Anti-Japanese War: I have unlimited assistance

Chapter 167: The center blossoms!
Yamashita Fengwen's face suddenly darkened when he heard this. It was really a case of "misfortunes never come singly"!

In fact, the offensive of another main force of the Japanese army in southern Shanxi was quite good.

The attacking troops successively captured Lingshi, Hongdong and Linfen county towns, winning victory after victory.

Not only did they capture several county towns, but they also wiped out a number of Chinese troops, making them invincible.

However, in southeastern Shanxi, the attacking forces only captured some county towns but failed to destroy the main force of the Eighth Route Army.

On the contrary, one of the main forces, the 79th Infantry Regiment, was surrounded by the main force of the Eighth Route Army.

In the Guangyang ambush, Yamashita Tomoyuki had already experienced the combat effectiveness of the Eighth Route Army and the willpower of its soldiers, and the 79th Infantry Regiment was really in danger of being wiped out.

Taking a deep breath, Yamashita Fengwen forced himself to calm down and asked coldly, "What is the current situation of the 79th Infantry Regiment?"

Colonel Uchida Ginnosuke pointed to the map and reported, "Your Excellency, the 79th Infantry Regiment is in dire straits. The 2nd and 3rd Infantry Battalions, along with the supply corps, are completely surrounded in the Zhuozhang River Valley near Hexi Village. Colonel Kobayashi is leading the 1st Infantry Battalion in an attack to rescue the trapped troops. The battle is currently at a stalemate."

Yamashita Fengwen stared at the map with a frown on his face: "Useless."

After being ambushed once in Guangyang, they still didn't learn their lesson. Even the division commander died, and the 79th Regiment was ambushed again in this kind of terrain.

Kobayashi Tsunekazu is such a waste and a fool.

But the most urgent thing now is how to break the siege of the 79th Infantry Regiment and destroy the main force of the Eighth Route Army.

Yamashita Fengwen asked coldly: "How many troops does the Eighth Route Army have?"

Uchida Ginnosuke: "The Eighth Route Army has no fewer than 5000 troops, which is definitely the main force. They have the mortar firepower of an artillery regiment. It is not ruled out that there are other Eighth Route Army troops rushing towards Hexi Village."

Yamashita Tomoyuki stared at the map for a moment, the fat on his face trembling. "Immediately order the Kobayashi Regiment to fire chemical bombs at the Eighth Route Army. After rescuing the locust troops trapped in the Zhuozhang River Valley, find a high ground to resist the Eighth Route Army's attack."

"The 50th, 69th, 107th, and 78th Infantry Regiments attacking southeastern Shanxi will immediately move toward Hexi Village and encircle and destroy the main force of the Eighth Route Army!"

"After the 6th Flying Squadron returns to Taiyuan, provide air support to the 79th Infantry Regiment as soon as possible."

The 50th Infantry Regiment is affiliated with the 14th Infantry Brigade of the 28th Infantry Division.

Currently, the main force of the 14th Infantry Division is stationed in the Shimen City area, and the division commander is Kenji Doihara.

Due to the lack of Japanese troops in Shanxi Province due to the full combat plan formulated by the 5th Division, the 50th Infantry Regiment was transferred to Shanxi Province and placed under the direct command of Yamashita Tomoyuki.

The 69th Infantry Regiment and the 107th Infantry Regiment are affiliated with the 109st Infantry Brigade of the 31th Division.

The 78th Infantry Regiment and the surrounded 79th Infantry Regiment were both part of the 20th Infantry Brigade of the 39th Division.

Yamashita Tomoyuki knew very well that if the main force of the 79th Infantry Regiment continued to be surrounded in the Zhuozhang River Valley, it would definitely be wiped out by the Eighth Route Army.

But it would be different if they found a nearby hill to defend, relying on the individual quality, weapons and equipment, and high-altitude shooting of the Locust Army's Type A Division.

We can definitely hold out until the other four infantry regiments arrive.

