...time moves forward.
In the Taihang Mountain area, the battle between the combat troops dominated by the 129th Division of the Eighth Route Army and the Japanese enemy was in full swing.
In the Northwest Military Region, the Eighth Route Army units, mainly the 120th Division, were naturally not idle either.
…
A week ago, the major propaganda departments of the Eighth Route Army launched a propaganda offensive against the Japanese army with this large-scale operation on the 385th Brigade, 386th Brigade and multiple battlefields in the direction of Huangyadong.
The huge momentum, coupled with the fact that the national army also reported the matter through various newspapers, sat on the mountain and watched the tiger fight, fanned the flames, and expected both sides to lose, so as to reap the benefits of the fishermen, why not Why?
In the end, it even attracted the attention of many neutral countries in the international community.
The Japanese commander Yoshio Shinozuka at the First Army Headquarters had a headache.
The Eighth Route Army's proactive propaganda offensive made his First Army's surprise attack gradually fall into a passive situation. If the Eighth Route Army's Huangyadong Arsenal could be successfully destroyed according to the original plan, and even the main combat force of the Eighth Route Army in the Taihang base area could be severely damaged, That would be perfect of course.
However, with the direction of the 385th Brigade's base area, the 386th Brigade's base area, and many battlefields inside and outside Huangyadong, the situation gradually reached a deadlock.
The First Army even joined forces with the troops stationed in Mongolia going south to launch this large-scale operation with the climax of the surprise attack on Huangyadong.
There was no overwhelming progress as Yoshio Shinozuka imagined.
Especially as time goes by.
The attack originally went smoothly. After the Japanese and puppet troops, mainly the Japanese Third Mixed Brigade, completely entered the hinterland of the 385th Brigade Base Area, they were met with a sudden and fierce counterattack by the 385th Brigade Base Area after showing weakness to the enemy for a long time.
The balance of the battlefield between the Japanese army and the Eighth Route Army began to gradually reverse from that moment on.
Yoshio Shinozuka, who realized something was wrong, also took into account the Eighth Route Army's deliberate propaganda campaign, which attracted the attention of all international parties.
The imperial troops can only win this battle but not lose.
But if this continues, with the reversal of the situation, and the imperial troops' operations in the Eighth Route Army base area, it will be impossible to continue for a long time.
The situation will only become more unfavorable.
If his first army suffered a huge defeat with the attention of neutral countries, this would have serious consequences for the empire's war against China.
After all, it is easier for the strong to call for allies.
Finally, Yoshio Shinozuka summoned his staff to discuss the matter.
Then he came up with the final plan:
In order to publicize the offensive needs, the Japanese army specially invited the Asahi Shimbun, neutral country media, allied media, puppet regime media, Greater East Asia Daily, etc. to go to the Huangyadong area, the 385 Brigade Base Area, and the 386 Brigade Base Area to take real photos and show them The occupied Eighth Route Army hilltop positions, weapons repair shops, foundries, some headquarters, and a large number of captured Eighth Route Army guns and ammunition, etc.
Regardless of whether it is true or false.
This scene was actually blown out by the little devil.
The Japanese leader Zhongzuo who led the reporters on the tour said proudly:
“The military front of the Japanese Empire is unstoppable. Within half a month, our imperial army will be able to clear out the Eighth Route Army in the Taihang Mountains.
Thoroughly stabilize the development zone and eliminate all these moths that undermine the co-prosperity area of our Empire of Japan and China. "
Perhaps it was to increase the sense of reality and to leave more shock to the reporters who came to shoot.
All frontline combat units of the Japanese army stepped up their offensive at the same time.
As a guide, Jaizi Zhongzuo also guided the reporters to take real-life shots of heavy artillery positions bombarding the Eighth Route Army positions, as well as scenes of the air force's intensive bombardment of the Eighth Route Army positions.
It seemed that he wanted to prove that what he just said was true.
As everyone knows...
Several Japanese major generals fighting in the front, led by Ishikawa, the commander of the Japanese 3rd Mixed Brigade, were yelling at the headquarters.
What are you scolding?
"These stupid civil servants, at a time when the war is urgent, actually have so many reporters everywhere filming. Do they think the war is a child's play?"
This family member knows their own affairs.
Although the reporters who came from all over the world photographed the situation, it seemed that his Third Mixed Brigade was launching an offensive with overwhelming force, bombarding the Eighth Route Army positions with heavy artillery, and adding aerial firepower reinforcements. The Eighth Route Army was almost unable to fight back.
The old Japanese Ishikawa felt even more humiliated.
He knew the actual situation very well.
The Eighth Route Army troops of the 385th Brigade suddenly launched a counterattack. His two vanguard brigades were almost wiped out by the entire army, and the two subsequent brigades that reinforced them were almost crippled.
