As soon as the 129th Division headquarters received a telegram for help from the National Rescue Army, the communication platoon leader personally sent it to the political commissar. Then he saw that the political commissar was the division commander and two men entered the small conference room to discuss solutions.

"Teacher Commander, I think I can order the several main forces operating in pacifying the surrounding areas to move, all of them move towards Yangquan, and show that we are going to fight in Yangquan!" The political commissar spoke first.

"We have received the funds, weapons and ammunition that Comrade Zhou Cheng sent this time. Everbright Ocean and Gold are more than 20,000 yuan, and there are equipment that can form a regiment, which greatly alleviates the logistics pressure of our division headquarters."

"As far as I know, the National Salvation Army has been supporting our division headquarters for the past few months. Now the National Salvation Army is in trouble. Even if we pay some price, we must support the National Salvation Army. And we cannot let the Japanese and puppet troops and the Second World War Zone realize that there is a relationship between us!"

The division commander's eyes kept staring at the map. After the political commissar finished speaking, his face had become very serious. He pointed to a main group that was operating in Yangquan and ordered: "I inform this main group to fight two tough battles or ambush battles within two days, and at least kill 500 Japanese and puppet troops for me."

"Tell them the regiment commander not to be afraid of casualties, nor to be afraid of losing ammunition. I will replenish them as much weapons and ammunition as I can after the battle!"

"Order the troops operating in the southwest of Yangquan to draw at least two main battalions to attack Yangquan, and strive to fight a battle in Yangquan within two days and kill at least two hundred Japanese and puppet troops."

"The other troops each draw a main battalion and put on a stance to reinforce Yangquan with great fanfare, which made the Japanese mistakenly believe that we are about to make big moves in Yangquan!"

"After this series of punches, the Japanese will at least draw an infantry brigade from the front line to help Yangquan!"

In less than two days, the county town was pacified and turned into a huge military camp. All places in the city that could be garrisoned were occupied by Japanese and puppet troops. The streets and alleys were filled with groups of Japanese soldiers and traitors, which made the people in the city panic.

At the command of the Japanese garrison, the brigade commander stood in front of a huge sand table with a very serious expression.

The chief of staff of the brigade and Nakasa Asakawa stood beside each, pointing at the things on the sand table.

The brigade commander kept listening, his serious face frowned, sometimes relaxed, or a smile flashed...

The Chief of Staff suddenly took out a list report.

"General, so far, all participating troops have been in place. Yangquan came to two infantry brigades, two cavalry squadrons, one mountain artillery squadron, one baggage squadron, and one rapid-fire artillery squadron, a total of more than 2,600 imperial troops."

"The pacification garrison has two squadrons and some direct troops, with nearly 600 imperial troops."

"The Imperial Army includes the Pacification Guard Corps and the regiment we brought from Yangquan, with a total of more than 1,500 people."

"Above the pacification of left-behind troops, at least 4,000 people can directly participate in the attack."

"We have also prepared food, weapons and ammunition that the troops need for half a month, and should be able to persevere until the end of the battle."

"Yo Xi!" The brigade commander nodded seriously, then turned his gaze to Asakawa Nakasa.

"Asakawa, what do you think of the next attack?"

Asakawa Nakasa was very confident: "In addition to all the recruits, the total strength of the National Salvation Army is less than 2,000. We have more than 4,000 people, more than twice their firepower strength and combat power are more than three times theirs, and we will definitely win!"

The brigade commander finally showed a satisfied smile on his serious face. He held the baton and pointed at Donghui Town and Zhangzhuang Town on the sand table. He ordered: "Since everyone is so confident, then we will send troops on time the morning after tomorrow. The troops will be divided into two groups, and at the same time, launching attacks on Zhangzhuang Town and Donghui Town, regardless of main attack or feint attack!"

"General wise!" The two subordinates complimented at the same time.

At this moment, a typical siege strike was unfolding in the northwest direction of Yangquan.

The troops of a main battalion of the Eighth Route Army continuously launched attacks on the strongholds in the town. Bullets from both sides came and went, and grenades were thrown at the opponent's positions without any money, causing a large amount of soil and black smoke.

The Japanese and puppet troops in the stronghold were stunned from the beginning.

In their perception, the Eighth Route Army had poor equipment and lacked ammunition. Even if it attacked the strongholds and limited firepower, it would not put any pressure on everyone and could easily repel it.

The Eighth Route Army they met today seemed to have changed their individuals. Not only were they well equipped, but they were also sufficient bullets, just like they could not finish the battle.

In fact, the Eighth Route Army that attacked them did not replace them, and there was no more ammunition than before. It was just to complete the tasks assigned by the division headquarters, the regiment commander took out his own assets.

In the stronghold, there was pungent smoke everywhere, and soldiers were constantly being carried from the position to the artillery tower.

They were all injured, some were missing arm and broken legs, and some were seriously injured by blowing. They were bleeding profusely. When they were carried in, they had already vented more air and had less air intake and were about to die.

The blood-covered military doctor shook his head just a glance, signaling the soldiers next to him to carry out the seriously injured and then continue to rescue the others.

