Anti-Japanese War: I have unlimited assistance

Chapter 508: Fighting with consumption!
The 50th Regiment's surprise attack on the Dongjiayuyu warehouse can be said to be Sugiyama Gen's last trump card.

Once the 50th Regiment blew up the Eighth Route Army's logistics transit warehouse and cut off the New st Regiment's logistics supply channel, even for two or three days, the situation on the battlefield would be drastically different.

By then, the Eighth Route Army soldiers on the front line would have no bullets, no shells in their artillery barrels, and no food.

The locust army has plenty of bullets, artillery shells and food, and the General Ridge defense line that Li Yunlong is proud of will soon be breached.

However, Sugiyama Gen never expected that the 50th Regiment would send a farewell telegram so quickly?
The farewell telegram meant that the 50th Regiment was about to be wiped out, or had already been wiped out.

Logically speaking, with a special forces squad and most of the elite troops of a Type A division, they wouldn't be wiped out so quickly. They could at least hold out for a few days in the Eighth Route Army's hinterland, right?
The 50th Regiment was originally attacking Yunshan, but now that the entire 50th Regiment has been wiped out, there is less than one regiment left of the 28th Brigade attacking Yunshan, and it is likely that they will not be able to capture Yunshan.

Deputy Chief of Staff Muto Akira said, "Commander, something is wrong!"

Yamashita Fengwen asked, "Muto-kun, what's wrong?"

Muto Akira replied, "First, the paratrooper battalion was ambushed by the Eighth Route Army tanks, and then the infiltrating 50th Regiment was annihilated so quickly. This shows that the Eighth Route Army knew the locust army's battle plan long ago and made targeted deployments in advance. Otherwise, it is impossible to explain why the paratrooper battalion and the 50th Regiment were attacked and destroyed as soon as they entered the Eighth Route Army base."

"This is impossible."

As soon as Muto Akira finished speaking, he was strongly refuted by Sugiyama Gen.

"Besides the initial mobilization of troops and supplies, you and Yamashita-kun are completely unaware of the airborne and infiltration operations planned by the Paratrooper Battalion and the 50th Regiment."

"The combat order was issued on short notice, and the timing was also decided on short notice, so it's impossible for intelligence to be leaked in advance."

"If the intelligence is leaked in advance, there is only one possibility..."

Sugiyama Gen made a lot of preparations for the Battle of Northwest Shanxi. He first asked Okamura Yasuji for advice, and then he formulated his own sneak attack plan.

Faced with the Eighth Route Army's impregnable defense line, Sugiyama Gen prepared two killer moves.

But unfortunately, neither of the two killer moves worked, and instead caused considerable losses to themselves.

"What's possible?"

Yamashita Tomoyuki asked immediately.

"I, Sugiyama Gen, have committed treason," Sugiyama Gen said.

"Of course it's impossible."

Muto Akira and Yamashita Tomoyuki spoke immediately.

If Sugiyama Motoshin surrendered to the enemy and committed treason.

It would be so easy to destroy the entire North China Front Army. All you need to do is order the troops to march into the encirclement of the Chinese army. There is no need to go through so much trouble.

"Then what's going on?"

Muto Akira frowned.

Before Yamashita Tomoyuki and Sugiyama Gen could react.

Another staff officer rushed in with a telegram in his hand.

"Report to the Commander, Chief of Staff."

"The 200 tons of heavy artillery shells being transported from Datong Military Station to Jiangjunling were ambushed by a main force of the Eighth Route Army and were completely destroyed."

As soon as these words were spoken, Yamashita Tomoyuki and Sugiyama Gen's expressions changed again.

"Where is the ambush?"

Sugiyama Gen asked in a deep voice.

"In Panshi Village."

The reporting staff officer pointed it out on the map.

"idiot."

After seeing the ambush location clearly, Sugiyama Gen cursed on the spot.

Two hundred tons of heavy artillery shells is not a small amount.

