Bright Sword: From Northwest Shanxi to Shangganling

Chapter 240 Armored Train
"report!"

"Commander, Political Commissar, telegram from the military district!"

Chen Chengxing took the telegram from the combat staff, glanced at it, and sat up straight.

"how?"

"Something big is about to happen!" Chen Chengxing said with a serious expression.

Although he had known that this day would come, Chen Chengxing still felt quite pressured.

After this battle, the Japanese will definitely take crazy revenge on the entire Eighth Route Army.

"Meeting at the division headquarters?" Luo Ping looked at the telegram with some surprise.

Since the establishment of the Northwest Shanxi Military Region, the New Second Regiment has not had direct contact with the division headquarters.

The fact that the division headquarters suddenly summoned all its subordinate military leaders at the regimental level and above indicates that this incident may involve the jurisdiction of the entire 129th Division.

Luo Ping now could never imagine how big the big move Chen Chengxing mentioned would be.

Division Headquarters.

After hearing the teacher's retelling, everyone present was shocked.

After receiving the order from the division headquarters, everyone expected a war to break out, but no one expected the headquarters to take such a big action.

"We can fight the devils, no problem, but our equipment is not good enough."

"There are many new recruits in the army. Morale is fine, but new recruits are fighting against the Japanese."

"If you don't have weapons, ask the Japanese for them. Without fighting and bloodshed, new recruits will never become veterans." Master Liu waved his hand to interrupt the discussion.

"Of course we can't fight a battle that will put us at a disadvantage, but after confirming the mission, enemy situation, our situation, time and place, we must act resolutely!"

"Difficulties can be raised, but the mission must be completed!" said the political commissar seriously.

After hearing the division commander and political commissar set the tone, everyone present shut up.

Even Li Yunlong, who was not assigned any combat mission, did not dare to say a word.

He dared to joke with Brigade Commander Chen or even the division commander, but when facing the political commissar, he was like a mouse seeing a cat, afraid of attracting attention.

Because the headquarters' main target this time is the Zhengtai Line, except for the main numbered regiments that need to be transferred to the Zhengtai Line area to participate in the battle, the rest of the troops are responsible for supporting operations.

The task assigned to the 129th Division this time was mainly to destroy the Tongpu Railway north of Taiyuan and several important road transportation lines of the Japanese army.

But Chen Lu didn't want to play a supporting role in such a big battle.

Of course, there were many people who shared the same idea as Brigade Chen. All the troops that received the news were gearing up for a big fight.

At a later military district combat meeting, Brigade Chen decided to focus on attacking the Tongpu Railway from Fu'an to Luye.

Of course, the newly built road network of the Japanese in the Northwest Shanxi Military Region cannot be missed, but this task is mainly the responsibility of local county brigades and militia guerrillas.

The railway from Fu'an to Luye is the dividing line between the Zhongyun Mountains and the Hengshan Mountains, so the New Second Regiment is undoubtedly the backbone of this mission.

After Chen Chengxing returned to Dayun Mountain, he immediately held a small meeting with Luo Ping.

After Chen Chengxing finished telling Luo Ping about his superiors' decision and arrangements, he was a little shocked.

This is really a big deal from the headquarters.

If you don't move, it's fine. If you move, it will be earth-shattering.

Although the headquarters explicitly requested 22 regiments, a certain number of troops would actually be required to participate in the battle.

He didn't think that only the Northwest Shanxi Military Region would launch a strong attack.

"According to the military district's arrangement, the new Second Regiment is mainly responsible for destroying the railway from Fu'an to Luye."

"The troops directly under the military region, the New 1st Regiment, and the First Death Column are responsible for the section from Luye to Taiyuan." Chen Chengxing gestured on the map.

The total distance from Fu'an to Luye is more than 50 kilometers, but there is a section that is a plain area, so it is impossible to demolish it on a large scale at the beginning.

It was not until the later stage of the first phase, when the New Second Regiment had removed the artillery towers along the road one by one, that the militia would be able to dig the railroad tracks.

"Old Luo, how many rails we can move back this time depends on you." Chen Chengxing looked at Luo Ping and said.

"Don't worry about that. There is at least half a month from now to the time of action. After the meeting, I will go to find comrades from the local government and work with them to mobilize them." Luo Ping nodded.

The raid was one thing, the seizure of supplies was another.

We can't just destroy the whole thing after making such a big fuss. The Japanese's railway tracks are precious to the New Second Regiment.

Erlangdong Arsenal is in urgent need of steel.

"There will definitely be a lot of local armed forces, militias and masses participating in this operation. We must send capable cadres to organize and lead them to ensure their safety," said Chen Chengxing.

"Don't worry about that. I will bring the comrades from the Political Department to the scene to ensure that everything is safe." Luo Ping said.

"Except for the communications platoon and the general staff department, you are required to take everyone else with you. You will also be in command of the guard company to prevent any accidents." Chen Chengxing was still a little worried.

Although with such a large movement, the Japanese and puppet troops in the artillery towers of various strongholds should not act rashly, but they are afraid that some rebellious Japanese will insist on taking action.

No matter what, the safety of the masses must be guaranteed. If there are large numbers of casualties among the masses, I and Luo Ping will probably have to go to the clothing factory to operate sewing machines.

Of course, the most dangerous time was the first few days. After the strongholds and artillery towers along the line were taken down, the people could let go and do what they wanted.

