Rebirth: I am in Jin-Cha-Ji

After hearing the Ministry of Military Industry's idea, Wei Hongjun immediately suggested, "I think we should concentrate on Xuanhua. Xuanhua is an industrial center in Chahar and has a heavy industrial base. This is mainly because Xuanhua has a steel plant. Surrounding the steel plant, Xuanhua has various factories such as power plants, machinery plants, metallurgical plants, and explosives plants. Precisely because of this heavy industrial base, Xuanhua is particularly suitable for the military region to develop military industry here, as well as other factories surrounding heavy industry. Moreover, Xuanhua has good transportation conditions and is close to Zhangjiakou. I think the military region can choose Xuanhua as a test for industrial city construction. Develop a complete industrial development system starting from mining and then going on to steel, electricity, chemicals, machinery, and so on."

“The Ministry of Military Industry will inspect Xuanhua as a key industrial city.

Liu Zaisheng nodded.

Wei Hongjun continued, "Currently, the situation in Zhangjiakou is that most of the heavy industrial factories are in Xuanhua. As a commercial city, Zhangjiakou has a lot of light industry, mainly processing plants and small handicraft merchants. The Ministry of Military Industry is an industrial ministry, and it shouldn't just consider the military industry, but the development of Chahar's entire industry. Therefore, my suggestion is that Xuanhua develop a complete system of small heavy industries while Zhangjiakou develops light industry. We can experiment with the ratio between heavy and light industries in Chahar and adjust the ratio at any time to find the most suitable path for Chahar's industrial development."

“Sir, the Ministry of Military Industry will discuss this.

Liu Zaisheng nodded.

After listening to Wei Hongjun's words, Zhao Zhensheng began to understand why Yan'an would continue to let Wei Hongjun serve as the director of the Zhangjiakou Military Control Commission.

Look at Wei Hongjun, a peasant, speaking eloquently about industrial development. Right or wrong, this is quite astonishing. The peasant generals of the Eighth Route Army are good at fighting, but who understands industrial issues?

After Liu Zaisheng finished speaking, Guan Xuewen spoke.

"Commander, the branch office and the military region have ordered that our Border Region Bank establish its head office in Zhangjiakou.

"Comrade Guan Xuewen, I have been looking forward to your arrival.

Currently, there's a large amount of Mengjiang currency in circulation in Zhangjiakou. However, precisely because of this, the people of Zhangjiakou are worried. They're worried that the Mengjiang currency will become worthless, so they want to exchange it for our Border Region currency. However, they lack sufficient confidence in our Border Region currency, so the people of Zhangjiakou are currently in a state of ambivalence. Fortunately, our trading company has been continuously selling supplies, which has temporarily persuaded the people of Zhangjiakou to accept the Border Region currency. However, the current situation is that we have limited Border Region currency, so we need your Border Region Bank to quickly release sufficient Border Region currency to completely resolve the current Mengjiang currency circulation problem in the market."

"Don't worry, Chief. We've brought all the people from the Border Region Bank with us this time. Border Region currency can be printed directly in Zhangjiakou. We've also brought quite a bit of Border Region currency, so there won't be a bank run."

"That's good. We've already done some preliminary statistics on the Mengjiang Bank and have done a simple cleanup of the accounts. Director Gao and his team will hand over the cleaned-up accounts to you later. Also, Comrade Guan Xuewen, in addition to quickly incorporating the Mengjiang Bank, the Border Region Bank needs your support for another matter. The market in Zhangjiakou is currently depressed, and many industrial and commercial owners are unable to start work due to lack of funds. My point is that the Border Region Bank should provide them with some assistance."

"Chief, we will discuss this in detail after we take over the Mengjiang Bank."

After Guan Xuewen and Liu Zaisheng finished speaking, Zhao Zhensheng said, "Comrade Wei Hongjun, Comrade Yang Yuxiang, and Comrade Zhang Zhiliang are cadres assigned to your Military Control Commission by the branch bureau and the military region. Where do you think they would be best placed?"

Wei Hongjun sighed inwardly.

After a moment's thought, he said, "Commander, since the branch and the military region have assigned Comrade Yang Yuxiang to be in charge of propaganda work, then let him serve as the head of the Propaganda Department of our Military Control Commission. As for Comrade Zhang Zhiliang, I want him to serve as the chairman of the newly established Federation of Industry and Commerce. Zhangjiakou is a commercial city with very developed industry and commerce. How to restore Zhangjiakou's industry and commerce is of vital importance to Zhangjiakou. Therefore, the Military Control Commission decided to establish a joint organization between the Military Control Commission and industrialists and businessmen, which is the Federation of Industry and Commerce.

