Anti-Japanese War: I have unlimited assistance

Meanwhile, on the Taiyuan battlefield.

Dongshan, the front-line command post of the New First Regiment.

"Reporting to the regimental commander and political commissar, the Japanese devils have taken civilians hostage and taken them out of the city."

An Eighth Route Army soldier rushed into the front-line command post.

Li Yunlong and Zhao Gang immediately rushed out of the command post, raised their binoculars, and looked towards Taiyuan.

After Zhao Gang led a unit to capture Xishan Heights, he returned to the regimental headquarters.

Because of the distance, it was difficult to see clearly with binoculars, so Li Yunlong shouted, "Get the artillery binoculars!"

An artillery staff officer brought over two artillery periscopes and set them up. Li Yunlong and Zhao Gang immediately looked towards Taiyuan through the scissor periscope.

In the view of the artillery scope, squads of Japanese soldiers filed out of Taiyuan through the east gate.

However, in the middle of the Japanese troops' territory, civilians were being led around by the Japanese soldiers, one by one, bound with ropes.

At this point, the new regiment only needed one artillery barrage to wipe out these Japanese soldiers.

But they would also kill ordinary people along with them.

"Damn little devils."

Upon seeing this, Zhao Gang was furious, his fists clenched so tightly they cracked.

This was not the first time the Japanese had used civilians as hostages to break through enemy lines; similar incidents had occurred before.

However, those were all done by lower-ranking Japanese officers; some high-ranking Japanese officers still had some sense of shame.

Although Li Yunlong had some expectations, a crazy killing intent still flashed in his eyes when he saw this scene.

"Old Zhao, you stay at the regimental headquarters." Li Yunlong's eyes were icy. "I'll lead the 1st Column, the 2nd Column, and the Tank Column to pursue the main Japanese force."

Zhao Gang narrowed his eyes and said, "Old Li, I have only one request: rescue the civilians, retrieve Yoshio Shinotsuka's head, and don't let a single Japanese soldier escape."

"Don't worry about Taiyuan. Our comrades who were lying in wait have already contacted the commander of the 3rd Independent Division of the puppet army. He has agreed to defect and cooperate with us to retake Taiyuan."

The fact that no puppet troops were among the breakout group indicates that not all Japanese soldiers broke through.

Yoshio Shinotsuka had clearly left behind a portion of the Japanese soldiers and puppet troops to defend Taiyuan.

"Alright." Li Yunlong nodded emphatically and shouted loudly with murderous intent, "Pass on my order: the 1st and 2nd Infantry Columns assemble. I'm going to chop that son of a bitch, Yoshio Shinotsuka, to pieces today."

……

More than two hours later.

Yoshio Shinotsuka and Renya Mutaguchi led more than 2 remnants of the First Army and ran for nearly 20 kilometers in one go.

"Commander, I am utterly impressed by your ability to devise such a tactic in such a desperate situation!"

Looking at the panting Yoshio Shinotsuka, Renya Mutaguchi was full of admiration.

He truly hadn't expected Yoshio Shinotsuka to use such a method. He had thought he was doomed, but now he had a chance to live again.

Yoshio Shinotsuka shook his head and said, "It was only out of necessity. In fact, doing this would not only lose the support of the people of Jin Province, but it is also not something a soldier should do."

“General, you are overthinking this,” said Mutaguchi Renya. “Warfare is based on deception; this is just normal military strategy.”

"Sigh!" Yoshio Shinotsuka sighed, then changed the subject and said, "Mutaguchi-kun, you should immediately lead the main force along the Zhengtai Road towards Niangziguan. The 10th and 12th Divisions will meet you there."

Renya Mutaguchi was suddenly startled: "Commander, what about you?"

"I will lead the Kuroshima Cavalry Regiment to cover the rear," Yoshio Shinotsuka said in a deep voice, "to block the Eighth Route Army's pursuers. You will lead the main force to join forces with the 10th and 12th Divisions."

