Age of Rebirth

Chapter 680 Taiyuan City Breakdown ([-])

The defensive barriers in the south and southeast of Taiyuan, Taigu and Jinzhong, were violently attacked by the Japanese army for many days. Yan Xishan, chairman of Shanxi Province, commander of Shanxi Security, and deputy commander of the Yellow River Basin Theater Command, took what he could use All the troops are devoted to these two battlefields. It is related to the whole territory of Shanxi, and Chief Yan's family fortune. He has to do his best.

In the fierce battle until the evening of May [-]th, the Jin army, with more than half of its troops casualties, could no longer withstand the continuous and violent attacks of the superior Japanese army. First, in the direction of Taigu, the defensive position was broken by the Japanese army, and then, in the direction of Jinzhong, Sun Chu's defense line was smashed into a big hole by the Japanese army. The sky was pitiful. It was dark. The Japanese stopped attacking and just established positions at the breakthrough. The soldiers of the Jin army finally took a breath, the flames were still burning everywhere, dimly reflecting the corpses, including Japanese soldiers and Jin army soldiers.

When Yan Xishan heard the news that the Taigu and Jinzhong defense lines had been breached by the Japanese army, he slumped on a chair, covered his head with his hands, and woke up in pain. The defeated Gao Shen looked at each other and had no good ideas. Among these people, there were many people who were frightened by the current battle situation. They had already made up their minds to persuade Chief Yan to leave Taiyuan. As for where to go next, they had no idea. Pu'er, you can only take one step at a time.

Looking at the appearance of the old man Six Gods, several people put on courage and confessed their suggestions. Yan Xishan did not reprimand loudly, but just stared blankly at the roof. He knew that these old subordinates were of course for his own survival. They were more for the sake of the big tree they relied on. After leaving Yan Xishan, they were no farts. To the comfort of Chief Yan, no one persuaded him to surrender to the Communists. [

In fact, after Yan Xishan learned that the Taigu and Jinzhong defense lines had been breached in many places, he knew that he had already tried his best to fight again, and he had considered the issue of making peace with the Japanese, but in this situation, *** People are pressing every step of the way, even if they take refuge in the Communists, they will never get any benefits. At most, it is an alliance under the city. The harsh conditions are absolutely unacceptable to him. Besides, there is also the issue of reputation. With his character , Even if he surrendered, he still had to strive for the greatest benefit. His subordinates did not propose to surrender to the Communist, so he still had a glimmer of hope in his heart to fight again.

Now, Yan Xishan is faced with a dilemma. If he leaves, everything will be over. He will lose Shanxi and everything he has worked so hard for for many years. Or death in battle is not the result he would like to see, where to go, the time is only tonight and one night, tomorrow, the Japanese will attack the city of Taiyuan, the senior officers stood silently, watching the old man's uncertain face, Awaiting his decision.

The room was quiet, except for the occasional heavy breathing, the atmosphere was oppressive, and there was a rush of footsteps outside the door, "Report to Commander Yan, my subordinate Zhao Chengshou has arrived with the main force of the Seventh Army, please give instructions to Commander Yan!" Yan Xishan He raised his head abruptly, and saw Zhao Chengshou, whose face was exhausted and dusty, standing in front of his eyes, his eyes lit up suddenly, and he even shed tears, the great savior, at the most critical moment, Zhao Chengshou came back.

"Yinfu, is that you?" Yan Xishan stepped in front of Zhao Chengshou, took his hand, couldn't help crying, he couldn't help himself, the corners of Zhao Chengshou's eyes were moist, he followed the old man for many years, and never saw him Such a gaffe, it can be expected that the situation in Taiyuan is so critical that the usually calm Chief Yan will be uncharacteristically.

Zhao Chengshou was almost driven crazy by Yan Xishan. He received several telegrams a day urging him to go to Taiyuan as soon as possible. Zhao Chengshou understood the old man's mood. If Taiyuan was not in danger, the old man would not urge him desperately, but From Zhangjiakou to Taiyuan, it is nearly a thousand miles away, almost running through the entire Northwest Shanxi region, and there are more than [-] troops. He can't wait to grow wings, but the reality has changed, so he can only concentrate the only trucks and transport a few divisions to catch up. Back in Taiyuan, the other troops had to march day and night on the mountain roads in northwest Shanxi.

The Seventh Group Army under Zhao Chengshou is the main force of the Jin Army. Zhao Chengshou is open-minded, bold and careful, and can make decisive decisions when encountering situations. He has taken on important tasks in the army many times and has followed Yan Xishan for many years. He is known as Zhao Menghu. He led his troops back to Taiyuan in time, which is undoubtedly the greatest comfort and confidence for Yan Xishan who is already facing a desperate situation.

Immediately, under the auspices of Yan Xishan, an emergency military meeting was held in Yan's mansion to discuss ways to deal with the current war situation. Taking serious damage as a safety measure, Chief Yan should immediately evacuate Taiyuan and go to Shuozhou in the northwest of Shanxi to establish a headquarters to coordinate and command the war of resistance throughout Shanxi.

