The chief of staff frowned and thought about it, shook his head and said, "No, this move is too risky. Yes, we have a certain advantage in strength, but the little devils are better armed than us, and they have strong fortifications, and they are on the defensive side, waiting for work. On the other hand, our army is not only poorly equipped, but also after repeated battles, it is already a tired division, and considering all aspects, our army does not have an advantage, and it is really impossible to defeat so many Japanese troops head-on, so I still advocate concentrating forces to open a gap and break out of the encirclement as soon as possible. ”

Commander Lu lowered his head and stared at the map in silence for a long time, and suddenly asked, "If you follow the previous strategy, will you be able to successfully break through?" Liu Hong is right, the little devil has strong mobility, no matter which direction we attack, the little devil can come to reinforcements in time. Even if we can open a gap, won't we be attacked from both sides by the devils? Don't forget, the little devils are still constantly increasing troops from the north and south, so it seems that no matter where we open a gap, the troops will be attacked from both sides when they break through. In this case, there is not much difference between breaking through from the center or from both sides, and if you concentrate superior forces to break through from the center, you may really be able to open a gap by surprise. ”

The chief of staff frowned and said, "Commander, think twice! Judging from the current situation of our army, it is really not suitable to fight hard with the little devils! ”

A sneer appeared at the corner of Commander Lu's mouth, and he said with a serious face: "If we can't successfully break through the Pinghan Railway, we will be a dead end. Since the start of the sweep, we have been fighting fiercely with the little devils for more than a month, and we have always been in a situation of passive beating, and have been chased by the little devils from Shenxian all the way to Xinle. This is our last battle in Jizhong, if we don't fight vigorously, how can we be worthy of the six million villagers and elders in Jizhong. ”

Regardless of success or failure, this battle is the last battle in the central Hebei region, and if it is defeated, it goes without saying that the main force of the central Hebei military region will be completely defeated, and it will be difficult to escape the doom of being annihilated by the Japanese invaders. Even if it is victorious, according to the order of the headquarters, the main force of the Jizhong Military Region will temporarily retreat to the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei border region, and I am afraid that it will be difficult to return to the central Jizhong region for a while.

Everyone present fell silent, and Commander Lu's expression gradually became firm, and then he ordered with a serious face: "Immediately pass the order, concentrate 10,000 troops to attack Pengjiazhuang and Zhoucun Town in the north and south at the same time, and inform the front-line troops that this is not a feint, but a strong attack, and we must break through the devil's resistance at all costs and play the prestige of our Eighth Route Army." Another 10,000 elite troops were concentrated in the central zone, ready to attack at any time, and the remaining troops were in reserve, ready to support the front line at any time, and immediately formulated detailed battle orders, and the battle must begin after an hour. ”

"Yes!" The chief of staff hurriedly responded, and then summoned all the operational staff officers, formulated specific combat tasks in accordance with Commander Lu's instructions, and immediately sent them to all combat units.

Then Commander Lu walked up to Liu Hong and said with a serious face: "Liu Hong, your vanguard is arranged in the central area, and after the general attack is launched, immediately assist the friendly army to launch an attack, I order your vanguard to tear a hole in my defense line like a sharp knife, and assist the main force to completely defeat the enemy in front of you." ”

"Yes! Mission completion guaranteed! Liu Hong stood up and saluted, gave a standard military salute, and replied loudly.

Commander Lu raised his hand and returned a military salute, nodded with satisfaction and said, "Go!" I've prepared a celebration wine, and when we win this battle, let's have a good drink together. ”

"Yes!" Liu Hong answered again, turned around and left the temporary headquarters quickly.

In the afternoon of the same day, in accordance with the order of Commander Lu, the Eighth Route Army concentrated its superior forces and launched a fierce attack on Pengjiazhuang and Zhoucun Town respectively. For a time, guns and artillery rang out, gunsmoke filled the air, and the battle was extremely fierce.

The Beiying Village stronghold was originally just an ordinary small stronghold along the Pinghan Railway, and there were hundreds of such strongholds on the long Pinghan Railway Line, but due to the arrival of one person, this stronghold became not ordinary, and this person was the commander of the 110th Brigade of the 133rd Brigade of the Japanese Army, Major General Masao Sato.

The reason why Masao Sato set up his headquarters in the stronghold of Beiying Village is because this place is located between Pengjiazhuang and Zhoucun Town, and it is only a dozen miles away from the two places, where Masao Sato can more easily and quickly understand the battle situation on the two fronts, and it is more convenient for him to command the troops to fight.

The largest barracks in the stronghold had been cleaned up as Masao Sato's command post, and the old devil was frowning at the huge map hanging on the wall.

At this time, a devil officer walked over quickly, and said with a respectful face: "Report to Your Excellency General, Pengjiazhuang is in an emergency." ”

Masao Sato frowned slightly, turned around slowly, and said with a serious face: "Tell them to hold their positions at all costs, and reinforcements will arrive soon." ”

"Hello!" The devil officer hurriedly answered, turned around and left in a hurry.

Masao Sato thought for a while and said: "The Eighth Route Army launched an attack from two directions at the same time, and one of them must be a feint. ”

"Hello! His Excellency the General is wise, but the fighting on both sides is very tense, and it is not yet possible to judge which direction is a feint. At this time, a devil Dazuo spoke.

"That's where the cunning of the dirt eight roads comes in." Masao Sato nodded and said: "But they think that they can defeat the imperial army in this way, it is simply wishful thinking, since they are attacking in two directions at the same time, then we will focus on defending both directions at the same time." Anyway, with the mobility of the imperial army, it is easy to go back and forth between the two. ”

"Hello! Your Excellency the General is wise. The devil Dazuo hurriedly said.

Masao Sato's eyes swept over the devil officers in the room, and finally landed on a devil Shaozo, and commanded loudly: "Ito-kun." ”

"Hello!" Ito stepped forward and replied loudly.

"The defense of the first line of Pengjiazhuang is weak, you immediately lead your brigade to support the first line of Pengjiazhuang." Masao Sato ordered with a serious face.

"Hello!" Ito Shaoza replied respectfully, turned around and left quickly.

Then Masao Sato's eyes fell on another devil Shaozuo, and said with a smile: "Kurosaki-kun, your brigade is the killer weapon of the imperial army, now it's your turn to take action, teach these damn dirt eight roads a good lesson." ”