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

The Eighth Route Army headquarters then telegraphed the draft document to the entire country.

The news of the Eighth Route Army's victory spread like wildfire throughout China.

It should be noted that this time, the Eighth Route Army completely annihilated an entire Japanese regiment.

They even killed a Japanese lieutenant general division commander.

The news was met with jubilation throughout the country.

In the cities that had not yet fallen, newspapers immediately retyped and began printing extra editions at an accelerated pace.

"Breaking news! Breaking news! Another great victory in North China! Another great victory in North China!"

"Breaking news! Four main regiments of the Eighth Route Army, along with guerrillas and militia, have annihilated the 21st Regiment of the Japanese 5th Division. This is the first Japanese regiment to be completely wiped out on the Chinese battlefield!"

"Breaking news! Breaking news! This time, the Eighth Route Army not only annihilated a Japanese regiment, but also killed Lieutenant General Seishiro Itagaki, commander of the Japanese 5th Division, on the front lines!"

"..."

When the news spread, everyone was utterly shocked.

It should be noted that the 5th Division was one of the earliest and most established Class A standing divisions in the Japanese army, known as the "Steel Army".

They fought at Nankou and Zhangjiakou, directly attacking Chahar, defeating the Jin-Sui Army, and taking control of the Ping-Sui Railway.

Following the Battle of Xinkou, they even captured Taiyuan.

Along the way, neither the German-equipped divisions of the Central Army nor the Jin-Sui Army were a match for the Fifth Division.

For this reason, many people considered the 5th Division to be invincible.

But no one expected that the commander of the Fifth Division would be eliminated by the Eighth Route Army.

This was the first lieutenant general to be killed on the battlefield, and also the first division commander to be killed!

"What did you say? The Japanese division commander was killed?"

"Give me a copy of the extra edition!"

"Quickly, get me a newspaper!"

"Don't fight over it..."

"..."

Everyone who heard the newsboy's call grabbed their money to buy newspapers.

"The Eighth Route Army truly deserves praise for annihilating a Japanese regiment, destroying two armored vehicles, and killing a lieutenant general division commander!"

"It's still the Eighth Route Army marching! Unlike the Kuomintang troops, who are retreating all the way, and the Japanese are almost taking over the capital, Nanjing!"

"If the Kuomintang had given the Eighth Route Army a few more units, North China wouldn't have been occupied by the Japanese so quickly. Yan Xishan's Shanxi-Suiyuan Army was utterly ineffective!"

"..."

Upon seeing the information in the newspaper, the public overwhelmingly supported the Eighth Route Army, while the Kuomintang and the Jin-Sui Army became objects of contempt.

……

Jin Province.

Linfen City.

Now, Yan Laoxi has moved back to Linfen City from a six-eyed earthen cave dwelling outside the city.

He originally chose that cave dwelling because it was close to the mountains and far from the city of Linfen.

Once the Japanese army captures Linfen, he can quickly retreat to the mountains.

Moreover, the cave dwellings are relatively small targets, so there is no need to worry about Japanese air raids or surprise attacks.

After the Japanese North China Area Army Commander Terauchi Hisaichi issued an order to focus on attacking the Eighth Route Army and to transfer away the Japanese troops that were preparing to attack Linfen, Yan Xishan enjoyed a period of comfort.

During this period, the Japanese army stopped conquering his territory, the Jin-Sui Army did not suffer any further losses, and even the Japanese planes stopped bombing his area.

In addition, his Japanese classmate Kenji Doihara secretly sent a secret envoy to invite him to co-govern Shanxi Province.

He was a shrewd and experienced man, so he was just being polite and evasive, hoping to get some weapons and equipment aid from the Japanese army.

However, the Japanese army was not stupid. They did not want to further strengthen Yan Xishan's forces. They made various excuses, saying that the transportation lines had been destroyed by the Eighth Route Army and that it was impossible to transport weapons and equipment over.

Thus, Yan Laoxi gained a brief respite, allowing him to focus on training the new army and strengthening his own capabilities.

He didn't want to be completely wiped out if the Japanese launched another attack.

Yang Aiyuan, deputy commander of the Second War Zone, hurriedly entered the office.

He looked at Yan Laoxi, who was working, and walked up to him, whispering, "Director! The Eighth Route Army has sent another telegram to the whole country!"

"Is electricity available nationwide again?"

Old Yan suddenly raised his head and asked, "But they won another battle?"

"Um!"

With a complicated expression, Yang Aiyuan placed the telegram on the table and said, "The Eighth Route Army has won a super victory this time. With 12000 troops, they annihilated the 21st Horse Regiment of the 21st Brigade of the Fifth Division and repelled two infantry battalions that came to reinforce them."

"A Japanese regiment has about 3700 men, and a battalion has about 1100 men. These units combined probably number close to 6000 men, right?"

Upon hearing this, Yan Laoxi's expression immediately turned serious. "To annihilate a regiment with twice the numbers—the Eighth Route Army's strength is truly not to be underestimated!"

Their Jin-Sui Army had fought many battles with the Japanese army, so they naturally knew how formidable the Japanese were.

A Japanese independent mixed brigade of about 5500 men was able to defeat two divisions of the Jin-Sui Army in open terrain.

The 21st Brigade under the 5th Division, with 7500-8000 men, was equipped with the division's field artillery, armored vehicles, tanks, and aircraft during combat, and was capable of directly defeating three divisions of the Jin-Sui Army.

Even if they defended desperately, they could only slow down the enemy's advance, but could not completely stop them.

However, the Eighth Route Army directly confronted the Japanese army head-on.

They not only annihilated an entire Japanese regiment, but also repelled two other infantry battalions.

This terrifying combat power is far beyond what their Jin-Sui Army can match.

Even the German-equipped divisions of the Central Army could not achieve this level of capability.

"director!"

Yang Aiyuan continued, "The most crucial thing this time wasn't that, but that the Eighth Route Army killed Lieutenant General Seishiro Itagaki, commander of the Japanese Fifth Division!"

"What did you say?"

Upon hearing this, Yan Laoxi immediately exclaimed, "Itagaki Seishiro was beaten to death?"

Yang Aiyuan nodded: "Anyway, that's what the Eighth Route Army said, so they probably wouldn't lie."

"A lieutenant general division commander, just like that, killed?"

Yan Laoxi was somewhat skeptical and began to read the telegram word by word.

When he saw the telegram confirming that a Japanese regiment had been annihilated and Itagaki Seishiro had been killed, he collapsed into his chair.

His feelings about this situation were extremely complicated.

On the one hand, Itagaki and he both came from the same school, but Itagaki managed to defeat the Jin-Sui Army and even occupy a lot of his territory in Jin Province.

However, Itagaki and the Fifth Division, which he had no choice but to fight against, suffered repeated losses after fighting against the Eighth Route Army.

Not only were many killed or wounded, but even the division commander was killed.

This huge gap really made him feel suffocated.

"The Eighth Route Army is so powerful, and it's entrenched in the Taihang and Lüliang Mountains of my Shanxi Province!"

Yan Laoxi narrowed his eyes and said in a deep voice, "Once they drive the Japanese army away, I'm afraid my Shanxi province will be in danger!"

Yang Aiyuan's expression shifted, and she asked in a low voice, "Director, do you perhaps want to join their side?"

"Let them give me real benefits. If the benefits are enough, joining them isn't out of the question."

Yan Laoxi spoke slowly.