Anti-Japanese War: I have unlimited assistance

Chapter 565: Want to escape? Can you escape?

August 10th, near dawn.

Baotou.

The atmosphere at the Japanese cavalry group headquarters was solemn.

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

"How are the troops equipped?"

The second-in-command of the Japanese cavalry, Lieutenant General Masao Baba, commander of the cavalry group, looked at his chief of staff and several staff officers with a cold tone.

Because the gendarmerie discovered that there were scouts and spies from the Sui Army around Baotou and Wuyuan.

Masao Baba believed that his old rival Fu Zuoyi was about to attack Wuyuan and Baotou.

So he placed his main forces and intelligence personnel on the west side of Baotou.

Two days ago, spies lurking in the Sui Army sent intelligence that the Sui Army was conducting pre-war mobilization and distributing ammunition.

This further proves that the Sui Army was preparing to attack Wuyuan and Baotou.

Although the main force of the 1st Cavalry Brigade was destroyed by the Eighth Route Army.

However, Masao Baba still had the 4th Cavalry Brigade, a Cavalry Artillery Regiment, and thousands of puppet Mongolian troops.

Of course, this amount of troops could not defeat the Sui Army.

Although the Sui Army was a local warlord, its fighting tactics were very similar to those of the Eighth Route Army. It was flexible, maneuverable, disciplined, and very tenacious, making it very difficult to deal with.

However, Masao Baba is more confident about defending the mineral resources of the locust army in Wuyuan and Baotou.

Although the Sui Army was called the Seventh and a Half Route Army, there was still a big gap in combat effectiveness between its main force, the 35th Army, and the current real Eighth Route Army.

Any regiment of the Eighth Route Army in northwestern Shanxi could easily defeat Fu Zuoyi's Suiyuan Army.

but,

What Masao Baba never expected was that the main force of the Eighth Route Army suddenly attacked from behind without any prior warning.

It was like a divine soldier descending from the sky.

It caught the cavalry group off guard.

Of course, there was a sign. Yesterday afternoon, the cavalry group lost contact with the gendarmerie stationed in Guisui.

However, Masao Baba didn't take it too seriously, thinking there was something wrong with the radio and telephone lines.

Therefore, the General Staff sent a cavalry signalman to Guisui to inquire about the situation.

Now Masao Baba thought that it must be the Eighth Route Army that attacked Guisui yesterday.

But what puzzled Masao Baba was.

Guisui is nearly 160 kilometers away from Baotou. How was it possible that the main force of the Eighth Route Army could reach Baotou from Guisui overnight?
It was obvious that the chief of staff and his staff could not explain this sudden situation.

"Mr. Group Leader, what should we do now?"

Chief of Staff Colonel Jisho Toriyama asked in a deep voice.

Since the Eighth Route Army appeared suddenly, the main force of the cavalry group was preparing to fight the Sui Army in Wuyuan.

So at this time, Baotou was short of troops, with only the direct guard cavalry battalion, a cavalry battalion and a tank battalion, as well as some transport troops and field hospitals with nearly a thousand people.

As well as thousands of gendarmerie, special forces and garrison troops.

But what's the use?

When the logistics troops encountered the main force of the Eighth Route Army, they had no ability to resist at all.

As for the gendarmerie, secret service and garrison, it's okay for them to bully the common people, but fighting against the main force of the Eighth Route Army is just seeking death.

Masaro Baba immediately gave the order with a serious expression:
"Orders are sent. The cavalry battalion will remain behind to block the Eighth Route Army. The guard battalion and the tank battalion will immediately proceed to Wuyuan to rendezvous with the 4th Cavalry Brigade."

"Also, request tactical guidance from the Mongolian Army Headquarters and request the dispatch of aviation units to destroy the main force of the Eighth Route Army."

This amount of troops is definitely no match for the main force of the Eighth Route Army in the decisive battle in Baotou.

Although Masao Baba was reluctant to give up the wealthy mines in Baotou, he now had no choice.

At worst, we can wait until we join forces with the 4th Brigade and the Cavalry Artillery Regiment and then take Baotou back from the Eighth Route Army.

"Hi!"

The chief of staff quickly went to convey the order.

At the same time, a group of Japanese staff quickly prepared to set off and arranged some Japanese guards to start burning the information.

