Rise From Eight Hundred

This battle!

Hattori Akitaro, the commander of the 1st Infantry Brigade of the Japanese Army, and 3,300 Japanese soldiers died in the battle!

The 2nd Tank Squadron, which had lost all its will to fight and had been 500 meters away from the front line when the Chinese shelling ended and the charge was sounded, could not escape the disaster because of their cleverness. 17 of the 20 tanks were lost, and only 3 Type 97 light tanks escaped because of good luck and did not encounter trapped vehicles.

In fact, if it were not for the temporary retreat of these 20 tanks, even if Hattori Akitaro's carefully constructed defense line had been bombed so fiercely, it would never have collapsed in less than 30 minutes!

But this is the battlefield. Even if all the members of the 2nd Tank Squadron fought desperately like the Japanese infantry, it would only cause more casualties to the Chinese side, which would not conflict with the final battle situation.

However, in addition to the defeat and the loss of face of the Imperial Japanese Army in this battle, the 1st Division also had highlights.

The two infantry battalions that had evacuated earlier, after feeling the rumbling of artillery fire from the front line at 2,000 meters and 4,000 meters respectively, showed the temperament of true soldiers, abandoning unnecessary baggage without hesitation and heading into the darkness!

Military orders are like mountains! The major of the army who led the infantry battalion confidently answered the investigation team leader sent by the division headquarters who questioned him.

The military order given by Major General Hattori Akitaro was to retreat as soon as possible, and the two Japanese majors resolutely completed the military order from the general.

As for why they abandoned baggage, even infantry guns and some heavy machine guns were chosen to be thrown on the plain, the reasons are self-evident.

The young officers of the 1st Division chose to protect people, instead of being like some old stubborn people who would rather die than carry those heavy equipment, so that the final outcome can only be that people and equipment become spoils of war for the Chinese.

From a certain perspective, the choice of the two Japanese majors was fine, at least because of their decision, nearly 2,000 Japanese soldiers and hundreds of wounded soldiers left the battlefield alive.

Otherwise, with the marching speed of the 772nd Regiment, which strode into the darkness with three infantry companies as the spearhead after breaking through the defense line in an attempt to annihilate another defeated soldier, the two infantry battalions might not be able to shake off this powerful pursuer.

Along the way, the Japanese army abandoned a lot of infantry artillery, heavy machine guns and various supplies, but the officers and soldiers of the 772nd Regiment were not very happy.

Because they met an opponent this time, they chased for nearly 7 kilometers in one breath, but found that they were at least 3 kilometers away from the Japanese army. The opponent's speed was not slower than their own. As brave as Wang Xiaoqiang was, he could only bite his back teeth and announce that he would stop chasing.

After all, the First Division still had more than 10,000 people. If they were angry and counterattacked, it would be a loss. Wang Xiaoqiang would not do such a stupid thing.

The battle on the western front was a complete victory. The 683rd Brigade annihilated more than 3,800 Japanese troops at the cost of more than 500 officers and soldiers killed and 800 officers and soldiers injured.

This created a record on the battlefield in North China. It was the first time that a victory was won in a positional battle on the plain with a casualty ratio of 1 to 3. Before that, even the Four-Line Regiment had not achieved such a record.

After receiving the battle report from the 683rd Brigade, Tang Dao, who had led 500 elite troops to raid the temporary division headquarters of the Japanese army and successfully killed a Japanese division-level chief of staff, happily replied to congratulate: "In the Battle of Zishan, we crushed the offensive of the Japanese invaders. Your army accounted for at least 50% of the credit. On behalf of the millions of soldiers and civilians in southern Hebei, I would like to express my gratitude to all the officers and soldiers of your army. Long live the 683rd Brigade!"

Although Tang Dao meant to add icing on the cake, he did not actually exaggerate the role of the 683rd Brigade.

If the main force of the 683rd Brigade had not been lurking in the Taihang Mountains, distracting Saburo Okabe's attention, so that he had at least 6 infantry battalions of reserve troops who dared not be deployed to the main battlefield of Zishan, the pressure on the three defense lines of Zishan would be at least more than double the current one.

Not to mention that the 683rd Brigade directly broke through the Japanese defense line on the plain and annihilated nearly 4,000 Japanese invaders, which was a perfect end to the Battle of Zishan.

By the morning of the 19th, the losses of the 1st Division and the 3rd Division were as high as people, basically crippling this powerful force of the Kwantung Army, and by the way, beating up the old rival 3rd Division. When going to the Yellow River front, when thinking of the Battle of Zishan, these bastards must have their legs clamped.

