The more Hong Linfeng thought about it, the more solemn his expression became. He looked at Li Hao and shook his head and said, "No, three thousand people are still too many!"
"We need to kill a few more baggage teams in the base area, force the Huaiyuan puppet army to send out a few more transport teams, and reduce the Huaiyuan garrison to less than 1,500 people. Only then will we have the opportunity to cooperate with the commando team and the reconnaissance company.
Attack Huaiyuan from both inside and outside."
Li Hao finally made a move and vetoed it without hesitation under Hong Linfeng's gaze: "This method won't work."
"It took the base area three days to force Huaiyuan County to dispatch nearly 2,000 garrison troops. The Japanese will definitely become more and more cautious in the future."
"If we want to mobilize another four to five thousand people from Huaiyuan County, it will take at least ten days, and it may not even take half a month."
"In just three days, more than half of our three independent battalions suffered casualties. If we hold on for another ten days, I can't imagine what they will do."
"Now they rely on replenishing captured soldiers to ensure that the troops have the strength to continue fighting the Japanese. The Japanese are not stupid. After knowing this, they will definitely strictly control the puppet troops and prevent them from being captured by us."
"As time goes by, the troops left behind in the base area will definitely not even be able to replenish the captured soldiers, and they will lose one by one, and eventually they will be wiped out."
"Once an accident happens to the troops left behind, the base area will definitely suffer bloody revenge from the Japanese and puppet troops and be completely destroyed."
"We cannot afford to gamble, so we must not put all the pressure on the base area."
"The troops must launch an attack on Huaiyuan County within five days and take it down in two days to reduce the combat pressure on the base area."
Hong Linfeng's expression became more solemn.
The attack was launched within five days and Huaiyuan County was captured within two days. Even if the garrison was exhausted, it would not be possible.
However, the regiment leader is determined, and as the chief of staff, I can only support it.
With deep concern, he asked: "Captain, how do you plan to fight?"
"Borrowing troops!" Li Hao answered bluntly without any nonsense.
"In five days, there will be at least three to four thousand troops stationed in Huaiyuan County, and there will be sufficient ammunition. We will definitely not be our opponents with just a large number of people."
"I decided to ask for help from my superiors and let the independent regiment cooperate with us to fight and capture Huaiyuan."
Hong Linfeng's frown slowly relaxed, and the worry on his face began to disappear.
I have been at the Laishui Independent Regiment Headquarters these past few days. I don’t know the situation of the Independent Regiment very well, but I still know about 80% to 90% of its strength.
Since the garrison regiment used the method of directly recruiting prisoners to replenish the troops and training them while fighting, after this counter-mopping up, the overall strength of the independent regiment has increased instead of falling.
Not only have there been an additional main battalion, a cavalry company, a mortar company, a mountain artillery company, and a heavy machine gun company have all been formed."
This is only the main force, because a large amount of equipment and ammunition were seized on the battlefield, and the independent regiment also formed several company-sized local troops in the base area and more than a dozen guerrilla groups operating around the Japanese and puppet troops.
The total military strength was directly expanded to more than 3,500 people.
In addition, there were only more than a thousand Japanese and puppet troops occupying Laishui and Yixian, and there were no other Japanese and puppet troops nearby to reinforce them. In a short period of time, they could only defend the county towns and were unable to counterattack the independent regiment's base.
Therefore, for at least the next month, the Independent Regiment will not have any major operations. They only need to send troops to keep an eye on the Japanese and puppet troops in the county and on the highway.
If the superiors ordered the independent regiments to cooperate in fighting, they could send at least 1,500 troops.
There are more than a thousand people in the garrison, and there must be four thousand local Eighth Route Army troops and guerrillas operating in Huaiyuan.
In this case, the chances of the troops taking over Huaiyuan County will be greatly increased.
After thinking for two minutes, Hong Linfeng looked at Li Hao and supported: "Captain, I think this method is feasible!"
"Then I will send a telegram to the headquarters now!" Li Hao made a decision immediately.
Within two hours, the headquarters called back, not only to the garrison regiment, but also to the independent regiment.
