Japanese First Army Headquarters.
Lieutenant General Shinozuka Yoshio was pacing back and forth in the headquarters with a gloomy expression.
His right hand tightly grasped the handle of the sword given by Emperor Hirohito. At this moment, he wanted to practice another wave of sword skills.
Just ten minutes ago, the 37th Division and the 2nd Guards Division called one after another, saying that they were under an all-out attack from the Eighth Route Army and the situation was critical.
Not only were they unable to reinforce Taiyuan, they requested tactical guidance, troops and aviation reinforcements.
At this time, Shinozuka Yoshio suddenly felt that Kusuyama Hideyoshi and Kunomura Momoyo were playing him very much.
The total strength of the main force of the Eighth Route Army in southeastern Shanxi is just that much. There are more than 30,000 troops in Taiyuan. On the Zhengtai Railway and Xiangyuan and Licheng, the combined main force of the Eighth Route Army does not exceed 30,000 people.
Could it be that the elite divisions of the Japanese army couldn't even deal with the Eighth Route Army of more than 10,000 people?
Although these two divisions were rebuilt, they were all soldiers transferred from the Kwantung Army and the mainland. After training, their combat effectiveness wouldn't be that bad, right?
Of course, Yoshio Shinozuka also had doubts. The main force of the Eighth Route Army in southeastern Shanxi could not really have 90,000 to 100,000 people, right?
However, launching such a large battle requires a large amount of weapons and ammunition and sufficient logistical supplies.
Where did the Eighth Route Army get so many weapons and ammunition?
While he was thinking, amidst the sound of hurried footsteps, communications staff officer Toshimatsu Kasai hurried in, paused and said: "Report to the general, the aviation force has successfully destroyed the south outer artillery position of Eighth Route City!"
After hearing this, Yoshio Shinozuka breathed a sigh of relief and asked, "What are the losses of the aviation force?"
There were only more than 20 mountain field guns, but the firepower was still not enough. The Eighth Route Army pulled more than 200 camouflage nets just outside the south of the city.
Although these more than 20 mountain field guns used the city wall as an anti-slope position to suppress the Eighth Route Army's artillery positions.
But it was just suppression. After these more than 20 mountain field guns eliminated the Eighth Route Artillery position outside the south of the city, the Eighth Route Army from the other three directions had probably already entered the city.
Therefore, Yoshio Shinozuka decisively dispatched a fleet of aircraft to deal with the artillery positions of the Eighth Route Army when the Eighth Route Army had strong anti-aircraft firepower.
Taiyuan is the headquarters of the First Army. Once Taiyuan is lost, the consequences will be disastrous.
In order to keep Taiyuan, Yoshio Shinozuka fought hard.
Kasai Toshimatsu said solemnly: "According to the report from the Type 3 liaison aircraft, at least 20 Imperial Army aircraft were shot down. The specific number of shot downs will be counted after the aviation unit returns."
"Nani? No less than 20 planes were shot down?"
Yoshio Shinozuka's eyes suddenly turned gloomy. The Kwantung Army's 32nd Squadron shot down 10 aircraft in two attacks in the morning and noon. Including the aircraft shot down in the afternoon, the number of aircraft lost exceeded 30.
The loss of more than 30 aircraft is nothing. The empire's aviation industry will soon be able to produce more than 30 aircraft.
However, the loss of more than 30 experienced pilots made the old Japanese feel very sad.
It is not easy to train a pilot, let alone more than 30 experienced pilots. These are precious resources of the empire, and one less one will be lost.
"Hi!"
Kasai Toshimatsu lowered his head. He had just witnessed the aerial battle with his own eyes using the artillery mirror on the south wall of the inner city.
Since the Sino-Japanese war broke out in 1937, there have been very few such grand scenes.
At this moment, the rumbling sound of artillery sounded again. As soon as the Japanese aircraft left, the Eighth Route Artillery in the other three directions began to operate again.
A moment later, a communications soldier with the rank of lieutenant came in hurriedly: "General, the city wall is being heavily shelled!"
Shinozuka Yoshio's expression, which had just softened, suddenly turned gloomy again.
The loss of more than 20 aircraft in the fleet was enough to take out the Eighth Route Army's artillery positions in one direction. There were also Eighth Route Army artillery positions in three other directions that could continue to bombard the city wall.
The threat of the Eighth Route Artillery to the Taiyuan city wall is far from being eliminated.
"Baga!" Kasai Nakazu looked at Yoshio Shinozuka and saw something wrong with his face. He suddenly slapped the lieutenant and asked: "Which city wall was hit by the eight-pronged bombardment?"
"Hi!" The Japanese Lieutenant suddenly paused and said, "Your Excellency Zhongzuo, except for the south city wall, the east, west and north city walls were all bombarded by eight-pronged force. Please provide tactical guidance!"
"Order!"
Yoshio Shinozuka suddenly turned around and ordered sternly: "All aircraft used in the Central Plains battle, immediately stop fighting against the Central Army, all reinforce Taiyuan, and destroy the Eighth Route Artillery positions around Taiyuan at all costs!"
Although yesterday and today, the Japanese army has lost close to 40 aircraft and close to 40 valuable pilots.
But there are still more than 160 aircraft, more than 20 of which are reconnaissance aircraft and liaison command aircraft, and more than 140 fighter jets and bombers that can be used in combat.
The top priority now is to eliminate the Eighth Route Army's artillery positions and seal and repair the gaps in the city wall created by the Eighth Route Army's artillery.
Destroy the Eighth Route Army's artillery positions, and the Eighth Route Army's small-caliber artillery will not be able to collapse the city wall, so the Eighth Route Army will not be able to attack the city.
Although doing this would likely result in the loss of more aircraft and pilots, this was the only last resort when the 37th Division and the 2nd Guards Division were unable to provide reinforcements.
