Not only Yan Laoxi and the Chairman of the Standing Committee, General Wei Junru, commander-in-chief of the Zhongtiao Mountain First War Zone, also received news of the attack on Wusu Airport.

Compared with the mixed emotions of Yan Laoxi and the Chairman after learning the news, the mood of General Wei Junru, who was committed to resisting Japan, was obviously much simpler.

He was simply excited that the 129th Division of the Eighth Route Army had achieved such impressive results, and immediately energized the entire theater to pass on this exciting news.

For a time, the morale of the Central Army officers and soldiers fighting the enemy on the front line was greatly boosted...

The screen pans to Xujiaao.

Headquarters of the 386th Brigade of the Eighth Route Army.

With the smooth retreat of the Second Independent Regiment, the New First Regiment and the Independent Regiment, the 386th Brigade concentrated its focus on the remaining six large strongholds in the Shanxi section of the Zhengtai-Taiwan Railway and Shouyang County.

Because the Second Independent Regiment and other units last night not only successfully destroyed the Wusu Military Station and Wusu Airport, but also severely damaged the Japanese Independent Mixed Second Brigade and other units that came out of the city for reinforcements.

In addition, the 772nd Regiment and the 771st Regiment also successively captured the Yinlingzhi Stronghold and the Nanyanzhu Stronghold.

Therefore, even though all the brigade chiefs stayed up all night, they were not sleepy because they were too excited.

At this moment, there was another rapid sound of horse hoofbeats outside the door. As a horse neighed, the sound of horse hoofbeats also stopped suddenly.

"Cavalry correspondent, is there another regiment that also captured a certain Japanese stronghold?"

With that said, Deputy Chief of Staff Wang stood up and walked out the door.

After a while, Deputy Chief of Staff Wang returned, but the excitement on his face was gone.

The deputy brigade commander asked: "Old Wang, what's the matter? Is it some bad news?"

Deputy Chief of Staff Wang: "It's not bad news, but it's not good news either."

After a pause, Deputy Chief of Staff Wang changed the topic and continued: "According to reports from the scouts on the front line, the Japanese and puppet troops in the remaining six strongholds, under the cover of the Japanese Air Force, headed towards Shouyang just after dawn.

Withdraw in the direction of the county seat.

It is expected that all the Japanese and puppet troops will be able to withdraw into the county at no later than one o'clock in the afternoon."

The deputy brigade commander frowned slightly: "This is indeed not good news. Although our offensive has been fierce in the past few days, it actually only consumed the Japanese ammunition and did not cause much casualties to the Japanese and puppet troops in the stronghold.

.”

"In these strongholds, there are at least five or six hundred garrison troops, and as many as thousands.

If they are scattered, it may not be difficult for us to defeat them one by one, but if they gather together and want to destroy them all, it will not be that easy."

"Moreover, once they are allowed to successfully withdraw into Shouyang County, the garrison strength in Shouyang County will suddenly increase to more than 8,000 people.

By then, it will be much more difficult for us to capture Shouyang County!"

When the deputy brigade commander said this, the others nodded in agreement.

The chief of staff thought for a moment and said: "What the deputy brigade commander said is very reasonable. If these Japanese and puppet troops are allowed to successfully withdraw into Shouyang County, it will be very detrimental to our next actions.

So, should we send troops to intercept and kill these Japanese and puppet troops on the way?

Nowadays, these Japanese and puppet troops are short of ammunition, and without the cover of artillery towers and bunkers, it is still very likely that we will severely damage or even eliminate them."

The brigade commander said: "I think that the withdrawal of these Japanese and puppet troops into Shouyang County may not be entirely a bad thing for us.

This way we can annihilate them all in one fell swoop, instead of dividing our forces to defeat them one by one like before."

After a pause, the brigade commander changed the topic and continued: "As for what you said, Deputy Brigadier Chen, send troops to intercept and kill him halfway.

This is indeed a feasible method, and it will definitely be able to severely damage or even completely annihilate it.

But the premise is that these devils have no reinforcements."

"But don't forget, they were evacuating to Shouyang County under the cover of the aviation force. If we intercept them halfway, we will definitely be attacked by the Japanese aviation force.

By then, it remains to be seen whether we can intercept and kill these Japanese and puppet troops on the way, but it is inevitable that we will be severely damaged by the Japanese air force."

After the brigade commander finished speaking, everyone fell silent.

Indeed, the threat of the Japanese Air Force to the Eighth Route Army was too great, especially during the day.

Facing the Japanese tanks, the Eighth Route Army might be able to organize death squads to go forward and blast them, or use the terrain to restrict them.

But facing the Japanese aviation force, the Eighth Route Army had no means of countermeasures.

Even if one or two enemy planes are occasionally shot down, it is only because the enemy is careless and underestimates the enemy and controls the enemy plane to fly too low.

After a moment of silence, the deputy brigade commander said again: "Brigade commander, then we will allow these Japanese and puppet troops to withdraw into Shouyang County?"

The brigade commander smiled and said: "Didn't I just say that the withdrawal of these Japanese and puppet troops into Shouyang County may not be all bad for us.

At least we don't have to divide our forces anymore, and we can annihilate them in one fell swoop if we have a chance.

Moreover, we have already had the experience of successfully conquering the county seat."

"The city defenses in Shouyang County are not even as good as Yangquan, and even worse than those in Jinzhong.

We can even capture the county seat of Jinzhong. Isn't it very simple to capture Shouyang?

What's more, the artillery pieces dismantled from the armored train are still in our hands."

Deputy Brigadier: "You mean, let Zhuzi be the former enemy commander who attacked Shouyang County?"

Brigadier: "Zhuzhu is indeed a suitable candidate."

…

The time comes to 12 noon.

Taiyuan, headquarters of the Japanese 1st Army.

As soon as Shinozuka Yoshio got up, Chief of Staff Miyano Jun came over in a hurry: "Report! Your Excellency, Commander, the spy has been found!"

Yoshio Shinozuka's face darkened and he asked, "Who is it?"

Miyano Jun: "It was the head chef of the headquarters, Sun Dayi, who reported the news to the Eighth Route Army headquarters. We searched Sun Dayi's room and found a miniature radio station."

When Yoshio Shinozuka heard that the spy was not Japanese, he was relieved. Then he became aware of the troops and frowned: "Sun Dayi is just a cook. How can he have access to these secrets?"

Miyano Jun: "According to the investigation of the Special High School Division, it was learned that Sun Dayi met Iijima Mori twice in the thatched room yesterday afternoon.

Then, I secretly searched Iijima Mori’s residence and found 10 large yellow croakers.”

"Iijima-kun?" Shinozuka Yoshio was stunned, and then said in disbelief: "Impossible! I have known Iijima-kun for many years. Over the years, he has been working hard and loyal to His Majesty the Emperor and the Empire.

It is absolutely impossible to betray His Majesty the Emperor and the Empire of Japan!"

Miyano Shun said helplessly: "Your Excellency Commander, I don't want to believe that Iijima Mori would betray His Majesty the Emperor and the Empire of Japan, but this is indeed the case. Throughout yesterday, only Iijima Mori and Sun Dayi had personal contact.

.”

Yoshio Shinozuka: "Did you learn this news from Sun Dayi?"

…
Chapter completed!