Since the Eighth Route Army has grown stronger, Yan Xishan's attitude towards surrendering to the Japanese army has become increasingly unclear.
After all, even the First Army could not protect itself when crossing the river.
Yan Xishan has always been known for being good at calculations, claiming that he can dance on three eggs.
Seeing that the Japanese army in Shanxi was about to be destroyed, how could he join the Japanese army?
If Yan Xishan dares to surrender to the Japanese army, then when the Eighth Route Army solves the Japanese army, it can logically solve the Jinsui Army.
The current Eighth Route Army is no longer the Eighth Route Army that crossed the Yellow River eastward.
The three regiments of the Eighth Route Army in the northwest Shanxi base area can easily defeat the Shanxi-Sui Army in Luliang Mountain. The Eighth Route Army in northwest Shanxi is only a small part of the entire Eighth Route Army, let alone the Eighth Route Army in other military regions in North China.
Yan Xishan originally did not want to surrender to the Japanese army, and he and Iwamatsu Yoshio were just making excuses.
But Yan Xishan's behavior angered Yoshio Iwasatsu and wanted to teach Yan Xishan a lesson.
Iwamatsu Yoshio immediately said: "Immediately apply to General Okamura Neiji for the First Army to attack Luliang Mountain."
…
Beiping.
Iron Lion Alley.
North China Front Army Headquarters.
"Report to the Commander."
"The Pingsui Railway has resumed operation."
In the operations hall, a combat staff officer reported to Commander Okamura Ningtsuton.
Although Okamura Neiji has his own office, he likes to work in the Operations Office.
"knew!"
Okamura Neiji waved his hand and signaled the combat staff to leave.
The combat staff member paused, then turned and left.
Subsequently.
Tanabe Moritake, Nakazawa Mizuo and Arisu Seiko gathered around, all looking at Okamura Neji.
Although the Pingsui Railway is often attacked by the main force of the Eighth Route Army and guerrillas in the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei Military Region.
However, the protection of the Pingsui Railway by the garrison in Mongolia is pretty good. There are many bunkers, gun towers and strongholds on both sides of the railway. They were built when Shun Tada was the commander of the North China Front.
so.
Even if a section of the railway is blown up, Japanese engineers can quickly repair it if the rails and sleepers are well prepared.
The 1st Infantry Regiment was bombed on the Pingsui Railway and was completely shattered.
The people of the First Division are now in panic, because no one knows whether the enemy's aerial bomb will fall on their heads in the next second.
How to get the First Division from Peiping to northwest Shanxi became a problem for the North China Front Army Headquarters and the First Division Headquarters.
If the army is on the railway to northwestern Shanxi and is bombed by bombers called by the Eighth Route Army, it will be very bad.
Before that, Okamura Neiji had reassured Mitsuo Nakazawa, saying that he already had a solution.
"Your Excellency, General." Mitsuo Nakazawa asked in a deep voice, "When will the First Division head to northwest Shanxi? The Locust Army warriors of the First Division can't wait to destroy the Eighth Route New Regiment."
Although Mitsuo Nakazawa admires Li Yunlong more, he also regards him as an equal opponent.
But before the two actually fought, Li Yunlong had already eaten two of his infantry regiments and a heavy artillery regiment.
This made Mitsuo Nakazawa extremely angry. Li Yunlong was simply too bullying and did not take the First Division of the Empire of Japan seriously.
Nakazawa Sanfu vowed to cut off Li Yunlong's head with his own hands.
"Nakazawa-kun, there is no need to worry." Okamura Neiji said calmly: "I have ordered 10 more military columns to transport your first division to northwest Shanxi. Each military column can only transport one infantry brigade and one The artillery squadron only departs at night and is at the station or tunnel during the day, so that it can effectively avoid enemy bombers."
The bombers that suddenly appeared without warning really caused a psychological shadow on all the Japanese officers, including Okamura Neji.
If we come again a few more times, it is estimated that several alliances will be reimbursed.
Therefore, Okamura Neiji used multiple vehicles to transport the First Division to Datong in northern Shanxi.
Originally, it only took 10 trains to transport a regiment and the entire First Division to Datong, and it only took two or three days to transport it.
But if each military train only carries one artillery squadron and one artillery brigade, it will take at least 10 days to transport the First Division to Datong.
Although there were more military trains transporting troops, in order to avoid bombing, the military trains transporting troops did not start during the day, so the speed of troop transport also slowed down.
Mitsuo Nakazawa nodded, this method can indeed effectively prevent enemy aircraft from bombing.
Even if the enemy sends out aircraft to bomb, it can only blow up an artillery squadron and an infantry brigade at most, and the losses will not be huge.
If the enemy continues to bombard, the infantry will have to go to northwestern Shanxi on foot, which will take more time.
Moreover, after marching hundreds of kilometers on foot, the soldiers were in a state of exhaustion. Once the Northwestern Shanxi Eighth Route Army attacked, the situation would be very bad.
