Rebirth: I am in Jin-Cha-Ji

"Send troops up to provide support."

Chapter 249: Arrogant Nanyun Shinichiro

"Which unit do you think is suitable?"

"Second Security Regiment. Comrade Xue Yong has a broad perspective and is very calm. He is suitable for marching north to Xuanzhuohuai and help stabilize the base area."

"I agree."

Wei Hongjun nodded.

Xue Yong was able to remain in the enemy camp for many years without revealing his true colors. Even during the underground party uprising, when the situation was tense, he managed to remain safely in Gao Guizi's army. Furthermore, he unknowingly developed a party organization within the army, recruiting over twenty members. This shows how meticulous Xue Yong's thinking was. The situation in the Xuanzhuohuai base area was currently dire.

After the main force broke through, it hadn't played much of a role, or perhaps none at all. The local troops remaining in the base area struggled to cope with the superior Japanese and puppet forces. The Second Security Regiment was dispatched to increase the strength of the base's interior forces.

The Second Guard Regiment, consisting of twelve infantry companies and more than 2000 men, was immediately dispatched by the column to march through Chunhuabao into Huailai and the Xuanzhuohuai base.

The raid has been going on for many days, and there is basically no good news.

Because the anti-mopping-up situation in each base area was extremely grim, it could be said that bad news came one after another. Two days after the Second Guard Regiment set out, bad news arrived that made the entire column depressed.

Chen Zhonghe, head of the 8th Column’s Training Department, reported.

"Commander, Political Commissar, Chunhua Fort has been lost.

"what happened?"

"Not long ago, the Japanese army raided Chunhua Fort. We had few troops in Chunhua Fort and were defeated by the Japanese.

"how many people?"

"It's still uncertain. However, based on the intelligence we've gathered so far, this Japanese force should number around a thousand."

"Why is there no news from the Pingbei Detachment?"

Both Wang Qiuyun and Wei Hongjun were horrified.

The Japanese army was sweeping Changping and Wanping, and both of them knew this. In Changping and Wanping, the 34th Column had two main regiments, the 35th and th Regiments. Even if they couldn't resist the Japanese army, they should be able to grasp the Japanese army's movements.

About a thousand Japanese troops appeared in Chunhua Fort, but they did not report it.

"Da Da Da

"Commander, Political Commissar, telegram from the Pingbei Detachment."

"Let me see."

Wei Hongjun took the telegram and took a look at it, and his face immediately turned ugly.

Wang Qiuyun glanced at Wei Hongjun and asked, "What's wrong?"

“34团在转移的过程当中，和日军77独立大队碰上。双方在石景山打了一仗，34团退到了门头沟。昨天傍晚在门头沟又跟追上来的77独立大队、78独立大队击溃。靠着天黑部队才撤了出来。

"What are the casualties?"

"The troops suffered over 34 casualties, with over 200 missing. This was after the th Regiment had regrouped. Originally, when the troops were withdrawing from the battle, over were missing. Even after the regrouping, over were still missing.

"How is this war fought?"

Wang Qiuyun couldn't help but get angry.

The 34th Regiment is the main force of the 2700th Column, with about people.

As for the Japanese army's independent battalions, each one sent out for a mopping-up operation consisted of no more than 500 men. Two battalions combined only had about 1000 men. But what kind of battle was this? In just two battles, over 34 people were killed, wounded, and missing. The th Regiment was completely devastated by this.

The Japanese mopping-up operation has just begun, and it has been less than ten days.

The 34th Regiment suffered such heavy casualties, what should they do in the subsequent counter-mopping-up operation?

Moreover, the 34th Regiment suffered such a great defeat, but it was not reported immediately, but was delayed for such a long time. The 34th Regiment fought the battle yesterday, and it was already past nine o'clock the next day.

How could Wang Qiuyun not be angry?

It's simply dereliction of duty.

"Comrade Guijiu has many years of military experience, but his command abilities are lacking. We should renegotiate the position of commander of the 34th Regiment.

Wang Qiuyun was not very satisfied with Gui Jiu, the commander of the 34th Regiment.

Gui Jiu's original appointment as commander of the 34th Regiment was intended to unite the troops involved in the Yidong uprising. After all, the 34th and 35th Regiments were reorganized from the Jidong uprising, and consideration of Jidong cadres was necessary in cadre appointments, a form of balance. However, this cadre appointment now appears to have been a complete failure.

Guijiu is not a qualified military commander.

The 34th Regiment was established not just a day or two, but over half a year ago. Not only had they undergone training within the column, but they had also previously helped the First Division attract the Japanese puppet army's mobile forces. So, they had fought in some battles.

But this time it was really disappointing.