At that time, these four infantry regiments will surround the main force of the Eighth Route Army from the outside and wipe out the main force of the Eighth Route Army in one bite.

When the Japanese combat staff heard this order, they looked at each other in confusion. What else did the 79th Infantry Regiment do after breaking through the encirclement instead of running away?

In the Guangyang ambush, the two main elite brigades of the Japanese army used chemical bombs and air support, but failed to break through the Eighth Route Army's defense line.

Do you really think the infantry regiment of the Type A division is invincible?
"Center blossom tactics."

But Colonel Uchida Ginnosuke quickly reacted:
"Division Commander, you intend to use the 79th Infantry Regiment as bait to hold back the main force of the Eighth Route Army, while the other four infantry regiments form a large encirclement around the perimeter to devour the main force of the Eighth Route Army in one fell swoop."

"That's right!" Yamashita Fengwen nodded with a serious expression. "This battle in Hexi Village is also an opportunity for the Locust Army."

Colonel Uchida Ginnosuke was full of admiration: "Your Excellency the Division Commander is wise. I admire you!"

Then he turned to look at the communications officer and scolded him, "Why don't you go and pass the order? Wait until the 79th Regiment is wiped out by the Eighth Route Army before you do that?"

"Hi!"

The communications staff officer suddenly lowered his head, turned around and quickly conveyed the order.

……

Southeastern Shanxi.

Zhuozhang River Valley.

Hexi Village.

The battle is in full swing.

The 79th Infantry Regiment of the Japanese Army was, after all, an elite field regiment of the Type A Division. Although its main force was surrounded, it was not so easy to be eliminated.

However, the surrounded Japanese were in a very bad condition and suffered heavy casualties.

An 82mm mortar regiment of the Eighth Route Army caused heavy casualties to the Japanese.

At present, the Japanese 1st Infantry Battalion, 2nd Infantry Battalion and the baggage train were completely suppressed in the Zhuozhang River Valley and could not move.

However, the Eighth Route Army currently has sufficient ammunition and its firepower can crush the Japanese, so they are not in a hurry to rush up and fight the Japanese with bayonets.

If the 386th Brigade launches a general offensive after waiting for reinforcements, it will have a greater chance of success and the troops will suffer fewer casualties.

The Japanese are also waiting for reinforcements and air support. Now it depends on whose reinforcements arrive first!
"idiot."

"waste."

At the attacking position of the 79th Regiment and the 1st Battalion, Kobayashi Tsuneichi fired his arrows left and right at the 1st Infantry Battalion's captain, making a loud clattering sound. Daijiazhai Hill was located on the left flank of the main position. Capturing Daijiazhai Hill would allow them to launch an attack on the Eighth Route Army on the north bank of the Zhuozhang River valley and rescue the trapped main force of the 79th Regiment and its supply train.

However, the elite Locust Army of a Type A Division Infantry Battalion attacked the Daijiazhai Heights, which was defended by only an ordinary company of the Eighth Route Army, but was repelled twice.

What a disgrace.

Kobayashi Hengyi was so angry that he really wanted to chop the captain of the 1st Infantry Battalion with a knife, but he stopped himself because he still needed the captain of the 1st Infantry Battalion to lead the troops to charge.

"Hi."

Kobayashi Tsuneichi used all his strength in these slaps, but he was, after all, a battle-hardened major in the Type A Division with a strong physique. Even though the captain of the 1st Infantry Battalion had cheeks swollen like a pig's head, he quickly straightened his face and handed it to Kobayashi Tsuneichi, even saying "Hi".

Seeing that Kobayashi Hengyi was not going to continue slapping his face, the captain of the 1st Infantry Battalion said in a deep voice: "Your Excellency, the commander, please give me one more chance. This time, the 1st Infantry Battalion will definitely capture Daijia Ridge!"

Kobayashi Hengyi said coldly: "Then I will give you one last chance. If you fail to capture Daijia Ridge, you will commit disembowelment and apologize."

