Devil's Army

The next morning, just as Wulang was preparing for another Japanese invasion, Division Commander Yamaoka ordered the 118th Regiment of the 136th Brigade, which was originally preparing to attack Tongzhou, to support the 31st Brigade which was attacking Niangzi Pass.

Compared with Tongzhou and Niangzi Pass, Niangzi Pass was an important gateway for the Japanese army to invade the south. So the problem of Tongzhou was temporarily put aside by the division commander Yamaoka.

Wu Lang led a large army to defend Tongzhou for two days, and the Japanese army did not attack again.

The Japanese army abandoned Tongzhou, which is obviously unlikely. Tongzhou is only 40 to 50 miles away from Beijing. Did the Japanese allow a Chinese army that could endanger their safety at any time to exist at the foot of Beijing they occupied? Then why did the Japanese not attack Tongzhou for so many days?

Wu Lang thought about it. At this time, the main forces of the Japanese North China Front were fighting the Xinkou Campaign and the Niangziguan Campaign. They might not be able to take care of Tongzhou for the time being. After taking Xinkou and Niangziguan, they would definitely turn around and attack Tongzhou.

Wu Lang considered again and again and decided to give up Tongzhou. The base was set up in Jixian County because: First, the main force of the army could not hold Tongzhou for a long time.

Secondly, the Japanese army now has more than 37 people in the North China Front Army. Even if all the main forces of the First Anti-Japanese Army were mobilized to fight the Japanese army head-on, they might not be the opponent of the Japanese army, not to mention that they only have more than people now.

Third, Ji County is high in the north and low in the south, with a stepped distribution. The north is mountainous, with rolling mountains and the highest point at 1078.5 meters above sea level. The terrain is dangerous and easy to defend but difficult to attack. The mountainous area is vast, reaching 840.5 square kilometers, accounting for more than half of the area of ​​the district, providing a broad strategic depth and natural barrier for defensive operations.

Fourthly, Ji County is located in the heart of Beijing, Tianjin, Tangshan and Chengde, with Yanshan Mountain to the north and bordering Hebei Province across the Great Wall. The Huangyaguan Pass, the Great Wall and other passes in the county are important military defense facilities that can effectively block the Japanese invasion.

Fifthly, Jixian is nearly 200 miles closer to their logistics base than Tongzhou, making transportation more convenient.

On the morning of the third day, Wu Lang left a company of the 11th Brigade to maintain public order in Tongzhou, and the main force and heavy artillery withdrew to Jixian County.

The commander of the 11th Brigade asked the commander of the first battalion to instruct the remaining company commanders to spread the sentries outside Tongzhou City. When the large Japanese army from Peking came to attack, they should abandon Tongzhou and retreat to Jixian County.

When Wulang retreated through Sanhe County, they rested for a day in the county. At this time, Sanhe County was still under their control.

The large force arrived in Ji County, and the commander of the Fifth Brigade arranged a battalion to garrison there.

Wulang, together with the two 150mm howitzers in Tongzhou, a total of 150 150mm howitzers and artillery were left in Jixian. However, there were not many Type 150 mm howitzer shells captured from the Japanese, and it was unknown whether they could be used interchangeably with their Krupp mm howitzer shells.

While resting in Ji County, Wu Lang sent a telegram to inquire about Engineer Li at the arsenal.

Soon, Mr. Li called back and his answer disappointed Wu Lang.

The actual caliber of the Japanese Type 150 149.1mm howitzer is 150mm. The caliber of the Krupp 150mm howitzer produced by their arsenal is mm. The two types of shells have different shapes, lengths, weights and other dimensions, so they cannot be used interchangeably.

Since they cannot be used interchangeably, we can only find a way to use the shells from the nine 150mm howitzers captured from the Japanese.

Before Wulang could rest, the guard came to report: the commander of a troop wanted to see the commander-in-chief.

Wu Lang asked the guards to take them to the reception room and he would arrive soon.

When Wu Lang arrived at the reception room, he found that he did not recognize these officers and their uniforms were very mixed.

After listening to their introduction, Wu Lang realized that some of them were soldiers of the security team who participated in the defense of Tianjin, and some were soldiers of the 29th Army who participated in the defense of Peking. After the fall of Tianjin and Peking, they had been fighting guerrilla warfare around Tianjin and Peking.

During this period, the Japanese blockade became tighter and tighter, and their maneuvering area became smaller and smaller.

Wu Lang and his men's victory in the two battles with the Japanese army in Tongzhou not only shocked the Japanese army, but also inspired them.

So they came to join the First Anti-Japanese Army. But when they arrived in Tongzhou, the garrison in Tongzhou told them that you had gone to Sanhe County.

So they rushed to Sanhe County without stopping, but they were still a step too late. The garrison in Sanhe County told us that you went to Ji County.

So they rushed to Ji County and finally met Commander He.

"How many people do you have in total?" Wu Lang asked the unit's highest commander, Battalion Commander Fang.

"We have more than 900 people in total, from six or seven units. We are all gathered together to fight the Japanese."

"You've worked hard. I'll ask the kitchen to prepare some midnight snacks. You can go to bed after you finish eating. I have to go out for something tomorrow, so you can stay in Ji County." Wu Lang held Captain Fang's hand and asked the guards next to him to arrange their accommodation. He personally took Captain Fang and his men to the kitchen.

Wu Lang's purpose of building an anti-Japanese base was to attract anti-Japanese armed forces from all over the country to join him and expand his anti-Japanese team. At present, it seems that this move is successful, but the anti-Japanese base has been transferred from Tongzhou to Jixian.