"Thank you, General." Mitsuo Nakazawa lowered his head and said.
He knew very well that during this period, Okamura Neji was also worried about the First Division.
The timetable of the military columns of the First Infantry Regiment is top secret in the North China Headquarters, but the enemy can easily find the military columns of the First Infantry Regiment and carry out bombing.
This shows that the enemy's intelligence capability is very strong, and perhaps all the information about the configuration of the first division has been obtained.
Who is providing intelligence to the Eighth Route Army?
Nakazawa Mizuo raised his head, looked at Tanabe Moritake and Arisu Seizo, and then at Okamura Neji.
The doubts in my heart deepened.
There seemed to be an invisible fog that Mitsuo Nakazawa couldn't see through, and it seemed as if there was a big hand behind his back controlling everything.
Okamura Neiji added: "Since the maximum caliber heavy artillery of the new Eighth Route Army regiment is 150 mm, the 7th Heavy Artillery Regiment of your 3rd Heavy Artillery Brigade will temporarily stay in Peiping and reinforce northwest Shanxi depending on the situation."
At one time, the North China Front also had a heavy artillery brigade.
But that was when the North China Front Army had just entered North China. At that time, the 5th Division of the Steel Army was also affiliated with the North China Front Army.
Later, because the Japanese army occupied the five provinces of North China and its main opponents were the Eighth Route Army, the Shanxi-Sui Army and the Central Army, the heavy artillery brigade was transferred to other front armies.
However, Okamura Ningji had the right to transfer a few heavy artillery pieces to North China.
After Okamura Ningji thought again and again, he decided to leave a heavy artillery regiment in Peking as a heavy artillery regiment directly under the North China Front.
According to Okamura Neiji, the largest caliber of the new Eighth Route Army regiment is only 150 mm, and a heavy artillery regiment of the First Division is enough to cope with it.
"Hi!"
Mitsuo Nakazawa had no choice but to bow his head and respond. What could he say? The 1st Division and the 3rd Heavy Artillery Brigade were now under the command of Okamura Neiji.
Okamura Neiji ordered: "Nakazawa-kun, wait until all the troops of your first division arrive in Datong, and then concentrate your troops to the northwest of Shanxi."
"There may be an attack by the Eighth Route Army on the way, so don't worry."
"After arriving in northwestern Shanxi, we will first occupy the three counties of Heyuan, Ping'an and Anhua, and restore the North Tongpu Railway to traffic."
"The supplies for your First Division are handled by the First Army and transported to northwest Shanxi by the Tongpu Railway, so the Tongpu Road is particularly important to your First Division."
Fighting requires supplies. Without stable logistical supplies, the combat effectiveness of the First Division will be greatly reduced. If you want to confront the New Regiment in northwestern Shanxi for a long time, you must first ensure that the supply channels are smooth. Otherwise, the First Division will have no food and supplies. Ammunition will not only fail to achieve the purpose of blocking the new group, but will also suffer heavy losses.
Okamura Neiji continued: "In three months at most, I will mobilize troops and supplies to launch a spring sweep in northwestern Shanxi. By then, your First Division can flex its muscles."
"Hi!"
Nakazawa Mizuo bowed his head again: "I will personally chop off Li Yunlong's head at that time."
The words were filled with murderous intent.
…
In the blink of an eye, ten days passed.
Northwest Shanxi.
Dagu Town.
In the headquarters of the New First Regiment, in the combat hall, more than thirty battalion commanders including the New First Regiment, the Independent Regiment and the New Second Regiment gathered together.
The battalion commanders who knew each other were greeting each other loudly, hugging each other enthusiastically, grabbing each other's hands and shaking them vigorously.
Although they all belong to the Northwestern Shanxi Military Region, each battalion is stationed in a different location, making it rare to see them in normal times.
This time Li Yunlong launched a battle that brought together almost all the main battalion commanders in northwestern Shanxi.
Among the infantry battalion commanders present, the infantry battalion with the smallest strength had more than a thousand people.
In other words, Li Yunlong's attack on the First Division this time involved more than 30 regiments.
Moreover, these 30-plus regiments are the 30-plus regiments of the Eighth Route Army that have the best equipment, the strongest combat effectiveness, and the most adequate logistical supplies.
In the combat hall, a huge map has been posted on the wall to the north of the hall, almost taking up the entire wall. This is a map that covers the entire Shanxi.
The red color on this map represents occupied areas, and the white color represents unconquered areas.
Judging from the map, the Eighth Route Army has the largest territory, followed by the Japanese Army, and finally the Jinsui Army.
A huge red arrow extends from Datong to northwest Shanxi. There are many small blue arrows on both sides of the red arrow.
Wang Huaibao, commander of the Third Battalion of the Independent Regiment, stared at the arrows on the map on the wall with thoughtful eyes and murmured to himself: "Could it be that our target this time is the Japanese 26th Division?"
