In Taiyuan, the headquarters of the Japanese First Army.
The second day of the Eighth Route Army's attack on the Zhengtai Railway.
It was already noon the next day.
In the operations hall, intelligence staff officer Takeo Anteng reported to commander Yoshio Shinozuka.
"General, according to the information sent back by senior intelligence personnel."
"The Central China Army and the Shanxi-Sui Army generally support the campaign launched by the Eighth Route Army."
"Huh?" Yoshio Shinozuka frowned slightly. The Eighth Route Army and the Kuomintang army had always been at odds with each other, so they actually had a supportive attitude?
As a result, things become a little difficult to handle.
If the Central Army and the Shanxi-Sui Army support this battle of the Eighth Route Army.
Then, he cannot easily mobilize troops from southern Shanxi to return reinforcements.
Because once the troops, even one division, are transferred, the Shanxi-Sui Army and the Central Army will most likely take advantage of the situation and launch a battle.
In that case, the Japanese army's efforts in southern Shanxi for several years may be in vain.
In the future, the strategic intention of occupying Zhongtiao Mountain, opening up the Yellow River channel, and advancing eastward to attack Yan'an or southward to attack Xi'an will be even more difficult to realize.
Yoshio Shinozuka did not dare to mobilize these three divisions at will, and needed to weigh the pros and cons.
Yamamoto Kazuki looked thoughtful, and then said in a deep voice: "Your Excellency, Commander, I may have a way to knock down the mountain and shake the tiger."
Yoshio Shinozuka asked hurriedly: "Yamamoto-kun, what can you do?"
Yamamoto Kazuki said: "The reason why the Eighth Route Army dared to continue to attack the communication lines was mainly because the Imperial Army's forces were too scattered."
"You've said this many times." Shinozuka Yoshio said, "Let's pick out the important things."
"Hey!" Kazuki Yamamoto paused and said, "The imperial army's forces scattered everywhere cannot be concentrated and can only be defeated individually. I suggest that the 36th, 37th and 41st divisions be transferred back from southern Shanxi to relieve the siege of the Shota Railway! "
"Yamamoto-kun, I thought you would come up with some clever strategy. If the troops could be transferred back from southern Shanxi, the headquarters would have done that already." Kusuyama Hideyoshi sneered.
Yamamoto Kazuki said again solemnly.
"Your Majesty, Chief of Staff, what I mean is that pretending to bring back the strength of these three divisions is not really about bringing back these three divisions."
"We only need to release the news that the 36th, 37th, and 41st Divisions are aiding Zhengtai Road northward."
"With the Eighth Route Army's guerrilla tactics, it will definitely not confront the three divisions of the Imperial Army, and will probably withdraw from the Zhengtai Road."
"It's simple." Kusuyama Hideyoshi said, "If the Eighth Route Army does not withdraw from Shotai Road, is it really necessary to transfer three divisions back?"
"Of course not." Yamamoto Kazuki said, "But General Shinozuka can appropriately express goodwill to the Shanxi-Sui Army Chief Yan Xishan's Department and the Second War Zone Wei Lihuang Chief's Department."
"If the imperial army can reach some kind of tacit understanding with the Central Army in Zhongtiao Mountain and the Jinsui Army in Luliang Mountain."
"At least three infantry regiments and one artillery regiment can be transferred from southern Shanxi to support Zhengtai Road."
"This is equivalent to the strength of a field division, which is enough to change the current bad situation."
After Yamamoto Kazuki finished speaking, Kusuyama Hideyoshi did not immediately refute, but his eyes darkened and he looked at the map as if thinking.
Kusuyama Hideyoshi, who had always disliked Yamamoto Kazuki, had to admit that there was something to Yamamoto Kazuki's suggestion.
It is somewhat similar to the combined vertical and horizontal lines used by the Qin Dynasty in ancient China to unify the six kingdoms.
This goes beyond the scope of military means, but is a means at the political level.