But this is not the final loss of the Japanese army.

Because Colonel Shigenobu Yoshitsugu and his 2,000 men are still surrounded by the Four-Line Regiment!

By the morning of the 19th, 2,000 Japanese troops were surrounded in a hilly area of ​​less than 5 square kilometers. The nearly 6,000 elite troops from the four lines who surrounded them from three directions were not in a hurry to launch the final attack, but built fortifications on the spot.

Shigenobu Yoshitsugu and the 2,000 Japanese troops did not know if they were confused. They did not even gather the entire army to kill the only way out, which was about 1,500 meters wide. After discovering that they were surrounded, the Japanese army used the original fortifications to defend on the spot, looking like they were determined to fight to the end.

"The commander of the little devils is something!" Ye Chenghuan, who was in charge of commanding this battle, arrived at the front-line command post of the encirclement, and after carefully observing the actions of the Japanese infantry in the encirclement who were still desperately digging trenches and building fortifications with a telescope, he shook his head with regret.

The only way out left by the encirclement last night was not a gap left by the tactical coordination errors of the four major infantry battalions. It was left deliberately by Ye Chenghuan.

If the Japanese army escapes through this gap, they will be ambushed by the three elite infantry companies of the 3rd Battalion, and most of the Japanese soldiers in the encirclement will not have the chance to see the sun this morning.

If the Japanese army stayed in this hill and resisted stubbornly, it would be a troublesome matter. It would be a bit difficult to swallow up these 2,000 people who were already in a desperate situation and had perfect fortifications, even with the strength of the Four-Line Regiment.

Unfortunately, Ye Chenghuan's trick was discovered by the Japanese commander. Instead of fleeing overnight, he stayed in this hilly area and planned to fight to the death.

"It's a headache. There are at least 2,000 little devils here. We have to pay a certain price to eat them. But after the battle of Zishan, all units suffered heavy losses. Some infantry companies only had half of their soldiers left. When those company commanders saw me, they didn't smile even though they had won the battle." Shangguan Yun also frowned.

"Yes! The battle was won, but the troops suffered too much loss, not to mention the company and platoon leaders. I saw that the regiment commander, such a strong man, went to the field hospital and came back with a gloomy face. This time, he personally led the mountain infantry company and the reconnaissance company to attack the Japanese division headquarters. He may have the intention of venting his anger on Saburo Okabe." Ye Chenghuan also sighed.

"That's right. I have been in the army for so many years, and I have never seen such a 'small-minded' commander as the commander of the regiment. He never waits for grudges overnight. He must be avenged today. Unfortunately, Saburo Okabe ran away so fast that he left a small division chief of staff there as a scapegoat. I guess the anger that the commander didn't vent will be vented on these devils." Shangguan Yun said.

As the two were talking, the signalman ran over and handed over a telegram.

"Encircle but don't attack, everything will be discussed after I come back! Encircle them to death, and transfer all the anti-aircraft guns of the anti-aircraft battalion to the battlefield!" Tang Dao's telegram was concise and clear.

"Chief of Staff Shangguan, you are the old comrade who understands the regiment commander. You are right." Ye Chenghuan handed the telegram to Shangguan Yun with a wry smile.

"The commander of the regiment wants to trap this wave of Japanese troops to death!" Shangguan Yun was slightly surprised after scanning the telegram.

The intention of transferring the air defense battalion is very clear. It is to prevent the Japanese army from using aircraft to open up an escape route for this wave of Japanese troops. That should be the only possibility for this wave of Japanese troops to escape.

"The commander's move is ruthless! Once the 48 40mm anti-aircraft guns of the air defense battalion are pulled over, unless the Japanese use hundreds of fighter planes like last time, we will eat as many as they come. We are not afraid of them coming, but we are afraid of them not coming. The commander's siege and attack is really the first time I have ever seen it!" Ye Chenghuan sighed.

"That's not the first time I've seen it. Which other unit has as many anti-aircraft guns as our Fourth Line Regiment? Anyway, when I was in the 88th Division, I felt it was really awesome to see 12 mountain guns." Shangguan Yun also sighed.

"Director Ye, you don't know. When I first arrived at my regiment's base, the commander of the regiment took me to visit the artillery company. I saw the 12 Bofors mountain cannons on the playground. I felt like I was dreaming. When I went to bed at night, my mind was full of the shadow of the cannons. I cried after waking up. If my 542nd Regiment had this equipment, why would such an elite regiment be lost in the Songhu battlefield?"

