"No problem. As long as the base area becomes more and more stable, the scale of these farms will sooner or later expand. Just like our chicken farms, wasn't it from scratch?" Political Commissar Cheng Xiao comforted with confidence.

The expansion of chicken farms made him believe that pig farms and sheep farms can be expanded to a large enough scale as long as they have time.

While the top-down development of the Independent Regiment was getting more and more regular, the Japanese Army Command in North China was not idle.

The strategy of attacking Guangzhou in the south, attacking Wuhan in the middle, and encircling Wutai in the north was the established Japanese invaders this year.

According to the combat plan formulated by the Japanese army in North China, 50,000 elite troops will be concentrated in September to attack the Jin-Cha-Hebei base centered on Wutai in 25 directions, and eliminate the Eighth Route Army entrenched in the rear of the Imperial Army in one fell swoop.

However, the battle of being born in Laiyuan broke this plan.

Four thousand imperial troops died on the battlefield, and a large amount of equipment and supplies were seized. Since the establishment of the Japanese Army Command in North China, it has not suffered such a large loss.

Especially the loss of a large amount of equipment made the Japanese army know that the battle to encircle and suppress the Eighth Route Army of Shanxi, Cha and Hebei could not wait any longer.

The battle to eliminate the 4,000 imperial troops at one time made the Japanese army realize the strong combat effectiveness of the Eighth Route Army of the Jin-Cha-Hebei region.

If the Eighth Route Army was allowed to use all the equipment seized from Laiyuan, form new troops and form combat effectiveness, the strength of the Eighth Route Army in the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei area would definitely be further expanded. At that time, it would be very difficult for the Imperial Army to destroy them again.

With this idea in mind, the Japanese North China Front Army directly decided to launch an encirclement and suppression campaign against Jin, Cha and Hebei in advance.

The First Military Sub-district of the Eighth Route Army, which had eliminated the 4,000 elite imperial troops of the Laiyuan Ono Brigade, was positioned by the Japanese army to focus on the attack targets of this encirclement and suppression operation. The 20,000 imperial troops, 20,000 imperial alliance troops, plus a large number of artillery units and air support, attacked the First Military Sub-district of the Eighth Route Army together.

Although the entire Japanese encirclement and suppression were kept very confidential, such a large-scale mobilization of troops and material transfers could not be concealed by the Eighth Route Army intelligence personnel.

The Eighth Route Army Headquarters first received the news and then reported it to the Jin-Cha-Hebei Military Region.

"Forty thousand Japanese and puppet troops divided their troops to attack the First Military Sub-district. This time Yang Chengwu was under a lot of pressure! Maybe the first military sub-district that had just been expanded would be severely damaged by the Japanese army and suffered heavy losses!" Commander Nie, who received the information, frowned and sighed.

The Chief of Staff frowned even deeper, and he reminded with a solemn look: "There are more than 40,000 Japanese and puppet troops, among which there is an artillery corps and a mountain artillery corps. In addition to infantry artillery and other mountain artillery, are there 100 caliber artillery corps and air support!"

"When did the Japanese army look down on our Eighth Route Army so much? There are more troops we dispatched to deal with than a decisive battle on the front line!"

'"That's because after the base was established, our Eighth Route Army beat them up. The Japanese saw our threat and then dispatched heavy troops to encircle and suppress us!" Commander Nie replied incisively.

"Although we have not fought any large-scale battles in the past six months, various small-scale battles have never been stopped, and hundreds of battles must be there. In addition to the last battle results of the First Military Sub-district and the last anti-encirclement and suppression results, even if there are not ten thousand people, there are definitely eight thousand people!"

"For the Japanese army in North China, such losses are no smaller than a large-scale battle. Eliminating us is normal for the Japanese!"

After saying that, Commander Nie directly ordered: "Military information is urgent, I plan to go to the First Military Sub-district in person!"

