People are shining their swords, secretly helping the Iron Triangle in Northwest Shanxi

Sakuma Shigemori knew that there were about 4000 troops in the Huaiqing City area, so he was inevitably a little hesitant.

After all, the independent detachment is not weak in combat effectiveness. They have strong combat capabilities.

Faced with such a powerful force, Sakuma Shigemori was not sure whether the more than 1 cavalry could win.

But thinking about the news he got from the North China Front Army Headquarters, he began to become determined.

As the saying goes, where there are people, there will be rivers and lakes, and where there are rivers and lakes, there will be people and sophistication.

Sakuma Shigemori had a fellow countryman serving as a staff officer in the front army headquarters, and he got a message from this fellow countryman staff officer.

That is General Commander Okamura Neiji, who is about to conduct training for the North China Front troops.

The Fourth Cavalry Brigade is about to return to the formation of the Sucha Regional Cavalry Group, and there may be major adjustments to the cavalry group in the future.

After Sakuma Shigemori learned the news, he immediately realized that he might be held responsible.

So he wanted to make up for his mistakes quickly and keep his job.

Even though he knew that there were about 4000 troops in the Huaiqing City area, he still chose to go out and fight to achieve victory.

In his opinion, if the 4000 troops of the independent detachment can be eliminated, and Huaiqing City and other areas can be re-captured, they will be defeated.

Such military exploits were enough to keep him as the commander of the major general brigade.

Therefore, after consideration, Sakuma Shigemori was still prepared to launch combat operations to quickly gain military exploits.

Currently, the Fourth Japanese Cavalry Brigade has more than 5000 troops. They suffered almost no damage during this battle.

In addition, they also have two cavalry divisions of the puppet army. Each cavalry division has three cavalry regiments, and each cavalry regiment has more than 4000 troops.

These cavalry regiments of the puppet army have been strengthened in a series and possess a certain number of heavy weapons.

The Japanese and puppet troops had two cavalry regiments, six cavalry regiments, and a cavalry artillery regiment.

In addition to these troops, the Japanese Fourth Cavalry Brigade also has dozens of tanks and armored vehicles.

Sakuma Shigemori was very aware of the strength of the puppet troops. He believed that if these puppet troops were allowed to fight alone, they might not be able to demonstrate their combat effectiveness.

So Sakuma Shigemori organized them into several detachments for combat.

These detachments were organized by Japanese and puppet troops, and the Japanese troops led the puppet troops to fight.

"The 25st Cavalry Regiment of the Imperial Army, the [-]nd Cavalry Regiment, and the [-]th Imperial Cavalry Regiment form the Kimura Detachment."

"The Fourth Cavalry Regiment of the Imperial Army, the Fifth Cavalry Regiment, and the 26th Imperial Cavalry Regiment form the Nakagawa Detachment."

"Each detachment is organized into more than [-] cavalry troops and is responsible for the main combat missions!"

"The two cavalry regiment captains are responsible for unified command of the troops in combat."

"The Third Cavalry Regiment of the Imperial Association Army, the Sixth Cavalry Regiment, and the Imperial Army Armored Forces are organized into the Nakajima Detachment."

"The cavalry artillery regiment is equipped with engineering troops to carry out supporting operations."

"Our first goal is to determine the detailed deployment of enemy forces near Huaiqing City."

"The Kimura detachment waited until night and immediately launched a large-scale reconnaissance to learn more about the enemy's deployment."

"The Nakagawa detachment and the Nakajima detachment are ready to attack, and the cavalry artillery wing is actively replenishing ammunition."

Sakuma Shigemori had a serious expression on his face and decisively issued the battle order.

He arranged for two captains under his command to be responsible for commanding the cavalry troops in combat.

At the same time, Lieutenant Colonel Nakajima of the armored force was arranged to be responsible for commanding the two cavalry regiments and the armored force in combat.

As for the two division commanders of the puppet army, they followed Sakuma Shigemori at the brigade headquarters and were responsible for unified command.

Of course, Sakuma Shigemori must be fully responsible for commanding the battle. The two puppet army commanders are only in name.

In fact, they will not receive any command rights. They are solely responsible for communications troops here at the Japanese brigade and regiment headquarters.

The two puppet division commanders could at best convey some combat orders, but Sakuma Shigemori would not give them any combat command authority.

"Hi."

The officers of the Japanese and puppet troops agreed one after another, and they began to organize the troops quickly.

Two cavalry detachments were quickly formed, each with more than [-] troops.

The Nakajima detachment, composed of the puppet cavalry regiment and the Japanese armored force, was also organized immediately.