"Hi!" Kasai Nakazuo suddenly lowered his head and put his feet back to stand at attention. Then he turned around and walked quickly to the communications room. The communications lieutenant behind him covered his face and hurriedly followed.
…
At the same time, the Taihang 3rd Column headquarters.
Li Yunlong was holding a walkie-talkie and asked Ding Wei: "Hey, Old Ding, how is the situation over there? How many cannons were lost?"
After the Japanese plane flew away, Li Yunlong ordered each artillery group to continue bombarding the city wall.
At this moment, the roaring sound of cannons came from the direction of the city wall.
"Damn it, all the cannons were blown up by the Japs' planes, and there's not a single one left for us."
Ding Wei's cursing voice came from the walkie-talkie.
Commander Li Da was suddenly startled and asked hurriedly: "Where are the artillerymen? How many were killed and injured in the bombing?"
It doesn't matter if the cannon is blown up, it can be reimbursed anyway, but these artillerymen are precious, and if there are heavy casualties, the loss will be huge.
Ding Wei said: "I asked the artillery to evacuate the artillery position in advance. Except for a dozen artillery casualties caused by the artillery shells fired from the Japanese city, the artillery suffered no losses in this air attack."
"That's good."
Leader Li Da breathed a huge sigh of relief.
"I guess this Japanese plane will have to come again. Next time it will be Lao Kong, Lao Cheng, and your new regiment's artillery positions."
Ding Wei's tone was solemn and he suggested: "Commander-in-Chief, we have to be prepared. Why don't we move all the artillery positions to concealment, and then move the artillery out at night?"
Ding Wei knew very well that with the Japs' urinary nature, the air support would never stop there.
He knew that the Japanese army had assembled more than 200 aircraft, but only about 100 were dispatched. Although more than 30 were shot down, there were still more than 160 aircraft.
Only by destroying the Eighth Route Army's artillery positions can Taiyuan be defended.
Until now in this battle, both sides are risking their lives. It is obvious that the Japanese do not care no matter how many planes and pilots they lose.
"I know that."
Li Yunlong's eyes were calm and he did not panic at all: "But there is no need to move the cannon. Let the little Japanese plane come."
If the cannon is moved, there will be Japanese reconnaissance planes circling in the sky, and the Japanese pilots can see it wherever it is moved.
Even if the cannons are hidden, once the enemy fleet loses its target, it will definitely attack the infantry on the ground.
The Japanese medium bombers are here. If the Japanese fleet attacks the infantry on the ground, even if there are anti-aircraft cannons, the infantry will suffer heavy losses.
However, Li Yunlong had already made a plan in his mind to leave the artillery positions to the Japanese planes for bombing, and then try to shoot down more Japanese planes.
Li Yunlong added: "Old Ding, once you receive a report of the arrival of the Japanese observer plane, you must notify Lao Kong, Lao Cheng, and the headquarters as soon as possible, and then immediately order the artillery to move to a safe position."
The observer's position is about 10 kilometers away from Ding Wei's command post and artillery position, but it is close to 20 kilometers away from the command post, which has exceeded the maximum communication distance of a high-power walkie-talkie.
Ding Wei replied: "Understood!"
Then, Li Yunlong asked: "Old Ding, how many Japanese planes were shot down this time?"
Ding Wei pretended to be a sheep and said casually: "It's so-so, only 24, but I lost 18 machine guns, it's his fault."
"Haha!" Li Yunlong was overjoyed when he heard this and said, "Old Ding, what a damn good job you did. Now you have another 24 mountain cannons in your account. You kid is going to start an artillery regiment."
Ding Wei shot down 7 Japanese planes at noon, and now he has shot down 24 more planes. If one plane is rewarded with one mountain cannon, that is 31 mountain cannons.
In addition to the 5 mountain cannons and 2 howitzers originally equipped by the New Second Regiment, there are a total of 36 mountain cannons and 2 howitzers, a proper artillery regiment, plus mortars and the Type 92 infantry cannon provided by the headquarters. Rich as hell.
And he, Li Yunlong, is even richer.
"Old Ding, congratulations on getting rich!" Kong Jie said sourly in the channel.
"Old Ding, you are going to be the commander of the artillery regiment." Cheng Shifa also said.
"Haha." Ding Wei just laughed and said nothing, but he could tell from his laughter that he was in a happy mood.
Li Yunlong said in a seductive tone: "Come on, Lao Cheng and Lao Kong. Lao Ding will soon have an artillery regiment. When the Japanese planes come to bombard us later, if you give me a fire, how many mountain cannons can you harvest?" , it depends on how many planes you two can shoot down."
"Look, if the Japanese plane dares to come, I will shoot it down." Kong Jie said confidently.
"Commander-in-Chief, I'm going to control your mountain cannon. Even if the King of Heaven comes, I won't even think of stopping me." Cheng Shifa said loudly.
After laughing, Li Yunlong said: "Then I wish you good luck."
After finishing speaking, Li Yunlong hung up the call, and then narrowed his eyes.
Zhao Gang asked: "Old Li, do you really want the Japanese planes to blow up all the cannons? How can we attack the city without cannons?"
"Yes, Political Commissar Zhao is right," Xing Zhiguo said, "Cannons are also needed in street fighting. Even if we capture the outer city wall of Taiyuan, cannons are still needed to attack the inner city wall."
Li Yunlong's eyes were calm: "Then what should we do? If we don't let the Japanese planes bomb the artillery positions, the Japanese planes will have to bomb our infantry. Don't worry, we, Old Li, have a clever plan. Send me an order to move all the machine guns to The artillery position is surrounded by concealment. When the Japanese planes come, don’t save ammunition and use them to kill me!”
