"Your Excellency, Division Commander..."
Taro Eguchi, the chief of staff of the 37th Division, asked: "Pingding County is probably surrounded by the Eighth Route Army. Should we send more reinforcements to Pingding County?"
Adachi Twenty-Three gave Eguchi Taro a cold look.
"Reinforcements?"
"According to the information from the headquarters, the main force of the Eighth Route Army moving north to Yangquan this time has a total strength of 40,000 troops and carries three artillery regiments."
"Are we going to send troops to kill the Eighth Route Army?"
In the winter, Li Yunlong led his troops to the Zhengtai Railway to do side business and annihilated two mobile brigades of the Japanese 37th Division with thousands of people.
Later, the troops of the 129th Division went north again and attacked the Zhengtai Railway. The 37th Division was wiped out by the Eighth Route Army.
While the Japanese army was revamping the Pacific Railway, they also added troops to the 37th Division. They added about one regiment of troops, but they were all new recruits who had not been trained for long.
Of course, there are also veterans who have been training for two and a half years.
The organization of the 37th Division is still relatively complete, with a total strength of nearly 13,000 men.
Under the jurisdiction of the 225th, 226th and 227th Regiments, stationed in Pingding County is the 5th Infantry Brigade of the Japanese 226th Regiment.
In addition to the 5th Infantry Brigade, there was also a regiment of puppet troops.
These three infantry regiments were once wiped out by the Eighth Route Army, and are now reorganized units.
If the previous Eighth Route Army had captured Pingding County, it would have taken at least 10,000 to 20,000 men and it would have taken several days to capture Pingding County.
However, the current Eighth Route Army's equipment is better than that of the Japanese army, and it has sufficient ammunition.
Trying to pacify the county town is like playing for fun.
Because for the Japanese and puppet troops stationed in the county, there were no permanent reinforced concrete fortifications, and the city wall was the strongest fortification.
However, after the Eighth Route Army was equipped with cannons with a caliber of 75 mm or more, the county walls would not play much of a role.
Especially the 150 mm caliber cannon, which can blast a big hole in the county wall with one shot.
This time, the 386th Brigade went north carrying four 150mm howitzers, one 105mm howitzer regiment, and two 75mm mountain artillery regiments.
There are also a large number of bazookas, 20mm machine guns, mortars and infantry guns.
The artillery firepower can frighten the Japanese army.
Taro Eguchi's expression darkened. Major Hachigoro Koeda of the 5th Infantry Battalion had a very good relationship with him, and he would also serve His Majesty the Emperor this time.
Because the division commander did not order reinforcements of the 5th Infantry Group.
The Eighth Route Army has 40,000 elite main force and 3 artillery regiments. Even if Amaterasu comes, it cannot save the 5th Infantry Brigade.
After a pause, Taro Eguchi asked in a deep voice: "Your Excellency, Division Commander, what should we do if the Eighth Route Army continues to attack Yangquan to the north after it has finished attacking the county town?"
Lieutenant General Anda 23 suddenly fell silent.
He really hasn't thought about this question carefully.
When the Eighth Route Army in northwestern Shanxi launched combat operations several times ago.
The main force of the Eighth Route Army in southeastern Shanxi also went north to attack Pingding and Yangquan. The 37th Division fought against the 386th Brigade of the Eighth Route Army several times.
However, in the past few times, the 37th Division and the 386th Brigade of the Eighth Route Army were all on point, and each other suffered casualties.
In several battles with the Eighth Route Army, Anda 23 also deeply felt that the Eighth Route Army's combat effectiveness and firepower were getting stronger and stronger, and the Eighth Route Army was becoming more and more difficult to deal with.
Could it be that the purpose of this Eighth Route Army's battle is to defeat our 37th Division?
Anda 23's troop deployment is to deploy three lines of defense on the more than ten kilometers from Pingding County to Yangquan. The troop strength is an infantry regiment, an artillery regiment, and two puppet regiments.
