Anti-Japanese War: Li Yunlong dared to attack Taiyuan

"Can the Japanese First Army command the Mengjiang Garrison Army?"

"The guy in Taiyuan is a Japanese prince. He can even second a Type A division like the 4th Division, let alone a Type B division?"

The army commander nodded after hearing this. "If the main force of the 26th Division was transferred away, Li Yunlong's sudden attack on Datong would be a stroke of genius. No one would have thought that this guy would dare to attack Datong 300 kilometers away!"

"Then should we ask the troops in the Chahar region to cooperate with them?"

The commander thought for a moment and said, "The 115th and 120th Divisions have troops operating there. The Daqingshan Detachment and the Jinsui Base Area still have some troops that can be mobilized. The Chasui Guerrilla Army and the Datong Miners' Guerrillas can cooperate with Li Yunlong's operations!"

"Well, but we can't contact these troops, and Li Yunlong didn't even bother to tell us in advance. Now, even if we want to send him reinforcements, there's no way!"

"Commander, that being said, Li Yunlong did a great job of keeping it secret this time. I heard that the commander of the Taiyue Military Region went to Li Yunlong to get some equipment, but came back empty-handed. Hahahaha!"

Hearing these words, the army commander and the chief of general staff couldn't help but laugh. It was rare to see the brigade commander being humiliated.

Chapter 177 The Commander's Inference

"So, according to the request in Li Yunlong's letter, notify the 129th and 120th Divisions to dispatch troops to harass the enemy's area around Taiyuan. Create momentum and give the enemy the illusion that our army is attacking Taiyuan, thus supporting Li Yunlong's troops in their attack on Datong!"

The Chief of General Staff nodded after hearing this and said, "The Japanese have recently abandoned several counties. It seems that Li Yunlong is quite a deterrent to the Japanese. It's a pity that when the Japanese retreated from these counties, they basically burned all the supplies."

"Well, it's a pity. I want to see what expression that Japanese prince from Taiyuan would have when he knew that Li Yunlong's troops appeared in Datong."

"But I'm still worried. What if Li Yunlong can't capture Datong? After all, the Japanese have a lot of troops stationed in Mengjiang. If Li Yunlong can't capture Datong and is held back by the Japanese..."

The Chief of Staff asked with some concern.

The army commander nodded. "Indeed, but this battle will also test Li Yunlong's command and battlefield decision-making abilities. Li Yunlong now has nearly 20,000 troops. Commanding 20,000 troops is not just a regiment or a column. Whether Li Yunlong is truly worthy of respect will have to be tested. However, this is the battlefield he chose himself, which is better than being forced into battle in the future. Besides, the enemy is part of a Type B division, so it shouldn't be a big problem."

"That's true, but this kid has a lot of tricks up his sleeve. We should just wait and see what happens. If we intervene rashly, we might end up making things worse. This kid is really strong now, and we can hardly even reach him!"

"A fledgling will eventually take flight. This guy is already quite experienced. If it weren't for his personality, he wouldn't have been a regimental commander forever! Go give the orders."

"Ok!"

Soon, the 129th and 120th Divisions received the order. The division commander looked at the telegram in his hand and immediately smiled at the chief of staff and said, "Headquarters sent a telegram asking us to send troops to operate around Taiyuancheng. The reason was not stated. What do you think?"

The Chief of Staff took the telegram and read it. He said, "I think Li Yunlong is up to something big again. Our brigade commander went there once, but he didn't even see Li Yunlong."

"Hahaha, the brigade commander is cursing! Li Yunlong's Jin-Cha-Ji Independent Column belongs to his Taiyue Military Region, and now 20,000 troops are gone. How can the brigade commander not be anxious?"

After the two of them finished joking, they looked at the map and thought for a moment, "Taiyuan is clearly a trap set by the Japanese for Li Yunlong. And the headquarters asked us to support Li Yunlong. What is the headquarters thinking?"

