"Yes." Tang Zong nodded, "The 386th Brigade originally had the 771st Regiment and the 772nd Regiment, but the 771st Regiment has remained in northern Shaanxi and did not cross the Yellow River to the east and enter Shanxi."

Chang Kaishen said: "In other words, the 386th Brigade had only one group of people at the beginning?"

"Yes, there is only one group of people." Tang Zongdao, "But now, the Taiyue Bandit District has developed to 16 groups, and the so-called local armed forces have exceeded 50,000."

Chang Kaishen said in a deep voice: "In other words, the 386th Brigade has developed from two regiments to sixteen regiments?"

"No, it was Taiyue Bandit District that developed into sixteen regiments." Tang Zong shook his head and said again, "But the troops developed from the original 386th Brigade may have to add three other regiments."

"The other three regiments?" Chang Kaishen said in a deep voice, "Three regiments in northwest Shanxi?"

"Yes." Tang Zongdao, "This is the third base of the Eighth Route Army in Shanxi, that is, the Northwest Jin Bandit Area. The Northwest Jin Bandit Area mainly has three regiments under its jurisdiction, but the strength of these three regiments is equivalent to three divisions!"

"Equivalent to three divisions?" Chang Kaishen said with a dark face, "One regiment has more than 10,000 people?"

"Yes, one regiment has more than 10,000 people..." Tang Zong said in a deep voice, "Three regiments have more than 30,000 people, and there are also 50,000 local armed forces and militias in the bandit area in the northwest Shanxi!"

"Mom Xipi!" Chang Kaishen was really angry now.

"Who allowed them to expand their troops? And they expanded so quickly?"

In addition to being angry, Chang Kaishen was also a little panicked. No, not a little panicked, but a group of people in their hearts.

If we continue to develop at this pace, the Eighth Route Army in Shanxi can grow from 150,000 to 300,000 or even more than 500,000 people. How many can the Eighth Route Army in North China develop?

Just thinking about it, Chang Kaishen felt chilling, it was so terrible.

If this situation is allowed to develop, wouldn’t it mean that by the day when the War of Resistance Against Japan is victorious, the entire North China and even most of China will become the world of the Communist Party?

No, no, this situation must be changed.

Tang Zong seemed to guess Chang Kaishen’s concerns and persuaded him: “But the principal doesn’t have to worry too much.”

"Hmm?" Chang Kaishen said this and asked again, "Nai Jian, do you have any insight?"

"I dare not take it for my opinion, I have a little bit of a simple opinion." Tang Zong smiled slightly and said, "It is undoubtedly true that Japan will be defeated in the war, and China will win the final victory."

"But for the moment, Japan is at its peak."

"So the stronger the Eighth Route Army is in the occupied areas, the more beneficial it is for the Party and the State."

"Because the Japanese army will regard the Eighth Route Army and the New Fourth Army led by the Communist Party as their number one enemy, the pressure on the national army on the front battlefield will be reduced."

"The national army on the battlefield behind enemy lines will also have a chance to breathe."

He paused and said, "And as far as the current situation is concerned, the overall strength of the Japanese invaders is far stronger than that of the Eighth Route Army and the New Fourth Army. So if there is no accident, the Eighth Route Army and the New Fourth Army will be wiped out by the Japanese army within two years. This is the overall conclusion drawn by all our colleagues at the Second Service Department."

"Is that true?" Chang Kaishen nodded happily, "The Eighth Route Army and the New Fourth Army will definitely be wiped out within two years?"

"Yes, the Eighth Route Army and the New Fourth Army have lasted for two years at most." Tang Zong nodded affirmatively and continued, "Combined with the current situation in Shanxi, the Taihang bandit area will soon be slapped by the Japanese army."

Chang Kaishen said without comment: "The Taihang bandit area was swept away by the Japanese army, and the Eighth Route Army in the Taiyue bandit area and the Northwest Shanxi bandit area will never sit idly by and will definitely support it."

"Of course." Tang Zong nodded, "There is no doubt about this."

