Bright Sword: From Northwest Shanxi to Shangganling

Chapter 98: You won't take me with you to the battle? I'll do it myself (rewards and extra chapters)
"Old Chen, the brigade has sent us an order, asking us to move forward and harass the 109th Division and its logistics equipment heading west from Taiyuan, support the defense of the Yellow River, and force the Japanese to retreat."

Luo Ping hurriedly walked into the regiment headquarters and said.

Chen Chengxing put down the documents in his hand and took the brigade order handed over by Luo Ping.

"Let us harass the Luyang area?" Chen Chengxing stood up and walked to the map.

"All the other troops have gone to the front line, leaving us behind to harass Luyang?" Chen Chengxing said dissatisfiedly.

"Besides, what's the point of harassing Luyang at this time?" Chen Chengxing said.

"Useless? But Luyang is an important bridgehead for Taiyuan to advance westward. If we attack this area, the enemy's transportation of supplies will inevitably be affected." Luo Ping pretended not to have heard what Chen Chengxing said before, but said with some confusion.

"You are right, but if it only affects the enemy's logistics, I am afraid it will not have a big impact on the front line."

"The main forces of the 129th Division are now fighting the Japanese in the area from Xiaoxian to Lijiachuan. The only troops currently behind enemy lines are our New Second Regiment and guerrillas and county battalions from other places. If we don't make the Japanese feel a direct threat, it will be difficult to support the front-line operations," Chen Chengxing explained.

Simple harassment will at most slow down the enemy's transportation speed, which will not have much impact on the combat on the front line.

Only when the Japs truly feel a deadly threat will they dispatch troops to deal with harassment behind enemy lines, and once the Japs begin to mobilize, they will create opportunities for the front-line troops.

"So what do you think?" Luo Ping asked.

"In war, food and fodder always come before troops move out. The total distance from Taiyuan to Xiaoxian is nearly 400 miles. If we can completely cut off the enemy's transportation lines, we will definitely be able to mobilize the enemy, and then the opportunity will come." Chen Chengxing said.

The Japanese usually carried a week's worth of supplies when they went into battle, and would replenish them on the spot after a week, that is, by robbing.

However, knowing that there would be a war, the people in the Xiaoxian area had almost all fled.

Even if it is a little inconvenient, the Eighth Route Army will arrange people to assist in the evacuation.

This resulted in the 109th Division, with more than men and several thousand mules and horses, finding it difficult to obtain sufficient supplies in the Xiaoxian area.

Therefore, Chen Chengxing estimated that the Japanese should deliver supplies to the front line within 4 days after the supplies on the front line were consumed.

As long as we seize the opportunity and cut off the supply line before the Japanese can transport supplies, we will be able to force the Japanese to return for reinforcements.

"Where do you want to attack?" As soon as Luo Ping heard it, he knew that Chen Chengxing had already chosen the target.

"Xiji stronghold." Chen Chengxing pointed on the map.

"If the Japanese in Taiyuan want to transport supplies to Xiaoxian, they can either go through Ping'an in the north or Anqiu in the south."

"Xiaoxian, Ping'an and Anqiu form a triangle, and Xiji is the core of this triangle."

"Whether the Japanese want to take the southern route or the northern route, Xiji is the place they must pass through."

"As long as we can capture the Xiji stronghold, it will be like taking the weak spot of the Japanese."

"Because if we don't go through this route, the Japanese will have to take a detour. If we go north via Shuiquan, we'll have to walk 400 more miles; if we go south via Liangcheng, we'll have to walk 1200 miles, which the Japanese will definitely not be able to accept," Chen Chengxing explained.

Luo Ping took a closer look and found that it was true. Although Xiji was not very prominent, for the 109th Division at that time, its location was more important than Luyang.

Even if Luyang was lost, there were still other ways to go, but since the Xiji stronghold was lost, there was no way to go to Xiaoxian.

There are many roads in the Yalu Mountains, but this is the only highway that crosses the mountains.