"I don't know, but I don't think Li Yunlong will attack Taiyuan!" The division commander felt something was wrong and spoke slowly.

The Chief of Staff was stunned when he heard this: "Not attacking Taiyuan? Where is this guy going to attack?"

The division commander looked at the map and recalled Li Yunlong's troop movements some time ago. In addition to attacking in the direction of Taiyuan, he also went all the way north to connect the Taihang Mountain base and the Wutai Mountain base.

The division commander walked to the front of the map, pointed the pen in his hand all the way north, from Ping'an County to Wutai Mountain, calculated the time and stopped at an area.

Then he frowned and moved eastward along the Wutai Mountain Range, and finally stopped.

After seeing where the division commander's hand stopped, the chief of staff couldn't help but gasp.

"Is this kid going to rush over 400 kilometers to attack Peking?"

The division commander shook his head and said, "It's unlikely. Shimen and Baoding are possible, but the Japanese have large garrisons there. It's impossible for Li Yunlong to take them down with the few troops he has. Besides, there are Japanese garrisons all around, and with the railway transportation, the Japanese can send large forces to support them at any time."

The chief of staff was also shocked by his own thoughts. He smiled and said, "That's true. I don't think it's possible for others, but he is Li Yunlong!"

The division commander laughed and said, "I know this kid Li Yunlong. He's a good fighter, has a quick mind, likes to surprise others, and has a lot of clever ideas. But this kid also has another advantage: he absolutely won't do business that will lose money!"

"This kid's target must be of high value, with few troops stationed around it, and it must be a place the devil wouldn't expect!"

After listening to this, the chief of staff looked at the map of Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei. Along the Wutai Mountain and Taihang Mountain ranges, the two of them almost simultaneously locked their eyes on Datong.

"Datong?"

"Datong?"

"But there's the Japanese 26th Division there. Even though it's a Type B division, it still has 15,000 men and is quite powerful!"

After hearing the chief of staff's words, the division commander thought for a moment and said, "Two regiments of the Japanese Fourth Division have been deployed, leaving only one regiment defending Taiyuan City. The Japanese prince will definitely not put himself in danger. The 26th Division stationed in Datong is closest to Taiyuan and has rail transportation..."

"The 26th Division has moved south? We have no news at all."

"I guess after heading south, the headquarters should have received intelligence, and Li Yunlong should have received intelligence as well!"

After the division commander finished speaking, he put his hands behind his back and said, "Li Yunlong, Li Yunlong, I was almost deceived by you!"

"It seems that headquarters is sending our troops to operate around Taiyuan to provide cover for Li Yunlong."

"That's how it should be. Have the 771st, 772nd, Independent, and New 2nd Regiments increase their activities around Taiyuan. Tell them not to linger in the fight, but to leave once the battle is over. Don't let the Japanese get to you!"

"Yes!"

A day later, in Taiyuan City, Prince Higashikuni Naruhiko felt that things were becoming more and more complicated. Li Yunlong's troops had not taken the bait yet. The 37th Regiment of the 4th Division had completed the material escort and delivered the military supplies to the Japanese troops in Zhongtiao Mountain. They were waiting for orders whether to return to Taiyuan or join the battle on the spot.

"Your Highness, perhaps Li Yunlong discovered something, and the spy within our First Army hasn't been found..."

Staff Officer Iwata whispered a reminder to Prince Higashikuni Naruhiko.

"The rats hiding in the army are indeed annoying, but whether Li Yunlong's troops come or not, they will all die. After the battle of Zhongtiao Mountain is over, that will be their death!"

Having said that, Prince Higashikuni Naruhiko still looked somewhat dissatisfied. He was in a bad mood because his plan, which he thought was perfect, was actually seen through.

"Notify the Special High Technology Department to conduct an inspection of all personnel entering and leaving the headquarters. We must catch the mole hiding in the First Army!"

