Speaking of this, Yang Zhen moved his finger a few steps east on the map and said, "Especially the Tiger Forest in the southeast of Baoqing. In this direction, if necessary, you can abandon the area controlled by our army in the territory of Raohe and retreat to the large swampy area at the junction of Raohe, Tongjiang and Fuyuan as the last line of defense. Even Fuyuan can give up when necessary. ”

"As long as we keep the base area west of the Tongjiang River, we can appropriately give up some areas where the terrain is not conducive to our army's defense. Try to disperse the Japanese forces as much as possible, and at the same time make more use of the terrain in the northeast. All the people there have been relocated to the west of the Songhua River, and there are hardly many people in Fuyuan except for a few of our border guards. ”

Du Kaishan groaned slightly, and then said, "One zero one, since you have decided to give up some locations that are not conducive to our army's defense, where is your core area?" ”

Yang Zhen shook his head, did not answer Du Kaishan's question, but said: "This idea of mine is far from mature, it is just a preliminary idea. When the whole plan is mature, it will naturally let you know. You just need to know that your position is going to be important. ”

Du Kaishan looked at the map and pondered for a long time, and quickly started the work on the map according to Yang Zhen's requirements. Du Kaishan's work on the map was the best among the original three cadres above the brigade level. The picture he made was very much appreciated by Guo Bingxun. And he has a lively head, thinks comprehensively, and his thinking is also very open. For Yang Zhen, it is appropriate to hand over the Eastern Front to such a person.

Yang Zhen watched Du Kaishan operate on the map, and before Du Kaishan finished doing it, Yang Zhen already understood his general intentions. After pondering for a while, he nodded slightly and said, "Yes, your idea is very good." But isn't it a bit too conservative to set your focus on the first line of Lanbang Mountain in the west? ”

"The old black back and Qiliga Mountain in front are not as high as Lanbang Mountain, you occupy the commanding heights, and your western defense line can properly advance to the west."

Du Kaishan pointed to the map and said: "One hundred and one, whether the Japanese army marches east from Boli or Mishan to the north, the line from Lanbang Mountain to Lao Huangdingzi is a natural danger that it must cross. On the Western Front, I took this Lanbang Mountain as the central point, and the rest of the mountains only chose dangerous places to set up necessary defensive positions. Put the main force between Lanbang Mountain and the old barren top. ”

"One zero one, put it here, to the east you can respond to Baoqing, and to the west you can reinforce all the points in the west at any time. Even when necessary, cut off the rear route of the Japanese army by plunging straight south. It is better to focus on it here than to consume troops on a hill or a hill. This plan of mine is based on the one you have on the front line of the General's Stone. Wait for work with ease, gather and annihilate. ”

Du Kaishan did not live up to Yang Zhen's hopes, and this plan was simply too satisfactory for Yang Zhen. What he was most worried about was that Du Kaishan would spread the troops on the front line on each hill, fight hard with the Japanese army, and consume the troops little by little. Du Kaishan could have this idea, which made Yang Zhen completely relieved.

Yang Zhen braved the scorching cold of minus thirty or forty degrees Celsius in the northeast Manchurian region, and took Du Kaishan from the mountainous area in the southwest of Baoqing to look at the defense line of the confrontation between the two armies county by county, and carefully looked at the terrain of every mountainous and plain area. And everywhere he went, Yang Zhen would ask Du Kaishan to make defensive positions and postures on the map. It even includes Fuyuan and Tongjiang, two jurisdictions that are still in the one-zone system.

When he came to the last Yilan, the defensive posture made by Du Kaishan on the map, if implemented, could form a mobile and flexible overall defensive line in the area of the confrontation between the fourth division and the Japanese army.

What Du Kaishan didn't expect was that Boli and Yilan, which were close to the mountainous area southwest of Baoqing, the first location they chose, were the last places Yang Zhen looked. When entering the territory of Yilan, Du Kaishan breathed a sigh of relief. After reading this, I finally completed this survey without danger.

It was clear that both sides were restrained, and now they were licking their wounds and accumulating energy. I don't want to stir up trouble at this time. Both sides are hurrying to prepare in their own control areas, but they are trying to control as much as possible on the front-line positions. Strictly order his subordinates not to cross the line. So Yang Zhen's line of work basically doesn't have much trouble.

However, the Japanese army did not expect that sometimes even a few people in ordinary military uniforms who appeared in their telescope were their big bandit leaders who had now bid two catties of gold and one catty of meat. It didn't take much, a few shells of the 92 Infantry could solve the most troublesome problem for them, from the Japanese emperor to the Kwantung Army headquarters, and even to all the Japanese officers and soldiers.

These are things that the Japanese army does not know. But what Du Kaishan didn't expect was that nothing happened along the way, but he encountered a small group of Japanese troops in Yilan at the last stop.

And this time it almost killed Yang Zhen, and almost changed the scale of the Xiajiang area, and even the entire Northeast Anti-Japanese War situation, and the cause of the encounter was not large, but it was a puppet Manchurian commander who wanted to make extra money, and encouraged a squadron leader of the 14th Division who supervised the battle by his side to come out and make a fortune.

