Rebirth: I am in Jin-Cha-Ji

Since the Battle of Wuhan, the Japanese military has had significant financial problems. The Southward Movement faction within the Japanese military, which is actually the Navy faction, now has a stronger voice. A large amount of military funds have flowed into the Navy, resulting in insufficient military funds for the Army.

The result was that problems arose among the Japanese officers and soldiers.

Ordinary Japanese soldiers received very little money every month.

In the TV series, the Japanese soldiers liked to rob chickens from ordinary people. This is definitely not fictional. The Japanese soldiers really didn't have much silver, and with the little silver they had, they couldn't afford to eat chickens on a regular basis. So when the puppet police and puppet guards were robbing things in Huailai, the Japanese soldiers also joined in and the wealthy families in Huailai were not spared. The Japanese army quickly got the news, but they did not stop the puppet guards.

Because there are more than 700 puppet security forces in Huailai, the Japanese army will have to rely on them when retreating.

So even though the puppet guards did some excessive things, the Japanese army turned a blind eye. Some of the Japanese soldiers also participated in the looting with the puppet guards. In fact, the current situation of the Japanese army is not good either.

The Japanese military's finances were in a state of collapse.

Since the Battle of Wuhan, the Japanese military has had significant financial problems. The Southward Movement faction within the Japanese military, which is actually the Navy faction, now has a stronger voice. A large amount of military funds have flowed into the Navy, resulting in insufficient military funds for the Army.

As a result, Japanese officers and soldiers had problems with food and clothing.

Ordinary Japanese soldiers received very little money every month.

In the TV series, the Japanese soldiers liked to rob the chickens of the common people. This is absolutely not fictional. The Japanese soldiers really didn't have much silver, and with the little silver they had, they couldn't afford to eat chickens on a regular basis. So when the puppet police and puppet troops robbed things in Huailai, the Japanese soldiers also joined in.

Looted a lot of things.

After two years, most ordinary residents of Huailai County had already adapted to the current situation. Although the Japanese army had bombed Huailai during the initial battle and had also wreaked havoc after entering the area, the three years had passed, and the larger families and residents of Huailai had gradually grown accustomed to the situation. After all, soldiers were often like bandits in this era, and the military discipline of the troops stationed in Chahar in the early years was poor, and bandits were even more numerous.

It can be said that for many people in Huailai, whether it was when the Nationalist troops were stationed there or when the Japanese troops arrived, there was actually not much difference. It was the same before and it was the same after.

In this chaotic world, they have become accustomed to this kind of life.

It is a blessing to be able to save one's life.

However, the atrocities committed by the Japanese army and the puppet guards in the county town this time rapidly increased their hatred for the Japanese army and the guards. Compared to them, the military discipline of the Eighth Route Army was simply excellent.

How can they be compared with the Japanese army and the puppet security forces?

Many things can be compared. The military discipline of the Nationalist and Japanese armies has always been poor. To be honest, in this era, as long as the army does not kill people or steal women, it is a unit with first-class military discipline.

As for people stealing things, not paying for things, or hitting others when they are angry, ordinary people think this is normal because they are used to it.

Compared with the troops they had seen before, the Eighth Route Army was simply heaven-born.

So many troops entered Huailai, but they didn't kill people, rob women, or rob people. They even paid for things they bought and spoke to them in a friendly manner. This alone surprised many Huailai residents.

Because they had never seen such a force.

Therefore, the people in Huailai quickly accepted the Eighth Route Army.

This was a huge benefit for the Eighth Route Army to control Huailai. When the Pingxi Detachment sent a work team to open up a base area, Xia Houwen's team developed the best and fastest despite being alone.

When the Japanese army attacked Zhangjiakou from Peking, they passed through the southeastern area of ​​Huailai, slaughtering many people along the way. This made the local people very resentful of the Japanese army. Fortunately, Xia Houwen established a base here, and the work situation immediately improved.

In some other places, people have not personally experienced the atrocities committed by the Japanese army and lack hatred for them.

Only by experiencing the brutality of the Japanese army firsthand can one truly understand what hatred is. This was the case in Huailai. Compared to the Japanese army, the Nationalist army of the time, and the crazy bandits, the Eighth Route Army was much better in every way.

