Rebirth: I am in Jin-Cha-Ji

Xiyuan Zhengyi's face turned pale, because he judged from the sound of gunfire alone that there were two to three thousand people ambushing him. This was the strength of two or even three regiments, and there were so many light and heavy machine guns.

What about your own side?

Basically, they are special troops who are unarmed.

Masaichi Nishizono immediately shouted: "Send a telegram, send a telegram quickly. Tell the brigade commander that we have encountered the main force of the Eighth Route Army, come back to support quickly, come back to support." If it weren't for the Japanese army's hierarchy, Masaichi Nishizono would have wanted to curse Tsuneoka Kanji as a fool.

He's called an "outstanding graduate of the Army University," but he's actually a complete idiot. He was being manipulated by the Eighth Route Army, who wanted to pursue the main force of the Eighth Column. Damn it, the main force of the Eighth Column is here.

The big fool was completely deceived by the Eighth Route Army.

Wang Qiuyun and Wei Hongjun observed the battlefield situation.

Both people were very satisfied.

Historically, the Eighth Route Army's assessment of traitorous forces was that the Imperial Army was easy to defeat, while the Guards were difficult. The Imperial Army troops were prone to disbanding on the battlefield, sometimes even surrendering en masse. When the Eighth Route Army was working against the puppet troops, they were working for the Imperial Army officers. Many of these officers were graduates of military academies established by the North China puppet government and were well-educated.

Moreover, the soldiers of the Imperial Army were all recruited. They were able-bodied men who were captured from house to house according to their household registration.

Therefore, they have no determination to die in battle.

On the contrary, be perfunctory if you can.

Many officers in the Imperial Army were educated, and while they served in the Imperial Army, they were unwilling to risk their lives for the Japanese. Many of these officers were even willing to join the Eighth Route Army. Therefore, the Eighth Route Army always believed that the Imperial Army was easier to defeat. In comparison, the Eighth Route Army believed that the Guards were more difficult to defeat.

Because the guards were just like the returning home corps, they were all local tyrants and evil gentry who defected to the Japanese army, and they committed many evil deeds and aroused great public anger.

I know that once I am caught, I will have no good life.

So they fought to the death, unlike the Imperial Army who surrendered at every turn. The Japanese army also discovered this situation, so they strengthened the training of the guards, including giving them better weapons than the Imperial Army.

But the current security team has obviously not reached that level yet.

Many of the current guards were descended from local security groups and self-defense corps. While they didn't have a good reputation in their local communities, they weren't as reviled and abhorrent as the later guards. Furthermore, they hadn't received the rigorous training of the Japanese army, and their weapons and equipment were mediocre. Suddenly confronted with the formidable firepower of the 8th Column, they were instantly in a state of panic.

The 8th Column concentrated so many light and heavy machine guns, plus deployed more than 5,000 people in a two-kilometer radius. Even a Japanese infantry battalion could fit in there, let alone a group of special forces.

"It's almost time. This battle needs to end as soon as possible."

Wei Hongjun put down the telescope in his hand.

Wei Hongjun wasn't worried about the Japanese infantry returning for reinforcements. They were far away, and it would take an hour for them to arrive to launch an attack. The 18th Regiment was a strong presence in the 8th Column, so they could easily hold them off for a few hours.

Wei Hongjun was worried about Japanese planes.

This place is too close to Beijing.

Once the Japanese planes got the message, they would be able to fly over in no time. Once the Japanese planes got close, even if there were mountains to hide, the troops would suffer heavy casualties. After all, a large force of more than 5,000 people would take time to hide.

"Ok.

Wang Qiuyun nodded.

Then he gave the order: "Blow the horn, and the whole army will attack. Kill the enemy who are resisting stubbornly."

Chapter 174 Tunnel War

"All gone?"

"Yes."

Tsuneoka Kanji's head smacked.

He collapsed directly on the ground.

They have launched an attack as a brigade, but have not achieved much success so far.

But his own artillery and heavy troops were gone. The heavy troops had the army's weapons, ammunition and logistical supplies.

