Bright Sword: Iron Will 54

Chapter 54: The Battle of Xinkou Begins

Under the combined air and ground assault of the Japanese army, Wang Jingguo’s 19th Army, stationed in Aozhou County, abandoned the city after only two days of defense. Recalling his pre-war declaration of sharing the fate of Aozhou County, it now seemed utterly laughable.

With Aozhou County’s fall, Yuanping stood alone, its situation precarious. But to buy time for the construction of fortifications on the Xinkou front lines, Yan Laosi sent a telegram to Jiang Yuzhen: “Order your troops to defend Yuanping for seven days! No mistakes!”

After receiving the order, Jiang Yuzhen immediately used the small city of Yuanping as a base to engage in fierce fighting with the Japanese army. Once the city gates were breached, the soldiers of the 196th Brigade engaged in street fighting. No matter how fiercely the Japanese attacked, bombing with planes and shelling with heavy artillery, trying every means possible, they couldn’t completely drive the 196th Brigade out of the county. Jiang Yuzhen gritted her teeth and completed the mission.

After seven days, the 196th Brigade had suffered heavy casualties, its soldiers exhausted. However, thankfully, they continuously received supplies from the rear; otherwise, they wouldn’t have lasted. Jiang Yuzhen was a veteran of the Shanxi Defense Army, having followed Yan Laosi for over twenty years—a core member of his inner circle.

Just as the troops were about to withdraw from Yuanping, Yan Laosi sent another urgent telegram: “After seven days, defend for three more!” Looking at the telegram, Jiang Yuzhen’s hands trembled. Seeing that the troops were about to leave the battlefield, many soldiers clung to this belief, maintaining their morale and barely holding on. She didn’t know how to relay the order to her men.

Ultimately, Jiang Yuzhen led the remaining soldiers of the 196th Brigade back into battle, resisting the fierce onslaught of the Japanese enemy. After three more days of stubborn defense, on the morning of October 11th, as the Japanese army was about to breach the lines, to boost morale, Jiang Yuzhen personally went into battle to supervise and fight. The battlefield was fraught with danger. A shell landed at Jiang Yuzhen’s feet; the explosion’s fire instantly engulfed her. After the dust settled, only a fragmented corpse remained. Jiang Yuzhen died a heroic death.

After ten days of tenacious defense, the remaining soldiers of the 196th Brigade finally broke through the encirclement. Of a several-thousand-strong regular brigade of the Shanxi Defense Army, only four or five hundred survived. (Note: Aozhou County and Yuanping are now under the same administrative division.)

With Yuanping’s fall, Ban Guanzhengsiro’s next target was Xinkou. The area around Taiyuan is a basin, lacking natural defenses. Once Xinkou fell, Taiyuan would be easily taken!

Jiang Yuzhen’s troops held Yuanping for 11 days; the soldiers’ blood had not been shed in vain. During this respite, all units arrived in their combat zones. Wei Lihuang’s 14th Group Army also reached Taiyuan.

At the Second War Zone headquarters, a military conference was quietly convened. Generals were arrayed along both sides of the long table, the officers present voicing diverse opinions. After a heated discussion, the operational plan was finalized.

Wei Lihuang, as the overall commander on the Xinkou front, finalized the troop deployment: “I will personally lead the 14th Group Army to hold Xinkou, serving as the central group army, directly confronting the Japanese enemy. The Sixth Group Army will be the left group army, occupying positions along the Heyu to Yangfangkou line. The Eighth Group Army will be the right group army, with the 73rd, 101st, and the newly formed Second Division under its command, occupying positions along the Wutai Mountain to Ekou line. The 34th, 35th, and 61st Armies, and the 66th Division, will constitute the general reserve army, under the command of the Seventh Group Army, deployed in the rear awaiting orders.”

After reading out the deployment, Wei Lihuang said gravely, “Gentlemen, are there any objections to the specific strategic deployment?”

Huang Shaohong frowned: “I inspected the front lines earlier, and the Japanese army’s actions in the First War Zone show a tendency to approach the Niangziguan Pass. Currently, the main force of the First War Zone has retreated to Shijiazhuang. If this city falls, Niangziguan Pass will be exposed to the Japanese guns. Once Niangziguan Pass falls, the entire Xinkou defense line will collapse. I personally believe that significant forces should be deployed along the Niangziguan Pass line to guard against Japanese attacks.”

This remark led to a discussion among the senior officers present. Huang Shaohong was not a member of the Shanxi clique but belonged to the New Guangxi Clique, stationed in Shanxi as a special envoy of the Nanjing government.

Wei Lihuang praised him: “What Ji Kuan said is true. Niangziguan Pass is located behind Xinkou. If it falls, the Japanese army will strike directly at Taiyuan from the rear, and our 200,000 troops will face a pincer attack from the Japanese.”

Fu Zuoyi, Yang Aiyu, and other senior Shanxi Defense Army generals expressed their agreement. Even the Eighth Route Army’s Zhou, the deputy minister, concurred: “To resist the enemy on the Xinkou line, the Niangziguan Pass line cannot be lost.”

At the crucial moment, Yan Laosi raised his hand and objected: “Even if the situation in the First War Zone is not optimistic, there are still hundreds of thousands of troops stationed in Shijiazhuang. Niangziguan Pass can be considered safe for the time being!”

His words immediately caused an uproar below. Huang Shaohong had clearly explained the stakes; even a military illiterate could understand the importance of Niangziguan Pass. All the officers present unanimously agreed, yet the commander of the Second War Zone was creating a ruckus.

Regardless of the discussion below, Yan Laosi insisted on his opinion—not to defend Niangziguan Pass! He had his own reasons. All the central government’s troops were clashing head-on with the Japanese army, unable to spare additional troops. The Eighth Route Army’s guerrilla warfare behind enemy lines was gradually gaining momentum, making it impossible for them to move to Niangziguan Pass to reinforce the front lines. The only option was his own Shanxi Defense Army.

The Japanese army in the First War Zone was extremely strong, in no way inferior to the Fifth Division. Sending the Shanxi Defense Army to defend Niangziguan Pass risked a devastating defeat, which was more unbearable than killing him. Moreover, Shijiazhuang, as a major city, was indeed guarded by hundreds of thousands of troops. The Japanese army couldn’t easily break through. Even if those were hundreds of thousands of pigs running wild, the Japanese would still need a month to slaughter them!

“This…” A trace of displeasure flickered across Zhou’s face. Before arriving, the headquarters’ superiors had explicitly emphasized the extraordinary importance of the Niangziguan Pass line. He had previously suggested several times but been ignored.

Yan Laosi straightened his posture: “But we cannot entirely rely on our friendly forces in the First War Zone for the survival of the Niangziguan Pass line. Ji Kuan, since defending Niangziguan Pass is your suggestion, you will lead a unit to garrison that area.”

Without much thought, Huang Shaohong replied, “Yes!”

After settling various matters, the various units quickly began preparations to meet the enemy.

(End of Chapter)

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