Taiyuan.
First Army Headquarters.
Because of the actions of the Central Army and the Eighth Route Army, the atmosphere in the First Army headquarters suddenly became tense.
The situation in Shanxi is now very different from before.
In the past, the Japanese army was a dominant force, fighting against the Eighth Route Army, Shanxi-Sui Army and the Central Army. Even if these three forces joined forces, they were no match for the Japanese army.
But in just the past few years, the Eighth Route Army's strength has grown by leaps and bounds, and it has been able to seriously threaten the Japanese First Army.
Although in terms of overall strength, the Japanese First Army was stronger than the Eighth Route Army in Shanxi.
However, the Japanese army's forces were too scattered. If it did not increase its troops and mobilize supplies, the Japanese First Army would have no way to defeat the Eighth Route Army, and it would not even be able to organize a decent raid.
Since the failure of the spring sweep, the Japanese army definitely did not dare to sweep the base areas in southeastern Shanxi again without having more than five divisions.
Based on the strength of the Japanese First Army alone, if more than five divisions are mobilized to sweep the base areas in southeastern Shanxi, other places, such as Taiyuan, are likely to be attacked by the Eighth Route Army in northwest Shanxi.
With the end of the Battle of Zhongtiao Mountain, it now belongs to the confrontation stage between the Eighth Route Army and the Japanese First Army.
Although the Japanese First Army was unable to attack the Eighth Route Army, the Eighth Route Army was not strong enough to defeat the entire First Army.
However, when the Eighth Route Army is added to the Central Army, the situation is very different.
In the last battle of Zhongtiao Mountain, the main reason for the Central Army's disastrous defeat was insufficient preparation, lack of unified and effective command, and the Japanese army was caught off guard.
This time the Central Army seemed to be well prepared, and its commander was Wei Lihuang, the commander of the First Theater Command, who had always had a good relationship with the Eighth Route Army.
Yoshio Iwamatsu was worried that if Wei Lihuang joined forces with the Eighth Route Army, the First Army might be defeated.
"Report to Commander, the latest information is that the Central Army on the south bank of the Yellow River is secretly preparing ships to cross the river!"
Intelligence staff officer Takahashi Takehiko held the telegram in his left hand, walked quickly into the war room, and bowed his head to Yoshio Iwamatsu to report.
Yoshio Iwamatsu received the telegram and his eyes narrowed slightly after seeing the contents of the telegram:
"Wei Lihuang really wants to attack Zhongtiao Mountain."
After reading the telegram, Yoshio Iwamatsu felt a little heavy. There was only one division in Zhongtiao Mountain. Can it block the attack of the Central Army?
If the Eighth Route Army goes south to cooperate with the attack on Zhongtiao Mountain, the 33rd Division will definitely not be able to stop the Eighth Route Army and the Central Army from attacking from both sides.
Today, the strength of the Eighth Route Army is not what it used to be.
Chief of Staff Hanatani Masaru spoke arrogantly: "Wei Lihuang is looking for death. In the Battle of the Central Plains in May, the China Central Army has not been educated enough by the imperial army. It actually wants to retake Nakatiao Mountain. I suggest that he immediately give Sakurai Province No. 3 Middle School A telegram will be sent to the 33rd Division to teach Wei Lihuang a severe lesson."
However, Deputy Chief of Staff Masao Miyazaki said: "Commander, I think the Central China Army is just a ragtag group of people and has nothing to fear. What we really need to be wary of is the Eighth Route Army."
"What about the Eighth Route Army?" Hua Guzheng mocked, "Did Miyazaki-kun lose his courage at Baozi Mountain by the Eighth Route Army?"
Miyazaki Masao hates Masao Hanatani in his heart. He can't get over the matter of Baozi Mountain, right?
"Hanagani-kun, it was you who commanded the 3rd Brigade in that battle." Masao Miyazaki snorted coldly, "The ending cannot be changed."
"That's not necessarily the case." Masaru Hanaya said, "At least I won't let the artillery fire at the soldiers of the empire."
Miyazaki Masao was about to retort when Iwamatsu Yoshio suddenly scolded: "Baga, please stop saying a few words. Is now the time to quarrel?"
"Hi!"
Seeing that the commander was really angry, Miyazaki Masao and Hanatani Masao nodded in unison, their hearts shuddered, and they shut up obediently.
Then, Iwamatsu Yoshio looked at Yamamoto Kazuki and asked: "Yamamoto-kun, what do you think?"
Originally, Kazuki Yamamoto was going to carry out Yoshio Iwamatsu's fishing plan and snatch the bazooka rocket launcher from the Eighth Route Army.
