As Mitsuo Nakazawa's order was issued, the regiments of the First Division began to march from Datong to northwest Shanxi.
but.
Mitsuo Nakazawa was still very cautious. The 1st Division Regiment Headquarters, the main forces of the Division Regiment Headquarters, and the heavy artillery regiment did not move in Datong.
Setting off for Datong were the 49th Infantry Regiment of the 1st Infantry Brigade, the 7th Infantry Regiment and the 57th Infantry Regiment of the 2nd Infantry Brigade.
There are also the 1st Field Artillery Regiment, the 12th Mountain Artillery Regiment, the 1st Cavalry Regiment, the 1st Engineer Regiment and the 1st Baggage Regiment.
As for the two infantry regiments assigned to the First Division by Okamura Ningji, only one infantry regiment has arrived in Datong, and another infantry regiment has not yet arrived.
The first batch of eight regiments dispatched, led by Chief of Staff Xinye Huo Dazuo, marched toward northwest Shanxi in a mighty manner.
Nearly 30,000 elite Japanese troops lined up in a long queue on the road.
The First Division has more than 800 vehicles and all kinds of heavy weapons.
There are also more than 60 tanks and armored vehicles. Although the number of tanks does not reach the size of a tank regiment, this level is considered very luxurious among the Japanese army.
Beiping.
Iron Lion Alley.
North China Front Army Headquarters.
"Report to the Commander."
Holding the telegram in his hand, the communications staff officer quickly walked into the operations hall, bowed his head and reported to Okamura Neiji:
"Lt. Gen. Mitsuo Nakazawa, commander of the First Division, sent a telegram."
"The 49th Infantry Regiment, the 7th Infantry Regiment, the 57th Infantry Regiment, the 12th Mountain Artillery Regiment, the First Engineering, Cavalry, Artillery and Transport Regiment of the First Division have already set off from Datong to northwest Shanxi .”
"Oh?" Neji Okamura asked in a surprised tone, "Didn't the 1st Division Headquarters, the 6th Heavy Artillery Regiment and the Suzuki Regiment go to northwestern Shanxi?"
"Hi!" the communications officer lowered his head and responded.
"Did Lieutenant General Nakazawa Mitsuo notice something?" Deputy Chief of Staff Yu Mojing looked thoughtful.
"Probably not." Chief of Staff Tanabe Moritake shook his head, "If Lieutenant General Nakazawa Mitsuo senses something, he will definitely not send the main force of the First Division to northwest Shanxi. I guess it is Lieutenant General Nakazawa Mitsuo who wants to ensure that nothing goes wrong. , as long as the main force of the First Division arrives in northwestern Shanxi and establishes a firm foothold, the remaining troops will be able to arrive 100% safely."
Youmo Jingsan said: "That means that Lieutenant General Zhongze Sanfu does not feel that the road to northwest Shanxi is absolutely safe."
"Your Excellency, Commander, would you like to send a reconnaissance plane to conduct another reconnaissance along the road from Datong to northwest Shanxi?"
"Once an abnormality is discovered, ground troops will be notified immediately."
"Okay." Okamura Neiji nodded, "Immediately send out all reconnaissance planes to escort the main force of the First Division."
The first division is currently the only ace in Neji Okamura's hand that can suppress the new group.
Therefore, every move of the First Division must be ensured to be foolproof.
As for Nakaze Sanfu not going to northwest Shanxi for the time being, he is simply afraid of death.
Several lieutenant generals have died in Shanxi. Several of these shabby lieutenant generals were killed because their whereabouts were leaked.
Moreover, intelligence shows that almost all of these lieutenant generals died at the hands of the New Regiment of the Eighth Route Army.
And northwest Shanxi is the territory of a new regiment of the Eighth Route Army. As a lieutenant general of the First Division, if he goes to other people's territory to burn, kill and loot, will there be any good results?
If it is not 100% safe, Sanfu Nakazawa will never go to northwestern Shanxi.
Instead, he remotely commanded the First Division from Datong.
"Hi!"
You Mo Jing San suddenly lowered his head.
As the order from the North China Front Army Headquarters was issued, the reconnaissance plane of the First Army quickly took off and headed towards northwest Shanxi.
…
On the vast Chinese battlefield, after several years of military confrontation, more than one million Japanese army troops were restrained in the Japanese-occupied areas, unable to launch a new offensive.
The strategic concept of exchanging space for time proposed by the Chinese Nationalist Government in the early stages of the war showed results to a certain extent.
The war has been going on for four or five years, and the Japanese troops stationed in China have begun to show signs of decline.
Although the Northern Shanxi Iron Triangle has caused quite a stir.
However, in the overall strategic pattern of the East, the Second Theater of China's battlefield is just a small chess piece, and the northwest Shanxi region is not very conspicuous on the military situation map of the Second Theater.
Li Yunlong's New First Regiment, Kong Jie's Independent Regiment, and Ding Wei's New Second Regiment did not have formal establishments in the force establishment list of the Nationalist Government Military Commission.