The total strength is about 6,000 people.
In addition, more than 2,000 Japanese troops and more than 1,000 puppet troops were deployed outside Yangquan City.
There is also an infantry regiment, as well as engineers, baggage regiments, and tank teams, a total of more than 6,000 Japanese soldiers left to fight in the streets.
In field operations, the Japanese 37th Division was certainly no match for the Eighth Route Army.
However, the outside infantry and artillery regiments cannot be immediately withdrawn to Yangquan.
Otherwise, the Eighth Route Army could march straight in and reach Yangquan City.
Pingding County is a barrier to the south of Yangquan to prevent the Eighth Route Army from attacking Yangquan from the north. Pingding County is captured by the Eighth Route Army, and Yangquan City will also be attacked.
Although Anda 23 built three lines of defense between Pingding County and Yangquan City, there were no dangerous places along the way.
The Eighth Route Army's artillery firepower is strong, its troops are sufficient, and they are all elite main forces. The defense line can easily be broken through by the Eighth Route Army.
"Eguchi-kun."
Anda Twenty-three said solemnly: "Immediately send a telegram to the First Army Headquarters to report that the Eighth Route Army is storming Pingding County. After the Eighth Route Army captures Pingding County, if it continues to attack north, what should our army do and request tactics from the commander?" guide!"
"Hi!"
Taro Eguchi lowered his head suddenly, and then quickly drafted a telegram.
…
Taiyuan.
Japanese First Army Headquarters.
Although it was already midnight, the headquarters of the First Army was brightly lit.
Busy First Army officers and staff can be seen everywhere.
Tonight, it was Hanagiya's turn to be on duty during the war, but Yoshio Iwamatsu and Kazuki Yamamoto were not sleepy, so they all came to the headquarters to work.
"Your Excellency, Commander."
Yamamoto Kazuki looked cold and solemn as he reported to Iwamatsu Yoshio:
"I have ordered the gendarmerie to impose martial law throughout the city. Once suspicious persons are found, they will be arrested immediately."
"in addition."
"I have ordered the intelligence department to make every effort to collect intelligence on the Eighth Route Army and find the real strategic target of the Eighth Route Army."
"Okay!" Yoshio Iwamatsu nodded reluctantly, "Leave the defense of Taiyuan City to Mr. Yamamoto. I am relieved. Your intelligence department must increase its intelligence collection efforts!"
Since Kazuki Yamamoto was promoted to major general, Yoshio Iwamatsu put him in charge of the defense of Taiyuan City and the intelligence work of the First Army.
After Kazuki Yamamoto took over these two tasks, Taiyuan City's defense work was indeed very good, and various security incidents were greatly reduced.
However, Yamamoto's intelligence work did not improve much.
He ordered the spies and agents trained by the special agent team to lurk into the Eighth Route Army's base areas, and basically never returned.
There was a hint of disdain on Hanatani Masaru's lips. Are you relying on Kazuki Yamamoto to collect intelligence?
I'm afraid the Eighth Route Army has reached Taiyuan City, and you, Yamamoto, don't even know what's going on.
"Hi!"
Yamamoto Kazuki lowered his head suddenly.
At this moment, the communications staff officer held the telegram in his hand and hurried into the operations hall, bowing his head to Yoshio Iwamatsu to report:
"Report to Commander, Commander of the 37th Division, Lieutenant General Anda 23rd, urgent message!"
Yoshio Iwamatsu frowned slightly. Could it be that the 37th Division was also heavily shelled by the Eighth Route Army?
"read!"
"Hi!"
The communications staff officer took the telegram and read: "Pingding County has been attacked by the Eighth Route Army on a large scale. The situation is precarious. If the Eighth Route Army continues to launch a large-scale offensive to the north after capturing Pingding County, how should our department respond? Requesting tactical guidance, Chang An, 37th Division Lieutenant General Da Twenty-three, His Majesty the Emperor is on board, and the Japanese Locust Army is on board!"
