Anti-Japanese War: I have unlimited assistance

Chapter 543 Requesting tactical guidance!

Soon, Major General Ohgamo received three good news and two bad news.

The first good news is that the main force of the Japanese army of the North China Front is about to arrive in Datong under the cover of the rearguard troops and the reinforcement of the air force.

Then, this part of the main force of the Japanese army joined the main force of the Japanese army in Datong and was already moving north towards Datong.

The first bad news is that the Eighth Route Army's mechanized troops are highly mobile, while the Japanese are mostly infantry.

Therefore, the 1st Cavalry Brigade and the Tank Regiment and other troops had to block the attack of the Eighth Route Army Mechanized Forces in the southwest direction of Datong.

Only after the main force enters Mongolia can the Japanese cavalry and tank units retreat.

The second good news was that before leaving, Colonel Muto Akira sent a baggage brigade to deliver some combat supplies.

These combat supplies, together with the supplies carried by the troops, are enough for them to fight here for a week.

The third good news is that more than 21 aircraft from the 20st Flying Regiment finally took off from Zhangjiakou Airport and were on their way to provide reinforcements.

However, Major General Ohgamo still looked solemn.

Because there is second bad news. The main force of the Eighth Route Army in the southeast is moving towards Datong and will soon cut off their retreat.

By then, even if they completed the blocking mission, it would be difficult for them to escape unscathed.

At the same time, in Xinzhuang, the Eighth Route Army's front-line headquarters.

"Commander, the bridge we just built was blown up by the Japanese artillery."

Zhang Dabiao reported to Li Yunlong.

Li Yunlong stared at the map, frowned slightly, and nodded: "Damn, the Japs' firepower is quite strong, at least the firepower of a mountain artillery regiment."

Zhang Dabiao asked, "Captain, if we can't cross the river, these devils will slip away when the time comes."

"These devils are all cavalry and tank units. If they really try to escape, our mechanized troops may not be able to catch up."

Li Yunlong nodded, what Zhang Dabiao said made sense.

The mechanized troops are highly mobile, but the mobility of the opposing Japanese cavalry and tank regiments is also not weak.

"We must not let this group of devils go!"

Li Yunlong snorted coldly, and the fat meat at his mouth slipped away. This was not his tactical style.

Zhang Dabiao said: "The only way is to build a pontoon bridge downstream where the Japanese can't see it, let some infantry cross the bridge and attack the Japanese artillery positions."

"Once the Japanese artillery positions are destroyed, they will not be able to stop us from building the bridge."

Today is different from the past. The engineers of the New 1st Regiment of the Eighth Route Army are now world-class. They can not only build roads through mountains, but also build bridges across rivers.

The engineering battalion is equipped not only with mine-clearing vehicles, but also with engineering vehicles. Temporary bridges built with temporary steel can allow tanks and large trucks to pass through.

However, due to the bombardment of the Guizishan Artillery Regiment, the bridge was not successfully built.

"The Japanese on the other side are keeping an eye on us. They won't give us a chance to build a bridge." Li Yunlong thought for a moment and said, "So, give orders to Deputy Commander Xing. Tell the Jinzhong Cavalry Battalion and the Jizhong Cavalry Regiment to leave a small force at Yujia Mountain. The main force will bypass Datong and directly attack the Japanese mountain artillery regiment's position."

At this time, Xing Zhiguo's cavalry unit had already seized Yujia Mountain.

However, the cavalry unit was not attacked by the Japanese, and it was obvious that the main retreat route of the Japanese was not here.

Yujia Mountain is about 40 kilometers away from Xinzhuang. It takes infantry most of the day to march there, but cavalry can get there in more than an hour.

Zhang Dabiao suggested: "Commander, we can't just sit there and wait. Let the engineering battalion and the infantry battalion go downstream to build a pontoon bridge. But we must pay attention to concealment. If we are not discovered by the devil, we will make preparations for both situations. If we are discovered by the devil, we will attract their attention."

