Bright Sword: From Northwest Shanxi to Shangganling

Chapter 302 The burden of 105 counties in Shanxi rests on my shoulders.
In early May, Luo Ping looked at the reports from various units on the movements of the Japanese troops and became even more certain of what Chen Chengxing had said earlier.

Although the Japanese have begun their sweeping operations, it's clear that their efforts are all bark and no bite.

Most of the strongholds around the Zhongyun Mountains only have some reinforcements.

Even when they raided outposts, they only conducted small-scale raids around the outposts.

Although the various units of the New Second Brigade had fought many battles with the Japanese, they were all small-scale conflicts and there had been no battles at the battalion level or above.

While the Japanese were launching small-scale attacks on the Eighth Route Army, their main force officially launched an offensive against Zhongtiao Mountain.

Just when the nation thought another major battle was about to break out, the situation in Zhongtiao Mountain surprised everyone.

"How is this possible?" Luo Ping looked at the intelligence forwarded by the military region and could hardly believe his eyes.

It's only been a few days, and an army of 20 has been utterly defeated?

“With such lax military preparedness, how could they not be defeated?” Chen Chengxing said from the side.

Throughout the Kuomintang's history of warfare, any conflict that Chiang Kai-shek intervened in never ended well.

This has been the case since the Northern Expedition.

Wei Junru, the commander of the First War Zone, was even placed under house arrest in Mount Emei.

Without Wei Junru in charge, the Zhongtiao Mountains became a place for business.

Who would believe that Guo Jun would lead the sale of grain and opium?

"The Japanese devils went to great lengths this time, only to mistake a paper tiger for a real one," Chen Chengxing said.

"Then what should our new Second Brigade do?" Luo Ping asked.

In the telegram sent by the military region, in addition to the situation briefing, the Second New Brigade was given the option to decide whether or not to send troops to provide support.

Chiang Kai-shek, seeing the rapidly deteriorating war situation, could no longer sit still.

In an attempt to salvage the situation, they even used a provocation tactic against the Eighth Route Army, demanding that they send troops.

But he didn't even consider that there wasn't a single soldier left from the Eighth Route Army in southern and southwestern Shanxi.

Originally, the Eighth Route Army guerrillas in southern Shanxi had long been driven away by the Guo Army and the Jin-Sui Army under various pretexts.

Now they're asking the Eighth Route Army for support again, but they won't even give them a single bullet.

The abacus beads were clicking so loudly they made a deafening noise.

"Just do as the higher-ups say, and carry out harassment behind enemy lines," Chen Chengxing said casually.

The new Second Brigade has not yet been developed and it is not yet time for it to make its voice heard.

"Where do you want to attack? Still Nantun Town?" Luo Ping asked, looking at the map.

Nantun Town was practically the Japanese devils' Achilles' heel; a single touch would trigger a major reaction.

"Let's not even talk about how the Japanese have already made Nantun Town and Xiguan stronghold impregnable."

"The Japanese forces currently in Shanxi alone are not something the Second New Brigade can afford to mess with."

Chen Chengxing shook his head without even thinking.

The Japanese army's previous large-scale mopping-up operation had left the rear completely vulnerable, which gave the Second Regiment a chance to sneak in.

Currently, only small numbers of troops stationed in various regions are being redeployed, which has little impact on defense.

Moreover, if they angered the Japanese, they could easily wipe out the New Second Brigade.

This is an army of 100,000, armed to the teeth.

Therefore, Chen Chengxing decided to just put on a show and that would be enough, as it would be worthy of the praise he had received from Chairman Chang earlier.

The garrison at Zhongtiao Mountain, caught completely off guard, collapsed entirely before even lasting a week.

The Japanese then immediately began to divide their forces and conduct repeated sweeps. After suffering heavy casualties, the Kuomintang army was forced to withdraw from the Zhongtiao Mountain area.

At Kenanpo, Yan Xishan looked at the letter sent by the Italians, feeling extremely conflicted.

At this point, whether on the main battlefield or behind enemy lines, Italy had a significant advantage.

The Eighth Route Army in the enemy's rear battlefield was surrounded and intercepted, and the area of ​​its base area was greatly reduced.

