The so-called harm caused by guest troops comes from a saying - bandits are like combs, soldiers are like goads.
The arrival of foreign troops has a great impact on the local area. If the military discipline is good, the impact on the local area is limited to logistics supply, such as food and grass supply and reinforcement funds. After all, these armies cannot completely rely on their own logistics supplies and must rely on local efforts.
Only then can we fight for a long time.
However, if you encounter troops with corrupt military discipline, it will be a disaster for the local area. It is very common for armed violent groups to form an organization to plunder people's property, burning, killing, looting, and committing all kinds of evil. Any resistance from the people will attract the most thorough revenge -
—Collective massacres in villages.
Young and beautiful women were snatched away, and the lucky ones were used as the concubines of some high-ranking military officers. The unlucky ones were turned into prostitutes in the army, and either contracted the disease or were tortured to death.
This is the harm caused by guest armies from ancient times to the present.
But for Yan Xishan, he has a completely different understanding of the harm caused by guest troops. The army symbolizes force, and those who control an army naturally have power. If a guest army is allowed to stay in Shanxi for too long, it is very likely that it will
A bird takes over a dove's nest.
It is important to resist the Japanese, but it is also important to protect yourself.
"If Gao Guici takes this opportunity to stay in Shanxi, he is very likely to repeat the situation before the Central Plains War in the future. He will do a lot of harm to us in Shanxi but no benefit. He will let the 84th Division serve as cannon fodder for us."
"Yes, sir." Upon hearing this, Yang Aiyuan sighed silently in his heart and nodded in reply.
Yan Xishan continued: "As for the plan to jointly ambush the Japanese reinforcements, Xingru, I hope you will do it easily."
"What do you mean, sir?" Yang Aiyuan was stunned for a moment, suddenly realized something, and couldn't help but ask.
"Don't forget, the harm done by the Red Army is greater than that caused by the guest army. We originally asked them to defend the entrance to Tuancheng, but unfortunately they were unable to do so. This time they have consumed more of their strength. We need to drive away the wolves and swallow the tigers to protect ourselves." During the phone call.
Yan Xishan said eloquently: "I don't want to leave Shanxi and become the king of Shaanxi, the king of Gansu, Xingru, do you understand?"
Yang Aiyuan nodded: "I understand, sir."
"Thank you for your hard work, Xingru." Yan Xishan softened his words slightly, gave a comforting sound, and then hung up the phone.
"Tell Chen Guangdou not to support the Eighty-Fourth Division and let them defend the Tuancheng entrance." Yang Aiyuan put down the phone and turned to look at the communications staff. Although he couldn't bear it, he still issued the order that was most beneficial to the Jinsui Army.
As this order was issued, the final fate of the 84th Division, which held Tuanchengkou for three days and nights, became clear.
"Yes!" the communications staff officer responded solemnly, quickly signaling the receiving communications soldier to call back to the 202nd Brigade.
Yang Aiyuan was silent, turned back to the sand table, stared at the entire Pingxingguan area, his mentality was no longer as anxious as before, and thought carefully in his mind: "Now that we have the order from Commander Yan, then, what is the specific combat deployment of the 115th Division for us?
It is not that important anymore. After all, they have already called back and agreed to the ambush plan, and they will definitely send troops to block the Japanese reinforcements. At that time, our army will sit on the mountain and watch the tigers fight, waiting for the 115th Division and the Japanese army to fight, both sides will suffer losses, and we will reap the benefits. "
"Although these mud-legged guys have poor weapons and equipment, their soldiers are of extremely high quality, so we have to be careful."
The danger of red is greater than that of a foreign army.
Not long after, the communications staff reported again that the 115th Division had sent the specific combat deployment of the ambush plan. When Yang Aiyuan heard the news, he immediately relaxed and a faint smile appeared on his face.
Regardless of the specific combat deployment, it is now certain that the opponent has sent troops.
…
Late at night, lightning and thunder roared in the sky with great force. The dazzling and bright lightning was like a twisting earthworm. Countless dense raindrops as big as rice grains cut through the sky and washed the land of northern Shanxi.
This storm has been falling continuously for four hours, and there are still eight hours left before the Japanese troops arrive.
In the middle section of Weidai Highway, the 686th Regiment planned to ambush the defense area.
Taking advantage of the cover of night, a battalion of more than 300 Eighth Route Army soldiers who had just arrived at the ambush area after two hours of forced march, dragging their exhausted bodies, carried out minelaying operations as quickly as possible, laying out Excalibur mines one by one as required.
Areas on both sides of the road and at the foot of the mountain.
Excalibur mines are mines produced by Liushugou Arsenal. They are divided into three styles - the five-kilogram high-explosive model Excalibur-1, the two-kilogram fragmentation-killing model Excalibur-2, and the one-kilogram anti-infantry model.
Excalibur-3.
The five-kilogram Excalibur-1 high-explosive landmine has an internal TNT charge of 2.5 kilograms and 3,500 high-brittle iron beads. The iron beads made of high-brittle iron will produce a fragmentation effect after entering the human body to achieve maximum damage.
It has an effective killing radius of fifteen meters, and the explosive power is equivalent to a 105mm high-explosive bomb. The main target of this mine is a large number of Japanese infantry, and it also has certain anti-tank performance.
The two-kilogram Excalibur-2 fragmentation anti-personnel mine has an internal TNT charge of 1 kilogram. The structure is similar to an enlarged version of a hand grenade. It mainly uses prefabricated fragments of the mine shell to damage the enemy. The shell material is also made of pig iron with high brittleness. It is still aimed at the target.
Japanese infantry.
The one-kilogram Excalibur-3 anti-infantry mine has a TNT charge of 250 grams and 600 steel balls inside. It uses steel balls and shell fragments to kill enemies. Due to the specially reduced charge, its main goal is to injure enemy infantry.
