Stone caves, stone walls, stone stoves, and even water reservoirs are all made of stone.
This is a natural cave used as a dormitory by the Fifth Battalion. It is spacious and bright, with a depth of at least several hundred meters, and can easily accommodate a battalion of troops.
Although this is a natural cave, it has been transformed into a habitable military dormitory by the stubborn troops.
There are all kinds of daily necessities inside, and there is even a bathhouse built with wooden planks... The stubborn soldiers really enjoyed it. The dormitories on the battlefield also had a bathing place. This was unimaginable to the Eighth Route Army. Where could they take a bath without taking off their clothes?
Just jump into the river. If it's winter, he won't have the habit of taking a bath. Wang Xuexin also developed this habit by following the local customs.
In fact, it is not that this habit has been developed, but that every resource of the Eighth Route Army is very precious. For example, firewood for boiling water requires manpower to chop. How can you boil a pot of hot water just for bathing and enjoyment? This is a shame.
What a waste!
The stubborn army is different. There are boilers for boiling water, double-decker wooden beds, and even a few single rooms separated by wooden boards... This is probably where the commander of the stubborn army lives. In addition to beds, there are
Desks, wardrobes, chairs and everything are available.
Later, the stubborn soldiers who were recruited said that these things actually did not take much effort. The surrounding people had to work for five days every month. Of course, the rich could pay a piece of ocean instead.
Those who couldn't pay the money had no choice but to go up the mountain to do this and that for the stubborn troops. In fact, all the fortifications on the mountain, including the roads, were built by the common people.
Hearing this, Wang Xuexin couldn't help but curse inwardly, forcing the people to do labor is to build fortifications for you to fight the Japanese, but you let the people enjoy these things, are you worthy of the fellow villagers? What's more, these fortifications are only in the hands of the stubborn army.
For a few days...
The single room was used by Wang Xuexin as a headquarters.
Although the Eighth Route Army values equality between officers and soldiers and pays equal treatment to commanders and soldiers, the headquarters is somewhat special. This is where telegrams are exchanged and documents are stored. Without a closed space, it is difficult to keep secrets. Wang Xuexin understands this truth, so he is not pretentious.
.
The radio was beeping on the side, and staff officer Wang Songyong reported while watching the telegram marking the Japanese troops on the map: "Battal Commander, the Japanese seem determined to win Yuncheng. They have prepared a division with tens of thousands of troops.
, and there are also two armored regiments and at least two flying groups."
Wang Xuexin nodded.
The two flying groups have at least fifty aircraft, which are obviously used to deal with the Eighth Route Army's tank troops.
Xie Baoqing replied indifferently: "What are you afraid of? It's not like we haven't fought with Japanese planes before. When the plane comes, we will use anti-aircraft guns and anti-aircraft machine guns to shoot it down!"
Xie Baoqing was talking about shooting down several Japanese planes before.
But Wang Songyong, who had worked as a staff officer at the headquarters and also studied in a military academy, shook his head and said: "Deputy Battalion Commander, what the Japanese have transferred this time is 97 heavy explosives, which are two different things from the previous 98 light explosives!"
Wang Xuexin understands the reason.
The 97 Heavy Explosion can carry more and larger aerial bombs, and its firepower can pose a greater threat to tanks. On the other hand, the 97 Heavy Explosion is a bomber used by the Japanese for battlefield operations, and its pilots have combat experience.
There are many ways to avoid anti-aircraft fire or even destroy it.
Therefore, the situation is indeed not optimistic as Wang Songyong said.
After thinking for a while, Wang Xuexin asked: "What's the situation over there with the Jinsui Army?"
Wang Songyong replied: "The news from the regiment commander is that the Jinsui Army hopes that we can fully help them defend Yuncheng!"
Wang Xuexin nodded, this was not bad. Just now Wang Xuexin was worried that the Jinsui Army would be frightened by the Japanese and surrender directly or negotiate with the Japanese again to reach some kind of agreement.
The latter is very likely, and it is also the reason why many cadres opposed handing Yuncheng to the Shanxi-Sui Army for garrison.
Because for example, Li Changfu, the leader of the Hundred Battle Group, did not agree with the cooperation with the Jinsui Army from the beginning to the end, especially the handing over of Yuncheng to the Jinsui Army.
His reason is very good: "The Jinsui Army has had friendly relations with the Japanese before, and they also had the experience of abandoning the city and escaping once. If we hand over Yuncheng to them again, what's the difference from handing it over to the Japanese?"
Do we have to go back to Yuncheng again?"
However, Wang Xuexin disagrees with this statement.
"Captain Li, the situation is different now. We can't look at people with the same old eyes!" Wang Xuexin objected: "The reason why Yan Laoxi abandoned the city before was because his flanks were breached by the Japs, and secondly because he was stationed in the middle section.
Shan's stubborn army was quickly defeated, and Yuncheng
In a short time, it became an isolated city and was in danger of being surrounded by Japanese soldiers. Yan Laoxi had to abandon the city. But now, our army's Luliang Mountain defense line is to the north of Yuncheng, and our army is stationed at Zhongtiao Mountain to the south. As long as these two lines of defense can be held
, Yuncheng can be defended!"
The leader nodded in agreement: "As for the worry that Yan Laoxi will continue to liaise with the Japanese, the possibility is not high! In the past, the reason why Yan Laoxi secretly negotiated with the Japanese was that he hoped that the Japanese could concentrate their forces against the Eighth Route Army, hoping to use the Japanese to
We hope to weaken our army's strength with our own hands.
The Japs turned their attention to our army and they were able to live comfortably. But now...the Japs want to attack the foundation of the Jinsui Army. Once Yuncheng is lost, the Jinsui Army will become a river without a source and a tree without roots! This
It is Yan Laoxi’s fundamental interest, and it is impossible for him to compromise with the Japanese in this regard!"
The commander is right about this. Yan Laoxi has this kind of warlord mentality. He will fight to the death whoever touches Shanxi.
There was no hope of saving Yuncheng before and there was nothing we could do.
Now, if he cooperates with the Eighth Route Army, he can hope to save Yuncheng. Even if there is only a little hope, he will try his best, just like the Shanxi-Sui Army fought in the Battle of Xinkou and the Battle of Taiyuan in the early days of the Anti-Japanese War.
Wang Xuexin also saw this and believed that there was a possibility of cooperation with the Jinsui Army.
At least in terms of defending Yuncheng, the interests of the Eighth Route Army and the Jinsui Army were consistent.
At the same time, it is almost impossible for the Japanese to abandon Yuncheng...
Because Yuncheng is equally important to the Japs, for the Japs troops who rely heavily on railways and roads, Yuncheng is the basis for attacking Zhongtiao Mountain, and it is also the basis for seizing the urgently needed iron ore and copper mines.
As a result, the conflict between the Japanese and the Jinsui Army was completely intensified, and the cooperation between the Eighth Route Army and the Jinsui Army became more reliable.
Therefore, the commander ordered: "The defense of Yuncheng is not only related to the issue of cooperation between our army and the Shanxi-Sui army in the war of resistance, but also the issue of the security of Zhongtiao Mountain. This is a close relationship, so our army should assist at all costs."
The Jin-Sui Army defends Yuncheng!"
"Yes!" the cadres responded.
However, the strategic direction was set, but there were difficulties in tactical operations.
The main issue is air defense. The fifty planes dispatched by the Japanese cannot be dealt with by just a few anti-aircraft guns.