“Remember the Hundred Regiments Offensive” a veteran might say. Today we stand at the \u7f8a\u513f\u5cad1\u53f7\u8fb9\u58a9. It stands as a silent witness to a fierce battle during that offensive.
\u7f8a\u513f\u5cad1\u53f7\u8fb9\u58a9 is located in the He Shun County. It lies within the boundary where Shanxi Shouyang, Xiyang and He Shun meet. The main peak is over 1500 meters above sea level. It is the highest point in the surrounding mountains.
In 1940, the Eight Route Army launched the Hundred Regiments Offensive. Zhou Xihan served as the Chief of Staff of the 386th Brigade of the 129th Division. He was appointed commander of the Left Wing Column. He led the Sixteenth Regiment and other forces. They included the Twenty-fifth Regiment and the Thirty-eighth Regiment. They also had large teams from Lixian and Taigu counties. Two engineering reinforcement companies and over ten thousand civilian workers joined them. Their mission was to destroy the railway section from Shouyang to Lixian.
On August 30th, the Japanese army launched a “mopping-up” operation. They targeted the Jinzhong \u7f8a\u513f\u5cad area. They aimed to encircle and annihilate the 129th Division headquarters. \u7f8a\u513f\u5cad1\u53f7\u8fb9\u58a9 became a crucial point of defense.
On September 3rd, before dawn, Zhou Xihan arrived with the Sixteenth and Thirty-eighth Regiments. They quickly learned that Japanese troops had occupied Mayu and Jingshang. The division’s hospital at Juanzigou had not yet been moved. Zhou Xihan made a decisive decision. The Sixteenth Regiment would defend \u7f8a\u513f\u5cad1\u53f7\u8fb9\u58a9. They would occupy positions on the Shangmi Rock line. Their task was to block the enemy advancing from the north. The Thirty-eighth Regiment left a battalion west of Hongjian. They were to monitor the enemy at Mayu. The main force moved east to the Dongda Village area. They occupied positions to cover the Sixteenth Regiment’s eastward shift.
At 6:30 AM on September 3rd, about 1,000 Japanese soldiers launched a fierce attack. They were supported by enemy planes and collaborators from Mayu. The Sixteenth Regiment fought fiercely. They repelled three Japanese advances. They killed or wounded over a hundred Japanese soldiers. They ensured the safe transfer of over ten thousand civilian workers.
The enemy failed to capture the position after repeated assaults. They concentrated artillery fire on the main peak of \u7f8a\u513f\u5cad1\u53f9\u8fb9\u58a9. They called in planes for air support. The Eight Route Army was in a disadvantageous position. Zhou Xihan immediately ordered a counterattack.
The Eight Route Army’s weapons were inferior to the Japanese. But commanders and soldiers fought bravely. Two regimental commanders and political commissars directed troops in the front line. After two hours of fighting, they recaptured the main position of \u7f8a\u513f\u5cad1\u53f7\u8fb9\u58a9.
The troops organized their firepower to counter enemy attacks. They adopted a “less deployment, more ambush” tactic. One-third of the force defended the position. Two-thirds served as a reserve hidden nearby. They were ready to reinforce the front line and launch counterattacks.
The enemy launched further attacks. Zhou Xihan directed the troops to fight bravely. From 6:30 AM to 9:30 PM, they fought for fifteen hours. They repelled over ten enemy assaults. They killed or wounded over 300 Japanese soldiers. At 9:30 PM, Zhou Xihan received orders to retreat. The headquarters and neighboring units had safely moved. Zhou ordered the troops to evacuate and shift eastward.
This battle at \u7f8a\u513f\u5cad1\u53f7\u8fb9\u58a9 highlights the courage. It underscores the strategic importance of this location during the Hundred Regiments Offensive. Today, as we stand here, let us remember the sacrifices made. Let us honor the resilience of the Eight Route Army.