Anti-Japanese War: I have unlimited assistance

Chapter 411 Endless urgent calls!

Taiyuan.

inner city.

Japanese First Army Headquarters.

"General, the reinforcements from the surrounding counties in northern Shanxi heading to Datong have all been blocked."

The staff officer reported to Yoshio Shinozuka.

Because the main force of the 26th Division was transferred to Jinzhong to attack the Eighth Route Army, the Japanese troops around Datong in northern Shanxi suddenly decreased. Most of the Japanese troops stationed in various county towns were military police. These troops were mainly responsible for maintaining public order. Their combat effectiveness was relatively poor and their troops were not large. They usually did not dare to leave the city, but this time they were targeted by various guerrillas, bandits and other forces when they left the city.

Yoshio Shinozuka frowned slightly, obviously not expecting this to happen.

Datong is stockpiling 3000 tons of combat supplies for the First Army to use in attacking northwest Shanxi!

The staff officer continued to report: "The 21st Aviation Regiment sent a telegram saying that they have wiped out the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army and the Eighth Route Army artillery units that attacked Datong. In addition, they discovered that the Locust Association Army and the Locust Army in Datong are counterattacking."

"Yoshi."

Yoshio Shinozuka's brows relaxed, and he finally nodded, his expression slightly softening.

Finally heard the good news.

"Lieutenant Commander Takeda is truly a bombing genius."

Without artillery fire support, it would be difficult for the 358th Regiment of the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army to capture the Datong city wall.

After all, although the 358th Regiment was known as the ace of the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army, there were still gaps between aces.

In Yoshio Shinozuka's view, the only real Chinese ace unit in the North China battlefield was the New 1st Regiment.

"The 36th Division's supply corps and tank battalion, attacking from the Datong direction, are already on their way back to Datong and will arrive around dusk."

The staff officer continued his report.

The 36th Division was equipped with a tank battalion of 12 tanks.

Lieutenant General Wu Dennan, commander of the 36th Division, was afraid of the Eighth Route Army's anti-tank weapons such as bazookas and 20mm machine guns, and did not dare to use the tank brigade in the battle to attack Shaohukou.

However, the Japanese tanks were timid when fighting against the Eighth Route Army, but they attacked the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army with heavy blows.

"Yoshi."

Shinozuka Yoshio continued to nod.

The combat effectiveness of the Quartermaster Regiment is not as good as that of the Field Infantry Regiment, but it is not weak either. Coupled with the strength of a tank battalion and the aviation unit that destroyed Chu Yunfei's artillery unit, as long as the defenders of Datong can hold on until dark, Chu Yunfei will have no chance of capturing Datong. Not only can 3000 tons of combat supplies be preserved, but he may also be able to defeat the 358th Regiment of the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army and reduce the pressure on the First Army.

"General..."

However, at this moment, Yamamoto Ikki hurried out from behind: "The Datong Military Police Headquarters sent an urgent telegram. The Military Police Headquarters is under artillery fire. The Military Police Captain, Lieutenant Colonel Oishi, is seriously injured and unconscious. The Shanxi-Suiyuan Army has already broken through the four walls of Datong. Request for support..."

The sudden artillery fire prevented the Japanese soldiers at the Datong Gendarmerie Headquarters from reacting in time. Even the radio station was damaged. After it was repaired, they immediately sent a telegram to the First Army Headquarters.

"Nani?"

Yoshio Shinozuka's eyes widened.

Wasn’t the enemy’s artillery unit destroyed and severely damaged by the air force?
Could it be that Chu Yunfei has a backup plan?
but!

Even if Chu Yunfei still had artillery, this was too fast. With the combat effectiveness of the 358th Regiment, how could they capture the four city walls in such a short time?

Yamamoto was silent, he also felt something was wrong.

This was a siege battle. Even if Chu Yunfei still had a few mountain cannons in his hands, it would be impossible for him to capture the four city walls so quickly.

After all, there is an infantry battalion of more than 600 people and a regiment of the Locust Army in Datong City, with a total garrison of 2,000 people.

The Locust Army is not good at field battles, but its combat effectiveness is quite good when it comes to defensive battles.

Even if the defenders of Datong could not defeat the 358th Regiment, Datong was an important military town with high walls and sufficient food and ammunition. They would have no problem holding out for a few days. But in just one morning, the walls on all four sides were breached?
Once the four city walls were breached, it would be disastrous for the defenders, and it would be extremely difficult for them to break out.

Moreover, it can directly make the locust army in Datong City lose the courage to resist and choose to surrender.

It is absolutely impossible for the gendarmerie's locust army to defend the warehouses and granaries.

At this time, the staff officer walked out quickly, and Yamamoto Ikki looked at Shinozuka Yoshio, asking for countermeasures with his eyes.

After taking a few deep breaths and suppressing the shock in his heart, Yoshio Shinozuka's cheeks twitched, and for a moment he really didn't know what to do.

Even if they requested reinforcements from the North China Front Army Headquarters and dispatched the main force of the Mongolian Army from Zhangjiakou to reinforce Datong, it would be too late. Should they have the 36th Division's supply corps and tank battalion speed up?

