It didn't take long.
About 400 Eighth Route Army cavalry, led by Huang Zhiyong, the cavalry battalion commander of the Independent Regiment, had already taken a detour to the north gate of Datong.
Two years ago, Huang Zhiyong was only the cavalry company commander of the independent regiment.
He also led the cavalry company of the Independent Regiment and the cavalry company of the New Regiment to participate in the battle to eliminate the Black Island Cavalry Regiment.
But now, Huang Zhiyong is already the cavalry battalion commander of the independent regiment.
Although it is only a cavalry battalion in terms of organization, its strength has reached the size of a cavalry regiment.
Moreover, the equipment of the independent regiment is the same as that of the new regiment, equipped with carbines, submachine guns, Yunlong knives, as well as bazooka, 60mm mortars, 82mm mortars and other firepower.
In addition, the cavalry company commander of the New Second Regiment, named Li Haiqiang, is now also the cavalry battalion commander of the New Second Regiment, in charge of a cavalry regiment.
In this battle, Li Haiqiang also led the cavalry battalion of the New Second Regiment to participate in the battle, but was responsible for the south gate and west gate of Datong.
The cavalry battalion of the Independent Regiment is responsible for the east and north gates of Datong City.
Because he judged that the Japanese troops of the 1st Division were likely to break through from the north gate, Huang Zhiyong only placed two companies of cavalry at the east gate.
Four companies of cavalry were placed at the north gate.
After driving the horse stakes, Huang Zhiyong led the soldiers to a position about 2 kilometers away from the north city wall and began to build a position.
The north city gate opened wide, and a group of more than 1,000 Japanese soldiers left the city one after another and entered the position under the city wall.
In order to prevent being attacked by the Eighth Route Army, the Japanese 1st Division built many civil fortifications outside the city wall.
…
Beiping.
Iron Lion Alley.
North China Front Army Headquarters.
"Your Excellency, General!"
In the Operations Office, Deputy Chief of Staff Yusue Mizo reported to Okamura Neji:
"All fighter jets and reconnaissance aircraft have been dispatched to Shanxi. They will conduct reconnaissance along Tongpu Highway, Baijin Highway, Heshun Highway and other roads."
"Once a large Eighth Route Army unit is discovered marching along the road, the headquarters will immediately receive the news."
The last time Okamura Neiji personally directed the bombing of Dagu Town was defeated.
As a result, the Japanese army lost more than 40 aircraft and injured more than 20 aircraft.
Moreover, most of the wounded and shot down were bombers, and the rest were mostly fighter planes, as well as a small number of reconnaissance aircraft and bombers.
The two flying groups lost most of them before they could warm themselves up.
Although Okamura Neiji has reported the losses to the dispatched army headquarters.
However, the Japanese base camp has not replenished the North China Front with aircraft for the time being.
Some people in the Japanese base camp have expressed dissatisfaction with Okamura Neiji. According to the rate at which the North China Front Army is losing fighter planes, the empire's pilots and fighter planes are not enough for the North China Front Army.
There was no way, even if the remaining 30 or so aircraft were seriously insufficient to deal with the Eighth Route Army, Okamura Neji had to bite the bullet and send them out.
Okamura Neji nodded, staring at the map on the wall, silent.
As long as the aircraft can detect the large troop march of the Eighth Route Army, then the combat staff can draw the Eighth Route Army's offensive posture on the map.
The North China Front Army and the First Army can also make corresponding combat plans.
Youmo Jingsan said again: "Your Excellency, General, there is one more thing."
Okamura Neji's expression remained unchanged and he asked without looking back: "What's the matter?"
Youmo Jingsan said: "Last night, the First Army secretly passed the information that the Eighth Route Army was about to gather heavy troops to the military commander of the China National Government and the Jinsui Army's intelligence personnel in Taiyuan. I hope that the China Central Army and the Jinsui Army will Taking advantage of the Eighth Route Army's overwhelming attack on Taiyuan, the Central Army and the Shanxi-Sui Army sent troops to attack the Eighth Route Army base area."
