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Early one morning in July 1940, before the morning fog had completely cleared in the Panshan area, Bao Sen, the commander of the Eighth Route Army, was planning an ambush that seemed to be in danger. Intelligence indicated that a Japanese cavalry team would pass through this complex terrain. This seemed like a perfect opportunity for the soldiers of the Eastern Hebei Army Division - they were far outnumbered and armed by this enemy army. As the enemy approached, the soldiers of the Eighth Route Army hid their bodies among the trees and rocks, adjusted their rifles, and waited with bated breath.
However, as the target became clearer, Baussen observed unusual details through his telescope: this was not an ordinary cavalry, but an elite unit of the well-trained and well-equipped Kwantung Army. When this realization shook my mind, the atmosphere on the battlefield suddenly became tense. Did they use their wisdom and courage to defeat this elite enemy army?
The establishment of the Panshan anti-Japanese base area
In July 1940, Bao Sen, deputy commander of the Eastern Hebei Army Division and commander of the 13th Regiment, opened up a new anti-Japanese base area in the Panshan area in the northeast of Hebei Province. Known for its complex terrain and dense forests, this area is ideal for guerrilla warfare. The surrounding area of the mountain is covered with cliffs and dense forests, which are very suitable for hiding and ambushing, and bring great difficulties to the Japanese attack.
At this critical time, Baussen did not just focus on the current military operations, he also took on the important task of cultivating and integrating new forces. He brought back from the Pingxi base a group of cadres who had completed their training, and these cadres had undergone rigorous military training, possessed rich tactical knowledge and actual combat experience, and were ready to engage in new battles in the eastern Hebei region.
In order to effectively integrate these new forces, Bao Sen organized a series of targeted tactical training and battle plan discussions. These cadres are organized into different squads and squads, and are reasonably distributed according to their respective expertise and experience. Between the dense forests and mountains of the winding mountains, they conducted many simulated combat trainings, and every skill was honed, from covert operations to night attacks.
In addition, Bao Sen also emphasized the importance of terrain utilization, and he personally led cadres to visit the mountainous terrain with complex terrain to guide how to use the terrain for ambushes and maneuvers in actual battles. Through on-the-spot visits, the cadres gained a more intuitive understanding of the geographical environment of the Panshan area, which is crucial for improving their combat skills and survivability.
The movements of the Japanese army and reconnaissance missions
In mid-July, with the frequent activities of the Japanese army, the command of the Eastern Hebei Army Division received information about possible new movements of the enemy troops. This news immediately aroused a high level of alarm, and Bao Sen reacted quickly and decided to send two reliable inspectors, Yang Ze and Gao Dazhang, to Jixian County to conduct a secret investigation.
Both of these scouts are experienced fighters who are well aware of the risks and techniques of infiltrating enemy-controlled territory. They set out in the darkness of night, taking advantage of the cover of dense forests and mountains, avoiding the regular patrol routes of the Japanese army, and cautiously approached Jixian. As an important strategic point, Jixian has always been heavily defended by the Japanese army. Yang Ze and Gao Dazhang had to be extremely careful, as the slightest noise might attract the attention of the enemy.
After entering the county seat, the two split up, pretending to be local villagers to infiltrate markets and taverns, looking for opportunities to gather information. They observed that the Japanese increased the frequency of patrols in the city and set up checkpoints at some key intersections. In a tavern, Yang Ze overheard Japanese soldiers talking about the imminent transfer of a cavalry team to the east.
After receiving this key information, the two immediately quietly evacuated the county seat in the middle of the night and quickly returned to Panshan along the forest path. On the way back, they chose a remote mountain road to avoid encountering a Japanese patrol. When approaching the eastern side of Panshan, the two decided to climb a high ground with a wide view to further observe the surrounding dynamics and make sure it was safe to move on.
Just as they were searching around through the binoculars, Yang Ze suddenly noticed that there was dust in the distance, and it seemed that a team was moving quickly. He quickly adjusted the focal length of the telescope and observed the comer closely. It didn't take long for the silhouette of a group of Japanese cavalry to become clear, and they were approaching the winding side along an infrequently used mountain road.
Wrong initial judgment and emergency deployment
After confirming the information of the Japanese cavalry, Yang Ze and Gao Dazhang quickly returned to the Panshan base area. They were quick at their pace, trying to stay as hidden as possible on the way to ensure that they were not discovered by the Japanese. After arriving at the base area, Yang Ze directly found Bao Sen and eagerly reported their observations.
In the rudimentary headquarters, where maps and various communications equipment were scattered around, Baussen and several senior commanders were discussing the war. When Yang Ze came in, Bao Sen immediately noticed his arrival and motioned for him to report the situation quickly. Yang Ze succinctly described the course of action, the number and the state of equipment of the Japanese cavalry. He mentioned that this cavalry contingent was well-equipped and disciplined, and was clearly the elite unit of the Japanese army.
Hearing this, Bao Sen and the other commanders immediately felt that this was an opportunity not to be missed. Their troops were far outnumbered and armed by this Japanese cavalry, and an ambush could deal a major blow to the enemy. The commanders present began to excitedly discuss the possibility of an attack, considering how to deploy forces to carry out the ambush.
