The communication staff officer was slightly stunned by Okamura Neji's expression.
Although he bowed his head to express condolences, it was just a subconscious action. Because a lieutenant general's jade was broken, wouldn't it be abnormal if he didn't express condolences?
But in fact, the communications staff officer did not feel much sadness. One lieutenant general had died. How many lieutenant generals had died in North China?
What surprised him was that the enemy's methods of assassinating the lieutenant general were becoming more and more elusive.
Artillery fire, sniping, railway bombs, and now even anti-aircraft guns to hit the lieutenant general...
But your Excellency, Commander, why is the corner of your mouth slightly raised? Are you even pretending to do so?
Okamura Neiji also realized that something was wrong, calmed his expression, and asked in a deep voice: "The observation group's plane was shot down 20 kilometers northeast of Takesu Airport. Lieutenant General Hisao Fururu, is the jade broken?"
"Hi!"
Suppressing the doubts in his heart, the communications staff member replied:
"The Signal Corps has confirmed with the First Army that the plane the observation group was traveling in was shot down, and the entire observation group including Lieutenant General Hisao Fururu was shattered."
"The two escorting fighter jets were also shot down!"
Okamura Neji nodded when he heard this, feeling no sadness in his heart, and even wanted to laugh a little.
Just be your reserve lieutenant general, why don't you compete with me for the position of commander of the North China Front?
Now that the jade is broken, do you feel comfortable?
Because of Tojo Hideji's reminder, Okamura Neji knew the purpose of Hisao Furu's trip to North China with the observation group.
It was precisely because of this that Okamura Neji did not meet with Hisao Fururu.
People came to North China to compete for the position of commander of the front army, and Okamura Neji greeted them with a smile, which the old Japanese couldn't do.
At Okamura's level, apart from Tianchu, the cabinet and other front army commanders, there were not many people who could make Okamura Neji smile.
Okamura Neji quickly walked to the map and found the location 20 kilometers northeast of Wusu Airport on the map.
After roughly calculating the time, Okamura judged that the enemy who shot down the observation group's plane had not gone very far.
The enemy who shot down the observation group's plane is most likely the new regiment of the Eighth Route Army entrenched in northwest Shanxi.
Then after the enemy completes its mission, it will retreat towards the northwest.
"Immediately order the two reconnaissance planes at Baoding Airport to take off and conduct reconnaissance along the northwest direction here to find this enemy. After discovering the enemy, notify the First Army to pursue it with all its strength!"
Neji Okamura stared at the map, pointed at the location of Purple Mountain on the map with his finger, and said to the communications staff officer.
"Hi!"
The communications staff officer lowered his head, turned and left.
Then Okamura Neji turned around, returned to his seat, and then dialed the phone to ask Tanabe Moritake and Arisu Seizo to come to the office.
He asked the reconnaissance plane to conduct a wave of reconnaissance and ordered the First Army to pursue it with all its strength, but it was just a show.
If an imperial lieutenant general and two major generals were torn to pieces within his jurisdiction and he didn't even act, then he would look suspicious.
Of course, no one on the North China Front dared to doubt him.
After hanging up the phone, Okamura Neiji felt a little happy. After the old devil Gu Hisao was killed, Okamura Neiji would not be dismissed from his post, and he would still serve as the commander of the North China Front in a short time.
As the war progressed, there were more and more Japanese army generals, but few were capable of serving as front army commanders.
Tanabe Moritake and Arisu Seizo rushed to the commander's office and heard that the observation group's plane had been shot down and that Lieutenant General Hisao Fururu was broken into pieces.
The two old devils were both shocked.
I am really afraid of what will happen.
At the same time, the two old devils also breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, they did not go to Taiyuan with Gu Shoufu.
Otherwise, both of them will be broken into pieces.
…
at the same time.
Yamamoto Kazuki led a special agent team to the crash site.
After arriving at the crash site, he personally led a special team to investigate.