The territory of Yilan is divided by Daotai Bridge, to the south is the area heavily defended by the Japanese army, and to the north is the Yang Zhenkong zhì area. But there is a disadvantage that the territory of Yilan is bounded by the Songhua River, and the small Xing'anling mountain area in the north is in the hands of Yang Zhen. All the commanding heights of Zhangguangcai Ridge in the west, south, and east of the southern front and Bangmao Ridge in the Wanda Mountains were in the hands of the Japanese army.

Therefore, in order to prevent the condescending Japanese army from snooping on the reality of his troops, Yang Zhen deployed only one company in a trapezoidal configuration on the two flanks on the line from the Mudanjiang River to the Uken River in the south of the Yangtze River, with the Daotai Bridge as the center. And the real center of gravity of defense is on the line of Dadingzi Mountain in the north of the Uken River. The strength of a brigade was deployed there.

And it is precisely this situation that allowed Liu Zishan, commander of the 2nd Regiment of the 17th Brigade of the Puppet Manchurian Army, which had gone north from the Fourth Military Region of the Puppet Manchurian Army in Binjiang Province to participate in the blockade of the base area, to take advantage of the loophole. Liu Zishan is one of the very few bandit-born officers in the puppet Manchu army, and his human nature is extremely greedy and exquisite.

The deputy commander and adviser sent to his ministry by the Kwantung Army were dragged into the water by him with money and women in a short time. This is also the fact that he has no background, and in Sasaki Zhiichi's original rectification of the puppet Manchu army, he became one of the few bandit-born officers who remained in the puppet Manchu army.

This guy was transferred to the front line, and after learning that the defense on the opposite side was not very tight, and there were not many troops deployed on the front line, he felt that it was a good time to make a big profit. Yilan has been a famous land of fish and rice since the end of the Qing Dynasty, and it is also the economic and political center of North Manchuria. It was full of gold in his eyes.

The Japanese army controlled these puppet Manchu troops very strictly, and the main forces were in the hands of Japanese deputies and advisers. His regiment commander could not drink the blood of the soldiers, nor could he take advantage of the opportunity to go to the countryside to clean up and plunder the people's wealth, which made him, who was accustomed to spending time and drinking, really a little strapped for money.

Wanting to get rich, he wanted to go crazy, and after he found an opportunity, he immediately encouraged Captain Matsumoto Hara, the Japanese army adviser stationed in his unit, to go out and eat some wild food. was addicted to gambling by him, and during this time, because he lost too much and his money was tight, Captain Matsumoto, who was eager to get some money to make a gambling book, nodded and agreed without thinking too much.

However, he was a little unconvinced of the combat effectiveness of the Manchukuo Army, so he also pulled in a fellow villager of the 14th Division who served as the squadron leader, and led a small team of the Japanese army to follow Liu Zishan's two companies from Lijiatun to Xinlitun and the two pretending guard positions set up by Yang Zhen's troops on the front line of Xinlitun, and sneaked through the front line of Tuanshanzi in the southeast direction.

Liu Zishan still has a bit of a head, he didn't dare to touch the direction of Yilan County, but chose the northeast direction of Tuanshanzi line. He knew that there was a reinforced battalion of the First Column and One Brigade on the Houant Lang line northeast of Tuanshanzi, and the real defensive line was actually here. It's just that he didn't wait for him to arrive at Tuanshanzi, but he encountered Yang Zhen and his party in Xinglong Mountain.

When the Japanese puppet army was found in front of the alert that was released, compared with Du Kaishan and Xiaohuzi, who immediately looked nervous, Yang Zhen unhurriedly commanded the guards to put away all the maps before going up the mountain. In fact, it is not a mountain, but just a few large earthen bags connected together with an average altitude of fifty or sixty meters.

Xiaohuzi quickly arranged cross-fire points according to daily training, and the firing range of the two Type 96 light machine guns could cover the entire open area in front of the mountain. It's just cold and snowy, and it can't be fortified. All firepower is only exposed to the bare hills.

Yang Zhen raised his binoculars and looked at the Japanese puppet army that was gradually walking in, but he felt that something was wrong. As soon as he received a report from the guard post in front of him, when he found the Japanese puppet army, Yang Zhen originally thought that the Japanese army had discovered his whereabouts. Judging from the actions of this Japanese puppet army, it makes people feel sneaky, like a thief.

Du Kaishan next to him also felt that this force was full of two companies of puppet Manchu troops, and a small team of Japanese troops was not quite right. It always feels a little weird. It's not like you're here to fight, it's like you're a thief stealing.