Wei Hongjun gave a brief explanation.

Zhao Zhensheng was very satisfied.

Although it was just a temporary military control committee, Zhao Zhensheng felt relieved when he saw Wei Hongjun handling things in an orderly manner.

During the branch meeting, although Zhao Zhensheng did not support Liu Huafu's proposal, he still had doubts about the Military Control Commission. But now, seeing Wei Hongjun, these doubts have completely disappeared.

Wei Hongjun was rather helpless. Originally, they had planned to appoint Liu Hongda as chairman of the Federation of Industry and Commerce, but since the branch bureau and military region had sent a cadre, they had to use him. Before attending the Party School, Zhang Zhiliang had been a commissioner in the Tenth District of Jizhong, a high-ranking official.

The position given to them by the Military Control Commission cannot be low, nor can it be a department without power.

"Commander, do you think this arrangement is feasible?"

Zhao Zhensheng smiled and said, "This is a matter for your Military Control Commission. Comrade Wei Hongjun, you can make the arrangements."

Chapter 435: Anti-Sweep Preparation

After Zhao Zhensheng arrived in Zhangjiakou, the relocation speed of various institutions in the Jin-Cha-Ji Military Region became increasingly faster.

But what Zhao Zhensheng said is right.

He was only responsible for the relocation of the Jin-Cha-Ji Military Region's logistics agencies and the placement of cadres in various agencies. However, he did not interfere with Wei Hongjun's work in Zhangjiakou. Wei Hongjun soon established the Zhangjiakou Federation of Industry and Commerce in Zhangjiakou.

Zhang Zhiliang served as Chairman of the Zhangjiakou Federation of Industry and Commerce, with Liu Hongda and Dong Yan serving as Vice Chairmen. Subsequently, numerous representatives from various industries joined the Federation as members. Zhang Zhiliang wasn't particularly familiar with industry and commerce, but he was a hardworking and down-to-earth cadre. Since becoming Chairman of the Federation, he has traveled extensively throughout Zhangjiakou.

Even Wei Hongjun was very impressed.

After an investigation, the Zhangjiakou Military Control Commission, the Chahar Border Region Bank, and the Federation of Industry and Commerce held a meeting and decided that the Border Region Bank would support the development of Zhangjiakou's industry and commerce. To support Zhangjiakou's industry and commerce, the Border Region Bank was willing to provide them with low-interest loans to alleviate their financial difficulties.

While Wei Hongjun was busy with the situation in Zhangjiakou, the situation in the Jizhong Military Region was becoming increasingly tense. Even when Zhangjiakou was captured by the Eighth Column, Ningci Gangcun did not send any reinforcements, which shows how determined Ningci Gangcun was this time. Of course, Ningci Gangcun never thought that the Eighth Column would actually be able to capture Zhangjiakou.

The fall of Zhangjiakou made Ningji Okamura furious.

But since Zhangjiakou had already been captured by the Eighth Column, Gangcun Ningci would of course have to find another way to regain the initiative. In the current situation, Gangcun Ningci had only one solution, which was to completely eliminate the Yizhong Military Region. Only by eliminating the Jizhong Military Region could the North China Front Army regain the initiative.

If the Hebei-Central Military Region Army cannot be eliminated, the North China Front Army will be completely passive.

So this time, Ningji Okamura was really determined. He mobilized all the troops he could and was determined to achieve the goal.

The Japanese built densely packed bunkers along the nearly 600-li route from Peking to Shijiazhuang. There was a bunker every two or three li, a small cluster of bunkers every ten li, a medium-sized cluster of bunkers every thirty li, and a large cluster of bunkers every hundred li.

A small bunker complex housed a Japanese squadron and a puppet battalion, totaling over 8 Japanese and puppet troops. A medium-sized bunker complex would have eight to ten auxiliary bunkers surrounding it, plus Japanese strongholds and defensive positions. A medium-sized bunker complex housed two Japanese squadrons and two puppet battalions, totaling over 10 Japanese and puppet troops.

Then there is the large group of forts.

This was a military base. There was a battalion of Japanese soldiers, along with a machine gun squadron, communications corps, and engineering corps, totaling around 1200 Japanese troops. Add to that a regiment of puppet troops, and the total force reached nearly 3000. Even along some key transportation routes, the Japanese and puppet troops numbered around 5000.

Typically, a large fort complex covered an area of ​​approximately 100 li. Each li area was under the control of a single Japanese regiment, though its forces were dispersed throughout the various bunkers. Along the line from Peking to Shijiazhuang, the Japanese deployed two regiments and two independent mixed brigades from the security divisions.

Including some large cities in the middle, the Japanese army deployed three divisions along this line.

