Rebirth: I am in Jin-Cha-Ji

An infantry battalion wasn't always concentrated at the station. Instead, it was dispersed across various strongholds and bunkers, leaving fewer troops in each. Facing the main force of the Chanan Detachment, backed by artillery, the Japanese troops in these strongholds and bunkers were simply unable to resist.

Only after the surrounding strongholds were captured did the Japanese realize the arrival of the main force of the Eighth Route Army. Consequently, the outer Japanese troops abandoned their strongholds and forts and retreated to Kangzhuang Station. Dispersed Japanese troops were easier to defeat, and retreating Japanese troops provided a much stronger defense.

But the Chanan Detachment is not weak at all.

The troops began to occupy the surrounding areas and then prepared to attack Kangzhuang Station.

"Colonel, this Eighth Route Army still has a lot of infantry artillery. Once they launch an attack, it will be very difficult for us to survive."

Inside Kangzhuang Station, the Japanese troops were all very panicked.

Even if Kangzhuang Station had complete fortifications, it would be difficult to stop the Eighth Route Army troops equipped with infantry artillery. Furthermore, Kangzhuang Station currently lacked complete fortifications, with many being improvised structures. A few hits from infantry artillery would render these fortifications useless.

Colonel Harada Atsushi, commander of the 215th Regiment, was at Kangzhuang Station.

His face was gloomy.

He said, “Send a telegram to the Second Battalion, asking them to come south to provide support.

Send a telegram to the Front Command requesting reinforcements from the 224th Regiment."

Harada Atsushi really didn't understand how the 215th Regiment had ended up in its current state.

The 33rd Division had been fighting in Hubei and Jiangxi for two years, and later performed well in the Battle of Zhongtiao Mountain. However, the 33th Regiment suffered repeated defeats since entering the Chadong area.

The 215rd Battalion of the th Regiment was ambushed and annihilated by the Chadong Detachment.

Afterwards, the other two battalions of the 215th Regiment were also frequently attacked by the Eighth Route Army guerrillas. Although the casualties seemed light, the Eighth Route Army guerrillas' surprise attacks, several times a day, even dozens of times a day, seriously affected the morale of the Japanese army.

Of course, this was also related to the 33rd Division's casualties of over 33 during the Battle of Zhongtiao Mountain. While the 33rd Division performed exceptionally well at Zhongtiao Mountain, it also suffered high casualties because of this. Although the North China Front Army prioritized the rd Division in order to sweep the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei base area, the sheer number of new recruits directly impacted its combat effectiveness.

The sudden attack on Kangzhuang Station by the Cha'nan Detachment also made the North China Front Army very nervous.

Restoring the Ping-Sui Railway was a key objective for the Japanese army this time. Ever since the 8th Column severed the section of the Ping-Sui Railway between Peking and Zhangjiakou during the Hundred Regiments Campaign, it had remained interrupted for over a year. The Japanese army had attempted to restore the Ping-Sui Railway several times without success, forcing connections between Peking and Zhangjiakou to take a significant detour.

Through the Zhengtai Road, Tongpu Road, and the railway connection between Datong and Zhangjiakou. However, because the Zhengtai Road was also intermittent, the Japanese army often had to take the highway.

As a result, the Japanese army's control over the area around Zhangjiakou became increasingly weak.

Kangzhuang Station is one of the most important stations between Beijing and Zhangjiakou. The North China Front Army immediately ordered the surrounding troops to provide support.

"Commander, Political Commissar, the Japanese unit closest to us and suitable for an ambush is the 224rd Infantry Battalion of the 224th Regiment. However, according to our scouts, this unit is larger in number and better equipped, with a large number of heavy weapons. The other Japanese battalions generally send to men, but the rd Infantry Battalion of the th Regiment alone has over a thousand Japanese troops. According to our reconnaissance, in addition to three Japanese infantry squadrons, this unit also has two cavalry squadrons, a machine gun squadron, and a rapid-fire artillery squadron. They are also accompanied by a regiment of puppet troops."

The Japanese reinforcements did not mean that all the battalions would go to reinforce.