Mutaguchi Renya immediately said with emotion, "Commander, I should cover the rear while you lead the main force to retreat towards Niangziguan." He truly hadn't expected that Shinotsuka Yoshio would actually lead his troops to cover the rear, creating an opportunity for him and the main force to break through.

Yoshio Shinotsuka said, “Mr. Mutaguchi, I am old, but you and Mr. Yamamoto are both outstanding generals of the younger brother country. In the future, you will have to shoulder the heavy responsibility of commanding the entire younger brother country’s locust army, so you must live on.”

Renya Mutaguchi's expression froze for a moment: "Commander, you've also noticed that I have the potential to become a general of the younger generation?"

“That’s right.” Yoshio Shinotsuka nodded. “You will definitely become the Minister of the Army or even the Prime Minister in the future, Mutaguchi-kun. The future of our country depends on you!”

"Commander, you don't need to stay behind personally to command the troops covering the rear, do you?"

Renya Mutaguchi sounded puzzled.

Yoshio Shinotsuka's face darkened: "Mutaguchi-kun, carry out the order!"

"Yes, sir." Mutaguchi could only lower his head, then said, "Division Commander, one cavalry regiment is too few men. Please bring the 28th Cavalry Regiment as well."

"fair enough!"

To dispel Mutaguchi's doubts, Yoshio Shinotsuka had no choice but to bring two cavalry regiments.

The 28th Cavalry Regiment was the cavalry unit of the 20th Division.

Generally, only Class A divisions have cavalry regiments, while Class B divisions have cavalry battalions or cavalry companies.

There was also an infantry regiment lying in ambush on the other side of the Guangyang Highway, a fact that Mutaguchi Ren was naturally unaware of.

If they were to encounter the main force of the Eighth Route Army, that infantry regiment could still cover the rear.

At that moment, the main force of the Japanese army split into two, with Mutaguchi Renya leading 2 men, continuing their frantic march along the Zhengtai Railway toward Niangziguan.

The Japanese soldiers also wanted to ride the train, but the tracks in many places had been destroyed by the Eighth Route Army guerrillas, and the trains would derail after only a few kilometers.

Not long after, the Japanese 28th Regiment and the Kuroshima Cavalry Regiment joined forces.

Just as Yoshio Shinotsuka was about to turn south, he saw Major General Takahashi Tagaji, commander of the 40th Infantry Brigade, leading the 80th Regiment in pursuit.

"Commander, why haven't you left yet?"

Takahashi Taga immediately came over and asked.

He was in charge of leading the 80th Regiment to set up booby traps for the local people in order to slow down the pursuing Eighth Route Army.

The people's stamina was no match for the Japanese soldiers', and if they tried to run with the people, the Eighth Route Army would catch up with them very quickly.

Killing civilians would be a waste of bullets and time.

So the Japanese soldiers tied the hands and feet of these civilians, left them on the road, and planted booby traps and landmines under their bodies.

Yoshio Shinotsuka shouted, "Takahashi-kun, you lead the troops ahead, I'll stay behind with the cavalry to cover the rear!"

"How can this be?" Major General Takahashi exclaimed in alarm, "The Eighth Route Army will catch up soon..."

“Cavalrymen are fast; I’ll catch up with you soon!” Yoshio Shinotsuka said in a deep voice. “Execute the order!”

"Hey!" Takahashi Tagaji suddenly lowered his head, then led the 80th Infantry Regiment away.

Only after the 80th Infantry Regiment disappeared from sight did Yoshio Shinotsuka lead the Kuroshima Cavalry Regiment and the 28th Regiment toward the Guangyang Highway.

As long as the main force led by Mutaguchi Renya successfully attracts the pursuit of the main force of the Eighth Route Army.

That would greatly increase his chances of successfully breaking through!
Not long after, Li Yunlong led the main force of the New First Regiment and saw the people stretching for several kilometers along the highway.

When these civilians saw the arrival of the main force of the Eighth Route Army, they were all in tears and prepared to detonate their own bodies so that the Eighth Route Army could catch up with them and wipe out all the Japanese devils.

This gave Li Yunlong a huge fright! (End of Chapter)