On the third floor of the artillery tower, the captain was observing the battle situation through the shooting hole, and his expression was very heavy.

Two heavy machine guns were standing beside them, constantly spitting out flames to block the attacking troops of the Eighth Route Army.

Each heavy machine gun is filled with bullet shells, and it is still increasing.

"Sir, the Eighth Route Army's offensive is too fierce, and the front-line troops suffer heavy casualties, so we can't defend it!" A Japanese messenger ordered the soldiers to climb up the artillery tower to report.

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The sound of charge, representing the attack, suddenly rang out of the stronghold, and more than a hundred Eighth Route Army rushed out of the offensive position at the same time, and rushed towards their front-line positions like wolves.

There were only twenty or thirty remaining soldiers there, no opponent at all. Before they could retreat, they were submerged in the crowd of the Eighth Route Army's offensive troops...

The squadron leader originally planned to rely on the garrison at the stronghold to block the attack of the Eighth Route Army and defend the stronghold, but now this idea has been shaken.

Just five minutes into the attack, the front line of the periphery was lost and nearly one-third of its troops were lost.

If the Eighth Route Army's offensive momentum remained unabated and continued to fight like this, the stronghold garrison would be completely killed at most three hours.

The squadron leader didn't want to die yet, so he walked to the phone decisively: "Contact the county town immediately, I want to ask for help from the county town..."

The Japanese commander who stayed in Yangquan was the captain of the Central League. After receiving the telegram for help from the stronghold, he did not dare to neglect the slightest.

The reason why the brigade commander stayed behind was to protect Yangquan's safety. If there was a stronghold captured by the Eighth Route Army, he would definitely be blamed. He immediately dispatched a reinforcement squadron from the army to fight out of Yangquan...

One hour later, the base called the county town for the second time for help.

An hour and a half later, the stronghold called the third telegram for help.

Next, every half an hour, the county town will receive a call for help.

The left-behind captain's brows slowly frowned.

Because the county town is not too far away from the stronghold, you will definitely be able to reach the battlefield after marching for three hours.

Now the time has come, but the stronghold has not waited for the shadow of reinforcements.

Half an hour passed, and the reinforcements had not yet appeared.

The left-behind captain realized something was wrong and immediately sent a reconnaissance force out of the city to find out the situation.

The reconnaissance troops had not returned to the city yet, and another bad news followed closely to the captain's ears.

"Sir, our contact with the stronghold has been interrupted!" A communication soldier ran over to report, his face very ugly.

"Continue to contact, maybe it's just that the phone line has been cut off!" A bad premonition flashed in the captain's mind.

Half an hour later, the correspondent still did not contact the stronghold.

The captain's bad premonition was getting stronger and stronger, and he kept looking at the command department, hoping that the reconnaissance troops leaving the city could come back soon.

"Sir, the investigation troops are back..." A lieutenant ran in panting, followed by a lieutenant, gasping for breath, his face flushed.

"Have you found the reinforcements?" the captain asked anxiously.

The Investigation Team Leader nodded: "It was found, but all the reinforcements were killed in battle!"

"They were ambushed in a ravine 12 kilometers away from the county town. All the imperial troops were killed in battle. More than 30 people died naked and others disappeared."

"All the weapons and ammunition of the Imperial Army equipment were lost, and even the military uniforms were taken away!"

The captain wilted in an instant, like a frosted eggplant.

No fighting spirit.

After two minutes, his whole body was suddenly covered in anger and cursed with murderous intent: "Bageyalu, I'm fooled!"

"The Eighth Route Army attracted us to send troops through the encirclement point to attack and reinforcements, and then ambushed our reinforcements halfway..."

"Those imperial troops must not die in vain. I must avenge them."

"If nothing unexpected happens, the stronghold should have been taken down by the Eighth Route Army. They fought two tough battles in a row, which will definitely consume a lot of weapons and ammunition, and their troops will also suffer a lot. If we find them now and attack them, we will definitely be able to take a big advantage."

"Order all the reconnaissance troops to be dispatched to find the traces of the Eighth Route Army. Draw two strengthening squadrons to gather and standby, ready to go out of the city to chase them at any time!"

"Hi!" The adjutant quickly took the order.

In a valley more than 20 kilometers southwest of Yangquan, more than 600 Eighth Route Army soldiers gathered here to rest. They were a force from other places that had just arrived in Yangquan and were preparing to fight a battle nearby.

The team leader squatted on the ridge not far away, and from time to time he raised his telescope to look at the official road not far away.

The Japanese set up a checkpoint there, with more than 40 troops stationed.

Because the terrain is dangerous, if the troops want to continue to go deep into Yangquan, they must break through this checkpoint.

"Report!" The investigation platoon ran over.

"The regiment commander, I have found out that there are thirteen Japanese soldiers at the checkpoint, one platoon of puppet troops, and there are no other Japanese and puppet troops within two kilometers nearby."

The regiment commander nodded and his face quickly returned to seriousness: "Order a company to fight quickly to take down this checkpoint, and then we go straight to the Japanese stronghold five kilometers away!"
Chapter completed!