On the main battlefield, the Central Army was also defeated and forced to retreat. The 20 troops in Zhongtiao Mountain could not even hold out for a week.

Don't be fooled by the Chongqing newspapers' reports that the Central Army only lost 13,000 men, and that they killed nearly 10,000 Japanese soldiers.

But Yan Xishan was well aware of the actual situation.

The casualties and prisoners of war suffered by the Central Army numbered at least 10, if not 8.

Otherwise, they wouldn't have fled in such a sorry state; Zhongtiao Mountain is a strategic location.

"Xingru, do you think we can still win?" Yan Xishan asked dejectedly.

"Sir, we can only persevere! China will prevail!" Yang Xingru encouraged.

Although he didn't know if he could win, he couldn't afford to say anything discouraging now.

Yang Xingru had already seen through Yan Xishan's thoughts.

"Alas, my life has been like walking on thin ice."

"The Eighth Route Army, Chongqing, and the Japanese army are all three forces that cannot be offended."

"You can't dance on three eggs without breaking any of them," Yan Xishan sighed.

Yan Xishan certainly didn't want to be a traitor, after all, the feeling of being criticized behind one's back was not pleasant.

Moreover, when the Qing Dynasty entered the pass, it had already completely sold out the credibility of foreign tribes.

The scholar-officials had discussed it beforehand and surrendered quickly, but what was the result?
Then, a decree was issued ordering people to shave their heads and change their clothes.

Isn't this humiliating the gentry and aristocracy?
Now, among respectable members of the gentry, who would dare to easily trust outsiders? Those who did are long gone.

However, with the Italians pressing closer and closer, Yan Xishan is indeed feeling immense pressure.

Especially after the Central Army withdrew from Shanxi, the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army had to take on the responsibility of the main battlefield.

All 105 counties in Shanxi Province were under the jurisdiction of Commander Yan.

This weight is not something an ordinary person can bear.

"Xingru, let's keep in touch with the Italians first, to prevent them from taking advantage of the situation to attack southwestern Shanxi," Yan Xishan said.

Yan Xishan decided to adopt a delaying tactic.

After all, it's quite frightening to see 10 troops sitting on your own kang (heated brick bed).

Yan Xishan was genuinely worried that the Japanese army might turn around and attack the Jin-Sui Army as well.

"I'll arrange for someone to make contact secretly," Yang Xingru said. The contact with the Italian leader must be kept secret, otherwise the military will collapse first.

After all, with the boss about to surrender, the likelihood of the underlings rushing to defect to the Italians for their own future would greatly increase.

after a while.

"Old Chen, the situation is not good. According to the intelligence sent back by our comrades in the area, the Japanese troops in Xinkou, Wuyi County, and Luyang have been redeployed."

Luo Ping walked into the brigade headquarters with a serious expression.

This is definitely not a good thing.

Originally, the troops stationed there were second-line troops, but this time the troops being rotated out are front-line field troops.

"A change of garrison? Which unit was replaced?" Chen Chengxing asked curiously.

“The Fourth Division!” Luo Ping said solemnly.

The 4th Division was an elite force among elites, and it was not supposed to remain behind enemy lines to fight.

During the Russo-Japanese War, the 4th Division was undefeated against Tsarist Russia in the Battle of Mukden, the Battle of Liaoyang, and the Battle of Shahe.

In the Battle of Khalkhin Gol two years ago, the main force of the Japanese army suffered heavy casualties, but the 4th Division suffered negligible casualties.

This also reflects the strength of the 4th Division.

"The Fourth Division?" Chen Chengxing didn't know what expression to make.

If you ask whether the 4th Division can fight, the answer is yes, it really can.

Historically, during the Battle of Changsha, the 10th Army was severely crippled, forcing Li Yutang to relinquish his position as army commander.

You should know that the 10th Army is no pushover.

During the later Battle of Hengyang, the Japanese soldiers knocked out their front teeth.

It took them a full 47 days to finally break through, and the casualties were extremely heavy.

But if you ask whether the Fourth Division will attack the New Second Brigade.

Chen Chengxing, however, felt it was unlikely to be a good time.

When the 4th Division is fighting, they won't do anything that doesn't bring them benefits.

