Resistance against Japan: Starting with the local militia

Chapter 132 Troop Reunification

"Old Li, we've been holding out here for two hours and have completed our planned blocking mission. Now all the units are struggling to hold on, and we need to retreat."

Li Yunfei glanced at the Independent Regiment soldiers who were struggling to resist the Japanese attack and made a decision on the spot.

"Alright, Political Commissar, you lead the Third and Second Battalions to retreat, and I will lead the First Battalion to cover you. If we retreat suddenly now and the Japanese catch up with us, we'll be in trouble."

"Alright, Lao Li, be careful. I'll have the Third and Second Battalions leave their light machine guns behind for you to provide fire support."

"Alright, see you outside Dawangzhuang."

"it is good."

"Second and Third Battalions, retreat immediately; First Battalion, provide cover."

"Yes."

"Comrades, give it your all!" Li Yunfei stayed behind alone to direct the soldiers of the First Battalion in defense.

Ten minutes later, Zhou Zheng-biao ran over and shouted:

"Commander, the political commissar has led everyone out. Let's retreat too; we can't hold on much longer."

"Alright, order the artillery company to provide cover fire and blast all the stockpiles at home out of the house."

"Yes."

"Boom, boom, boom." The sound of mortar shells exploding rang out again on the position. Under the cover of artillery fire, the 1st Battalion of the Independent Regiment quickly withdrew from the position.

"Zhou Zheng-biao, has the entire First Battalion withdrawn?"

"They've all been evacuated."

"Alright, we'll meet up with the political commissar immediately and return to our base."

"Yes."

Before leaving, Li Yunfei glanced in the direction of Sanjiaji and silently prayed that everything was going well for the militia.

"Report, Commander, the enemy troops ahead have also retreated. Should our troops pursue them?" the accompanying staff officer asked.

"No need for now. Speed ​​up and get through this area. We don't have much time left." Masaki Ikeda gave the order without hesitation.

"Yes."

"All units, proceed through this area immediately."

"Yes."

Ikeda Maken led his troops forward again, getting closer and closer to Sanjiaji. Similarly, Tang Weiguo's militia transport force was also moving rapidly towards Sanjiaji.

"Reporting to the Commander, traces of enemy positions have been discovered in the Juma River area ahead." The captain of the Japanese forward reconnaissance unit ran over.

"Commander Guan, the more desperately the enemy tries to stop us, the more it means that their escorting troops haven't passed through Sanjiaji yet. It's necessary for us to go to Sanjiaji," said the accompanying staff officer.

"They are now racing against time with us. Once we catch up with their troops at Sanjiaji, we will have won this battle."

"Yes, Your Excellency, Commander."

"Therefore, we cannot waste too much time on the enemy's defenses. We must break through their lines as quickly as possible."

"Divide all troops into three parts and launch a simultaneous attack on the enemy's blocking positions from the left, center, and right, making sure to break through the enemy's defenses in the shortest possible time."

"We still have a battle to fight in Sanjiaji!"

"Yes, Commander, I will make the arrangements immediately."

Ten minutes later, three attack teams organized by the military staff advanced towards the militia's Juma River position.

"Xiao Hu, something's wrong. The enemy's numbers are too high this time." Tang Dazhuang noticed that the number of Japanese soldiers on each position was almost the same.

"This is troublesome. This time, the Japanese didn't even bother with probing; they launched a full-scale attack."

"We must retreat, retreat immediately! Let's stop making useless casualties here. Let's rendezvous with Deputy Regiment Commander Zhang and fight the Japanese in Sanjiaji." Tang Xiaohu thought for a moment and made a decision immediately.

"The communications officer has instructed everyone to immediately retreat towards Sanjiaji," Tang Xiaohu issued the order immediately.

After receiving the order, the militia soldiers stationed along the Juma River withdrew in an orderly manner.

"Little Tiger, Little Tiger, why did we retreat?" Zhou Liansheng asked.

"The enemy will launch a full-scale attack right away. We definitely can't hold the position. It would be better to give up the position and preserve our strength to block the Japanese reinforcements together with the rest of the militia at Sanjiaji. Moreover, our defensive positions at Sanjiaji are well-constructed, so it's easy for us to exert our fighting power there."

"Have those Japanese devils gone mad? They're launching a full-scale attack right from the start!"

"They anticipated that our transport troops had not yet passed through the three key outposts, so they were racing against us as well."

"Alright, then let's have a good fight with the Japanese devils in Sanjiaji."

"Speed ​​up!" Zhou Liansheng urged the Fourth Battalion.

"Everyone, retreat quickly!" Tang Xiaohu led his troops toward Sanjiaji, which was only 5 li away.

"Reporting to the Commander, our troops have occupied the Juma River area without encountering any resistance. Our engineers are now working hard to repair the road."

"very good."

"How far are we from Sanjiaji now?"

"5 kilometers to go."

"Order all units to rest and recuperate. Once the engineers have finished their rest, they shall immediately launch a full-speed attack on Sanjiaji."

"Yes, Your Excellency, Commander."

......

"Commander, urgent telegram from Tang Xiaohu."

"read."

"Because the Japanese attack was too intense, our troops took the initiative to withdraw from the Juma River area and join forces with the troops in Sanjiaji to jointly block the Japanese troops."

"Alright, immediately send a telegram to the front lines, appointing Zhang Haoshan as the overall commander and Tang Xiaohu as the deputy commander, to coordinate the various units in the blocking operation." Tang Weiguo issued the order.

To prevent other battalion commanders from disobeying Zhang Haoshan's orders, Tang Weiguo specifically appointed Tang Xiaohu as Zhang Haoshan's deputy.

"Yes, Captain."

"Staff Officer Long, how long until we reach our post at Sanjiaji?"

"Based on the current speed, it will take at least 5 hours," Long Wenying replied.

“Five hours.” Tang Weiguo glanced at the sky.

"When we arrived, it was nighttime, which actually made it easier for us to retreat."

"Staff Officer Long, notify the transport troops that they must arrive at the Sanjiaji stronghold within four hours to reduce the pressure on the blocking forces."

"Yes, Captain."

"Report, Regiment Commander, Battalion Commander Niu just sent a telegram saying they have arrived at the Sanjiaji stronghold and are awaiting further orders," Li Qin reported.

"Let Niu Dali lead his troops to infiltrate behind enemy lines and find a way to take down the enemy's artillery positions."

"Yes, Captain."

"Order: Zhou Yuan, immediately lead the motor transport company back to rendezvous with our unit."

"Yes, Captain."

"Xiao Hu, it's up to you guys now." Zhou Weiguo looked towards the direction of Sanjiaji.

"Battalion Commander, the Regiment Commander has called back," the communications officer reported to Niu Dali.

"Quickly, read it out! What did the commander say?"

"Commander, we are ordered to infiltrate behind enemy lines and find a way to destroy the enemy's artillery positions."

"Good, this is what our reconnaissance battalion is good at."

"Correspondent, send a message to Tang Xiaohu, asking where the Japanese have reached."

"Yes, battalion commander."

"Everyone, take a rest immediately and be ready to depart at any time."

"Yes, battalion commander."

On the other side, Tang Xiaohu and his troops finally met up with Zhang Haoshan in Sanjiaji.