After the communications staff member read the telegram, he looked at Yoshio Iwamatsu cautiously.
Finding that he didn't express anything, he put the telegram on the table, lowered his head and turned to leave.
Iwamatsu Yoshio was already frowning and he was a little stunned.
He could no longer see clearly what the Eighth Route Army was going to do.
Kazuki Yamamoto and Masaru Hanatani on the side were also a little confused at this time.
After a while, the communications staff hurriedly walked in with a telegram and reported to Yoshio Iwamatsu that Sakurai Shozo, commander of the 33rd Division stationed in Shouyang, sent a telegram requesting tactical guidance.
The Eighth Route Army was storming the 33rd Division's defense line.
There is no barrier like Yangquan near Shouyang County.
The 33rd Mountain Artillery Regiment of the 33rd Division launched an artillery battle with three artillery regiments of the Eighth Route Army.
But soon, the 33rd Mountain Artillery Regiment was defeated by the fierce attack of three artillery regiments of the Eighth Route Army.
After the artillery firepower of the 33rd Japanese Mountain Artillery Regiment weakened, the Eighth Route Army's firepower consisting of hundreds of mortars, infantry guns, mountain artillery and howitzers bombarded the 33rd Division's position.
The 33rd Division suddenly couldn't resist, and the division commander Shozo Sakurai asked the headquarters for tactical guidance.
"What exactly is the Eighth Route Army going to do?"
Yoshio Iwamatsu squinted his eyes, stared at the situation diagram on the wall, and murmured to himself.
At this time, Yoshio Iwamatsu was completely unable to guess the strategic intentions of the Eighth Route Army.
Chief of Staff Hua Guzheng said in a deep voice: "Your Majesty Commander, these two groups of Eighth Route Army do not look like they are going for cover and assists."
Yamamoto Kazuki couldn't help but his expression moved, as if he thought of something, but he hesitated to speak.
However, Iwamatsu Yoshio was keenly aware of the change in Yamamoto Kazuki's expression.
"Yamamoto-kun, do you have anything to say?"
Yamamoto Kazuki didn't want to interrupt, but when Yoshio Iwamatsu asked, he said: "Your Excellency, Commander, it suddenly occurred to me that this is very similar to Li Yunlong's tactical command style!"
Yoshio Iwamatsu and Masa Hanatani looked moved.
"Does Mr. Yamamoto want to say that these more than 200,000 Eighth Route Army troops are all commanded by Li Yunlong?"
Hua Guzheng laughed and said:
"Li Yunlong is just a regimental commander. Why does he command the Eighth Route Army's more than 200,000 main troops?"
Yamamoto Kazuki ignored Hanatani Masaru, pointed at the map and said in a deep voice: "Commander, please see, the Eighth Route Army has launched ferocious offensives in Datong, Taiyuan, Yangquan and Shouyang. They are all main attacks, without assists or feints. This It’s Li Yunlong’s typical mad dog tactics.”
Yoshio Iwamatsu frowned: "What is Li Yunlong's strategic purpose? To destroy our First Army and First Division?"
Yamamoto Kazuki thought carefully and said: "I think Li Yunlong's strategic purpose in launching the operation this time is to kill the effective force of the Locust Army and prepare for the next time we gather heavy troops to destroy our First Army."
Hua Guzheng looked a little solemn: "Why did Li Yunlong destroy the First Army in two times?"
"The Eighth Route Army will definitely not be able to destroy our First Army in one battle." Yoshio Iwamatsu answered this question for Yamamoto, "Because our First Army has troops stationed in Mongolia, the 21st Division, the 35th Division and the 1st Division. There are reinforcements from the 110th Division at any time."
After finishing speaking, Iwamatsu Yoshio fell into deep thought.
Li Yunlong has taken action, how should I respond?
(End of chapter)