"Haha! Chief of Staff Shangguan, you said you were dreaming at that time. When I first arrived at our regiment, it was like Liu Laolao entering the Grand View Garden. You can recognize the Bofors mountain cannon, but I haven't even seen the MG34 machine gun.

At that time, Heizi demonstrated the firepower of that thing to me. The long burst of fire broke a tree as thick as a calf. My head was buzzing at that time. If the national army had this firepower, I am afraid I would not live to enter the Taihang Mountains." Ye Chenghuan laughed.

"Haha! Director Ye, don't dwell on the past. Even brothers have their own fights. The Japanese are here! The two brothers just teamed up to fight the bandits. Besides, we are no longer divided into you and me, we eat from the same pot." Shangguan Yun hurriedly smiled and comforted his colleagues.

"What if the Japanese are driven away one day?" Ye Chenghuan sighed slightly.

"Then" Shangguan Yun smiled slightly, facing Ye Chenghuan's eyes, but answered very calmly.

"The commander has proved that he is a real Chinese soldier on the battlefield. Although Shangguan Yun is not talented, the moment I chose to follow the commander to the battlefield in North China, I have decided to follow him!"

"That's right, the Chinese people and the historical process will choose the real Chinese army." Ye Chenghuan's eyes lit up slightly.

"However, before considering those, do we have to kill these Japanese first? I'm afraid that Okabe Saburo, who has already fled back to Handan, will not give up these Japanese so easily." Shangguan Yun smiled.

"Haha! That's right. Send a message to all battalions. The commander of the regiment ordered that the Japanese troops in the encirclement be killed. If one person leaves from that direction, the battalion commander will personally go to the regiment headquarters to make a self-criticism!" Ye Chenghuan also laughed.

Although the battle was hard and the losses were huge and heartbreaking, it was always pleasant to be able to taste the fruits of victory in the battle, especially when they surrounded nearly 2,000 Japanese invaders and watched them struggling to survive. For the Chinese soldiers who had been struggling to stay on the defensive for more than two years, it was a hearty pleasure.

Of course, for Ye Chenghuan, there was another layer of joy.

This was also the most heartfelt chat between the top five commanders of the two four-line regiments. One side did not beat around the bush, and the other side also admitted what he thought, but there was no doubt that Shangguan Yun gave the answer that Ye Chenghuan wanted most.

The fact that Tang Dao became a secret member of the 80th Army Group was the top secret of the 80th Army Group. Ye Chenghuan was not of high enough rank and did not know that his own regiment commander had already been a member of the 80th Army Group, but he knew that Tang Dao could transfer him to the 4th Regiment and serve as the director of the political department, which itself explained everything.

Lei Xiong has always been as close to Tang Dao as a brother, and their relationship is self-evident. Now that the chief of staff Shangguan Yun has stated frankly that he will obey all decisions made by Tang Dao, the future direction of the 4th Regiment can basically be determined. How can Ye Chenghuan, who has a special mission, not be happy?

The various units of the 4th Regiment surrounded this hill, put down their guns and picked up shovels, like thousands of hardworking groundhogs, and the trenches that were initially formed by the naked eye circled this battlefield tightly.

In this situation, if you say that a mouse may run away at night, it may be possible, but if you want a living person to escape, it is really difficult.

Colonel Shigenobu Yoshitsugu, who was watching all this with a telescope, had a gloomy face. He knew very well that it was impossible to escape from here by his own strength. The only hope was that the North China Front Army did not abandon them, and the division did not abandon them.

At least, there was still the 10th Division and the remnants of the division in southern Hebei! And the reinforcements of the 4th Division were already on the way, with a total of more than 40,000 troops. It might be difficult to have another Zishan Battle, but it would not be a big problem to rescue their isolated army!

Colonel Shigenobu Yoshitsugu could only comfort himself in this way. Otherwise, what else could he do? Committing seppuku to apologize?

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The Chinese side had won great victories on various battlefields and surrounded 2,000 Japanese troops. The tone of the complete victory of the Zishan Battle had basically been determined, while the Japanese side was full of worries.

Even though Major General Okuma Yukinosuke hurriedly led nearly 10,000 Japanese troops to Handan by special train, he could not make Lieutenant General Okabe Saburo, who looked ashen, smile a bit.

On the afternoon of the 19th, the highest command of the Japanese front in Handan held a military meeting of major generals.

