The Japanese North China Front Army Headquarters received the farewell telegram forwarded from the Songling Brigade. The commander confirmed it twice before believing the content.
Frowning his brows, he suddenly realized and shouted: "I finally know why the Independent Regiment was able to take over Laishui County and wipe out all the Laishui garrison."
"It's all because they have reinforcements."
"Not only does it have a powerful cavalry unit, it also has a large amount of weapons and ammunition. If I guessed correctly, these weapons and ammunition must have flowed out of Yixian County."
"Bageya Road, I should have thought of this a long time ago. Yi County was occupied by the Eighth Route Army, followed by Laishui. There must be a connection between them."
"Order the Songling Brigade to withdraw from Laishui territory immediately."
"The independent regiment is now well-equipped, has sufficient ammunition, and has cavalry reinforcements. It can eat up the Binqi Brigade and the Pine Ridge Brigade in one go."
"It's too dangerous for them to go deep into Laishui alone now."
"Send them a telegram immediately and the troops will retreat overnight."
"Chief of Staff, please go to the front line in person and mobilize one regiment of the Imperial Army and two regiments of the Imperial Alliance Army from the surrounding areas to assemble towards Laishui..."
"If there are no troops in nearby counties, we will mobilize troops from farther front lines."
"Laishui is too important. We must recapture it as soon as possible, kill the independent regiment, and restore public security there."
The former enemy headquarters of the Laishui County Independent Regiment, after killing the Binqi Brigade, the troops prepared to move and evacuate the county.
There were still nearly 1,400 men in the Pine Ridge Brigade a few kilometers away. Both the independent regiment and the cavalry battalion suffered more than half of their casualties in this battle, and they were very tired. They were definitely no match for them.
Everyone, including Zhou Wu, recognized the immediate evacuation plan.
The regiment leader stood on the top of the city with a look of reluctance.
This is the first county town that the independent group has captured. After today's evacuation, no one knows when they will be able to fight back again. He wants to take one last look at this place.
"drive……"
The sound of horse hooves suddenly reached the top of the city. When I turned around, I saw a cavalry galloping toward the city gate.
"Captain, good news... the Songling Brigade a few kilometers away has retreated..."
The regiment leader and the political commissar looked at each other with puzzled expressions on their faces.
Zhou Wu was the first to react: "Chief, the Songling Brigade must have been scared away by us."
"It only took the independent regiment and the cavalry battalion three hours to completely annihilate the Binqi Brigade. Although we ourselves suffered heavy casualties, the Pine Ridge Brigade did not know it."
"He only saw that we had the strength to wipe out a Japanese infantry brigade in a short period of time."
"In order to prevent himself from making the same mistake as Binqi's brigade, he had no choice but to retreat."
The regiment leader stood on the top of the city thinking about Zhou Wu's analysis. Within two minutes, his frown relaxed and he happily agreed: "I agree with Battalion Commander Zhou's analysis. This Songling Brigade must be frightened by our combat power.
We hurriedly retreated to save our lives."
"Since the Japanese are not coming, we don't have to leave. We can stay here for a few more days."
The political commissar also understood and asked with a smile: "Then I will order the troops to stop now and not leave for the time being."
"No!"
The regiment leader shook his head and replied: "Stay the main force, weapons and ammunition, rest in place and wait for orders. The recruit company and the baggage company will continue to retreat. Use this time to send all the things that can be taken away from Laishui County to the mountains."
"The geographical location of Laishui is very important, and the Japanese will definitely not let us occupy it for a long time."
"The Songling Brigade temporarily retreated to protect themselves. It does not mean that they want to give up Laishui."
"I guess the Japanese are definitely moving troops around and will fight back when there are too many troops for our independent group to threaten their safety."
"The pressure was even greater at that time, and it was very likely that we would return to the mountains again and start a tug-of-war with the Japanese."