They don't even have numbers. Theoretically, these three regiments are armed forces that are outside the order of battle of the national army.
Who would have thought that Li Yunlong, Ding Wei and Kong Jie were planning a big move?
Northwest Shanxi.
The new regiment headquarters is also the general headquarters of this battle.
As soon as the telegraph operator received a telegram, Chief of Staff Wang Dehou quickly took the telegram from the telegraph operator's hand.
"Is this a telegram from Sword Squadron?"
Li Yunlong asked.
Last night, at least hundreds of soldiers suffered frostbite. The soldiers ate, drank, and ate in the ambush position, eating a mouthful of snow and a mouthful of canned food. The conditions were extremely difficult.
If the Japanese from the First Division don't come within three days, at least several thousand soldiers of the Eighth Route Army will suffer frostbite.
The difficulty of this super-large ambush battle was beyond Li Yunlong's imagination.
There are advantages and disadvantages to ambush in heavy snow. The advantage is that the soldiers can hide better and avoid the detection of Japanese reconnaissance planes in the sky.
The disadvantage is that cold weather is also a great test for soldiers.
Moreover, the terrain Li Yunlong chose for his ambush was not the condescending terrain of Pingxingguan, and certainly not the flat terrain, but the rolling hills.
There are mostly open fields on both sides of the road, and the ambush troops of each battalion are ambushed two kilometers away from the road.
This section is not a key area for reconnaissance by the Japanese scouts, so it is easy to avoid the reconnaissance of the first division scouts.
As for the Japanese reconnaissance planes, it is even more difficult to detect ambushes on the ground.
The concealment of our army began during the Red Army period and reached its peak when the Volunteer Army developed.
The Volunteer Army can even escape the reconnaissance of the US military with a force of 300,000 and suddenly appear on the battlefield, giving the US military a big surprise.
Now, Li Yunlong is also preparing to give the Japanese army of the First Division a big surprise.
"It's not a telegram from the Sharp Sword Squadron." Xing Zhiguo shook his head. "It's a telegram from the head of the headquarters, asking whether the First Division is setting off from Datong."
The Sword Squadron was stationed near Datong, carrying radios.
As soon as the 1st Division departed from Datong, the Sword Squadron immediately sent a telegram.
Nowadays, two Japanese divisions are stationed in Datong, with a total strength of more than 40,000 people. The defense is extremely tight. Only the masters of the Sword Squadron can complete the infiltration mission, not ordinary scouts.
Li Yunlong narrowed his eyes, stared at the map, and said:
"Call back to the headquarters. The First Division has not set off from Datong for the time being."
Although Li Yunlong was a little disappointed, his expression and eyes remained calm. As the commander-in-chief of an army of 50,000, he must not panic at this time.
"Yes!" Wang Dehou quickly drafted a telegram. After Li Yunlong signed it, he asked the telegraph soldiers to send it out.
"Captain, it's time to have breakfast."
Guard Huang Erhu walked to Li Yunlong carrying a box of canned beef.
Since cooking over a fire would produce smoke, which would attract the attention of Japanese reconnaissance planes, all combatants ate canned foods.
Li Yunlong stared at the map without raising his head and said, "Put it aside."
At this moment, the decoder translated a telegram, turned around, saluted Wang Dehou with a military salute, and handed the telegram to Wang Dehou.
Wang Dehou picked up the telegram and took a look at it, his eyes suddenly lit up: "Commander, Captain Duan Peng of the Lijian Squadron sent a telegram, the First Division is dispatched!"
"Oh?" Li Yunlong's eyes flashed: "The son of a bitch finally came out."
Ding Wei, Kong Jie and Zhao Gang on the side also raised the corners of their mouths slightly and breathed a sigh of relief at the same time.
As long as the Japs from the First Division come out and enter the ambush circle, the battle will be half won.
Wang Dehou: "But..."
Li Yunlong's eyes narrowed slightly: "But what?"
Wang Dehou said: "According to the reconnaissance of the Sharp Sword Squadron, the Japs setting off from Datong this time are not all the troops of the First Division. The heavy artillery regiment of the First Division is still in Datong."
"There is another infantry regiment that has not set off yet. It is estimated that the division headquarters of the First Division is still in Datong."
"The Sword Squadron only saw 3 infantry regiments, 2 artillery regiments, 1 cavalry regiment, 1 engineer regiment and baggage regiment departing from Datong."
Kong Jie smiled coldly: "Sanfu Nakazawa, this old devil, is quite cautious."
"Only part of the First Division has come out." Ding Wei asked, "Are we still going to fight this battle?"
"We've prepared all the dishes." Li Yunlong said in a decisive tone, "If you come to two tables, you'll eat it, if you come to one table, you'll eat it, so fuck you!"
"I also agree to fight this battle." Zhao Gang agreed. "Although the division headquarters and the heavy artillery regiment did not come, after all, they are also the main force of the first division. This is the only chance."
Kong Jie, Wang Dehou, Xing Zhiguo and others all nodded with stern expressions on their faces.
