Age of Rebirth

Chapter 480: Shijiazhuang

The blocking battle on the outskirts of Shijiazhuang was fierce. Since November 40th, the fighting has not stopped. The arc-shaped position centered on Shijiazhuang has resisted the continuous attack of [-] Japanese troops. The smoke filled the air, and the strength of the six brigades of the Independent Division, under the command of the division commander Tang Qiuli, adopted a strategy of fighting step by step and retreating step by step, gradually shrinking around Shijiazhuang.

Under the command of the commander of the North China Dispatch Army, Xiangyue Qingsi, the Japanese army pressed on every step of the way, holding on tightly, determined to annihilate Tang Qiuli's main force in the southern Hebei plain, and often the troops of the independent division had just withdrawn. Not long after leaving the position, the Japanese army immediately occupied it, and then chased after it without hesitation.

The Japanese army occupying the position did not please them. Before the squadron retreated, it often gave the Japanese army a sudden counterattack, then immediately broke away from the battle and withdrew, and planted a large number of booby traps on the position to let the Japanese army pursue them. The troops suffered a lot, and this was the specialty of Tang Qiuquan's special warfare detachment. After the actual combat test, the effect was excellent, and it was quickly popularized and spread widely among the main forces of the independent division.

The fierce battle continued until the evening of November [-], when the battle line was fixed near Shijiazhuang. The Japanese army's five consecutive days of attacks had become slightly exhausted, without the vigor and impact of the attack day. Going to the front line, being beaten by the independent division, the few divisions who were looking for teeth were replaced, and replaced by the second-line divisions, which were the reserve team, and were going to attack the independent division's defensive positions tomorrow. . [

After fighting for six days, from Xiangyue Qingsi to the commanders of the divisions, they had to admit that Tang Qiuli's troops could be regarded as a powerful enemy of the Japanese Imperial Army. Their ferocity and tenacity made these senior Japanese officers terrified, especially their firepower. The troops even surpassed the imperial army, and their tactics were used even more cleverly. They all had a consensus that this was the elite troops of Tang Qiuli, the devil of China. Don't dare to divide the troops to outflank the rear of the independent division.

In Xiangyue Qingji's words, Tang Qiu is ruthless and scheming, and the sudden reduction in firepower may not be his trick to lure our troops to split up so that we can find opportunities to encircle and annihilate my troops. This is his usual method. At the beginning of the incident, Xiangyue Qingsi suffered a lot under Tang Qiuli's hands many times, and was really scared of being beaten.

And he is quite proud of his iron roller tactics, which is to use heavy troops to press forward step by step, drive the independent division out of the Pingjin area, and gradually consume his strength.

Xiangyue Qingji was assigning tasks to the heads of divisions who will be the main attack tomorrow, when suddenly there was a violent explosion outside, and then several phones on the table rang almost at the same time, and the content of the report was roughly the same, confronting the imperial army The independent division of the army suddenly bombarded our army's positions with fierce artillery fire. A large number of squadrons with an unknown number launched a comprehensive counterattack against our positions and have already broken through many places.

Xiangyue Qingsi's first reaction was that the independent division in front of him came for reinforcements, otherwise, it would be stupid and courting death to attack with troops far smaller than the imperial army, unless Tang Qiuli wanted to commit suicide, there is a problem What troubled him was that the reinforcements of the Independent Division had fallen from the sky?Why there was no sign beforehand? He didn't understand this question until his death.

The enemy's situation was unknown, so Kazuki Kiyoshi ordered the first-line troops not to get entangled with the independent division's attacking troops, and immediately withdrew to the second-line positions, relying on the fortifications, to inflict a lot of damage on the active attacking squadron, and let them have a taste of our Japanese imperial army. The firepower is powerful.

The Japanese troops retreated to the second line, all their weapons were aimed at the front, and the artillery was loaded. When they saw the figures of the Chinese soldiers, especially the Japanese soldiers who had been attacking the front for the past few days, they felt a sense of revenge. , I finally waited for the opportunity to hide in the fortifications and shoot the Chinese soldiers. I have been actively attacking for the past few days, but I was beaten badly.

The Japanese soldiers hiding in the fortifications opened their eyes wide, but there was no sign of the Chinese soldiers, and even the sound of the guns stopped. They were nervous all night, and the sun was rising high, and they did not wait for a chance for revenge. People are tired and tired, and the mind is tired.

After preparing for the fierce artillery fire, the cutting-edge Japanese soldiers, screaming like a tsunami, rushed to the position they gave up last night. There was no one there. Wounded soldiers with arms and legs, a squadron of Japanese soldiers, tremblingly entered Shijiazhuang, which was as quiet as death, without receiving any blows along the way.

At [-] o'clock in the morning on November [-], the follow-up troops of the Japanese army entered Shijiazhuang, an important town in southern Hebei and an important hub of the Ping-Han Railway. Shijiazhuang fell. This was the last big city occupied by the Independent Division in the North China Plain. However, no one can be seen in the urban area, the place is full of chaos, it is a completely empty city, and further ahead is the rolling Taihang Mountains.

