing the words of their own regiment commander, the three battalion commanders nodded, and they were ready to lead the troops to execute the order with a clear division of labor.

At this time, a scout outside the city came to Ding Wei.

"Commander, the 358th Regiment of the Shanxi Suiyuan Army has arrived at Lion Head Mountain. The other side even sent a reconnaissance platoon, and now it has collided with our outer guard force."

"Look, should we prepare for war?"

Before the soldier finished speaking, Ding Wei waved his hand and signaled him not to say anything that would affect unity.

Although Old Ding had never met Chu Yunfei himself, he had heard Li Yunlong mention him several times in meetings at the brigade headquarters and heard that he was a capable general. Perhaps before the Battle of Zhongtiao Mountain, his New 1st Regiment was a little more afraid of him.

However, the reputation of the Shanxi Suiyuan Army in the province is almost ruined. Compared with a year ago, it is really a world of difference. It is basically supported by the past friendship.

Half an hour ago, the New 1st Regiment had just recovered Yangquan. If the 358th Regiment dared to take action in front of the people, I am afraid that it would not even be able to keep the last bit of friendship.

This is called water can carry a boat, but it can also overturn it. In times of national crisis, if you completely lose the support of the people, it is no different from committing suicide.

"Yes!"

After the scout returned to his post, Ding Wei touched his stubble and smiled faintly.

During the period of crossing the Yellow River to the east, all units of the Eighth Route Army were poor, and the 129th Division had only six mortars.

Even for 500,000 rounds of ammunition, the Army Morale Wizard had to come to ask for it in person. At that time, the comrades were really jealous of the equipment of the Shanxi Suiyuan Army.

And now, the two levels have reversed! Yan Laoxi not only lost the Taiyuan Arsenal, but also lost ten artillery regiments.

The American equipment and Bofors mountain guns of the 358th Regiment are indeed very good, but do you, Chu Yunfei, know what Hurricanes, Spitfires, and transport planes are?

Do you know the value of a full set of French infantry light weapons and paratroopers? The times have changed!

After laughing for a few seconds, Ding Wei shouted to the three battalions:

"Comrades! Show us your assets! Let the friendly forces see if we have the strength to defend Yangquan!"

As soon as these words came out, the soldiers laughed out loud, and even felt like the old regiment commander had returned. Feng Shui turns around, who doesn't like the most simple pretentious face-slapping?

······

Just when the fun people of the new regiment were laughing, the atmosphere of the 358th Regiment was not very good.

Seeing their chief of staff approaching with a solemn expression, the soldiers along the way gave way one after another, fearing that they would offend the other party.

"Commander, it has been figured out. The troops occupying Yangquan are the new regiment of the Eighth Route Army."

When Chu Yunfei heard his chief of staff use the word "occupy", he frowned subconsciously. Their regiment had just exchanged defenses with the Fourth Cavalry Division a few days ago and withdrew from the interior of Zhongtiao Mountain.

Although the 358th Regiment did not fight any hard battles in this battle, the soldiers were very tired after more than ten days of running around.

Not long after returning to the garrison, Yan Laoxi issued a military order for them to attack the eastern part of Shanxi Province to see if they could pick up some small loopholes from the fingers of the Eighth Route Army.

The encounter along the way made Chu Yunfei upset, and he sighed countless times that his situation was not good.

In the past, the people in the province had a good attitude towards the Shanxi Suiyuan Army. Even if it could not be called a welcome, they would lend a hand in times of crisis.

But now, from the big county town to the small village, the people looked at them with fear and awe.

That evasive look was like the feeling of looking at the warlord troops in the past. Such a big gap made Chu Yunfei feel very uncomfortable.

"New 1st Regiment? New 1st Regiment of the 386th Brigade? The troops led by Li Yunlong before?"

"How many people are there, how are their weapons and equipment configured? How many wounded were there after fighting with the devils?"

As a friendly army, Chu Yunfei certainly knew the definition of the Eighth Route Army's basic regiment.

Under normal circumstances, he would definitely not be interested in such local armed forces that don't even have a number. But once the matter is related to Li Yunlong, he must study it carefully.

Moreover, being able to kill 700 devils in a short period of time must have something extraordinary.

"The other side did not cover up, but chose to show it generously. I went around with the reconnaissance platoon. The number of the other side is less than ours, about 1,500."