"Execute all miners and blow up all mines and pits."

Before leaving, Lieutenant General Masao Baba issued an order.

Chief of Staff Colonel Jisho Toriyama immediately went to call to convey the order, but unfortunately, the call was no longer connected. In addition, the rumbling sound of artillery could be heard in the distance, indicating that the Eighth Route Army was about to reach the city of Baotou.

"idiot."

Without caring about the minerals, the Japanese officers cursed a few times and quickly fled under the protection of the cavalry guard battalion and the tank battalion.

……

at the same time.

Sui Army Headquarters.

Sui Army Commander Fu Zuoyi was leading the main force when a staff officer hurried in.

"Report to the Commander."

"We just received a telegram from the reconnaissance unit. The main force of the Eighth Route Army has appeared near Baotou and is attacking Baotou."

"What did you say?"

Fu Zuoyi frowned.

The main force of the Eighth Route Army attacked Baotou, but how come I didn’t receive any intelligence at all?

The order to recapture Wuyuan and Baotou was issued by Principal Chang.

Fu Zuoyi led the main force of the 35th Army to break away from Yan Laoxi and was not favored by Yan Laoxi. Now the weapons and ammunition supplies of the Sui Army all come from Principal Chang.

It was because of the Suiyuan Army stationed in Suiyuan that the Japanese army was unable to advance into the northwest from here and attack the southwest rear.

Principal Chang received information that the Eighth Route Army in northwestern Shanxi was building an arsenal.

It is known that the Eighth Route Army’s arsenal must require various ores, which are only available in Baotou and Wuyuan.

Therefore, Principal Chang took advantage of the Eighth Route Army's rest and quickly ordered the Sui Army to recapture Baotou and Wuyuan.

"How many soldiers and horses did the Eighth Route Army bring?"

Fu Zuoyi asked in a deep voice.

The news of the Eighth Route Army's great victory in northwestern Shanxi had spread throughout the country. Fu Zuoyi naturally knew about it and sent a congratulatory telegram to the Eighth Route Army headquarters.

However, congratulatory messages aside, he still had to obey Principal Chang's orders, after all, the Sui Army was holding Principal Chang's supplies.

"We don't know yet, but we know that the Eighth Route Army's artillery firepower is very strong."

"The Eighth Route Army hasn't arrived yet, but the artillery fire has already arrived."

The communications staff officer replied.

Fu Zuoyi said coldly:

"Baotou can be given to the Eighth Route Army, but the Japanese cavalry group and Wuyuan must not be given to the Eighth Route Army."

"Pass my order, the entire army will march out and attack Wuyuan!"

He looked at the map and saw that the distance from Baotou to Wuyuan was about 150 kilometers.

It would take at least three days for the Eighth Route Army to travel from Baotou to Wuyuan, not to mention the attack on Baotou, which would take several days.

but,

It is only about 50 kilometers from here to Wuyuan, and the troops can arrive there in one day's march.

The advantage is mine.

By then, the Sui Army surrounded the Japanese cavalry group, and even the Eighth Route Army could only watch helplessly.

……

At the same time, the New 1st Regiment Northern Expedition Command.

"Report to Chief of Staff Zhang."

"The Sharp Sword Squadron sent a telegram saying that over 100 Japanese trucks, more than 10 tanks and armored vehicles, and over 500 Japanese cavalrymen, were fleeing from the west gate of Baotou towards Wuyuan."

"There are more than a thousand enemy troops in Baotou who are holding out stubbornly."

A staff officer reported the latest enemy situation to Zhang Dabiao.

Zhang Dabiao sneered, his eyes sharp as a knife: "Want to escape? Can you escape?"

The Northern Expedition troops naturally took the train from Guisui to Baotou, but the train did not enter Baotou Station.

With the intelligence provided by the Sharp Sword Squadron, Zhang Dabiao naturally knew that the main force of the Japanese cavalry group was not in Baotou, but in Wuyuan.

Therefore,
He also guessed that once the Eighth Route Army attacked Baotou, the Japanese headquarters in Baotou would definitely flee towards Wuyuan.

At this time, the cavalry column, led by the Sword Squadron, had already ambushed on the road from Baotou to Wuyuan.

(End of this chapter)