However, due to the actions of the Central Army and the Eighth Route Army, the fishing plan was temporarily postponed.
Yamamoto Kazuki looked paralyzed and said in a deep voice: "General, I agree with Major General Miyazaki. We must always be wary of the Eighth Route Army, especially the Li Yunlong Department of the Eighth Route Army in northwest Shanxi."
Yamamoto fought against the Soviet Army, the Eighth Route Army and the Central Army.
The most difficult one to deal with is the Soviet army. There is no doubt about this. After the Battle of Nomonkan, the Soviet Union and Japan signed a non-aggression treaty.
The second most difficult thing to deal with was the Eighth Route Army, especially the Eighth Route Army Li Yunlong, who had repeatedly dealt heavy blows to the Japanese army.
However, Iwamatsu Yoshio waved his hand and said: "Leave Li Yunlong's troops alone for the time being. The 36th Division is watching. Recently, many thickened bunkers and gun towers have been built around Li Yunlong's base. No matter how Li Yunlong jumps around, he can't escape from the emperor." The main force of the Eighth Route Army in southeastern Shanxi is what needs to be watched out for now!"
As he spoke, Yoshio Iwamatsu glanced at everyone's faces and asked: "You guys think, if the main force of the Eighth Route Army in southeastern Shanxi wants to cooperate with the Central Army of China in fighting, should the Eighth Route Army go south to attack the 33rd Division with the Central Army, or go north? Which one is more likely to attack Taiyuan or threaten Zhengtai Road?"
"If the Chinese army really wants to retake Zhongtiao Mountain," Hua Guzheng said, "I think it is more likely that the main force of the Southeast Shanxi Eighth Route Army will go south to attack the 33rd Division."
"My opinion is opposite to Hanatani-kun." Masao Miyazaki said, "The main force of the Eighth Route Army will probably go north to attack the Taiyuan and Shota Railways."
"Oh?" Masao Hanatani did not mock Masao Miyazaki this time, but asked calmly, "Why does Miyazaki-kun think so?"
"The reason for this is simple."
Miyazaki Masao pointed to the map and said: "The Eighth Route Army base in southeastern Shanxi is 300 kilometers away from Zhongtiao Mountain. If the Eighth Route from southeastern Shanxi goes to southern Shanxi, the distance is at least 350 kilometers. For the Eighth Route, it is a long distance. So The distance is far, and after several days of continuous forced march, how much fighting power does the Eighth Route Army still have? Moreover, the supply line is too long, this is one of them."
"Secondly, if the Eighth Route Army chooses to go south, if the Central China Army's attack fails and the Imperial Army's reinforcements from Taiyuan arrive, the expeditionary Eighth Route Army will be at risk of being outflanked by the Imperial Army."
"Without logistical supplies, the Eighth Route Army was surrounded by at least three divisions of the Imperial Army and could only disperse and break out, ending up with heavy losses."
"Thirdly, the base area in southeastern Shanxi is only more than 100 kilometers away from Taiyuan and Zhengtai Road. As long as the Eighth Route Army makes a gesture of heading north to attack Taiyuan and Zhengtai Railway, it can contain the strength of the imperial army and prevent the imperial army from sending troops to reinforce southern Shanxi. "
"If I were the deputy commander-in-chief of the Eighth Route Army, I would definitely send the main force to attack Taiyuan and Zhengtai Railway."
"At the same time, I will also order the Eighth Route Army in northwest Shanxi to launch an offensive to contain the 36th Division."
Iwamatsu Yoshio nodded, feeling that Miyazaki Masao's words did make sense.
Moreover, Masaru Hanatani, who had always looked down on Masao Miyazaki, did not refute. He carefully thought about the loopholes in Masao Miyazaki's words, but after thinking for a long time, he could not think of anything to refute.
Yamamoto Kazuki also nodded, agreeing with Miyazaki Masao's words.
"Miyazaki-kun's analysis makes sense."
Yoshio Iwamatsu looked at Masao Miyazaki and asked: "The Central China Army and the Eighth Route Army have joined forces, so how should we break the situation?"
As for the Jinsui Army, Yoshio Iwamatsu didn't even consider it.
Based on Yan Xishan's sophisticated calculations, even if he sent troops to cooperate with the Eighth Route Army to fight the Central Army, it would only be a show of force and would not really fight the Japanese army.
Moreover, his letter has been delivered to Yan Xishan. Yan Xishan did not agree to surrender, but he did not refuse either, and his attitude was unclear.
