At the Dongliang stronghold, Lieutenant Colonel Sasaki is now in front of the map, frowning, and has been motionless for almost ten minutes!
The adjutant stood beside him, hesitant to speak!
The troops had clearly won a great victory just now, killing at least two hundred Eighth Route Army troops, and also destroying one mountain cannon and three mortars of the Eighth Route Army!
Normally, it would definitely be called a big victory!
But judging from the reaction of the captain in front of him, he didn’t seem very happy!
The adjutant wanted to know why.
But as soon as the words came to his lips, he swallowed them back!
I have been following the captain for three years. I was his deputy when Sasaki was still the captain of the squadron, so I know his temper very well!
No matter when, as long as he is thinking about a problem, no one can disturb him, including his deputy, otherwise he will never get any good results!
It can range from a scolding to a slap in the face!
"Sir, there's an urgent call from the military department!"
At this time, the operator suddenly rushed in, gave the adjutant a chance to speak, and asked quickly!
"What's the matter? So anxious!"
While handing the telegram to the adjutant, the operator reported: "The military department has just received information that a large convoy departed from Datong tonight, transporting a large amount of military equipment, all of which were shipped by the Eighth Route Army from the Datong ammunition factory and repair equipment.
Seized! The military department has judged that the ultimate target of this batch of military equipment is Lingqiu City. Let us strengthen our vigilance and intercept this batch of military equipment. We can destroy it as a last resort and must not fall into the hands of the Eighth Route Army!"
The content of the telegram was very detailed, even the time when the Xiaoguan stronghold and three outposts were captured was clearly stated!
After reading the telegram, Sasaki's frown suddenly relaxed, and he suddenly realized and shouted: "I understand!"
"I am very sure that the military department's judgment is correct. The ultimate goal of this batch of military equipment is Lingqiu!"
"I was still wondering why the Eighth Route Army suddenly attacked here. Now I have figured it out. The one who attacked us just now was the Eighth Route Army escorting this batch of equipment!"
"The Eighth Route Army's convoy can only take the road. If it wants to enter Lingqiu, it can only pass through us. That's why the battle just happened!"
"If we hadn't secretly stationed here a few days ago, with the strength of the original garrison at Dongliang stronghold, we would never have been able to stop the attack of the Eighth Route Army just now!"
"Immediately report to the military headquarters that the Dongliang stronghold was attacked by the Eighth Route Army half an hour ago. We judge that this Eighth Route Army is escorting the convoy. They want to enter Lingqiu through the Dongliang stronghold, but have been repelled by our troops!"
"After daybreak, we will send out scouts to search the surrounding area, find the convoy and intercept it!"
"Please ask the military department to send aviation troops to search the surrounding area from the air!"
"The convoy has a big target. If we conduct a coordinated search with air and ground, we will definitely find it!"
At ten o'clock in the morning, the adjutant suddenly broke into Sasaki's office, his eyes flashed and he reported: "Sir, good news!"
"The reconnaissance team we sent out should have found the Eighth Route Army convoy!"
"An infantry squad encountered the Eighth Route Army in the woods ten kilometers southeast of the stronghold. The two sides were fighting fiercely!"
"Judging from the battle situation, the Eighth Route Army is preventing our people from entering the woods!"
After speaking, the adjutant directly marked the battle location on the map with a pen!
Sasaki said nothing, frowning and lost in thought!
As an excellent commander, his combat ideas will never be influenced by one or two pieces of information!
And no one knows whether this information is true or was deliberately released by the Eighth Route Army!
Seeing that Sasaki was silent, the adjutant became anxious: "Sir, I think 80% of the Eighth Route Army's convoy is hidden in this forest!"
"Otherwise, with the hit-and-run combat style of the Eighth Route Army, they would never have tried so hard to prevent our search troops from entering the woods at any cost!"
"Also, this forest is close to the highway, so it is very convenient for the Eighth Route Army to hide its convoy!"
"I suggest sending an additional infantry squadron there immediately and marching into the woods to see what happens!"
"At the same time, contact the military headquarters to reinforce our aviation force, immediately conduct reconnaissance in this forest, and provide air support to the ground forces to deter the Eighth Route Army fighting us and reduce the combat pressure on the ground forces!"
Sasaki shook his head and replied: "No, even if we send troops to reinforce the battlefield, we can't send so many there!"
"I've been thinking about a problem for the past two hours!"
"A huge convoy of more than sixty cars can be hidden there!"
"After analysis and judgment, only these four woods can be hidden!"
"If we concentrate all our forces in this forest and ignore the other three woods, and the battle in front of us is deliberately carried out by the Eighth Route Army, attacking from the east and attacking from the west, then we will not suffer a big loss, but will be directly fooled!"
"Order, the troops closest to them will immediately dispatch a reinforcement team to reinforce them!"
"The aviation force can also send a plane to cooperate with the battle!"
"We have so many troops, even if the Eighth Route Army tries their best to stop them, they still have the strength to break into the woods and find out what's going on!"
The adjutant replied with admiration: "Sir, you are wise. This will indeed ensure that the entire search is foolproof. I will give the order now!"
Less than half an hour later, the adjutant rushed in again, with more than a smile on his face, there was more admiration!