"Although the troops under Yang Chengwu's hands have expanded to 20,000, seven or eight thousand of them are recruits. They have been trained for less than two months and don't know how powerful they are. I'm not relieved not to go to his place in person!"

The arrival of Commander Nie from the First Military Sub-district Command made Yang Chengwu both happy and worried.

I was happy because Commander Nie came to the first division, which showed that he attached great importance to the first division. I was worried because Yang Chengwu knew that Commander Nie would never come down if there was no reason.

As for this reason, there are good or bad things, Commander Nie doesn’t say it, and Yang Chengwu doesn’t know it either.

Soon, the command center was still in a lively atmosphere just now. As Commander Nie put out various enemy situations, it became solemn.

After looking at the map for nearly five minutes, Yang Chengwu frowned and analyzed: "The strength of the 40,000 Japanese and puppet troops is far above our military sub-district. However, judging from the distribution of the enemy's troops, they seem to have key targets for attack!"

"Yes, it's an independent regiment that severely damaged the Japanese Ono Brigade!"

"After supplementary, the Ono Brigade has more than 5,000 Japanese troops belonging to the Imperial Army division, a total of more than 12,000 people. Eighty-most of them are prepared for your independent regiment. The Japanese are going to take revenge and wipe out the independent regiment in the mountains!"

"It's true!" Yang Chengwu affirmed, frowning deeper!

After some thought, he analyzed: "I am not worried about the Japanese and puppet troops in the other three directions. Although half of the three detachments are recruits, they have been trained for so long, and they are well-equipped and have sufficient ammunition."

"Even if you can't stop the attack of the Japanese and puppet troops, hold them up, fight guerrillas with them, and finally drag them down, forcing them to end the encirclement and suppression in a hurry, there is still no problem. You must know that the three detachments have more than 5,000 troops, and there are also a large number of local troops and guerrillas to cooperate with them in the battle."

Speaking of this, Yang Chengwu changed his mind and continued: "The only thing you need to worry about is the independent group!"

"Although the Combat Independent Regiment has expanded a lot of people, its total strength is still controlled below 3,000 people. Although there are still 1,000 local troops and 2,000 guerrillas to cooperate with them in combat, the combat effectiveness of local troops and guerrillas is limited after all, and compared with the Japanese, the strength is too great apart!"

Commander Nie was not polite and ordered directly: "Then go to the independent regiment headquarters, and I'll go with you!"

"If you really can't stop the attack of the Japanese and puppet troops, you can find a way to recruit troops to reinforce the Independent Regiment. If you really don't have any troops, you can only give up the Independent Regiment's headquarters in Laiyuan, break it into pieces, and fight guerrillas with the Japanese and puppet troops invading Laiyuan!"

"No, there are a large number of Japanese stationed in Laiyuan City. It's too dangerous to go to Laiyuan now. Commander, I don't agree!" Yang Chengwu subconsciously opposed.

Commander Nie shook his head and replied: "I'm going to make a decision on the Independent Corps. Last time, the Independent Corps eliminated so many Japanese devils, and it's reasonable that I, as the commander, should go there."

"As for safety, you, Yang Chengwu, don't be alarmist. I know a little about Laiyuan's situation. There are many Japanese soldiers, but they are all crouched in Laiyuan City. Even if the Japanese leave the city, Laiyuan's Independence Corps is not a vegetarian. It's just settled. We will go out tonight and fight to get to the Independence Corps' headquarters at noon tomorrow!"

Commander Nie has made up his mind, and Yang Chengwu can only agree: "Yes, Commander!"

After Commander Nie went to rest, Yang Chengwu found the Chief of Staff and ordered: "Secretly draw a company from the Guard Battalion to protect Commander Nie to the Independent Regiment. Don't notify Wang Ping first. After all, it is the front line. I am afraid that there will be a spy in the ghosts and spies, and the commander's whereabouts will be leaked!"
Chapter completed!