"Hayi!"

Since Li Yunlong was not coming, Prince Higashikuni Naruhiko planned to solve the internal problems first. The reason why Li Yunlong was not fooled this time was definitely not because there was a problem with his plan, but because Li Yunlong received intelligence in advance and there was a traitor, so he did not attack Taiyuan.

"Notify the 37th Regiment to return to Taiyuan immediately, and the 26th Division to return..."

At this moment, a signalman hurried into the headquarters: "Report, urgent telegram from Jinzhong, a large number of Eighth Route Army activities have been discovered outside the city. It is the main force of the Eighth Route Army, and they are moving towards Taiyuan!"

After reading the telegram, Prince Higashikuni Naruhiko smiled. "Finally, you took the bait? Let the 26th Division stay in Taiyuan. I want to give Li Yunlong a surprise!"

At this time, Li Yunlong's troops had completed their assembly in an unnamed mine outside Datong City.

Chapter 178 The Excited Datong Miners Guerrilla

"Report, Commander. The Jin-Cha-Ji Independent Column, with the exception of the 88th, th, and th detachments, the tank company, and the heavy artillery company, has arrived along with the remaining nine detachments, five newly formed independent battalions, the headquarters-affiliated cavalry battalion, the artillery battalion, the guard battalion, and the rocket launcher company. Please give your instructions!"

Under the cover of darkness, more than 15,000 soldiers were resting in this mountainous area. After seven days of continuous travel, many soldiers had blisters on their feet, but no one complained and no one fell behind. They relied on their tenacious willpower to reach Datong.

"Report, Commander, the reconnaissance team is back, and they've brought back a few people!"

The reconnaissance team was the unit that Li Yunlong immediately sent to conduct reconnaissance near Datong after the battle of Zhongtiao Mountain broke out. The intelligence on the mobilization of the 26th Division was provided by them.

"Let them come over!"

The reconnaissance company directly under the headquarters is under the command of the cavalry battalion, and the person who carried out this mission was Ma Renxin’s son, Ma Chengfeng.

"Commander, Ma Chengfeng, squad leader of the first squad of the second platoon of the cavalry battalion's reconnaissance company, reports to you!"

"Thanks for your hard work, Pony! Who are these people?"

"Commander, this is Comrade Li Youfu, Captain of the Datong Miners' Guerrillas. This is Comrade Wang Jinlong. This is Comrade Suo Han, the liaison officer of the Daqingshan Detachment. This is Li Yunlong, Commander of the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei Independent Column."

When Ma Chengfeng reported to Li Yunlong just now, several people had already guessed Li Yunlong's identity, and now they were even more excited after confirming it.

Li Youfu excitedly shook Li Yunlong's hand and said, "Commander Li, you are finally here. The people of Datong have been looking forward to your arrival for a long time. The people of Datong have suffered so much!"

Wang Jinlong and Suo Han beside him also nodded, and tears flowed uncontrollably. The people of Datong have been tortured by the Japanese devils since the fall.

"First, tell me briefly about the situation in Datong and the coal mines. We are here to target the Japanese in Datong and destroy their coal mines."

Upon hearing this, Li Youfu immediately calmed himself down and said, "Reporting to Commander Li, the current garrison in Datong is the Japanese 26th Division. Some time ago, most of the 26th Division went south, and we don't know where they went. The one currently stationed in Datong is the Chida Regiment under the Japanese 26th Division. This Chida Regiment has about 3,000 men."

"It has two infantry battalions, a tank battalion, and an artillery squadron. In addition, Datong has more than 3,000 puppet troops."

"Most of these puppet troops are stationed in the coal mines. There is an infantry battalion of the Japanese Chida Regiment stationed in the coal mines, with about a thousand people. There is also a Japanese tank squadron stationed in the middle of several mining areas, with about ten Japanese tanks."

"In addition, the Japanese built a large number of fortifications around the coal mine, including bunkers and artillery towers!"

