Bright Sword: From Northwest Shanxi to Shangganling

Chapter 260 Questioning Yamamoto, Understanding Yamamoto, Becoming Yamamoto
"report!"

"Commander, in the previous phase of the offensive and defensive operations, the various troops eliminated more than a thousand strongholds, artillery towers, and bunkers."

"The casualties on both sides are being counted now."

In the headquarters operations room, the operations staff reported to the deputy commander-in-chief.

“It has been counted.”

The Chief of General Staff came in from outside and handed a document to the deputy commander-in-chief.

There was a pile of papers inside, filled with densely written names.

"In addition to casualties, this siege has consumed a huge amount of ammunition, and the reserves of various units have run out," the Chief of General Staff added.

The Eighth Route Army simply could not afford such a consumption in a decisive battle. They had accumulated wealth for a long time, but it was almost all gone in one battle.

'This is war'

The deputy commander gently closed the folder.

Whether we like it or not, the Japanese have already reached our doorstep.

China has no choice but to respond.

"Speaking of attacking strongholds, have you seen the cannon sent by the New Second Regiment?" asked the deputy commander-in-chief.

"Are you talking about that Type 71 rocket launcher?"

"That's right." The deputy commander nodded, and then gestured, "Xiao Wu, bring the battle report of the New Second Regiment over here."

After reading the battle report from Zhengshan Town, the Chief of General Staff was very surprised.

He had been in the base of the 120th Division some time ago, commanding the offensive in Yulin and Liaodong, and was not aware that the New Second Regiment had made such a big move.

"Can you hit firing points in street fighting? Can you hit tanks? You've already hit 8 of them?!"

The Japanese only have a few tanks in Shanxi.

As far as he knew, last year, in order to attack Yuncheng, the Japanese First Army only dispatched 8 tanks.

"Boss, although this weapon looks simple, its value is probably far beyond your imagination." The Chief of General Staff said seriously.

At that time, the only anti-tank weapons in the world were anti-tank guns of various calibers.

Neither the Panzerfaust nor the bazooka, nor even the Soviet PTRD anti-tank gun had been invented yet.

Therefore, this was the first time the Chief of the General Staff heard about individual anti-armor weapons.

And in a flash, the Chief of General Staff thought of the role of this rocket launcher.

If it can fight against armor, it can fight against bunkers.

This is crucial to the next step of the Eighth Route Army.

"After the Hundred Regiments Campaign, the Japanese must have realized that although they had won the battles of Songhu, Wuhan, and Zaoyi, the war was far from over."

"So many Eighth Route Army soldiers emerged from the green tent, ran out from the ravines, and came out from underground."

"They must be deploying troops now, and their strategic focus will definitely shift to North China in the future."

"Yan'an also sent a telegram saying that the Eighth Route Army will inevitably suffer a frenzied counterattack from the enemy. If this battle can be concluded, let us assess the situation and flexibly seize the opportunity."

"We need this rocket launcher now!" the Chief of General Staff affirmed.

Before launching this war, both the Central Committee and the headquarters had already anticipated that the Japanese would counterattack.

However, in order to prevent the Chongqing government from kneeling down, the Eighth Route Army had to take the lead.

At this time, if the Eighth Route Army could have the means to attack the artillery tower with individual soldiers, the effectiveness of the devil's cage blockade policy would be greatly reduced.

"I know that. I have already sent a message to all the units, asking them to make the corresponding preparations. The enemy reinforcements who are coming to seize the point this time are likely to take advantage of the situation to sweep us."

The Japs were crying out in pain during the Hundred Regiments Campaign. If they didn’t fight back, they would no longer be Japs.

"The Yixiantian Arsenal has also started trial production of rocket launchers, but we definitely can't equip them on a large scale."

As they are all veterans who have fought in many battles, the deputy commander-in-chief can naturally see the effect of the rocket launcher.

The deputy commander-in-chief also had a few rounds specially tested.

Even if ammonium nitrate explosives were used, the penetration depth could reach 50 centimeters when hitting the enemy's concrete bunkers. If it was a masonry turret, the penetration depth could reach one meter.

Although the destructive effect is not great, but as long as we fire a few more shots, none of the Japanese on this floor will survive.

However, although the rocket launcher is simple to make, the Eighth Route Army lacks the necessary seamless steel pipes.

The only way is to use the rails to slowly forge them into columns and then drill holes.

The materials and labor consumed by a rocket launcher will be two or three times that of 50 small cannons.

This means that rocket launchers can only be used in important positions.

But that's enough.

As long as the Japanese fail to complete the blockade of key locations, the Eighth Route Army will have some room to maneuver.

After all, the Japanese were short of resources, and it was impossible for them to build all the bunkers and turrets into super-thick concrete fortresses.

In addition to the core strongholds in big cities and along railways, the Japanese strongholds and watchtowers in transportation hubs, county towns and other places were all built of bricks and stones.

As for temporary bases in mountainous areas and remote villages, only civil structures will be used.

"As long as it's useful," said the Chief of General Staff.

He didn't even think about using the entire Eighth Route Army.

As long as it exists, it can play a role at the critical moment.

At the same time, in the Taiyuan First Army Headquarters, Yamaoka Michifumi reported:
"Sir, a telegram from North China."

As Michifumi Yamaoka said this, he handed a telegram to the table in front of Yoshio Shinozuka.

Because they suffered two consecutive large-scale offensives from the Eighth Route Army.

In order to prevent the situation from further deteriorating, the North China Front Army required its subordinate troops to take advantage of the opportunity when the Eighth Route Army was fighting continuously and had no time to rest.

Carry out retaliatory sweeps against the bases in North China to strike at the main forces of the Eighth Route Army.

After reading the telegram, Shinozuka Yoshio thought for a moment and ordered:

"Mr. Yamaoka, since the headquarters has made the decision, we will dispatch the 36th Division and the 4th Brigade to cooperate with the reinforcements from North China and attack the main force of the Eighth Route Army in Taihang Mountain from both sides."

“另外从晋南抽到37师团、41师团各一部，配合独立混成第9旅团、第16旅团、步兵第29旅团，合击晋西北之八路主力。”

The Eighth Route Army's Jin-Cha-Ji troops were swept away by the North China Front Army and did not require the First Army to contribute.

Otherwise, Yoshio Shinozuka would not have so many people.

After all, the number of troops exposed by the Eighth Route Army this time has exceeded 40.

Although there are a large number of unarmed Eighth Route Army soldiers here, its main force seems to have made great progress.

"Mr. Yamaoka, thank you for leading the staff to prepare a battle plan and submit it. We need to speed up the allocation of supplies."

In this retaliatory sweep, the First Army was forced to do something against its will.

Because railways and roads were damaged, the speed of material transportation was extremely slow.

Therefore, the General Staff must make reasonable plans based on the existing materials.

"Hai!"

"General, what is our army's main target this time?" asked Yamaoka Michifumi.

With the current capabilities of the First Army, it is impossible to take over the entire Eighth Route Army base in Shanxi. There must be a distinction between the primary and the secondary.

"Target? The Eighth Route Army headquarters in the Liangshan area!" Shinozuka Yoshio confirmed.

At this time, Yoshio Shinozuka had already somewhat agreed with what Yamamoto Ikki had said before.

No matter how high the new Second Regiment in Dayun Mountain jumps, it is only a local issue. The headquarters of the Eighth Route Army is the target that they should pay most attention to.

Although Yamamoto Ikki is just a big talker, his goal is not wrong.

"Ha! I'll do it right away!"

(End of this chapter)