Rebirth: I am in Jin-Cha-Ji

The Japanese army was also unfamiliar with the situation here, and was blocked by the guard company, so their first choice was to find cover.

Both sides responded hastily and were not adequately prepared.

After the exchange of fire, we were still in the mountains and were not fully prepared.

In terms of combat experience, Wei Hongjun is very rich.

I have been in the army for ten years, fighting non-stop from the time I joined until now, with almost no time to rest. So when I arrived here, the first thing I did was to observe the terrain and soon found the small mound on the right.

Although it is just a small mound, it is a very important point at this location.

If the Japanese army occupied this place, it would be very disadvantageous to the defense of the guard camp. If we occupied this place, we could form a special angle with the current position and block the Japanese attack.

This reinforced squadron of the Japanese army has strong firepower.

The guard company was always suppressed. However, the Eighth Route Army was used to this situation. Many of the soldiers in the guard company were veterans, so they lay in the trenches and were not worried about being suppressed by fire.

They just lay there without looking up, waiting for the Japanese to attack and then engage in close combat.

This style of fighting was the most effective for the Eighth Route Army, which was poorly equipped, especially with insufficient heavy weapons. Furthermore, the Eighth Route Army's marksmanship was not as good as that of the Japanese, so they would be at a disadvantage in a shootout with the Japanese.

The best and most effective way is to shoot at close range.

Fortunately, the second company was here early.

Moreover, after the troops occupied the small mound on the right, they formed a special angle with the second company's position.

The joint forces repelled several Japanese assaults.

After about an hour, Wei Hongjun saw a large force of Japanese troops approaching.

"Damn it."

Wei Hongjun took a visual look at the approaching Japanese troops.

There should be a large group of devils.

Wei Hongjun's expression grew increasingly grim. The Japanese army now numbering more than two battalions, totaling over two thousand men, had appeared in Sheng County.

Now he only has the Third Security Regiment with more than 2,000 people, plus two guard companies.

The military advantage is not great.

Fortunately, the Japanese army was making a feint to the east and attacking in the west, so they did not bring any infantry artillery. If they had brought infantry artillery, the simple fortifications on our side would not be able to withstand the infantry artillery's bombardment. A few blows from the infantry artillery would completely destroy these simple fortifications.

"It's still three or four hours until dark. Tell the troops to hold out for three or four hours. As soon as it gets dark, we'll withdraw from the battle.

Close combat and night combat are the fighting styles that the Eighth Route Army is good at.

Besides, Sheng County was the Eighth Column's stronghold. Even with their eyes closed, the troops could find many secluded mountain roads to hide.

The Japanese army did not have field artillery or infantry guns, but they had enough mortars, guns, and grenade launchers, as well as a considerable number of flat-fire guns. After the main force caught up, the Japanese army quickly deployed its forces.

Divide into two squadrons, one squadron attacks forward, and the other squadron attacks the small mound on the right.

Supported by mortars, grenade launchers, flat-fire cannons, and heavy machine guns.

"Hold steady, hold steady. Let the enemy get closer before you attack."

The Japanese attack was too fierce.

There were casualties every moment. Wei Hongjun had already arrived at the front line.

"Commissar, this place is too dangerous.

"It's dangerous everywhere now."

How could Wei Hongjun command the troops peacefully from behind at this time?

Wei Hongjun beckoned Jin Chu, commander of the Fourth Battalion of the Third Security Regiment, to come over. Jin Chu was a graduate of the Central Military Academy and had previously served in Tang Enbo's 13th Army.

Tang Enbo's 13th Army and even the 20th Corps were the top elite troops of the National Army in the early days of the War of Resistance Against Japan.

Very powerful in combat.

Whether it was during the Battle of Nankou, the subsequent Battle of Zhanghe River, or the Battle of Taierzhuang, Tang Enbo's powerful fighting capacity was undoubtedly demonstrated. In the early days of the War of Resistance Against Japan, his troops were the elite of the National Army.

Jin Chu was injured and captured while blocking the Japanese army in Zhanghe River and covering the transfer of other national army troops.

