Pingxingguan Ambush The pass of Pingxingguan was a narrow
defile worn through the loess, with no exit for several kilometres except the road itself. On the evening of September 22, the 115th Division of the Eighth Route Army, under the leadership of
Lin Biao and
Nie Rongzhen, reached
Shangzai Town, located southeast of Pingxingguan. To facilitate the withdrawal of the Nationalist 73rd Division from Lingqiu County, the 115th Division convened a mobilization meeting on September 23 for all officers at the company level and higher. The strategy designated the 343rd Brigade's 685th and 686th Regiments to execute the primary offensive, while the 344th Brigade's 687th Regiment was ordered to obstruct reinforcements. The 688th Regiment was appointed as the primary reserve force. The division's autonomous regiment was tasked with traversing the region between
Lingqiu and
Laiyuan, while the cavalry battalion operated between Lingqiu and Guangling to impede Japanese supply lines. Subsequent to the meeting, the division's primary contingent advanced swiftly to Ranzhuang Village, located 15 kilometers southeast of Pingxingguan. On September 24, the Nationalist garrison at Pingxingguan presented a collaborative fighting strategy to the 115th Division for synchronization with the Eighth Route Army's ambush. The Eighth Route Army was designated to execute the frontal assault, but the Nationalist forces were tasked with defense and flanking maneuvers. Lin Biao and Nie Rongzhen sanctioned the plan following careful consideration. That night, amidst torrential rain, the 343rd Brigade progressed into the Baiyatai region, while the primary force remained concealed on the eastern inclines of the valley between Xiaozhai and Laoyemiao. The division command post was established on a hill to the southeast of Laoyemiao (). At 7 a.m. on September 25, numerous Japanese military transport trucks traversed the ambush area. The logistical column of the 21st Brigade entered the death zone shortly thereafter. This unit comprised around 100 trucks, in excess of 200 carts, and a contingent of cavalry. The ambush commenced with the 685th and 686th Regiments executing a synchronized assault. Following a barrage of gunfire from rifles and machine guns, they advanced into the valley for hand-to-hand fighting along the roadway. Japanese forces endeavored to capture the crucial elevation at Laoyemiao but were thwarted by the 3rd Battalion of the 686th Regiment, incurring significant casualties. By afternoon, the 687th Regiment entered the fray, exacerbating the encirclement. This engagement represented the inaugural significant triumph for Chinese forces on the frontal battlefield since the commencement of full-scale war, subsequently referred to as the "Victory at Pingxingguan." The conflict yielded in excess of 1,000 Japanese losses, the annihilation of over 100 vehicles and 200 carts, and the seizure of one Type 92 infantry cannon, more than 2,000 shells, over 20 machine guns, in excess of 1,000 rifles, and over 50 warhorses. To facilitate the ambush near Laoyemiao, the Independent Regiment of the 115th Division, commanded by
Yang Chengwu, reached Yaozhan Village ()—located on the transportation route between Laiyuan and Lingqiu—by noon on September 24. The 1st Battalion of the regiment occupied Yimaling to impede Japanese advances, while the 2nd Battalion captured Sanshan Town northeast of Lingqiu to disrupt the path between Guangling and Lingqiu. The 3rd Battalion functioned as the reserve unit. At dawn on September 25, two Japanese regiments advanced into Yimaling from Laiyuan. Upon entering range, the Eighth Route Army commenced firing, and the conflict rapidly escalated into close-quarters fighting. By 3 p.m., upon receiving news of the triumph at Pingxingguan, the Independent Regiment escalated their offensive. Certain units initiated assaults from the Japanese rear, compelling the adversary to withdraw to Laiyuan. The 1st Battalion chased them near the city before retreating. The conflict yielded more than 400 Japanese losses and the acquisition of significant military supplies, thus accomplishing the blocking mission. after the Pingxingguan Ambush Simultaneously, while the conflict intensified near Laoyemiao, the Nationalist 71st Division assaulted almost 2,000 withdrawing Japanese soldiers near Dongpaochi (). The Japanese launched a counteroffensive to the northwest in an effort to escape. Nevertheless, the 17th Army, initially designated to flank the Japanese from Tuanchengkou north of Pingxingguan, vacated its position due to apprehension of encirclement. This resulted in the Japanese capturing the region from Yaozijian to Xipaochi, nearly surrounding the 71st Division. At this pivotal juncture, the Eighth Route Army's 686th Regiment assaulted Japanese forces around Dongpaochi, while the 685th Regiment reclaimed elevated terrain west of Guangu and Xinzhuang, thwarting reinforcement efforts by more Japanese units. Shortly thereafter, General
Chen Changjie commanded the 61st Army to Dongpaochi, compelling the Japanese to withdraw to Tuanchengkou. While the breakout attempt was not entirely obstructed, the intervention averted the encirclement of the 71st Division. Capitalizing on the withdrawal, two battalions of the 434th Regiment, 217th Brigade of the 61st Army, advanced and reclaimed Yaozijian. Subsequent to this encounter, the Japanese 5th Division ceased their advance against Pingxingguan. Consequently, because
Yang Aiyuan and
Sun Chu, subordinates of Yan Xishan, were unable to mobilize Central Army forces, overall command of the operation was reassigned to General
Fu Zuoyi.
