Chapter eight hundred and forty fourth attack plan
Before it got dark, the main force of the Ninth Guerrilla Column, more than 3,000 officers and soldiers, filled the sky with smoke and dust and arrived two miles outside Huaiyin City along the highway.
"Report to the captain that the Chinese guerrilla troops have already attacked the positions outside the city. Do you want to encircle them immediately?"
A Japanese intelligence officer trotted up to the three-story watchtower platform of a rich man's compound in Huaiyin City, stood at attention and loudly asked Yamaguchi Akamatsu for instructions.
On the watchtower surrounded by crenellations, surrounded by more than a dozen young officers with murderous faces, the Japanese commander Yamaguchi Akamatsu was looking out of the city with his binoculars.
Through the telescope, the guerrilla troops rushing toward them along the highway were crowded with people, filled with smoke and dust trampled by thousands of pairs of feet, and they looked quite powerful.
Seeing the fish take the bait, a hint of viciousness appeared on the tough face of Japanese Captain Yamaguchi Akamatsu, who had succeeded in his conspiracy. He put down his telescope and turned around to give orders.
"The ambush troops are temporarily hiding and waiting for orders before attacking."
"Hi Yi!" The intelligence staff member responded after being stunned for a moment, then turned around and stomped down the stairs to the watchtower.
"Captain, why don't you encircle them and eliminate them now?" A Japanese operational staff officer was very confused about Yamaguchi Akamatsu's order.
Yamaguchi Akamatsu replied with a ferocious face: "The morale of the Chinese army is now strong. If they are encircled at this moment, they will definitely break through with all their might and cause unnecessary casualties to the Imperial Japanese Army."
"Now that we have built a solid position outside the city, after the Chinese army has been beaten to a bloody head somewhere, we will send troops to encircle them. Wouldn't it be easier to eliminate them?" Yamaguchi Akamatsu pointed to the trenches, bunkers and bunkers outside the city.
The position of the barbed wire fence said.
When the young officers around him heard this explanation, they showed expressions of sudden realization.
"Captain is wise!" The officers of the Yamaguchi Brigade all showed admiration for Yamaguchi Akamatsu and began to flatter him.
In this way, they can wait for work and wait until the guerrilla troops are exhausted to give them a fatal blow. It must be said that ginger is still hotter.
"Gentlemen, the Chongqing Army is launching a large-scale attack on our army on a long front. At this difficult time, I ask you to do your best to kill the enemy, crush their counterattack, and consolidate the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere!"
"Hi Yi!" More than a dozen officers gathered around stood tall and bowed their heads in unison.
When the Japanese commander Yamaguchi Chisong stood on the highest point of the tower in Huaiyin City to observe the situation outside the city, the guerrilla troops also stopped and looked at the Japanese defenses.
Huaiyin City does not have a city wall, only a large earthen fence surrounding a large residential area, and the Japanese's preset positions were established around this large earthen fence.
"Damn, it looks like the little devil wants to hold on tight."
When the guerrilla commander took more than a dozen of his detachment leaders to hide behind a slope to observe the situation, he took a breath of cold air when he saw the outer fortifications.
The Japanese built three circular trenches based on the earthen dikes. Each trench was about fifty meters apart and connected by communication trenches in depth.
Between these trenches, some bunkers and ring-shaped machine gun fortifications were built as fire support points. At the front, there were wooden piles and barbed wire deeply embedded in the ground.
These are only visible fortifications; there are countless invisible traps and bunkers.
The Japs are not only well-equipped with weapons and equipment, but also have complete fortifications. Seeing this iron-walled outer position, many guerrilla detachment captains also felt a little guilty.
If they were allowed to fight guerrillas with the Japanese in the vast countryside, it might be okay, but if they were allowed to attack such complete fortifications, it would be a headache.
"Let's go and have a look on the other side."
The excited guerrilla commander didn't look very good now, so he called the detachment leaders to investigate in another direction.
They rushed to liberate Huaiyin County aggressively, but the Japanese had built so many strong fortifications that many people began to give up.
The guerrilla commander led the detachment leaders around and found that the Japanese defense was watertight and had no flaws at all, which put them in a difficult position.
"Tell me, everyone, how to fight this battle?" After seeing the Japanese positions, the guerrilla commander asked the detachment leaders.
The detachment captains all looked at each other, you looked at me and I looked at you, without saying a word.
"We were all clamoring to take the lead just now, why are we all mute now?" Seeing the silent detachment leaders, the guerrilla commander's face also darkened.
These detachment captains are not fools. They are the first to shoot. Now the Japanese are serious about it. If they go to lead the battle, it would be strange if they don't get into trouble and get bloodshed.
"Liu Jinhu, tell me." The guerrilla commander turned his attention to Liu Jinhu, the captain of the first detachment.
Liu Jinhu also scratched his head for a long time before speaking: "Commander, why don't we keep the siege for a long time? The little devil has no food or water. It will take at least half a month, and Huaiyin will be defeated..."
"I'm afraid the Japanese will starve to death before we starve to death." A detachment leader shook his head after hearing this.
Since the Japanese deployed three divisions for mopping up at the beginning of the year, the Sulu Theater Command has had to withdraw to the southern Shandong area.
Their area in northern Jiangsu is now blocked by the Japanese on land, water and air, and food supplies cannot come in. If it weren't for the help of the local people, they would have starved to death.
Now they are just hoping to seize Huaiyin and get some food. If the siege lasts for a long time, let alone the Japanese reinforcements, it will be a big problem for thousands of brothers to eat, and they must solve it quickly.
The guerrilla commander looked at the group of detachment captains under his command and shook his head secretly. They were usually arrogant and arrogant, but at the critical moment they would lie down.
"Okay, now that we're here, we can't go back empty-handed, right?" The commander saw that no one was speaking and opened his mouth to break the silence.
"According to the intelligence, there are not many Japs in Huaiyin City, at most one squadron. Although the number of puppet troops is large, it is nothing to worry about. As long as we break through the outer defense line, we still have a chance of winning."
After hearing what the commander said, the detachment leaders finally regained some confidence.
"It's not dark yet. If we attack now, we will be exposed to the enemy's firepower and the losses will definitely be huge, so I mean to attack after dark."
"But who will take the lead?" Everyone agreed to attack after dark, but no one wanted to be the first to rush forward.
The commander looked around at the team captains and finally gave the order: "Now that we are here, don't even think about being a coward. The Dark Queen is besieging you from all sides. Come and fight!"
After hearing the commander's words, everyone felt that it was a bit risky, but they had no other choice. Fortunately, they were not alone, so they agreed.
"I'll make it clear in advance that if anyone dares to back down from the battle, don't blame me for being ruthless!" the commander warned, looking at the uncertain crowd.
Everyone looked stern and nodded in agreement.
"Of course, whoever leads the troops to attack Huaiyin first will be the hero of my ninth column. I will keep him the deputy commander of the ninth column and reward him with another five thousand oceans!"
Guerrilla commanders are also veterans of officialdom, so they naturally know how to use carrots and sticks.
As soon as he said his words, the detachment leaders became excited and patted their chests to express that they would move forward bravely.
The more than 3,000 officers and soldiers of the guerrilla column did not launch an attack immediately. Instead, they took the time to rest and organize their weapons.
The Japanese guarding the position seemed to be really out of strength and had no intention of attacking. The two sides just stayed within shooting range and waited peacefully until dark.