Wang Xuexin didn't care about publicity issues, but the headquarters used all his strength to wage a vigorous public opinion war.
Mainly because Wang Xuexin's victory was too dazzling. Not only did he regain Datong, he also defeated a Japanese division with one regiment.
The commander said happily: "This is an unprecedented victory for our army, and it also proves that our development direction is correct! In the past, the strength of one Japanese regiment could equal the strength of three regiments of our army. Now, one of our army's
A regiment can be as strong as a Japanese division, it’s completely the other way around!”
No wonder the chief is so happy.
The Eighth Route Army has always been on the defensive. Even if it occasionally attacks, it will be defeated immediately, or it will compete with the Japanese for the base area... The competition for the base area cannot actually be regarded as a complete victory, because the Japanese can fight back at any time as long as they need it.
But now, the Eighth Route Army not only successfully took the first step, but also defeated the Japanese with a small victory but a large casualty ratio. This is a proof of equipment, a proof of combat effectiveness, and a proof of tactics and strategic theory... proving that the tactics are correct.
, the strategic development direction is correct, and it also proves that the traitors' "curve theory of national salvation" is nonsense.
Then the leader issued an order: "Order all comrades in enemy-controlled areas and areas controlled by stubborn troops to find ways to spread the news of this victory. Only in this way can the people have more confidence in our army and have more confidence in victory!"
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"Yes!" the chief of staff responded, immediately passed on the order, and organized intelligence personnel from all over the country to take action that night.
Early the next morning, many stubborn troops, puppet troops and Japanese soldiers did not know yet (this was due to self-blocking the news) that the news that the Eighth Route Army had recaptured Datong and defeated a Japanese division with one regiment had already spread throughout the streets and alleys.
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Suddenly the whole country was in uproar.
Recovering the territory and defeating a division with one regiment was something they had never dared to think about before, but now it actually happened.
Many people even cried with joy, their hands holding the newspaper were trembling, and they repeatedly asked whether this was true... Many people actually believed it was true from the beginning, because the fact that a regiment defeated a division might be an exaggeration, but
It is impossible to lie about the recapture of Datong. Whether a city is in the hands of our army or the Japanese is easy to verify and cannot be lied about.
The reason why they ask again and again is just because they want to hear the news repeated by others over and over again.
No wonder they are so excited. You must know that it has been more than ten years since the war between China and the Japanese. The Chinese army has been losing more and winning less. The land is being devoured by the Japanese and the Chinese army and people are struggling to support it.
How many people have lost confidence in the Chinese army, how many people have given up hope of regaining their territory, and how many people have fallen into numbness...
But now, suddenly a piece of good news came and they were immediately confused: Is there such a thing? After marching hundreds of kilometers in a few days to capture Datong, how can we continue to fight like this? Wouldn’t the Japanese be doomed!
In fact, let alone the common people who were shocked by this, even the stubborn soldiers who had always been wearing colored glasses were frightened by the battle fought by the Eighth Route Army.
Because they were struggling against the Japanese on the front line of defense, they clearly knew how much energy a Japanese division had. Given the situation of the stubborn army, several divisions may not be able to block the Japanese attack by one Japanese division.
But the Eighth Route Army could do it with just one regiment, and it was still defeated with a huge casualty ratio.
Many stubborn officers and soldiers believed that this must be a "rumor" spread by the Eighth Route Army. Later, intelligence verified that this was true, and many people were so shocked that their jaws almost dropped.
It is said that the Chongqing authorities started discussing whether to attack half-track vehicles from Mao Xiong that night... They thought that the Eighth Route Army was able to win mainly by relying on half-track vehicles. In fact, the root cause was the stubborn army, which was put together by various warlords for their own interests.
Without cohesion, the army cannot unite as one force.
Wang Xuexin already took these things lightly, not to mention that the battle was far from over at this time and it was time to relax and celebrate.
He stared at the map, and then continued to issue orders to send additional troops to the railway line.
The reason why we need to increase the number of troops and move the defense line 20 to 30 kilometers south is because we have learned the lessons of this defensive battle...the railway line directly faces the Japanese and is easily attacked by the Japanese.
If the defense line is compressed towards the Japanese, the railway line will soon become the second line, making it much easier to defend.
On the other hand, it was Wang Xuexin who hoped that the Japanese would misunderstand that the Eighth Route Army's next step would be to attack Taiyuan in an all-out manner and drive the Japanese out of Shanxi.
In fact, this is indeed a very tempting battle plan.
Shanxi is a good place. It is long and narrow in the middle and surrounded by mountains on three sides: Luliang Mountain in the west, Taihang Mountain in the east, plus Zhongtiao Mountain in the south. As long as the north is guarded, the large area in the middle can basically guarantee safety. It can be said that it is an absolute ideal for the development of industry and agriculture.
Good area.
However……
If we take Shanxi and advance north, will the Japanese's battle with the stubborn troops on the southern front be over by then?
As soon as the Japanese returned reinforcements, the Eighth Route Army lost the opportunity to advance northward and into the Northeast.
And the Northeast is the industrial gathering place of the Japs...
So what Wang Xuexin faces is actually two options:
The first is to attack south to recapture Shanxi. This is safer and more secure, but at the same time it is a safe corner and will not have a big impact on the Japanese. The victory of the Anti-Japanese War will probably not be achieved much earlier.
The second is to fight north and advance into the Northeast. This way of fighting is more risky and difficult, but you can also get tiger cubs when you enter the tiger's den. The Eighth Route Army may destroy the Japanese industry in the Northeast in one fell swoop and put the war in China into trouble.
After thinking for a long time, Wang Xuexin chose the latter.
However, while choosing the latter, Wang Xuexin also used a feint to expand some territory southward.
There is a problem with this, that is, expanding the territory requires more troops.
However, this problem was quickly solved:
Part of the troops came from the Daqingshan base area. Originally, the Eighth Route Army needed troops to garrison in Daqingshan. Now that it has reached the area east of Daqingshan, Daqingshan has become the rear area. It only needs to leave a small number of troops to organize guerrilla training.
, all other troops were transferred to the same line of defense in Datong.
The other part comes to the Taihang Mountains. Unlike the Luliang Mountains, the Taihang Mountains have not yet formed a line of defense. Most of the troops there are using the terrain to fight guerrillas against the Japanese and act according to the situation to destroy transportation lines.
Since there is no defense line formed, there is no need for too many troops, so some can be moved to the direction of the railway line.
Most of the troops were recruited locally. For example, after taking Datong, 7,000 militiamen were recruited in Datong in one go.
Although these militiamen lack training and have low combat quality, the Eighth Route Army's three-by-three system is designed for this situation... insert the militiamen into other units, use veterans to lead new recruits, and it won't take long for them to grow into veterans.