This Nakajima detachment has more than 3000 troops. They have dozens of tanks and armored vehicles, and about [-] puppet cavalry troops.

The more than 1000 troops of the Cavalry Artillery Regiment and Engineer Regiment operate together, and they will undertake support operations.

The total strength of these troops directly exceeds 4000 people.

Sakuma Shigemori's brigade headquarters only controlled hundreds of troops, and these troops were not field troops.

Sakuma Shigemori attached great importance to this battle, and he knew that he could only win.

If he continues to lose the battle, no matter how many casualties the troops pay, he will have to perform a caesarean section to apologize.

Therefore, he was very cautious and did not launch direct combat operations. Instead, he wanted to know if there was any ambush near Huaiqing City.

Time is passing, night is falling, it’s around eight o’clock in the evening.

The Kimura detachment took the lead in taking action. Under the command of Captain Kimura Osaka of the 25th Cavalry Brigade, more than [-] Japanese and puppet cavalry were quickly dispatched.

They advanced to the area east of Huaiqing City, and after setting up defensive positions, Colonel Kimura issued a series of orders.

Two cavalry regiments of the puppet army mobilized thousands of cavalry troops. Led by a small number of Japanese cavalry, they directly launched reconnaissance operations.

These Japanese and puppet cavalry units conducted a blanket search and advance without sparing any area.

The highland area north of Huaiqing City is their heavy reconnaissance area.

Colonel Kimura clearly marked the battle map and gave the Japanese and puppet search troops a detailed search route.

In order to prevent the puppet troops from neglecting their duties, he also specially sent Japanese cavalry to check.

For example, in a certain village, Colonel Kimura would send Japanese cavalry there.

After the little devil cavalry arrives at the village, they will check carefully. If there are no traces of horse hoofprints in the village, it obviously means that no cavalry has come.

Colonel Na Kimura will definitely pursue the responsibility, and at the same time, he will also let the Japanese cavalry inspect the characteristics of some villages in detail.

After the puppet cavalry has completed its investigation, he will also ask questions. If the puppet cavalry cannot answer, it obviously means that they did not conduct a careful search.

The Japanese and puppet cavalry search force, which consisted of more than 1000 troops, started at eight o'clock in the evening and did not end the search until three o'clock in the morning.

Of course, this investigation and search also resulted in more than 100 casualties.

After three o'clock in the morning, Colonel Kimura called together the Japanese and puppet army officers responsible for the search.

He inquired about the reconnaissance and search in detail and marked it on the map from time to time.

There were some puppet officers in the puppet army who were just going through the motions and could not answer the questions asked by Colonel Kimura.

Colonel Kimura was very angry. He slapped the puppet army officer on the spot and yelled.

Immediately afterwards, he arranged for the puppet troops to return for renewed search and reconnaissance.It was not until eight o'clock in the morning on July [-] that Colonel Kimura began to return to the brigade headquarters of the Fourth Cavalry Brigade.

He met with Major General Sakuma Shigemori, the commander of the brigade, and personally reported the results of his investigation.

"Your Excellency, Brigade Commander, the enemy has nearly 3000 troops in Huaiqing City, and has deployed a certain number of artillery."

"But here in Hanoi County, their defense is very weak, with only more than 300 cavalry troops."

"But here in the northern highlands, they have more than 1000 troops ambushed."

"This enemy force has more than 4000 troops, all of them are Tubal troops, and their weapons are pretty good."

"Based on previous battles, this enemy force is not weak. If we attack forcefully, we may not be able to break through their position."

"We lack enough weapons to attack fortifications, and most cavalry units are not good at attacking fortifications."

"Your Excellency, Brigade Commander, it will be very difficult for us to annihilate this enemy force."

After Colonel Kimura came to the brigade headquarters, he made a detailed report and said with a serious expression on his face.

The Japanese and puppet troops conducted detailed reconnaissance and deployment overnight, and they fully understood the deployment of Li Yunlong's new regiment.

Of course, there was some error in their judgment in terms of military strength, but it was not very big.

Colonel Kimura believed that although they had an advantage in strength, it was still difficult to break through the position and annihilate the new regiment.

Sakuma Shigemori had a serious expression on his face and nodded directly in agreement.

And based on his reconnaissance report, Sakuma Shigemori can also judge the new regiment's combat plan.

In his opinion, the new regiment was obviously preparing to use Huaiqing City to hold on. Once their own troops attacked, they would use Huaiqing City to consume the cavalry troops.

After the cavalry troops were almost exhausted, more than 1000 troops from the northern highlands quickly attacked to cooperate with the Huaiqing City defenders to annihilate themselves.

Such tactics are still very effective against cavalry troops.