Each battalion would send two squadrons, plus a machine gun squadron or something like that, totaling 400 to 500 men. The 3rd Infantry Battalion, with just over 1,000 men, had only sent three infantry squadrons.

Zhang Dahu asked, "Political Commissar, what do you think?"

"We have now gathered the 26th and New 5000st Regiments, plus the troops directly under the detachment, and currently have over 4000 people, 224 of whom can directly participate in the battle. This time we are ambushing the Japanese army. We have the advantage of numbers and the advantage of location. The rd Infantry Battalion of the th Regiment is capable of fighting. And judging by the mission assigned to us by the column, they also hope that we can fight a major battle."

Zhang Dahu nodded.

This siege and reinforcements were so thoroughly prepared, with so many troops mobilized. If we were to ambush a large group of only two infantry squadrons of four or five hundred men, it would be a waste of all the preparations.

Zhang Dahu looked at the map and said, "It's just too inconvenient for us to communicate right now. If we can contact the First and Second Special Agent Regiments, the Cavalry Regiment, and the Guerrilla Detachment for this operation, and everyone acts in unison, we'll definitely achieve very good results."

The Japanese army swept the Chadong base. In order to break the Japanese army's sweep, the troops were dispersed.

Under current communication conditions, the troops will be unable to communicate with each other until the mopping-up operation is complete. Why is it said that the War of Resistance is the most challenging test of the comprehensive abilities of frontline commanders? It's because of poor communication conditions that troops often operate independently behind enemy lines. Only commanders with strong comprehensive abilities can lead their troops to survive behind enemy lines.

“Lao Zhang, I think we can trust our commander.

Several Japanese battalions dispatched troops to the south to reinforce Kangzhuang. They would definitely get the news of such a big move.

Xiahou Wen was very confident.

The commanders of the Chadong Detachment, who were scattered across the country, were all experienced warriors. Due to poor communications, they did not know what was happening, but they could still see the movements of the Japanese army.

The Japanese army's withdrawal of troops to reinforce Kangzhuang will cause the areas they currently control to be understaffed. This will give the troops scattered throughout the Chadong base an opportunity to perform and completely disrupt the Japanese army's sweep of the Chadong base.

"Okay. Then we'll attack the 224rd Infantry Battalion of the th Regiment.

The column decided to fight a big battle in Kangzhuang.

The Chanan Detachment concentrated its forces to attack Kangzhuang, instantly throwing northeastern Shanxi, eastern Chahar, and northern Pingxiang into chaos. The North China Front Army attached great importance to Kangzhuang, as it was crucial to the restoration of the Pingsui Railway. If Kangzhuang were lost again, the restoration of the Pingsui Railway would be uncertain. Therefore, despite its limited manpower, the North China Front Army was mobilizing surrounding troops to reinforce Kangzhuang.

Not to mention the 224th and 215th Regiments, the th Independent Mixed Brigade, the th Independent Mixed Brigade, and the th Independent Mixed Brigade, which were sweeping the Changwanshan base, all transferred troops to reinforce Kangzhuang.

The large-scale mobilization of the North China Front Army directly disrupted their original mopping-up plan. Of course, the Japanese army's mopping-up of the Eighth Route Army base this time was somewhat forced.

Or it's more of a revengeful nature.

With the withdrawal of troops now, the Japanese mopping-up operation can almost be said to have come to an end. Of course, such a large-scale withdrawal of troops was completely bewildering to those fighting behind enemy lines.

Because the Eighth Route Army troops were racking their brains to counter the mopping-up operation, but suddenly the troops in front of them gave up the mopping-up operation.

"Commissar, the scouts we sent out have returned.

Headquarters of the 1st Special Agent Regiment.

The First Special Agent Regiment operated over a wide area, stretching from the western part of Fengning County to the Great Wall in Chicheng County. Previously, the First and Second Battalions of the 224th Regiment had swept through this area, pursuing the Special Agent Regiment and the Second Special Agent Regiment along the way.

The first and second special forces regiments suffered relatively heavy losses.

After all, the 224st and 36nd Battalions of the 2300th Regiment were both fully staffed field battalions. Together with the two cavalry squadrons, a machine gun squadron and an artillery squadron of the th Division's directly affiliated cavalry regiment, the total number of people was about .