Yoshio Shinozuka also said happily: "Unexpectedly, Yamamoto-kun also has political experience. If Yamamoto-kun had not studied special operations subjects, but commanded large corps in combat or engaged in politics, he would have become a high-ranking military and political official."
"The general is full of praise. It is Yamamoto's duty to help the general solve his problems."
Yamamoto Kazuki paused, his expression expressionless, but he couldn't help but feel a little proud in his heart.
"Ando-kun!" Yoshio Shinozuka looked at Takeo Ando, "Do what Yamamoto-kun said immediately!"
"Hi!" Intelligence staff officer An Tengwunan said, then walked out quickly.
Yoshio Shinozuka breathed a sigh of relief, finally having a solution.
Although the Eighth Route Army could not be eliminated at once, at least there was hope of driving the Eighth Route Army away from Zhengtai Road.
Not long after Takeo Andeng walked out, communications staff officer Toshimatsu Kasai walked in hurriedly, walked up to Yoshio Shinozuka and said:
"Report to the general, the small island reconnaissance team found the main force of the Eighth Route Army 10 kilometers east of Shouyang County on the Zhengtai Railway, numbering about 5,000 people!"
"This Eighth Route Army is marching along the Zhengtai Railway, and its target is probably Shouyang County!"
Nani?
Upon hearing this, Yoshio Shinozuka, Kazuki Yamamoto and Hideyoshi Kusuyama quickly looked at the map.
10 kilometers east of Shouyang County?
Yoshio Shinozuka's face darkened suddenly. The Eighth Route was only 10 kilometers away from the county seat and could be reached in an hour by a quick march.
Could it be that after the Eighth Route Army captured Yangquan, they would also attack Shouyang County?
Is the Eighth Route Army’s next target Taiyuan?
The mood that had just felt slightly better suddenly became worse again.
The Eighth Route Army is simply too deceptive!
Raising his head suddenly, Yoshio Shinozuka ordered: "Order the small island reconnaissance team to closely monitor the whereabouts of this Eighth Route Army, and report any abnormalities immediately!"
"General!" Kasai Toshimatsu said, "Major Yoshio Kojima attacked the Eighth Route Army without authorization and was shot down by the Eighth Route Army. Another reconnaissance fighter was also hit and is on its way back!"
"Nani? Baga!" Yoshio Shinozuka said angrily, "What the hell is going on?"
Kasai Toshisumi reported: "According to pilot Fujii Genta's report, Kojima Yoshio's brother is Kojima Ichiro, who is also a pilot of the 9th Air Combat Team. He was shot down yesterday during a bombing mission to bomb the Li Yunlong Department of the Eighth Route Army."
"When Yoshio Kojima was conducting reconnaissance today, he discovered the Eighth Route Army on the ground, equipped with cannons."
"It was determined that this unit was the Eighth Route Army that shot down his brother. Kojima lost his mind, so he dive-bombed the Eighth Route Artillery without permission."
"As a result, before Yoshio Kojima could drop the bomb, his fighter jet was hit."
"The firepower of this Eighth Route Army is very strong. It is very likely that it is Li Yunlong's Department!"
"Baga! Without my order, no pilot is allowed to attack the Eighth Route. Anyone who disobeys the order will be personally brought to a military court."
Yoshio Shinozuka was furious. It was simply unforgivable that someone dared to disobey his orders.
Every loss of a pilot and aircraft is an immeasurable loss to the First Army.
After a pause, Yoshio Shinozuka responded: "Nani, are you saying that it is Li Yunlong's tribe who wants to attack Shouyang County?"
"Hi! General!" Kasai Toshimatsu said, "Among the Eighth Route Army, only Li Yunlong's department has both artillery units and powerful anti-aircraft firepower."
"Although Major Kojima died in the line of duty, he should have judged correctly that this Eighth Route Army is Li Yunlong's Department."
