In the Tongguan War Zone Command, there were telegrams everywhere, and the atmosphere was quite tense. At this time, Mu Yaping stared at the military map with his bloodshot eyes and said, "General Peng! The 129th Division resisted the Japanese army's fierce attack on Ant Ridge for three days and three nights, effectively suppressing the Japanese army's powerful offensive, which won time for us to build a new defense line. If they were holding on for three days, we could form a new and stable defense line from Ant Ridge to Luoning, and at the same time we could effectively ensure the safety of Sanmenxia."

Peng Dehuai also had red eyes and said, "The purpose of the Japanese army to seize Sanmenxia is very clear. Once the Japanese army occupy Sanmenxia, ​​they will cross the Yellow River north. What about the Jiyuan defense line on the north bank of the Yellow River. The Zhongtiaoshan defense line will be attacked in the abdomen. We will not only lose the Zhongtiaoshan defense line, but hundreds of thousands of troops will be surrounded by the Japanese army, and there is a danger of annihilation of the entire army. Our only choice is that the Jiyuan defense line and hundreds of thousands of defenders on the Zhongtiaoshan defense line are forced to retreat to the northwest of Shanxi. Zhongtiaoshan will hand it over to the Japanese army. The retreat of hundreds of thousands of troops will turn into a great defeat, and even a tragedy on the Songhu battlefield will be staged."

Mu Yaping said: "General Peng, it is obvious that Sanmenxia must be defended. It seems that the Tongguan defense line has lost its defensive significance. The defenders on this line must be transferred to Ant Ridge to Luoning. We must ensure that this line of defense cannot be lost so that we can recover the decline." Peng Dehuai said: "Yes, ensure that Sanmenxia is not lost. Ant Ridge and Luoning are our last bottom line."

Peng Dehuai continued: "The 129th Division holds for another three days, we will set up a new defense line. At present, the four divisions we deployed in Tongguan are moving towards the front line. The troops withdrawn from the front line have unstable morale and panic, and they must pull them down and rest. Now the only thing I worry about is the Ant Lingnan Line Defense Zone. If the Japanese army launches a large-scale attack on the southern line, I am very worried about the defense of the 161st Division in Madaogou. This unit is our newly launched rotational battle force, and they have never confronted the Japanese army."

Mu Yaping said: "The defensive terrain of Majiagou is excellent, and the Japanese army will not choose to attack in this direction. Moreover, the 161st Division is fully equipped, so it should not be a big problem for this unit to hold on for a few days." General Peng shook his head and said: "The more you think the safer place is, the more likely it is to have an accident. What is unexpected? Everything will happen on the battlefield." Mu Yaping thought it made sense and immediately ordered a unit from Tongguan to transfer to the front line to advance towards Majiagou and serve as the assistant defense of the 161st Division. Just as Peng Dehuai analyzed, something happened to the 161st Division.

The 161st Division is a unit of the Shaanxi Army. They were transferred to the front line half a month ago. The 161st Division is a unit under Yang Hucheng and has certain combat power. After the theater command adopted a rotation battle to take into account the interests of all parties, the unit was transferred to the front line. After the 161st Division entered Madaogou, it was preparing to take the rotation battle to the front line. However, after the 128th Division of Zhengcun turned against each other, the situation took a sharp turn and the Japanese army broke through the new security line on a large scale. In the blink of an eye, Majiagou, where the 161st Division was located, became the front line. Therefore, the division naturally became a defensive force that stood on the Majiagou line.

The 129th Division of the Eighth Route Army was adjacent to the northern line, but there was no movement in the Japanese army in Majiagou. The division commander He Biao was a little nervous. The initial uneasiness disappeared. He believed that the main reason for the Japanese army not to launch an attack in this direction was that his defense area was high and dense forests, and the terrain was complex, so that the Japanese army's large corps could not be deployed. It seemed that God was favoring him. Since the debate, he had no chance to go to the front line to participate in the battle at the beginning.