Wei Hongjun also had some doubts about Guijiu's ability. Fighting behind enemy lines, incompetent cadres often lead to casualties. However, since it was the middle of a counter-mopping-up operation, it was difficult to directly adjust the cadre ranks. So, Wei Hongjun said, "We'll discuss this matter after the counter-mopping-up operation is over." The 34th Regiment's slow response was also due to their political commissar, Comrade Zhang Chao.

Zhang Chao is Wei Hongjun's favorite general.

Wei Hongjun personally nurtured Zhang Chao from a university student to his current position as regimental political commissar. Zhang Chao's name was even mentioned in the Eighth Column's new military restructuring plan, which even alarmed Yan'an and the Eighth Route Army headquarters.

But wrong is wrong.

The 34th Regiment's poor performance was due to both the regimental commander and the political commissar. In particular, the 34th Regiment's response was too slow after the defeat. They failed to report the incident to the Pingbei Detachment and the Column promptly. As a result, the Column only learned of the news after the Japanese army had already entered Chunhua Fort.

However, during the retreat, more than 34 soldiers were missing. Later, more than returned, which Wei Hongjun was very satisfied with. Although the th Regiment's combat effectiveness was not good, Zhang Chao's political work was still good.

"Now I should think about Chunhua Castle."

"Since the Japanese 77th and 78th Independent Battalions fought against the 34th Regiment in Mentougou, it's certain that the troops that occupied Chunhua Fort were these two battalions. They are now either heading north to Huailai or south to Beilingzhuang."

"Old Wang, if it were you, what would you do next?" Wei Hongjun asked Wang Qiuyun.

Wang Qiuyun said, "Of course we wait. Summon the troops. Send another battalion, and leave one battalion to guard Chunhua Fort. The rest of the troops will head north, attacking the Xuanzhuhuai base from both the north and the south. Join forces with the 2nd Independent Mixed Brigade and the 9th Independent Mixed Brigade to completely eliminate the Xuanhuai base."

"I think so too."

"We are now too passive. The Ninggao Town Detachment and the Chadong Detachment must take action."

"We should let them move."

Wang Qiuyun and Wei Hongjun were analyzing the next move of the Japanese army and felt that their analysis was quite good.

Unfortunately, it is completely wrong.

这一次率领77独立大队和78独立大队进驻春花堡的是日军独立混成第十五旅团少将旅团长南云亲一郎。七七事变的时候，南云亲一郎是日军20师团第39旅团步兵第78联队长。因为七七事变之后，20师团是日军第一个投入中国战场的整建制师团。

So Shinichiro Nagumo followed the 20th Division to fight in North China.

He was later promoted to major general and served in the Kwantung Army. After the outbreak of the Jidong Uprising, the Japanese Army dispatched the 110th Division to suppress it. Nanyun Shinichiro was transferred to the 110th Division and participated in the suppression of the Jidong Uprising.

Tada Shun was still very satisfied with Nanyun Shinichiro's performance.

This time, the 15th Independent Mixed Brigade was formed in Peking, with Tada Shun transferring Shinichiro Nagumo to command it. Shinichiro Nagumo was a former classmate of the well-known Abe Nobuhide, currently commanding the 2nd Independent Mixed Brigade. The two former classmates participated together in the sweep against the 8th Column.

When Nanyun Shinichiro raided Wanping this time, his target was not Wanping.

But it was the Eighth Column Headquarters.

Of his batch of NCO academy graduates, only he, Ishiguro Sadazō, and Abe Nobuhide had the rank of major general without an Army University diploma. In the Japanese military, promotions were extremely difficult without Army University education.

He was promoted to major general in his fifties and reached retirement age in two years.

It is not easy to become a lieutenant general in the army.

Nagumo Shinichiro was unwilling to accept this. He was particularly discontented after hearing that Abe Norihide was highly regarded by the Imperial Headquarters and was likely to be promoted to Lieutenant General. Why, when they were both graduates of the NCO Academy and hadn't attended Army University, was Abe Norihide eligible for Lieutenant General while he would have to retire in a year or two? He didn't consider himself inferior to Abe Norihide.

Therefore, he had to make great contributions on the battlefield. Only by making outstanding military achievements could he make up for his lack of academic qualifications. Wang Qiuyun and Wei Hongjun considered the next direction of the Japanese army based on normal logic and analysis of the current battlefield situation.

Unfortunately, the arrogant Nanyun Shinichiro is unable to use normal logic.

Of course, Nagumo Shinichirō's arrogance wasn't groundless. It stemmed from his time with the 20th Division, which swept through hundreds of thousands of troops across North China. At the time, his regiment alone pursued several divisions of the Nationalist army.

After joining the Kwantung Army, he didn't fight. He later became a brigade commander in the 110th Division, where he had an easier time defeating the Jidong forces. The main force of the Jidong uprising had retreated to its base, and the remaining troops were limited in strength. Furthermore, some of the troops involved in the Jidong uprising were led by members of the Nationalist intelligence service.