"good!".
After Chen Chengxing and Luo Ping reached a consensus, they immediately dispatched a cavalry company to begin detailed reconnaissance and investigation of the enemy situation, terrain, fortifications and residents along the northern end of the Tongpu Road.

Based on the intelligence obtained from the investigation, the troops were adjusted to adjust the combat deployment and secretly mobilized. At the same time, the troops involved in the combat were given short-term training in attacking and breaking through roads, and supplies and equipment were prepared in advance.

Luo Ping also worked hard with the local government to organize and mobilize the masses and prepare various support work.

The entire New Second Regiment, except for two guerrilla squadrons left behind in the 234th Battalion to guard the strongholds and artillery towers around Dayun Mountain.

All other mobile troops were secretly concentrated in the Zhongshan area, ready to take action at any time.

August 8, night.

Chen Chengxing waited quietly in a temporary command post behind a hillside.

After checking his watch for the fifth time, Xu Wu could no longer resist and asked, "Captain, shall we start fighting?"

According to the instructions from the superiors, the time for unified action is 9 o'clock tonight, but it is already o'clock and Chen Chengxing still has no intention of taking action.

"Why are you in such a hurry? I received information that an armored train has arrived in Suicheng, and I'm waiting for it." Chen Chengxing casually turned the water cup on the table.

"Armored train? How come the armored train from Suicheng came here?" Xu Wu asked in surprise.

"The Zhengtai Line was severely damaged, and railways and roads in various places were also attacked at the same time. At this time, armored trains are the best support tool."

"As long as the armored train is placed there, it can suppress the area within a radius of 30 miles."

This Type 94 armored train coming from the Northeast is different from the Japanese light armored trains running around the North China Plain.

In addition to heavy machine guns, it is also equipped with two Type 2 105mm cannons and two Type 2 75mm anti-aircraft guns.

Although the Japanese Type 105 15mm cannon is old, its range is kilometers.

If the shooting range is not restricted, it will be invincible in Shanxi.

Normally, it should be roaming in the area bordering the Soviet Union and Russia. I don’t know why it came to Shanxi this time.

The place Chen Chengxing chose for the armored train was a canyon. As soon as they entered it, 7% of their abilities would be immediately wasted.

The soldiers of the New Second Regiment had already buried the mines in advance, and in order to avoid being discovered by the Japanese in advance, they adopted the method of burying the mines deep.

If the plan is implemented smoothly and the Japanese train derails and overturns again, it will be easy to capture it.

Although Xu Wu didn't know where the captain got his confidence from, he had made such bizarre predictions many times before, so Xu Wu didn't dare to disbelieve him.
Just as Xu Wu looked at his watch again, a combat staff officer hurried in.

"Report from the front line, an armored train of the Japanese has passed through Fu'an and is speeding towards Taiyuan!"

After hearing the report, Xu Wu's expression changed immediately. The captain's prediction was indeed correct!

"Order the troops to prepare for battle!" Chen Chengxing stood up and said seriously.

"Yes!"

On top of Tiger Leaping Cliff, Zeng Cheng was lying there motionless.

"Company commander, will the armored train really come? Will we be discovered by the Japanese?" The soldier next to him was a little impatient.

"Did you tell the Japanese about the situation?" Zeng Cheng glared at them.

"Captain, why would I do such a thing?" the soldier asked anxiously.

"Since there isn't any, then we just have to wait. The Japanese may be here soon." Zeng Cheng said with a smile.

"Oh"

Seeing that the company commander was so sure, the soldiers could only continue to wait.

After waiting for a few more minutes, a "clang clang" sound suddenly came from the distance.

In the darkness, several beams of light appeared, and a steel behemoth was looming in the darkness.

"Here they come, get ready!" Zeng Cheng ordered immediately.

【从右到左：警戒车（重机枪*2）、炮车甲（一四年式加农炮*1+重机枪*1）、炮车乙（一四年式加农炮*1+重机枪*1）、炮车丙（八八式75毫米高射炮*2）、指挥车（重机枪*2）、装甲机车、碳水车（重机枪*2）、发电车（重机枪*2）】

In the armored train speeding along the railway, the Japanese captain commander Yasuhiko Mukai was sitting on a leather sofa reading the telegram he had just received.

The content of the telegram requested that armored trains provide support to Yangquan and at the same time clear out the harassing Eighth Route Army troops along the way.

"The Eighth Route Army really doesn't know how to live or die." Yasuhiko Mukai threw the telegram on the table next to him with disdain.

"This time we can use the blood of the Eighth Route Army to cleanse the train."

In Yasuhiko Mukai's view, armored trains are already invincible in Shanxi.

From now on, he will be the only one to beat others, and there will be no possibility for others to beat him.

To put it bluntly, even if the train derailed and the Eighth Route Army attacked it, their firepower would not be able to break the train's defenses.

Just as Yasuhiko Mukai was about to take a sip of the sake on the table, he heard a loud bang and the security car in front of him was lifted up more than half a meter high.

Before Yasuhiko Mukai could react, the armored train tilted and went off the track.

Yasuhiko Mukai couldn't even sit still on the sofa, let alone get the wine, and rolled directly to the ground.

After the train ran off the track and finally stopped, Yasuhiko Mukai crawled to the table on his knees and grabbed the phone that was fixed on the table.

"Everyone enter combat mode immediately!"

"Each carriage reports the situation!"

(End of this chapter)