Other roads are not only difficult to travel and very long, but the Japanese have not yet opened up all the towns and villages along the way, and they may encounter minefields at any time. However, Luo Ping was still a little hesitant about attacking the Xiji stronghold: "Old Chen, attacking the Xiji stronghold can indeed cut off the Japanese supply line, but the Xiji stronghold is in the enemy-occupied area, and the surrounding situation is extremely complicated. If we rush in, isn't it a bad idea?"

"It doesn't matter. The Japs are now mainly focused on crossing the river. The only major forces around are the Japs in Anqiu and a puppet security force in Shenkou Town."

"These puppet troops are called an army, but in reality they only have more than 2 soldiers, all of whom were reorganized from the security corps. Their combat effectiveness is not even second-rate."

"The only ones who can really have an impact on us are the Japanese in Anqiu." Chen Chengxing said confidently.

Of course, Chen Chengxing did not explain that his real purpose was not only to force the Japanese in Xiao County to return to support and retreat, but also to force the Japanese in Anqiu City to retreat.

It's impossible that the New Second Regiment mobilized a large number of troops to march hundreds of miles and finally captured a stronghold.

You, the brigade commander, don't bring the New Second Regiment into the war. Can't the New Second Regiment find a way to gain benefits on its own?
Luo Ping thought about it and nodded, "Okay, then I'll draft a plan and we'll sign it and send it to the brigade headquarters."

"Okay." Chen Chengxing did not refuse Luo Ping's proposal.

After taking over the Xiji stronghold, if you want to achieve greater results, you must have the cooperation of other troops to block the attack.

Otherwise, the 109th Division could send out its cavalry regiment and catch us off guard with a surprise attack.

While waiting for a reply from his superiors, Chen Chengxing was not idle either. He began to assemble his troops and prepare to march west out of Laolong Mountain.

Now the combat strength of the three main battalions of the New Second Regiment has reached 3 people. Including the regiment headquarters, logistics and directly affiliated troops, the number of people in the New Second Regiment has exceeded 2500.

This does not even include the 9 fully staffed guerrilla units and replenishment battalions of 250 people. Adding up all the troops, the new 6nd Regiment has more than people.

However, we are still short of weapons, and only three main battalions can really compete with the Japanese, while the other troops can only fight guerrilla warfare.

At the Lijiachuan front, the deputy commander of the 386th Brigade hurried into the command post and reported to Brigade Commander Chen: "Brigade Commander, an urgent report from the New Second Regiment."

The battle to stop the 109th Division from crossing the river was commanded by Brigadier General Chen, while the division commander rushed south to Lu'an to provide rescue.

The commander of the 115th Division was accidentally injured by the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army while on the march, and his lung was pierced. He was rushed to Yan'an for treatment.

The battle at the Yellow River ferry in Lu'an is now even more intense than that in Lijiachuan.

"Chen Chengxing? What is this kid planning to do?" Chen Lu took the report casually.

"Haha. I knew this kid couldn't help it. Others are playing hard in the front, but he is left sitting on the bench. I'm afraid he must be cursing in his heart." Chen Lu laughed after reading the report.

"If the New Second Regiment can successfully launch a surprise attack on the Xiji stronghold, it will be a great thing for us. I think we can cooperate with Chen Chengxing's actions." said the deputy brigade commander.

"Then we will dispatch Li Yunlong's New 109st Regiment to take a detour to the Hutan area to ambush and block the support troops of the th Division."

"TND, this kid Chen Chengxing transferred me just by making a move. He is more powerful than the division commander!" Brigade Chen laughed.

After the New Second Regiment launched a surprise attack on the Xiji stronghold, apart from the possible reinforcements from the 109th Division, the closest reinforcements were from Anqiu. However, the troops in this place were not numerous, so it was not a problem for the New Second Regiment to complete the blocking operation.

"Okay, I'll call and arrange it right away." The deputy brigade commander nodded and walked out of the command post.

Brigade Captain Chen turned his attention back to the map. Since the New 129nd Regiment was going to launch a surprise attack on the Xiji stronghold, the other troops of the th Division had to follow suit.

Brigade Chen must try his best to maximize the results of this battle.

(End of this chapter)