A group of Japanese agents were very busy collecting plane wreckage and searching for bullet casings.
Li Yunlong needs to lead the transportation battalion, machine gun battalion and anti-aircraft gun battalion from Zijin Mountain to Tongpu Highway.
The car battalion then carried the machine gun battalion and anti-aircraft gun battalion back to the base area in northern Shanxi.
only.
The transport battalion carried machine guns, anti-aircraft guns and ammunition. Although it was a forced march, it did not move very fast.
The cavalrymen of the Japanese 1st Cavalry Brigade pursued them along the horse trail within a few hours.
The Japanese cavalry also knew that the New Regiment of the Eighth Route Army was not easy to mess with.
Therefore, the Japanese army sent reconnaissance cavalry to conduct reconnaissance in the front, followed far behind by a Japanese cavalry squadron, and then followed by the large force of the 1st Cavalry Brigade.
About four hours after the observation group's transport plane was shot down, the Japanese reconnaissance plane had already flown over the heads of the new regiment's soldiers.
Although the whereabouts of the transportation battalion, anti-aircraft gun battalion, machine gun battalion and the two cavalry battalions of the New Regiment were discovered.
But the Japanese reconnaissance plane didn't have the guts to swoop down and attack.
The dense anti-aircraft guns and machine guns on the ground are no joke.
It can even shoot down a sensitive fighter jet, let alone a reconnaissance plane?
The Japanese reconnaissance plane immediately informed the First Army of the ground forces of the Eighth Route Army's whereabouts.
After Major General Tadamichi Kuribayashi learned about it, he immediately led the Japanese cavalry to catch up.
However, because it was a mountainous area, the Japanese cavalry could only pursue along the horse road.
Not long after, the Japanese reconnaissance cavalry encountered a new regiment of cavalry.
The task of the new regiment of cavalry is to cover the retreat of the transport battalion, anti-aircraft gun battalion and machine gun battalion.
Therefore, instead of confronting the Japanese directly, they dealt with the Japanese cavalry and relied on the favorable terrain to fight and retreat.
Whether it was cavalry firepower or artillery firepower, the firepower of the new regiment's cavalry suppressed the Japanese.
Therefore, the Japanese cavalry could only fight and chase.
On the horse trail between mountains.
Listening to the intensive gunshots and explosions a few kilometers behind, Li Yunlong urged the soldiers to speed up their march.
"Captain, the fighting is quite lively at the back. How about we put out the machine guns and anti-aircraft guns and give the Japanese cavalry a shot, it will definitely be more lively."
Zhang Dabiao, the regimental groom, suggested to Li Yunlong with a grin.
Because Zhang Dabiao made a mistake in the last battle to attack Datong, Li Yunlong punished him by serving as a groom at the regiment headquarters for one week, leading Li Yunlong's horse.
Therefore, this time Zhang Dabiao also came to Purple Mountain.
Li Yunlong carefully observed the surrounding terrain.
Zhang Dabiao's idea was very tempting, but Li Yunlong still shook his head.
Although the new regiment has a full 100 machine guns and 40 anti-aircraft guns, it is very fun to use anti-aircraft guns and machine guns to fight the cavalry, but unfortunately it is a mountainous area and it is not easy to expand.
Moreover, the Japanese cavalry are equipped with 90mm mortars. The Japanese mortars can bombard machine gun and anti-aircraft gun positions in long-range curves.
Li Yunlong looked at the map carefully, pointed and said:
"About 5 kilometers ahead is the Tongpu Highway, and about 15 kilometers further north is the Xinzhou Basin."
"After we get to the Tongpu Highway, let the car battalion pull the machine guns, anti-aircraft guns and two battalions of soldiers to the Xinzhou Basin and spread them out front."
"Then let our cavalry stand directly in front of the machine guns and anti-aircraft guns. When the Japanese cavalry charges, our cavalry will spread out from both sides."
】
"In this way, the Japanese cavalry will be exposed to the firepower of our 140 anti-aircraft guns."