And even if the little devil knew that there were more than 1000 ambush troops in the northern highlands, they, the cavalry troops, would not be able to attack them.

As long as the infantry sticks to the high ground, the cavalry has no way to deal with these infantry.

"Kimura-kun, our cavalry troops are indeed not good at offensive operations, and we are also not good at defensive operations."

"But as long as these infantrymen leave their solid positions, with our large number of cavalry troops, we will have a great advantage over them."

"We can quickly penetrate and seize Hanoi County, encircling and annihilating more than 300 cavalry troops here."

"If the enemy infantry rushes to help, we can take the opportunity to quickly launch field and mobile warfare to consume their combat strength."

"If the enemy troops stand still, we will deal with the enemy cavalry troops in Hanoi County and quickly advance towards the front lines of Jiyuan City, Wangwu Town, and Shaoyuan Town."

"After capturing these towns, we quickly established contact with regional forces such as Jincheng and Yangcheng."

"In this way, the enemy troops stationed in Huaiqing City and other regional troops will become a turtle in the urn."

Sakuma Shigemori looked at the map and pondered for a while, then said with a smile on his face.

When Colonel Kimura heard this battle plan, he couldn't help but be full of confidence.

He believed that doing so would indeed have a chance of winning.

"Your Excellency, Brigade Commander, your battle plan is simply perfect."

"The more than 300 cavalrymen in Hanoi County will not pose any threat to us at all."

"We quickly bypassed Huaiqing City from the flank and raided Hanoi County. We believe that we can capture Hanoi County in the shortest time."

"Then we quickly advanced, captured Jiyuan City and other towns, and opened up connections with Jincheng and other troops."

"By that time, thousands of troops in the Huaiqing City area will be completely surrounded by us."

"As long as we get aviation support, we can easily encircle and annihilate them."

The Lieutenant Commander of the Fourth Cavalry Brigade said with admiration.

A smile appeared on Sakuma Shigemori's face, and he began to make deployment arrangements.

At this time, he had long known the operational concept of the front army headquarters, and Okamura Neiji was about to end his battle on Nakatō Mountain.

The 21st Division, 27th Division, and 33rd Division will be withdrawn at any time.

The First and Second Divisions of the Imperial Association Army are currently stationed in Jiangcheng and other areas.

In Sakuma Shigemori's view, the main force of the independent detachment of the 201st Division must be here at Nakajo Mountain at this time.

The more than 4000 troops in Huaiqing City are completely going to be alone.

As long as they control the towns west of Huaiqing City, this force will be completely surrounded.

By then it will be impossible for them to escape.

As long as they are surrounded and bombed by aviation, they can be easily eliminated.

Sakuma Shigemori was very satisfied with his battle plan, and he quickly deployed it.

Of course, combat operations are about to start at this time, and Sakuma Shigemori definitely needs to say hello to the 35th Division troops in the northern Henan region.

After all, after they withdraw, regional defenses such as Makino City will definitely become empty.

If there is a surprise attack by troops, it may pose a threat to Makino City.

In addition, he also contacted the front army headquarters and requested the aviation force to dispatch to bomb Huaiqing City.

However, Sakuma Shigemori did not report his battle plan because he was worried that it would be rejected.

If it is rejected, he will have no way to launch combat operations.

Now he is attacking without authorization, and as long as he wins, it is a military achievement.

However, if the front army headquarters issues an order not to attack and he acts without authorization in violation of the order, he will be held accountable even if he wins.

At nine o'clock in the morning on July [-], Sakuma Shigemori issued a series of combat orders.

Kimura detachment, Nakagawa detachment, and Nakajima detachment have secretly gathered together, and they are about to launch combat operations.

At the same time, here at the North China Front Army Headquarters, after receiving the message, Okamura Neiji contacted the aviation unit.

The aviation force dispatched two bombers to bomb Huaiqing City.

At this time, the little devil obviously didn't want to continue fighting, so he didn't have much enthusiasm.

On the contrary, the Japanese and puppet cavalry troops quickly launched combat operations at 09:30 in the morning.

The Kimura detachment and the Nakagawa detachment moved towards the flanks of Huaiqing City, and they were ready.

The Zhongdao detachment and the Cavalry Artillery Regiment were deployed in the area east of Huaiqing City, and they quickly established their positions.

At 09:30, the Cavalry Artillery Regiment began its artillery bombardment.

The Little Devils Cavalry Artillery Regiment has set up three artillery positions, each of which is equipped with twelve 75MM cavalry field guns.

Field artillery shelled continuously, and a large number of shells were fired directly towards Huaiqing City. (End of chapter)