Anti-Japanese War: I have unlimited assistance

Chapter 456 This is impossible, absolutely impossible!

In fact, Yoshio Shinozuka also noticed something was wrong and a look of confusion appeared on his face.

Every time, the 21st Flying Regiment reported that it had blown up the tanks and artillery of the New st Regiment of the Eighth Route Army.

In these operations, the 21st Flying Regiment is estimated to have destroyed at least five artillery regiments and three tank regiments of the Eighth Route Army.

but!

Why are the tanks and artillery of the Eighth Route Army bombing more and more?

The Eighth Route Army in northwestern Shanxi now has at least ten artillery regiments and two tank regiments of firepower.

not right...

"Go and call Lieutenant Colonel Mizuno over."

Yoshio Shinozuka looked at Mutaguchi Renya.

Mutaguchi Renya exclaimed, walked quickly to the phone, and was about to make a call, but was stopped by Shinozuka Yoshio as he picked up the phone.

"Wait a minute, don't call yet."

Yoshio Shinozuka originally wanted to call intelligence officer Kiyoshi Mizuno over.

Then he scolded him and ordered him to investigate the matter.

but.

Yoshio Shinozuka thought about it and realized that if he found out after investigating the matter that the Eighth Route Army’s tanks and heavy artillery had not been blown up, it would be disadvantageous to him.

After all, the 14th Division suffered heavy losses in northwestern Shanxi, and even the division commander was killed.

If the First Army had not destroyed the Eighth Route Army's tanks and heavy artillery units, he might have been dismissed.

However, this battle destroyed three heavy artillery regiments and one tank regiment of the Eighth Route Army.

This is equivalent to a field heavy artillery brigade and a tank regiment of the Japanese army.

This record is not bad.

It can be said that the Eighth Route Army was dealt a heavy blow.

Shinozuka Yoshio said in a deep voice: "Mutaguchi-kun, send a telegram to the North China Front Army Headquarters immediately..."

Mutaguchi Renya lowered his head: "Hi."

……

Beiping.

The heavily guarded Iron Lion Alley.

North China Front Army Headquarters.

Sugiyama Gen and Yamashita Tomoyuki were playing chess while discussing the content, purpose, and measures to be taken in rectifying the security situation of the Eighth Route Army in North China.

A few days ago, two old devils took the lead in formulating a security rectification plan for the Eighth Route Army base in North China.

Yamashita Fengwen said: "Your Excellency, Commander, we should rely on the plains and use the mountains as the hub for mopping-up operations. We should adopt a strategy that combines concentration and dispersion, mopping-up and nibbling, and then destroy the CCP's anti-Japanese base areas in one fell swoop."

Sugiyama's face was expressionless, his demeanor dignified. "What I want is concrete implementation, not just empty talk."

Yamashita Tomoyuki said: "The specific implementation methods are mainly three points. First, politically, we must intensify the expansion of the Locust Army, the organization of the Locust Army, and support the Chinese regime. We must recruit a large number of bandit stragglers and feudal armed forces, establish a Locust Army guard, a Locust Army military police, and a pseudo-baojia self-defense group."

"Second, expand and strengthen the spy organizations, use the Locust Army and the Locust Coalition spy organizations and feudal superstitious secret societies to spread rumors and undermine the anti-Japanese work and the united front."

"Third, impose an economic blockade on the anti-Japanese base areas, strictly prohibit the transportation of daily necessities and military supplies into the anti-Japanese base areas, and cut off the exchange of materials within the anti-Japanese base areas."

"Fourth, in the occupied areas, they intensified the plundering of the Chinese people's wealth, imposed harsh rule, and cut off the people's support for the anti-Japanese base areas."

"The fifth and most important point is to concentrate our forces and supplies to destroy the active anti-Japanese base areas, especially the main forces of the Eighth Route Army in southeastern and northwestern Shanxi."

Sugiyama Gen asked out of the blue, "Mr. Yamashita, what do you think about the locust army abandoning Shanxi?"

"Commander," Yamashita Tomoyuki said solemnly, "Shanxi must not be abandoned. Once the Locust Army abandons Shanxi, the Eighth Route Army will control the entire province, gain access to its rich mineral resources and human resources, and expand its forces."

"In less than two years, the Eighth Route Army grew from 4 to no less than 20."

"If the locust army had abandoned Shanxi and given the Eighth Route Army another two years, it could have grown to no less than 60 men."

