Inside the Japanese Taigu Defense Line Headquarters.
Masao Miyazaki, deputy chief of staff of the First Army Headquarters.
Watching the Eighth Route Army continue to pour artillery fire on the more than 10 kilometers of defense line of the 14th Brigade and the 18th Brigade, my expression was bitter.
Although the 14th Brigade and the 18th Brigade have a combined strength of more than 10,000 people, the commanders of both brigades have the rank of major general, so neither can command the other.
then.
Yoshio Iwamatsu sent Deputy Chief of Staff Masao Miyazaki to the Taigu Defense Line to command the 14th Brigade and the 18th Brigade to defend against the attack of the 129th Division of the Eighth Route Army.
Masao Miyazaki thought this was a good job.
Because the 129th Division of the Eighth Route Army went north to Taiyuan, it was just to cover and assist the new regiment in northwest Shanxi in its military operations in Datong.
It is unlikely that the 129th Division of the Eighth Route Army will attack the Taigu defense line.
The 14th and 18th Brigades only need to hold on to the defense line to prevent the main force of the Eighth Route Army from breaking through the 14th and 18th Brigades.
Because once the Eighth Route Army breaks through the Taigu defense line, it will enter the Fenhe Plain and can drive all the way straight to the city of Taiyuan.
With the strength and firepower of the Eighth Route Army, and the 1st Cavalry Brigade going to reinforce the 1st Division, the Japanese army would never be able to stop the advance of the main force of the Eighth Route Army in the Fenhe Plain.
Although the main force of the Eighth Route Army is unlikely to attack Taiyuan.
However, as soon as the Eighth Route Army came up, they used firepower consisting of 500 mortars and infantry artillery to bombard the Taigu defense line indiscriminately.
Half an hour of shelling caused heavy losses to the 14th Brigade and the 18th Brigade.
However, the losses were within the acceptable range of the Japanese army.
Although there are not many reinforced concrete fortifications in the Taigu defense line, most of the rest are solid civil fortifications. It is difficult for the Eighth Route Army's mortars and infantry artillery to destroy those civil fortifications with direct fire.
Only mortars with a caliber of 120 mm and above, or mountain guns and field guns with a caliber of 75 mm, and howitzers with a caliber of 105 mm and above can destroy these civil fortifications.
Miyazaki Masao believed that the Eighth Route Army's test bombardment would last for 5 minutes and not exceed 10 minutes at most.
But the Eighth Route Army's test firing used more than 500 mortars and infantry guns and lasted for 30 minutes!
The number of shells fired was at least a base number, more than 50,000 shells!
This shocked Masao Miyazaki.
He knew that the Eighth Route Army was very rich, but he didn't expect it to be so rich. It fired more than 50,000 rounds of artillery shells in just one test.
You know, the current artillery shell reserve of the entire 1st Army is only about 50,000 artillery shells.
The Eighth Route Army was only one of the attacking troops. One test bombardment destroyed the entire 1st Army's artillery reserve.
Where did the Eighth Route Army get so many artillery shells?
Is the commander of the Eighth Route Army a fool?
It is nearly 100 kilometers away from the base of the Eighth Route Army in Southeast Shanxi.
With such a long logistics supply line, can your logistics keep up with this strategy?
Or are the artillery shells of the Eighth Route Army blown by strong winds?
"idiot!"
Masao Miyazaki, who couldn't think of a clue, could only curse bitterly.
Immediately afterwards, the Eighth Route Army launched a probing attack, exposing part of the Japanese army's firepower.
Immediately after the Eighth Route Army's probing attack, the Eighth Route Army's artillery began operations again.
This time, the Eighth Route Army's 75mm mountain artillery and 105mm howitzer fired fiercely at the positions of the 14th Brigade and the 18th Brigade.
and.
The Eighth Route Army's mountain artillery and howitzers were very tricky and ferocious, specifically targeting the Japanese army's firepower points to cover them with artillery fire.
At this time, the sky was gradually getting dark.
