445 The trigger for the Japanese army’s defeat in the sweep
"What the political commissar said is pertinent. If you say that this kid Kong Jie is noisy, he will be noisy, but every time he is done making a fuss, you will find that hehe, he is really right in what he does, and he often makes extraordinary achievements!
”
"For this reason, rather than saying that Kong Jie is making a fuss, it's better to say that this kid is really capable."
When the chief of staff talked about Kong Jielai, he was full of praise.
"In addition to the bold tactics, my dear, in this big sweep, we finally saw the wealth that Kong Jie has accumulated over the past year."
"According to the reports from the soldiers on the front line, brigade commander, political commissar, guess what? The heavy machine guns of the independent regiment are all equipped to the company-level combat units, and the light machine guns, grenade launchers, and submachine guns are directly distributed to the squads.
Combat unit."
"The firepower configuration directly crushed the security troops of our brigade."
"I heard that a new mountain artillery battery was raised not long ago."
"After the anti-mopping operations in Niukou Village started, our other regiments focused entirely on the defense of the base area. After transferring the people in advance, all the main forces were deployed around the base area to block the Japanese advance at every level." p>
"It would be better for the Independent Regiment to directly detour the three main battalions back to the Japanese rear areas to cause trouble."
"But the remaining troops still relied on Nishimura and Zhangjiazhuang to block the Japanese Fourth Mixed Brigade and Ishii Regiment."
"Kong Jie really has such courage and confidence!"
"But in the final analysis, this courage and confidence comes from the equipment development of the independent regiment."
"Speaking of which, brigade commander, Kong Jie is really good at what he does. Every time he seizes equipment, he is the first one to take the initiative to send it to the brigade headquarters. But as a result, he sends it away while sending it away.
The family property has been sent away."
The political commissar smiled and said: "This is Kong Jie's ability. As the saying goes, if someone is short-handed, he will be soft-spoken.
The stove for keeping us warm in the winter, the tea leaves for drinking tea in the spring, these winter clothes, military boots, canned food, and potatoes, which one was not sent by Kong Jie?
As for the captured equipment, ammunition, and supplies, Kong Jie sent many of them to the brigade headquarters. As for the family's financial support, it was also because they captured enough.
We really have nothing to say.
Three days later, we looked at each other with admiration. Kong Jie has indeed given us too many surprises over the past year."
The brigade commander said with a dark face: "This Kong Jie is indeed much easier to use than Li Yunlong, but he also has a lot of tricks, but no matter how you look at it on the surface, you still think he is an honest man."
"If the Japanese army hadn't carried out a large-scale sweep this time and focused on attacking the Independent Regiment, we might not have been able to see the assets of the Independent Regiment!"
Hahahaha——
The three people who spoke the truth laughed together.
Then we return to the topic and discuss the situation in West Village and Zhangjiazhuang.
The chief of staff said: "As the Japanese army and our Eighth Route Army continue to increase their troops in the Xiangxi Village and Zhangjiazhuang areas, so far, our army has an independent regiment, a new regiment, a new regiment, a new regiment, a new regiment, and a 772 regiment.
Nearly five groups have gathered in the West Village and Zhangjiazhuang areas.
In addition, the newly formed 6th Regiment, 7th Regiment, 8th Regiment and other troops are also gradually moving towards the West Village.
The Japanese Fourth Mixed Brigade in Xicun and the Japanese Ishii Regiment in Zhangjiazhuang have been trapped by the independent regiment using surrounding nodes.
Judging from Kong Jie's intention to deploy his troops, he planned to go back and eat these two Japanese troops after calling for reinforcements.
However, the Japanese obviously will not give up these two troops, and a large number of reinforcements are heading towards Xicun and Zhangjiazhuang.
Especially from the direction of Taiyuan City, two more Japanese brigade groups are approaching.
Brigadier, if this continues, the battle around Xicun and Zhangjiazhuang may gradually move into an uncontrollable situation."
