Chapter 240 Li Yunlong's Secret Weapon As soon as Li Yunlong mentioned Ping'an County, everyone instantly realized why Li Yunlong had just organized everyone to drink and chat. I also asked everyone about the organization of their respective troops. It turns out that Li Yunlong wanted to see how much strength everyone had so that he could attack Ping'an County. After knowing that Li Yunlong wanted to take action against Ping'an County, Qin Yangming was also a little shocked. "Oh, I've already dealt with Yamamoto's special forces team. I didn't expect Li Yunlong to still attack Ping'an County. It seems that Li Yunlong is definitely going to fight with Ping'an County." It is different from the TV series, in which Li Yunlong of Ping'an County used about 10,000 people and relied on an Italian cannon to capture Ping'an County. It didn't look very difficult. But this is not a TV series, this is reality! Qin Yangming knew about Ping'an County. Ping'an County was a large county town, and it happened to be located at a pass in the north of Taihang Mountain. Just as Li Yunlong said, Ping'an County was a pass. To the east, it could enter the Ji Zhong area, and to the north it could pose a threat to Shuiquan Luyang. Going west, you can directly oppress Taiyuan. It can be said that Ping'an County's status is one level higher than Linyuan County and Shiquan County.

If it weren't for the fact that one has to cross mountains to reach the central Hebei region and transportation is not very convenient, it is estimated that Ping'an County's status is no weaker than that of large passes such as Yanmen Pass. (I looked at the topographic map and combined it with what was said in the plot. Ping'an County should be located below the spring. The terrain there is indeed very dangerous. In addition, there are rivers and mountains as natural barriers.) "Old Li, don't joke. Ping'an County has an entire Japanese brigade, plus two puppet armies, a total of 3,000 people responsible for the defense of the county. Moreover, if we want to launch an attack on Ping'an County from Fu'an, we also need to cross the Dongzhang River. The Japanese set up strongholds near the bridges and ferry crossings suitable for crossing the Dongzhang River. Once we cross the river, the Japanese can easily blow up the bridge and suppress the river surface with firepower. Old Li, when I was in Shiquan County, that canal, which wasn't even a river, was at least half the reason why I was able to hold on for so long. The Dongzhang River is not just a canal, it is a real river!" Kong Jie took out a cigarette from the cigarette box that Qin Yangming had placed on the table, lit it, looked at Li Yunlong with a worried look on his face and spoke. Ding Wei listened to what Kong Jie said and added to it. "Yes, Lao Li, when I came from the Jizhong Military Region, I crossed the Dongzhang River. I took a look and found that the narrowest part was at least ten meters. Moreover, the Dongzhang River is very deep, so it is impossible to wade across the river. One has to either build a floating bridge or use a boat. But the Dongzhang River is turbulent, and there are only a few places suitable for crossing the river or building a floating bridge, and they are all controlled by the Japanese. " “To put it another way, even if we succeed in crossing the river, we still have to face the Zhangzhuang stronghold. There are at least 800 people stationed there, and the fortifications there are not brick and wood structures, but all cement fortifications. Even a single shot from the Type 92 infantry gun would not be able to blow up the wall of the fortification. Let's assume that there are 800 people stationed at Zhangzhuang stronghold. It will take at least three hours for our large force to successfully cross the river. Three hours is enough time for the Japanese in Ping'an County to support the Zhangzhuang stronghold. Even if the Japanese in Ping'an County did not support the Zhangzhuang stronghold, the puppet troops and Japanese in the Japanese artillery towers along the river would be able to rush to the Zhangzhuang stronghold. By then, there would be at least a thousand enemies in the Zhangzhuang stronghold. Lao Li, with a thousand people and solid fortifications, it shouldn't be a problem for them to hold off our large force for four or five hours, right? After passing the Zhangzhuang stronghold, there is the Chengguan stronghold outside the Ping'an County. Even if the Chengguan stronghold can hold us off for three hours, let's say.