Initially, the Japanese army was very powerful, boasting tens of thousands of troops. However, when the Japanese 110th Division and other units arrived in eastern Hebei, most of the large forces were wiped out. Later, only the elite units with strong combat effectiveness were active in eastern Hebei.

After the Ji-Re-Liaoning Advance Army entered Jidong, the situation in Jidong became turbulent again. However, Nanyun Shinichiro had no dealings with the Ji-Re-Liaoning Advance Army because he was ordered to form the 15th Independent Mixed Brigade in Peiping.

Shinichiro Nanyun really looked down on the Chinese army.

Because he had never suffered a loss against the Chinese army. Not to mention, he had just defeated the 34th Regiment of the 34th Column. In his opinion, the th Regiment had some combat effectiveness and was more capable of fighting than those troops in Jidong, but that was all.

"The 34th Regiment of the Eighth Route Army is already a lost cause. Send a telegram to the 79th and 80th Battalions, telling them to come to Chunhuabao quickly. The Eighth Route Army in Wanping will be handed over to the 76th Battalion and the Fourth Army of the Security Army. I will enter Beilingzhuang and take out the headquarters of the th Column of the Eighth Route Army."

Chapter 250: Attacking the Pingsui Road

Wang Qiuyun and Wei Hongjun can't wait any longer.

The pressure on the base is increasing.

The Xuanzhuohuai base was the 16th Column's most important base, and besides Shengxian, it was the 18th Column's longest-running base. Therefore, the column deployed its two most powerful regiments, the th and th Regiments, here. However, their space for maneuver was now being squeezed by two mixed brigades of the Japanese army.

Wang Qiuyun and Wei Hongjun were worried that if this continued, the 16th and 18th Regiments would completely lose their combat effectiveness after the mopping-up operation. Even if something went wrong, the entire Xuanzhuohuai base would be lost, with most of it becoming a guerrilla zone.

If something like this happens, it will be a huge blow to the 8th Column.

In addition, the troops of the Japanese Army's 15th Independent Mixed Brigade began to enter Chunhua Fort.

If this unit also joined in the sweep of the Xuanhuai base, the situation in the Xuanhuai base would become even worse. It can be said that this was the first time such a crisis had occurred since the establishment of the Eighth Column.

So the two decided to bring in other forces.

What Wang Qiuyun and Wei Hongjun thought of were the Chaxi Detachment and the Chadong Detachment.

The North China Front Army mobilized so many Japanese and puppet troops to sweep the Jin-Cha-Ji Military Region, but overall the troops were still insufficient. Because the Jin-Cha-Ji base area was very large, the Japanese and puppet troops had to leave troops behind every time they occupied a county town to sweep the Jin-Cha-Ji Military Region.

There are also some important transportation lines, and if you occupy one, you have to leave troops behind to protect it.

Furthermore, with so many Japanese troops fighting, they needed a vast amount of supplies. The surrounding railways were crucial and absolutely no problems were allowed. To protect these crucial railway lines, Tada Shun chose the "iron wall encirclement" strategy.

The North China Front established strongholds around the railway and built numerous blockhouses. These strongholds required a large number of Japanese and puppet troops to garrison them. These strongholds along the railway occupied a significant portion of the North China Front's manpower, with tens of thousands of Japanese and puppet troops stationed there. This resulted in a shortage of mobile forces for the Japanese and puppet troops, forcing them to focus on sweeping through the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei bases.

For example, during the current sweep of the Eighth Column, the Japanese and puppet troops did not have enough troops to conduct a comprehensive sweep. Therefore, they chose to focus on the Xuanzhuohuai and Changwanshan bases. As for the Chadong and Chaxi detachments, they did not send any troops to conduct sweeps.

The Japanese army's strategy was to use these forts to cut off the connection between the Chadong Detachment and other bases of the 8th Column.

The Japanese army was still very confident.

They had learned about the Chadong Detachment. It was a newly formed unit of the Eighth Column, primarily composed of local village detachments and bandits. Such a unit would be helpless against the Japanese fortifications. Therefore, they were confident that their fortifications could isolate the Chadong Detachment.

After dealing with the main force of the 8th Column, they turned around and swept the Chadong Detachment.

"Comrade Jiang Hebai, Comrade Ma Hongyuan, the 26th Regiment will tear open a gap on the Pingsui Road tonight. The New 16st Regiment and the Cavalry Regiment must quickly cross the Pingsui Road and advance to Huailai. The situation with the 18th and 16th Regiments is currently very serious. The Japanese troops have been pursuing the main forces of the 18th and th Regiments.

So when you enter into His arms, you will be a new force.”