In September 1938, the Japanese army increased its troops to Shanxi, and Major General Yamaguchi, the commander of the 108th Brigade of the Japanese Army, was in the vanguard, attacked and rushed violently, occupied the area of the Yellow River Army, and led the headquarters to station in Lishi County.
However, the 115th Division of the Eighth Route Army, which had advanced behind enemy lines, continued to ambush on the Fenli Highway and hit the Japanese transport convoy, so that the Japanese transport convoy did not dare to advance. On the Fenli Highway, there were no Japanese cars for several days. This was a bitter pain for the Japanese soldiers on the edge of the Yellow River. Because they could not get support from the rear, they had no food and ammunition, and Major General Yamaguchi had no choice but to order his subordinates to kill horses to satisfy their hunger and wait for reinforcements.
In order to save their troops on the banks of the Yellow River, the Japanese army began transportation again. As a result, more than 400 were annihilated again, and nearly four-fifths of the 108 transport vehicles of the 50 brigades were also lost. The rear supply line was cut off, and the 108th Brigade in Lishi was in fear, and the commander of the Yamaguchi Brigade had no choice but to lead the troops to retreat along the road to Fenyang.
At this moment, they were targeted by the Eighth Route Army. The 115th Division ordered Yang Yong, the commander of the 686th Regiment, to lead his troops to ambush the Japanese army, and temporarily assigned the 2nd Battalion of the 685th Regiment and the special service company of the division headquarters to Yang Yong.
Along the way, the mountain pass was attacked by a small detachment of the Eighth Route Army, and it had become a frightened bird, so it acted very carefully.
Yang Yong said: "It is not easy for devils to ambush, and the battle must be sudden!"
Yang Yong thought twice and decided that the troops would first drill into the vicinity of Wangjiachi, a newly built stronghold of the Japanese army, and then seek an opportunity to act.
The mountain road in the area of Wangjiachi is narrow. Because the Japanese army suffered losses there, they deliberately set up a stronghold. This time, it was very difficult for the Eighth Route Army to set up an ambush under the enemy's nose, but Yang Yong said: "Attacking the mountain pass, which is always on alert, we can only take it by surprise and attack it unprepared." "Determined to take a "risk"!
Before dawn on September 20, the 686th Regiment and its subordinate units quietly touched the vicinity of Wangjiachi, entered the designated position, and hid themselves.
In the early hours of the morning, the Japanese army set off again in despair. Although there were constant guerrilla attacks along the way, Major General Yamaguchi strictly ordered: "Do not fall in love with the battle, and move forward quickly." Therefore, the 108th Brigade only cared about parrying, did not fight back, and retreated in a hurry all the way.
When the sun was over, the Japanese cavalry appeared on the road. Immediately afterwards, the baggage, artillery, and infantry rushed forward and back, and came to the Wangjiachi Valley noisily. Yang Yong shouted: "Fight!"
The 686th Battalion of the 2nd Regiment first launched an attack on the Japanese. This was followed by a charge from the other battalions. Suddenly, the sound of trumpets and shouts shook the valley.
The Eighth Route Army cut the Japanese army into several sections at once, and held on to the command office of the mountain pass. The Japanese troops desperately counterattacked in the first and last sections, trying to relieve the siege for the headquarters. The two sides were stalemate, and the fight was fierce. At this critical juncture, Yang Yong ordered: "The 2nd Battalion of the 685th Regiment is on!" As soon as this new force was put into operation, it directly attacked the headquarters of Yamaguchi, and soon, in the melee, Major General Yamaguchi also died in battle.
As soon as Yamaguchi died, the Japanese army was even more chaotic. Soon, the Eighth Route Army ate the Japanese army piece by piece. This victory annihilated nearly 1,000 Japanese troops, and the victory caused a sensation in the entire Luliang Mountains.
Chen Guanren, the secretary of the "Ten Ace Armies" of the CPC History Publishing House, recounted the incident, and the book is a classic military bestseller.