Later, the front-line troops suffered heavy losses, and the theater command began to transfer the troops on the front line to the front line to discuss the battle. Although He Biao was scared, he had to bite the bullet and go on the battle. Now the battle situation suddenly changed, and he became the focus of defense in a blink of an eye, which made He Biao feel fear in his heart. Today he received a notice from the theater command to strengthen his vigilance and said that a division behind him was rushing to strengthen his defense. He felt relieved when he heard this news.

At 8 a.m., at the division command center, He Biao said to his subordinates: "Brothers! It seems that the target of the Japanese army is Ant Ridge. Commander Mu of the War Zone Command called us to be vigilant. Don't be nervous. A division will come up later tomorrow. In addition, the defense area we are in is high and the forest is dense, so I judge that the Japanese army will not attack us.

When the subordinates heard the analysis of the division seat, everyone relaxed their nervous mood. One subordinate said, "Trider seat! I heard that a Japanese division attacked Ant Ridge. It was unimaginable that the 129th Division of the Eighth Route Army could withstand it for 3 days." He Biao said, "They have strong soldiers and horses, and their weapons and equipment are advanced. Damn, if I have their conditions, I can do it?" The subordinates all dressed up, and He Biao was very helpful after hearing this.

Suddenly, a roar came from the sky. At this time, someone shouted "Japanese air strike!" Then there was a fierce explosion from the frontier position... When He Biao received a report from the frontier, a large number of troops appeared in the frontier and launched an attack, he was shocked. While ordering the troops to resist, he quickly reported to the headquarters. Mu Yaping personally called, ordering He Biao to stand his position at any cost, and informing the reinforcements that they could arrive at midnight.

At 8 a.m. that day, Ichiro Miyamoto ordered the bombers fighting in Ant Ridge to be put into Majiagou. At the same time, he ordered an artillery corps to be put into operation. At the beginning, the 161st Division used favorable terrain to repel several Japanese attacks, but in the afternoon of the battle, under the continuous impact of the Japanese army, the will of defenders' officers and soldiers' resistance relaxed. There was artillery fire outside, and the calls for help from the division command center continued. At this time, He Biao's face was pale and his mind was in chaos. He asked the War Zone Command more than once to ask the reinforcements to arrive quickly.

Mu Yaping was also very nervous in the theater command, and Peng Dehuai said nothing. Now Majiagou, which made them worried, was the weak point. The Japanese army also saw this. The order had been issued to require reinforcements to arrive quickly, but the reinforcements arrived at midnight at the fastest speed. Now we can only expect the 161st Division to fight to the death. Mu Yaping said: "General Peng, according to He Biao's report, at least one brigade launched an attack on his position. Obviously, the Japanese army has invested new troops on the front line. Now we can only hope to hold on until the reinforcements arrive."

Peng Dehuai said: "The Japanese army suddenly launched an attack on Majiagou. Obviously, the Japanese army saw the weak link in my defense. If the 161st Division fought to the death, there should be no problem, but the battle situation is very passive now, and the combat effectiveness will be greatly reduced in panic. We must make the worst plan!" Mu Yaping said: "Are you saying that the whole line collapsed?" Peng Dehuai nodded.

A brigade of the 23rd Division, which was originally reinforced by the flank, was the front line commander Ichiro Miyamoto prepared to join the Ant Ridge to strengthen the offensive. After receiving the order from Soichi Desouchi, he quickly threw the brigade into the direction of Majiagou, and then ordered all the main forces of the 23rd Division to advance towards Majiagou.

At 3 pm that day, the commander of the 161st Division Commander He Biao looked at the map with a pale face and his eyes were a little dazed. At this time, a combat staff member put down the phone and panicked, "Reporting the Division! The position of Toad Ridge has been broken!" He Biao was shocked, "Reporting the Division! The position of Huolonggou has been broken..." Five defensive positions were broken one after another. He Biao was like an ant on a hot pan and was anxious. "Order the troops to counterattack me and give me more positions!" He Biao shouted in anger.