Since Seizo Sue was on duty in the war room last night, Neji Okamura and Moritake Tanabe were sleeping.
Therefore, the First Army reported this situation to the North China Front Army Headquarters. Currently, only Mo Jingsan is aware of this matter.
Okamura Neji snorted coldly: "Iwamatsu-kun, don't you believe me?"
In Okamura Neiji's view, as long as the Eighth Route Army dared to attack Taiyuan, he would dare to use a central flowering tactic for the Eighth Route Army.
And Iwamatsu Yoshio privately contacted the Jinsui Army and the Central Army, hoping to help the Eighth Route Army encircle Wei and rescue Zhao.
Once the Eighth Route Army's base area is attacked, the Eighth Route Army will inevitably withdraw from Taiyuan if it does not want to be homeless.
By then, wouldn't his central flowering tactics be in vain?
Of course, Okamura Neiji also took great political risks by engaging in this central flowering tactic.
Because once the battle is defeated and the First Army troops and the First Army headquarters in Taiyuan are wiped out by the Eighth Route Army, then he, the commander of the North China Front Army, will definitely step down.
However, Okamura Neji had the confidence to inflict heavy damage on the Eighth Route Army.
This confidence comes from the military strength he currently has.
The troops currently preparing to reinforce Taiyuan's First Army include the 21st Division, the 35th Division, the main force of the Mongolian Army, the 1st Division, the 33rd Division, and the 37th Division.
If the locust army in Taiyuan can persist for a month, the five divisions and 60,000 tons of combat materials allocated by the base camp to the North China Front for the attack in northwest Shanxi will also be in place.
By then, 10 divisions will form a huge encirclement outside Taiyuan, which will surely severely damage the Eighth Route Army.
However, Yoshio Iwamatsu had no confidence in the First Army at all, and felt that the First Army would not be able to hold on for that long under the attack of the Eighth Route Army.
This made Okamura Neji very angry.
Because he wants to play a big game.
Youmo Jingsan added: "A telegram was sent from the First Army Headquarters in the middle of the night. The China Central Army and the Shanxi-Sui Army have agreed to attack the Eighth Route Army's base areas in southeastern Shanxi and northwestern Shanxi."
"Iwamatsu-kun is just wishful thinking."
After hearing this, Okamura Neji was no longer angry.
"Your Excellency, General." Youmo Jingsan asked in a surprised tone, "You mean, the China Central Army and the Jinsui Army are just pretending to agree to the Locust Army, and it is impossible for them to actually send troops?"
"Of course, if the Central China Army and the Jinsui Army promised so readily, they will definitely not actually send troops."
Okamura Neji said leisurely:
"Not to mention the Chairman Chiang Kai-shek in Chongqing, Yan Xishan, the commander of the Second War Zone in Luliang Mountain, has always been cunning. Now that the Eighth Route Army is powerful, he will never dare to provoke the Eighth Route Army."
"In this way," Youmo Jingsan said, "the locust army's central flowering strategy will be able to proceed smoothly."
Okamura Neji nodded, and now he was waiting for fighter jets and reconnaissance planes to send back information.
At this moment, communications staff officer Haruo Kitani held a telegram in his hand and walked in hurriedly, bowing his head to report to Neji Okamura:
"Report to the commander, Lieutenant General Mitsuo Nakazawa, commander of the 1st Division in Datong, urgent message!"
At this moment, Chief of Staff Tanabe Moritake finished breakfast and walked in quickly.
Okamura Neiji frowned slightly when he heard this. The 1st Division sent an urgent message at this time. What happened?
Okamura Neji waved his hand and said loudly: "Read it!"