Sitting at the head was Lieutenant General Okabe Saburo, who was personally appointed by Commander Tate Jun. On both sides sat Lieutenant General Shinozuka Yoshio and Major General Okuma Yukinosuke, the commander of the 10th Division. In the back row were Major General Takahashi Toshio, the commander of the 2nd Infantry Brigade of the 1st Division stationed in Handan, Major General Se Takehei, the commander of the 8th Brigade of the 10th Division, and Major General Seya Kei, the commander of the 33rd Brigade. There were also two empty chairs.

Originally, the Japanese army had 2 lieutenant generals and 5 major generals in southern Hebei, but now there are two less, and the loss is comparable to the battle of eastern Shanxi in September 1938.

As the highest commander of the Ji'nan region, Saburo Okabe did not sit down, but stood in front of the map of the Handan region, with his back to several Japanese generals and officers, and remained silent for a long time. He did not speak, and no one spoke. The atmosphere in the entire conference room was heavy, which was rare in the Japanese Army's combat meetings.

"Colonel Shigenobu Yoshitsugu and 2,000 imperial officers and soldiers were surrounded. Although our Ji'nan Front Army lost the first battle, we must not give up on them, otherwise this battle will become the shame of our Imperial Army!" Saburo Okabe, who had not spoken for a long time, finally left in front of the map.

As soon as he spoke, he would set the tone for this combat meeting.

Saburo Okabe had already told everyone with a subtext that this combat meeting was not about whether to rescue, but how to rescue.

Yoshio Shinozuka, who was sitting on one side, twitched his facial muscles slightly, but he resisted the urge to speak.

His 10th Division had just suffered a major defeat half a year ago, and its vitality has not recovered yet. Saburo Okabe's meaning was almost like pointing at his nose and saying, it's your 10th Division's turn.

Seeing that Shinozuka Yoshio did not express his opinion, Okabe Saburo's face became even gloomier. He simply skipped the division commander and cast his eyes on Okuma Konosuke who had just arrived in Handan.

"Yes, I agree with Lieutenant General Okabe's point of view. A battle to rescue 2,000 imperial officers and soldiers is imperative. Our troops came here to lead the commander's order to annihilate the stubborn Chinese army. Now we are willing to accept all orders from Lieutenant General Okabe!" Seeing Okabe Saburo cast his eyes on him, Okuma Konosuke stood up directly with an impassioned look on his face.

Shinozuka Yoshio's face almost turned green. He knew better than anyone what Okuma Konosuke was like. Suddenly, this happened. Did this guy take the wrong medicine?

"Yoshi! Okuma-kun, the empire will not forget the bravery of you and the imperial officers and soldiers of the 4th Division." Okabe Saburo's gloomy face instantly improved a lot.

It doesn't matter how poor the combat effectiveness of the uninjured division is. What matters is the attitude, and Okuma Konosuke's attitude is very good.

'Nonsense! You are a lieutenant general, of course you are not afraid of this crazy old man. If I offend him at this time, wouldn't I be courting death? Besides, he has the final say on whether to fight or not, but I have the final say on how to fight? Could he come to my headquarters and watch me fight? 'Okuma Yukinosuke didn't even look at Shinozuka Yoshio. He sat down under the encouragement of Okabe Saburo and began to complain wildly in his heart.

It can only be said that there are 800 minds among the Japanese generals present, and Major General Okuma alone accounts for 799!

With Okuma Yukinosuke taking the lead, the other major generals naturally had to bite the bullet and stand up to speak, but Major General 'Shuangze' of the 10th Division was also a smart person and expressed a very positive attitude, but whether to send troops or not, the meaning behind the words still depends on the commander of his own division.

"My division is responsible for defending southern Hebei, and we can only mobilize limited manpower!" Shinozuka Yoshio set the tone as soon as he spoke. "But the lives of 2,000 imperial officers and soldiers are equally important. This battle is imperative. However, I think the key to the tactics is not on the ground, but in the sky!"

"That's great!" Okabe Saburo breathed a sigh of relief. Even if the 10th Division was only willing to send out one infantry regiment, he could still mobilize 20,000 troops, at least he would not be at a disadvantage in terms of troops.

"I will personally coordinate with the Army Aviation Corps!"

. . . . . . . . . . . .

"The whole army is holding on and waiting for help! The division is reorganizing for another battle!" At dusk, Colonel Shigenobu Yoshitsugu, who was in the encirclement of the Four-line Group, received a telegram that made him feel a little relieved.

However, what the Japanese colonel did not expect was that he would have to wait for nearly 10 days!

And in the hilly areas, there is nothing but grass!

People who are very hungry will really become herbivores!

. . . . . . . . . .

PS: I went out yesterday and was able to return home at 10 pm. I didn't have time to write, so I asked for a day off. I would like to inform you of this.