Chapter 1072 Leader: Let’s go directly to block the door
Tonight's ambush battle is the third ambush battle fought by the 16th Regiment since it entered the war.
The first two ambushes destroyed two Japanese squadrons and one or two puppet battalions.
The largest number of Japanese and puppet troops will be eliminated in this battle. The Japanese army alone has three reinforced squadrons with more than 600 people.
Including a regiment of puppet troops, the total strength exceeds 1,500, which is about the same number as the 16th regiment participating in the ambush.
Based on this calculation, the 16th Regiment would not have any strength advantage in the subsequent ambush battle.
But Captain Wang was not worried at all.
It was not because he had fought two battles and became more arrogant than before, but because the Sixteenth Regiment was better equipped than before.
Not only have all the old sleeves made in Hanyang been eliminated, but the number of machine guns has more than doubled.
The regiment was directly under the mortar company, the battalion was directly under the heavy machine gun platoon, the company was directly under the grenade squad, the platoon was directly under the machine gun squad...all were built.
Although there is not enough ammunition to be used up, it will definitely be no problem to fight three or four big battles.
The sophisticated equipment and powerful firepower gave Commander Wang a lot of confidence. Now if he was asked to lead his troops against a full infantry brigade of Japs, he would not even frown.
"Captain, from the intelligence analysis given to us by our superiors, the Japanese and puppet troops' return troops should have entered the scope of the reconnaissance company's activities, but the reconnaissance company did not send anyone back to report. Could it be that something went wrong and the Japanese and puppet troops were delayed on the way?
Can't you get to the battlefield on time?" the political commissar glanced at his watch and reminded.
Captain Wang shook his head. Although he did not answer, his frown showed that he was also very anxious.
After thinking for a while, he replied: "Don't be impatient, we will wait a little longer."
"The reconnaissance company's activity range exceeds ten kilometers. Even if the enemy situation changes, we will have enough time to make adjustments."
"Perhaps this return force was really delayed on the road. The whole journey was dozens of kilometers, dozens of minutes early and dozens of minutes late. It's normal."
Another half hour passed by this wait.
The Japanese and puppet reinforcements that everyone expected did not appear on the road, and there was no news from the reconnaissance company.
Commander Wang was even more anxious than before. Just as he was about to send someone to ask the reconnaissance company for questioning, the familiar figure of the deputy commander of the reconnaissance company appeared directly at the end of the road, striding towards him.
Before he could stand still, he gasped and reported: "Captain..."
"The Japanese and puppet troops are too cunning..."
"They even gave up their baggage, ammunition and heavy weapons, and walked lightly on mountain roads and trails to reinforce Shijiazhuang."
"They just passed through the small road eight kilometers away from us, and they still have the last fifteen kilometers to Shijiazhuang."
"Map..." Commander Wang became anxious upon hearing this.
Although it was the Yizhong Independent Brigade that attacked Shijiazhuang, they were also the Eighth Route Army.
If these more than 1,500 days of puppet troops are allowed to successfully withdraw into Shijiazhuang, it will definitely bring considerable siege pressure to the Independence Brigade.
As long as there was a glimmer of hope, Commander Wang wanted to stop them outside Shijiazhuang City, gather them together and annihilate them.
"At the very least, we must inflict heavy damage on them. If we can kill one more, it's better."
The map is very detailed. Captain Wang glanced at it and found the path that the Japanese and puppet troops used to bypass the Sixteenth Regiment's pocket formation.
It runs parallel to the highway and is indeed eight kilometers away.
The political commissar also saw this highway, frowned and analyzed: "It's definitely too late for us to send troops to kill it now."
"The Japanese and puppet troops advanced lightly and their marching speed was no slower than ours."
"The troops are running hard and cannot pursue an eight-kilometer pursuit in two or three hours."
"Unless you die, run away."
"But even if they make it, the troops will lose their combat effectiveness because they are too tired."
"In the event of an encounter with the Japanese and puppet troops, the soldiers without physical strength will turn into a group of lambs to be slaughtered and allowed to be slaughtered by the Japanese and puppet troops..."
"So I don't recommend hunting down this Japanese and puppet army."
"They should be reported to the headquarters immediately to see if there are any other troops near them. If there are, they should be intercepted at the nearest location."
The chief of staff suddenly suggested: "Find the nearby guerrillas and district squadrons and let them find ways to hold back the Japanese and puppet troops. As long as they can buy us an hour, the troops can catch up with them."
Before Captain Wang could speak, the political commissar shook his head and objected: "If this Japanese and puppet army carries a large amount of heavy equipment and ammunition, the guerrillas and the district squadron will definitely be able to stop it for an hour."
"Now the Japanese and puppet troops are advancing lightly. I'll be thankful if they can hold back for ten minutes, let alone an hour."
"If these Japanese and puppet troops rush to Shijiazhuang at all costs, they will not be able to stop them in ten minutes."
Captain Wang's eyes never left the map from beginning to end.
Look all the way west along the map, hoping to find one or two flaws in the terrain.
Finally he found it.
Suddenly he punched Shijiazhuang on the map and replied firmly: "No matter how lightly the Japanese and puppet troops advance and how they take small roads, the final target is Shijiazhuang."
"Rather than think of ways to hunt down the Japanese and puppet reinforcements on the road."
"Why don't you just set up a net outside Shijiazhuang City and wait for the Japanese and puppet troops to infiltrate our pockets?"
"The terrain around us is flat, and there are roads and paths leading to Shijiazhuang everywhere. It is difficult to guard against it."
"But there were only four city gates through which the Japanese and puppet troops entered Shijiazhuang, and there were only four roads connecting the city gates."
"We can definitely attack their reinforcements right under the nose of the Shijiazhuang garrison."
The political commissar did not deny the regimental leader's proposal, but soon raised another question: "What if Shijiazhuang sends people to come out to assist us during the siege of the Japanese and puppet troops' returning reinforcements."
"The ambush troops will definitely be attacked by the Japanese and puppet troops from both inside and outside."
“In the end, not only will we not be able to defeat the Japanese and puppet troops’ returning reinforcements, we may also fall into them ourselves.”
"It is indeed possible!" Captain Wang nodded and replied.
"But the purpose of our activities outside Shijiazhuang City is not to completely annihilate the Japanese and puppet returning troops, but to severely injure them. Kill as many as we can outside the city..."
The political commissar reacted instantly, patted his head and said: "I understand..."
"You mean not to ambush the returning Japanese and puppet troops, but to consume a large number of their troops through raids."
"Fight if you can take advantage, and retreat if you can't. Anyway, we won't give the Japanese and puppet troops a chance to attack us from both inside and outside."
Commander Wang nodded, his eyes became firm at the same time, and he suddenly punched the ammunition box covered with maps and ordered: "Just do it."
"The Japanese and puppet troops marched lightly and at a very fast speed, but after all, they were walking on a path with more complicated road conditions. No matter how fast they were in a hurry, they couldn't beat us on the road."
"As long as we don't chase them on the side roads and march quickly along the highway in the direction of Shijiazhuang, we will definitely be able to get out of Shijiazhuang before the Japanese and puppet troops."
"Two reinforced companies are deployed outside each city gate, and the troops are dispersed in squads and platoons. Please use light and heavy machine guns and mortars for long-distance sneak attacks, and infantry to make close-range raids. They will definitely catch the Japanese and puppet troops by surprise."