However, as the enemy cavalry approached, Baussen carefully observed the details of the enemy's flag and equipment through a telescope. He noticed that the emblem on the flag was different from what he saw on a daily basis, which alerted him. Bao Sen had a wealth of military experience, which he recognized as the hallmark of the Takeshima cavalry, a unit known for its combat effectiveness and combat experience.
The Takeshima Cavalry was an elite unit in the Japanese army, and most of its members were World War I veterans with rich battlefield experience. The level of training of these soldiers was very high, and the discipline and execution they displayed in battle were exemplary among the Japanese army. Knowing this, Bao Sen's expression turned serious, and he realized that the stakes of this fight were far greater than their initial estimates.
In this case, a simple ambush plan needs to be reconsidered. Bao Sen summoned his top staff members, including Zeng Kelin and Ouyang Boping, to discuss how to adjust tactics. They analyzed topographic maps and recently gathered intelligence to identify several possible ambush points. Using the complex terrain and abundant forests of the mountain, they were able to design multiple ambush circles to distract the Japanese and take advantage of the geographical advantage, Bao Sen noted.
Ambushes and fierce battles
Bao Sen assigned a special service company and part of the elite troops of the 1st Battalion of the 12th Regiment to carry out an ambush on the hill north of Baicaowa. This position is elevated, providing a wide field of view and a favorable angle of fire, making it ideal as a main attack.
At the same time, the other troops led by Zeng Kelin were deployed on the slopes southwest of Baicaowa, which had a large undulating terrain and dense forests, which were suitable for hiding and sudden attacks. Ouyang Boping was responsible for directing the remaining troops to ambush in the east, the terrain on the east side was relatively flat, but it also provided sufficient cover and ambush advantages, so that the troops could effectively block the enemy's retreat and form a three-sided encirclement.
Each commander carried out a detailed inspection of their weapons and communications equipment to ensure that liaison and coordination were maintained during the operation. The troops silently moved to their designated positions in the darkness of the night, taking the bare minimum of movements and sounds, and avoiding early exposure to the action. On the hills and slopes, soldiers used natural mounds of earth, trees and rocks as shelter, deployed machine guns and snipers, as well as grenades and other explosive equipment.
As the enemy cavalry gradually moved into the ambush zone, tension permeated the soldiers. They crouched silently in position, clenching their weapons, waiting for the signal to attack. As soon as the Japanese cavalry was in the best firing range, Bao Sen gave a signal to attack by radio.
Suddenly, heavy fire erupted on the hilltops and slopes, and grenades and mortar shells rained down on the ranks of the Japanese cavalry. Loud explosions and sharp gunfire echoed through the valley, and the Japanese cavalry was completely caught off guard, and many fell in the first wave of the attack. In the dust, some of the cavalry tried to reorganize the formation, but their efforts became extremely difficult in the constant firing and explosions.
Baussen and his troops seized the opportunity and inflicted sustained strikes on the enemy from three directions. The soldiers of the Special Service Company and the 1st Battalion of the 12th Regiment were particularly outstanding, under the command of Bao Sen, they effectively used the terrain and the weapons in their hands to shoot at the Japanese troops, and the Japanese cavalry were defeated one by one with accurate marksmanship. As the battle continued, the Japanese resistance gradually weakened, and finally collapsed under the strong fire of our side.
The outcome and impact of the battle
The battle, which began in the morning and was not settled until late at night, lasted 14 hours. Under the careful strategy and resolute command of Bao Sen, the troops of the Eastern Hebei Army Division launched a continuous siege of the Japanese cavalry. The protracted nature of the battle tested the endurance and resources of both sides, but in the end, the superiority of our troops in terrain and numbers gradually showed its decisive role.
As the battle progressed, the structure of the Japanese cavalry ranks was disrupted by our fire. They initially tried to avoid our army's fire network by moving quickly, but this strategy quickly failed under the difficult terrain of the mountains and continuous attacks. Under the command of Bao Sen and other commanders, our soldiers flanked the Japanese from three sides, constantly adjusting their firing angles and attack strategies, effectively weakening the enemy's combat effectiveness.
The Japanese cavalry suffered heavy casualties under the continuous attack, and in the confusion, some cavalry tried to break through and escape, but most of them were knocked down by our accurate fire or explosives in the process of fleeing. Over time, the resistance of the Japanese army weakened significantly, and their morale dropped significantly. By the end of the battle, with only sporadic resistance remaining, our troops began to fully clean up the battlefield and search for hidden enemy troops.
At the end of the battle, all of the original 78 cavalrymen of the Takeshima Cavalry Squadron were wiped out, except for one cavalryman who managed to escape and return to report the news, and another soldier who was unconscious due to his wounds. The weapons, equipment, and materials left over from the battlefield were collected and sorted, and these will provide our army with certain logistical supplies and equipment use.
The effects of this victory quickly spread throughout Panshan and the surrounding area, greatly enhancing the confidence of the local people in the struggle against Japan. The security of the Panshan base area has been further consolidated and has become an important support point for the anti-Japanese forces in the surrounding areas.
References:[1]Guo Senmao. Journal of Weinan Normal University,1989,6(2):63-65