Anti-Japanese War: I have unlimited assistance

"Yamamoto-kun, what can you do?"

Yoshio Shinozuka looked at Ikki Yamamoto.

The current situation of the First Army can be said to be very bad. The First Army is like meat on the chopping board of the Eighth Route Army, which can be put into the pot whenever they want.

However, Shanxi's strategic location is very important.

By controlling Shanxi, the Japanese army could ensure the operation of the three major railway arteries of Pinghan, Pingsui and Jinpu, providing logistical support for its continued invasion to the south.

In addition, Shanxi was an important base for the Eighth Route Army's anti-Japanese war. The Eighth Route Army headquarters was stationed in Shanxi for a long time, becoming the command center of the anti-Japanese war behind enemy lines in North China.

The Eighth Route Army established several anti-Japanese bases in Shanxi, such as the Shanxi-Chahar-Hebei, Northwest Shanxi, Shanxi-Hebei-Henan and Southwest Shanxi anti-Japanese bases, which became an important support for the War of Resistance.

It can be said that Shanxi was a must-fight place for the Japanese army and the Eighth Route Army.

Now that Yan Laoxi has retreated to northern Shaanxi, Wei Lihuang of the Central Army is flirting with the Eighth Route Army.

Once the Japanese First Army abandons Shanxi, the entire Shanxi will fall completely into the hands of the Eighth Route Army.

Shanxi not only has rich human resources, but also abundant mineral resources such as coal.

If the Eighth Route Army completely controls Shanxi, according to the current development speed of the Eighth Route Army, it will be able to counterattack North China in one or two years at most.

Yoshio Shinozuka knew that the headquarters would never order the First Army to abandon Shanxi.

But now the Eighth Route Army is powerful. If the First Army does not change, it will be destroyed by the Eighth Route Army sooner or later.

Yamamoto thought for a moment before continuing slowly, "Build high walls and store up abundant food."

Shinozuka Yoshio pushed up his round black glasses, expressionless: "Oh? Tell me more."

Yamamoto Ikki said coldly, "This was the tactic used by Zhu Yuanzhang, the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty, when his army was weak. It was this tactic that allowed him to conquer the world and establish a vast territory."

"You know, Zhu Yuanzhang lived hundreds of years ago and gave a brilliant account of this tactic."

Yoshio Shinozuka frowned slightly. Who wants to listen to you?

What he wanted to hear now was how to defeat the Eighth Route Army.

"General."

Seeing this, Yamamoto Ikki continued, "The so-called high walls and abundant food storage is not just a literal meaning. The core is to achieve long-term development by consolidating the foundation and accumulating strength."

"Given the current situation of the First Locust Army, in addition to strengthening the defenses of Taiyuan's city walls, a large number of concrete fortifications must be built around Taiyuan City."

"These concrete fortifications must be able to withstand the bombardment of the Eighth Route Army's 150mm heavy artillery."

Mutaguchi Ren'ya frowned and said, "Yamamoto-kun, building concrete fortifications requires strategic materials such as high-grade cement and steel. The First Army of the Locust Army simply doesn't have that much high-grade cement and steel."

The Japanese were short of supplies. Cement and steel were both strategic materials, and the more they were consumed, the less they had.

However, Yamamoto had a plan for this. He took out a map of the Japanese army's Taiyuan defense and pointed at it and said:

"Since there are not enough strategic materials, we will use brick and stone bunkers and tunnels to replace unimportant bunkers."

"Important bunkers were built with cement and steel and placed in strategic locations."

"Different types of bunkers are equipped according to the terrain and weapon firepower, such as high bunkers, low bunkers, herringbone bunkers, and cross bunkers. Food, clean water, and rest facilities can also be set up inside the bunkers, allowing them to fight independently and support each other."

"Besides that, we can also build a ring railway outside Taiyuan."

Shinozuka Yoshio was stunned: "Ring railway?"

"That's right, a ring railway!" Yamamoto Ikki nodded. "Deploy some armored vehicles along the railway to facilitate mobility and fire support."

"Once the Zhengtai Railway is reopened, General, you can request the dispatch of a Type 94 armored train to Taiyuan." "This will greatly enhance Taiyuan's city defense firepower."

