Anti-Japanese War: Li Yunlong dared to attack Taiyuan

The headquarters has arrived deep in the Taihang Mountains, so there is no need to worry about the Japanese radio detection technology. They immediately turn on the radio and start contacting various troops.

The troops that had successfully moved deep into the Taihang Mountains, such as the 772nd Regiment and the New 2nd Regiment, had already contacted the headquarters, but only Kong Jie's Independent Regiment and Li Yunlong's Independent Column had no way to get in touch.

"I'm not worried about Li Yunlong. He's got a lot of ideas, and he got the news in advance, so there shouldn't be any problems. But Kong Jie's independent regiment!"

Having said that, the chief of staff shook his head and said nothing.

The division commander also sighed and was a little worried. This time the Japanese were very active and made a lot of noise, and many troops suffered certain casualties.

"The Japs are collaborating with the bandits. The bandits in the Taihang Mountains are very familiar with the terrain. The Japs are coming prepared this time. We must be fully prepared!"

The Chief of Staff's implication was that this place was not safe either.

After hearing this, the division commander nodded in agreement and said, "It's time to deal with the bandit problem in Taihang Mountain. We were so busy fighting the Japanese before that we ignored the Japanese in Taihang Mountain. I didn't expect that we would suffer such a big loss because of this group of people!"

The Chief of Staff whispered, "I wanted to report back after returning from the Independent Column. Under the leadership of Li Yunlong, the Independent Column wiped out several bandit dens and gained quite a bit. We can also take some time to suppress the bandits and replenish supplies!"

After saying this, he took out the list of supplies seized from the independent column.

After reading the list, the division commander's expression changed slightly and he asked, "Are these all Li Yunlong's supplies?"

"Yes, I did a rough check. Li Yunlong wasn't exaggerating. These supplies are all in the independent column's warehouse!"

"Hey!"

The division commander slammed his hand on the table, then paced back and forth and said, "This Li Yunlong is probably still in Black Cloud Mountain!"

"No way, Commander, Li Yunlong got the news in advance..."

"You don't know this guy. Li Yunlong is a stingy person. He definitely wouldn't want to part with so many supplies, and he definitely wouldn't want to give them up..."

Before he could finish his words, a signalman trotted into the headquarters and said, "Report, telegram from the Independent Regiment!"

The division commander and the chief of staff looked at each other and immediately said, "Give it to me!"

The division commander looked at the telegram from the independent regiment, narrowed his eyes and said, "Kong Jie's independent regiment has indeed encountered the main force of the Japanese army, the Sixth Division, currently in Xiaodangshan!"

"Xiaodangshan?"

The Chief of Staff quickly found the location of Xiaodang Mountain on the map and frowned. "Xiaodang Mountain is quite far from our main force. It will take at least a day for our troops to reach it. Which unit of the Sixth Division did the Independent Regiment encounter?"

"It's the entire Sixth Division!"

As soon as these words came out, the baton in the chief of staff's hand loosened and fell on the table. This was definitely bad news. Everyone knew the combat effectiveness of a Japanese division. Even if the Eighth Route Army was mobilized now, it might not be able to defeat it.

"Don't worry, the devils have retreated!"

"Retreating?"

"Yes, the independent regiment's telegram said that the Japanese have retreated, and they are still trying to find out the situation!"

As the division commander spoke, he handed the telegram to the chief of staff. The chief of staff took the telegram, quickly read it, and then frowned and said, "This is not right. What are the devils going to do? They don't want to eat the meat that is right in front of their mouths?"

"It's unclear at the moment, the Japs are retreating westward!"

"West?"

The chief of staff looked at the map. There were many cities west of Taihang Mountain, and he was not sure what the Japanese were going to do.

At this moment, another signalman came in: "Report, telegram from the 772nd Regiment!"

"bring here!"

The division commander frowned after receiving the telegram again, then looked at the map and said, "Part of the 772nd Regiment also encountered a large enemy force. After two hours of fighting, the enemy retreated. It was the main force of the 14th Division!"

"The 14th Division also retreated?"

"Yes, the 772nd Regiment is retreating southwest and is investigating the movements of the 14th Division."

"southwest?"

The Chief of Staff looked at the map, his gaze slowly moving towards a city.

Immediately afterwards, the division headquarters received another telegram.

The Japanese 20th Division also began to retreat, and also retreated to the northwest.

The three main divisions of the Japanese army that participated in this winter mopping-up operation all withdrew from the battle, and their retreat directions were roughly the same, all retreating westward.

Soon, news of the retreat of the Japanese 3rd Mixed Brigade, 4th Mixed Brigade and other troops were transmitted back to the command center.

All the telegrams sent by the troops said the same thing: the Japanese retreated very hastily this time and even left some supplies behind.

"The Japs retreated so hastily, something big must have happened!"

The division commander and the chief of staff stared at the map and thought about the purpose of the Japanese retreat.

"The Japanese soldiers on Yidaliang have even occupied some positions and simply abandoned them and retreated. There are even supplies in the camp that have not been taken away. What are the Japanese going to do?"

"I think something big must have happened to the Japanese, otherwise they wouldn't have retreated so quickly. But what could have caused the Japanese to retreat so desperately?"

The division commander and the chief of staff quickly turned their eyes to a city, a city they had never thought of.

"Taiyuan!"

"If something happens to Taiyuan, the devils will definitely do their best to rescue him!"