You've already taken off your pants, why don't you give me a hard time?
Xing Zhiguo asked: "Commander, do you want to order the artillery troops to set up all the cannons?"
In this battle, the New First Regiment, the Independent Regiment and the New Second Regiment used almost all their artillery.
Incomplete statistics include more than 800 artillery pieces, including 60mm and 82mm mortars. Of course, most of them are 60mm and 82mm mortars.
The last anti-mopping battle was successful, more than 100 thickened bunkers and gun towers were destroyed, and half of the more than 1,000 machine guns earned were handed over. The three brothers used at least half of them to exchange for artillery. The artillery firepower of the three regiments was greatly enhanced.
However, all the cannons were in a dormant state to avoid being detected by the Japanese reconnaissance planes.
"There's no rush." Li Yunlong looked at his watch, "The Japs from the First Division won't be able to arrive here until at least the afternoon. If we set up the cannons so early, they will be easily exposed."
Xing Zhiguo nodded.
As expected, the Japanese plane will come for reconnaissance again today.
Li Yunlong's tone was a bit pity: "Since the Japanese heavy artillery regiment did not come, then our heavy howitzer battalion will not show up."
The heavy howitzers were pulled out of the base just as a precaution.
Unless something unexpected happens, as long as the Japanese heavy artillery regiment enters the Eighth Route Army's ambush position, the Japanese artillerymen will not even have a chance to set up artillery.
…
In the morning and noon, the Japanese reconnaissance planes conducted reconnaissance along the road three times.
After confirming that there was nothing unusual, the Japanese reconnaissance plane left northwestern Shanxi.
About three o'clock in the afternoon, the 1st Division appeared, and the first one to appear was the 1st Cavalry Regiment of the 1st Division.
The Japanese cavalry of the 1st Cavalry Regiment wore yellow baize coats and furs, carried Type 4 and Type 4 rifles on their backs, and carried Type 3 and Type 2 cavalry swords at their waists.
The Japanese cavalry moved slowly and carelessly.
Although the 1st Cavalry Regiment was responsible for the search and advance, the Japanese cavalry behaved leisurely.
Scouts and reconnaissance planes have conducted repeated reconnaissance operations several times. What could possibly happen?
What's more, in this snowy weather, who dares to ambush the First Division with the Locust Army?
The song of the Japanese cavalry came on the wind: Looking in the distance under the morning glow, the mountains and rivers are extremely undulating. Our elite army is majestic. All the common people of the allies are in peace. Full of glory, Kwantung Army.
Although the First Division is now affiliated with the North China Front, the Japanese cavalry still sing the military song of the Kwantung Army.
There were even Japanese soldiers singing and drinking wine there.
Following the cavalry regiment was the 49th Infantry Regiment of the 1st Infantry Brigade.
Except for the regimental commander who rides in an armored vehicle and the battalion commander and squadron commander who ride on horseback, most of the Japanese infantry are on foot.
Compared with the Japs in the second-line division, the Japs in the first-line division appeared to be very casual when walking, and did not maintain the consistent tapping sound at all times.
However, the combat effectiveness of the Japs Regiment of the first division is definitely several times that of the Japs Regiment of the second line division.
Not only in terms of weapons and equipment, but also in terms of the individual quality of the personnel, tactical coordination and other aspects, the Japs of the Class A division crushed the Japs of the second-line division in all aspects.
Then came the 1st Regiment of Heavy Troops. 72 75mm mountain guns and field guns were dragged forward by 94 trucks. Each truck was fully loaded with weapons, ammunition and various combat supplies.
The Japanese marching team stretched out for six or seven kilometers on the road, like thousands of troops marching.
…
The Eighth Route Army's frontline headquarters.
The lookout posts on the hilltops used walkie-talkies to transmit the news. The Japanese in the First Division were not aware of the danger at all.
Instead of being aware of the danger, the Japanese seemed to feel very comfortable.
"Report to the captain that the Japs' leading cavalry has entered the ambush circle."
After Wang Dehou summarized the situation from the observation post, he reported to Li Yunlong:
"At this location, the strength is about one cavalry regiment, which should be the 1st Cavalry Regiment of the Japanese 1st Division."
"it's here."
After finishing speaking, Wang Dehou pointed out the location of the 1st Japanese Cavalry Regiment on the map.
Li Yunlong, Zhao Gang and others looked at the map.
The 1st Regiment of the Japanese Cavalry was located at the mouth of the ambush circle. On both sides were the ambush sections responsible for the 1st Battalion of the New Regiment Division and the 2nd Battalion of the Division.
Once all the Japs enter the ambush circle, the two battalions in this division will tie up the hole tightly, then close the door and beat the dogs.
Li Yunlong looked satisfied and ordered: "You can order the heavy artillery battalion, the 1st artillery battalion and the 2nd artillery battalion to start setting up artillery!"
The Japanese cavalry had just entered the ambush circle, and there were seven Japanese regiments behind them. At this time, there was enough time to set up the artillery.
(End of chapter)
