Anti-Japanese War: I have unlimited assistance

Chapter 485 The war is about to begin, and all parties are making their plans!

Time flies, the years are like a shuttle.

Two months later.

In early June 1939, the entire land of North China was full of vitality and vigor.

During this period, some changes took place in both the Japanese army and the Eighth Route Army in North China.

The Japanese troops discovered that some of the impoverished Eighth Route Army's second-level military district bases were actually equipped with a large number of mountain artillery and a relatively large number of heavy mortars.

This situation caught the Japanese security forces in Hebei-Central, Hebei-Southern and other areas of North China off guard.

The Eighth Route Army Headquarters gave each military region some mountain artillery and heavy mortars, and the number of heavy mortars was relatively large.

Of course, there are also 105 howitzers, but their number is small. This thing has high requirements for roads and needs large trucks to pull it, which has high logistical requirements.

At present, the second-level military regions of the Eighth Route Army are still unable to do so.

However, after the second-level military regions were equipped with heavy mortars and mountain artillery, they launched heavy attacks one after another, which dealt a considerable blow to the Japanese security forces.

However, the main force of the Japanese army was gathering to prepare to attack the base in northwestern Shanxi and had no time to take care of other bases of the Eighth Route Army.

At present, some of the Japanese security forces have been beaten so badly that they dare not even leave the county town.

During this period, the Japanese army also completed the mobilization of combat supplies and troops. About 100,000 elite troops and 30,000 puppet troops gathered around northwest Shanxi, preparing to launch an attack.

The New 1st Regiment was also not idle. All units were stepping up training and building fortifications to prepare for the next Japanese attack.

Taiyuan.

Japanese First Army Headquarters.

"General, the reconnaissance plane discovered that the main force of the Eighth Route Army in southeastern Shanxi was heading north."

Toshimatsu Kasai reported to Yoshio Shinozuka with a bow.

"Nani?"

Yoshio Shinozuka narrowed his eyes and was suddenly startled.

Although Yoshio Shinozuka expected the main force of the Eighth Route Army in southeastern Shanxi to move north.

Every time the locust army gathered its main forces to attack the Jinzhong base and the northwestern Shanxi base, the main force of the 129th Division would go north to help.

but.

When Shinozuka Yoshio really heard the news, he couldn't help but ask hurriedly with a nervous look.

"How many troops did the Eighth Route Army dispatch?"

"Where are they targeting?"

Yoshio Shinozuka knew very well that the strength of the 129th Division should not be underestimated. According to intelligence, the 129th Division had not demonstrated its true strength in previous battles with the 20th Division.

"According to the reconnaissance aircraft report, the Eighth Route Army has dispatched more than 10 troops."

"The targets are... Taiyuan and Yangquan. 50,000 troops each, carrying heavy artillery and tanks."

Kasai Toshimatsu reported with a serious expression.

"Nani!"

"One hundred thousand people, Taiyuan and Yangquan?"

Upon hearing the news, the chair under Yoshio Shinozuka's butt seemed to be equipped with springs. He suddenly jumped up and his eyes widened instantly.

This strength is not much different from the current strength of the entire First Army.

In addition, according to intelligence, the Eighth Route Army obtained a number of military production lines and some cannons from abroad. Combined with the production lines and raw materials looted from the Japanese army, they were already capable of producing guns and ammunition other than howitzers, and had a large reserve of ammunition.

In addition, the Japanese army did not attack southeastern Shanxi in the past two years, and most of southeastern Shanxi was under the control of the Eighth Route Army. Last year, southeastern Shanxi had a bumper grain harvest.

Whether it is ammunition reserves, food reserves, or the equipment and training level of the troops, the 129th Division has the strength to confront the First Army head-on.

What was even more annoying was that this time several divisions and brigades of the First Army were transferred by the North China Front Army to attack the Eighth Route Army in northwestern Shanxi.

Yoshio Shinozuka did not have 10 troops to counter the main force of the 129th Division of the Eighth Route Army.

This gave Yoshio Shinozuka a headache.

"Go and fetch the Chief of Staff and the Deputy Chief of Staff immediately."

"Hi."

Staring at Kasai Toshimatsu's back, Shinozuka Yoshio's face was as gloomy as water.

How many people were there in the Eighth Route Army during the Battle of Xinkou two years ago?
There are only three divisions in total, with a total strength of more than 40,000 people.

Only two short years had passed, and one division of the Eighth Route Army had more than 10 people.

This time the 129th Division dispatched 10 men, and there must be troops guarding their homes in southeastern Shanxi, so its total strength must exceed 10.

The other two divisions of the Eighth Route Army must have tens of thousands of troops, plus the troops in the northwestern and central Shanxi bases.

The three divisions of the Eighth Route Army and the main forces of the base areas in northwestern Shanxi and central Shanxi probably exceeded 30 people.

This doesn't even include the militia and the troops from the second-level military regions. The Eighth Route Army's speed of growth... A chill rose from the soles of his feet, reaching straight to the top of Shinozuka Yoshio's head.

In another time and space, the Eighth Route Army's military strength grew at a similarly rapid pace, but its equipment, training, and logistical supplies could not keep up. After the Hundred Regiments Campaign, the logistical supplies were consumed too much, and the troops fell into a period of weakness.