And the artillery team.

That was the core of their brigade. They had infantry guns, field guns, and flat-fire guns. Field guns were a type of heavy artillery used by the Japanese army, much more powerful than infantry guns. Flat-fire guns were also highly effective at hitting enemy machine gun positions on the battlefield. And in places like those Japanese forts in North China, if they had field guns or flat-fire guns, it would have been a one-shot deal.

A single shot from a field gun could easily destroy this type of bunker.

Even some simple bunkers can be taken down by direct-fire cannons.

Therefore, the Japanese army attached great importance to these artillery pieces. If this were known by the headquarters, the brigade commander would be court-martialed. And now that these heavy weapons have been lost, how can we fight this war? Tsuneoka Kanji's face was very grim.

Now how to do?

According to normal practice, the troops should withdraw at this time.

Despite suffering heavy losses, the main force of the 2nd Independent Mixed Brigade was still there. If they tried to withdraw, the Eighth Route Army would be unable to stop them. But Tsuneoka Kanji was unwilling to accept the fact that his ambitious plan to wipe out the 8th Column with so many troops would be abandoned halfway.

"Your Excellency, Brigade Commander, I believe the Eighth Route Army is forcing us to retreat. We should not retreat at this time, but should resolutely sweep through Songjiazhuang."

Kenkichi Mura, the captain of the Independent 1st Battalion, encouraged Kanji Tsuneoka.

Kanji Tsuneoka was also thinking about this issue.

Was it the main force of the Eighth Column or other units that attacked their own heavy troops and artillery teams? Judging from the intelligence coming from various places, each unit of the Eighth Column is fighting in its own defense zone.

The Japanese garrison battalion participated in the mopping-up operation and was harassed by county battalions, district squads, and militia teams from various places.

Especially the county brigade, which has a force of five to six hundred people.

Although their combat effectiveness was not as good as the main force, they could still disguise themselves as the main force. The county battalions on the 8th Column were all organized at the battalion level, and the battalion commanders were all company commanders drawn from the main force. So, Tsuneoka Kanji was wondering what unit of the 8th Column had attacked his team?

According to intelligence, the 8th Column has three main regiments.

The 16th Regiment fought against him in Gongshanbao, and the 18th Regiment fought against the garrison battalion in Xuanhua and Zhuolu.

Could it be the 19th Regiment?

After thinking for a while, Tsuneoka Kanji said, "Songjiazhuang, Songjiazhuang. The logistics department of the Eighth Column is all in Songjiazhuang."

"Yes, Your Excellency, the Brigade Commander. The Eighth Column attacked our main force in order to prevent us from sweeping through Songjiazhuang."

"Ok.

After hearing what Kenkichi Mura said, Kanji Tsuneoka regained his confidence.

By sweeping the Eighth Column's logistics department, he had accomplished his goal. So he ordered, "We won't enter the city tonight. Stay here. Tomorrow, follow me to sweep Songjiazhuang."

"Yes.

Sheng County was the base where the Eighth Column had been operating for a year.

Here, every village had a Party branch and a militia. From the National Salvation Association to the Women's Salvation Association, the Youth Salvation Association, and even the Children's Corps, there was everything. Every move of the Japanese army in Sheng County was within the Eighth Column's field of vision.

Anyone caught in Sheng County would become a spy and intelligence agent of the Eighth Column.

This is the role of the base.

Wang Qiuyun and Wei Hongjun looked at the constant influx of intelligence and analyzed the next steps. Seeing the Japanese army's choice of campsite, Wang Qiuyun couldn't help but laugh, saying, "Old Wei, it seems that God is on our side. No, this isn't God's help, this is your precaution."

Not only Wang Qiuyun, many people in the headquarters were smiling happily.

None of them had the sad look they had before.

After all, 3,000 Japanese troops had entered Sheng County. If they did anything, the damage to Sheng County would be so severe. And they were determined to sweep Songjiazhuang, and the Eighth Column was really helpless.

All these made the leaders of the Eighth Column very worried.