Zhao Chengshou's plan is undoubtedly the one that is most in line with Yan Xishan's wishes, especially his words, "No one can be relied on now, we can only rely on ourselves," which touched Yan Xishan's nerves. Since the Battle of Wuxiang, the Jin army has successively Suffering heavy losses, isn't it just the Jin army's family who are fighting desperately with the Japanese? Tang Qiuli is right in front of him, but he doesn't reach out, which makes him feel cold. Yan Xishan didn't think about it. Good results, "Since the July [-]th Incident, what he has done has caused Tang Qiuli to lose the minimum trust in him, which is why he is in the current situation.

Although it was Tang Qiuli's strategy to bring disaster to the east, it was his own fault. The meeting finally made a decision to shrink troops across the board, abandon Taigu and Jinzhong, and concentrate troops to defend Taiyuan. Yan Xishan left the city tonight and withdrew to the Shuozhou area. All enterprises, factories and mines in Taiyuan were relocated immediately to defend the troops in Taiyuan and buy time for the relocation.

It was late at night, and the city of Taiyuan was pitch black. Outside the north gate, dozens of cars parked quietly in the darkness with their lights turned off. A large group of senior military officers bid farewell to Yan Xishan at the gate of the city. Yan Xishan held Zhao Chengshou's hand , Repeatedly urged: "Yinfu, if you can protect Taiyuan, you can protect it. If you can't do anything, you should retreat north immediately to save the flesh and blood and seeds of our Jin army. And you, you have always fought bravely, so you must pay attention to your own safety."

In the cold spring, the convoy went away. Yan Xishan looked back at Taiyuan City in the dark night, and the pain hit his heart. It has been many years, and he has never left here. His heart and roots have been integrated with this city. Together, how many times the situation has changed and the flames of war have not left here, but now, they have to leave here in a panic and desolation. Yan Xishan sighed and looked away, not knowing when he will be able to return to Taiyuan.

Zhao Chengshou led and sent Yan Xishan away, and a stone in his heart fell to the ground. He organized troops to immediately build fortifications on the outskirts of Taiyuan, and ordered to retreat. They reached the front lines of Taigu and Jinzhong overnight. The troops who have fought bloody battles with the Japanese for many days will fall into chaos after receiving the order to retreat.

And the first to be confused was the troops of the Seventh Army defending the Taigu line of defense. How many comrades fell beside them, and their bodies were torn into pieces by the Japanese cannons. Already numb, thinking of the truth of survival, after receiving the order to retreat to Taiyuan, the last tight string finally broke, and the desire to survive, unstoppable, spread in the hearts of every soldier who survived by chance.

The whole line was chaotic, according to the retreat order, each unit followed the order, did not disturb the Japanese army, and alternately covered the evacuation positions, but the retreat turned into a rout, and the remaining 2 soldiers who had been fighting for many days had a chance to survive. Coupled with the fact that officers at all levels are only concerned with their own retreat, the troops formed a swarm, scrambling to escape from this terrible hell and escape from the overwhelming artillery fire.

The movement on the ground finally alarmed the Japanese army, and the situation was reported to Neji Okamura. This cunning old devil immediately concluded that the Jin army was going to retreat, but the situation was unclear in the dark night, and he was afraid that it was a Chinese strategy. It was decided to send a unit of troops to carry out a tentative attack, starting from the breakthrough point, and advancing to the Jin army's defense in depth.

Zuo Siyu was the head of the First Regiment of the Second Brigade of the Jin Army's personal training. He fought fiercely for many days. The full-staffed regiment consisted of more than 400 soldiers, and there were less than 1000 left. His position was on the Taigu line of defense. He received the order to retreat the second group, followed by the 25th Division of the Seventh Army, but before he could finish gathering the troops, the soldiers of the 25th Division had already crossed the trenches in a mess , ran to the front of his troops, Zuo Siyu cursed angrily, retreating like this, isn't it tantamount to reporting to the little devil?

According to his misfortune, the shadows of a large number of Japanese soldiers appeared on the 25th Division's position, and the steel helmets shone with a dim luster under the unextinguished fire. Yu thought sharply, retreating like this is tantamount to giving the little devil a living target. If he is chased, the little devil can directly hit the Taiyuan city, and the whole line is in danger of collapse.

As soon as he gritted his teeth, Zuo Siyu ordered the troops to enter the position immediately, preparing to block the Japanese army and cover the retreat of the friendly troops. Everyone knew what this decision meant to all the soldiers of the first regiment. The Royal Forest Army, with its own arrogance and ruthlessness, did not have the habit of running away when it saw a little devil, and the soldiers entered their positions silently.

The Japanese soldiers who were chasing were suddenly hit by firepower and stopped immediately. They did not expect that the Jin army retreated in a panic, and there were still covering troops. This was a trap by the Chinese to lure the imperial army. Where is the suspicious Okamura Ningji, the main force of the Japanese army who had assembled to prepare for the follow-up attack received an order to rest in place. [

A battle that was enough to lead to the collapse of the entire line was dissolved in the air because of an exhausted regiment with less than a thousand people. Thanks to Zuo Siyu's regiment, they helped Zhao Chengshou organize the defense of Taiyuan and won a precious night. .

(To be continued)