It took three hours to cross the river, four hours to attack the Zhangzhuang stronghold, and another three hours to attack the Chengguan stronghold. Taking into account the travel time, it would take at least half a day. As soon as our troops are mobilized, the Japanese will definitely receive the news. Half a day is enough time for the Japanese in Shuiquan and Luyang to provide support to Ping'an County. Old Li, don't forget that the Japanese's 11th Brigade is now at Shuiquan, keeping a close eye on us. At that time, we will be facing the Ping'an County, which is heavily guarded and has strong fortifications, as well as the attack of an entire Japanese field brigade. Lao Li, all our troops now add up to just over 10,000 men, although our equipment is much better than before. But the Japanese had at least 15,000 people, and they were on the defensive, so they were well-rested and had the advantage of being at home. Our chances of winning are pitifully slim. I personally do not recommend taking action against Ping'an County. At least it is not a county seat, so Ping'an County can only take its time and not be hasty. When our troops have grown stronger, we will secretly move part of them to the rear of Ping'an County. For example, let Xiao Qin's vanguard group move to the north of Ping'an County first, sandwiched between Shuiquan and Ping'an County. I led the New 1st Regiment to the west of Ping'an County to block the Japanese reinforcements from Taigu and Taiyuan. Lao Kong led the New Second Regiment to cross the river from the area under our control. Although there is no suitable place to build a pontoon bridge here and it is not suitable for boats to cross, we can build it slowly. It's not like we need to use it right away, or build a bridge that can be used forever. We can definitely build a bridge that can be used for a while in more than ten days. By then, Lao Kong will lead the New 2nd Regiment to block the Zhangzhuang stronghold and prevent the Japanese inside from leaving. Lao Li, you can directly lead the Independent Regiment to launch an attack on Ping'an County. By the time our troops are fully staffed, it won't be difficult to stop the Japanese reinforcements. Even if the city defenses of Ping'an County are made of iron, we can melt them with fire! We have plenty of time, unless the Japanese send out the 20th Division. But wouldn’t that be perfect if the Japanese sent out the 20th Division? If the Japanese 20th Division dares to move, the Shangdang Military Region will send troops northward, and the Luliang Military Region will send a troop out of the mountains. Then we will see whether the Japanese want Ping'an County or Taiyuan!" Ding Wei pointed at the map with chopsticks and made a detailed analysis of the enemy's and our own military strength to Li Yunlong and everyone present, and explained why he did not recommend attacking Ping'an County at this moment. Listening to Ding Wei's analysis, Kong Jie, Zhao Gang and others nodded, and they all thought that Ding Wei's analysis was very reasonable. After listening to Ding Wei's analysis, Li Yunlong smiled and spoke to Ding Wei. "Old Ding, this is not the first time that I, Li Yunlong, have fought in a war. I don't need a dog-headed military advisor like you to remind me of these things. Since I, Li Yunlong, want to attack Ping'an County, I will naturally find a way to do it." Ding Wei frowned as he listened to what Li Yunlong said. He could guarantee that the method he proposed to attack Ping'an County was the fastest and safest way. Li Yunlong shouldn't have a more reliable method than his own. Ding Wei was very confused as to how Li Yunlong could quickly capture Ping'an County, so he immediately stepped aside and prepared to see what Li Yunlong had to say. Seeing this, Li Yunlong also stood up and signaled Wei Dayong, who was holding the roast chicken and wine, to put down the things and go out to stand guard. Then he walked out of the table and spoke to everyone. "Ladies and gentlemen, let me first tell you why I want to attack Ping'an County."

