Rebirth: I am in Jin-Cha-Ji

The total number of troops stationed in Mongolia was no more than about 20,000.

If placed in a field army, it would be equivalent to the strength of a division.

Lieutenant Colonel is a high-ranking officer, because the battalion commander of a field unit is only a major, and the commander of a regiment with 3,000 to 4,000 men is a colonel.

But it’s different for the Mongolian troops.

There were a lot of major generals. The commanders of independent battalions were all colonels, and the highest Japanese officials in some important places were also colonels.

Therefore, among the entire Mongolian garrison and the territories controlled by the Mongolian garrison, there are at least twenty or thirty colonel-level officers, if not a handful.

The person who was talking to Takeo Kawata was Kazuaki Tanabe, the captain of the Japanese squadron stationed in Oi Town.

"Have you figured out which unit this is from?"

"It should be the guerrilla army of the 18th Regiment of the 8th Column of the Eighth Route Army."

"The Eighteenth Regiment Guerrilla Army."

Takeo Kawata picked up the telescope and observed the Eighth Route Army's position that was looming.

After observing for a while, he nodded.

But he quickly said, "In addition to the guerrilla army, there is also a county brigade. The 18th Regiment of the Eighth Route Army has sent out both the guerrilla army and their county brigade."

The Mongolian troops and the Eighth Route Army fought for a year and a half.

Therefore, they were familiar with the Eighth Route Army, especially the Eighth Column. If the entire 18th Regiment wore yellow uniforms, it was the main force of the Eighth Route Army. This meant the main battalion within the 18th Regiment. They wore uniform uniforms, the uniform used by the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei region.

If they were half-military and half-civilian, they were part of the guerrilla army organized by the 18th Regiment. If there were almost no military uniforms, with only a few people wearing them, they were part of the county brigade.

Military uniforms are not seen everywhere.

Obtaining uniforms in this era was extremely difficult. Military districts had specific regulations for issuing uniforms to established main forces. Strict regulations governed the time, location, and quantity of uniforms issued. Other unorganized units were left to fend for themselves.

Military uniforms are strategic materials for military regions.

Like Li Yunlong in the film "Sword of the Dragon King," wanting to pack up hundreds of uniforms when leaving is a complete joke. Many of the local troops of the 8th Column have their uniforms produced by their own uniform factory.

However, the scale of the Eighth Route Army's clothing factory was limited, and it was not possible to provide uniforms for all the unorganized troops. Therefore, based on the uniforms of the Eighth Route Army, the Japanese army was able to determine the origin of this unit.

Takeo Kawata had frequent dealings with the 18th Regiment Guerrilla Army and the County Brigade, so he immediately saw the origin of this force.

"Are the Chinese crazy?"

The 18th Regiment's guerrilla army and the county brigade had previously been expanding their influence. However, these were small-scale operations, slowly engulfing the surrounding towns and villages, expanding step by step. This was the first time such a large force had been deployed.

"Colonel, what do you think? Big guns, are these Chinese serious?"

Tanabe Kazuaki was horrified.

Because he saw cannons through the telescope. The Eighth Route Army lacked heavy weapons, or rather, they had heavy weapons but lacked ammunition. The Eighth Column actually had quite a few cannons, but due to a shortage of ammunition, many of them usually sat at home gathering dust. Unless it was a major operation, these heavy weapons would not be used.

But this time is different.

He saw the cannons, which shocked him greatly. The 18th Regiment was crazy to use cannons.

"Send a telegram to Xuanhua and Zhangjiakou, saying we are under attack by the main force of the Eighth Route Army's 18th Regiment. Call Takeda and Kobayashi and ask them to send reinforcements.

"Yes."

Takeo Kawata was really anxious.

Kawada Takeo estimated that the 18th Regiment of the Eighth Route Army dispatched this time had more than 2,000 men. Dajing Town currently claimed to have 1,000 men, but only a Japanese squadron of about 200 men could fight.

The other troops were unable to fight, and Kawada Takeo didn't really trust them.

Especially in the several battles with the 8th Column over the past year or so, the puppet army not only failed to become an assistant to the Japanese army, but instead became a burden to the Japanese army.

How much equipment and ammunition were sent to the Eighth Column? Even how many puppet troops directly joined the Eighth Column.

Therefore, the Japanese army now used the puppet troops more for public security and maintaining local order, rather than going out to fight. Even the weapons and ammunition of these puppet troops were increasingly strictly controlled. They were afraid that the ammunition in their hands would be seized by the Eighth Column. Now facing so many Eighth Route Army troops, Kawada Takeo was truly unsure. Especially after they began to use artillery.

So call for help quickly.

"Relax, Commander, Political Commissar. I'm here. Not only will the Japanese troops in Dajing Town, but also those in Yangyuan and Tianzhen will not move north.