At this point, Fang Ligong paused briefly and glanced at the face of his own regiment commander.

"But the new regiment of the Eighth Route Army has been equipped with a full set of French infantry light weapons, not even a single Japanese weapon."

"And they are equipped with a large number of mortars, with at least fifteen mortars of a caliber of more than 60 mm, each of which is an original French Blonde mortar."

At first, Chu Yunfei didn't react much, as 1,500 people only slightly exceeded the standard of the basic regiment. At this stage, the Eighth Route Army is expanding rapidly, and overstaffing is understandable.

But the number of mortars directly broke his defense.

"How many? Sixteen mortars? Or French originals?"

"Did you see it wrong? The whole of North Africa can't get together sixteen original goods!"

Although it was a bit exaggerated, Fang Ligong could understand the shock of his own regiment commander. After all, when he inspected the goods, the expression on his face was more exaggerated than Chu Yunfei's.

You have to know that in the early days of the War of Resistance, many division-level units of the non-direct central army only had 18 to 24 mortars.

This is just the number that should be issued on the list. Considering the traditional art of candied fruit, it is still unknown to what extent there will be a shortage after the actual implementation.

Taking into account the losses during the four-year war, a third-rate division may not be able to gather 16 guns.

Take the 68th Army as an example. This unit has three divisions, the 119th, 143rd and the temporary 36th. According to the establishment, each division should have 18 mortars.

But in fact, the 119th Division has only 2 guns, the 143rd Division has 11 guns, and the temporary 36th Division has 16 guns. The total number of mortars in the entire army is only 29, which is only slightly more than half of the full establishment rate.

How can a division like the 119th Division, which has only two mortars, fight against the Japanese?

Although the above mentioned are all Type 20 82mm mortars, Chu Yunfei knows the military industry level of the Eighth Route Army. Whenever a new weapon appears in his troops, it will be transferred to troops at all levels in a short time.

After all, in February this year, the other side had not even replaced their rifles. Now it is only May, and the local armed forces have used a full set of French weapons.

"Let's go. Except for southwest Shanxi, there is no place for the Shanxi Suiyuan Army to settle in the whole province."

"Staying in Yangquan will only make the other side look down on our 358th Regiment. Retreat! Go back to Ji County!"

Fang Ligong hesitated. Leaving now means nothing, and it is difficult to give an explanation to Commander Yan.

After hesitating for a moment, he seemed to want to say something, but it was a pity that he was strangled in the cradle by Chu Yunfei's sharp eyes.

"Shame on you! Go!"

······

Taiyuan, the headquarters of the First Army.

At this time, Yansong Yixiong was staring at the battle report piled on the table with his eyes blankly. He looked listless, as if the word "sucking" was written on his face.

There is no way. There is no good news on the front line. What ambitions can a scapegoat have?

Now the soldiers fifty miles away from Taiyuan are either all killed or died on the way to transfer.

The cage policy that the North China Front Army has worked hard to operate for many years was smashed by the Eighth Route Army like a toy.

The Tongpu Railway that runs through the north and south sections of Shanxi Province has been lost. All the strongholds along the line have been occupied by the Eighth Route Army. Even the Mongolian Army has voluntarily given up Datong.

The Zhengtai Line connecting Hebei Province has also been lost. Now the First Army has no way to go up to the sky and no way to go down to the earth.

The only good news is that the defenders within fifty miles of Taiyuan have withdrawn, which can be regarded as accumulating a certain amount of capital for the next city defense battle.

Moreover, there are enough food and weapons in their First Army warehouses, so there will not be a tragedy of running out of ammunition and food after just a few days of defense.

After a long sigh of relief, Iwamatsu Yoshio slowly came to the combat meeting room.

In the room, a group of staff officers were so busy that they didn't even notice the arrival of their own commander.

On the map, the entire Shanxi Province, except Taiyuan, was filled with red flags representing the Eighth Route Army. From a distance, Taiyuan City looked like a huge dumpling filling.

"How is the preparation for defending the city? Have all the ammunition been transported to the city wall?"

"We must be careful of the enemy agents hiding in the city. Public security is very important at this stage. We will definitely die under internal and external troubles."

Hearing the words of their commander, the Japanese nodded and bowed.

"Hi!"

I declare that Steel 4 has changed from a mustache simulator to a principal simulator!