The brigade commander thought for a long time and said: "The battle situation between Xicun and Zhangjiazhuang continues to evolve. The long-lasting stalemate will do more harm than good to our army, which is short of ammunition and unable to carry out sustained operations."
"The current situation cannot continue to deteriorate."
"Too much is not enough. If things continue to evolve, Kong Jie will take the initiative to launch counterattacks in West Village and Zhangjiazhuang, indirectly covering the original intention of the surrounding troops to counter-mopping up. On the contrary, it will lead to a bad situation."
"The deadlock must be broken quickly."
The chief of staff said: "The war situation surrounding Xicun and Zhangjiazhuang is constantly escalating. It will be difficult to break the deadlock quickly."
The brigade commander said: "It's hard to say, but it's easy to say."
"Oh, Brigadier, have you thought of a countermeasure?"
"You still need someone to tie the bell to untie it," the brigade commander said slowly.
"You mean Kong Jie?" the chief of staff asked.
The brigade commander nodded and analyzed the map:
"Yes, around the battles in Xicun and Zhangjiazhuang, the Japanese army continued to reinforce. On the one hand, it wanted to rescue the 4th Mixed Brigade and Ishii Regiment, and on the other hand, it was because of the continuous reinforcements of our army."
"Around the point where the Independence Regiment's base is located, it's like the generals sent by our army and the Japanese army are fighting. The victory or defeat at this point determines who will fall into a passive situation between us and the Japanese army."
"No one wants to lose in this game."
"So if our army continues to reinforce Xicun and Zhangjiazhuang, the Japanese army will also continue to reinforce."
"The Japanese army is actually happy to see this kind of large-scale operations. The biggest headache for the Japanese is the guerrilla warfare and mobile warfare we use in the mountainous areas."
"The current situation that forces our army to fight decisively is exactly what the Japanese army wants."
"So, if we want to quickly end the war between Xicun and Zhangjiazhuang, we must immediately stop the continued reinforcement of Xicun and Zhangjiazhuang."
"Of course, this does not mean that there will be no reinforcements, but it will serve as a back-up and a deterrent."
The chief of staff said thoughtfully: "Brigadier Commander, what you mean is that we will no longer send reinforcements to Xicun and Zhangjiazhuang, but we can place reinforcements in the area surrounding the Niukou Village base area."
"Not investing in it, but always standing around, it was a greater shock to the Japanese army."
The brigade commander continued: "This is exactly the reason. It was originally a fight between the two generals, but as both sides continue to increase their troops, this fight will soon evolve into a decisive battle between the two sides. This is what the devils want to see, and it is
What we want to avoid.”
"But if we stop the reinforcements and just set up our positions, the Japanese army will definitely be suspicious and dare not act rashly."
"At this time, the battle will return to the battle between our two generals."
"Once the independent group wins, Japan will definitely retreat with the help of this momentum."
The political commissar worriedly said: "Brigade Commander, if we stop now, the Japanese army will continue to increase troops to Xicun and Zhangjiazhuang, and the troops invested will be much more than the independent regiment."
"In this way, the deterioration of the current situation may be quickly stopped, but the pressure on the independent group will be greater."
"If the Japanese army is determined to eliminate the independent regiment, Kong Jie and the others may be in a bad situation."
The brigade commander said: "This is inevitable. The confidence to stop increasing troops lies in our confidence in General Kong Jie."
"Don't forget that Kong Jie's Independent Regiment did not fight alone. The Independent Regiment, the New First Regiment, and the New Second Regiment are known as the Iron Triangle of Northwestern Shanxi."
"Not long ago, Kong Jie reported in a document submitted to the brigade headquarters that the three regiments of their Iron Triangle had opened up hidden troop transportation channels, established corresponding communication links, and jointly created a triangular defense system."<
/p>
"I understand what Kong Jie means between the lines. He has always wanted to find an opportunity to prove their iron triangle's joint operations and defense."