After hearing the news, Xiangyue Qingji was full of bitterness, and he didn't know what it was like. He fought with Tang Qiuli's independent division for six days, lost the lives of more than 3 soldiers, and sent back tens of thousands of wounded soldiers. In the empty city, he didn't know how Tang Qiuli made these Chinese people withdraw willingly. This was the case in Beiping, Baoding, and Shijiazhuang. With so many people, where did Tang Qiuli arrange them?

Surrounded by the generals, Xiangyue Qingsi, who entered the dead city of Shijiazhuang, did not feel the joy of victory. There was not a single Chinese citizen on the street, only his own soldiers searched from house to house, and the evacuation was so thorough. , all the wells were filled to death, and the water and electricity systems were completely destroyed.

According to the estimates of the staff around me, if the imperial army wants to stay here for a long time, all the infrastructure will have to be rebuilt, which is equivalent to rebuilding a Shijiazhuang. What's more, even all the doors will be dismantled and transported away. All the things that were left were also destroyed. Xiangyue Qingsi hated in his heart that this devil, Tang Qiuli, left me an abandoned city and an empty city.

What worried him even more was that not far ahead was the Taihang Mountains, which stretched for nearly a thousand miles. The independent division troops that suddenly disappeared must have entered the Taihang Mountains. To Tang Qiuli, it was like a fish returning to the sea or a bird entering the forest. In the plain area, seize the opportunity of the main force of the Independent Division, the hateful, hateful, despicable and cunning devil of China.

The sudden counterattack last night was to cover the retreat. Thinking of this, Qingyue Qingji felt even more annoyed, his face was livid, and he was holding the chrysanthemum saber tightly in his hand, almost going berserk, with the urge to kill, but, He didn't admit that he was fooled by Tang Qiuli, he just thought Tang Qiuli was too cunning.

Xiangyue Qingsi, who was in a bad mood, reported the results of the battle to Prince Zairen who was in Beiping. There was really nothing to show off. From Baoding to Shijiazhuang, he walked all the way with difficulty. He also knew that his report would definitely not be included in His Royal Highness's report. Fayan, what can I do?

He stood there blankly for a while, then suddenly remembered something, isn't there a large coal mine near Shijiazhuang?What is it called Jingxing Coal Mine? It is the most scarce strategic material in the empire. Tang Qiuli can evacuate people, but he cannot move the underground coal. Occupying the coal mine is also a victory. He immediately ordered a regiment of soldiers to quickly occupy Jingxing coal mine.

In less than three hours, the captain of the Japanese army came back to report, hesitating for a while, hesitant to speak, he could see clearly that since entering Shijiazhuang, the commander's face was not very good-looking, and he told the real situation After the report, he may have to bear the anger of His Excellency the Commander. He is waiting, waiting for a few more people around the Commander, so that everyone can share it, and he will suffer less.

Waiting impatiently, Xiangyue Qingsi looked at his subordinates who were swaying and unable to give a fart. He was still like the captain of the imperial army. At that time, he was furious. Shouting angrily, "Ba Ga!", he rushed over, couldn't help but say, opened his bow left and right, just got a big mouthful, the more he fought, the more angry he became, the poor captain suffered all the anger of the commander. [

Seeing this unlucky regiment captain, his cheeks were bulging, his military cap was blown off, his face was swollen like a pig's head, his mouth was bleeding, and his teeth were probably loose, but his chest was still straight He raised his head, kept saying "Hai", and didn't dare to move. This is the rule. If the officer slaps himself, it is to look down on him. Most people don't have this kind of treatment.

Xiangyue Qingji was tired from the fight, and his breath disappeared a lot. He panted heavily, moved his numb wrists, and ordered him to report the situation. In fact, from the appearance of his subordinates, he had a bad premonition, otherwise, It's not so bad, the leader of the alliance, Lao Gao's lips were swollen, he couldn't speak clearly, and after a long time, Xiangyue Qingji finally understood.

Ganqing Jingxing Coal Mine has been completely destroyed, all machinery and equipment have been dismantled, all mine shafts have been blasted, and there is not even a single person in the mine. According to the most optimistic estimate, there will be no more than a year and a half before production can resume. , not counting the time to reinstall machinery and equipment.

Xiangyue Qingji sat down on the chair, wanting to cry, Tang Qiuli, you are so ruthless!Destroyed my last hope, because I deliberately didn't leave any thoughts for myself. I don't know if it was the misfortune of the empire or my own sorrow when I met this opponent. He had a premonition that his life in North China would definitely not be good better off.

Vigorously waving his hand, the captain of the pig-headed regiment tried his best to salute his chest, and exited respectfully. Only when he got outside did he dare to touch his hot face. Come back, this stinking beating cannot be in vain. This is also a glorious tradition of the Japanese army. When you get angry with your boss, you come back and find it on your subordinates.

Xiangyue Qingsi, who was sitting on the chair, was in a state of confusion. A staff officer came in to report, searched the soldiers in the city, and found Tang Qiuli's secret headquarters. It has already surrounded the place. Your Excellency Commander, please decide whether to search immediately where?

The head of Xiangyue Qing came, and Tang Qiuli's secret headquarters was very attractive to him. "Open the way!" The staff led him, and a large group of guards protected him in the middle, followed by many senior officers. He huffed and walked towards the southeast corner of the city.

(To be continued) (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to *** (******) to vote, ***, your support is my biggest motivation.)