But now no one is worried at all, everyone is very happy.

Xiao Yongshi said excitedly, "Commander, Political Commissar, this time we can properly treat these devils. The villages in District 2 where they are stationed are all under our control."

"Ah."

Wang Qiuyun nodded.

Li Ma said, "Tell our scouts not to get too close to the Japanese camps. To protect their own safety, they only need to observe the Japanese camping situation. See where the Japanese army is camping. There is no need to waste energy observing exactly what kind of troops they are. Just observe from a distance and mark them."

"Yes."

Why so happy.

This is because Districts 1 and 2 are the only places in Sheng County where there are not many mountains to hide in.

Therefore, Wei Hongjun suggested that this was not the place to develop mountain guerrilla warfare and that other methods must be found. At that time, Wei Hongjun's idea was to develop the mine warfare and tunnel warfare that the plains guerrillas were best at in history.

A large plain in the central Hebei region.

How to deal with the Japanese army here and how to develop guerrilla warfare here.

Eventually they developed mine warfare and tunnel warfare.

Although not as vast as the vast plains, Districts 1 and 2 of Sheng County were still vast expanses of open land, ideal for mine and tunnel warfare. Therefore, the Eighth Column had tunnels built throughout the major villages of Districts 1 and 2. They dug tunnels whenever they could, connecting the major rural areas of Districts 1 and 2 into a single city.

But it has never been used.

However, there were people who questioned this approach, but with Wei Hongjun's persistence, the construction of tunnels in each village was completed.

Unexpectedly, this time the Japanese army just happened to crash in.

The camping place is the rural area in District 2.

After receiving Wang Qiuyun's order, the scouts of the Eighth Column hid in a relatively far place and observed the Japanese camp with binoculars. Their observation was simple: to see which position in the Japanese camp was crowded.

They continued to observe until nightfall, and only when they saw that the Japanese camp was completely secured did they quietly leave.

Tsuneoka Kanji chose District 2 because of its open terrain. By simply placing a few outposts on the perimeter, he could observe the surroundings without worrying about a surprise attack. From a military perspective, Tsuneoka Kanji's choice of District 2 was an excellent one. Unfortunately, he didn't know that beneath their feet lay a network of tunnels.

"Old Wei, what do you think?"

"The main focus is on killing the enemy's active forces. Look at these locations. The Japanese are definitely mainly composed of infantry squadrons. These people are a little smaller, but there are many troops around them. They should be some Japanese commanders. However, our main targets will be in these places where the Japanese are densely populated. Because we need to attack and withdraw quickly, we don't want to be stuck with the Japanese. Raiding these places where the Japanese are densely populated will cause them heavy casualties at once. As long as tonight's operation is successful, we may not be able to stop them."

"Yeah, just as I thought."

Wang Qiuyun nodded and said, "I don't believe that the Japanese have an endless supply of troops. We killed and wounded so many Japanese soldiers. Can they replenish them anytime and anywhere? We only killed and wounded the Japanese's living strength.

Wang Qiuyun compared the tunnel entrance with the Japanese military camp.

The tunnels weren't dug randomly. After they were completed, headquarters had a complete map of the tunnels. Each important exit was labeled with a number. The Japanese camps were also marked.

"This time we'll be divided into eight teams. Each team will have eighty men, primarily armed with pistols, light machine guns, and grenades. After exiting the tunnel, we'll primarily use grenades to injure the enemy. Each man will carry five grenades, whether the tunnel is useful or not. Then we'll toss them into the Japanese camp, killing as many as we can. Once we're done, we'll immediately retreat through the tunnel. Old Wei, what do you think?"

"can."

Wei Hongjun nodded.

"The Japanese camp layout is very clear. It's outward-facing, not inward-facing. They're guarding against us attacking from the outside, so they've built defensive positions outside. But inside, they don't have these defenses. This is a good opportunity for us to surprise them."

"Then I'll arrange it."

"Okay. But Lao Wang, tell me, if the Japanese army is attacked by us, what will their next move be?"