The chief of staff came after hearing the news. After listening to the introduction by the staff officer on duty, he raised objections to Yoshio Iwamatsu.
"Your Excellency, Commander, the Northwestern Shanxi Eighth Route Army is indeed equipped with large-caliber mortars, but they are not equipped with tanks or armored vehicles."
"According to the investigation of the intelligence department: the large-caliber mortars equipped by the Eighth Route Army in North Shanxi no longer have many shells, and they basically no longer appear on the battlefield."
"The Eighth Route Army that attacked Niangziguan consumed a large number of artillery shells during the battle, which is obviously inconsistent with the ammunition reserves of the Eighth Route Army in northwestern Shanxi."
"Moreover, the Eighth Route Army in Northwestern Shanxi is being heavily raided by our army. The two sides are in a stalemate and cannot allocate troops to perform other tasks."
"Even if they really send troops to sneak attack our logistics supply line, there is no need to go around Niangziguan to launch an attack. The distance is too far and it is easy to alert the enemy. Isn't it worth the loss?"
Yoshio Iwamatsu nodded in approval.
Then he ordered to the subordinates on the side: "Why are you still standing here?"
"Go and investigate immediately..."
"Which Eighth Route Army troops in Shanxi are equipped with heavy mortars and tanks..."
"The Eighth Route Army that attacked Niangziguan must have come from there."
"Only by finding out the identity of the enemy can we determine their true purpose of attacking Niangziguan."
"We also need to report this matter to the front army headquarters."
"Niangziguan is located between Shanxi and Hebei. The enemies attacking them are likely to be from Hebei, not the Eighth Route Army operating in Shanxi."
"We only have information about the Shanxi Eighth Route Army, not other Eighth Route armies."
"If this Eighth Route Army comes from Hebei, we can only rely on the front army headquarters to provide us with relevant intelligence."
…………
At the headquarters of the Japanese North China Front in Peiping, Okamura Neiji was also paying attention to the sweep of northern Shanxi.
Whether he can avenge his humiliation, make up for the defeat he fought in the wing, and restore the reputation of the North China Front depends on this battle.
"Your Excellency Commander..."
The chief of staff hurried over and handed the telegram to Okamura Neiji with one hand and pointed to the sand table to introduce it.
"Shanxi garrison urgent call..."
"Niangziguan was suddenly attacked by the main force of the Eighth Route Army."
"The opponent is equipped with a large number of heavy mortars, tanks, and armored vehicles. The offensive is very fierce. Niangzi Pass is in danger and may be occupied at any time."
"They suspected that other Eighth Route Army troops had entered Shanxi to join the war and participate in the sweep of northwestern Shanxi. They asked the headquarters to help investigate the origin of this Eighth Route Army army."
"Which Eighth Route Army in North China is equipped with both heavy mortars and tanks..."
Hearing this, Okamura Neji quickly thought of two words in his mind: Wings...
The Yizhong Eighth Route Army fought several great victories in succession and seized a large number of weapons and equipment, including heavy mortars and tanks.
The intelligence department also specifically investigated that the Eighth Route Army in Yizhong was secretly forming an armored force using captured tanks.
In addition to them, Okamura Neji could not imagine that there were other troops in the territory equipped with tanks.
The chief of staff was keenly aware of Okamura Neji's rapidly changing expression, and quickly asked: "Your Excellency, Commander..."
"Have you already thought of the other party's identity..."
"It should be the Eighth Route Army in the Wings..." Okamura Neji replied solemnly.
"Except them."
"I can't think of another Eighth Route Army in North China equipped with both large-caliber mortars and tanks."
"Let the intelligence department immediately investigate the Eighth Route Army in Yizhong."
"Have there been any troop movements during this period?"
"Are there any small troops in the base area?"
"Several commanders are still at the base in Yinzhong."
"If it's really them who attacked the lady."
"The Shanxi garrison's battle to sweep northwestern Shanxi will definitely have accidents, and we have to prepare in advance."
Speaking of this, Okamura Neji punched the edge of the sand table and said with a vicious look on his face: "The Eighth Route Army in the Wings is really a difficult opponent."
"Why are they everywhere?"
"unacceptable……"
"When I deal with the Northwestern Shanxi Eighth Route Army and free up my hands, I will definitely find a way to kill them and avenge my previous shame..."
Any small thing, as long as a big person pays attention to it, will immediately become a big thing.
Less than an hour after Neji Okamura issued the order, the chief of staff hurried back to the war room with a very solemn expression, indicating that a storm was about to unfold in the headquarters.
"Your Excellency Commander..."
"The Eighth Route Army in Yizhong did mobilize its troops a few days ago, and the scale was quite large..."
"A team including tanks, armored vehicles, troop carriers, and cavalry set off from the wing, took the road, and headed straight for Shanxi."
"All the checkpoints and strongholds along the route were captured by this Eighth Route Army."
"Because the Eighth Route Army erased the traces of the march of its tanks and cut off all contacts between the garrison and the outside world before attacking strongholds and checkpoints, the defenders in various places just assumed that the annihilation battles were launched by the local Eighth Route Army armed forces and did not go into details."
"I didn't even think about the Eighth Route Army in Yizhong, so I didn't report it to the headquarters."
"This is relevant information..."
"The Eighth Route Army in Yizhong spent three nights fighting to reach Niangziguan..."
"If they have conquered Niangzi Pass now, they can reach Jinzhong tonight."
"It can not only attack Jinzhong by force, but also threaten the security of Taiyuan."
"We can also go straight to northwest Shanxi, cut off the logistics supply lines of the mopping up troops, and force them to retreat."
"There is currently no way to determine how many troops this Eighth Route Army has."
"The humble position is being investigated."
"But it is certain that this Eighth Route Army is equipped with tanks, armored vehicles, mountain artillery, and large-caliber mortars..."
"The ability to attack difficult situations is very strong."
"Otherwise, it would be impossible to break through Niangzi Pass and enter Shanxi in just over an hour."
Okamura Neji snorted coldly: "It's really them..."
"The Yizhong Eighth Route Army is different from other Eighth Route armies. They like to be surprised when fighting. You must not use conventional eyes to judge their next action plan."
"Send a telegram to Yoshio Iwamatsu immediately."
"The Eighth Route Army that attacked Niangziguan came from Yizhong."
"I think it is very likely that they are heading towards Taiyuan. Please take precautions in advance."
The chief of staff did not see it that way. Although the Yi Zhong Eighth Route Army particularly liked to take things by surprise when fighting, their strength was there.
Taiyuan is not Niangzi Pass. The garrison alone is seven or eight times that of Niangzi Pass, and there are also a large number of city fortifications that are far stronger than Niangzi Pass.
No matter how powerful the troops sent by the Yizhong Eighth Route Army are, and no matter how powerful they are in attacking fortresses, they will never be able to break through the Taiyuan city defenses and threaten Taiyuan's security.
Besides, Yoshio Iwamatsu reserved a chariot brigade specifically for Taiyuan.
The Eighth Route Army has a limited number of tanks. As long as the tank brigade takes action, the tanks and armored vehicles they equip will definitely be blown to pieces.
Therefore, the chief of staff is more willing to believe that they will go to northwest Shanxi to cut off the logistics supply line of the mopping up troops.
Seeing that Neji Okamura spoke firmly and could not refute, he decided to inform Yoshio Iwamatsu of both inferences and asked him to prepare for both things at the same time.