"Okay!" Li Yunlong nodded grimly, staring at the map with a frown.

Today I don’t believe that I can’t eat the Japanese cavalry and tank troops.

Not long after, the Japanese 21st Flying Regiment arrived and launched another barrage of bombs at the New st Regiment's truck convoy, destroying dozens of large trucks. "Damn the Japs!"

Li Yunlong cursed loudly, and became more determined to annihilate the Japanese cavalry and tank units.

The losses suffered by the Japanese aircraft must be recovered by the Japanese ground forces.

The Japanese bombers and fighter planes flew back to Zhangjiakou Airport to replenish fuel and combat supplies.

However, the Japanese reconnaissance planes were circling over Xinzhuang, on the one hand providing artillery guidance for the Japanese mountain artillery regiment, and on the other hand, scouting the movements of the Eighth Route Army.

The Eighth Route Army's cavalry units and the engineering units' actions of building pontoon bridges were all seen by the Japanese reconnaissance planes.

Then, the Japanese reconnaissance plane quickly conveyed this situation to the Japanese cavalry brigade headquarters on the ground.

Major General Ohgamo quickly made arrangements. On the one hand, he ordered the mountain artillery positions to move, and on the other hand, he ordered the 14th Cavalry Regiment to block the Eighth Route Army's infantry from building a pontoon bridge.

More than an hour later, the Eighth Route Army cavalry arrived and searched for the location of the Guizishan Artillery Regiment's position.

"Commander, the Ji Zhong Cavalry Regiment and the Jin Zhong Cavalry Battalion have arrived, but they haven't found the Japanese artillery positions on Paoshan Mountain." Zhang Dabiao reported to Li Yunlong.

"Could it be that the Japanese reconnaissance plane discovered the cavalry unit?" Chu Yunfei guessed.

"That's for sure." Li Yunlong nodded. "With nearly 2000 cavalrymen moving, it's impossible for the Japanese planes not to see them."

At this moment, the Japanese reconnaissance plane was running out of fuel and had left the airspace.

"Pass on my order, the engineering battalion will start using engineering vehicles to build bridges to attract the Japanese artillery fire." Li Yunlong gave the order.

Zhang Dabiao said, "Captain, if we calculate the time, the second wave of Japanese bombers should be arriving soon. Let's build a bridge now..."

The troops building the pontoon bridge were blocked by the Japanese cavalry and could not pass.

Although they had the support of heavy artillery fire, the Japanese cavalry had the advantage of terrain, and the troops who forced their way across the river would suffer heavy casualties.

"You're stupid!" Li Yunlong said angrily, "Can't you just pretend to build a bridge?"

Zhang Dabiao suddenly realized: "Yes!"

Inside the headquarters of the 1st Cavalry Brigade of the Japanese Army, Major General Ohgamo learned that the Eighth Route Army was building another bridge, and immediately ordered the 1st Mountain Artillery Battalion to open fire.

Shells continued to fall around the Eighth Route Army's bridge-building troops, destroying their equipment.

"Reporting to the brigade commander, the 1st Mountain Artillery Battalion has destroyed the Eighth Route Army's engineering vehicles."

Not long after, a staff officer reported to Major General Ohga Mo.

"Yoshi."

Major General Ohgamo nodded with satisfaction:

"The mechanized troops can't cross the river. What can the Eighth Route Army do to pursue the main force of the Locust Army?"

"It will be dark in an hour. After dark, we will turn northwest into Mongolia and then take a detour to Zhangjiakou."

Japanese soldiers such as Maeda Takao and Nishizawa Yuo looked excited.

but,

At this moment, a loud explosion was heard from the direction of the 1st Mountain Artillery Battalion.

"Report to the brigade commander."

The phone rang rapidly, and the staff officer answered the phone and reported:

"The 1st Mountain Artillery Battalion is under attack from the Eighth Route Army Cavalry. Battalion Commander Major Nitta requests tactical guidance!"

(End of this chapter)