In the Northern Shanxi Iron Triangle, the main forces of the three regiments gathered together. Such a big scene was rare.
"Probably not!" Shen Quan, commander of the Second Battalion of the Independent Regiment, shook his head, "If only the 26th Division dares to come to northwest Shanxi, the New Regiment can easily solve it, and we, the Independent Regiment, will go with the New Second Regiment?"
"Is it because the troops stationed in Mongolia are going south to attack our base in northwestern Shanxi?" An infantry battalion commander of the New Second Regiment also participated in the discussion.
"Don't even guess." Guan Dashan, commander of the first battalion of the Independent Regiment, said with his arms folded, "Our target this time must be the Japanese First Division."
When Guan Dashan reminded them, Wang Huaibao and Shen Quan showed expressions of sudden realization on their faces.
About half a month ago, the New Regiment completely wiped out the Japanese First Infantry Regiment 50 kilometers east of Gaoyang County on the Pingsui Railway.
Doesn't this mean that the First Division is coming to northwest Shanxi?
"handy!"
"I can finally have a big fight. This period of time has been really frustrating for me."
"This first division is known as the elite of the Japanese Army's Class A divisions."
"What a fool's elite, what we are doing is his fool's elite."
As soon as Guan Dashan said these words, all the battalion commanders immediately became excited, eager to try, with ruthless expressions on their eyes. Not a single battalion commander showed any timid expression.
To be the battalion commander of the Eighth Route Army in northwestern Shanxi is definitely a ruthless character.
The last sentence was said by Wei Dayong. Strong generals like Wei Dayong and Lu Yingjun are the ceiling for ruthless characters.
"salute!"
At this moment, the guard's voice sounded outside the door.
The battalion commanders looked towards the door and saw Li Yunlong striding in from the door, followed by Ding Wei, Kong Jie, Zhao Gang, Wang Dehou and Xing Zhiguo.
"stand up!"
"salute!"
Zhang Dabiao roared twice, and all the battalion commanders stood up and saluted Li Yunlong and others.
The battalion commanders looked at Li Yunlong with determination and heat in their eyes.
Li Yunlong and Ding Wei responded with a military salute, and then everyone sat down.
Without any unnecessary nonsense, Li Yunlong glanced at all the battalion commanders and said, "Everyone must have guessed that I have summoned you here today. If there is nothing else, we are going to kill the son of a bitch of the First Division."
As soon as these words came out, all the battalion commanders were slightly commotion.
As expected, this time the target of the Eighth Route Army in Northwestern Shanxi was the Japanese First Division.
This First Division is not a good one. It is the number one division in the Japanese army. It has extremely luxurious equipment and very powerful combat effectiveness.
The current First Division has just been strengthened and is the main force prepared by the Japanese base camp to deal with the Soviet army.
Next, Li Yunlong introduced the situation of the First Division.
However, the intelligence has been updated. One of the Japanese heavy artillery regiments has stayed in Peiping, and two infantry regiments directly under the North China Front have been added to the First Division.
Compared with the previous First Division, there is one less heavy artillery regiment, but one more infantry regiment. Overall, the combat effectiveness has been weakened.
After introducing the situation of the First Division, Li Yunlong analyzed the current battle situation. Once the First Division is allowed to gain a foothold in northwest Shanxi, the situation will be greatly unfavorable to the Eighth Route Army in northwest Shanxi.
Therefore, the Eighth Route Army in northwest Shanxi must take the initiative and strike first while the First Division is not yet firmly established.
Li Yunlong then explained the conditions for the victory of the Eighth Route Army.
Immediately afterwards, deputy leader Xing Zhiguo conducted in-depth political mobilization, focusing on explaining why this war was fought and how to fight it well.
And determined the specific deployment of troops, that is, the tactic of closing the door and beating the dog.
Generally speaking, a huge pocket formation was set up on the road from Datong to northwest Shanxi, and the Japanese from the First Division were put in to encircle and annihilate them.
It is now the depth of winter, and the weather in northwest Shanxi is extremely cold. It snows one after another, and the earth is covered with a thick quilt.
In order for this super-large ambush to be successful, Boss Chen also provided more than 50,000 sets of white robes to ensure that the soldiers could be better concealed.
Hearing that Li Yunlong was going to negotiate a big business, Boss Chen personally went to Dagu Town from the base to discuss cooperation matters with Li Yunlong and Zhao Gang.
The price of this transaction is very generous.
After all, this was the number one division in the Japanese army, and it was a Category A division. Boss Chen was very happy to give the price.
As long as they can win the battle, all three regiments can make a lot of money.
Each battalion has clearly defined its combat mission.
Zhao Gang made the final emphasis on pre-war mobilization: "The Chinese nation is experiencing a huge test! We Communists should take on, and we will certainly be able to take on, the important task of saving the country and the people!"
(End of chapter)