"We must prepare for the worst, prepare for this day in advance, and reserve a sufficient amount of supplies in the mountains. If there is a tug of war, we will not panic."
At eight o'clock the next morning, a piece of information from superiors was delivered to the regiment leader.
His judgment was correct.
In order to seize the independent regiment and recapture Laishui County, the chief of staff of the North China Japanese Army Command personally went to the front line to dispatch troops and generals.
At the same time, this information also appeared in the form of a telegram in the hands of Li Hao, the leader of the garrison.
After staring at the map and thinking for two minutes, Li Hao decided not to sit still and wait for death.
Looking at Wang Hong, he said: "The political commissar, the independent regiment and the cavalry battalion will definitely not be able to handle it this time."
"I decided to go to Laishui myself."
"How is the rush to transport food and supplies? Can they all be transported back to the base tonight?"
Wang Hong looked at the statistical report in his hand and replied: "It can all be shipped back."
"Weapons and ammunition are nearby to reinforce the nearby Eighth Route Army, saving us a lot of trucks."
"The last batch of grain was loaded onto the truck last night and is on its way back to the base area,"
"There is only the last batch of supplies left tonight, which is about 100,000 kilograms of cotton and 300,000 kilograms of other combat supplies. Two hundred large trucks are enough, and they can all be towed away by ten o'clock in the evening."
"The military trains parked on the railway were all turned into scrap metal by the Japanese. I asked the transport troops to collect a lot of good steel and plan to transport it back to the base together. It will cost more than 500,000 kilograms and will require 300 carts."
"As expected, all transport teams will set off back to the base before two o'clock in the morning tonight."
"By six o'clock in the morning, the last transport team can arrive 20 kilometers away from the base area, and the troops lurking near the blockade can completely protect their safety."
"Captain, don't worry and go to reinforce Laishui. I have no problem here. It's just that you don't have enough troops to bring over."
Li Hao's eyes were full of admiration.
A transportation team of tens of thousands of people and tens of millions of kilograms of supplies would definitely turn into a mess if directed by oneself.
However, the political commissar conducted the order easily and in an orderly manner, and even completed the transportation task ahead of schedule. It was simply amazing.
Seeing the fleeting expression of worry on the political commissar's face, he immediately comforted: "The regiment security company, the fourth company of the cavalry battalion, the fourth company of the second battalion, the seventh company of the third battalion, the firepower company of the two battalions, a total of three main companies
, two fire companies, one cavalry company, almost 800 people."
"In addition to the thirty thunder cannons and six hundred explosive bags brought by the transport team, it is enough."
At the enemy headquarters of the Laishui Independent Regiment, after the information sent by the superiors was passed through everyone's hands, everyone showed a solemn expression on their faces.
The political commissar spoke first: "Captain, your judgment is correct."
"Either the Japanese are not coming. If they are coming, they will have to gather heavy troops and attack us. They will be like a mountain and won't give us a chance to breathe."
"A regiment of Japs, plus the Songling Battalion and the artillery unit, there are nearly 5,000 people in four brigades, and there are more than 2,000 puppet troops to help. The superiority in troops and firepower is all in their hands. They can hold us back.
No chance of winning at all."
"Last night, the supply company emptied the county town. The food stored in the mountains is enough for the independent regiment to feed for more than half a year. I suggest that the troops abandon the county town now, temporarily avoid the front line, and preserve their strength to fight guerrilla warfare and mobile warfare with the Japanese."
The regiment leader couldn't think of any other way, so he could only agree: "The reconnaissance platoon will set off now to closely monitor every move of the Japanese and puppet troops."
"The troops are ready to retreat. We will leave as soon as the Japanese troops send troops."
"Captain Zhou, your cavalry battalion will also retreat together."
The opponent's strength was so strong that Zhou Wu could not think of a better way. He nodded and replied helplessly: "Don't worry, chief, the cavalry battalion can retreat at any time."
The first update is delivered today! Please subscribe! Please vote monthly! Please collect!