It is easy for ordinary people to accept.

Even before the 16th Regiment had made any progress, more than young men from Huailai wanted to join the army to fight the Japanese.

"Old Wei, the Chanan detachment wants to pursue their victory, attack the strongholds and bunkers around Xuanhua, and finally attack Xuanhua. What do you think?"

"What do you think?"

"I think so. Currently, the only army stationed in Mongolia on our side is the 2nd Independent Mixed Brigade. We have just annihilated the brigade headquarters of the 2nd Independent Mixed Brigade, as well as the 1st Independent Battalion, the Independent Artillery Team, the Independent Engineer Team, the Independent Heavy Troops Team and other special forces. Now there are only four independent infantry battalions left in the 2nd Independent Mixed Brigade. The 5th Independent Battalion is in Xuanhua, and we also annihilated an infantry company and a machine gun company. The 5th Independent Battalion in Xuanhua has only about 500 people. The other 2nd and 3rd Independent Battalions are in Huaian, and the 4th Independent Battalion is in Zhangjiakou. This is indeed a good opportunity to attack Xuanhua. If we also occupy Xuanhua, then we will further reduce the area controlled by the Japanese army."

Wang Qiuyun's eyes lit up as she looked at the map.

After taking Huailai, the next step will be to attack Zhangjiakou.

Wei Hongjun nodded.

"That's a good idea. This isn't just for Xuanhua; we can slowly chip away at other areas around Zhangjiakou. Now that we have the upper hand, we can gradually encircle the Japanese-occupied counties and strongholds, preventing them from obtaining sufficient supplies. By pressing forward step by step, we'll be able to capture all of Zhangjiakou."

"do you agree?"

"Of course. The troops suffered few casualties in the Hundred Regiments Campaign, and they've had six months to recuperate. Furthermore, many of our units have expanded significantly, with many new recruits. They need some combat to acclimate to the battlefield. Furthermore, the Japanese are currently engaged in the Zhongtiaoshan Campaign, and it will take at least two or three months for their main force to return and sweep our base. By then, our base will be larger, giving us more room to maneuver."

Wei Hongjun certainly supports expanding territory.

Although the Japanese and Eighth Route Army currently have a tacit understanding and do not intend to engage in a full-scale conflict, the Japanese army is preparing to concentrate its forces to deal with the Japanese forces in Zhongtiao Mountain and is unwilling to fight on two fronts. Meanwhile, the Eighth Route Army is resting and recuperating after suffering heavy casualties, severe ammunition depletion, and extensive damage to its base areas following the Hundred Regiments Campaign.

But this is just the big picture.

At the junction of the Japanese army and the Eighth Route Army base, the sound of gunfire never stopped.

Even for the battle of a rural village, there were battles between local troops and the Japanese army every moment.

The same is true for the Eight Verticals.

Now is a good opportunity. The troops stationed in Mongolia have few troops, and it should be said that there are not many troops in Peking. It would be foolish not to expand our base at this time.

"I can rest assured that."

Chapter 363 Support

1941 6 Month 28 Day.

The Battle of Zhongtiao Mountain broke out on the 10th day.

The Eighth Route Army announced that, to support the Nationalist forces in Zhongtiao Mountain, the 11th and 12th Military Sub-districts of the Eighth Route Army in the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei region would dispatch five main regiments totaling over troops, along with local forces, to launch a joint attack on Huailai. Unable to withstand the Eighth Route Army's attack, the Japanese troops in Huailai abandoned the city and fled, where they were ambushed by the Eighth Route Army in Duanfang Village.

In this battle, the Eighth Route Army killed Hitomi Yoichi, the commander of the Second Independent Mixed Brigade, and Kametsuki Ren, the captain of the First Independent Battalion. Over 2400 Japanese and puppet troops were annihilated, as well as 300 Japanese and puppet troops who came from Xuanhua to provide support.

Including battles in other directions, the Eighth Route Army's 11th and 12th Military Sub-districts of the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei region wiped out Japanese and puppet troops in the Xuanhuai Campaign.

It caused a national sensation.

The news completely shattered the public opinion that the Japanese army and the Eighth Route Army had a ceasefire agreement.

