"Captain... we are just ahead at Beimen Valley..." The squadron leader of the vanguard force rode his horse and galloped all the way to the commander of the squadron, Colonel Watanabe, to report.
"After passing Beimen Valley, the troops really entered the mountainous area..."
"The terrain inside is complex, with high mountains and dense forests, which is very suitable for ambushes... I suggest that the troops slow down their marching speed, send more scouts to search the roadside, and confirm that there are no enemies around before we move forward, just in case."
Before the commander of the regiment, Colonel Watanabe, had time to answer, several gunshots rang out at the front of the team, and the sound of intensive machine gun fire reached his ears at the same time.
Colonel Watanabe frowned and asked, "What was the gunshot just now?"
There was an obvious expression of embarrassment on the face of the forward squadron leader.
Listening to the sound, it was clear that the firefight just now came from the position of the forward squadron, but he did not stay with the troops. When faced with the commander's rhetorical questions, he had no other choice but to pretend to be confused.
I just hope that the messenger of the forward squadron will quickly bring him the reason for the gunfire just now.
"Sir..."
The messenger came very quickly. When he saw his squadron leader, he gasped and reported: "The troops have just been attacked by the enemy from a long distance."
"Although we fired back immediately, the enemy responded very quickly..."
"A rifle only fires one bullet, and then moves after it is fired..."
"So our counterattack had no effect."
The chief of staff standing nearby suddenly interjected: "Your Excellency, the commander...this seems to be the guerrilla warfare of the Eighth Route Army..."
"The Kwantung Army Headquarters gave us an introduction to the Eighth Route Army some time ago..."
"There is a page dedicated to the Eighth Route Army's guerrilla warfare."
"By using cold shots to slow down our army's marching speed, consume our army's strength, and buy time for their main force to transfer..."
"The Eighth Route Army is here to attack us with cold guns. Maybe they already know our plan to besiege them and are deploying troops to retreat."
"If we arrive late, we may miss the point. Please think twice, Captain..."
During this trip, Colonel Watanabe must eliminate the Eighth Route Army operating in Xijiagou, otherwise he will bear the responsibility for Xijiagou being captured by the Eighth Route Army.
When I thought that my opponent was organizing troops to retreat, even if I fought to Xijiagou, I might miss him, I became anxious on the spot.
Immediately ordered to the leader of the forward squadron: "What are you still doing?"
"We must not let the Eighth Route Army that captured Xijiagou slip away from under our noses, let alone enter the mountains."
"Otherwise, if our small force enters the mountains dozens of kilometers deep to encircle and suppress the Eighth Route Army, it will be like finding a needle in a haystack."
"The troops continue to advance, and they must march forward quickly..."
"As for the reconnaissance you mentioned... change it all to fire reconnaissance."
"Beimen Valley is less than fifteen kilometers away from Xijiagou. I require the troops to kill it within two hours."
"Even if the Eighth Route Army that captured Xijiagou is really organizing its troops to retreat, as long as we march fast enough, we can block them outside the mountains and annihilate them."
Walking fifteen kilometers in two hours can only be accomplished by a forced march.
But once the troops move forward in a hurry, it will be too late even for the forward squadron to use firepower to conduct reconnaissance.
So this is simply an impossible task.
He immediately raised his concerns to Colonel Watanabe, but Colonel Watanabe didn't even give him a chance to explain, and directly interrupted: "I only want results, and I don't listen to reasons."
"Within two hours, the troops must march to Xijiagou and block the Eighth Route Army that wants to retreat into the mountains outside the mountains."
"Those who disobey orders will be subject to military law..."
"As for how the forward squadron conducts reconnaissance and ensures the safety of the troop march, that is all your business. I don't care about the process, as long as the result..."
…………
The squadron leader hurriedly answered the forward squadron with a calm face.
The front is Beimen ditch. For the safety of the main force and their own safety, the three squad leaders all want to slow down the march and send more reconnaissance troops to the roadside to confirm that there are no ambushes on the roadside before moving forward.
But no matter how bold they are, they dare not act without permission without the order of the squadron leader.
Waiting left and right, the squadron leader finally came back.
No matter why the squadron leader's face became so solemn, he walked directly towards him: "Captain..."
"Has your Excellency, the Wing Commander, agreed that we should slow down our march?"
"The roadside terrain is becoming more and more responsible..."
"We have just been attacked by the Eighth Route Army..."
"It means that there is indeed an Eighth Route Army ambush hidden on the roadside. If they can't find it in advance, during the next march, we will probably be attacked by the Eighth Route Army for the second or even third time..."
Faced with the concerns and suggestions of the three team leaders, the squadron leader was very agitated.
How could he not see the problem here?
According to military orders, since the commander of the regiment ordered the forward squadron to march forward in a hurry, even if there was an Eighth Route Army ambush in front of the team, he could only rush forward bravely.
He directly ordered with a helpless expression: "The troops continue to move forward... not only must the marching speed not be slowed down, it must also be accelerated..."
"The Eighth Route Army, the leader of the regiment, is probably aware of our existence and deliberately arranged for troops to use guerrilla warfare to attack us along the way, slowing down our march and buying time for their main force to move into the mountains."
"If we slow down our march, we will be fooled by the Eighth Route Army."
"Although it saved some soldiers from casualties, it also allowed the main force of the Eighth Route Army to successfully withdraw into the mountains."
"If we want to find them and eliminate them by then, the price we have to pay will definitely be much greater than the casualties caused to us by the Eighth Route Army's sneak attacks along the way."
"Excuting an order……"
"The troops accelerated towards Xijiagou... When encountering suspicious targets, they directly used firepower to investigate. We don't need to stop..."
…………
The former enemy headquarters of the Eighth Route Army in Beimenggou.
Li Yunlong was standing at the lookout, holding up a telescope to observe the elite Kwantung Army troops advancing rapidly on the mountain road.
There was a smile on his lips, as if he had seen victory waving to him.
"Commander... the Kwantung Army artillery battalion has completely entered the pocket formation..." a report from the correspondent suddenly sounded behind Li Yunlong.
"Let the soldiers hold still..." Li Yunlong ordered calmly...
"My combat goal is to surround all the Kwantung Army on the battlefield, and no one can escape..."
"Before seeing the signal for the general attack, no one can shoot in advance to expose the target. This is a violation of military law..."
Ten minutes later, the correspondent's excited report reached Li Yunlong's ears again: "Commander... all the rear troops of the Kwantung Army have entered the pocket formation..."
"We can seal it now..."
Li Yunlong quickly punched the sandbag in front of him and ordered: "Send the signal and start the general attack..."