"Hi."

The captain of the 1st Infantry Battalion bowed his head and said:

"Sir, if we fail to capture Daijia Ridge, I, Ogura Hironari, will not leave the battle alive."

"Yoshi!"

Xiao Lin Heng nodded:

"Ogura-kun, in this attack, I will order the artillery to fire chemical bombs at the Daijiazhai position. Get ready."

"Hi."

Major Ogura suddenly lowered his head, turned around and walked quickly towards the attacking troops, reorganized the troops and attacked Daijiazhai after pre-war mobilization.

Then Kobayashi Tsuneichi also gave the order to use poison gas bombs.

Although the field gas battalion was wiped out by the New 1st Regiment, a new field gas battalion has been reorganized in North China.

However, this newly formed field gas brigade did not participate in the attack on southeastern Shanxi.

However, among the combat supplies that the North China Front Army provided to the Japanese troops in Shanxi Province, there were some mustard bombs and gas bombs.

These poison gas bombs come in various calibers and can be fired from mortars, infantry guns, mountain guns, and even grenade launchers.

Just as the artillery and infantry were preparing for the attack, the communications staff came over with a telegram in his hand.

"Report to the regimental commander, a telegram has been sent from the division headquarters."

Generally, when the superior of a regiment is a brigade, the division headquarters will not send a telegram directly to the regiment headquarters.

But the situation is critical now and time is life. If the division headquarters sends a telegram to the brigade headquarters first, and the brigade headquarters then sends a telegram to the regiment headquarters, a lot of time will inevitably be wasted.

Kobayashi Hengyi took the telegram and read it: "Yoshi."

"Your Excellency, the division commander, is so wise, I admire you so much!"

The sneak attack on the New 79st Regiment of the Eighth Route Army failed, and Li Yunlong was not captured. If the main force of the th Regiment was wiped out here.

In addition to the military order signed before departure, Kobayashi Tsuneichi was very clear about his situation. Even if he did not commit seppuku to apologize, he would probably be brought to a military court.

but!

If the 79th Infantry Regiment could hold back the main force of the Eighth Route Army without being destroyed, and wait for reinforcements to arrive, it could destroy the main force of the Eighth Route Army in one fell swoop.

By then, not only will Kobayashi Tsuneichi be innocent, but he will have made great contributions. Not only will he not have to commit seppuku to apologize, he will also be rewarded.

As for the 79th Infantry Regiment, which suffered heavy casualties...

As long as he can make meritorious service, the huge casualties don't matter. There is always death in war.

After the war, when the troops have been replenished, he will still be the captain of the 79th Infantry Regiment, and may even be promoted to major general, reaching the pinnacle of his life.

Kobayashi Tsuneichi looked around with a telescope, looking for a hill suitable for the 79th Regiment to hold.

"Daijia Ridge is a good place, easy to defend but difficult to attack. After we rescue the troops in the Zhuozhang River Valley, we will defend Daijia Ridge on the spot."

Soon, the artillery unit was ready and the 1st Infantry Battalion was reorganized.

In the infantry's attacking position, Major Ogura and the Japanese soldiers all had white loincloths wrapped around their heads. Some of the loincloths had words like "victory" written on them. The Japanese soldiers all wore Type 95 gas masks.

This time, Major Ogura will lead the charge.

As Kobayashi Tsunekazu's order was issued, artillery of various calibers on the Japanese artillery positions opened fire at the same time.

Grenades and poison gas bombs were fired at the Eighth Route Army's Daijiazhai position, and a mixture of poison gas and gunpowder smoke spread.

After bombarding for a while, the Japanese ordered to stop the poison gas attack and continued to bombard with howitzers.

"Kill me..."

Major Ogura suddenly pointed the major's command knife in his hand forward and roared hysterically.

The Japanese soldiers immediately rushed towards the Daijiazhai position of the Eighth Route Army with their Type 38 rifles, which were taller than them with bayonets.

(End of this chapter)