Weapons and equipment are also good.

They had 46 mortars and grenade launchers, 10 field and mountain guns, 6 rapid-fire guns, over 80 light and heavy machine guns, and over 500 horses, not counting the cavalry. They were also supported by four puppet army regiments.

The pressure on the First and Second Special Forces Regiments in their raids was really great, and they suffered heavy casualties.

In desperation, Kang Shui personally led a battalion of the Special Forces Regiment and the Guard Battalion, while the other two battalions dispersed to conduct guerrilla warfare. He served as bait to attract the main Japanese force, while the other two battalions jumped out and attacked the Japanese flanks and logistics.

However, the Japanese army was in the process of sweeping up the battlefield, but suddenly called off the operation, which shocked the Special Forces Regiment. Currently, during the anti-sweeping period, the Special Forces Regiment had lost contact with the column and detachment, and had no idea what was happening.

"what's the situation?"

"We don't have the specific details. But the Japanese cavalry squadron that previously outflanked us from the south has disappeared. We don't know where they went.

When our scouts arrived, the place was deserted. The 224st Battalion of the th Regiment, which had been pursuing us, withdrew its troops and began to move south.

"how many people?"

"About five hundred people."

Five hundred people is not a small number.

The Japanese Army's Third Regiment Security Division consisted of only 1100 to soldiers in a battalion. These battalions were different from the approximately -man field battalions. A selection of men would be roughly composed of two infantry squadrons and one machine gun squadron. This combination provided formidable firepower.

If they were to engage in a head-on confrontation, the Eighth Route Army's 2,000-man force would have found it difficult to stop a Japanese force of this size.

"What's the specific direction?"

“Here, towards Pangjiagou.

Kang Shui was thinking in front of the map.

After thinking for a while, he said, "What happened in the south that caused the Japanese army to suddenly change the direction of attack? The direction of Pangjiagou is the road to Kangzhuang. Could something have happened in Kangzhuang? Political Commissar, what do you think?"

There was too little intelligence at hand, and Kang Shui was unable to determine the Japanese army's purpose.

Sha Xuewen frowned.

"I guess there are two possibilities. One is that something big happened in Kangzhuang. It is possible that the main force of our 8th Column is besieging Kangzhuang. Kangzhuang is an important station on the Pingsui Road, and the Japanese army is going to reinforce Kangzhuang. The other possibility is that the Japanese army can't catch our main force, and we have been attacking them frequently during this period. In particular, their logistics are not good, resulting in insufficient logistics. If they continue, their mopping-up operation will not last for a few days. So they dug a pit for us, hoping that we would fall into the trap they designed and eat up our main force."

Battlefield communications are poor, as is the case now.

No idea what happened.

Therefore, Sha Xuewen gave two possibilities.

Kang Shui looked at the map and said, "We'll know if we're trapped by trying. My idea is to send a reinforced company and have the troops march quickly around Pangjiagou and into Meitie Mountain. We'll launch a surprise attack on the Japanese army here and see how they react. If the Japanese army is setting a trap to lure our main force, they won't continue to move south. Because if they continue to move south, the distance between this unit and the headquarters of the Japanese First Battalion will be too far. If the Japanese army ignores our surprise attack and continues to move south, it means that something big has happened in Kangzhuang. The Japanese army is eager to reinforce Kangzhuang. If that's the case, we can't let the Japanese army move south to Kangzhuang so easily. Political Commissar, what do you think?"

"We can try. If the main force of the column is attacking Kangzhuang, then we really can't let these reinforcements rush to the battlefield quickly.

Sha Xuewen nodded in agreement with Kang Shui's plan.

If something serious had really happened in Kangzhuang, forcing the Japanese army to change their mopping-up plan and rush to reinforce, then of course they couldn't just sit there and watch. The two men had little doubt that the main force of the column would attack Kangzhuang.

Because the Cha'nan Detachment, the most powerful unit of the Eighth Column, is not currently participating in the war.

If the column wants to attack Kangzhuang, it can mobilize the Chanan Detachment.

"it is good."

Kang Shui immediately began to deploy his troops.