The Eighth Column rescued the prisoners of war from Xiahuayuan, and Jin Chu came out with them. He did not choose to go back to his old unit. Of course, the Jin-Cha-Ji base area was behind enemy lines, so it was basically impossible to return to his old unit. Besides, fighting the devils anywhere was not anti-Japanese, so he stayed in the Eighth Column.

Served as the battalion commander of the 4th Battalion of the 3rd Security Regiment.

"Send a company to the small mound over there later to relieve the troops there. That place must be firmly controlled and must not fall into the hands of the Japanese army."

The Japanese army also discovered the important role of the small mound, so they concentrated their firepower and troops to capture the small mound.

The casualties were heavy.

If we lose this small earthen mound, it will be difficult to maintain the position here. So Wei Hongjun prepared to replace another company to go up.

"Yes."

As an officer from the Central Army, Jin Chu joined the Eighth Route Army, but initially looked down on the Eighth Route Army. After all, compared with the Central Army, the Eighth Route Army was really a "beggar army."

The Central Army is treated very well in all aspects.

In particular, the military officers have a high salary.

On the other hand, the uniforms of the Eighth Route Army, not only the soldiers, but also those of column leaders like Wei Hongjun, were riddled with patches. Furthermore, they wore the same few uniforms year-round because they had no other clothing. A general of Wei Hongjun's rank, if he were in the Nationalist army, would have no problem getting new clothes every day.

The best food they ate was cornmeal, and sometimes they even ate black beans. When the troops rested, they would go to the mountains to pick wild vegetables to fill their stomachs.

But after nearly a year of service in the Eighth Route Army, he was completely convinced of the army.

Despite such a difficult environment, the Eighth Route Army showed no pessimism. Their daily lives and work were cheerful and full of revolutionary optimism. Furthermore, Jin Chu had originally thought that the Eighth Route Army was full of country bumpkins.

But the level of the Eighth Route Army commanders was much better than he had originally imagined.

Look at the battles fought by the 8th Column over the past year; each one is more exciting than the last.

There are also political cadres of the Eighth Route Army such as Wei Hongjun.

Both the Kuomintang and Communist armies had their roots in the Soviet-backed Northern Expedition, so they share many similarities. Political officers weren't unique to the Eighth Route Army; the Nationalist Army also had them. However, after the April 12 Incident, these officers became increasingly marginalized within the Nationalist Army, essentially powerless. They were often appointed by scholars skilled in literary arts, ordered around by military commanders and looked down upon by the soldiers.

Jin Chu also looked down on them.

They are all a bunch of scholars, what can they do in the army? Moreover, they only know how to shout slogans and have no real skills.

But after joining the Eighth Column, he realized that political cadres were completely different. The political cadres of the Eighth Route Army were truly capable of both civil and military affairs.

When Wei Hongjun and Chu He were reorganizing the First, Second, and Third Guard Regiments, they spoke with the officers and soldiers. They truly became one with the officers and soldiers. The political cadres of the Eighth Route Army had the ability to convince the soldiers and make them willing to communicate with them.

What convinced Jin Chu even more was the fact that the Eighth Route Army truly excelled in ensuring equality between officers and soldiers. Leaders like Wang Qiuyun and Wei Hongjun received limited allowances and wore the same clothing as the soldiers. Even their meals were unremarkable. When Wei Hongjun and his colleagues visited the troops, they chatted with the soldiers and ate alongside them.

This was quite a shock to Jin Chu.

In the Nationalist Army, even the lowest-ranking officers ate differently from the soldiers below them. After several conversations with Wei Hongjun, Jin Chu truly learned a lot. He gradually came to sympathize with the Eighth Route Army's principles and fought bravely in previous battles. He has already applied to join the Party and is actively pursuing it.

Chapter 301 A bright future

Two Japanese battalions attacked from two directions.

The Japanese army had about the same strength as the Eighth Column in Sheng County.