Sugiyama said, "The Locust Army isn't really abandoning Shanxi. They're actively withdrawing from Shanxi, allowing the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army, the Eighth Route Army, and the Central Army to clash for territory in Shanxi. Then the Locust Army will concentrate its forces and fight back into Shanxi." "You've seen the First Army being beaten back by the Eighth Route Army. I'm worried that even in the next attack, the Locust Army won't be able to defeat the Eighth Route Army."

"Commander, I have a question," Yamashita Fengwen said. "If it were a year ago, this strategy would have been feasible, but now even the First Army can't defeat the Eighth Route Army. How can the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army and the Central Army defeat the Eighth Route Army?"

Sugiyama Gen nodded, this was the truth.

It is estimated that the Eighth Route Army could easily destroy the Central Army and the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army.

Moreover, a civil war in the Chinese army is nothing more than the wishful thinking of the two.

The consensus among the Chinese military now is to drive the Japanese out first and then solve internal problems.

There has always been internal friction within the Chinese military, but it is rare for there to be major friction that would allow the Japanese army to gain an advantage.

"Your Excellency, General, Your Excellency, Chief of Staff."

The communications officer walked in quickly, holding a telegram in his hand. Trying to control his emotions, he bowed and reported:
"Lieutenant General Shinozuka, commander of the First Army, just sent a telegram saying the battle in northwest Shanxi is over."

"Oh?" Sugiyama Moto asked in surprise, "The Eighth Route Army was repelled by the 14th Division so quickly?"

When the Eighth Route Army attacked the 14th Division, the First Army Command naturally had to report to the North China Front Army Command.

But it was only evening, less than 24 hours since the Eighth Route Army offensive began, and the two old devils had no idea that a tragedy had occurred.

The Northwest Shanxi Campaign ended in such a short time, so there is only one possibility - the New 14st Regiment was repelled by the th Division.

The 14th Division was one of the regular divisions. After the July Incident, it was led by Lieutenant General Kenji Doima to invade China and achieved good results.

"No……"

The communications officer didn't know how to respond.

"Give me the telegram." Yamashita Fengwen took the telegram with an unhappy look on his face, "Go down."

"Hi."

The communications officer turned around and ran away as if he had been pardoned.

Yamashita Tomoyuki took the telegram and started reading it. He was stunned and an expression of disbelief appeared on his face.

"Yamashita-kun." Sugiyama Gen immediately noticed something was wrong and asked in a deep voice, "What happened?"

Taking a deep breath, Yamashita Tomoyuki reported, "Your Excellency, Lieutenant General Shinozuka has sent a message saying that the 14th Division Headquarters, the 27th Infantry Brigade, the 14th Quartermaster Regiment, the 18th Cavalry Regiment, and the 20th Field Artillery Regiment were all destroyed in combat with the Eighth Route Army."

"Nani?"

Sugiyama's first reaction was to question the telegram:

"This is impossible!"

Immediately, Sugiyama Gen said in a serious tone: "Absolutely impossible!"

Nearly 20,000 elite locust soldiers were killed in less than 24 hours.

Even if there were 20,000 pigs, the Eighth Route Army would not be able to kill them all in 24 hours.

Yamashita Tomoyuki also didn't believe it and immediately called the First Army Headquarters.

Sugiyama Gen took the telegram in disbelief, read it, and confirmed it with the First Army Headquarters. He was stunned for a moment, and his whole body was like a sculpture.

"How can this be?"

"Is the Eighth Route Army so powerful?"

Sugiyama Gen had deep doubts about the combat effectiveness of the Japanese army. Even an elite force like the 14th Division could not stop the attack of the Eighth Route Army. If it were the security divisions and mixed brigades, they would not be a match for the Eighth Route Army.

"However, the Eighth Route Army also suffered heavy losses."

Yamashita Tomoyuki's tone suddenly brightened: "Three heavy artillery regiments and one tank regiment of the Eighth Route Army were severely damaged by the 21st Aircraft Regiment. This is equivalent to a field heavy artillery brigade and a tank regiment of the Locust Army."

Taking a deep breath, Sugiyama Gen's mood eased considerably. "Fortunately, the Chinese army only has one unit, the New 1st Regiment, that can fight. If all Chinese troops were of this combat effectiveness, the Locust Army's holy war would surely be defeated."

"As long as the New 1st Regiment of the Eighth Route Army is eliminated, the morale of the remaining Chinese troops will inevitably drop sharply."

"The next time we attack, the Locust Army has a good chance of winning."

(End of this chapter)