This is not the most important thing. The most important thing is that outside northwest Shanxi, there is a new regiment of the Eighth Route Army's main force that can attack the Japanese army's logistics supply lines at any time.

Moreover, the enemy's goal and mission is not to seize combat supplies, but to destroy them.

Because, if the enemy came for the captured supplies, he could still send the cavalry brigade to pursue them. But now, after the ambush, the enemy could immediately run into the mountains and lie dormant.

It was like a poisonous snake spitting out its tongue, ready to run out and bite the Japanese army at any time, and the Japanese army had no way to deal with the Eighth Route Army hiding in the mountains and conducting guerrilla warfare.

"Order the cavalry brigade..."

Before he finished speaking, Sugiyama Gen hesitated for a moment.

The cavalry brigade is the only mobile force in his hands. If the cavalry brigade is sent to encircle and suppress the Eighth Route Army that attacked the transport team, it will definitely be effective.

but.

If an Eighth Route Army unit were to take advantage of this opportunity to launch a surprise attack on Datong, the situation at the front-line headquarters would be extremely dangerous.

"Cavalry Brigade, stay put."

In the end, Sugiyama Gen did not order the cavalry brigade to go out.

At the same time, he did not dare to leave Datong City easily, for fear that the Eighth Route Army's special forces would behead him.

"There is another possibility!"

Muto Akira suddenly said.

"What's possible?"

Sugiyama Gen asked with his eyes narrowed.

"It's possible that the locust army's telegram was deciphered by the Eighth Route Army, and the Eighth Route Army learned the locust army's plan from the telegram."

"That's impossible," Yamashita Fengwen said in disbelief. "The locust army's telegrams all use the latest codebooks. How could they be deciphered by the Eighth Route Army?"

"If the telegram wasn't deciphered, then someone must have leaked the information."

Muto Akira looked at Sugiyama Moto.

"The telegram must have been deciphered, Yamashita-kun, immediately order the telecommunications department to activate the backup code book." Sugiyama Gen's eyes flashed. Although he had doubts in his heart, if he had to choose one of the two, it could only be that the telegram was deciphered.

What's more, this is a major battle involving the lives of hundreds of thousands of people, and the code book must be changed even if there is any doubt.

"Hi."

Yamashita Tomoyuki lowered his head.

After thinking for a moment, Sugiyama Gen issued another order: "Also, transfer the Imperial Guard Cavalry Regiment to Datong and send the 1st Cavalry Brigade to escort the incoming combat supplies to avoid being ambushed by the Eighth Route Army again."

"As long as there are no problems with the logistical supply lines, the locust army still has a good chance of winning this battle."

The typical loess terrain of northwest Shanxi at the Jiangjunling front is not suitable for the cavalry to perform. The Guards Cavalry Regiment could only watch the infantry fighting the Eighth Route Army there.

It would be better to transfer the Guards Cavalry Regiment to Datong, and then order the 1st Cavalry Brigade to escort the baggage troops.

For this battle, Sugiyama Gen prepared 20,000 tons of combat supplies, and another 10,000 tons of combat supplies were on the way.

It was enough for the North China Front Army’s troops to fight in northwestern Shanxi for a month.

Sugiyama Gen didn't believe it, as the Eighth Route Army had also stockpiled tens of thousands of tons of combat supplies in northwestern Shanxi.

When everyone has no other means, they can only fight head-on.

It's not just a matter of fighting for supplies, but also for soldiers.

Do you, the Eighth Route Army, have the strength to fight against the locust army?

Having prepared so many combat supplies and with so many soldiers killed, Sugiyama Gen certainly didn't want to waste all his efforts.

He knew very well that if this battle did not destroy the main force of the Eighth Route Army in northwestern Shanxi.

When the next war breaks out, the strength of the Eighth Route Army will be even more terrifying.

"Hi."

Yamashita Tomoyuki and Muto Akira both lowered their heads, regained their morale, and quickly went to convey the order.

Looking at the backs of the two people leaving, Sugiyama Gen's face darkened and he began to think about a new round of battle plans.

(End of this chapter)