"Although it seems that the whole of Shanxi and even North China has become quiet now, without any movement. But anyone with a discerning eye can see that sooner or later our Eighth Route Army will have a large-scale battle with the Japanese. And the outbreak point of this battle is likely to be Shanxi! We occupied the entire Shangdang area, and the Japanese troops in Jincheng and Zhongtiao Mountain areas became an isolated force. The Japanese soldiers in Zhongtiao Mountain and Jincheng could either cross the Yellow River to the south and completely abandon the territory of Zhongtiao Mountain and Jincheng, or attack the Shangdang area to the north. Otherwise, sooner or later they would be surrounded by the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army, all their supplies would be consumed, and they would be eroded step by step and swallowed up by the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army. It is impossible for the Japanese to sit idly by and watch their troops in Zhongtiao Mountain and Jincheng area being completely swallowed up by the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army, as there are two divisions of troops there. Therefore, the Japanese will definitely find ways to rescue Zhongtiao Mountain and Jincheng. It is impossible to rescue the Zhongtiao Mountain and Jincheng areas across the Yellow River from the south. Although the people in the mountain city are bastards, they will not just let the Japanese go. Therefore, the only way for the Japanese to rescue these two areas is to re-attack the Shangdang area and then carry out the rescue. The Shangdang area is now in our hands. If the Japanese want to take it back, they will have to ask whether the bullets in our Eighth Route Army's guns agree. In other words, it won’t be long before our Eighth Route Army and the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army will have a major battle with the Japanese. By then, Fu'an, Linyuan, Shiquan and other places will be the front lines. Therefore, many people in Fu'an County have migrated southward, hoping to go to Shangdang area to escape the war. Therefore, even though Fu'an is a large county town, due to the large number of people leaving, it is impossible for our four regiments to recruit enough young and strong teams in Fu'an. Even if all the people in Fu'an County were there, the total number of people in the entire Fu'an County would be less than 100,000, and our four regiments would need at least 10,000 people to be fully staffed, not to mention that we would need to form district teams and county brigades, which would require even more people. Don't expect the brigade to give us many new recruits. They are preparing to form a new core regiment. Our respective units are basically overstaffed, so it is impossible for them to continue to provide us with new recruits. We new recruits have to figure out our own way. In order for our respective troops to be able to quickly expand and restore their strength to prepare for the upcoming war, we must capture Ping'an County as soon as possible and obtain population replenishment for Ping'an County. At the same time, if we take over county towns like Ping'an County, then the common people in the areas controlled by the Japanese who want to join the Eighth Route Army will be able to come to our territory more easily to join the Eighth Route Army. Moreover, if we take over Ping'an County, then when the war breaks out, the Japanese will have to consider how much threat we can pose to them. If the Japanese 20th Division goes directly to the Shangdang area, then we can immediately move towards Taigu from Fu'an. At that time, the 20th Division would be directly swallowed up. Without the 20th Division, we would only need the help of brother troops from the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei Military Region, the Hebei-Central Military Region and other regions to hold back the Japanese invaders in Hebei. Then the Shangdang Military Region will head north, the Luliang Military Region will send troops eastward, and the Northwest Shanxi Military Region will head south. We will head north to stop the Japanese from Shuiquan. Then Taiyuan City would be directly surrounded. Whether from our own perspective or from the overall perspective, Ping'an County is a very important place for us, and we must take over Ping'an County as quickly as possible. I believe that the brigade commander and the division commander originally transferred our four regiments here with the intention of letting us take over Ping'an County. Otherwise, with our four regiments being so powerful, we should have stayed in Linyuan County and Shiquan County to face the 20th Division of the Japanese. It is impossible to place all four of our regiments in Fu'an County."

"Lao Li, we all know that Ping'an County is important, but how do we fight for it? With the current strength of our four regiments, even if we take over Ping'an County, we will suffer heavy losses." "Yes, Lao Li, Lao Ding has just analyzed how difficult it is to attack Ping'an County. What do you think?" "You guys, you guys are all taking the conventional route and not taking any unexpected situations into account." When Qin Yangming saw Li Yunlong turning his eyes to him, he instantly understood what Li Yunlong was thinking. "Captain, you want me to lead the assault platoon to sneak into Ping'an County first, and then destroy the command structure and communications of Ping'an County while you attack Ping'an County, right?" Listening to what Qin Yangming said, Li Yunlong clapped his hands. "Look, look, Xiao Qin still understands me. Why was I able to take over Linyuan County so quickly? It was Xiao Qin who destroyed the command center in Linyuan County. As long as Xiao Qin leads his men to take down the Japanese command post in Ping'an County and create as much chaos as possible in Ping'an County, when the Japanese are gone, there will definitely be chaos in a short period of time. We just need to seize the opportunity, then we can quickly end the battle and capture Ping'an County!" "No, Lao Li, then how do you plan to deal with the Zhangzhuang stronghold? Even if Xiao Qin took down the Japanese command center in Ping'an County and destroyed their communications. But what to do with the Zhangzhuang stronghold? Zhangzhuang stronghold is a tough nut to crack! There are so many fortifications, and the terrain is high enough that we can’t flood them even if we use water.” "Water won't work, can't you use smoke?" As Li Yunlong was talking, he took out a small gadget from his pocket. "I'm telling you guys, you should learn from me and go to the logistics department whenever you have time. The logistics department has come up with a new gadget, I made one that is similar, you guys can try it out." After Li Yunlong finished speaking, he took out the gadget in his hand and placed it in front of everyone. "Isn't this a fucking firecracker?" "Yes, it's a firecracker. I made it myself. You guys try it." As he was talking, Li Yunlong took out the lighter he had taken from Qin Yangming, lit the firecrackers, and then walked to the door. Qin Yangming looked at the firecracker that Li Yunlong threw down, which was about the thickness of a thumb. He seemed to have thought of something, and quickly ran to the door and stood beside Li Yunlong. "boom!" "Cough cough...cough cough..." "Li Yunlong!"

(End of this chapter)