At the Huaiyuan County garrison headquarters, a lieutenant rushed in anxiously.
After seeing the chief of staff, he gasped and reported: "Sir, something happened..."
"The guerrillas ambush the troops on the pipeline outside the city. The soldiers who were ordered to leave the city were attacked and the entire army was destroyed."
"The rescue force sent out by the county also killed and injured several imperial soldiers."
"In order to avoid unnecessary losses, the rescue troops did not pursue rashly. They all retreated to the county seat, closed the city gates, and strengthened their alert."
The chief of staff had a sullen expression and said nothing.
The captain of the supplementary regiment showed an expression of sudden realization, as if he had seen through the whole thing. He looked at the sand table and shouted: "Chief of Staff, I understand this humble position."
"The guerrillas set up an ambush outside the city to intercept our messengers, so we did not receive any news about reinforcements."
"They definitely want to cut off the connection between the county and the reinforcements, and then use guerrilla warfare to slowly consume the reinforcements until they are completely wiped out, or they are forced to retreat."
"This possibility cannot be ruled out!" the chief of staff thought for a moment and agreed.
Then he changed the subject and continued: "But there is another situation."
"The Eighth Route Army blocked Huaiyuan County to prevent us from knowing the true situation of the reinforcements and the conspiracy behind it."
"If it's the first judgment, that's okay!"
"With the strength of the guerrillas, even if they use guerrilla warfare to deal with the reinforcements, their chances of winning are not high. Moreover, the entire battle will last for a long time and will definitely not affect the security of Huaiyuan City."
"If it's the second judgment, there's at least an 80% chance that the three reinforcements will have an accident."
"The enemy blocked the news by intercepting the messengers and concealed their other plots after destroying the reinforcements."
"In this case, Huaiyuan City will be in danger. It is very likely that the Eighth Route Army's target is the ammunition supplies we have hoarded in the city."
The captain of the supplementary regiment frowned and replied: "Since both judgments are possible, we can't distinguish between them."
"Then directly give orders to the nearby imperial troops, asking them to abandon their strongholds and reinforce the county to be prepared."
"No!" the chief of staff refused without hesitation.
"Ammunition supply in the city is very important, but so are the strongholds outside the city?"
"Many strongholds guard traffic arteries. If we give up on our own initiative, we will also lose control of these official roads."
"They are the only way for us to transport ammunition supplies to the front line. If they fall into the hands of the guerrillas, there will definitely be big problems in the logistics supply line."
"So until there is no definite information, and until the last moment, the stronghold cannot be abandoned rashly because of our speculations."
"If you guess wrong, those strongholds will be lost."
The captain asked anxiously: "Then what should we do? We can't wait until the county town is attacked before letting the stronghold garrison reinforce us!"
"Very simple!" replied the chief of staff.
"The guerrillas have poor combat effectiveness. They can stop the messengers by relying on sneak attacks, but they cannot stop the large-scale troops."
"Immediately organize three infantry teams to carry radios and rush out of Huaiyuan County, march quickly to find reinforcements, and send a telegram to the headquarters as soon as there is news."
"It's now eleven o'clock in the morning. The troops will be able to reach the battlefield after three or four hours of rapid march. We will be able to determine whether there is anything wrong with the reinforcements by three o'clock in the afternoon at the latest."
"It will be too late to order the troops to abandon their strongholds and return to the county seat by then."
"The reinforcements will definitely arrive at the county seat before dark to avoid a night battle."
At the siege headquarters, Zhou Liang hurriedly found Li Hao and reported: "Commander, Captain Xiao of the commando team sent an urgent message: The Japanese army has just dispatched an infantry squadron with three radios to march out of the county. The purpose is unknown. Let us prepare in advance."
"Three infantry teams, they must be out of the city to collect intelligence?" Li Hao's eyes immediately lit up.
He shouted at the door: "Consultant Wang, immediately send someone to inform the guard company Sun Jiawu to use guerrilla warfare to slow down the march of the Japanese troops out of the city."
"Don't hit them too hard. Take your time to deal with them. You must make the Japanese think that the guard company is a guerrilla force."
"After dark, launch an all-out attack on the Japanese and eat them."
"Zhou Liang, you immediately send a telegram to the Chief of Staff, Commander Zhou, and Commander Zhou of the Cavalry Battalion."
"Huaiyuan County sent three squads to kill them, and ordered the guerrillas who cooperated with the show to avoid these Japs and drag them until dark, then we will win."
At three o'clock in the afternoon, the chief of staff had not received the telegrams from the three teams.
The bad premonition in his mind became stronger and stronger. After walking around the small headquarters twice with his hands behind his back, he couldn't wait any longer.
The commander of the regiment looked anxious and ordered: "Contact the three infantry squads immediately. Where are they? Why haven't reinforcements been found yet?"
"By the way, I also sent a telegram to the aviation force to reconfirm the specific location of the three reinforcements."
Twenty minutes later, the captain who was guarding the telecommunications room came back and reported with a sullen face.
"Reporting to the Chief of Staff, the troops began to be harassed and blocked by guerrillas after leaving the city. In order to reduce losses, the marching speed was greatly affected."
"They are now less than five kilometers away from the reinforcements, but the reinforcements have been moving with the guerrillas. The three teams can only pursue them under the guidance of aircraft."
"The humble post has sent the latest location of the reinforcements to the three squads and ordered them to march quickly to pursue them."
Hearing this, the chief of staff looked very unhappy, and the bad feeling in his heart became stronger and stronger.
The reinforcements disappeared after leaving the city, and there was no news about the messenger. Now the three teams cannot catch up with the reinforcements...
This is all such a coincidence.
Although we are not sure yet that this is a conspiracy, we are 60% certain that something big will happen here.
His brows furrowed deeper and deeper, and his solemn expression was slowly replaced by seriousness. He looked at the captain and ordered.
"An hour later, when the three squads had not found reinforcements, we stopped waiting and sent telegrams directly to several strongholds. All the garrison troops rushed to the county seat to increase the defense force of the county seat."
"Four o'clock is the last time to ensure that the reinforcements arrive at the county seat before dark. Any later than that and it will be too late."
"From now on, the entire city of Huaiyuan will be under martial law, and all troops will be ready for battle."
"The gendarmerie, special forces, and police are responsible for public security in the city."
"No one can take to the streets without orders from the headquarters, otherwise they will be killed without mercy."
At around four o'clock, the three infantry squads still had not caught up with the reinforcements.
The chief of staff decided not to wait any longer and decisively issued a retreat order to surrounding strongholds.
Not long after the puppet troops left their stronghold for more than 800 days, the news reached the siege headquarters.
Li Hao did not expect that the Japanese army would respond so quickly and began to strengthen the county garrison before confirming whether the reinforcements had been killed.
Their appearance undoubtedly disrupted Li Hao's plan.
According to the original battle plan, these reinforcements would not appear until the siege started at the earliest.
It was dark at that time, and only a small number of troops could hold them back.
Unexpectedly, these reinforcements appeared before dark.
When the enemy changes, we change. No matter how high the cost, these reinforcements cannot be allowed to enter the county. Otherwise, the county garrison will not be reduced much, and the troops' efforts last night and today will be in vain.
Li Hao's attitude is very firm on this point.
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