As a result, the reporters in the rear were still taking pictures everywhere, using the pretentious artillery bombardment in front of them to brag that his First Army's offensive was overwhelming.
His third mixed brigade is about to penetrate the base area of the 385th Brigade of the Eighth Route Army.
The more I thought about it, the more depressed Ishikawa became.
I am very disgusted with the reporters behind me who are taking pictures everywhere with cameras.
It was like he was naked but there were a bunch of people behind him taking photos with cameras and making comments from time to time. It felt like a general feeling.
Shame on you!
Therefore, when the Japanese center-left leader who led the reporters came to the communications corps, he expressed that he wanted to ask the brigade commander Ishikawa to come and say hello to the reporters and share his thoughts on the combat command at hand.
Ishikawa refused directly and cursed: "If that bastard Zhongzuo really thinks fighting is interesting, I will send someone to capture him in a moment and put him on the front line to fight!"
】
After the news spread, Na Zhongzuo shivered and quickly gave up the idea of asking Ishikawa to come over and explain it to the reporters.
Then he took the reporters and returned quickly.
The Japanese army's propaganda offensive naturally took effect very quickly.
The Eighth Route Army also quickly learned the news.
The former enemy headquarters of the Eighth Route Army.
I learned that the Japanese army had sent many reporters to the front lines to interview and take photos on the spot in the past two days, and they were also spreading news throughout the occupied areas, saying that the First Army's offensive was unstoppable and that they would soon win a complete victory.
While they found it very ridiculous, the Eighth Route Army cadres also felt a little indignant.
"Boss, why didn't I see it before? How can these little devils be so shameless? I'm talking about these guys just trying to make a fool of themselves!"
"And a great victory?"
"Inside Huangyadong, the more than 3,000 elite soldiers of the Japs are already our thorns in the urn. In the battle outside Huangyadong, more than a dozen regiments of our army pressed forward and fought fiercely with the Japs. The additional reinforcements sent by the 36th Division , is still stuck in a bitter fight at this time.”
"Not to mention the 386th Brigade. The troops stationed in Mongolia going south were directly held back by Ding Wei and the Iron Triangle regiments. In the direction of the 385th Brigade, Lao Chen has launched an offensive. The Japanese and puppet troops who entered the base area will have to die even if they don't die. Delaminated skin.”
"A great victory? Did he win with his butt?"
Then another cadre said with a smile: "The devil has a mouth, so he can say whatever he wants?"
The political commissar concluded:
“Since the leak of the Jaap’s premeditated plan to attack our army’s Huangyadong Arsenal, the defeat of the Japs’ war has been determined. It’s just a matter of time.
For us, this is a rare opportunity. This time, we not only want to severely damage the Japanese army and let the little devils return in defeat, we also need to severely attack the Japanese army in the propaganda offensive and promote the military prestige of our Eighth Route Army.
After this battle, not only the anti-Japanese armed forces of all parties must be aware of the unshakable strength of our Eighth Route Army.
We must also build up the confidence of all the soldiers and civilians in our base areas, including the guerrilla zones and even the Japanese-occupied areas, to win the war against Japan. "
The boss finally made the decision: "The political commissar said it well. This battle will not only bring the Japanese army back with a huge defeat, but also completely disgrace the Japanese army.
Send me an order to immediately generate electricity for the 120th Division and ask Kong Jie and Li Yunlong to step up their actions. We want the Japanese to fall down hard when they are standing at their highest and smiling brightest. Slap him! "
"yes!"
…
…
But on the other side, Kong Jie and Li Yunlong led three batches of transferred mobile combat troops to the Northwest Military Region where they were temporarily stationed.
The long-term confrontation with the Northwest Military Region is the combat troops mainly composed of the Japanese troops stationed in Mongolia.
The Japanese cavalry troops moving south from Baotou this time, as well as the elite troops from the 26th Division stationed in Datong, who went south for reinforcements, naturally made a series of preparations before the reinforcements.
Among them, the biggest move was that the Mongolian army sent quite elite troops to quickly occupy Baode County.
Baode County is located in Xz City, Sx Province, on the western slope of the northern section of Luliang Mountain and the eastern edge of the Loess Plateau, facing Fugu County, Shaanxi Province across the Yellow River.
It is an important link between northwest Shanxi, Shaanxi and Inner Mongolia, and its strategic position is very prominent.
If the Japanese army wanted to completely cut off the connection between the Eighth Route Army in Shaanxi and the Eighth Route Army in Shanxi when the troops stationed in Mongolia moved south to reinforce the First Army, they had to firmly hold the key node of Baode County.
...The base area where the 358th Brigade of the 120th Division of the Eighth Route Army is located.
"Brigade Commander, we have found out clearly that after the Japs stationed in Mongolia went south, the Japanese army launched a sudden attack at night in order to completely block the passage from Shaanxi to Shanxi and occupied Baode across the board.
