Anti-Japanese War: I have unlimited assistance

Chapter 171 Where did the Eighth Route Army get so many weapons and equipment?
"What? The Eighth Route Army surrounded Yangquan?"

in Taiyuan.

At the headquarters of the 20th Division of the Japanese Army, Yamashita Tomoyuki turned around upon hearing this, his face slightly stunned.

It would have been fine if the Eighth Route Army had robbed the Locust Army’s train, but they actually dared to surround Yangquan?

A mere 4,000 Eighth Route Army soldiers dared to attack the locust army's important military town. Was the Eighth Route Army too arrogant, or were the locust army too weak to lift their swords?
"Hi."

The communications officer bowed his head and repeated the contents of the telegram:
"This is a telegram personally sent by Major General Takagi, commander of the 39th Infantry Brigade. The Eighth Route Army surrounding Yangquan is the main force, with no fewer than 4000 troops. They are preparing to attack the city. Major General Takagi requests air support!"

"Damn it, the Eighth Route Army actually dared to attack Yangquan, they are simply courting death!" After receiving a positive answer, Yamashita Tomoyuki's face was filled with anger.

Chief of Staff Uchida Ginnosuke said in a deep voice: "Your Excellency, it will be very difficult for the Eighth Route Army to capture Yangquan. This is very likely that the Eighth Route Army is bluffing."

"Bluster?" Yamashita Fengwen narrowed his eyes, looking surprised and doubtful.

"That's right!"

Uchida Ginnosuke said with a firm tone:
"According to intelligence, the Eighth Route Army lacks siege weapons. They can't even take down the walls of Yangquan. Furthermore, there are at least a thousand elite locust soldiers inside the city. If the Eighth Route Army dares to attack the city, they're courting death!"

"I think the Eighth Route Army is making a move to attack Yangquan in order to get a portion of the main force of the Locust Army in southeastern Shanxi to come back and support the Eighth Route Army's encirclement of the Locust Army's 79th Regiment in southeastern Shanxi."

Upon hearing this, Yamashita Tomoyuki couldn't help but nodded. Uchida Ginnosuke's analysis was still very reasonable.

"Can we get through to the 39th Brigade?" Yamashita Tomoyuki looked at the communications staff and asked in a deep voice.

"Reporting to the brigade commander, we can't get through to the 39th Brigade. The telephone line must have been cut off!" The communications staff officer replied with his head down.

"Immediately connect the radio to the 39th Brigade and let Major General Takagi talk to me." Yamashita Tomoyuki said coldly.

Although Uchida Ginnosuke made an analysis, it was impossible for the Eighth Route Army to capture Yangquan City, and a head-on attack on the Eighth Route Army would result in huge casualties.

but.

Yangquan is an important military town on the Jindong Zhengtai Railway. Once Yangquan is recaptured by the Eighth Route Army, it will not only cause a blow to the morale of the Japanese troops in Shanxi Province, but also cut off their logistical supply lines.

Moreover, Yangquan City was home to the 20th Brigade Headquarters of the 39th Division. If Yangquan City was captured and something happened to the 39th Brigade Headquarters, he would probably be dismissed as the division commander.

"Hi."

The communications officer lowered his head, turned around and quickly left. He brought back a radio, adjusted the frequency and wavelength, and called out with the microphone and receiver: "Rapid-fire gun, rapid-fire gun, this is the infantry gun, please answer if you hear me..."

The call was quickly connected, and Yamashita Tomoyuki took the phone and receiver: "Rapid-fire artillery, I'm from the infantry artillery. I heard that you were attacked by the main force of the Eighth Route Army?"

Infantry Gun was the nickname of Yamashita Tomoyuki, and Rapid-Fire Gun was the code name of the 39th Brigade and Takagi Yoshito.

As for other infantry regiments, they could only use pistols, rifles, grenade launchers and grenades as codes to facilitate communication.

Upon hearing this, Takagi Yoshito reported.

"Yes, Sir Infantryman."

"These Eighth Route Army soldiers all wore the same helmets and grey woolen coats. They were undoubtedly the main force of the Eighth Route Army."

"This unit is equipped with gas masks and 20mm machine guns. Aviation units must pay attention when providing air support."

"They are building trenches outside the city, as if they are about to attack."

"I have organized the troops to defend the city walls. Please ask the Infantry Artillery to dispatch the aviation unit to provide air support to our troops!"

"Mr. Rapid-fire Cannon, are you sure you only need air support and not ground reinforcements?" Yamashita Tomoyuki asked in a deep voice. The Eighth Route Army was equipped with gas masks and 20mm machine guns. Was the Eighth Route Army's equipment so good?
"Hi!"

Takagi Yoshito said confidently:

"We have ammunition and firepower. Our positions are well-walled and surrounded by numerous artillery batteries. We don't need reinforcements. If the enemy dares to attack, air support combined with machine guns, artillery, and other heavy firepower will inflict heavy losses on them!"

"Mr. Rapid-fire Cannon, I can give you the air support you want, but it will take some time!" Yamashita Tomoyuki breathed a sigh of relief. Takagi Yoshito was so confident, it seemed that the troops of the 39th Brigade could defend Yangquan.

Takagi Yoshito remained confident: "Sir, our unit can hold our position even without air support!"

Yamashita Fengwen said: "Yoshi! Please!"

After hanging up the phone, Yamashita Tomoyuki looked at Uchida Ginnosuke and said, "Uchida-kun, as you analyzed, the 39th Brigade can hold Yangquan. However, just in case, immediately withdraw an infantry battalion from Taiyuan to reinforce Yangquan. Also, report the situation to the North China Front Command and request that the North China Front send air force reinforcements and transfer an infantry regiment from Jingxing and Shimen to reinforce the 1th Brigade in Yangquan."