Although the 18th Regiment is a regimental-level organization.

But the number of troops expanded rapidly. The combined strength of the guerrilla forces and county battalions controlled by the 18th Regiment exceeded 5,000. While not quite at brigade level, it was still the strength of a reinforced regiment. Therefore, there was still a significant division of labor within the unit. Otherwise, continuing with the regimental level, with a direct leadership by a regimental commander, would have been much more complex.

Guo Lin is currently the deputy commander of the 18th Regiment. Usually, the two guerrilla armies and the county brigade are commanded by Guo Lin.

Guo Lin has extensive experience.

During the Red Army, he was a battalion commander and participated in the Long March. After arriving in the Jin-Cha-Ji Military Region, he became a cadre in the Third Division and soon became the battalion commander of the 1st Battalion of the 10th Battalion of the 3rd Division. Later, the 10th Battalion of the 3rd Division was transferred to the 1st Division and joined the 8th Column, where it was incorporated into the Special Service Battalion and became part of the 18th Regiment. He first served as the battalion commander of the 2nd Battalion of the 18th Regiment and soon became the deputy commander of the 18th Regiment.

After becoming the deputy commander of the 18th Regiment, his primary duties were to train the guerrilla army and the county brigade, as well as to lead them in battles against the Japanese and puppet forces. While the 18th Regiment's main force was training, the guerrilla army and the county brigade were the ones engaged in regular combat. Don't underestimate the 18th Regiment's guerrilla army and the county brigade; they were essentially units developed to meet the regiment's shortage, numbering nearly 18 men.

Wu Qinghe nodded and said, "The Japanese army probably won't dare to come out. Whether you want to ambush or block the Japanese troops coming along the line, it's up to you to decide.

The political commissar and I will lead the main force north to Xuanhua.

"Yes."

"Political Commissar, we are going to first capture the Japanese stronghold in the north, and then head north directly to Xuanhua.

"it is good."

What is the difference between having more troops and having fewer troops?

The difference lies in the choices available. The Mongolian garrison was undermanned and had almost no mobile forces. Upon hearing that Dajing Town was under attack, they could do little. They could only order several nearby strongholds to send troops to support Dajing Town, including Xuanhua.

But Xuanhua is also difficult.

Originally, a battalion from the Japanese 2nd Independent Mixed Brigade was stationed in Xuanhua, but this unit was nearly annihilated by the 8th Column during the previous year's southward campaign. Despite some new recruits, and the addition of troops from the surrounding garrison battalions, the total strength was less than 500 men. Furthermore, of this under 500, two squadrons were from the newly recruited 2nd Independent Mixed Brigade, and one was from the garrison battalion.

Coordination alone is not easy.

The garrison battalion usually stayed at the stronghold, its main task being to protect the Pingsui Road. It was impossible for them to send troops out to fight for external events. Furthermore, the garrison battalion only had one squadron, so it was impossible for them to leave the stronghold. Therefore, Xuanhua, which received the order, could only send one squadron, a force of approximately 130 people. As for more, Xuanhua simply could not send more.

But it’s different here in the 18th Regiment.

After besieging Dajing Town with two guerrilla armies and two county battalions, the main force of more than 3,000 people was still able to move. For this operation, the 18th Regiment even mobilized all the surrounding district squads and militia.

After many district teams gathered, they pretended to be the main force of the 18th Regiment and trained in the original base of the 18th Regiment. Not only did they pretend to be the main force of the 18th Regiment, but they also took advantage of this opportunity to conduct training and improve the combat effectiveness of the district teams.

There is a surplus of troops.

"Commissar, we have discovered something."

"explain."

"The Japanese army dispatched troops from Beifeng stronghold to support Dajing Town."

"how many people?"

"One Japanese squad consisted of about sixty puppet soldiers. They had one heavy machine gun and two light machine guns.

"Zhang Shan."

"arrive."

"You must have the first battalion deploy an ambush as quickly as possible to completely wipe out this group of Japanese troops.

"Yes."

Chapter 213 Attack and Save 2

Dajing Town is an important commercial town in Chahar Province.

Located smack dab in the middle of the Zhangjiakou-Datong highway, Dajing Town boasts a prime location. Dajing Town itself has a relatively short history, with a fort built here during the late Wanli period of the Ming Dynasty. During the Ming Dynasty, Xuanhua and Datong were both important military towns. Their primary mission was to defend against southward invasions by steppe peoples. At that time, Dajing Town was relatively unremarkable.

Dajing Town's true growth began during the Qing Dynasty, coinciding with the rapid development of Zhangjiakou. From a small area under the administration of Xuanhua, Zhangjiakou became the most important city in Chahar, connecting the Central Plains with the steppes and even serving as a trade route to Russia. Following the opening of the Beijing-Zhangjiakou Railway, Zhangjiakou became the largest city in Chahar. This unique geographical location also fueled the development of Dajing Town.