Newspapers across the country were praising the Eighth Route Army for their heroic fighting. Just like during the Hundred Regiments Campaign, when many newspapers were praising the Eighth Route Army endlessly, the victory was so brilliant that it naturally received much praise.

Chongqing really wants to spread the word that this is a fake victory.

But apart from other things, the killing of the Japanese Army's Second Independent Mixed Brigade Major General Commander is something that the Japanese have acknowledged. After all, he is an active general, and the Japanese army cannot say that he is not dead.

So Chongqing has nothing to say.

Zhang Zihua also became another rising star in Jin-Cha-Ji after Wang Qiuyun.

Because of its foundation, the Eighth Column relied entirely on its military achievements to establish the 11th and 12th Military Sub-districts. Wang Qiuyun and Wei Hongjun also relied on the Eighth Column's impressive military achievements to become military sub-district commanders and political commissars. Among the Eighth Column's cadres, Zhang Zihua emerged the earliest and is currently the most famous.

Because the Chanan Detachment had the best results.

Everyone knew that in addition to Commander Wang Qiuyun, the Eighth Column also had Zhang Zihua, a general with outstanding military and political skills. Thanks to this battle, Zhang Zihua also became a nationally renowned anti-Japanese general.

Meanwhile, the Eighth Route Army spokesperson continued to announce that the 120th and 129th Divisions of the Eighth Route Army, as well as the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei Military Region, had also dispatched troops to re-attack the Japanese highway. Unlike the Hundred Regiments Campaign, where the main Eighth Route Army units suffered heavy casualties and many units took two or three years to recover, the current Eighth Route Army, while also suffering heavy casualties, was faring much better than in the past. Instead, the results were even more impressive, with the Japanese losses exceeding double their historical averages.

The casualties were too severe, and the Japanese army had no choice but to abandon many strongholds and bunkers.

Therefore, after the Hundred Regiments Campaign, the Eighth Route Army rapidly expanded its base area. The expansion of the base area meant an increase in population and tax revenue.

The people in the base area also actively joined the army.

Therefore, the biggest problem of the Eighth Route Army at present is that the new recruits have not been fully trained. In addition, the Hundred Regiments Campaign consumed too many bullets, and the amount of bullets captured on the battlefield is far less than the amount of bullets consumed, so the army's ammunition reserves are seriously insufficient.

Without ammunition, large-scale raids would definitely not be possible.

However, there would be no problem in sending a few regiments to destroy some of the Japanese strongholds and forts on the highway. Moreover, being able to cut off the Japanese army's logistics was also an effective way for the Eighth Route Army to train its troops and replenish their supplies.

The main targets were supplies from major cities such as Shijiazhuang, Baoding, Taiyuan and Datong to the front lines.

The effect is still very good.

Many new recruits to the Eighth Route Army were trained in ambushes, such as General Chen of the Taiyue Military Region, who ambushed a convoy from Shijiazhuang. The Japanese and puppet troops totaled only about 600 men, and the Japanese army consisted of only two squadrons of more than 300 men.

But he managed to gather three regiments of troops from the Taiyue Military Region and ambushed the transport convoy.

It wasn't that a single regiment couldn't ambush the Japanese and puppet troops; rather, the 386th Brigade had suffered heavy casualties during the Hundred Regiments Campaign. Furthermore, as the base area expanded, the 386th Brigade also expanded to include several regiments. General Chen, in order to train these new regiments and recruits, mobilized three regiments to ambush the transport convoy.

As a result, the battle lasted for seven hours.

If they had brought the main force of the 386th Brigade, this transport force could have handled the situation neatly in three or four hours. However, it took so long because of the new recruits and the new regiment. But the results were very good.

Under the leadership of the veterans, the new recruits adapted to the battlefield.

Training alone will only make new recruits new recruits. Only after experiencing battle can they become veterans.

The Eighth Route Army troops are currently following suit.

New recruits and newly expanded troops were sent to participate in some small battles to train the troops.

The Eighth Route Army, through these scattered battles, annihilated nearly 5,000 Japanese and puppet troops. This victory gave the Eighth Route Army the political initiative. It told the nation that, despite Chongqing's brazen initiation of the "Southern Anhui Incident" and its disregard for the greater good of the anti-Japanese war, the CCP was still willing to continue working with Chongqing for the sake of the anti-Japanese cause. This high-profile approach dispelled all previous negative public opinion.

