Liu Hong ordered the martial arts team to rest on the spot, and at the same time sent scouts to closely monitor the devil's every move.

Soon it was dawn, and at this time Liu Hong received a report that the main force of the devil had stopped to rest and recuperate, and had no intention of continuing the pursuit.

After getting the news, Liu Hong finally put his mind at ease, although Liu Hong also wanted to find the little devil for revenge, but now was not the time to go head-to-head with the main force of the Japanese army, so Liu Hong didn't want the little devil to continue to pursue, so that the soldiers could take a breath and take a good rest.

Although he learned that the devil did not catch up, Liu Hong did not dare to be careless, and ordered the scouts to continue to monitor the devil's moves.

Time passed minute by minute, the time of the day passed in a blink of an eye, and the next morning, Liu Hong received a report from the scouts that some of the devils had withdrawn to Dongguang County to rest, and another group of devils were still stationed near Lianzhen.

Liu Hong estimated that Endo Kanan had really given up this time, and he would not be looking for trouble with the martial arts team for at least three or five days, after all, the little devil had been fighting for so long, and the troops were already exhausted, and they also needed time to rest and recuperate, and they needed time to replenish their consumption.

After a full day of rest, the soldiers had gradually regained their strength, and then Liu Hong ordered to be pulled out and returned to the base area of Gaoguantun Village.

This place is more than 100 miles away from Gaoguantun Village, and the martial arts team is not in a hurry, so the speed is not too fast, and they only walked about 60 or 70 miles that day, and then rested nearby, and rested for the night.

After resting for the night, he continued his journey and returned to Gaoguantun Village in the afternoon.

Secretary Lin and some local comrades, Xu Zecheng and some soldiers of the new barracks, as well as some cadres and soldiers of the Hebei-Shandong Border Military Region led by Zhang Zhicheng, warmly welcomed the return of the armed engineering team.

The two sides exchanged pleasantries for a while, and then the soldiers went back to their stations to rest, and Liu Hong and others came to the headquarters.

After everyone sat down, Liu Hong asked with a smile: "Secretary Lin, have Commander Zhang and their troops been arranged?" ”

Without waiting for Secretary Lin to speak, Zhang Zhicheng replied first: "Secretary Lin has arranged a station for us, and provided us with food and various supplies, the soldiers are very good now, thanks to Captain Liu, if it weren't for Captain Liu leading the martial arts team to fight bloodily and contain the main force of the devils, we would have been wiped out by the little devils long ago." ”

Liu Hong hurriedly said: "Head Zhang is too polite, since I came back, you have been thanking our martial arts team. As I said a long time ago, we are all comrades, and we are all our own people, so why should we divide each other? If Commander Zhang is saying this, he will be outside. ”

Secretary Lin also smiled and said: "Lao Liu is right, everyone is their own people, there is no need to be so polite, this is what we should do, we understand your mood, but this kind of polite words don't need to be said, and then you really see the outside." ”

Zhang Zhicheng smiled and nodded and said, "Okay!" Then you're welcome. Yesterday we have already made contact with the headquarters of the Shandong Military Region, and the headquarters ordered our unit to temporarily rest and recuperate in the central Hebei region, and the subordinate unit will be reorganized into a regiment, with me still serving as the commander of the regiment, and the unit will temporarily be under the leadership of the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei Military Region, so we will continue to disturb you for a while. ”

"Haha~!" Liu Hong said with a smile: "Okay! Commander Zhang's troops can stay in Jizhong and fight side by side with us, and we can't ask for it! ”

Zhang Zhicheng said with a smile: "I am also deeply honored to be able to fight side by side with a hero like Captain Liu." ”

"Haha~!" Liu Hong said with a smile: "Captain Zhang, the two of us don't need to be polite to each other. What do I have to counsel with you? ”

"Oh?" Zhang Zhicheng raised his eyebrows and hurriedly asked, "What's the matter?" If Captain Liu has any orders, just open your mouth, and we will do our best. ”

Liu Hong hurriedly explained: "Here's the thing. In this battle, the losses of our martial arts team were not small, and they were chased all the way by the little devils, and the soldiers were holding their breath in their hearts! If we don't vent this grievance, it will inevitably affect the morale of the troops, so we plan to find a little devil to fight again, so that the soldiers can eliminate this bad breath, and at the same time can improve the morale of the troops, I wonder if Commander Zhang can act with us? ”

Zhang Zhicheng agreed without hesitation: "No problem, count us in." In this sweep, our Hebei-Shandong Border Military Region suffered heavy losses, and in the end, less than 2,000 troops remained. We are also holding back a lot of energy in our hearts, and we are looking for revenge on the little devil! ”

"And the troops are newly defeated, and morale is low, and the best way to improve morale is to fight, and to win! I also want to raise the morale of the soldiers as soon as possible, otherwise I, the commander of the regiment, will have to let the spittle stars of the soldiers drown. ”

Liu Hong said excitedly: "I am relieved to have the words of Head Zhang, with the assistance of your department, we are more confident, and we will definitely be able to win a big battle." ”

"It's just ......" Liu Hong frowned slightly as he spoke, and said with some concern: "It's just that Commander Zhang's troops were subordinate to different units before, and they were integrated in a hurry, and the troops have not yet had time to be reorganized, if they are rushed into battle, I am worried about ......"

Zhang Zhicheng didn't wait for Liu Hong to finish speaking, he stood up directly, and swore and promised: "Captain Liu, I admit that our troops belonged to different units before, and the personnel were relatively noisy!" But there is one thing, we are all the Eighth Route Army. And it's the Eighth Route Army, which specializes in killing devils, this time we are all under the command of your captain Liu, how you let us fight, we will fight! This time we're going to be ashamed. ”

Liu Hong hurriedly got up and said politely: "Don't be excited, Commander Zhang, I don't doubt your department's ability. ”

Zhang Zhicheng hurriedly said: "Captain Liu, you don't need to explain, I understand what you mean." I'm just angry in my heart, our Jilu Border Military Region, tens of thousands of troops! That's it. Not to mention anything else, our eleventh regiment, thousands of people, in the end only a few hundred remained. I hate it in my heart! I hate the little devils, and I hate that I have no ability and didn't lead the troops well. ”

Zhang Zhicheng said, as if he remembered the comrades-in-arms who died in Deng Zhuangzi and his previous battles, and couldn't help but feel sad, and two lines of tears flowed from the corners of his eyes.

Liu Hong hurriedly comforted: "Commander Zhang doesn't have to be sad, let's go to the little devil to take revenge this time, and avenge the sacrificed comrades!" Avenge the dead folks! ”

"Hmm!" Zhang Zhicheng gritted his teeth, nodded vigorously and said, "I know." So I don't want to lose this opportunity, this time we will participate in this operation no matter what, and I hope that Captain Liu will be successful. ”

(End of chapter)