He rushed in and shouted with compliments: "Sir, you are wise!"
"Your judgment just now was correct!"
"Still southeast of the stronghold, this time signs of Eighth Route Army activity were found in the woods fifteen kilometers away!"
"The search troops wanted to enter the mountain, but they were stopped by the Eighth Route Army hiding in the woods. The two sides were fighting at the edge of the woods. The battle was very fierce!"
"This forest is exactly one of the woods you judged at the beginning, sir!"
"The Eighth Route Army's convoy is probably hidden in this forest. The forest where the Eighth Route Army was discovered just now must be a trick of the Eighth Route Army!"
"Hit things in the east and west, deliberately drawing our attention there, and then ignoring the real hiding place of the convoy!"
"They are so cunning. If you weren't wise, sir, and saw this conspiracy, we would have definitely been fooled!"
The expression on Sasaki's face did not change at all, and he answered calmly: "The word "suspicious tactics" is used very well!
"But who can guarantee that the battle going on here is not a conspiracy?"
"So, until the exact traces of this convoy are found, no one can be sure where the convoy is hidden, and our main force cannot be mobilized!"
"Order the nearest unit to send a reinforcement team over, and then another plane to go over, and head into the woods to find out what's going on!"
At the temporary headquarters of the garrison regiment, Commander Huang Sheng of the third battalion hurriedly walked in and reported: "Captain, the Japanese army has sent out another reinforcement team to kill the woods where the third battalion and the ninth company are active!"
"Including the four search teams dispatched at the beginning, so far, the Japanese have dispatched six teams and two infantry squadrons!"
"Your judgment is absolutely correct. The enemy's attention was entirely on the four forests where the four companies were operating, and they did not notice what was right under their noses at all!"
"This unexpected move is really powerful!"
"If the Japanese commander knew that our convoy was hidden near their stronghold, covered with thatch and shrubs for camouflage, and fired from inside the stronghold, their mountain artillery, infantry guns, and mortars would all be able to reach it. The Japanese commander would
The officer will definitely be so angry that he vomits blood on the spot!"
Surprisingly, Li Hao didn’t have much smile on his face!
After a long silence, he replied: "The Japanese commander is more difficult to deal with than I thought!"
"For us, the military equipment transported by the convoy is not only a treasure, but also a bait for us to release!"
"My original idea was to use this bait to lure the Japs out of the stronghold and kill them in the woods, thus reducing the pressure on us to capture the stronghold tonight!"
"But the little devil commander doesn't seem to be fooled!"
"It's a complete attitude of not letting the hawk know the rabbit. If the convoy doesn't show up, the main force will not be mobilized. They will stay in the stronghold and not be fooled!"
"What should we do?" Huang Sheng asked anxiously!
"We don't have heavy weapons. If the main force of the Japanese forces remains in the stronghold, even if the second battalion arrives in time tonight, we will have no chance to capture the Dongliang stronghold and open the passage back to the base!"
"Captain, I suggest giving orders to several main companies to increase their resistance and try to use one morning to kill the little Japs who have entered the woods in advance at all costs!"
"Since the little devils don't let go of the eagle when they see the rabbit, then we will kill their troops entering the mountain! If they want to see the rabbit, they can only continue to send troops!"
Li Hao actually refused, shaking his head and saying, "No!"
"This will cause too many casualties to the troops, and the base area is right in front. It would be a waste to lose hundreds of people just to fight back to the base area. What a loss!"
Huang Sheng's eyes lit up and he shouted: "Captain, do you already have a solution?"
"Not bad!" Li Hao affirmed!
"Since the little devils can't see the rabbit, let's let them see the rabbit!"
"If I remember correctly, many of the small equipment seized by the troops in Datong were brought with them, and the Third Battalion also brought a lot of equipment with them when they came over!"
"Order the cavalry company to bring some equipment to the guard company, and tell Sun Jiawu to find a way to let the little devil see these equipment!"
Huang Sheng reacted suddenly, suddenly realized and shouted: "I understand!"
"When you see the equipment, the little devil will definitely be fooled, and then send the main force to kill the forest where the guard company is hiding!"
"Da da da……"
A string of machine gun fire sounded in the forest, and a dozen Japanese soldiers scattered in a fighting formation fell instantly to the ground!
"Bang bang bang...ta da da..."
The Japanese reacted very quickly, half-crouched on the ground, raised their rifles and crooked handles, and fired at the place where the gunshot had just been fired!
Bullets were flying in the forest, and branches were constantly being broken and falling to the ground!
"Baga, those cunning Eighth Route Army must have escaped again!" Seeing that there was no movement at all deep in the forest, the leader of the army, Cao Chang, immediately cursed and waved his hand to order!
"Machine gun cover, let's move on!"
The eight riflemen tiptoed forward less than twenty meters, when a cry of surprise rang out in the middle of the team!
"Sir, there's something buried under the grass!"
Chief Cao rushed over and carefully lifted up the thatch with his bayonet!
A device appeared in front of him!
"It's military equipment, it must be what the higher-ups are looking for!" Chief Cao shouted with eyes shining!
"Let's all search separately. There must be more than one piece of equipment here. Find them all!"