Is there any benefit to attacking the new Second Brigade? Definitely not.

Even if they win, they'll only occupy a few mountain villages, with negligible gains.

Chen Chengxing estimated that unless the new Second Brigade actively provoked them, the Fourth Division would not easily make any rash moves.

"Old Luo, don't worry. With this mountain range, even if the Japanese Locust Guard comes, it won't make a difference," Chen Chengxing said.

The more elite the Japanese troops, the more heavy equipment they had.

However, there was simply no room for heavy equipment to be used in these deep mountains.

Even the 120mm mortars of the New Second Brigade cannot roam freely in the mountains; they are usually transported mainly by pack animals.

"I hope so," Luo Ping nodded.

Before the Hundred Regiments Offensive, the battlefield behind enemy lines was a battleground where the Eighth Route Army attacked while the Japanese army defended.

However, after the Hundred Regiments Offensive, the Japanese army's attention had been drawn to the battlefield behind enemy lines.

This did reduce the pressure on the main battlefield, but who could have imagined that the Nationalist army would be in such a state?
Luo Ping felt that saving him would be pointless.

"Sir, the 4th Division has completed its rotation, leaving one infantry regiment and one field artillery regiment to garrison Taiyuan," Yamaoka Michifumi reported.

As for the troops that were relieved of their duties, they have been reassigned to other locations.

Why did the Fourth Division remain in Shanxi? Shouldn't they have headed south according to the plan?

Yoshio Shinotsuka still can't understand how the Fourth Brigade ended up in his hands after just one battle at Zhongtiao Mountain.
The 4th Division was transferred from the Kwantung Army to the North China Expeditionary Army, and then from the North China Expeditionary Army to Shanghai.

According to the plan, they were supposed to go to Southeast Asia to fight, so why are they still staying in Shanxi and refusing to leave?

"Sir, I heard that when General Okamura was dispatching the Fourth Division, he promised to leave the Fourth Division in the North China Expeditionary Army."

"Then why stay in Shanxi? Wouldn't they be able to better utilize their firepower advantage on the plains?" Yoshio Shinotsuka said helplessly.

Although the 4th Division was reorganized into a three-company system, its equipment was even more luxurious.

Putting aside other things, a single field artillery regiment has 12 Type 96 150mm howitzers and 36 Type 90 75mm field guns.

This is unique among the locust army.

Moreover, its combat personnel are also highly elite.

Of the current Locust Army, only the Fourth Division may still possess a large number of pre-war elite troops.

The other units have already been replenished countless times.

However, no matter how elite the Fourth Division was, Yoshio Shinotsuka didn't want it.

“Uh, maybe no one else wants it either?” Michifumi Yamaoka said.

The First Army sent a division, and also transferred out a division.

Although it was a Class B division that was transferred away, and a Class A division that came in, nominally the First Army gained an advantage.

However, Michifumi Yamaoka estimated that Yoshio Shinotsuka wouldn't think that way.

"Damn it!" Yoshio Shinotsuka gritted his teeth so hard they almost broke.

If we had known that the Central Army in Zhongtiao Mountain was so easy to defeat, we shouldn't have sent the 4th Division.

Now the patch is stuck on and I can't take it off.

"Sir, the Fourth Division is still a very strong fighting force. Staying in Shanxi should serve as a ballast," Yamaoka Michifumi advised.

The 4th Division was not incapable of fighting, but rather lacked the will to participate.

"Sigh, there's no other good way right now, so we can only leave it at that for now," Yoshio Shinotsuka sighed.

General Okamura is now making it clear that he wants to pass this hot potato to the First Army, and that he has no choice but to accept it even if he doesn't want it.

"Since the Fourth Brigade has been assigned to the First Army, let them guard their posts."

The Eighth Route Army in northwestern Shanxi posed a significant threat. Having the Fourth Division guard Taiyuan and the surrounding counties would at least guarantee Taiyuan's safety.

If the Eighth Route Army were to launch a preemptive attack on the Fourth Division, Yoshio Shinotsuka would actually be happy to see it happen.

The Fourth Division will definitely teach the Eighth Route Army a lesson.

"Hai!"

(End of this chapter)