Chang Kaishen said: "There are no national army or Jinsui army near Taiyue Bandit District, so forget it, but the Jinsui Army Unique Brigade and the Central Army Ninety-Fourth Brigade are near the bandit district in northwest Shanxi, so there should be some action."

Tang Zong smiled slightly and said, "Principal, we don't have to worry about this anymore."

"Oh? Are you talking about Yan Xishan?" Chang Kaishen said, "I forgot him."

"Yes, Yan Xishan." Tang Zongdao, "The Eighth Route Army in Shanxi is growing bigger and bigger. Yan Xishan is actually more nervous than the principal, and you are more eager to take this opportunity to weaken or even severely damage Shanxi's Eighth Route Army."

Chang Kaishen said: "Tell me what preparations did Yan Xishan do?"

Tang Zong said: "Yan Xishan found an excuse to call Chu Yunfei and Liang Gang to Qiulin Town to participate in a temporary study class. The Jinsui Army's Independent Brigade and the Central Army's Independent 94th Brigade were commanded by their respective chiefs of staff."

Chang Kaishen said: "The chief of staff of the Shanxi Sui Army's Unique Brigade must be from Yan Xishan. I guess he should listen to Yan Xishan's greetings, but I remember that the chief of staff of the 94th Brigade of the Central Army was Zhu Jiahua, right? From the 7th Infantry Division of the Huangpu Phase 2?"

"The principal is really a good memory." Tang Zongdao, "Zhu Jiahua is a student of the 7th Infantry Department of Huangpu."

Chang Kaishen said: "Zhu Jiaju will most likely not listen to Yan Xishan's orders, so you send him a secret telegram."

After pausing, Chang Kaishen said again: "Once the time is ripe, don't hesitate. When decisively send troops to expel the Eighth Route Army from northwest Shanxi, if possible, you need to seize the opportunity to annihilate the main force of the Eighth Route Army in northwest Shanxi."

"Yes!" Tang Zong replied solemnly.

...

At the same time, in Qiulin Town, northern Shaanxi.

Chu Yunfei and Liang Gang, with their respective captains and adjutants, were staring at each other.

Chu Yunfei said: "Brother Tiefeng, the situation is not right. It's said it's a study class, but there are only two of us in total, and we haven't taken classes seriously for so many days. What's the matter?"

Liang Gang sneered: "Brother Yunfei, haven't you seen it yet?"

Chu Yunfei's heart moved and said, "Are you talking about digging the tiger away from the mountain?"

"That's right, it's just transferring the tiger away from the mountain." Liang Gangdao, "Captain Yan just wanted to find an excuse to transfer you and my brothers from northwest Shanxi, that's all."

Chu Yunfei's face collapsed when he heard this.

Liang Gangdao: "What, Brother Yunfei, are you worried that your troops will have a conflict with the Eighth Route Army?"

"This is not a question of whether to worry or not, but a conflict will surely arise." Chu Yunfei said, "My Chief of Staff, I know him very well. He puts the interests of the Jinsui Army first in everything. He will definitely do anything that is beneficial to the Jinsui Army. Therefore, as long as Chief Yan gives an order, he will definitely take action."

Liang Gangdao: "Brother Yunfei thought about his personal relationship with Captain Li, so he couldn't bear to start?"

"Just, as a soldier of the Party and the State, how could I take care of my affection because of my brotherhood?" Chu Yunfei sneered and said, "Once the time comes, I will take action without hesitation."

After a pause, Chu Yunfei said again: "It's just that it's not time to turn against the Communist Party."

"Yes." Liang Gang sighed, "The biggest enemy at present is still the Japanese army. If the Japanese army has not been driven away for a day, the Kuomintang and the Communist Party should not have had an internal strife for a day, otherwise they would have to let the Japanese army get a bargain."

"But it's OK to do some preparations." Chu Yunfei sneered.

"Agree." Liang Gang also smiled, "Brother Yun Fei's idea coincides with my younger brother."