"Hi."

Uchida Ginnosuke suddenly lowered his head, turned around and went to deliver the order.

Yamashita Tomoyuki looked at the communications staff and said, "Immediately inquire about the situation of the 79th Infantry Regiment, the regimental headquarters and the 1st Infantry Battalion. Are they going to capture Daijia Ridge and rescue the main force of the 79th Regiment?"

"Hi!"

The communications staff member suddenly lowered his head and turned to leave.

About 10 minutes later, the communications officer returned with a telegram in his hand.

"Reporting to the division commander, Colonel Kobayashi, commander of the 79th Regiment, just sent a telegram saying that the regiment headquarters and the 1st Infantry Battalion have still not captured Daijiazhai Heights. They are using chemical bombs as their attack weapon, but this Eighth Route Army unit is equipped with gas masks and has mortar support from an artillery regiment."

As he spoke, the communications officer handed the telegram to Yamashita Tomoyuki. Taking the telegram, Yamashita Tomoyuki's fat face trembled, and he tore the telegram into pieces in a few strokes: "Kobayashi Tsuneichi, that piece of trash."

"Did the aviation unit destroy the Eighth Route Army's artillery positions?"

"No, by the time the Locust Army's aviation unit arrived, the Eighth Route Army's mortar positions had already fled."

"Then why didn't Kobayashi Hengyi take advantage of the air support to capture the Daijiazhai Heights?"

"Reinforcements from the Eighth Route Army arrived. At least a main battalion of troops arrived at Daijiazhai. These Eighth Route Army soldiers were all wearing steel helmets, gray woolen coats, and equipped with gas masks."

The communications officer used the radio to talk to the communications team of the 79th Regiment, and only after understanding the situation did he dare to come in with a telegram to report.

If he doesn't know the answer to any question, he will definitely be in trouble.

Yamashita Tomoyuki was not surprised by the relocation of the Eighth Route Army's artillery positions. Mortars were easier to move than mountain artillery and howitzers.

What really puzzled Yamashita Tomoyuki was: "Where did the Eighth Route Army get so many gas masks?"

"Recently, the Eighth Route Army's weapons and equipment have improved a lot. Not only do they wear helmets and coats, but they are also equipped with gas masks, mortars and 20mm machine guns, and ammunition is sufficient."

Yamashita Tomoyuki was puzzled.

"The firepower and weapons of the Eighth Route Army are actually better than those of the Chinese Nationalist Army!"

"Where did they get so many weapons and equipment?"

……

Eastern Shanxi.

Yangquan.

In a private house, the headquarters of the new regiment.

There were footsteps at the door. Li Yunlong looked up and saw Zhao Gang walking in with a serious expression. "Xiao Zhao, are the siege ladders ready?"

Zhao Gang then reported, "Commander, I have already ordered the guard company to hastily construct 15 siege ladders."

Li Yunlong nodded and said, "Fifteen siege ladders are not enough. Let the guard company mobilize the civilians to build more siege ladders. Sharpening the knife does not delay the chopping of wood."

When the Red Army was in the past, Li Yunlong's troops participated in the defense of the county town by the National Army.

Even if a mountain cannon is used to create a gap in the city wall, the wall will not collapse completely, but will form a ruin. If you want to climb up the ruins, you still need a ladder.

As for the city gate... in the past when there were no cannons, the only way was to rely on soldiers to form a suicide blasting team to rush to the city gate and ignite the explosive packs to blow it up.

The firepower of the National Army was not as strong as that of the Japanese, and the machine gunners were not as accurate as the Japanese. The suicide squad had a chance to reach the city gate by holding explosives and braving bullets, but it was also a life-or-death situation.

Now the new regiment is equipped with mountain artillery and infantry artillery. Even without mountain artillery, the city gate can be easily blown up by aiming and firing directly from the infantry artillery.

but.

Even if the city gate is blown up, it will be useless because there is a city wall behind the city gate. The city wall is tall and heavy, and has stronger defensive capabilities.

From the battlements and towers of the city wall, rifles and machine guns can be used to better attack the attacking troops.

Attacking from the city gate was too difficult and would result in many casualties. Li Yunlong calculated the issue very clearly.

The scholar who had given up his pen to join the army said with a tone of deep surprise: "Captain, are you really going to attack Yangquan City?"

At first, he thought that Li Yunlong was really just trying to scare the Japanese in Yangquan City.

But judging from the situation, the team leader is definitely going to do something serious!
This is a bit bold, as this is a strong military town defended by the Japanese brigade headquarters.

"I have a brigade of troops at my disposal. Why wouldn't I dare attack Yangquan?"

"Give me a division, and I will attack Taiyuan."

Li Yunlong stared at the direction of Yangquan City with shining eyes, like a wolf king staring at its prey.

At this moment, the burly Wang Chengzhu walked in quickly, his eyes and tone expectant: "Report to the commander, the artillery unit is ready and can fire at the city wall at any time."

Although the artillery battalion of the new regiment was established not long ago and the artillerymen had little training time, their artillery training and combat experience were insufficient, and there was still much room for improvement in indirect fire.

However, the mission of this artillery battalion was to blast a hole in the Yangquan city wall.

Wang Chengzhu is confident of this task. He just needs to aim and shoot directly.

Li Yunlong looked at his watch, his eyes calm. "Don't worry. Tell the soldiers to stop digging trenches and find a hiding place. Wait until dark before attacking. The Japanese planes should be arriving soon."

Without air support and insufficient anti-aircraft firepower, it is possible to attack during the day, but the troops will inevitably suffer heavy casualties.

Night fighting was the Eighth Route Army's forte, and Li Yunlong planned to order his troops to launch an attack at night.

(End of this chapter)