After He Biao finished shouting, he sat decadently on the chair. At this time, a brigade commander was wrapped in a bandage on his head and ran in a panic and knelt in front of him: "Secretary seat, retreat quickly! Our defense line was broken through many places by the Japanese army, and it could no longer be defended!" He Biao stood up and shouted: "Damn it! Your troops! Your position!" After that, He Biao drew out his pistol and shot the brigade commander on the opposite side. "Send a report to the headquarters, I decided to live and die with the position!"

Everyone in the division headquarters was so scared that they dared not say a word. The chief of staff said: "Teacher! It's not that we don't do our best, but that the Japanese army is too strong. You should think about your brothers." He Biao waved his hand and said: "I have decided, and the troops are not allowed to retreat without my order." After saying this, He Biao knew what the fate would be waiting for him! He sat on the chair and his face turned pale.

The Chief of Staff saw the thoughts of the division commander and waved his hand to raise He Biao. "What are you going to do? Damn you, you are back!" He Biao was taken out. The Chief of Staff then ordered the entire line to retreat.

In fact, there is no need to issue any orders now, and the entire front-line troops can no longer resist. The defensive soldiers were defeated like a tide. They spontaneously withdrew from their positions and soon lost effective command and became fleeing. Miyamoto Ichiro was overjoyed when he received the news that the Majiagou defense line was broken. On the one hand, he reported to the commander Soichi Teraunuchi, and on the other hand, he ordered the main force of the 23rd Division to immediately move quickly towards Majiagou and continue to expand the results of the battle.

The Tongguan War Zone Command was silent, with only the sound of telegrams dripping. At this time, all the personnel were watching Mu Yaping and Peng Dehuai. Mu Yaping closed his eyes painfully when he heard the news. Although Peng Dehuai was mentally prepared, he was very shocked in the face of this blow. Then Peng Dehuai said loudly: "Order all troops to block the Japanese army on the spot and delay the Japanese army's attack! Whoever dares to disobey the order will be engaged in military law!"

Mu Yaping knew very well that at this time, if the law did not blame the masses, it would soon form a bone-mill effect. The Japanese army broke through in Majiagou, and the Antling branch Luoning defense line was broken as soon as it was established, and then the entire line collapsed. After a long time, Peng Dehuai said: "Commander Mu, the Japanese army attacked Sanmenxia from the south. Sanmenxia could no longer bear it. I have ordered the 129th Division to withdraw from the Antling defense line. On the one hand, it will implement blocking step by step, and on the other hand, it will build positions in Mianchi to delay the Japanese attack, but it can only delay the Japanese attack."

Mu Yaping said: "President Peng! What do you mean is that you must give up Jiyuan and Zhongtiaoshan defense line?" Peng Dehuai said: "If the Japanese army conquered Sanmenxia, ​​it will be too late for us to retreat. In the future, we can only build a defense line on the Tongguan line. However, after the Japanese army occupied Zhongtiaoshan, the Japanese army would use the Yellow River to send troops to Shaanxi at any time. Frankly speaking, the Tongguan defense line became fragile." Mu Yaping fell silent again, frankly said that he would never give up the order to withdraw troops from Zhongtiaoshan and Jiyuan defense line.

At the command of the 129th Division of Ant Ridge, Liu Bo received a telegram from the theater command and waved his hand on the table angrily. Deputy Division Commander Peng Xuefeng received the telegram and saw it read: The Japanese army broke through the Majiagou defense line at around 3 o'clock in the morning, and the Ant Ridge defense line had lost its meaning of defense. The situation was extremely urgent. You ordered your troops to withdraw their positions and carry out blocking them step by step, delaying the speed of the Japanese attack, and at the same time, they built a new position in Mianchi to block the Japanese army.

Peng Xuefeng said: "Teacher Commander, I really didn't expect the Japanese army to break through in the 161 defense zone. Why did such a unit be placed in Majiagou?" Liu Bocheng said helplessly: "The 161 Division itself is stationed in Majiagou, and is a rotating force. He ordered the troops to withdraw from their positions one after another to retreat to Mianchi, and ordered the 386th Brigade to cut off the rear and block the Japanese army step by step!" Liu Bocheng decisively issued a retreat order.

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Chapter completed!