The Type 10 armored train has a total of eight carriages and is equipped with 105 Type 2 heavy machine guns, two Type 75 2mm cannons, and two Type mm anti-aircraft guns.

All weapons can fire independently or in a centralized manner through the command of a command vehicle. The overall structure is similar to that of a warship. In addition, the train is equipped with radio equipment with a communication range of 500 kilometers and multiple portable radio equipment to ensure smooth communication.

Yoshio Shinozuka's eyes lit up. He planned to apply for two Type 94 armored trains at one time to enhance the firepower of the Taiyuan and Zhengtai Railways.

"Mr. Yamamoto, according to your idea, how many bunkers should be built under the city of Taiyuan?" asked Yoshio Shinozuka.

"No less than 5000 bunkers." Yamamoto Ikki thought for a moment and replied.

"So many?" Yoshio Shinozuka and Mutaguchi Renya both frowned.

With so many bunkers, even if most of them are replaced with bricks and tunnels, the amount of strategic materials required is not small.

"General, His Excellency the Chief of Staff!" Yamamoto Ikki warned coldly, "Think about the tank and artillery units the Eighth Route Army possesses. Over 20 artillery regiments, at least 6 tank regiments, and 5000 bunkers are not enough."

Yoshio Shinozuka and Mutaguchi Ren'ya were immediately poured a bucket of cold water.

The Eighth Route Army had about a thousand cannons, including cannons of 75mm and above, plus tank guns. Each cannon only had to deal with five bunkers.

From this point of view, 5000 bunkers are indeed not a lot!

Yamamoto Ikki continued, "In addition to strengthening the Taiyuan city walls, building 5000 bunkers, and a railway around the city."

"We must also take control of the surrounding counties, Xin County, Yangqu, Shouyang, Yangquan, Taigu, and Qi County, and these counties must be controlled by the First Army of the Locust Army."

"If the Eighth Route Army attacks Taiyuan in the future."

"The locust troops in these counties will report the Eighth Route Army's attack to Taiyuan Headquarters. The surrounding areas of Taiyuan, the city walls, and the streets of all sizes will be transformed into a fortress area!"

"When the time comes, every step forward taken by the Eighth Route Army will be paid with blood."

"This will consume the Eighth Route Army's manpower, delay its main force, and provide an opportunity for the Central China Front Army and the North China Front Army to encircle the Eighth Route Army's main force in Taiyuan."

Shinozuka Yoshio's eyes lit up: "This is a large-scale center-blooming tactic!"

Mutaguchi Ren'ya on the side also nodded frequently.

The last time the Eighth Route Army attacked Taiyuan, they had already reached the outskirts of the city and even bombarded the Taiyuan headquarters at one point.

Although the Eighth Route Army's artillery firepower was powerful, a big reason was also the poor defense around Taiyuan.

Now the First Army has no other choice. Its weapons are inferior to those of the Eighth Route Army, so it can only think of ways to defend itself.

Yamamoto Ikki said slowly: "The other is to store food. The core is the strategic resource reserve. In addition to stockpiling a large amount of combat supplies, we must also secretly unite with Yan Laoxi and Principal Chang to deal with the Eighth Route Army."

Shinozuka Yoshio nodded appreciatively. "Old Yan and Principal Chang would never want to see the Eighth Route Army completely control Shanxi. It seems that Yamamoto-kun is not only quite accomplished in tactics, but also possesses strategic thinking."

"Your Excellency the General, thank you for your kind words." Yamamoto Ikki lowered his head with a sad expression.

Last year, he reported to the North China Front Army Headquarters through Yoshio Shinozuka, resolutely using the cage tactic against the Eighth Route Army and building a large number of bunkers and artillery towers around Taiyuan and the Eighth Route Army base, but was rejected by Sugiyama Gen.

Sugiyama Gen wanted to use the strategy and tactics of a large-scale decisive battle to destroy the Eighth Route Army, but the result was a disastrous defeat.

If Sugiyama Gen had listened to him earlier, the main force of the North China Front Army would not have suffered such heavy losses.

Yamamoto Ikki bowed his head expectantly and said, "General, when Commander Tada Shun takes office, please recommend special operations to him."

"Ok."

Shinozuka Yoshio's mouth twitched. Yamamoto, this guy, never forgot to promote the useless special operations. (End of this chapter)