You can clearly see the orange-red ballistics in the night sky that are as dense as spider webs, falling on the Japanese positions in dense masses, and then exploding with a bang.
Almost the entire Japanese defense line was suddenly plunged into the flames, smoke and mud of the explosion.
The Japanese army's civil fortifications and firepower points were continuously covered by artillery fire.
This shelling lasted for a full hour, and even the entire sky in the north was lit red by the fire of the shells.
After an hour of shelling, the Eighth Route Army infantry launched another attack.
Most of the firepower points exposed by the Japanese army before were destroyed. This time, all the firepower points of the Japanese army were exposed, and they were able to repel the Eighth Route Army's attack.
As soon as the Eighth Route Army withdrew, the barrels of the Eighth Route Army's cannons cooled down slightly, and they began to shell the Japanese artillery positions again.
This time the shelling continued for another half an hour, and did not stop until the barrel was turned red.
The experienced old gunner used the barrel to light a cigarette and smoked there, waiting for the barrel to cool down before continuing to fire.
However. The Japanese 14th Brigade and the 18th Brigade were unable to withstand the attack.
Taigu Defense Line, Japanese Army Command Headquarters.
Major General Kaoru Motosen, commander of the 14th Brigade, and Major General Taro Nakayaga, commander of the 18th Brigade, walked into the headquarters with ugly expressions on their shoulders, carrying the major general's command saber.
Both of their faces were gray and dusty, blackened by the smoke from the shells.
Major General Yuan Quanxin, the commander of the 14th Brigade, was the first to say with an ugly face: "Miyazaki-kun, the artillery fire of the Eighth Route Army is too fierce. Our brigade has suffered heavy losses. Please ask for reinforcements from the 41st Division."
"Our 18th Brigade also suffered heavy losses!" Major General Taro Nakayaga, commander of the 18th Brigade, also said solemnly, "It seems like there is no end to the Eighth Route Army's artillery shells."
"In just a few hours."
"The artillery of the Eighth Route Army poured at least 150,000 rounds of artillery shells into our defensive positions."
Miyazaki Masao narrowed his eyes and said: "Judging from the Eighth Route Army's offensive situation, this Eighth Route Army does not seem to be coming for cover and assists. The Eighth Route Army seems to want to attack Taiyuan!"
Yuan Quanxin and Nakayaga Taro were suddenly shocked.
If this Eighth Route Army wants to attack Taiyuan, the 14th and 18th Brigades will definitely not be able to hold the Taigu defense line.
Yuan Quanxin said: "Miyazaki-kun, I suggest abandoning the Taigu defense line. After only two hours of shelling, thousands of soldiers from the Locust Army and the Locust Alliance Army have already fed the Eighth Route Army's artillery shells. If the Eighth Route Army continues the shelling for a few more hours, The 14th and 18th Brigades of the Locust Army, as well as the 3rd Division of the Locust Alliance Army, all had to die on the battlefield."
Taro Nakayaga said: "Yuanquan-kun, are your 14th Brigade afraid? I don't believe that the Eighth Route Army has so many artillery shells. If the Eighth Route Army wants to break through the Taigu defense line, it must step over the corpses of our 18th Brigade soldiers!" "
Yuanquanxin said: "Zhongyongjun, our soldiers cannot do unnecessary things. We should retreat immediately!"
"Baga!" Nakayaga Taro said angrily, "Yuanquan-kun, do you think your 14th Brigade wants to escape from the battlefield?"
The 14th Brigade escaped, and the 18th Brigade's defense line could never be held.
Because the Eighth Route Army would circle back from the 14th Brigade's position and make dumplings for the 18th Brigade.
Masao Miyazaki said in a deep voice: "Gensen-kun, Naka-kun, please be patient. I will ask Commander Yoshio Iwamatsu for tactical guidance."
This is what worries Yoshio Iwamatsu.
One wants to retreat, the other wants to defend, and the two brigade commanders have different ideological opinions, so why fight?