"The Iron Triangle's joint operations and defense, as long as the tactics are used properly, it is not impossible to block an attack that is five times more than the enemy's force."
"The three regiments of Kong Jie, Ding Wei, and Li Yunlong, with one-fifth of their troops, can contain five times the Japanese army's strength, or even more. The Japanese army will be passive in the overall situation."
"If Kong Jie and the others win this battle, it will be the best proof of the joint combat capabilities of the Iron Triangle. At that time, the headquarters will even publicly recognize the existence of the Northern Shanxi Iron Triangle."
That’s official approval.
It's not like Li Yunlong, Kong Jie, and Ding Wei were sitting together and making trouble in private about the Northern Shanxi Iron Triangle.
After the brigade commander finished speaking, the chief of staff and the political commissar were silent for a moment.
The chief of staff was the first to express his position: "Brigadier Commander, I believe that Kong Jie, Li Yunlong and Ding Wei can do it."
The political commissar echoed: "Instead of worrying, it is better to believe in them."
The chief of staff said: "Brigadier Commander, I think we still need to make Kong Jie and the others mentally prepared for this matter. I will go to the Independent Regiment myself."
"Okay, bring some guards on the road and pay attention to safety."
"Yes!"
……
……
Niukou Village.
At the independent regiment headquarters, Kong Jie inserted several small flags made of white paper and wood root paste on the sand table of the regiment headquarters, which belongs to the sand table areas of West Village and Zhangjiazhuang.
The corresponding numbers are written on the small flags, including the Independent Regiment, the New First Regiment, the New Second Regiment, the Fifth Regiment and the 772nd Regiment.
As the positions of these main groups move, Kong Jie will move the small flag at any time.
"There is news from the front that Lao Li and Lao Ding have led the main forces of the New Second Regiment and the New First Regiment to return for reinforcements. They should be able to arrive in the West Village and Zhangjiazhuang areas soon. The New First Regiment and the New Second Regiment have officially entered the battle."<
/p>
"Lao Feng's fifth regiment and Lao Cheng's 772nd regiment have also arrived in the West Village and the outskirts of Zhangjiazhuang respectively."
"In addition, according to the news sent back by Shen Quan and the others, they will return to the West Village area before tonight."
"The current situation is that the Japanese army is in the area around Xicun and Zhangjiazhuang. There are more than a thousand people from the fourth mixed brigade and more than a thousand people from the Ishii regiment, plus nearly five Japanese brigades and three regiments of puppet troops who have been reinforced from the surrounding areas.
Troops."
"According to the current comparison of the forces invested by both sides, it is almost 1:1."
"The fourth mixed brigade of the Japanese army is trapped in Xicun, and the Ishii regiment is trapped in Zhangjiazhuang. These five Japanese and puppet army reinforcements are obviously moving closer to Xicun and Zhangjiazhuang."
"In addition, the Japanese troops who were originally conducting raids around Taihang have also sent reinforcements to Xicun and Zhangjiazhuang. It is estimated that by early tomorrow morning, the number of Japanese reinforcements to Xicun and Zhangjiazhuang will even double."
"At that time, the strength of the Japanese and puppet troops will be more than twice that of our army. If we continue to use the current roundabout tactics, it will not work. We may even be surrounded and annihilated by the Japanese army."
"In the direction of Taiyuan City, two Japanese brigades are approaching Niukou Village, which is even more troublesome."
While thinking about it, Kong Jie raised his hand and looked at his watch. It was already around five o'clock in the afternoon. In late spring, in northwest Shanxi, the sky ends around seven o'clock.
"In other words, there are only the last two hours left to launch a counterattack against the Japanese army through detour tactics."
Having said this to himself, Kong Jie strode to the outhouse and ordered to several confidential personnel next to the radio station:
"Contact the New First Regiment and the New Second Regiment immediately to see if Ding Wei and Li Yunlong have returned to the regiment headquarters."