Chu Yunfei said: "This is exactly what I worry about. My chief of staff is more loyal and not smart. I am worried that he will have direct conflicts with the Eighth Route Army if he doesn't master the timing well."

Liang Gang smiled and said, "Since that's the case, let's go."

Although the chief officer has a guard post, it is obviously impossible to shut them down.

Chu Yunfei said hesitantly: "But it's not good to leave if you don't say hello to Chief Yan, right?"

Liang Gang smiled and said, "But the problem is that after saying hello, will Chief Yan obediently ask you and my brother to leave Qiulin Town?"

"Well." Chu Yunfei hesitated for a moment and made up his mind and said in a deep voice, "If you are urgently obeying power, you don't have to say goodbye to Chief Yan in person."

...

Half an hour later, the guard captain Lei Yangtang hurried into Yan Xishan's office: "Master, the guards just now went to the ancestral hall to deliver lunch, and found that Chu Yunfei and Liang Gang had left without saying goodbye!"

"What did you say?" Yan Xishan said in surprise, "Farewell without saying goodbye?"

"Yes." Lei Yangtang said in a deep voice, "Do you want to send someone to catch it?"

"Nonsense, why are you arresting?" Yan Xishan said, "They didn't break the law."

Yang Zhenji, the intelligence director next to him, said: "But Chief, we have spent so much energy and finally invited the two of them to Qiulin Town. Isn't it just for the next battle?"

After a pause, Yang Zhenji said again: "The battle in Shanxi is about to break out, but Chu Yunfei and Liang Gang are at this critical moment, which will inevitably have a great impact on our entire action plan."

"Then you can't catch people casually." Yan Xishan said with a dark face, "There must be a reason, right?"

Yang Zhenji's eyes lit up and said, "It was said that some soldiers reported to the chief's headquarters that they had withheld military pay, so the chief officer sent someone to ask them to come back to verify the situation, just verify, not investigate."

"This is almost the same." Yan Xishan said happily, "Then please invite them back."

"Yes!" Lei Yangtang agreed and immediately led the guards to catch people excitedly.

However, less than two hours later, Lei Yangtang returned to the chief's office in dejectedly.

"Master, I'm one step late." Lei Yangtang said helplessly, "When I led the guard to the ferry, Chu Yunfei and Liang Gang had already brought the guards across the Yellow River."

...

Chang Kaishen and Yan Xishan were like mice in the ditch, calculating the slightest activities.

However, the Eighth Route Army of the Taihang Military Region was preparing for the anti-sweeping raid, while Wang Ye was rushing to prepare a complete combat plan for the Taiyuan Battle day and night.

Today, a detailed combat plan has finally been released.

At this time, nearly 30,000 people had gathered in Wohu Mountain Area, the 21 main battalions of the New First Regiment, the New Second Regiment and the direct teams of the three regiments.

It was a pity that the Wohushan base area had a bumper harvest of autumn grain last year.

Otherwise, feeding so many people and animals would be a big problem.

As the commander-in-chief of the battle, Ding Wei immediately saw the combat plan formulated by Wang Ye.

The entire plan was divided into several parts: enemy situation judgment, battle intention, unit formation, marching and deployment, combat stage division, emergency plans, logistics support, retreat deployment and reconnaissance, etc., which were very detailed.

The enemy situation judgment part has been discussed before, and the conclusion is that the Japanese army in Taiyuan had about 4,000 and the puppet army had about 2,000.

The intentions of the battle are divided into two: one is to force the main force of the Japanese army to rescue Taiyuan, and the other is to snatch the equipment of the bullet factory.

The troops were organized into twelve regiments of the Taiyue Military Region, including the Independent Regiment, the New First Regiment, the New Second Regiment, the 772nd Regiment, the Artillery Regiment, etc.

The march route is: Three regiments in northwest Shanxi head south along the Tongpu Railway, and the twelve regiments of Taiyue Military Region head north along the Baijin Line and arrive outside Taiyuan City to form two clusters north and south.

The North Cluster attacked Zhenyuanmen and Gongjimen.
To be continued...