Battles of Yaozijian and Dongpaochi At this juncture, Japanese forces at Guangu and Tuanchengkou had been firmly encircled by Chinese troops. The Japanese executed a pincer maneuver against Yaozijian from both Tuanchengkou and Guangu. The Chinese 434th Regiment made a vigorous defense; nevertheless, due to the enemy's numerical advantage, the whole regiment—including its commander Cheng Jixian and battalion commanders Fu Guanying and Liang Shirong—was nearly annihilated, resulting in over a thousand losses. Fewer than 100 soldiers successfully withdrew. The 433rd Regiment, assigned to provide reinforcement, did not arrive at the battlefield punctually. On September 26, the Japanese augmented their offensive on Dongpaochi with aerial and artillery support. The conflict persisted until the 27th. Ultimately, only 148 soldiers persisted from the original 500-member 1st Battalion of the Chinese 623rd Regiment safeguarding the region. Simultaneously, Chinese forces persisted in their resistance against the Japanese in Guangu, but a critical elevation was ultimately surrendered. Subsequently, nearly 300 cadets arrived to bolster the garrison, incurring more than 80 casualties. They successfully seized almost 200 units of Japanese heavy armaments, encompassing heavy machine guns and grenade launchers. During this period, the Eighth Route Army executed persistent harassment attacks in the Japanese rear. In response to the deteriorating circumstances,
Fu Zuoyi, with Yan Xishan's consent, resolved to reassign the 35th Army from Yanmen Pass to the Tuanchengkou area (). The objective was to encircle the Japanese forces around Caijiayu () in Lingqiu County, adjacent to Pingxingguan, and initiate a decisive confrontation.
Battle of Ruyuekou Prior to the arrival of the 35th Army at Tuanchengkou, the Japanese Tojo Detachment altered its initial strategy to attack Yanmen Pass and instead progressed southward from Ying County, aiming for Ruyuekou ()—situated between Mount Heng and Yanmen Pass. In this region, the Chinese defenders consisted of three regiments from the 203rd Brigade of the 34th Army. On September 27, the Japanese initiated an offensive against Ruyuekou, aided by planes, tanks, artillery, and
Mongol auxiliary forces. The defending forces incurred significant casualties, and the position was rapidly overwhelmed. Brigade Commander Liang Jiantang successfully reorganized the remaining forces and retreated to the elevated positions between Ruyuekou and Songjiayao. Subsequently, Liang Jiantang and Battalion Commander Chu Shouchang were killed in fighting, leading to the fall of Songjiayao to the Japanese forces. Fewer than one regiment of Chinese forces successfully retreated. Shortly thereafter, the Independent 2nd Brigade of the 19th Army, positioned at Yanmen Pass, executed a flanking operation to reclaim Ruyuekou; however, it was dispersed by Japanese cavalry, resulting in the loss of an entire regiment. On September 29, the county seat of Fanshi succumbed to Japanese forces, resulting in a substantial breach of the Chinese defensive line and directly jeopardizing the rear of the primary battleground at Pingxingguan. Concerned that the Japanese may seize the route from Ekou to Mount Wutai—thereby obstructing his retreat—Yan Xishan, without ascertaining the number of Japanese forces in
Fanshi, commanded a complete retirement from the Yanmen Pass–Pingxingguan line to the vicinity of Xinkou, Xin County, and
Mount Wutai. He also dismissed the strategy put out by Fu Zuoyi and Chen Changjie to launch a counteroffensive against Fanshi and secure the breach. Subsequently, the Japanese were instructed to initiate their advance on Taiyuan, resulting in the commencement of the
Battle of Xinkou. == Evaluation ==