Chapter 144 5. The loss of the Japanese "mopping up" base

After Wu Huawen of the puppet army was beaten away, the area of ​​the Luzhong base area expanded by more than 1,000 square kilometers, connecting the four mountainous areas of Yi, Lu, Tai, and Mongolia into one piece.Subsequently, in order to complete the task of gradually expanding northward, the Shandong Military Region Command proposed a summer offensive plan by Chief of Staff Li Zuopeng: "The Lunan Military Region plans to cooperate with the Huxi Army and the New Fourth Army to attack the two puppet troops of Zhou Tong and Shen Congzhou in mid-July. , control the eastern part of the lake, and open up the connection between southern Shandong and the western part of the lake. The Bohai Navy District is stepping up the instigation of the Fengcheng puppet army's Wangdao Department uprising, and plans to capture Lijin City in mid-August. The Binhai Navy District plans to attack the puppet army Li Yongping's department in late July. The Luzhong Military Region plans to conquer Yishui County in late August."

Luo Ronghuan went on to say: "The focus of the summer offensive is to conquer Yishui City. Tell Wang Jian'an that they must be tightly organized and carefully deployed. Our army must use more brains when attacking a well-fortified city for the first time. The general policy is to capture the big city at a small price. victory." In the summer of 1944, there was a lot of rain, and the water in the Yi River rose day by day, with huge waves rolling and the sound of the waves shaking the shore. In order to get closer to Yishui City, the Eighth Route Army of the Luzhong Military Region launched a new offensive in this rainy summer. On June 11, 1944, it first conquered Daguan, Xiaoguan, Jiangyu in the southern area of ​​Linqu for three days, and the Puppet Army. The stronghold cut off the enemy's line of communication from Linqu to Yishui Highway. After the 12th, the Eighth Route Army fought again in the south of Mengyin and north of Feixian County, annihilating more than 1,100 members of Wang Liqing's Department of the 1st Brigade of the Puppet 3rd Front Army, and destroying the Japanese and puppet blockade around Mengshan.Then, in the south of Yishui City, the troops of the Eighth Route Army conquered the three false strongholds of Dahutou, Mengjiaweizi, and Yuanjiachengzi, cutting off the road from Yishui to Linyi.In this way, the north, south, and west sides of Yishui City were all exposed to the threat of the Eighth Route Army, and the defenders in the city were immediately isolated.

Yishui City is an important town in central Shandong and also the hinterland of Yimeng Mountain.It faces the mountains of green pines and cypresses in the east and the roaring Yishui River in the west.The transportation here is convenient. It is the connecting point of five roads from Yishui to Qingzhou, Yishui to Linyi, Yishui to Boshan, Yishui to Mengyin, and Yishui to Juxian. It reaches the coast of the Yellow Sea in the east and Yimeng Mountain in the west. It reaches Linyi, an important town in southern Shandong, and Qingzhou City on the Jiaoji Railway in the north. It has always been a battleground for military strategists.

Since the Japanese army occupied Yishui City in 1939, in order to control and consolidate this strategically important place, they worked hard, built fortifications, built an airport, and strengthened the city defense facilities.The enemy guards in the city are 8 squadrons of Niu Xianyuan, the pseudo-county magistrate, with a total of more than 1,000 people.The southern gate of the city is guarded by a Japanese squadron, with a 3-meter-high solid wall, and blockhouses are built in the northeast, northwest, southeast, southwest corners and center of the wall, standing tall.Around Yishui City, small strongholds were also placed, with Huangshanpu, Yazhuang, and Longshan in the west, Xiewu in the south, Wujiawa in the northwest, Fenghuangtou in the northeast, Mantangpo and Sishilipu in the southeast, etc.Every stronghold is guarded by puppet troops, echoing the enemies in Yishui City, forming a solid and complete defense system.Since then, Yishui City has become the base for the Japanese army to launch "mopping up" in Luzhong.The military command and secret service agencies of the Japanese army were all located in the city, and every time they "mopped up" the Central Shandong area, they almost always planned and mobilized troops here.

Today, the Eighth Route Army is approaching the city.Luo Ronghuan sent an order to the Luzhong Military Region at the right time: Prepare carefully and strive to take Yishui City in one fell swoop. Commander Wang Jian'an of the Luzhong Military Region, Political Commissar Luo Shunchu, District Party Committee Deputy Secretary Gao Keting, Chief of Staff Hu Qicai, etc. held many meetings to discuss the siege plan. The significance of Yishui City, study the deployment of troops and the division of tasks. After discussion, it was finally decided that the participating troops consisted of the 1st, 2nd, 4th, and 11th regiments of the Luzhong Military Region, the military region's special service battalion, and some local armed forces and militias. The 1st and 2nd Battalions of the 4th Regiment were responsible for attacking the fortifications, mainly attacking the stronghold of the Japanese artillery towers; the 3rd Battalion blocked the enemy reinforcements in Ju County on the Yiju Highway; To the east of Mengyin City, prepare to attack the enemy who sent aid in Mengyin; the military special battalion is responsible for attacking and annihilating the Xiewu puppet army in the south of the city; local armed forces besiege the outer strongholds.Since Wang Jianan was going to the Shandong Military Region for a meeting, Luo Shunchu and Gao Keting were in charge of commanding the siege operation, and Hu Qicai assisted him.In this siege, tactically, infantry and blasting must be combined, siege and reinforcements must be combined. It must be concealed and sudden, attack and encircle, and make quick decisions. The battle must be ended before the arrival of enemy reinforcements.

After the task is determined, each unit will act immediately to scout the enemy's situation, get familiar with the terrain, prepare explosives, and refine the task. On the evening of August 15th, Luo Shunchu ordered the 4th regiment to launch an attack on the southeast artillery stronghold of Yishui City.The signal flare flew into the sky over Yishui in the night.Suddenly, there was a loud gunshot, bullets flew like rain, the flames were shining, and the sound was soaring into the sky. The attack on the southeast artillery stronghold is also a signal for all troops to launch a general offensive. As soon as the gunfire of the 4th regiment rang out, all the troops launched the original combat plan.The siege troops rushed towards Yishui City like a tiger descending the mountain.

By 6 o'clock on the 17th, the battle to attack Yishui City was over.Yishui City, which had been ruled by the Japanese and puppet for six years, was reborn.The news of the Eighth Route Army's liberation of Yishui City, like a mighty east wind, blew across both sides of the Yihe River.The crowd was ecstatic and rushed to tell each other.On the avenue leading to Yishui City, the crowd was crowded and extremely lively.Joyful singing, cheerful laughter, clanging gongs and drums resounded all over the mountains and on both sides of the Yi River. In this battle, after one day and two nights, the Luzhong Eighth Route Army wiped out the Yishui City defenders, killed 83 Japanese soldiers, captured more than 20 people, killed and wounded 200 puppet soldiers, and captured more than 800 puppet county magistrates under Niu Xianyuan.The liberation of Yishui City removed the Japanese and puppet-occupied strongholds, expanded the liberated area, and narrowed the enemy-occupied area. Together.