"I suggest," Masao Miyazaki said, "While the Eighth Route Army has not destroyed the Nantongpu Railway, we should quietly transfer 2 to 3 regiments to take the train to southern Shanxi to give the Central China Army a head-on blow."
"As for the Eighth Route Army in southeastern Shanxi heading north, the imperial army has the 37th Division, the 14th Brigade, the 18th Brigade, and the 1st Cavalry Brigade, which can ensure the safety of the Taiyuan and Zhengtai Railways!"
"And during this period, the imperial army built a lot of permanent fortifications around Taiyuan."
"With the Eighth Route Army's attack methods, it would be difficult to take down these permanent fortifications, let alone attack Taiyuan."
"If your Excellency, Commander, is still not at ease, you can transfer the main forces of the 14th Brigade and the 18th Brigade back to Taiyuan. The two brigades plus the 1st Cavalry Brigade are fully capable of holding Taiyuan."
Yoshio Iwamatsu was indeed a little scared. After all, the previous commander, Yoshio Shinozuka, had only been broken for less than two months.
However, after listening to Miyazaki Masao's analysis, I suddenly felt a lot more at ease. If I find something wrong, I can just fly to Peking immediately.
It's not like he can't continue to command the First Army in Peiping. He won't do the same stupid thing as Shinozuka Yoshio, who lives and dies with Taiyuan.
"Order the main forces of the 14th Brigade and the 18th Brigade to move into Taiyuan."
"Order the 237th, 238th, and 239th Regiments of the 41st Division stationed in Taiyuan to immediately take a train to southern Shanxi."
"Order the 37th Division stationed in Yangquan to prepare for battle and be prepared for attacks by the Eighth Route Army at any time."
Iwamatsu Yoshio issued the order in a deep voice.
With 2 infantry brigades and 1 cavalry brigade, as well as a division of puppet troops, plus the surrounding permanent fortifications, Iwamatsu Yoshio is really not afraid of the main force of the Eighth Route Army coming to attack Taiyuan.
"Hi!"
Chief of Staff Hanatani was quickly writing down Yoshio Iwamatsu's orders in his notebook, polishing the message, and was about to turn around and walk to the communications room.
At this time, communications staff officer Takeo Nakamura walked in with a telegram in his hand and said to Yoshio Iwamatsu: "Report to General, the 36th Division is in urgent need of a telegram!"
Iwamatsu Yoshio waved his hand and said: "Read it!"
"Hi!" Takeo Nakamura paused, holding the telegram and read in a deep voice: "Most of the bunkers and gun towers in the 36th Division's defense area have lost contact with the county seat. It is suspected that the Eighth Route New Regiment is attacking the imperial army's blockade. Line, Lieutenant General Iseki Ren requested to dispatch a reconnaissance aircraft to investigate the situation, long live His Majesty the Emperor, and long live the Imperial Japanese Army."
The Japanese thickened bunkers and gun towers are basically 10 kilometers away from the county seat.
Even the location where the new regiment started to attack was more than 25 kilometers away from the county seat. Coupled with the obstruction of mountains, it was impossible to hear the sound of artillery in the county seat.
That's why Jingguan Ren applied for a reconnaissance plane.
After listening to the contents of the telegram, Yoshio Iwamatsu smiled slightly and looked at Masao Miyazaki: "Miyazaki-kun, as you expected, the Eighth Route Army has begun to take action."
"This Li Yunlong really can't keep his temper."
Miyazaki Masao said coldly: "He took action before the main force of the Eighth Route Army in southeastern Shanxi and the Central China Army started taking action. But that's fine. The thickened bunkers and gun towers recently built by the imperial army will definitely make Li Yunlong A bruise on the nose and a swollen face.”
At Baozi Mountain, the main force of the 3rd Brigade led by Masao Miyazaki was defeated by a battalion of Li Yunlong.
As a result, the hat of the commander of his 3rd brigade was pulled off, and Miyazaki Masao naturally hated Li Yunlong deeply.
Iwamatsu Yoshio turned to Nakamura Takeo and ordered: "Nakamura-kun, immediately apply to the North China Front Army Headquarters to dispatch a reconnaissance aircraft. One reconnaissance aircraft will be dispatched to reconnoiter the 36th Division's blockade, and two reconnaissance aircraft will be dispatched to reconnoiter Southeast Shanxi. Watch the Eighth Route. Is there any change in the main force?"
"In addition." Hanatani was handing the folder in his hand to Nakamura Takeo, "Nakamura-kun, please pass on these three orders immediately."
"Hi!"
Takeo Nakamura took the folder, stood upright with his feet, paused, turned around and walked out.