They are the 110th Division, the 63rd Division, and the 69th Division.

华北方面军经过这么多年的调整，大致的配置如下：在山东有32师团和独立混成第五旅团、独立混成第七旅团；驻蒙军有26师团、独立混成第二旅团、独立混成第九旅团、骑兵集团；驻扎山西的第一军拥有37师团、41师团、62师团、独立混成第三旅团；驻扎河北的27师团、35师团、59师团、63师团、69师团、110师团、独立混成第一旅团；驻扎河南的36师团。

There is also the 29th Division of the Kwantung Army, which does not belong to the North China Front Army but is currently fighting in Rehe and Hebei Province.

Calculated in this way, the North China Front Army currently has 13 divisions, 6 independent mixed brigades, a cavalry group with two cavalry brigades, and garrison troops scattered across the country, totaling approximately 22 people.

But in reality there are not so many people.

Just like the claimed 3000-strong Mongolian garrison, the actual total is only around 26. The 6000nd Independent Mixed Brigade is completely gone, leaving only the 4000-strong th Cavalry Brigade, the -strong th Division, and the -strong th Independent Mixed Brigade in the cavalry group.

Some other divisions, while having sufficient numbers, were weak in combat effectiveness due to the large number of new recruits that had been added. Divisions like the 59th, 62nd, 63rd, and 69th were all security divisions that had only been reorganized about three months earlier.

Its combat effectiveness is not necessarily stronger than that of the previous independent mixed brigade.

This time, the Japanese army began to blockade the Hebei-Central Military Region. In order to prevent the Beiyue District of the Shanxi-Chahar Wing from participating in the war, the 110th, 63rd, and 69th Divisions were directly used to build bunkers along the transportation route from Peking to Shijiazhuang.

The 59th Division entered Peking to protect its security.

The 27th Division set up a blockade between the Jidong base area and the Jizhong Military Region to prevent the Yidong troops from interfering with the Jizhong Military Region's mopping-up operations. After dividing several important base areas in Shanxi, Chahar, and Hebei, the Japanese army began to mobilize heavy troops to prepare to deal with the Jizhong Military Region.

The 35th Division stationed in the Peking area, the 32st Independent Mixed Brigade stationed in southern Hebei, two regiments of the 36nd Division stationed in Shandong, as well as the 41th and 110th Independent Mixed Brigades, were deployed. Two regiments of the 63th Division stationed in northern Henan, the 69rd Independent Mixed Brigade responsible for guarding the Zhengtai Road, and two regiments of the 27st Division stationed in Shanxi were deployed. Furthermore, while the th, rd, and th Divisions were primarily responsible for blockade operations, several battalions could be deployed to participate in the battle if needed. The same applies to the th Division; several battalions could be deployed if needed.

In this battle, the Japanese mobilized half of the North China Front Army. The Japanese troops directly involved in the sweep of the Hebei-Central Military Region could reach nearly 50 battalions, totaling approximately 32 men. This included the eight North China Security Army group armies, the North China Security Army independent brigade, the Second Front Army and the 13nd Division of the puppet army from Shandong, and the th Division of the "Peace and National Salvation Army." In addition to the local garrisons, the total number of puppet troops exceeded . Among these, the local garrisons were the largest. The garrisons in North China totaled over men, making them one of the largest units of the North China puppet army.

However, compared with other puppet army units with unified organization, the local security forces are usually more scattered, without a unified leadership organization, and all obey the orders of the local Japanese army.

The fighting spirit is good, but the fighting ability is very poor.

Because the guard team’s usual job is to help the Japanese army maintain local public order.

If the Japanese blockade forces are included, the total number of Japanese troops reached approximately 10. Adding the puppet troops, the total number of Japanese and puppet troops deployed in the raid on Gangcun Ningci was 23. Of course, the Japanese and puppet troops were followed by puppet police, who maintained law and order in each area they occupied. These puppet police alone numbered over . This was arguably the largest deployment of troops in the history of the North China Front Army.

Now the Japanese army has entered the final moment of mobilizing troops.

Once the Japanese army is ready, they will launch a large-scale sweep of the Hebei-Central Military Region.

So the situation is very urgent now.

Marshal Nie came out of Fuping and placed the military district headquarters directly in Yi County, mainly to command this battle together with the leaders of the First and Third Divisions.

"it is good."

As Marshal Nie was nervously analyzing intelligence from various places, a telegram from the Eighth Column arrived in his hands. It was the telegram sent to the military region after the Eighth Column had initially sorted out its military warehouses.