Then, Masao Miyazaki walked quickly to the telephone. The Taigu Defense Line was only 40 kilometers away from Taiyuan, and the telephone line was connected between the headquarters and the Taiyuan First Army Headquarters.
Masao Miyazaki can call Yoshio Iwamatsu at any time to report the situation.
…
Taiyuan.
First Army Headquarters.
Yoshio Iwamatsu hung up the call from Masao Miyazaki and fell into confusion.
The main force of the Eighth Route Army heading north from Baijin Road poured more than 150,000 rounds of artillery shells into the Taigu defense line defended by the Japanese 14th and 18th Brigades. The 14th and 18th Brigades could no longer withstand it.
to be honest.
Iwamatsu Yoshio can no longer understand the Eighth Route Army. What kind of tricks are they going to do?
Didn't it mean that the main force of the 129th Division of the Eighth Route Army heading north along Baijin Road was to provide cover and assist? Why did it appear that it was going to attack Taiyuan?
Within a few hours, 150,000 rounds of artillery shells were fired...
The Kwantung Army is not as wealthy as your Eighth Route Army.
The stone that fell in Iwamatsu Yoshio's heart suddenly rose again.
Did the Eighth Route Army really want to attack Taiyuan?
Although he was panicking, Iwamatsu Yoshio had no expression on his face. He looked at Hanagani Masaru and Yamamoto Kazuki aside and asked in a deep voice:
"Hanagani-kun, Yamamoto-kun, what do you think?"
When Iwamatsu Yoshio answered the phone just now, Hanatani Masaru and Yamamoto Kazuki were standing nearby, so they also heard Miyazaki Masao's report on the Taiya defense line.
"Your Excellency, Commander." Hua Guzheng said disdainfully, "I think the Eighth Route Army is just bluffing."
"Bluffing?" Iwamatsu Yoshio's expression changed.
"Yes!" Huagu Zhengdao said, "The Eighth Route Army threw 150,000 rounds of artillery shells at the Taigu defense line. It did not really want to attack Taiyuan."
"With the Eighth Route Army's transportation capabilities, the Eighth Route Army heading north from Baijin Road can carry no more than 200,000 artillery shells at most."
"It will take at least two days for the Eighth Route Army to transport artillery shells from southeastern Shanxi to the Taigu defense line."
"So I conclude that as long as the 14th Brigade and the 18th Brigade survive today, the Eighth Route Army will not be able to launch a major offensive."
Iwamatsu Yoshio nodded, feeling slightly relieved, and then looked at Yamamoto Kazuki.
Kazuki Yamamoto had a paralyzed expression on his face and felt Yoshio Iwamatsu's gaze. He knew that the Commander wanted him to speak. Yamamoto then said: "Your Excellency, Commander, I suspect that the Eighth Route Army's real strategic target is Taiyuan!"
Iwamatsu Yoshio's heart beat suddenly, and he asked in a deep voice: "Yamamoto-kun, do you have any basis for this?"
Yamamoto Kazuki quickly walked to the map on the wall, pointed at the map with a wooden pole and said: "What if the main force of the Eighth Route Army attacking the 1st Division in Datong is not the New Regiment of the Eighth Route Army, but the Independent Regiment and the New Regiment of the Eighth Route Army?" The Second Regiment, the main force of the new regiment of the Eighth Route Army, detoured from other places and attacked Taiyuan together with this Eighth Route Army."
"The main force of the Eighth Route Army that went north to attack Yangquan and Shouyang made it impossible for the 33rd Division and the 37th Division to reinforce the First Army."
"The 1st Cavalry Brigade was transferred away from Taiyuan, while the 21st Division, 35th Division, 4th Cavalry Brigade, and the troops stationed in Mongolia went to reinforce the 1st Division."
"Taiyuan will be surrounded by the Eighth Route Army and there will be no reinforcements."
After Yamamoto Kazuki finished speaking, Iwamatsu Yoshio frowned tightly.
Hanatani Masaru retorted: "Yamamoto-kun, this is just your guess. It is impossible for the Eighth Route Army to attack Taiyuan!"
