Double-Cut During the War of Resistance: My Wife Came from 1937

Temporary command post.

The guard, Zhang Xixuan, came in carrying a telegram.

His face was filled with an undisguised, intense joy.

At this moment, Commander Liu is examining a map.

Deputy Division Commander Xu, who was standing nearby, looked up and asked, "Little Zhang, what's making you so happy?"

"Commander, a resounding victory! A resounding victory!"

Zhang Xixuan handed the telegram to Deputy Division Commander Xu, saying, "The 770th Regiment, the New 1st Regiment, and the Cavalry Battalion fought a brilliant ambush this time, killing and routing more than 2,000 Japanese and puppet troops, including more than 1,000 genuine Japanese soldiers!"

Upon hearing this, Deputy Division Commander Xu exclaimed with delight, "This is indeed a great victory!"

He took the telegram and began to carefully examine the details.

"Oh?"

Division Commander Liu turned around and asked, "How's the situation?"

"More than 1600 Japanese soldiers were killed in this operation, including 1100 from the Yamazaki Battalion and more than 500 from other battalions. More than 100 puppet troops were killed, and the rest fled in disarray."

Deputy Division Commander Xu recounted: "The commander of this Japanese unit, Major Yamazaki, committed suicide after being defeated and surrounded."

"1076 Type 38 rifles, 72 Type 11 light machine guns, 14 Type 92 heavy machine guns, 4 Type 92 70mm infantry guns, and 72 50mm grenade launchers were captured."

"Our army suffered 32 deaths and 185 injuries."

After reading this, Deputy Division Commander Xu couldn't help but exclaim, "These Japanese devils are really rolling in money. A force of only two thousand men carries 86 light and heavy machine guns, two infantry guns, 72 grenade launchers, as well as a number of bullets, shells, and grenades."

"However, this time it all benefits us."

Commander Liu nodded with a smile, saying, "Our casualties this time are much lower than those at Pingxingguan!"

In the Battle of Pingxingguan, the 116th Division of the Eighth Route Army suffered more than 600 casualties.

More than 200 of them are buried forever on this land in northern Shanxi.

There were even two or three deputy regimental commanders and deputy battalion commanders.

This time, the total number of casualties was only a little over two hundred.

"yes!"

Deputy Division Commander Xu nodded and said, "This is all thanks to Comrade Hongwei and his team for providing the handheld bulletproof shields and bulletproof plates!"

"Oh, right!"

Commander Liu then asked, "Did you capture any Japanese radios or codebooks?"

"No!"

Deputy Division Commander Xu handed the telegram to Division Commander Liu and sighed, "That was of utmost importance to the Japanese army; they have destroyed it all."

Commander Liu shook his head and said, "What a pity! If only we could have captured the Japanese codebook!"

This time, they have already reaped the benefits of the intelligence advantage.

If they hadn't deciphered the Japanese code beforehand, they wouldn't have been able to launch such a brilliant ambush so quickly.

"However, we have already wiped out one of the Japanese Eighth Route Army units, leaving seven remaining!"

Commander Liu said with a smile, "Send the message to the Eighth Route Army headquarters. I imagine the two commanders are getting impatient."

……

Eighth Route Army Headquarters.

"OK!"

Upon receiving the telegram, Deputy Commander Peng couldn't help but laugh and say, "The 129th Division has won its first battle, killing 1600 Japanese soldiers and over 500 puppet troops, while our side suffered more than 200 casualties."

Upon hearing this, the general nodded slightly and said, "Compared to the previous Pingxingguan victory, the results are even more outstanding, and the casualties are also smaller."

"This matter must be reported to the Central Committee as soon as possible, and a telegram should be sent throughout the country so that the people of the whole country can see the achievements of our Eighth Route Army, lest they always say that we are just guerrilla warfare without actual combat!"

Chief of Staff Zuo then suggested, "Commander, I think we should conceal some intelligence and not release the real information."

"I think so too."

Vice President Peng said, "The Kuomintang already sees us as a major threat. If they find out the truth, it will probably cause even more trouble."

"I think in the report we can directly say that we killed and routed nearly 2000 Japanese and puppet troops, while our casualties were close to 1000. Our casualties were four or five times higher, which they should be able to accept."

"Okay! Let's do it your way!"

……

On that day, as the Eighth Route Army headquarters sent a telegram to the whole country, news of the Eighth Route Army's great victory spread throughout the land of China.

Upon receiving this information, newspapers immediately began producing urgent extra editions.

"Breaking News! Breaking News! Great Victory in North China! Great Victory in North China!"

"Great news! Following the victory at Pingxingguan, the Eighth Route Army has achieved another major victory!"

"Special Report: Two main regiments and one cavalry battalion of the 129th Division of the Eighth Route Army killed and routed more than 2,000 Japanese and puppet troops!"

"..."

In many cities that did not fall, people cheered and spontaneously took to the streets to celebrate.

But not everyone is happy.

……

Jin Province.

Linfen.

Yunqiu Mountain.

On the summit of Jade Emperor Peak, Yan Laoxi held a cane and wore a cloak.

Looking down at the magnificent landscape below, he said with a complex expression, "This boundless land is easy to leave but hard to see again!"

Originally, he was the head of Jin Province, and his word was law. It wouldn't be wrong to call him the "King of Jin Province".

But right now, the Japanese have attacked, the Kuomintang Central Army has moved in, and even the Eighth Route Army has occupied some territory.

This beautiful land that belongs to him is becoming increasingly scarce.

Especially when Taiyuan fell, his 20 Jin-Sui troops and 5 local security forces were reduced to only 5 remnants.

The number of troops still possessing full combat capability is only 2 to 4.

After Fu Zuoyi's 35th Army remnants retreated to Suiyuan, they were even more likely to break away from his control.

Even he himself doesn't know how many of his subordinates are still loyal to him.

"Chief, urgent telegram!"

At this moment, Yang Aiyuan, deputy commander of the Second War Zone, hurriedly came over with a telegram.

He was Yan Xishan's number one confidant and the number two core figure in the Jin-Sui Army, in charge of the military and political affairs of Jin Province.

When Yan Xishan stepped down during the Central Plains War, he was put in charge in his place. Even when the bald man tried to win him over with a large sum of money, he remained unmoved.

Hearing this, Yan Laoxi turned around and asked, "Xingru, is there some bad news to report again?"

"Reporting to the Director!"

Yang Aiyuan gave a military salute before saying, "This matter is both a good thing and a bad thing!"

"Um?"

Old Yan frowned, puzzled, and asked, "What do you mean?"

Yang Aiyuan presented the telegram with both hands: "The Eighth Route Army has won another victory. With two regiments and a cavalry battalion, nearly five thousand men, they killed and routed more than two thousand Japanese and puppet troops. You can see the details for yourself!"

"What did you say?"

Upon hearing this, Yan Laoxi's eyes widened in disbelief: "They're that powerful with only five thousand men?"