noffsinger Chapter 305 Dazhai Mountain
Chapter 305 Dazhai Mountain
3 month 18 day.
The morning mist shrouded the outline of Dazhai Mountain. The dawn had not yet appeared on the horizon, and the air was filled with the fresh scent of earth and dew.
At the Dazhaishan position, Zhang Dabiao led a regiment of soldiers and finally arrived at the destination after a long journey all night.
After settling the troops, Zhang Dabiao did not stay for long. He quickly tidied his military uniform and walked towards the command center.
On the way to the headquarters, Zhang Dabiao met the second regiment commander Shen Quan.
When the two met, Zhang Dabiao stopped and said, "Captain Shen, your Second Regiment also arrived quite early."
Shen Quan smiled slightly and replied, "Captain Zhang, your group is quite fast. You are able to arrive so early even though you are farther away than us."
Zhang Dabiao nodded and asked, "By the way, Commander Shen, do you know why the brigade commander asked us to come back?"
Shen Quan shook his head, frowned slightly, and said, "I don't know. It must be a major change, otherwise they wouldn't be so anxious to transfer several of our regiments to Dazhaishan."
Just as the two were talking, the third regiment commander Duan Peng came running hurriedly from behind.
Duan Peng was a young team leader with a green face. He shouted as he ran, "Two team leaders, you came quite early. I thought I was the first."
Zhang Dabiao and Shen Quan smiled at each other. Zhang Dabiao patted Duan Peng on the shoulder and said, "Let's go in. Now that we are here, don't stand around outside."
The three of them walked into the command center side by side.
As Zhang Dabiao, Shen Quan and Duan Peng entered the command center, they saw that it was brightly lit inside. The map hanging on the wall was illuminated by several chandeliers, and it was densely marked with various symbols and routes.
Li Yunlong and Zhao Gang were standing in front of the map, discussing something in low voices.
"Report to the brigade commander, we are here, do you have any good news to announce?"
Zhang Dabiao's loud voice broke the silence in the room.
Li Yunlong looked up when he heard the voice and saw three people standing at the door. He smiled and said, "Since you are here, come in. I will talk to you when others come."
The three of them then stood upright, waiting for the next instructions.
Time passed by minute by minute, and other group leaders arrived one after another.
Finally, when the last regiment leader sat down, Li Yunlong cleared his throat, glanced at everyone present, and then said in a deep voice: "Dear regiment leaders, I called you to Dazhaishan today because of important tactical adjustments."
"Next, our independent brigade's mission is to establish a blocking position on Dazhai Mountain and cooperate with the other two brother units to eliminate the two Japanese divisions in the middle."
As soon as Li Yunlong finished speaking, everyone in the command center gasped. They were all stunned.
The difficulty of this task was beyond their imagination. They had to destroy two Japanese divisions at one time, which was extremely rare in previous battles.
Zhang Dabiao's eyes sparkled with excitement: "Brigade Commander, this is simply great. The soldiers have been wanting to fight for a long time."
The other team leaders also nodded, their eyes also filled with fighting passion.
Li Yunlong looked at these enthusiastic regiment leaders, nodded, and began to issue specific combat orders: "Commanders, our goal for this operation is to lure the enemy deep into our territory, lure the Japs in, and then surround and annihilate them."
"Dazhai Mountain will become the main battlefield. The 1st, 2nd, 3rd and artillery regiments will be responsible for the frontal battlefield defense of Dazhai Mountain. The remaining regiments will cooperate with the brother units of the other two brigades to encircle the Japanese."
Li Yunlong ran his finger across the map, pointing out the locations and tasks of each troop.
"Zhang Dabiao, Shen Quan, Duan Peng, the 123rd Regiment led by the three of you must hold the position firmly and buy time for the other troops.
According to the situation around Dazhai Mountain, it will take the other troops two days to completely encircle the two Japanese divisions."
"Yes, Brigade Commander," Zhang Dabiao, Shen Quan and Duan Peng responded in unison.
Then, Li Yunlong looked at the other regiment commanders present and said, "Commanders, your mission is to work together with the main force to encircle the Japanese."
"Yes, Brigadier."
Everyone responded in unison:
............
at the same time,
In the Japanese command center, Ito and Yamamoto, the commanders of the 65th and 66th Divisions, were facing a confusing situation.
The Eighth Route Army troops that had been blocking them seemed to have evaporated overnight, which made the two experienced generals feel puzzled and alert.
Ito frowned and broke the silence first: "General Yamamoto, the Eighth Route Army troops that blocked my 65th Division disappeared overnight. What is the situation on your side?"
Yamamoto's face was also full of confusion. He slowly said, "General Ito, the situation of the 66th Division is the same. The Eighth Route Army troops that were blocking us have disappeared. Is there some conspiracy?"
Ito nodded. This situation was very strange and he had to consider it carefully.
He said, "General Yamamoto, let's ask the other two armies to see what their situation is."
Years of battlefield experience have taught him that such sudden changes often herald a greater crisis.
Yamamoto agreed to Ito's proposal, and then said to his adjutant: "Adjutant, go contact the other two armies immediately and ask them about their situation."
"Hai."
After receiving the instructions, the adjutant saluted quickly, then turned and left to carry out the order.
Yamamoto and Ito sat in the command center with frowns on their faces. Their eyes swept across the map from time to time, trying to find out the Eighth Route Army's intentions.
Various possible tactics and strategies kept swirling in the two men's minds, but they were still unable to determine the Eighth Route Army's true intentions.
"Does the Eighth Route Army Independent Column really want to abandon the Yangquan area?"
The two of them came up with this idea almost at the same time, but quickly denied it.
They knew that the Eighth Route Army Independent Column was famous for its strong combat effectiveness, and the strategic value of the Yangquan area was self-evident, so they would not give up easily.
As time passed, the two people's discussion became more and more intense, but they still did not reach a definite conclusion.
Just then, the adjutant hurriedly walked into the command center, breaking the two men's contemplation.
"Division Commander, the other two armies have called back and said they are facing stiff resistance from the Chinese army and are now having a hard time marching."
Yamamoto and Ito looked at each other, and there was a hint of solemnity in their eyes.
This news confirmed their speculation that the Eighth Route Army did not give up resistance, but launched fierce battles in other directions.
“General Yamamoto, it seems that there is indeed a conspiracy by the Independent Column here.
In my opinion, we need to send out a reconnaissance team to investigate the road ahead first." Ito said.
Yamamoto nodded and agreed: "I agree with this plan, but I still have to report it to the commander."
After all, without accurate intelligence, any rash action could lead to serious consequences.
The two immediately began to formulate an investigation plan. They knew that only with accurate intelligence could they develop effective countermeasures.
After reporting to the commander, the reconnaissance team was quickly dispatched. They would conduct a detailed reconnaissance of the road ahead, looking for traps and ambushes that might be set by the Eighth Route Army.