"Hi!" Haruo Kiya took the telegram and read, "This morning, an Eighth Route Army cavalry appeared around Datong City. The strength is about one cavalry regiment. It has formed an encirclement situation around Datong. There should be another Eighth Route Army behind the cavalry. The main infantry, the new regiment of the Eighth Route Army is preparing to attack Datong, the 1st Division requests to turn north, the commander of the 1st Division, Mitsuo Nakazawa, His Majesty the Emperor is on board, and the Japanese Locust Army is on board!"
In the past, when the main force of the 1st Division was not eliminated, Mitsuo Nakazawa still had the confidence to fight against the new regiment of the Eighth Route Army.
But now I don’t even have the courage to fight.
Can't beat it, can't beat it at all.
"Nani?"
Okamura Neji's face suddenly showed an expression of incredible shock:
"The main force of the new regiment of the Eighth Route Army is attacking Datong?"
"Is the news about pangolins false information?"
On the side, Tanabe Moritake and Arisu Seizo also changed their expressions.
If the main force of the new regiment of the Eighth Route Army rushes towards the 1st Division, then all the previous combat plans will be in vain, and the central blooming tactic will be completely useless.
Youmo Jingsan suggested: "Your Excellency, General, at this time, you should order the 1st Division to leave Datong and quickly move towards Mongolia. At the same time, order the troops stationed in Mongolia to assist the 1st Division. Only then can you ensure that the 1st Division has no worries."
The remnants of the 3rd Brigade were blocked in the city by the cavalry of the new regiment of the Eighth Route Army and failed to break through.
This led to the annihilation of the 3rd Brigade, and the 5,000 tons of combat supplies stored at the train station were also snatched away by the Eighth Route Army.
If the new regiment of the Eighth Route Army really wants to attack the 1st Division, then ordering the 1st Division to run quickly is the wisest choice at this time.
"Your Excellency, Commander." Tanabe Moritake said, "There is another situation."
Okamura Neji's expression changed and he asked: "What kind of situation?"
Tanabe Shengwu said: "That means the Eighth Route Army deliberately sent cavalry to Datong, while the infantry has already gone south along the Beitongpu Highway and gone straight to Taiyuan."
"The Eighth Route Army cavalry in Datong was most likely thrown out by Li Yunlong to attract the attention of the Locust Army."
"To conceal the true purpose of the Eighth Route Army's attack on Taiyuan. After all, the Eighth Route Army is most likely not aware at this time that the information about their attack on Taiyuan has been leaked."
"After all, the cavalry of the 1st Division has been completely lost. This group of eighth-level cavalry can escape quickly after attracting the attention of the Locust Army, and the 1st Division cannot catch up at all."
Youmo Jingsan asked in return: "Your Excellency, Chief of Staff, what if the new regiment of the Eighth Route Army deliberately releases intelligence to attack Taiyuan, and the real strategic goal is to attack the 1st Division stationed in Datong?"
Tanabe Moritake said: "It is very simple to confirm whether the new regiment of the Eighth Route Army is going to attack Taiyuan or Datong."
"You can immediately order the aviation force to send out one or two reconnaissance aircraft to conduct reconnaissance along the highway from northwestern Shanxi to Datong."
"If the New Regiment of the Eighth Route Army really attacks Datong, the tens of thousands of troops of the New Regiment will definitely be marching along the highway. They will not be able to hide at all and will definitely be exposed to reconnaissance planes."
"At the same time, order the 1st Division to eliminate the Eighth Route Army cavalry outside the north of the city to ensure that the 1st Division's road to the north is clear."
"The 1st Division has more than 15,000 elite Locust troops!"
"Can we still let hundreds of cavalry from the Eighth Route Military Region block the road?"
"Yo Xi." Okamura Neiji nodded, "Tanabe-san made sense and immediately gave the order to the aviation force and the 1st Division."
Seeing that Okamura Neji agreed with Tanabe Moritake, Yumo Seishi chose to remain silent.
"Hi!"
Tanabe Shengwu suddenly paused.
(End of chapter)