"Even if these eight groups are not all under the command of Li Yunlong, Li Yunlong's department is definitely involved."
"I dare to assert that this is the main force of the 386th Brigade of the Eighth Route Army."
Kusuyama Hideyoshi asked hurriedly: "Which army is stationed in Shouyang County? Who is the commander?"
"It's the 3rd Battalion of the 4th Brigade Yamada Regiment."
Kasai Toshimatsu said: "The brigade captain is Major Takahashi Daisuke. There are more than 700 Takahashi brigade and military police in Shouyang County, and there is also a battalion of the Imperial Association Army, with a total strength of more than 1,100 people."
Yoshio Shinozuka ordered:
"Kai Jing-kun, please immediately telegraph the information that the Eighth Route Army is preparing to attack Shouyang County to Major Takahashi."
"Order him to prepare for battle."
"The 386th Brigade is a group of elite soldiers. I order Major Takahashi not to be careless."
"Especially Li Yunlong, you must be careful about this person!"
"Hi!" Kasai Toshiatsu said, then walked out quickly.
…
After shooting down a Japanese plane.
Li Yunlong found Ding Wei and Kong Jie.
Li Yunlong said to Ding Wei and Kong Jie: "Our whereabouts have been discovered by the Japanese."
"I guess the Japanese will soon guess that we are going to attack Shouyang County."
"The more prepared the Japanese are, the more disadvantageous it will be to our attack."
"In order not to leave too much preparation time for the Japanese, we have to conduct reconnaissance in advance and go to people's homes to collect wooden ladders to climb the city."
"I have no objection." Kong Jie nodded and said.
Ding Wei also said: "After all, this is the territory of the Japanese. The three of us can't just go there in a big way. I suggest that we all bring our own cavalry with us, so that we can deal with any emergencies."
"I agree with Old Ding." Li Yunlong said, "Speaking of cavalry, Old Ding, do you still owe me, Old Li, a company of equipment that you haven't paid back?"
"Return it to him, my old comrade." Ding Wei said, "You, Lao Li, are extremely rich now. The equipment of a company is nothing in your eyes. As for how often you talk about it?"
After laughing, Li Yunlong said: "Why do I feel that you, the debtor, are more ruthless than me, the debt collector?"
Kong Jie also laughed next to him.
Now the three of them each led their own cavalry in the direction of Shouyang County.
Kong Jie's and Ding Wei's were both cavalry companies, each equipped with about 100 horses, while Li Yunlong's was a cavalry battalion. Although they lost dozens of cavalry in the Xinzhou Basin, they were not at full strength.
But there are also more than 240 cavalry, which adds up to more than 400 cavalry, which is more than half of the cavalry regiment.
Even if you encounter a Japanese infantry brigade in the wild, it will still be true.
In less than half an hour, Li Yunlong, Ding Wei and Kong Jie led their cavalry to the outside of Shouyang County.
One kilometer away from the county seat, several people were lying in a hidden place, raising their binoculars to look at the city wall.
I saw that the city gate was closed, light and heavy machine guns had been set up on the city wall, and there were Japanese and puppet soldiers running between the crenellations with ammunition boxes on their shoulders.
"Old Li, it's just as you expected." Kong Jie said, "The Japanese are already making defensive preparations."
Li Yunlong said: "As expected."
Ding Wei put down the telescope and said, "Why do I feel like we have switched identities with the Japanese?"
"Identity exchange?" Kong Jie's expression changed and he asked, "Old Ding, what do you mean by this?"
Ding Wei said in a disdainful tone:
"Think about it. In the past, the Japanese took the initiative. They could attack wherever they wanted and raid whenever they wanted."
"What now?"
"We, the Eighth Route Army, can seize any railroad we want, and attack any county town we want, but the Japanese are helpless."
"Old Ding, what you said is true." Kong Jie laughed and said, "Our Eighth Route Army has taken the initiative on the battlefield. The little devil must feel uncomfortable now."