After the Japanese occupied Baode, they immediately began to overhaul the stronghold and fortifications internally. It seemed that they were preparing for a long-term garrison.
The defending troops were found to be affiliated to the Nishino Regiment of the Japanese First Army in Shanxi. In addition, the Suzuki Regiment of the Mongolian Army was used as backup. "
One of the group leaders immediately gritted his teeth with hatred: "Damn it, it's this Suzuki team again, there are traces of this little devil everywhere.
When Baode County fell for the first time, it was this Suzuki Regiment that was responsible. Later, this crazy little devil also carried out massacres in Baode County.
The hands of this little son of a bitch are stained with the blood of too many of our Northwest soldiers and civilians. I will have to smash it sooner or later! "
As soon as these words came out, the other cadres who knew about the incident were all indignant, and they all said that they must kill this Suzuki unit completely to avenge the tragic death of the villagers.
Li Yunlong, who also participated in the meeting, said: "Don't say anything, it's his fault that this Suzuki company ran into our hands, so he is unlucky.
Speaking of the other little Japs, that is, the West Field Regiment currently mainly stationed in Baode, does it sound familiar to me? "
One of the regimental commanders who answered smiled and said: "Old Li, Lao Kong, of course this sounds familiar to you. Speaking of which, if this West Field Regiment knew that you two were in our Northwest Military Region, I'm afraid they might be so scared that they wet their pants. Then evacuate from Baode overnight!"
Li Yunlong said happily: "Is there such a thing?"
The regiment leader said: "I have inquired about this matter in particular, and I heard that the West Field Regiment was originally responsible for stationing on the defense line between your iron triangle base area in northern Shanxi and Zhongtiao Mountain.
Didn't you later send troops to try to open up a passage to the Zhongtiao Mountain base area?
It was this Nishino unit that was responsible for blocking them in the middle, and was almost completely wiped out by you.
Later, due to poor combat performance, Nishino, an old Japanese soldier, was sent to the Baode County area. Also, because the troops were completely crippled by your Iron Triangle, they were not replenished in time. Even the subsequent replenishments were mostly new recruits. The military quality of the entire team is uneven.
The overall morale is very low. Unlike the Suzuki United, which has not been hit by us, the morale is very high! "
Kong Jie on the side suddenly realized: "I remember, when we opened the passage to Zhongtiao Mountain, we encountered a Japanese army.
As a result, he was penetrated in less than an afternoon.
I don’t remember the specific number, but feelings are something like Nishino United! "
The cadres couldn't help but laugh.
At this point in the battle, a regiment was crippled by Lao Kong. As a result, Captain Kong didn't even care about its serial number.
This old devil, Nishino, is really embarrassed and thrown into his grandma's house.
"So, it's not as difficult as we thought to clean up the West Wild Alliance this time and open up the passage to Baode County!" A regimental leader laughed.
In a few words. This Nishino Alliance was not taken seriously by anyone at all.
However, one of the group leaders reminded him with a strange look on his face: "Don't be careless. After several days of inquiring, we also discovered that the little devil from the West Field Alliance is very cautious.
After being stationed in Baode, they did nothing but overhaul the fortifications and completely blockade the stronghold. The machine gunners were always behind the fortifications.
It's been several days in a row, but we haven't seen a single kid step out of the defense area and go outside to clean up. "
"This is not cautious. I think it was when I fought against the Iron Triangle that I was completely frightened by Lao Li and Lao Kong!"
But what is the real situation?
In fact, it is even more exaggerated than what Brigadier Zhang and the others found out.
Baode County.
The West Field Regiment received orders from their superiors to station the main force in Baode County to ensure that the channel connecting Shaanxi and the Shanxi Eighth Route Army was blocked.
The Japs' wing headquarters is located in Baode County.
But in fact, this is just an empty shell.
The commander of the regiment, Nishino Daizuo, was not in the headquarters at all. He just sent some staff officers, and then asked his adjutant to replace him and take charge of the temporary headquarters.
As for himself, guess what?
This old devil actually withdrew his real headquarters more than ten kilometers back in one breath, and then hid it in a very stable transfer station for material transfer.
It was even more disguised to the outside world, so that no one could tell that this was the command's intention.
In addition, for several days in a row, the old devil Nishino didn't even show his face, and basically didn't show up in public.
When he had to go out on business, he didn't even wear his military rank. At the same time, he was among the small soldiers and couldn't detect any flaws at all.
Do not ask.
——Asked, just be cautious!
How can we, the majestic leftist of the empire, admit that we were completely frightened out of our courage by the Iron Triangle of the Eighth Route Army in northwestern Shanxi?
Who knows if there might be guys in this place who are as hard to guard against as those Eighth Route Army snipers in the Iron Triangle.
Nishino touched the top of his head, which was missing a piece of scalp after taking off his military cap. He still feels satisfied, be good...
