You are ordered to support the War of Resistance against Japan; China enters Level 1 combat readines

"Even without armored units, we are not afraid of him in a head-on confrontation!"

"The vice president is right!"

The division commander nodded vigorously: "In the past, we lacked guns and ammunition, so we could only fight guerrilla warfare and ambushes."

"But things are different now! We have guns and cannons, and we have millions of ordinary people who support us!"

"Okamura thinks he can win by holding off our armored forces? He's too naive! Today, we'll fight him for real!"

"Yes! Let's confront him head-on!"

"25 troops? Our Shanxi province has a full 30 troops! And that doesn't even include county brigades and district squads!"

"Fight him!"

The executives chatted amongst themselves, and the originally tense atmosphere instantly became exciting and enthusiastic.

They've fought wars their whole lives; what storms haven't they weathered?

Let alone 250,000 Japanese soldiers, even if there were 500,000 or 1 million, they would still dare to draw their swords!

They had originally planned to wait until the factory produced more weapons and the new recruits had completed their training before taking the initiative to fight Gangcun.

But since Okamura had so eagerly come to them, they had no reason to be polite.

"In that case, let's proceed with Plan Eight."

The vice president walked up to the map, his eyes sharp as knives, his voice firm and resolute:

"Order:"

"The troops in northern Shanxi, concentrate all your forces to block the southward advance of the Eastern Inner Mongolia Army!"

"The troops in western Shanxi, relying on the natural barrier of the Yellow River, are repelling the advance of the puppet Manchukuo army!"

"Jin Dong troops, hold the Taihang Mountains and block the 12th Army's westward advance!"

"The troops in southern Shanxi, as the general reserve, are ready to support any battlefield at any time!"

"The 3rd Tank Regiment, hold your ground in southeastern Shanxi! Protect the city!"

Since they were going to make a big bet, the bosses naturally prepared for the worst.

Even if we don't do well this time, as long as we hold onto southeastern Shanxi, there is still hope for a comeback!

Eighty modified Type 59 tanks are enough to hold southeastern Shanxi, or rather, to hold Zhicheng!

Don't forget, there are still 14 Type 99A tanks in Zhicheng!

"Tell all soldiers that this is a battle that will determine the fate of North China!"

"We can only win this battle; we cannot afford to lose!"

"yes!"

The communications staff responded in unison, then turned and ran out quickly.

Radio waves emanated from the depths of the Taihang Mountains and spread throughout the entire Shanxi Province.

Overnight, the entire Shanxi province sprang into action.

Soldiers from northern Shanxi, carrying rifles, rushed to the front lines in Datong to build fortifications along the Great Wall.

The people of western Shanxi pushed carts and carried shovels to help the troops reinforce the Yellow River defense line.

The artillerymen in eastern Shanxi pushed cannons onto the battlefield, their muzzles pointing directly east.

Local armed forces and militia, armed with homemade guns and cannons, ventured into the deep mountains and forests, preparing to give the Japanese a surprise.

Inside the factory, the machines roared even louder.

The workers are working overtime to produce weapons and ammunition.

Boxes of rifles and boxes of artillery shells were continuously transported to the front lines.

At the hospital, medical staff were organizing medicines and bandages, preparing to receive the wounded.

The people donated all their grain, cloth, and firewood.

"The troops fight the Japanese, we handle logistics!"

This is the common sentiment of everyone.

The entire Shanxi province, from top to bottom, was united as one.

Everyone is making final preparations for the upcoming decisive battle.

The vice president stood in front of the map, staring at the dense red arrows on it, his eyes resolute.

Gangcun thought he was a hunter and believed that his 250,000-strong army could conquer southeastern Shanxi.

But he doesn't know.

He was not facing an ordinary army.

He was facing an army fighting for national liberation.

It is an army with an iron will and boundless strength.

Victory in this decisive battle will ultimately belong to us.

. . .

Its daybreak.

Northern Shanxi, a coal-mining city.

A hazy morning mist shrouded the sky, and the air was filled with the pungent smell of coal dust and gunpowder.

The distant coal waste mountain resembled a lurking black beast, silently overlooking the battlefield below.

Thirty miles outside the city, the 50,000-strong army of the 23rd and 24th Divisions of the Eastern Inner Mongolia Army Corps had already formed an offensive formation.

The dense array of Japanese flags fluttered in the morning breeze, while mountain guns and infantry guns were lined up, their dark muzzles aimed at the Eighth Route Army's positions.

Division Commander Kawabe Masazo held up his binoculars, gazing at the simple adobe fortifications across the way, a contemptuous smile playing on his lips.

In his view, without tanks or artillery, and only a group of guerrillas armed with Type 38 rifles, it was impossible for them to stop the attack of his two elite divisions.

He could take over the coal city in a morning at most, and then march straight into Taiyuan.

"Artillery, prepare! Target: Eighth Route Army forward positions! Free fire!"

Kawabe Masazo put down his binoculars and coldly gave the order.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

Dozens of mountain guns opened fire simultaneously, and shells whistled as they crashed into the Eighth Route Army's positions.

Dust flew and gravel flew everywhere. The originally simple fortifications were instantly covered by artillery fire.

The shelling lasted for a full twenty minutes.

Kawabe Masashi nodded in satisfaction and waved his hand: "Infantry charge! Take the forward positions within an hour!"

"Black card fraud, behead it!"

Thousands of Japanese soldiers, bayonets fixed, charged out of their starting positions, howling as they pounced on the Eighth Route Army's positions like a pack of mad dogs.

They ran as fast as they could, thinking that after such a fierce bombardment, the Eighth Route Army soldiers on the position must have been killed long ago.

But just as they rushed to within fifty meters of the position, something unexpected happened.

"beat!"

With a roar, the once silent battlefield suddenly came alive.

Countless bullets shot out from the trenches, raining down on the Japanese soldiers.

More than a dozen 107mm rocket launchers opened fire simultaneously, and in one salvo, hundreds of rockets, trailing plumes of fire, landed precisely in the Japanese charging formation.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

Explosions occurred one after another, and blood and flesh flew everywhere.

The Japanese soldiers at the forefront were instantly blown to pieces.

Immediately afterwards, the 40mm rocket launcher operator aimed at the Japanese heavy machine gun position and fired a rocket, blowing the heavy machine gun and its gunner into the air.

"what!"

The Japanese soldiers' charging formation instantly fell into chaos.

They never imagined that this group of Eighth Route Army soldiers would have such fierce firepower.

"Baka! Turn back! Turn back now!"

The Japanese squad leader leading the team shouted at the top of his lungs.

But it was too late.

The Eighth Route Army's grenades were thrown like hailstones, exploding among the Japanese soldiers.

The first charge lasted only three minutes before ending in a crushing defeat for the Japanese.

More than 300 Japanese soldiers' corpses were left on the battlefield, while the Eighth Route Army suffered almost no casualties.

Kawabe Masashi's face instantly darkened.

"Baka! Useless! A bunch of useless trash!"

He roared furiously, "Artillery! Keep bombarding them! Bomb them until they're ashes!"

"Second charge! If we fail to take the position this time, everyone will commit seppuku!"