After all, the Eighth Route Army killed a Japanese brigade commander who was a major general.

The Eighth Column's ability to kill a Japanese major general was a source of pride for both Yan'an and the Eighth Route Army headquarters. This was a unique battle, a political one. As a result, Wang Qiuyun and Wei Hongjun were once again commended by Yan'an and the headquarters.

It can be said that the two people successfully completed the tasks assigned by Yan'an and the Eighth Route Army Headquarters.

What about the national army?

Although the Nationalist 14th Army performed exceptionally well on the western front of Zhongtiao Mountain, the overall decline in Zhongtiao Mountain was irreversible. By the time the Eighth Route Army announced its support for the Nationalist forces in Zhongtiao Mountain on several fronts, the Japanese had already completed their encirclement and division of the Nationalist forces in Zhongtiao Mountain, including the exceptionally strong 14th Army.

Although it happened several days later than in history, the Japanese casualties also increased significantly.

However, the Japanese army still completed its established strategy against the national army in Zhongtiao Mountain.

The Zhongtiao Mountain defense line is already in danger.

"Commander, this is the battle plan of the Eighth Column."

"The Eighth Column's ambitions are truly enormous. They want to swallow up the entire Chahar region.

The Eighth Column must make major moves and cannot fight on its own without authorization.

Although the various military sub-districts had a great degree of autonomy during combat, the Eighth Route Army as a whole had not yet engaged in large-scale conflict with the Japanese. However, Wang Qiuyun and Wei Hongjun wanted to mobilize the entire 8th Column once again.

Such a large-scale battle must have the consent and support of the military region.

Commander Nie looked at the battle plan submitted by the Eighth Column and thought quietly. He asked, "What do you think of their battle plan?"

Tang Jie said: "From the perspective of the plan, there are no loopholes in their battle plan. Now is the time when the Mongolian Army is at its weakest, including the pitifully small number of Japanese troops around Peking. At present, the 26th Independent Mixed Brigade of the Mongolian Army and the 13th Regiment of the 26th Division are participating in the Zhongtiao Mountain Campaign, and the 12th Cavalry Brigade and the 35th Regiment of the 26th Division are in Suiyuan. Since the outbreak of the Zhongtiao Mountain Campaign, the 12th Army of the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army has also fought against Japanese troops. Therefore, the th Regiment of the th Division and the st Cavalry Brigade are trapped in Suiyuan. Currently, the Mongolian Army has only the nd Independent Mixed Brigade available for deployment. The nd Independent Mixed Brigade was annihilated by the th Column, including the st Independent Battalion, the Brigade Headquarters and the Special Forces. Currently, there are only four independent battalions left. Three of the four independent battalions were annihilated by the th Column in the Hundred Regiments Campaign. They were all newly recruited and reorganized only about two months ago. Moreover, two of the independent battalions are currently in Huaian, and the other Another independent battalion is in Zhangjiakou. Apart from these troops, the Japanese army only has some garrison troops and security forces around Zhangjiakou. As long as the th Column's main force presses the Japanese army and cuts off their supply, the Japanese troops in the strongholds and bunkers outside will not be able to stay. Even in a county town like Xuanhua, the Japanese army will find it difficult to hold on. The current Zhongtiao Mountain Campaign has not yet ended. Although the Nationalist Army is divided and surrounded by the Japanese army, there are nearly Nationalist troops in Zhongtiao Mountain. It will take a certain amount of time for the Japanese army to completely eliminate these Japanese troops. After the Zhongtiao Mountain Campaign is resolved, the Japanese troops will definitely need to rest for a period of time. It will take at least one to two months for the Japanese army to finish resting and regroup. If the battle in Zhongtiao Mountain is not going well, it will take at least two to three months. This time is enough for the th Column to almost completely eliminate the strongholds and bunkers around Zhangjiakou, including some county towns.

Commander Nie nodded repeatedly.

He said, "Since the Eighth Column has the advantage and a plan, let them go all out. Take advantage of the current opportunity and expand the base and the troops as much as possible."

Chapter 364 Cannibalization