"Hey hey hey..."
"It's a waste of anti-aircraft firepower to use to fight planes. The infantry and cavalry are much more effective at fighting Japanese enemies than heavy machine guns!"
Zhang Dabiao's eyes flashed with light.
Last time, the New Regiment completely wiped out the Japanese Kuroshima Cavalry Regiment, using almost the same method.
The firepower composed of more than 100 light and heavy machine guns directly killed the main force of the Black Island Cavalry Regiment.
But this time it was directly replaced by a 20mm machine gun and a 37mm anti-aircraft gun. The power was not comparable to that of light and heavy machine guns.
Because the machine-gun shells and anti-aircraft shells are not only powerful, but also shoot very fast. If they hit the enemy, they will definitely be able to pierce through several enemies. Even if the enemy's military horse is hit by one shot, Daluo Jinxian will not be able to save it.
Zhang Dabiao suggested: "The light and heavy machine guns and mortars of the 1st Cavalry Battalion and 2nd Cavalry Battalion can also be put out, which is enough for the devils of the 1st Cavalry Brigade to drink a big pot."
Li Yunlong looked at Zhang Dabiao and praised: "Your head turns pretty fast, that's exactly what I meant."
The light and heavy machine guns of the 1st and 2nd Cavalry Battalions were set up, with a total of more than 100.
The firepower of more than 100 light and heavy machine guns, plus the firepower of 140 anti-aircraft guns, this firepower...
The eyes of Zhang Dabiao, He Jie, Gao Tianyi and others suddenly became hot.
As Li Yunlong's order was issued, the transport battalion moved a little faster carrying ammunition, machine guns and anti-aircraft guns.
More than two hours later.
It's getting dark.
In the Xinzhou Basin, 140 machine guns and anti-aircraft guns, and more than 100 machine guns were lined up.
Behind the anti-aircraft fire and machine gun fire, a total of 36 60 mm and 82 mm mortars of the 1st Cavalry Battalion and 2nd Cavalry Battalion have been set up.
The muzzle of the gun pointed in the direction of the Japanese cavalry's arrival.
Although the target was not visible, there were a large number of mortars and they were directly covered by artillery fire.
In front of anti-aircraft fire and machine gun fire.
More than 1,500 cavalry soldiers from the 1st Cavalry Battalion and the 2nd Cavalry Battalion of the New Regiment faced the direction of the Japanese cavalry and drew their Yunlong swords one after another.
ready.
The Japanese reconnaissance cavalry rode back and forth 2 kilometers away, not daring to get close.
Soon, the Japanese cavalry squadron arrived, but when the captain of the Japanese cavalry squadron saw this formation, he knew that attacking would be courting death and did not dare to launch a test attack rashly.
Not long after, Major General Tadamichi Ribayashi led the 1st Cavalry Brigade to arrive.
The captain of the cavalry squadron rode forward and reported to Ribayashi Chudohui: "Report to the brigade commander that the Eighth Route Cavalry has assumed a decisive battle posture. Do you want to launch a test attack?"
Tadamichi Kuribayashi was riding on a tall and powerful maroon military horse, wearing a battle uniform. He took a few steps forward and looked through the binoculars.
Only 2 kilometers away in front, the cavalry of the Eighth Route New Regiment were already in a decisive battle posture. They drew their sabers one after another, as if they were going to charge and chop with the Japanese cavalry.
Tadamichi Kuribayashi quickly determined that the strength of the Eighth Route Cavalry was about 1,500, which was only slightly more than one cavalry regiment of the Japanese army.
More than 1,500 sharp sabers chilled the flesh under the reflection of the setting sun.
"Commander of the brigade, do you want to launch an attack?"
The captain of the 13th Cavalry Regiment, Yuio Nishizawa, who suffered two consecutive defeats at the hands of Li Yunlong, drew his left sword and raised it to his chest, and couldn't wait to ask Kuribayashi Tadamichi.
