Devil's Army

After receiving the order from the Gray Wolf to recapture Shanxi Province, the two regiments of the Second Brigade and the Jidong Independent Brigade set out overnight.

The next day, the 11th Brigade of the First Army was responsible for clearing out the remaining Japanese and puppet troops in Peking and Tianjin and maintaining public order in Peking and Tianjin.

The First Brigade and the Third Brigade of the First Army also set out for Shanxi Province.

When the commanders of the first and third brigades arrived at the First Army Command in Weixian County, Hebei Province, the commander of the second brigade, Brigade Commander Gao of the Jidong Independent Brigade, Commander Chen of the Third Division of the Taihang Military Region of the Eighth Route Army, and the commander of the 769th Regiment were already waiting.

At the meeting, Commander Chen first introduced the situation of the Japanese mopping-up forces in Shanxi Province:

The Japanese army's mopping-up operation was divided into three echelons. Each mopping-up unit in the inner first echelon was about the size of 2 to 3 squadrons.

They searched carefully within the area under their charge. Once they found any trace of the Eighth Route Army or the First Anti-Japanese Army, the second echelon of Japanese troops would immediately encircle them.

The third echelon of Japanese troops expanded the encirclement at the same time, waiting for an opportunity to provide support.

Therefore, once the Eighth Route Army and the First Anti-Japanese Army were discovered by the Japanese army, they were quickly surrounded.

"How many Japanese and puppet troops are there in Shanxi Province?" asked the brigade commander in charge of the battle to retake Shanxi Province.

"According to reliable intelligence, there are more than 50,000 Japanese troops in Shanxi Province, and Commander Pang's 24th Army, which was incorporated some time ago, has more than 30,000 troops."

"How many Eighth Route Army soldiers can you mobilize from Shanxi and surrounding areas?"

"Our Eighth Route Army Taihang Military Region has eight military districts and about 1.5 regular troops. We have about 1 local armed forces that can be mobilized immediately.

"Commander Pang's 24th Army, whose main force is in Henan, has been cracking down on our Eighth Route Army and guerrillas. We also want to find an opportunity to give them a good beating. We are just afraid of being outflanked by the Japanese."

"We will deal with the Japanese, and you will focus on teaching the puppet 24th Army a lesson."

"As long as you can tie down the Japanese troops, leave the task of dealing with the puppet 24th Army to us."

"How many people did the Japanese and puppet troops dispatch each time to encircle and suppress them?"

"10,000 to 30,000 people," the Second Brigade Commander replied.

"I heard that your Third Regiment was surrounded by the Japanese last time and escaped. Were the Japanese furious?"

"That's true. Captain Ma took us to their base. Do you mean to let us be surrounded by the devils again?"

"Yes, it's still in Qigen Village, on the western foot of Taihang Mountain. The time is after noon tomorrow."

"Okay, I'll make arrangements after the meeting."

After the meeting, the Second Brigade Commander ordered the Third Regiment Commander to lead his troops to the western foot of the Taihang Mountains and bring the Japanese troops to Qigeng Village after noon.

A brigade commander led his brigade to block the retreat of the Japanese mopping-up troops.

The Yidong Independent Brigade blocked the advance of the Japanese mopping-up troops.

The Third Brigade was responsible for intercepting Japanese reinforcements.

After the order was given, everyone began to act separately.

The Eighth Route Army also organized parts of the Taihang Military Region, the South Hebei Military Region and the Hebei-Central Security Brigade, totaling about 15 regiments and a total strength of about 2 people. They were divided into two groups, east and west, and launched the Linnan Campaign.

东集团包括第1、第10、第13、第34、第771团，抗日军政大学第6分校第1、第4大队和冀中警备旅第2团等，负责向林县以北、以东和东南的伪军进攻。

西集团包括第2、第3、第20、第32、第769团和冀中警备旅第32团等，负责向林县城、合涧镇、原康等地的伪军进攻。