"Except for the White Mine Cave, which is a place the Japanese used to trick people into working, in other mining areas, basically, once you enter, you will die and there is no way you can come out alive."

"Especially in the mining areas of Meiyukou, Hujiawan, and Diaowuzui, the security is extremely tight. I've only seen Japanese trucks carrying corpses out, and no one has ever come out alive. I also sent our comrades in to sneak in and see what's going on inside, but no one has come out alive either. In the end..."

At this point, Li Youfu couldn't hold back his tears and continued with a sob.

"Finally, the comrade's body was found in a pit near Meiyukou. Hundreds of bodies were thrown out along with him. Villagers nearby said that the area around Meiyukou was a place where the Japanese dumped corpses. Some abandoned mines were filled with corpses. The Japanese would fill the mines with corpses and then blow them down..."

"At first, these devils used the scam of recruiting workers, but later they simply picked up men from the streets. Now, all the men in Datong who could escape have run away, and those who didn't have have basically been captured by the devils and forced to work in the mines..."

"..."

Li Yunlong listened quietly to Li Youfu's story about the Datong Coal Mine, with raging anger accumulating in his calm eyes. In his previous life, Li Yunlong had visited the Mass Grave Memorial Hall, and at that time he wished he could grind the Japanese devils into ashes.

Now that I have experienced it myself, the hatred is even stronger.

"Do you have a topographical map of the area surrounding the mine? And a defense map of Datong?"

Li Youfu nodded immediately and said, "Yes, yes, yes. I heard you were coming, so I brought some with me. However, I only brought some from the Baikuangdong area. As for other areas, we only have the outer areas. We can't get inside. I heard that there are artillery towers and bunkers everywhere, and the Japanese defense is very strict!"

As Li Youfu spoke, he took out a map and marked several major mines occupied by the Japanese, including the No. 4 Old Mine, the No. 5 Mine, the No. 6 Mine and the No. 9 Mine.

These mines are all connected to each other, so the Japanese paid special attention to guarding this area. The only people entering and leaving every day were trains transporting coal, or miners who were deceived or captured from all over the place.

“How many miners are there in these mines?”

Li Youfu pondered for a moment and said with a wry smile, "I don't know the exact number, but it's probably at least close to 100,000 people in total. The exact number is unknown. Some large mines have tens of thousands of people, while small mines have hundreds or even thousands. The Japanese are arresting people every day. We can only find out how many are still alive after we break in."

"How many people are there in your miner guerrilla group?"

"Two thousand people!"

Li Youfu lowered his head somewhat embarrassedly after he finished speaking. "But we only have a little over a hundred guns. The rest are swords or hoes. Commander Li, I hope you can help the suffering people of Datong..."

Because Datong is a coal-producing area, the Japanese have very strict control over the area. Most of the people were captured to mine, so it was very difficult for the guerrillas to develop here. Li Youfu and others did not know the purpose of Li Yunlong's coming to Datong, but they still hoped to get help from the regular army so that they could better attack the Japanese and rescue some compatriots in the future.

"No problem. You and your men will follow us. We don't have many weapons, so I'll provide you with ammunition! Those of you without weapons will be responsible for logistics and help transport supplies."

"Thank you, Commander Li!"

After Li Yunlong finished speaking, he looked at Liu Jinlong and said, "Liu, liaison officer, can you contact the Daqingshan detachment?"

"Yes, but I need a radio. My radio is hidden in Datong City."

"We have a radio. Please ask for the location of the Daqingshan detachment. If they are close, please ask them to come over and attack Datong together!"

Liu Jinlong, Li Youfu, Suo Han and others looked at Li Yunlong in amazement. They originally thought that Li Yunlong's troops were the same as part of the 115th Division and part of the 120th Division before. They came to Datong just to pass by and eliminate some small Japanese troops. They didn't expect that Li Yunlong would actually attack Datong?