"Yes!"
After a while, the confidential officer replied: "Reporting to the regiment leader, there is news from the New First Regiment and the New Second Regiment that Captain Ding and Captain Li have not returned to the regiment headquarters."
Kong Jie said: "Tell the New First Regiment and the New Second Regiment that after Li Yunlong and Ding Wei returned to the regiment headquarters, immediately tell Li Yunlong and Ding Wei that before dawn the next day, our independent regiment will switch offense to defense and let the two of them
The regiment is also ready for joint defense."
"Yes!"
To be on the safe side, after arranging radio communication, Kong Jie called the squad leader of the communication squad and ordered: "Send all the soldiers in the communication squad out and tell the company commanders of each battalion to switch from offense to defense before dawn the next day, and prepare
Return to guard West Village, Zhangjiazhuang."
"The last chance to kill the remaining troops of the 4th Mixed Brigade and the Ishii Regiment is in the two hours before dark. If we can't defeat it, we can only give up."
"Yes!"
After arranging all this, Kong Jie breathed a sigh of relief.
Not long ago, news came from the Communications Corps that the newly formed Sixth, Seventh and Eighth Regiments of the Eighth Route Army, which were originally advancing towards Xicun and Zhangjiazhuang, suddenly stopped marching and were temporarily stationed five or six kilometers away from their roots in Niukou Village.
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The surrounding Eighth Route Army units that were originally supporting Xicun and Zhangjiazhuang also stopped one after another.
Then the brigade headquarters also sent an order:
In order to avoid an unnecessary decisive battle with the Japanese army, we will no longer send additional troops to Xicun and Zhangjiazhuang.
As for the specific details, the brigade headquarters stated that the chief of staff will personally rush to the independent regiment to issue combat instructions to Kong Jie.
This means that around the battle between Xicun and Zhangjiazhuang, Japanese reinforcements may continue to arrive, but Kong Jie's strength is limited to these five regiments.
But in fact, Kong Jie was not confused about this. On the contrary, he could understand the brigade commander's consideration in issuing this order.
The increasingly tense and escalating situation surrounding Xi Village and Zhangjiazhuang is indeed unnecessary.
Now is not the time to start a decisive battle with the Japanese army.
Since August last year, after the Eighth Route Army launched the Battle of Shotai, its exposed strength has aroused the fear of many parties including the Japanese Army, the National Army, and the Shanxi-Sui Army.
It can be expected that the Eighth Route Army troops behind enemy lines will usher in more violent storms.
At this moment, it is obviously much wiser to accumulate strength and preserve your living strength than to attack blindly and fight a powerful enemy head-on.
Kong Jie knew better than anyone else that the Japanese launched this spring sweep just to send troops south and compress the Eighth Route Base Area before launching the Shanxi Southern Campaign to ensure the security and stability of the occupied areas.
The purpose of the counterattack launched by Kong Jie around Xicun and Zhangjiazhuang has been achieved.
The Japanese army's large-scale mopping up in the Taihang area was loosened by the Iron Triangle's first breakthrough. As the situation in Xicun and Zhangjiazhuang evolved, the Japanese army gradually withdrew its mopping up forces to other units.
It can be said that even if Kong Jie cannot defeat the Japanese Fourth Mixed Brigade and Ishii Regiment next.
This battle has also achieved strategic victory.
As the Eighth Route Army units in the Taihang area broke through the encirclement, the Japanese mopping up troops continued to move to Xicun and Zhangjiazhuang.
The large-scale raids launched by the Japanese against the entire Taihang Eighth Route Army base area have lost the meaning of continuing.
The Japanese army has spent a lot of manpower and material resources to launch this spring raid against the Taihang area. It has come to an end and will definitely end in defeat.
The trigger for the Japanese army's massive sweep and retreat was the counterattack led by Kong Jie of the Independent Regiment, combined with the New First Regiment and the New Second Regiment...