But their weapons and equipment, as well as their combat effectiveness, were different. Wei Hongjun's side, at the very end, personally carried their guns to the battlefield. This was because of the heavy casualties, and the Japanese army's desperate attack.

This attack also caused heavy casualties to the Japanese army.

As it was getting dark, the Japanese army attacked like crazy.

The Japanese army showed no concern for their own heavy casualties. With complete recklessness, they launched wave after wave of attacks. After one failed attack, they quickly organized a second without much adjustment. This relentless attack saw casualties on both sides skyrocket. By nightfall, Wei Hongjun had repelled nine Japanese attacks.

Only after dark did the troops have the opportunity to withdraw from their positions.

"Political Commissar, what are you doing?"

"It's okay, just a penetrating wound."

At the final moment, Wei Hongjun was also on the battlefield, and was shot in the left arm by a Japanese soldier. Fortunately, the Japanese Type 38 rifle had strong penetrating power. Although injured, it was a penetrating wound, and the bullet passed directly through. Wei Hongjun had also fought on the battlefield for over a decade and had suffered many injuries, both major and minor.

So I don’t really care.

On the battlefield, he had only been briefly bandaged by a medical officer. Now was not the time to worry about such an injury, so Wei Hongjun immediately inquired about the casualties of the troops.

"What are the casualties?"

"Commissar, our regiment's casualties are being tallied. However, I estimate that, excluding the Fourth Battalion, our regiment's casualties are around 500."

"You have worked hard."

After withdrawing from the position, the troops immediately went into the mountains.

For the Eighth Route Army, there was no place safer than the mountains. The Eighth Route Army was born and raised in the countryside, developing in mountainous areas. After reuniting with the Third Guard Regiment, Wei Hongjun began to inquire about the troops' casualties.

Guo Changyi said that the casualties of the Third Security Regiment, excluding the Fourth Battalion, reached 500.

For a unit, such casualties were already very high. Besides the Fourth Battalion, the Third Security Regiment only had about 1500 men. One-third casualties was already a very high proportion.

"Comrade Jin Chu, what about the casualties of your Fourth Battalion?"

"I counted the troops as they retreated. Our battalion suffered 97 killed and 124 wounded.

"call"

Wei Hongjun sighed.

In the battle just now, the Japanese army seemed to be going crazy.

Fortunately, Songjiazhuang was chosen because of its favorable terrain. It's not easy to defend, but it has many defensible areas. Without these topographical advantages, the troops would have been unable to hold their ground against the Japanese.

However, even though they occupied the advantageous terrain, their own casualties were still very high.

Including the two companies he brought with him, there were more than 800 casualties in the fighting that lasted for several hours.

What Wei Hongjun is considering now is the Japanese army’s purpose and the next direction of the Japanese army.

"Political Commissar, the Fifth District has called back. The Japanese troops that entered Sheng County through Dingbei County are likely the 37th Regiment of the 225th Division. The 225th Regiment was originally intended to sweep Hunyuan and Lingqiu, but they suddenly turned around and entered Dingbei, and finally entered Sheng County's Fifth District without being discovered."

Wei Hongjun had no idea about the Japanese troops entering the base.

So when Wei Hongjun and his men led the troops to block the Japanese army, Chu He was responsible for contacting the First Division and the Military Region.

Chu He reported to Wei Hongjun.

Wei Hongjun nodded as he looked at the map. This time, the North China Front's main force in Hebei was sweeping through the Hebei-Central Military Region. The sweep of the Northern Yue District of the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei Military Region would primarily begin in the Yanbei region. The Japanese had deployed six regiments, totaling 20,000 troops, there.

In this area, the Second Jin-Cha-Ji Division had two regiments, the Fifth Division had two regiments, and the 120th Division, because its main force had left, was composed of local guerrillas. However, the 120th Division had previously merged its Chahar-Suiyuan troops into the Eighth Column. In exchange, the First Division provided the 120th Division's Yanbei guerrillas with a large amount of weapons and ammunition to improve their combat effectiveness. Therefore, the 120th Division's local forces could contribute one regiment.