Over the past hundred years, Dajing Town has been a gathering place for merchants and an important commercial center.

Even though there is now a railway between Datong and Zhangjiakou, Dajing Town is still the most important connecting point on the Datong to Zhangjiakou highway.

But Dajing Town is not a major military town.

Because generally speaking, this place is not a place that is easy to defend but difficult to attack, but rather a place that is easy to attack but difficult to defend. The reason why Dajing Town has the character "井" (well) in its name is because this place is like a well. Dajing Town is surrounded by mountains on all sides, and the whole place looks like a bowl.

The commanding heights of Dajing Town are all outside.

If a real fight broke out, the attacking side wouldn't be at a disadvantage. They could even look down on the walls of Dajing Town from a high vantage point. Especially with infantry artillery, they could easily set up cannons on the hills outside to attack the city.

However, the Beifeng stronghold north of Dajing Town was located in a very strategic location. Capturing such a stronghold would incur significant losses.

In particular, a small Japanese army unit was stationed at the Beifeng stronghold in Dajing Town.

It's really not that easy to break through when they are hiding.

Now that the Japanese troops in the Beifeng stronghold have come out on their own, this is the best news for Wu Qinghe. If they attack, they must rescue it, and Dajing Town is the place the Japanese army must rescue. Because the 8th Column and the Yireliao Advance Army frequently operate on the Pingsui Road, they often cut off the Pingsui Road. In order to be prepared for any eventuality, that is, when the Pingsui Road is cut off, the Japanese army must maintain the connection between Zhangjiakou and Datong. To maintain this connection, the road between Zhangjiakou and Datong must be unobstructed. And if this road is unobstructed, Dajing Town must not have any problems.

Now the 18th Regiment is attacking Dajing Town. Although the Japanese army is short of troops, they are still doing their best to support it.

"Political Commissar, it would be most beneficial to us if the Japanese sent reinforcements from Xuanhua.

"Yes. The fewer devils there are in Xuanhua City, the better the effect of our attack on Xuanhua will be."

Lei Jiabin nodded.

Although the 18th Regiment had fought many major battles since its establishment, it had never been like this, where the 8th Column had taken the initiative and attacked, seeking to provoke the troops stationed in Mongolia. In the past, the Japanese and puppet troops had always raided the base area, and then the 8th Column would counterattack. For Wu Qinghe and Lei Jiabin, this proactive attack was a very exciting thing.

While the 18th Regiment used Dajing Town as bait to lure out the surrounding Japanese troops, the 16th Regiment also sent troops to attack Kangzhuang Station.

The development of the 16th Regiment is not much different from that of the 18th Regiment.

As the two main forces of the Eighth Column, the Sixteenth and Eighteenth Regiments were both very powerful. More importantly, due to the rapid expansion of personnel, the troops had secretly added some personnel. Although they were not part of the establishment, they were still capable of fighting.

In order to maintain combat effectiveness, changes must also be made in management.

Leading the 16th Regiment's new recruit battalion, the Huailai County Brigade, and four district squads in the attack on Kangzhuang was Li Wanfu, the 16th Regiment's deputy commander. Li Wanfu, a former battalion commander in the Northeast Army, later helped Yang Yonghui form the Caoyangzhuang Guerrilla Unit. After Yang Yonghui decided to join the Eighth Route Army, the Caoyangzhuang Guerrilla Unit was reorganized into the Shengxian Guerrilla Army Independent Unit, eventually merging with the First Unit to form the First Battalion of the Independent Detachment. The First and Third Battalions were later merged to form the 16th Regiment.

Li Wanfu initially served as the battalion commander of the 1st Battalion of the 16th Regiment, and later served as the deputy commander of the 16th Regiment.

This time, the 16th Regiment attacked Kangzhuang with a single movement of Li Wanfu's finger. The Eighth Column had also visited Kangzhuang many times. If Dajing Town was the main transportation route between Zhangjiakou and Datong, then Kangzhuang was one of the important railway stations connecting Peking to Zhangjiakou.

Same as Dajing Town.

These are places that the Japanese army cannot give up.

Although the 8th Column often attacked and cut off the Pingsui Road.

But the Ping-Sui Road was still open during normal times. The Japanese and puppet troops could not just sit back and watch the Ping-Sui Road be cut off. Now that the 16th Regiment was attacking Kangzhuang Station, the Japanese and puppet troops certainly could not just sit back and watch.

Li Wanfu led his troops to attack Kangzhuang, which immediately attracted reinforcements from the Japanese forces of Changping and Huailai. Of course, these reinforcements were few in number. The Japanese had stationed a squadron from the 4th Garrison Battalion in Kangzhuang, with one squadron each from Changping and Huailai providing support.