"Hmm, could it be the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army attacking Taiyuan? I remember the Japanese raid this time drew a large number of troops from the First Army, leaving Taiyuan completely empty!"

The division commander thought for a moment and said, "It's possible! If the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army really attacks Taiyuan, our Eighth Route Army will also lend a hand!"

At this point, the division commander thought for a moment and said, "Immediately inform all units that those who can stop the Japanese from retreating should do so immediately, but don't fight them head-on; focus on harassment!"

"Immediately send out the signalmen and notify the various district squads and county battalions. If possible, destroy the roads and bridges to delay the enemy's retreat!"

The Chief of Staff thought for a moment and said, "Commander, it may be too late to notify the district squad and the county brigade. Let's send a telegram to the troops that can be notified to block the enemy, and then send a pursuit unit to see if we can achieve some results!"

"Well, I agree!"

After the two men finalized a simple battle plan, the division commander suddenly asked, "What's going on with Li Yunlong's independent column? The Japanese have already started a large-scale retreat, but there's still no movement at all?"

The Chief of Staff smiled and said, "I don't know. It can't be that Li Yunlong's troops are attacking Taiyuan!"

Chapter 93 Zhang Dabiao's worries, the devil's pursuers

"Ha ha ha ha……"

As soon as this was said, the division commander and the chief of staff both burst into laughter. Li Yunlong's independent column was simply a regiment, with only about 1,500 men. Attacking Taiyuan? It was impossible.

"Division Commander, if Li Yunlong has 10,000 people under his command, and you say he will attack Taiyuan, I believe it, but now..." The chief of staff shook his head.

"But we still need to get in touch with the Independent Column as soon as possible. Let's send a few liaison officers to find the Independent Column and have them turn on their radios immediately and report the intelligence to headquarters!"

"Yes!"

In the Taihang Mountains, Zhang Dabiao led the Japanese soldiers around for three or four days, but they could not find any trace of the New 1st Regiment of the Eighth Route Army.

The Japanese's patience gradually wore off, and the tone that Hiyama Kiritake used to use towards Zhang Dabiao gradually became harsher.

"If you still can't find the Eighth Route Army tomorrow, the Imperial Army will let you know the price of lying!"

The translator left after leaving this sentence. Before, Xie the translator was always respectful to Zhang Dabiao, but now it can be seen that the Japanese are gradually losing patience with Zhang Dabiao, and Xie the translator is also starting to become more arrogant.

"Lao Zhang, what about tomorrow?"

A soldier who followed Zhang Dabiao down the mountain to lead the Japanese asked Zhang Dabiao in a low voice.

The implication is that we have delayed long enough and it is time to escape.

Zhang Dabiao smoked a cigarette and looked at the dark night sky and said, "If we can hold off the Japanese army for one more day, we can buy another day for other troops!"

After hearing this, the other two soldiers did not say anything and ate the canned food in silence.

Zhang Dabiao was worried about Li Yunlong's situation. After all, Li Yunlong was leading only fifty people to Taiyuan to carry out a mission. It was too dangerous. Once any mistake occurred, it might be disastrous.

"gather!"

"gather!"

"..."

Just as Zhang Dabiao and the others were sleeping, there was a shout outside the tent, followed by a loud noise. Zhang Dabiao was instantly awakened: "What's that noise?"

"I don't know, but it seems the Japs got up in the middle of the night!"

"Up in the middle of the night? Could it be that the Japanese have found our troops?"

Zhang Dabiao and the two soldiers looked at each other, their eyes full of worry.

"Go out and check the situation first!"

The three of them immediately packed up and walked out of the tent. At this time, translator Xie was also loudly giving a speech to the puppet army who were acting with the Japanese.

"The Imperial Army has issued an order to assemble immediately! Move quickly!"

"Don't dawdle, get up quickly!"

As soon as these words were spoken, many puppet soldiers immediately began to complain.

"What are the little Japs doing in the middle of the night without sleeping?"

"That's right, I have to travel all day and I can't sleep well at night!"

Although this group of puppet soldiers complained, they still got up from the bed.

Zhang Dabiao saw this and immediately walked over to Translator Xie: "Translator Xie, what happened?"

Translator Xie looked at Zhang Dabiao and said, "Nothing. The Imperial Army ordered the troops to assemble immediately. They have a mission!"

Zhang Dabiao and his two companions followed the Japanese troops. After getting up in the middle of the night and walking about ten miles, the sky finally began to brighten, and Zhang Dabiao finally discovered something wrong.

“This is the way out of Taihang Mountain!”

"leave?"

Zhang Dabiao nodded and trotted over to Translator Xie. "Translator Xie, where are we going?"

"I don't know either. Just follow the Imperial Army!"

Zhang Dabiao did not ask any more questions and waited until dawn. Then he could confirm that this was the way to leave Taihang Mountain. Along the way, Zhang Dabiao also saw Japanese troops coming out of other surrounding mountains. After they joined together, they continued to move out of Taihang Mountain.

"Thank you, translator. Judging from this direction, the Imperial Army is preparing to leave Taihang Mountain. Can you ask us?"

Zhang Dabiao was a little excited at this time. According to the regiment commander, the Japanese would automatically leave Taihang Mountains in ten days at most. Now only seven or eight days have passed, and the Japanese seem to be about to retreat. It seems that the regiment commander has succeeded.

Translator Xie glanced at Zhang Dabiao and the others and said, "Alright, I'll ask you guys!"