Marshal Nie was delighted to see the contents of the telegram. He said to Yang Quanwu, commander of the First Division, and Huang Yong, commander of the Third Division, "Look, this is a telegram from the Eighth Column. The Eighth Column will send us 20 infantry guns, 20 flat-fire guns, 100 mortars, and 200 grenade launchers. They will also provide 1000 rounds of infantry gun shells, 500 rounds of flat-fire gun shells, 2000 rounds of mortar shells, and 2000 rounds of grenade launcher shells. They will also provide 200 light machine guns and 50 heavy machine guns."

"Really?"

Yang Quanwu took the telegram and read it, and immediately smiled.

"Great, great. I was planning to concentrate our forces to attack the Japanese medium-sized bunkers, and then attack the reinforcements, so as to break a hole in the Japanese blockade. But with so many good things, attacking a medium-sized bunker is too petty."

Huang Yong also took a look at the telegram.

It is also a great joy.

The Eighth Route Army was not afraid of death, but they lacked heavy weapons, so their ability to attack and penetrate was always a problem. The 1000 rounds of artillery shells they had obtained from the Eighth Column had already given the First and Third Divisions great confidence.

The two men's battle plan was for the Hebei Central Army to capture the Japanese medium-sized bunkers. After breaking through the Japanese blockade, the troops would attack the Japanese reinforcements. Then, they would mobilize more troops to attack throughout the entire Japanese blockade.

But now, looking at these weapons and ammunition, Huang Yong also supported Yang Quanwu's idea. With so many weapons and ammunition, it would be a waste to attack a group of medium-sized bunkers.

"Wang Qiuyun and Wei Hongjun have made a fortune in Zhangjiakou. Look at this wealthy old man.

"According to the report from the Eighth Column, including Zhangjiakou, and the surrounding areas of Huai'an, Wanquan, and Xuanhua, there are probably more than 100 military warehouses that have been discovered. However, they are still searching, and there are probably many warehouses that have not been discovered yet.

Marshal Nie answered about the situation in Zhangjiakou.

Yang Quanwu and Huang Yong were both envious. The Eighth Column had conquered Zhangjiakou, instantly bolstering their wealth and becoming major landowners. Huang Yong's gaze remained fixed on Baoding on the map. If the Third Division captured Baoding, then, given its crucial location, the city would likely be well-stocked with supplies.

“How long will it take for the supplies to arrive?”

"The Eighth Column guaranteed that it would arrive within 20 days. They sent us a telegram and sent someone to deliver it.

"20 days, time is a bit tight."

The Japanese blockade hadn't been completed, and the troop movements hadn't been completely finalized. Several divisions, in particular, had only just been formed. Last year's mopping-up operation had also incurred heavy casualties, necessitating the addition of tens of thousands of new recruits.

Therefore, if we want to sweep the Jizhong Military Region, we should have more than a month to do so. 20 days is tight overall, but not unacceptable.

"Commander, with this heavy firepower, I think we can adjust our plan."

Chapter 436 Adjusting the Plan

"How to adjust?"

"Commander, our previous plan for Division 30 was to attack in two directions, with Dingxing Station as the midpoint. Each direction consisted of three regiments. One regiment would attack a medium-sized Japanese fortress, while the other two would attack the reinforcements. Each of the two routes would create a gap of approximately miles, thereby breaking the Japanese blockade. But now that we have so many good things, I have decided to direct the troops to attack the Dingxing stronghold. Two regiments will be used to attack Zhuozhou Station, and the other four regiments will be divided into two routes to attack the reinforcements."

Yang Quanwu quickly changed his previous battle plan.

Different firepower demands different tactics. During the First Division's counter-mopping-up operation last year, the troops lost a significant amount of heavy weapons. Consequently, Yang Quanwu's previous deployments were relatively conservative, and he hadn't considered attacking the Dingxing stronghold. After all, the Japanese and puppet troops there were numerous. But now, with the arrival of so much heavy firepower, Yang Quanwu immediately had other ideas.

Directly attack the Dingxing stronghold.

Direct breakthrough in the middle.

"Do you really want to break through the center?"

Marshal Nie looked at the map and asked Yang Quanwu.

If we could capture Dingxing, it would be a great thing, but it was not easy.

"Yes."

Yang Quanwu nodded and said, "Commander, the Japanese army certainly wouldn't expect us to directly attack their large strongholds. This is to catch them off guard.

Furthermore, this time we have so much ammunition, especially artillery shells, that there's no need to waste them. Taking advantage of the cover of night, we'll stealthily approach their strongholds and bombard them relentlessly with artillery, mortars, flat-fire guns, and mortar cannons, leaving them no chance to react. The Japanese will never have imagined we possessed such formidable firepower. Their so-called pillboxes and blockades are nothing but chickens and dogs before our infantry guns and mortars.

Yang Quanwu answered very affirmatively.