While making arrangements, Kang Shui sighed and said, "It would be great if we could contact the Second Special Agent Regiment, the Cavalry Regiment, and the Guerrilla Detachment right now."

If the Chadong Detachment and other units could be contacted and united, a lot could be done at this moment. Unfortunately, the Eighth Route Army's battlefield communication capabilities were insufficient, and the units were operating in scattered groups, making contact impossible.

Kang Shui thought so, and so did the other troops.

Everyone was curious about the situation in the Japanese army. No one knew what was going on, but everyone had come from guerrilla warfare behind enemy lines. So, even though they didn't know what was going on, they intuitively knew that something big was going on.

So when everyone couldn't contact other troops, they started to act according to their own ideas.

Chapter 385 Okamura Neiji's Helplessness

The Japanese army's large-scale mopping-up operation dealt a severe blow to the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei base area.

Okamura Ningji now has no expectations for the Eighth Route Army base, nor does he believe he can win over the local residents. If the Japanese army had previously imagined that if they could capture the Eighth Route Army base, the local residents would abandon their support for the Eighth Route Army, many of them would even turn around and support the Japanese army.

However, after years of fighting the Eighth Route Army, the Japanese army began to truly understand the Eighth Route Army's situation. The civilians in the Eighth Route Army base areas had been severely "redified," including the landlords, and were now enemies of the Japanese army. Therefore, this time the Japanese army launched a large-scale sweep, annihilating the main force of the Eighth Route Army while wreaking havoc on the base areas. Since these civilians were enemies, they could not be shown mercy. This was the thinking of Okamura Neiji.

Therefore, these people burned, killed, looted and committed all kinds of evil.

During this large-scale sweep, Ningji Okamura's "Three Alls Policy" caused great damage to the base.

Although Jin-Cha-Ji was much stronger now than it had been in the past, Ningji Okamura did not believe that his current sweep would be enough to eliminate Jin-Cha-Ji. However, he believed that this sweep would inflict a heavy blow to the Eighth Route Army. After that, as long as he continued the sweep and did not give the Eighth Route Army a chance to recover, he would eventually be able to eliminate Jin-Cha-Ji.

Therefore, despite many objections, including those from frontline generals, he resolutely launched a sweeping campaign against the Jin-Cha-Ji region. However, the results so far have been less than favorable. Okamura Yasuji concentrated his forces, focusing his attack on the Jin-Cha-Ji First Division, which alone numbered over 30,000 Japanese troops. These troops engaged the Jin-Cha-Ji First Division in a seesaw battle across western Hebei.

Although the progress seemed to be going smoothly, with Yixian, Laishui, Mancheng, and Laiyuan all captured by the Japanese army, the main force of the First Division had not yet been truly annihilated in large numbers.

The commanders of the First Division, from top to bottom, had fought countless battles against the Japanese and puppet forces. Therefore, they possessed extensive combat experience. Even if their troops were dispersed, the smaller units knew how to counterattack. Of course, the First Division's counterattacks were carried out by proactively dispersing its main forces, utilizing the mountains in northeastern Shanxi and western Shanxi to engage the Japanese.

Occasionally, they would concentrate their forces to ambush Japanese logistics convoys and puppet troops accompanying them. This was the most common tactic used by the First Division. Faced with so many Japanese troops, Yang Quanwu would never blindly launch an ambush, as they were too numerous and too close together. If an ambush became too large, Japanese reinforcements would arrive quickly. Therefore, Yang Quanwu avoided large-scale battles, and even when ambushing, he would only ambush two or three hundred Japanese soldiers at most. This type of ambush did not require a large concentration of troops and could quickly eliminate the enemy. He moved in and out quickly, leaving the Japanese no chance.

They all seem to be small battles, but the effects are very good.

With so many Japanese troops, plus the puppet troops, the daily logistical consumption was astonishing. The constant attacks on the logistics convoys by the First Division troops made the logistics of the Japanese front-line troops very difficult.

Originally, after the first wave of the Japanese army was hit hard by the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei troops, they lost the initiative and the best opportunity to carry out the sweep. However, because Ningji Okamura was determined to take revenge, this large-scale sweep was carried out.

Now the logistics are insufficient and the troops at the front are complaining.