Not killed by explosion.
Each of the three mines is more insidious than the last, and each is more sincere than the last. Except for the five-kilogram Excalibur-1, which also has certain anti-vehicle performance, the other two mines do not pursue any anti-vehicle capabilities, but only pursue higher personnel killing.
efficiency.
In order to fight this ambush, the 686th Regiment did not hesitate to take out all their belongings, including one hundred Excalibur-1, three hundred Excalibur-2, five hundred Excalibur-3, and a total of 800 Excalibur mines.
!
In addition, in order to maximize the killing effect, the 686th Regiment specially adopted two mine densities. One is in the flatter areas on both sides of the road, with a mine density of about 300 square meters, with 5 mines, and the mountainous area closer to the foot of the left and right mountains, with 300 square meters of 8 mines.
In addition, 1 Excalibur-3 is deployed in all special locations on both sides of the Weidai Highway that can be used as bunkers, such as half-man-high rocks or small pits.
The first battalion carried out minelaying operations intensively, and the second and third battalions entered the predetermined positions one after another and began to build position defenses. All combat units cooperated in a divided and efficient manner.
Not long after, the mortar battalion directly under the laggard division finally rushed to the predetermined position with all their belongings and began to build artillery positions.
"Old Zhao, let's play the highlight of this battle. When the fight starts later, as long as we knock out the kid's artillery unit as soon as possible, we will have won 70%." Li You, the regiment leader, stood in front of the artillery position and looked at the division's subordinates.
The mortars of the mortar battalion completed their battle preparations one after another. Their eyes were full of comfort. They turned to look at their old comrade Zhao Zhangcheng and said with a smile: "The little Japanese without artillery fire can only be beaten unilaterally.
"
The artillery position is located at the top of the mountain ridge, in a commanding position. The 1.5-kilometer range of the 1937-type mortar can cover the entire ravine including the Uidai Highway. Once the Japanese troops enter the ambush area, they only need to knock out the opponent.
Type 92 infantry artillery or mountain field artillery, this ambush battle has been mostly won.
Why do you dare to say that?
The reason is very simple, just look at the total amount of artillery fire that the little devil has to face.
The division's mortar battalion has four mortar companies, each with three artillery platoons, and each platoon has two 60mm Type 37 mortars, for a total of 24 mortars.
But that’s not all yet!
His 686th Regiment also has a regimental mortar company with a standard six-gun formation.
Counting the six guns of the regiment's mortar company, the Japanese army had to face a total of thirty mortars. In addition, the Japanese army also had to face an opponent, and that was the master artilleryman who was famous throughout the army.
—Zhao Zhangcheng.
And this is the reason why Li You dared to speak so loudly.
"Don't worry, I'll take care of it." Zhao Zhangcheng, the commander of the division's artillery battalion, said with a smile, his eyebrows raised and his eyes full of confidence.
In the past, Zhao Zhangcheng would not have dared to speak like this. After all, artillery shells in the army were scarce and valuable, and each battle was calculated in rounds.
But now...
He looked at the artillery shell boxes piled up like a hill on the position, and the corner of his mouth couldn't help but reveal an arc. There were twelve artillery shells in one box, and there were a total of 200 boxes here.
What is wealth?
This is fucking rich!
As time passed, more than 300 soldiers from the first battalion completed the minelaying operations in the road minefield and the mountain foot minefield, began to evacuate in an orderly manner, and returned to the mountain position to enter a latent state.
More than 2,000 Eighth Route Army soldiers lay on the ground, silently enduring the torrential rain and cold, chewing dry food as hard as stone, and waiting for their prey to appear like the most experienced hunters.
The heavy rain is still falling, and the world has become quiet.
At the highest point of the mountain ridge on the right side of Qiaogou, the division headquarters, which serves as the command center of the entire division, is established here.
"Report, the 686th Regiment has completed the minefield layout and position fortifications in the Qiaogou section, the division's mortar battalion has completed the position construction, and has entered an ambush state."
"Report, the 687th Regiment has completed the minefield and explosive laying operations in the Caijiayu section and has entered an ambush state."
"Reporting that the 685th Regiment and the Engineer Battalion have completed the minefield laying operations on the Laoyemiao Highlands as required and have entered an ambush state."
Signal troops from each combat unit arrived at the division headquarters one after another to report their situations.
"Everything is ready, all we need is the east wind. Now we are waiting for the Japanese troops to come." The middle-aged man stood on the top of the mountain in the rain, looking at the huge Qiaogou battlefield and said slowly.
"There is still no movement from the friendly forces. It stands to reason that they should have arrived at the scheduled ambush position by now." The chief of staff frowned and informed the current situation of the friendly forces.
"What was expected was that the troops of the eight regiments were divided into three groups. The distance between each group was from ten to dozens of miles. It really made people laugh."
The middle-aged man smiled, his eyes were full of sharpness, and his tone was firm: "The rice is in the pot. This battle will be fought even if there are friendly troops, and even if there are no friendly troops."
Hearing this, the chief of staff shook his head slightly and sighed: "I really don't know what the friendly forces are thinking..."
Having said that, the friendly forces are tasked with containing the Japanese troops and blocking the Laoye Temple. If the friendly forces do not attack, the Japanese troops can break out towards Tuanchengkou and join the Miura detachment in the Tuanchengkou area.
What are the friendly forces thinking?
No one knows the answer to this question.
The night gradually fades, revealing a sliver of white in the distance.
It's almost dawn.
At this moment, at the entrance of Shili Qiaogou, bright and particularly dazzling yellow light appeared. The iconic box shape design, independent fashionable headlights, and plaster flags on the front of the car were the main standard of the Japanese Army.