Yang Zhen put down the binoculars and said to Du Kaishan beside him: "Something is wrong with this Japanese puppet army. That is, not like those who came to reconnoitre, nor like those who came to fight. It's like you're here to touch a handful and get some wild food. ”

Du Kaishan nodded slightly, pulled out the fast and slow machine on his body and turned on the head of the machine and said, "One zero one, I only feel this way." But it doesn't matter whether these Japanese puppet troops are here to hunt wild food or to reconnoitre. Although we are not afraid of this puppet Manchurian military police, you are still not safe here. ”

"The horses in the guard platoon are good, they are all authentic Japanese war horses. You take the guard platoon to withdraw first, and I take my guard squad to cover. As long as you withdraw to the front line of Tuanshanzi, you will be safe. There is a reinforced battalion of a brigade there, and it is safe as long as it gets there. ”

As soon as Du Kaishan's words fell, the training section chief of the first division who had just assisted Xiaohuzi in arranging the defense and rushed back was the chief of the training section, while taking a 44-type cavalry rifle in the hand of a guard to suppress the bullets, and said: "Chief, commander, you leave me a guard squad and a machine gun, and I will cover you to go first." According to our transfer equipment and the terrain here, I can block a squad for at least an hour. It's enough for you to reach the front line of Tuanshanzi safely. ”

Yang Zhen shook his head and said, "No, there are still a few villages behind the front line of Xinglong Mountain that have not yet had time to relocate, and there are still thousands of ordinary people. When we withdrew, we were safe, but the common people were unlucky. Section Chief Cai, you immediately ride my horse and rush to the front line of Tuanshanzi immediately, so that they can immediately transfer troops. Deploy behind us to cover the transfer of people in these villages. ”

Speaking of this, Yang Zhen turned his head, picked up the pen, and immediately drafted a telegram and handed it to Xiaohuzi: "The staff officer should send it immediately." Lao Cai alone can't move them. Let Wang Guangyu of the First Column immediately forward it to the First Brigade, telling him that the reinforcements will not arrive within an hour, and that he cannot cover the people, and I will punish him. ”

After speaking, he took a Czech-made rifle from the guard beside him and said, "Sue snipers, give me all the level of their daily training." Put the grenadiers with knives and machine gunners in the Japanese puppet army, especially the little devils. Hold him down to me. ”

Yang Zhen urgently deployed on his side, and Liu Zishan and Matsumoto Hara Jiro over there also discovered the situation here. After all, they are operating in the so-called enemy-occupied areas, and their vigilance is still quite high. Although they immediately found that there were only a few dozen people in front of them, the first thing that the two of them thought of was to retreat.

The higher authorities have repeatedly ordered that no one should cross the battle line without the approval of the division or regiment. At present, the main task of the imperial army is not to fight, but to replenish the troops and restore their vitality in the shortest possible time. And we can't let a grain or a couple of cotton go north.

The Japanese army now has no ability to go north, so it is naturally worried about the other side going south. Therefore, although there was no written order, all Japanese divisions and regiments on the front line unanimously strictly prohibited unauthorized provocations. Unauthorized border crossings without the approval of the chiefs of staff of divisions and regiments will be severely punished. The Kwantung Army now no longer has the strength to do unnecessary attrition.

For Liu Zishan and Matsuharahara Jiro, if they really start fighting, whether they are defeated or won a big victory, a severe punishment is indispensable to go back. So both of them had the idea of retreating. Just because you can't catch it this time doesn't mean you won't be able to catch it next time. As long as it's still ahead, there are still opportunities.

However, this time, the commander of the 3rd Squadron of the 1st Brigade of the 2nd Infantry Wing of the 14th Division, the 2nd and 3rd Lieutenant Jianchuan, resolutely refused. You can't go home empty-handed this time, and besides, there are only 40 or so troops on the other side, and they will flee without firing a shot, which is a bit too embarrassing for the imperial soldiers.

Jianchuan Ersan's stubbornness made Liu Zishan and Matsuharahara Jiro have no choice but to attack hard. But as soon as the offensive began, they felt very bad. The firepower of the other side is too fierce, not to mention half of the automatic weapons, there are actually two of the Empire's latest Type 96 light machine guns. You must know that even the 14th Division does not have a light machine gun with excellent performance. They're still armed with old-fashioned crooked handles.

Several attacks were suppressed by two machine guns that formed crossfire, and a company of the puppet Manchu army that served as the main attack suffered more than half of the casualties in less than half an hour. The machine gunner was killed with a single shot before he even set up the machine gun. More than half an hour passed, and both Liu Zishan and Matsuharahara Jiro were getting colder and colder. I didn't get it for a long time, and I gave up my old book.

If the Japanese puppet army can see well, this emergency will end here. But the Jianchuan brother who insisted on not retreating at this critical moment, but the casualties of the puppet Manchu army were stimulated with ferocity. What's even more unfortunate is that at this time, the only one who can compete with him, Jiro Matsuhara, was directly shot in the head by a bullet from the hillside 300 meters away in an attack.

Lost the only person who could still contain Captain Jianchuan, who although he was a lieutenant colonel and regiment commander, he was not even a fart in front of the Japanese army but a captain and squadron leader. He has to listen obediently to what people say. If you provoke this not very good-tempered Captain Jianchuan, it is possible to chop him alive with a knife.

A string of luck and misfortune for both sides intersected, but it almost made Yang Zhen confess to this small hill that could not be found even on a map of 1/50,000.