"Captain Zhou, this is the telegram sent to you by the headquarters. If nothing else, your superiors should have orders to come here soon." Li Hao took the telegram to Commander Zhou and said embarrassedly.
The attack on Huaiyuan had nothing to do with the Independent Regiment. Li Hao was embarrassed to drag them into the war without the consent of Commander Zhou, even if there was an order from the headquarters.
Captain Zhou quickly read the telegram with one glance and three lines.
There was no trace of dissatisfaction on his face, but he stared at the map and asked with bright eyes: "Commander Li wants to attack Huaiyuan?"
"Not bad..." Li Hao did not hide his strategic intentions.
"The Japanese and puppet troops attacked the garrison base area with heavy troops. Only by capturing Huaiyuan and destroying the Japanese and puppet army's logistics base can they be forced to retreat and relieve the base area."
"My initial idea is to secretly arrive at Huaiyuan within five days, and then launch a sudden attack to capture Huaiyuan County."
"There are definitely a lot of risks in this battle. According to my judgment and that of the chief of staff, there will definitely be three to four thousand people in Huaiyuan County in five days. Our attack on Huaiyuan County will definitely be a tough battle, so Commander Zhou, you have to advance
Be mentally prepared.”
"In addition, in order to make up for the losses of the Independent Regiment in this battle, after capturing Huaiyuan County, all the captured Independent Regiments will be picked first, and as many as they can take away."
Three thousand Eighth Route Army troops went to attack Huaiyuan County, which had a garrison of three to four thousand troops.
From the average person's point of view, it is definitely a matter of throwing eggs and stones and destroying one's own life.
If it were in the past, Captain Zhou would also think so.
Even if his superiors gave him an order to attack, he would still hesitate.
But Captain Zhou did not hesitate this time, and without even thinking about it, he looked at Li Hao and blurted out: "Captain Li underestimated our independent group too much."
"Even if we don't seize a single bullet in Huaiyuan County, our independent regiment will still participate in the battle in Huaiyuan County."
"To put it bluntly, Commander Li and the garrison regiment owe a lot to the independent regiment's current strength."
"Even if I use up all the troops brought to Huaiyuan County, the troops left behind in Laishui by the Independent Regiment will be at least twice as strong as those of the Independent Regiment a month ago."
"So our independent regiment must participate in this battle, and we must do our best to participate."
"Political Commissar, go and arrange the troops immediately."
"The first battalion, the second battalion, the third battalion, the first and second platoons of the heavy machine gun company, the first and second platoons of the mortar company, the first platoon of the mountain artillery company, and the guard company are all ready for battle."
"The other troops will stay in the base area. Political Commissar, you will personally direct them to look after the home."
Seeing that Captain Zhou was so cheerful, Li Hao didn't waste any time and immediately gave the order!
"Thank you, Captain Zhou, for your support."
"With the support of nearly 2,000 people from the Independent Regiment, we will definitely be able to capture Huaiyuan County."
"My plan is for the troops to take a day off tomorrow."
"After dark, all participating troops were organized into companies and platoons, marched day and night, bypassed the Japanese and puppet army strongholds, and marched 100 kilometers to the outside of Huaiyuan City in three nights."
Commander Zhou quickly replied: "Captain Li, don't worry, the independent regiment guarantees to complete the mission."
As soon as Li Hao and Hong Linfeng left the headquarters, the political commissar of the Independence Regiment showed a deeply worried expression on his face.
Looking at his old partner, he reminded: "Captain, as soon as you leave, nearly 80% of the main force of the independent group will follow, leaving only more than 20% of the main force. Isn't that too little?"
"Even if we carry out the orders from the headquarters and report the life-saving grace of the garrison, there is no need to give away all our wealth!"
"Once the attacking troops have an accident in Huaiyuan, the independent regiment will definitely be injured."
Captain Zhou understands his partner's thoughts very well.
The Independent Regiment finally fought its way out of the mountains, established a foothold outside the mountains, and has its current strength. If it was beaten back to its original shape overnight because of the Huaiyuan battle, it would definitely be very unacceptable.
But Captain Zhou had his own little ideas.
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