The 36th Division's Quartermaster Corps was mostly equipped with mules and horses, with only a small number of vehicles, so it was impossible to march quickly.

The 12 tanks of the tank brigade can reach Datong in a short time.

However, without the cover of a large number of infantry, letting 12 tanks go alone would be like delivering food to Chu Yunfei.

After all, the troops attacking Datong this time included the Eighth Route Army artillery, which was suspected to be Li Yunlong's artillery unit. Who knows whether this artillery unit was equipped with anti-tank rocket launchers and machine guns?
Although there are air force units, they will be useless once both sides enter the street fighting mode in Datong City.

Should we order the Datong defenders to blow up 3000 tons of combat supplies before the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army captures Datong?
However, if 3000 tons of combat supplies were blown up, and the attacks of the Guards Mixed Brigade and the th Brigade failed, then this carefully planned attack on northwestern Shanxi would be a complete failure.

Neither Yoshio Shinozuka nor Kazuki Yamamoto were willing to accept failure.

After all, the First Army still had its trump card weapon - four Type 4 45mm howitzers that had not been used.

"Immediately inquire how many troops the Datong defenders still have and how the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army was able to capture the city so quickly."

After thinking for five minutes, Shinozuka Yoshio gave the order.

That's it?

Yamamoto Ikki was too tired to complain. What the Datong defenders needed now was support.

However, Yamamoto himself could not think of a way to save Datong for a while. Now he could only hope for a miracle to happen. What if the defenders of Datong could stop the attack of the 358th Regiment of the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army?

"Hi."

Yamamoto Ikki walked towards the communications room at the back, but turned back when he reached the door.

"General, there is a way that may save Datong and 3000 tons of combat supplies."

Shinozuka Yoshio: "What's the solution?"

Yamamoto Ikki said in a cold tone, "We can put pressure on Yan Xishan. If the 358th Regiment does not withdraw from Datong immediately, the First Army will attack Luliang in the next battle, destroy the main force of the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army, and drive Yan Xishan and his troops out of Shanxi completely."

Shinozuka Yoshio nodded and said, "Order Lieutenant Colonel Mizuno to immediately put pressure on Yan Xishan through diplomatic means. You can make some appropriate promises to Yan Xishan."

Now Yoshio Shinozuka can only try his best to save the situation.

"Hi."

Yamamoto Ikki immediately walked to the phone and gave orders to intelligence staff Lieutenant Colonel Mizuno Kiyoshi.

"General."

A staff officer came out and reported to Shinozuka Yoshio:

"The 20th Division just sent an urgent telegram. The main force of the Eighth Route Army's 129th Division in southeastern Shanxi has launched an attack on important cities and strongholds along the Zhengtai Road, including Yangquan, Shouyang, and Niangziguan. The enemy has deployed heavy artillery firepower from at least three artillery regiments. Lieutenant General Ushijima has requested aviation reinforcements."

The main force of the First Army and the North China Front Army attacked Li Yunlong's troops and took so many benefits from Li Yunlong. Naturally, the headquarters leaders and division and brigade commanders in southeastern Shanxi would not sit idly by.

We had already made preparations to march north to attack Zhengtai Road.

As soon as the battles in northwest Shanxi and central Shanxi broke out, the main force of the 129th Division went directly north to attack Zhengtai Road.

If the 129th Division did not go north to attack Zhengtai Road, the 20th Division stationed on Zhengtai Road would most likely go to Mengxian to help the 21st and 26th Divisions attack the Jinzhong base.

In that case, Xing Zhiguo would be under a lot of pressure.

"What?" Shinozuka Yoshio was under immense pressure. "Three heavy artillery regiments? Order Lieutenant Colonel Takeda to immediately head to Shota Road and destroy the Eighth Route Army's heavy artillery units."

Although the 20th Division was a Type A division, it only had one field artillery regiment under its command and was by no means a match for the firepower of the three heavy artillery regiments of the Eighth Route Army.

"General."

As the communications officer left, a combat officer hurried out of the communications room in the rear and delivered a telegram:
"Major General Sakurada, commander of the Imperial Guards Brigade, has sent an urgent message: The New 1st Regiment is launching a general attack on the 2st and nd Imperial Guards Regiments. The th Brigade and the Locust Alliance launched an attack on Cuijiazhuang this morning, but they still haven't been able to break through. Major General Sakurada requests tactical guidance."

Shinozuka Yoshio's eyes twitched. Another urgent call...

Shinozuka Yoshio said, "Immediately ask the 4th Brigade and the Locust Alliance how many troops they have left."

Soon, the operations staff radioed the Guards Mixed Brigade headquarters and returned with a report: "The 4th Brigade has less than two infantry battalions, the artillery battalion has suffered more than half its casualties, the Locust Army still has more than half its regiment, and the Guards Field Artillery Regiment has suffered one-third of its casualties."

"Nani?"

Shinozuka Yoshio's eyes widened immediately:
"In less than two days, two brigades and two independent divisions of the Locust Alliance Army were almost wiped out?"

(End of this chapter)