This time, the Eighth Route Army not only expanded its manpower, but also caught up in all aspects such as equipment, training and logistics.

At this point, a division of the Eighth Route Army actually dared to challenge the First Army of the Japanese Locust Army.

outrageous.

The key point is that the First Army can only defend, not counterattack. The commander of the First Army is a coward...

At this time, Yamamoto Ikki and Mutaguchi Renya walked in quickly, one in front and one behind.

"General."

"Your Excellency, Commander."

"You've heard about the news that the main force of the Eighth Route Army in southeastern Shanxi is heading north, right?"

Yamamoto and Mutaguchi nodded with serious expressions. It was obvious that they had heard from Kasai Toshimatsu that the Eighth Route Army in southeastern Shanxi was divided into two main groups and marching north.

Yamamoto Ikki was promoted by Sugiyama Gen to deputy chief of staff of the 3st Army because of his meritorious service in beheading the headquarters of the rd Division of the Shanxi-Suiyuan Army and leading a special forces team to seize a bazooka and five rockets in southeastern Shanxi, but he still held the rank of colonel.

"My First Army currently only has 129 Locust Troops and Locust Affiliated Troops. Can it possibly stand a chance against the th Division of the Eighth Route Army?"

Shinozuka Yoshio asked in a deep voice.

The First Army recently added three security divisions and three independent mixed brigades, but they were of little use. The main force was transferred to northwestern Shanxi by Sugiyama Gen.

"The Eighth Route Army is seeking death!"

"Commander, it's rare for the Eighth Route Army in southeastern Shanxi to gather its main forces and engage in a head-on field battle with the Locust Army!"

"I suggest dispatching the 20th Division, the 36th Division, the 2th Brigade, the nd Cavalry Brigade, and the Kuroshima Cavalry Regiment to quickly defeat one of the main forces of the Eighth Route Army."

"This is the Eighth Route Army's tactic—break the enemy at one point to destabilize their entire front."

Mutaguchi Ren'ya's tone was as arrogant as ever; he was an offensive person.

The battle plan he formulated was the same, ordering the troops to attack, attack at all costs, and destroy the enemy.

The Japanese army reorganized the 2th Brigade and the rd Brigade, and the North China Front Army also transferred the nd Cavalry Brigade to Taiyuan to prevent the Eighth Route Army in southeastern Shanxi from moving north to attack Taiyuan and Zhengtai Road.

However, the troops and firepower deployed by the Eighth Route Army still put the officers of the Japanese headquarters under great pressure.

"Mutaguchi-kun is very courageous."

"Yamamoto-kun, what do you think?"

Shinozuka Yoshio nodded, then looked at Yamamoto Ikki and asked

"Let's ask General Sugiyama Moto for tactical guidance!"

Yamamoto's mouth twitched. This guy Mutaguchi didn't see at all that the Eighth Route Army had deployed heavy artillery and tanks.

"waste."

Mutaguchi Renya cursed Yamamoto and looked at Shinozuka Yoshio:

"Commander, give me command of the 20th Division, the 36th Division, the 2th Brigade, the nd Cavalry Brigade, and the Kuroshima Cavalry Regiment. Within three days, I will defeat the main force of the Eighth Route Army attacking Taiyuan."

"General," Yamamoto Ikki said, "the Eighth Route Army's firepower far outweighs ours. Even if we can win a field battle, the Locust Army will suffer heavy casualties. It's better to withdraw our forces and fight a defensive battle with the Eighth Route Army centered on Taiyuan. Then request that the North China Front Army allocate some aviation reinforcements. The First Army will definitely be able to hold Taiyuan. Once the main force has eliminated Li Yunlong and the New 129st Regiment in northwest Shanxi, the main force can then move south to deal with the main force of the th Division in southeast Shanxi."

"Let's do as Mr. Yamamoto wishes." Shinozuka Yoshio nodded, then looked at Mutaguchi Renya. "Mutaguchi, immediately send a telegram to the North China Front Army requesting air force support."

Currently, the First Army is short of manpower and firepower, and does not have much capital to fight a field battle with the 129th Division.

"Hi…"

Mutaguchi's eyes were gloomy when he lowered his head. This damn Yamamoto always went against him.

If I win this battle, I will be promoted to lieutenant general.

"Yamamoto-kun, order the 20th Division..."

Speaking of the 20th Division, Shinozuka Yoshio paused for a moment, then continued:

"Order the 20th Division to move to Taiyuan immediately."

Although they were reluctant to give up Zhengtai Road, because once they gave up Zhengtai Road, important military towns such as Yangquan and Shouyang would be captured by the Eighth Route Army, they had to give it up now.

It would not be a problem for the main force of the Eighth Route Army, 20 men, to attack the th Division of the Zhengtai Road.

However, to the north of Zhengtai Road, there were more than 20,000 troops from the Eighth Route Army's Jinzhong base.

If the Eighth Route Army from the Jinzhong base moved south and formed a pincer attack with the main force of the Eighth Route Army moving north, the 20th Division would probably be wiped out.

"Hi…"

Yamamoto Ikki lowered his head.

Yoshio Shinozuka sighed. After this battle, there would probably be only a few steel rails left of the more than 100 kilometers of Xizhengtai Road.

(End of this chapter)